This Was a Foolish Decision

This Was a Foolish Decision

After placing the wrung-out cloth on Aunt Li's forehead, Li Wei sank heavily into a chair.

He had just spent a great deal of effort suppressing her coughing and high fever. Aunt Li's complexion was already much better than before. Though she was still pale and bloodless, her breathing had become much steadier.

Letting out a long breath, Li Wei smiled. Without even bothering to wipe the sweat from his forehead, he got up, drew a large bucket of well water, and delivered it to each guest room.

These were the tasks Aunt Li had instructed him to do when she had briefly awakened. Li Wei did not know what had come over him, but he did everything she asked. Though he was run ragged, his heart felt remarkably at ease.

It was as though he had fulfilled some long-held wish.

A few years ago, just after Li Wei had left school and entered society, his grandmother had suddenly fallen gravely ill. Back then, she had been just like Aunt Li now—so frail, so in need of care. Yet Li Wei had not stayed by her side, choosing instead to go out and make a life for himself.

A month later, his grandmother passed away from complications.

Li Wei clearly remembered that night. When the terrible news reached him, he sat there in a daze for two whole hours. Countless memories from his childhood surfaced before his eyes, each one filled with his grandmother's meticulous love and care.

The grandmother who had burned her arm with boiling water protecting her mischievous grandson, who had tried every possible way to coax him into eating, even making silly faces to make him laugh, would never return.

Even when his grandmother had needed him most, Li Wei had not remained by her side.

One may wish to care for one's parents, only to find they are no longer there. Li Wei had cried that night, and it became an everlasting pain in his heart.

Today, however, Li Wei had somehow seen a shadow of his grandmother in Aunt Li's face. Though he knew that nothing he did now could bring back what he had lost, he could at least make this old woman, so much like his grandmother, feel a little better.

By the time he had finished everything, the sky had grown dim. Li Wei had somewhat made up for that small regret in his heart.

"This was a foolish decision!"

Li Wei knew full well that he had missed an opportunity to reach Fairy Spirit Island. He could have followed Li Xiaoyao, but he had chosen to stay behind and care for Aunt Li. That meant giving up the chance to befriend the protagonist and keep track of his movements, which would be extremely detrimental to future missions.

In other words, from this point on, the future development of events had slipped beyond Li Wei's control. Because he had burned down the Mountain God Temple and altered the original plot, how Li Xiaoyao would go on to learn the Sword Control Technique had become an unknown. Li Wei had no way of obtaining that information now.

As for the Wine Sword Immortal, the strongest figure in the early stages, he too had vanished without a trace. If Li Wei wanted to find him again, he would probably have to rely on Li Xiaoyao.

Still, it was not as though there was no solution. He could wait until Li Xiaoyao returned before making further plans.

Aunt Li was already fast asleep. Her sudden serious illness had drained all her strength. After gently closing her door, Li Wei left the room.

Stretching his sore arms, he casually prepared a few dishes for himself. Then, holding a wine jug, he slowly savored the local Pear Blossom Wine. Only after the fragrant liquor flowed down his throat did he lift his head to gaze at the moon in the sky, his mind once more racing at full speed.

Suddenly, several people entered from outside the inn. They were all burly men dressed in black Miao clothing. Their leader was built like a bull, with a face full of vicious flesh beneath his thick beard. He looked exceptionally fierce.

The men carried a large burlap sack and hurried back to a private room on the second floor. Before long, the tall Miao leader came over with several others.

A glint flashed through Li Wei's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it and greeted them with a flattering smile.

"Who are you? Where's the innkeeper's wife?" The Black Miao Tribesman leader's voice boomed like thunder. The muscles and veins bulged beneath his exposed skin; at a glance, he was clearly an expert in external martial arts.

"Sir, our innkeeper's wife is unwell and has gone to rest. If you need anything, just tell this humble servant!"

His answer was calm and unhurried. Besides, Li Wei was dressed in gray-blue clothes and truly looked like an inn servant. Though the Black Miao Tribesman had traveled the martial world for many years, he suspected nothing.

After merely clearing his throat, he said in a deep voice, "Mm. Prepare some food for us. More meat, fewer vegetables..."

Li Wei nodded. "Honored guests, our inn's Pear Blossom Wine is famous far and wide. Would you care to try some?"

Before he could finish, the Miao men said, "How could Central Plains wine compare to the strength of our Miao Border liquor? Hmph. Just bring the meat. We brought our own wine!"

With that, they casually tossed out more than a dozen copper coins.

"Certainly, I'll prepare it for you right away." Li Wei pretended to happily pick up the coins before withdrawing to the kitchen.

The instant his fingers touched the copper coins, the Yellow Paper appeared.

"Obtained seventeen [Copper Coins]. They can be exchanged for supplies in specific plot worlds, brought out of plot worlds, or exchanged for 170 points!"

Li Wei's brow twitched.

Specific items can be taken out of this world? Better not exchange them for points yet! After giving it some thought, Li Wei put the copper coins away.

Meat alone was no problem for him. In fact, there was already plenty of cooked meat in the kitchen; it only needed to be reheated in a pot.

As Li Wei prepared the meat, a smile could not help appearing on his face.

He had originally had no idea how to proceed, yet things had suddenly taken a turn for the better.

These must be the Black Miao Tribesmen who had secretly infiltrated Fairy Spirit Island. There was a high chance that the person inside that large burlap sack was Zhao Ling'er, whom they had abducted.

But originally, they should not have acted until after Li Xiaoyao returned.

These people had clearly acted ahead of schedule, a major departure from the game's plot. So where was Li Xiaoyao now?

Had he remained on Fairy Spirit Island? Or had he gone somewhere else?

Or perhaps these Black Miao Tribesmen had killed him?

In any case, the plot had undergone enormous changes. Li Wei's original plan of waiting for Li Xiaoyao's return had to change as well.

Staring at the chunks of meat rolling in the pot, Li Wei's eyes lit up.

He had an idea!

The Miao men had already smelled the fragrance of meat wafting from the kitchen while they were in the hall. After all, this world still followed an ancient setting. Though this era had its own methods of cooking, Li Wei knew far more.

He merely used several spices already available in the kitchen and blended them simply to create a seasoning that enhanced the meat's aroma. No one in this era could make food with such a unique flavor, and the Black Miao Tribesmen, who had lived in the Miao Border for years, naturally could not resist such a delicacy.

"It smells incredible. Central Plains wine may be nothing special, but their food is pretty good!"

"Yeah, they must have used some special spices. Once we finish this job, we should bring some back!"

The Black Miao Tribesmen drank and chatted. Their leader stroked his black beard. "Eat more meat later and drink less wine. Once we deliver that 'person' in the room to the Miao Border, us brothers will never have to worry about food or clothing again!"

The other Black Miao Tribesmen all turned solemn.

By the time Li Wei emerged carrying a large basin of stewed meat, the Black Miao Tribesmen had already become impatient. One of them even stood up and snatched the basin from him.

"Alright, alright, there's nothing else for you to do here. Get out!"

Seeing the burly Black Miao Tribesmen already stuffing themselves, Li Wei curled his lips into a faint smile and slowly backed away.