After looking through the quests, Zhao Fu was about to head to the shop to buy a few things before returning to Great Qin Village. Just then, a burst of commotion sounded nearby.
Zhao Fu turned to look. A beautiful woman stood there, with delicate features and a graceful figure. She wore a pale green dress and gave off a fragile air that made people want to protect her.
Her status was clearly no ordinary one. More than a dozen people followed behind her, some assigned to protect her and others members of her family. Every one of them carried an air of distinction. The Apocalypse World was now entirely ruled by the great families; ordinary people simply couldn't compare to them.
Off to one side, an ostentatious young man spotted the woman and lit up. He called out, "Rou'er!"
He led a few thuggish-looking men over from the side, stopping just to the left of Zhao Fu and Bai Qi.
The woman called Rou'er frowned slightly when she saw the young man.
Meanwhile, several thugs followed the young man over. Seeing the two cloaked figures in front of them, they figured that since their young master had arrived, the pair should have made way. Annoyed, and accustomed to throwing their weight around, they stepped forward and shouted, "Get out of the way! You commoners saw our young master coming and still didn't move? You're asking for death!"
Bai Qi snorted. He might have been able to endure an insult against himself, but he couldn't tolerate anyone insulting Zhao Fu, the future Emperor of Great Qin. When he saw the men step forward and reach out to shove Zhao Fu, Bai Qi struck without hesitation. One punch sent a thug flying seven or eight meters. Then, with a few more moves, he beat the rest half to death.
The ostentatious young man saw Bai Qi turn to face him and immediately cowered. He threatened, "I'm the Zhou Family's second young master! If you dare touch me, you'll die a horrible death!"
Bai Qi simply kicked him away.
The crowd watched the young man get beaten, their faces full of shock, though inwardly they were delighted. They had suffered plenty at his hands. At the same time, they wondered, Who are these two cloaked men? They even dare to hit someone from the Zhou Family?
Seeing how fierce Bai Qi was, Zhao Fu felt a little awkward. He knew Bai Qi was better suited to leading troops into battle, but Zhao Fu had no choice. He barely had anyone under his command, and Bai Qi's attributes were so excellent that, for now, Zhao Fu could only train him as a powerful general. Once Great Qin grew, Bai Qi would surely become the great commander of an entire nation's army.
From what the young man had said, he was probably from one of the great families based in the City of Holy Light. Fighting was forbidden inside the city, so the guards would arrive soon. The guards had started out as first-tier soldiers, and they also cultivated, so their levels would continue to rise.
Zhao Fu didn't want to get caught up in trouble and said, "That's enough. Stop."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Bai Qi instinctively clasped his hands and obeyed.
Ordinary people might not have understood what he meant, but the woman and several members of the great families nearby were startled. They knew that only someone who had inherited a nation's legacy could be addressed as "Your Highness." Heirs of ordinary great families could only be called young masters.
No wonder they had dared to attack someone from the Zhou Family in full view of everyone. They had no reason to take the Zhou Family seriously. The Zhou Family would probably have to come apologize to them later.
Zhao Fu was about to leave with Bai Qi.
"Sir! Could you wait a moment?" A soft voice suddenly called from behind.
Zhao Fu turned to look at the woman called Rou'er and asked gently, "What is it?"
She stepped forward and smiled. "I'm Jiang Rou, a member of the Jiang Family. Would you be willing to let me make your acquaintance?"
Since the man before her had clearly inherited a nation's legacy, his status was undoubtedly esteemed. He was likely the next head of a great family. Any ordinary great family would naturally want to be on good terms with someone like him.
Zhao Fu glanced at Jiang Rou and considered it for a moment before replying, "Perhaps another time. I have something to take care of, so I'll be leaving now."
Although Zhao Fu didn't particularly like the heirs of the great families, she had treated him courteously, so he responded just as politely.
"Then could you at least tell me your name?"
Jiang Rou was a little disappointed by his refusal, but she still wanted to learn more about him and find out which nation's legacy he had inherited.
At present, the City of Holy Light, Demon Tree City, and Forest of Soldiers were each controlled by several great families. Now that a new family with a nation's legacy had appeared, the situation in Terror Forest would change once again.
Zhao Fu thought it over. Of course, he didn't tell her his name. He only told her that his surname was Zhao, then quickly left.
Afterward!
News that someone with a nation's legacy had appeared in the City of Holy Light spread throughout Terror Forest. The teleportation arrays between the system cities weren't connected, but player villages had teleportation arrays that could reach any of the three system cities. As a result, the great families in Forest of Soldiers and Demon Tree City soon heard the news as well.
Meanwhile, Zhao Fu and Bai Qi arrived at a shop. "Shopkeeper! What Holy Light skills do you have?"
Seeing a customer, the shopkeeper beamed and brought out three skills for Zhao Fu to choose from.
The first was the F−-rank skill [Holy Light Art], the lowest-ranked magic skill of the Holy Light element. Used on humans, it only felt like being flashed by a bright light, but against demons and the undead, it could burn and repel them. Price: 20 silver coins.
Looking at the price, Zhao Fu could only think that it was far too expensive. Ordinary F−-rank physical skills cost just a dozen or so copper coins, but this one cost twenty silver coins—the equivalent of two thousand copper coins, over a hundred times as much. Then he glanced at the F-rank Fireball nearby, which cost a whole gold coin. Zhao Fu decided not to complain.
The second was the F-rank skill [Holy Light Bullet]. It looked like a fireball when cast and had an explosive effect. It was slightly weaker than a fireball, but dealt double damage to demons and the undead. Price: 70 silver coins.
The third was the C−-rank skill [Temple Seal]. After using it, a sun-like mark appeared on the palm and could inflict tremendous damage on enemies. Price: 30 gold coins.
Seeing the price of the third skill, Zhao Fu couldn't help sighing. Even if the great families used real-world money to buy copper coins, they would be lucky to earn a few thousand in a day. But this skill cost thirty gold coins—three hundred thousand copper coins. Even the great families couldn't afford it.
Zhao Fu had no choice but to give up on it and focus on the first two skills.
In the end, Zhao Fu bought twenty Holy Light Arts and five Holy Light Bullets, spending 750 silver coins in total. Fortunately, he had come prepared with blue-grade weapons; otherwise, he wouldn't have had enough money. Zhao Fu had bought so many skills that the shop was nearly out of stock.
Afterward, he went to the teleportation array in the City of Holy Light and reached out. A list of destinations appeared, with only Great Qin Village displayed.
The teleportation arrays in the other villages had been set to hidden. If Zhao Fu made his own array public, other people could teleport straight to his village, so he had naturally chosen to keep it hidden as well.
In addition, entering a system city through a teleportation array cost nothing. But leaving one cost 20 copper coins, which the system deducted automatically. Anyone without enough money couldn't use it.