Saving A Zhu

Looking at the information displayed on the simulation panel, Xiao Feng's expression changed slightly. He pondered to himself, "The merit required for Body Projection Simulation has increased. Could it be because I broke through to Two-Star Dou Zhe? The higher my cultivation, the more merit it consumes?"

Although the merit required for Body Projection Simulation had doubled compared to before, Xiao Feng still chose Body Projection Simulation without hesitation.

Because Xiao Feng was genuinely curious about the difference between Text Projection Simulation and Body Projection Simulation.

"Ding! Body Projection Simulation beginning!"

As the system prompt sounded, Xiao Feng's vision went black. It felt as though someone had struck the back of his head with a stick, then tossed him into a washing machine and spun him wildly.

By the time Xiao Feng recovered from the nauseating dizziness, he had already appeared in a dense little forest.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp..."

Listening to the birdsong echoing intermittently through the woods, Xiao Feng blinked blankly.

Don't tell me I transmigrated again?

Just as Xiao Feng was struggling to make sense of the situation, information about Body Projection Simulation suddenly surfaced in his mind.

So-called "Body Projection Simulation" involved placing part of Xiao Feng's consciousness, along with replicated data of his body's abilities, into a Simulation World. It was somewhat like the fully immersive virtual games from online game novels.

During Body Projection Simulation, Xiao Feng could act according to his own will, rather than behaving randomly as he did in Text Projection Simulation.

Since Xiao Feng's current body was merely a projected clone of his original body, no matter what he encountered in the Simulation World—such as cultivation deviation or curses—it would not affect his true body.

Moreover, although the Simulation World was extremely realistic and seemingly no different from the main world, distinguishing it was easy.

No matter how realistic a Simulation World was, it was ultimately only a virtual world!

Therefore, whether Xiao Feng did good deeds or punished the wicked in the Simulation World, he would be unable to gain merit.

Ending the simulation was also simple. Xiao Feng could choose to end it early, or wait until he died in the Simulation World and the simulation was forcibly terminated.

Not long after Xiao Feng finished sorting through the information in his mind, a burst of noisy shouting suddenly came from the woods ahead.

Perhaps because they were too far away, Xiao Feng could not hear clearly. He could only make out curses like "Outrageous!" and "Stinking beggar!"

Since Xiao Feng did not even know where he was, he immediately headed toward the voices, intending to find someone and inquire about the situation first.

After passing through the small forest before him, Xiao Feng found himself facing an Apricot Blossom Grove.

In the open space at the center of the Apricot Blossom Grove, two groups were confronting each other.

One side consisted of several hundred people. Most were dressed in ragged clothes and looked like beggars.

The other side consisted of two men and three women. The two men were both plain-looking middle-aged men, while the three young women were all exceptionally beautiful, each with her own charm.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for encountering the plot character 'A Zhu.' Random projection mission triggered—Save A Zhu!"

Just as Xiao Feng's gaze fell upon the three young women, the system prompt sounded once more in his mind.

"Ding! Mission objective: Change A Zhu's fate of being mistakenly killed by Qiao Feng. Mission reward: One additional lottery draw."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng's expression shifted slightly, and a glint flashed through his eyes.

After every simulation ended, Xiao Feng received one free lottery draw. Although it could only be a random draw, it could still prove extremely valuable when used well.

For example, after the previous Attack on Titan simulation ended, Xiao Feng had used a random lottery draw to obtain the Armored Titan Power, which was worth two thousand points of merit.

If he could obtain an additional lottery draw, his chances of drawing something good would rise considerably.

At that moment, Xiao Feng suddenly understood some of the difference between Text Projection Simulation and Body Projection Simulation.

During his earlier Text Projection Simulations, not only had the projected character's actions been completely uncontrollable, but no projection missions had ever been triggered either.

Xiao Feng suspected that this was because Text Projection Simulation was a free option, so projection missions simply could not be triggered.

This time, Xiao Feng had spent a total of two hundred points of merit on Body Projection Simulation.

In other words, after completing the mission to save A Zhu, he only needed to use the extra lottery draw to obtain a reward worth more than two hundred points of merit for it to be worth the cost.

"Interesting."

After staring at A Zhu's pretty little face for a moment, Xiao Feng's gaze began to change, as though he were a player in a game looking at an NPC issuing a quest.

Perhaps because Xiao Feng's gaze was too intense, A Zhu, who had been whispering with Wang Yuyan and A Bi, sensed it and turned to look in his direction.

Faced with A Zhu's puzzled gaze, Xiao Feng put on a harmless smile and nodded at her.

Seeing that Xiao Feng was only a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth, handsome and distinguished in bearing, A Zhu formed a fairly good first impression of him and instinctively returned his smile.

A Bi, who stood beside A Zhu, could not help asking curiously, "Sister A Zhu, do you know that young man?"

"I don't. It's my first time seeing him."

A Zhu shook her head. "Judging by his clothes, he probably isn't a Beggar Gang disciple. He's likely some rich young master who happened to pass by this place."

"Sister A Zhu, look, that young man keeps staring at you. Could he have taken a liking to you?" A mischievous glint flashed in A Bi's beautiful eyes as she teased her with a smile.

"Stop talking nonsense. When has he been staring at me the whole time?"

A Zhu shot A Bi an annoyed look, then pointed at Wang Yuyan beside her. "Besides, with a fairy like our young miss here, how could he possibly notice a little maid like me?"

"You two can fool around all you want, but why drag me into it again?"

Upon hearing A Zhu's words, Wang Yuyan first shook her head helplessly, then curiously looked toward the young man they were discussing.

However, Wang Yuyan discovered that Xiao Feng was not looking in their direction at all. Instead, he was staring at the nearby Apricot Forest.

Just as Wang Yuyan was about to withdraw her gaze, she saw two figures emerge from the Apricot Forest.

The man in front was broad and imposing, around thirty years old, dressed in a worn gray cloth robe that was slightly tattered.

He had thick brows, large eyes, a high nose, and a broad mouth. His square face bore the marks of hardship, while every glance and movement carried an air of authority.

The other man was handsome and graceful, looking every bit the noble young master. He was Duan Yu, who had met Wang Yuyan several times before.