Research Society

Ou Yanling was well-versed in the Monster Manual.

Seeing Jiang Yan toss scattered exotic items far outside the village, her eyes narrowed as she recognized their functions.

Monsters were born from the negative forces of heaven and earth, taking all living beings as sustenance. They rampaged across the vast, wild lands.

Bustling villages and towns, like lighthouses in a vast ocean, constantly attracted the greedy gazes of nearby monsters.

Jiang Yan's actions were akin to adding fuel to the fire.

Studying the habits of common monsters was only for more efficient monster slaying.

Or, to use certain special items to avoid the monsters' malevolent attention.

"Jiang Yan, do you know what you're doing?"

Huh?

"Luring monsters, can't you see? Or don't you understand?"

Luring... monsters?

The two words sounded strange together; she seemed to be hearing this combination for the first time.

But she still understood.

Understanding didn't mean comprehending.

"You're luring the monsters here in advance to kill them?"

A flash of inspiration struck her, and she seemed to suddenly realize, "Are you trying to lure some monsters over early, then kill them, so the chances of other patrol team members encountering monsters will be smaller?"

"In that case, their chances of encountering danger will also be smaller!"

As she spoke, her eyes brightened, fixed on Jiang Yan.

This man was a martial artist, so he must be a high-ranking member of the village patrol team.

She had traveled from Youshan City, passing through many villages and meeting many people. But someone like Jiang Yan, who actively lured monsters, taking the danger upon himself and leaving safety for others, was very, very rare.

Uh...

Jiang Yan stared at Ou Yanling in astonishment.

Damn, this woman has too much imagination!

From beginning to end, the two had barely exchanged any words. How much had this woman conjured in her mind?

Then, He looked at Ou Yanling seriously and solemnly, speaking loudly, "The human path is arduous, and all people suffer. We martial artists, the greater our strength, the greater our responsibility. I am but a humble martial artist, but I am willing to contribute my meager strength to the peace of this prosperous era."

"Well said!"

Unexpectedly, Ou Yanling was even more excited than Jiang Yan. Her delicate face flushed with excitement, and a heroic spirit flowed through her. She exclaimed loudly and gave Jiang Yan a formal martial arts salute, "Brother Jiang's righteousness is truly admirable."

"We martial artists should be like this."

Jiang Yan returned the salute with a smile.

He didn't want to say any more. He would let this woman continue to imagine the rest.

Ou Yanling also stopped speaking and stood by the ditch, silently watching outside the village boundary.

But there was a slight difference. Jiang Yan felt that Ou Yanling's previous wariness towards him seemed to have disappeared.

The feeling was subtle, but he could sense it.

Shaking his head, Jiang Yan suppressed the emotion and focused his attention on observing their surroundings.

Half an hour later, it was quiet outside the village. Nothing happened.

Rustle, rustle, rustle!

Footsteps sounded from behind.

Jiang Yan turned and saw a dark-skinned woman approaching. Seeing him turn, she observed him carefully, then smiled, a simple, honest smile.

"Sir, are you on duty today?"

"Yes."

He recognized the woman. A few days ago, when her child was afflicted with the Black Pus Insect Curse and sought help, it was Jiang Yan who had helped her deal with it.

"How is your child now?" he asked casually.

"He's much better. After the curse was broken, he was weak for a day or two, but he's recovered now."

"Sir, this is a gourd grown in my own garden. It's very sweet. You should try it."

As the woman spoke, she handed the gift in her hand to Ou Yanling.

Ou Yanling blinked in surprise and took it blankly.

The woman gave her a kind smile. Ou Yanling was moved by this pure, grateful smile and smiled back.

Without another word, the woman bowed slightly to Jiang Yan and then left.

Taking the gourd from Ou Yanling, which had already been washed.

Bang!

With a little force, the gourd was snapped in half.

Handing half to Ou Yanling, "Try it, this melon is very sweet. When I was on patrol before, I often... picked them."

"It's really sweet."

Ou Yanling didn't eat it immediately. Instead, she watched the dark-skinned woman leave, took a gentle bite, and a hint of refreshing sweetness exploded on her taste buds.

"It is indeed very sweet."

A quiet and peaceful village, a strong and responsible warrior, a sincerely grateful woman.

All of this.

"It's so good." Ou Yanling lowered her eyelids, "I think I finally understand the President's ideal."

"Kill all Monster monsters and bring peace back to the world."

She murmured softly, a determined will solidifying in the depths of her eyes.

Turning her head, she looked at Jiang Yan and asked softly, "Brother Jiang, what is your ideal?"

"Ideal?"

Jiang Yan chewed and swallowed the other half of the gourd, then clapped his hands. He hadn't expected Ou Yanling to ask such a lofty question.

Looking at the pitiful Monster value on his ability panel, he said solemnly, "I hope that one day, within my 'capabilities,' I can kill all Monster monsters and become the most powerful warrior."

Jiang Yan felt a bit awkward. He didn't know why, but perhaps because Ou Yanling had misunderstood him earlier, he felt like he was constantly trying to maintain a certain image in front of her.

Righteous, passionate.

Completely ignoring the 'within my capabilities' part of Jiang Yan's statement, Ou Yanling thought to herself, "Brother Jiang is truly a righteous person."

"Someone like this, with a heart like this, and an ideal like this, is exactly what our Research Society needs."

"Then, I will test and observe him for a few days. If it works out, when we return to Guihua City, I will apply to the branch president to invite him to join."

"The branch president will surely be very willing to accept a young man with such a sense of justice and whose ideal goals align with the Research Society."

After a while, both of them were getting a bit bored. Ou Yanling suddenly said, "Brother Jiang, the village is bustling with popularity. If any Monster monsters were to spawn or migrate here, they would definitely be attracted."

"Talisman Soldiers guard the village, so it's rare for Monster monsters to sneak in. Monster monsters cannot enter, except for a small number who will always try to find a way in. Other Monster monsters will go back into the wild to forage. After all, the wilderness isn't just inhabited by our human race."

"Brother Jiang wants to lure... Monster monsters, but today it seems that the items you prepared can't attract any Monster monsters that are wandering nearby."

"You can prepare more other items tomorrow, and I... can help you too."

Hmm...

Jiang Yan understood what Ou Yanling meant. The items he prepared were like Monster monster receivers, but the signal they emitted was too weak, attracting too few Monster monsters.

In this case, Ou Yanling offering to help seemed like a good option.

Prepare more peculiar items, attract more Monster monsters, get more Monster value, improve his martial arts, then kill higher-level Monster monsters, and then...

This was an ideal cycle.

"Hehehe..."

Thinking of this, Jiang Yan started to laugh. If things continued like this, his Monster monster income would be very stable.

"Oh, right." Jiang Yan remembered something. "Miss Ou, I agree to your help, but you still need to continue taking the Bewildering Powder..."

Ou Yanling: ...

"Damn it, you stinky man!"

PS: Everyone, feel free to smash this stinky man with recommendation tickets!