System Upgrade

Lu Shaolin's pupils contracted. His right hand exerted force, and the spear swept out fiercely.

With a bang, the shaft was blocked by the Zombie's right arm as its left hand clawed swiftly at Lu Shaolin's chest.

Lu Shaolin let out a shout and kicked out. With another bang, his foot struck the Zombie squarely in the chest!

The Zombie staggered back three steps, its blood-red eyes fixed on Lu Shaolin all the while.

Damn it! This Zombie was really tough!

Lu Shaolin twisted his ankle.

"Fall back!"

Lu Shaolin barked in a low voice.

Ma San, Feng Tie, and the others hurriedly withdrew from the residence.

The Zombie extended its claws and attacked Lu Shaolin once more.

Lu Shaolin fought as he retreated. Though the spear struck the Zombie's body, it simply could not break through its defenses.

He could only throw off its balance and slow it down.

Once they had retreated from the residence, a figure charged over and blocked the Zombie!

Lu Shaolin focused his eyes and saw that it was Lord Wang Zhenghong of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Wang Zhenghong's saber danced in his hand, its blade glinting with golden light. Every slash broke through the Zombie's defenses, leaving wound after wound across its body.

As the other two Demon Suppression Bureau martial artists joined the battle, the Zombie could no longer hold them off. Wang Zhenghong stabbed it through the eye with a single slash, and it fell dead.

Lu Shaolin curiously eyed the saber in Wang Zhenghong's hand. He had seen it once before, but had never known it could actually ignore a Zombie's defenses!

After killing the Zombie, Wang Zhenghong turned and looked at Lu Shaolin, smiling amiably. "Fine skills, little brother!"

With that, he accelerated away to help the other gang members kill the Walking Corpses.

In merely half an hour, every Walking Corpse in the village had been killed.

Lu Shaolin, meanwhile, was busier than a spinning top, continuously moving corpses together with Ma San.

After searching every corpse, Lu Shaolin checked the system panel and saw that he had gained a full forty-five Source Points!

Adding those from the previous two days, his system panel now read:

Name: Lu Shaolin

Source Points: 63.8

Martial Realm: Perfected Muscle Tempering

Cultivation Methods: Reckless Bull Force (max level), Savage Bear Skill (first level)

Martial Skills: Three Absolutes Spear (mastered), Eight Extremes Fist (minor mastery), Mad Demon Staff Technique (major mastery).

Seeing the ample Source Points on the panel, Lu Shaolin nearly threw back his head and laughed at the sky.

But with his subordinates still beside him, Lu Shaolin forcefully held it in.

Suddenly, a voice sounded in his mind: "Due to a bug in the system, the system will automatically upgrade. Time required: twelve hours!"

A bug? What bug?

Could it be talking about me looting corpses?

Lu Shaolin was instantly dumbfounded.

"Everyone assemble!"

A gang member shouted from horseback.

Lu Shaolin came back to his senses and led the five men toward the village entrance once more.

At the village entrance, Ouyang Zheng gave another round of encouraging words. He then dismissed everyone to rest for three days, leaving behind two teams to deal with the corpses and other aftermath.

Hearing that they had three days to rest, Lu Shaolin and the others returned to their tent, tied their belongings back onto the horses, and headed for the county town.

Along the way, Lu Shaolin tried to call up the system, but there was no response at all. It seemed he would have to wait until the system upgrade was complete before he could use it again.

Upon reaching the county town, they first left the things on their horses at Ma San's home. Then Lu Shaolin played host and treated the five men to food and drink at a restaurant.

After eating, the five went their separate ways, agreeing to meet at the entrance of the Water Fortress three days later.

Lu Shaolin left the restaurant, mounted his horse with spear in hand, and galloped straight for Panshan Village.

When he reached the entrance and knocked on the door, Dong Linger's voice came from inside.

After he answered with a smile, Dong Linger quickly opened the courtyard gate.

She beamed at Lu Shaolin.

Lu Shaolin rubbed her little head and led the Black-Mane Horse inside.

Hearing the commotion, Dong Jia also came out of her room. Seeing that Lu Shaolin was safe and sound, she secretly let out a long breath and greeted him softly.

Lu Shaolin smiled and nodded. After tying up the Black-Mane Horse, he sat in the main room and drank tea.

After he had drunk tea for a while, lunch was ready. Dong Jia and Dong Linger brought the dishes out one by one.

After the three finished eating, Dong Jia hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

"What is it?"

Lu Shaolin asked with a smile.

"Young master, there isn't much grain left at home!"

Dong Jia pursed her lips and said.

"Oh? I'll go to the county town and buy some. Is there anything else we need?"

Lu Shaolin stood and asked.

"No."

Dong Jia shook her head.

"Then I'm off."

Lu Shaolin stepped toward the door, but Dong Linger gently wrapped her arms around his thigh. Her large eyes blinked as she asked, "Young master, can I go to the county town with you and have a look?"

"Linger!"

Dong Jia chided softly.

"Sure! We'll go together."

Lu Shaolin laughed heartily.

"Young master, you'll spoil Linger like this."

Dong Jia said softly.

"I won't. You're overthinking it. Let's go!"

Lu Shaolin smiled faintly, patted Dong Linger's little head, and walked outside.

Once in the courtyard, he lifted Dong Linger onto the saddle and led the Black-Mane Horse out through the gate.

He then swung onto the horse, kicked its flanks, and the Black-Mane Horse's four hooves flew as it raced toward the county town.

Dong Linger giggled all along the way, thrilled beyond measure!

Upon reaching the county town, Lu Shaolin first went to a rice shop.

Rice was not expensive. Sixty jin of rice cost eighty copper coins.

Lu Shaolin bought two sacks.

He felt the pouch at his chest and found that he only had three or four taels of silver left!

After thinking it over, Lu Shaolin bought another sack of flour. After all, they needed to change things up sometimes.

After tying the rice and flour onto the horse's back, Lu Shaolin mounted up and began heading home.

At the city gate, he bought two candied hawthorn skewers. He handed one to Dong Linger, and the little girl began eating it right there on horseback. He wrapped the other in oiled paper to take back for Dong Jia.

Amid laughter and cheerful chatter all the way, Lu Shaolin returned to Panshan Village.

Holding the candied hawthorn skewer wrapped in oiled paper like a precious offering, Dong Linger hammered on the door with a bang bang.

Dong Jia asked who it was. Upon hearing Dong Linger's answer, she opened the courtyard gate with a face full of anger.

But when she saw Dong Linger smilingly offering her the candied hawthorn skewer, her anger vanished without a trace. She rubbed Dong Linger's little head.

Lu Shaolin led the Black-Mane Horse into the courtyard, carrying a sack of rice in each hand as he brought them into the kitchen.

Seeing Dong Jia carefully licking the candied hawthorn while Dong Linger stared at the skewer in her hand and swallowed drool, he could not help laughing to himself, though he also felt a little sorry for them.

Children from poor families might go years without getting any snacks.

Dong Jia only tasted two candied hawthorns before handing the rest to Dong Linger. "Here, this is too sweet. You eat it!"

"Big sister, don't you like it?"

Dong Linger asked.

"That's right! Big sister doesn't like things that are too sweet."

Dong Jia replied with a smile.

"Hehehe, then I'll help big sister finish it! Linger isn't afraid of sweet things!"

Dong Linger took the skewer and began eating with loud smacking sounds, her face brimming with happiness.

Dong Jia smiled and stroked her hair, then gave Lu Shaolin a gentle smile.

"Next time, I'll buy a whole bag so you can eat your fill!"

Lu Shaolin shook his head and said.

"Re... slurp, really, young master?"

Dong Linger hurriedly asked as she slurped at her drool, afraid that Lu Shaolin would go back on his word.

"Really!"

Lu Shaolin replied with a smile.

"Young master, then let's pinky swear on it."

Dong Linger ran over with a patter of feet, looked up at Lu Shaolin, and held out her little finger.