Li Ke Continued on His Journey

Li Ke was a little bewildered, then he saw the final line of information.

Based on this simulation, you have received the following rewards. Choose one to claim:

1. Slowly increase your maximum health by 10, and gain 40 vitality.

2. Obtain rare materials from a spirit beast.

3. Make the fox in the real world remember you, and randomly dream about events from your simulated life.

Without much hesitation, Li Ke chose the first option. He felt power coming from the Void... no, from that hollow, perhaps.

His body began to ache again, then grew warm. It was obvious that the reward had caused a change. He checked his health, but it hadn't gone up by ten points outright. It had only increased by one.

That must have been the gradual improvement mentioned in the description.

Li Ke could understand. After all, even though it was a system, it was really his own ability. Even after choosing the reward, it would take time to absorb its effects.

But...

"It can actually affect someone else and make them dream about interacting with me in the simulator. This thing really isn't simple. And I can even get rare materials..."

Thinking back to the last option, Li Ke grew more and more convinced that each simulation was actually another trip to a different world. He simply had no further evidence to prove it, and his current strength wasn't nearly enough to find out whether things were really as he suspected.

It was just a shame that every simulation ended with his death. If he could survive one, perhaps he'd find out what was really going on.

"But... since my memories were blurred, I really don't remember being with that fox."

Li Ke felt a little regretful. He was genuinely curious about how he'd gotten her to help him cultivate. He didn't mean anything by it; he'd only thought that way because he wanted to get stronger quickly.

Really.

"But when it comes to foxes, the most famous one in Ionia is Ahri, right? If it was Ahri, then... well, that should be fine, shouldn't it? I remember she's kind to outsiders, so how did I end up dying? Damn it... I wish I hadn't blurred my memories!"

Leaning on his sword, Li Ke trudged onward. He felt like stamping his feet and beating his chest, but even if he could choose again, he absolutely wouldn't recklessly choose to keep his memories during a fast simulation.

The impact on him had simply been too great. The first time he took on those memories, his sword grip and fighting style had already been affected by them. His second life, in CrossFire, had made the personality Ionia had shaped in him regress a little, bringing back some of the cheerfulness of a modern person.

Or rather, his flippancy.

His remaining mental and vital energy wasn't enough to start another simulation, so Li Ke hurried toward the town marked on the map. He didn't plan to change the route from the simulation. He'd recuperate in that town, then take a carriage to Shon-Xan.

The route had worked. As long as he didn't go looking for that fox, there was a good chance he wouldn't die.

Safety first!

He could earn money after he recovered!

With an ability like this, there was no need to rush!

It was just...

"So far away!"

Seeing on the map that he'd have to cross a mountain, Li Ke shouted from among the trees, startling a flock of birds. Beneath the slowly rising red sun, he looked utterly forlorn.

Bian Ka was an apprentice at a tavern. His father had arranged for him to come here as a laborer. At first, he'd been put behind the counter to pour drinks, but he hadn't been cut out for the job.

Most of the people in town who drank were lumberjacks or hired laborers. They were sharp-eyed and watched him like hawks whenever he poured, making sure he didn't water down their drinks. So the tavernkeeper had considered dismissing him.

But Bian Ka had been recommended by the owner, so he couldn't be fired.

Instead, they'd sent him out to wait tables. As long as he remembered what the customers ordered, stayed quick on his feet, and spoke up, he could earn his keep.

Fortunately, he really was sharp. He knew whom not to provoke, and so far he hadn't made any serious mistakes.

But today, just as he was wondering when he could go home because no one seemed likely to show up, a mournful voice that sounded as if it came from hell drifted in from the street.

"Warm a pot of wine and bring me a plate of fennel beans."

Bian Ka shuddered, instinctively thinking that the ants he'd scalded with boiling water had come back for revenge. But then he realized ants couldn't talk, so he looked toward the street.

A down-at-heel swordsman in tattered clothes, covered in blood, was slowly making his way over, leaning on his sword. Judging by the grass and dead leaves clinging to him and the bloodstains on his torn clothes, it wasn't much of an exaggeration to say he'd crawled out of hell.

Only his sword, though stained, still looked like a fine weapon. And with that sharp gaze and all that blood, he was most likely a first-rate swordsman!

Knowing he couldn't afford to offend the man, Bian Ka immediately called out and went to meet Li Ke.

"Right away! A pot of warm wine and a plate of fennel beans! Please come in, sir!"

Li Ke crossed the tavern's threshold with trembling steps. Leaning on his sword, he sat down on a stool and finally let out a deep breath. Looking at the wary waiter and the busy tavernkeeper, he felt like crying.

Of course, in the simulated life, he'd made it safely to the tavern. But!

His simulated self hadn't gotten lost!

After using up his mental and vital energy, Li Ke was not only less than two-thirds as fast as his simulated self, but he'd also gotten lost because he was mentally exhausted!

It wasn't entirely his fault. His injuries and depleted vitality had slowed him down until night fell. Then his injuries slowed the recovery of his mental energy, and he'd taken the wrong road.

And that was how the disaster began.

He'd spent ages lost before finally finding the right path. Along the way, he'd fallen into a pit and a pond, and torn his clothes. All the kinds of bad luck that normally wouldn't have happened had come his way. By the time he reached the town he'd been aiming for, he was starving.

Li Ke felt his money pouch to make sure he hadn't lost it, then set down eight copper coins and asked the tavernkeeper, who had brought him fennel beans and wine, "What good food do you have here?"

The tavernkeeper smiled faintly and pointed toward the counter.

"If you please, sir, our most famous dishes are noodles."

"What kinds of noodles do you have?"

The tavernkeeper's smile grew even warmer.

"Broadsword Noodles and Wonton Noodles."

Li Ke froze.

This wasn't Jiangxin!