Mythology? Three Kingdoms?
Chen Feng suddenly felt he might have underestimated this system.
The system bearing Identifier 02 had a simple function: trade Points for abilities.
After some investigation, Chen Feng learned that the Mythic Three Kingdoms System could spend System Points to summon Heroic Souls of warlords from the Three Kingdoms era. These souls granted targets Blessings, giving them various supernatural abilities.
He opened the shop. There were currently twenty-five Blessings to choose from.
By faction, the Shu Kingdom had Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, and Huang Yueying.
The Wei Kingdom had Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun, Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, Sima Yi, Guo Jia, and Zhen Ji.
The Wu Kingdom had Sun Quan, Lü Meng, Gan Ning, Huang Gai, Zhou Yu, Lu Xun, Da Qiao, and Sun Shangxiang.
Then there were Lü Bu, Hua Tuo, and Diaochan, who belonged to no faction.
Using a warlord's Blessing once cost one Point. In other words, one life.
"So expensive."
"But it makes sense. If an ability this powerful could be used freely, the previous holder of this system wouldn't have died here."
Chen Feng looked through the Warlord's Protection options. Some offered a straightforward boost to combat power. Lü Bu, the greatest warrior of the Three Kingdoms, had a Blessing called [Peerless] that doubled the recipient's combat strength.
Others were practical. Zhuge Liang, the greatest strategist of the Three Kingdoms, had [Star Observation], which could divine good and bad fortune over the next five days.
There were even Blessings for everyday life. Zhou Yu's [Heroic Bearing], for instance, could make its user handsome.
"These Blessing names look familiar. Haven't I seen them in a card game?"
Based on what he had learned from the earlier fight, Chen Feng picked out three Blessings that would be especially effective against the Landlady.
Ma Chao's [Iron Cavalry]: the recipient's attacks were guaranteed to hit.
Lu Xun's [Humility]: the recipient was immune to all abnormal conditions.
Diaochan's [Discord]: the recipient could force the male creatures present to duel.
"With these three... the Landlady won't be a problem."
As Chen Feng thought this, a system notification suddenly arrived. After a long journey, the Water Ghost was waiting outside the door.
It was almost time for the next move.
To deal with the Landlady, he first had to cut off her support.
The four Imposter Internet Cafe attendants were no concern. The real problem was the two monsters at the front desk.
Chen Feng watched She Qingqing bustle about at the drink counter and gave a wicked smile. He already had a plan.
As Chen Feng watched She Qingqing, she watched him through her black veil.
Some people were alive, but as good as dead.
Ever since this man had ignored her warning, wandered around, and been cursed by the Landlady, his life had been on a countdown. His death was only a matter of time, She Qingqing thought.
The only question was whether Zhu Xianxian would devour him first or the Landlady would drain him dry.
"Either way, I've done all I can."
She Qingqing was an oddity among monsters.
Since birth, she had hidden in the Deep Mountains to cultivate. She had never harmed a human.
That was why her cultivation was so weak. Humans were the most spiritually gifted of all creatures, and their vital essence and yang energy were treasures.
Take the Landlady, for example. She had only been a monster for a few years, but because she regularly drained people's souls, she was already stronger than She Qingqing, who had cultivated for over three hundred years.
Then there was Zhu Xianxian. Since joining the Landlady, she had thrived. In just one month, she had eaten six people.
She Qingqing, by contrast, still had not found a suitable target.
She had always imagined that, when she killed someone for the first time, it would be a thoroughly wicked person.
"She Qingqing, do you even know you're a monster?"
Zhu Xianxian often mocked her for that idea.
Maybe I should just pick a homeless person and get it over with.
Lost in thought, She Qingqing let her attention drift. Just then, a new order for lemon black tea appeared at the drink counter.
Lemon black tea was the Internet Cafe's most popular drink. But after She Qingqing mixed the black tea powder and added ice, she found that the lemon slices were gone. "That's strange. How did we run out so quickly?"
With no other choice, She Qingqing canceled the order. A little while later, a large tattooed man came to the front desk and demanded, "Why did you cancel the lemon black tea I just ordered?"
"We're out of lemons," She Qingqing explained.
The tattooed man pointed at the counter. "Are you blind? What's that over there?"
She Qingqing turned her head and, sure enough, found the lemons sitting untouched in a corner of the counter.
That's odd.
They definitely weren't there a moment ago.
Was my veil too thick for me to see them?
She Qingqing apologized repeatedly. "I'm sorry! I'll make it for you right away."
But the tattooed man refused to let it go. "Save it! You want me to beat you up?"
"What do you want me to do, then?"
The tattooed man leered at She Qingqing. "Let me touch you, and we'll call it even."
How unreasonable!
She Qingqing's chest heaved with anger. She wanted to pull off her veil and turn the bastard to stone on the spot.
Just then, Chen Feng stepped forward and said firmly, "Come on, man. Picking on a woman like this is going too far."
The tattooed man cackled. "And who the hell are you?"
Chen Feng looked at him and shook his head inwardly.
Who laughs like that? His acting is terrible.
The tattooed man was an actor Chen Feng had recruited. A few minutes earlier, Chen Feng had approached him. "Hey, man, I work here. Here's the thing: I want to ask out the girl at the front desk, the one with the veil. Could you help me stage a little scene where I save her? I'll cover your Internet time afterward."
The tattooed man was happy to help someone with his love life, especially if it meant free Internet time. He agreed at once. "You called me your man. What else is there to say?"
"Nice! I like your attitude."
After they settled on a plan, Chen Feng waited until She Qingqing was distracted and took all the lemons from the counter. Once she canceled the order, he secretly put them back.
That gave the tattooed man a reason to make trouble.
Chen Feng's goal was to get on She Qingqing's good side, lure her outside, and have the Water Ghost ambush her. It would snap her neck just as it had last time. Then he would use She Qingqing's head to turn Zhu Xianxian to stone, killing two birds with one stone.
The problem was that the tattooed man's acting was far too over the top.
Afraid they would be found out, Chen Feng hurriedly said, "How about this? The lemon black tea is on us, and we'll give you four hours of free Internet time. Deal?"
"All right, kid. You've got guts." The tattooed man waggled his eyebrows and stressed the word "guts," as if he wanted everyone to know he and Chen Feng were in on it together.
Shit. Please, stop improvising.
Chen Feng could barely watch. There's no way anyone's falling for this.
But after the man swaggered away, She Qingqing said softly, "Thank you. Why did you help me?"
Huh? Is this actually working?
Chen Feng quickly said, "The moment I saw you, I felt a connection. Like we'd met in a past life."
He wasn't lying.
She Qingqing's voice grew quieter. "What are you saying?"
Chen Feng said earnestly, "It's true. The moment I saw you, I wanted to hold you in my hands."
That wasn't a lie either. Don't ask what he wanted to hold. He wanted to hold something, didn't he?
"Y-you..."
Watching She Qingqing squirm like a snake, Chen Feng felt his plan was halfway to success. He was just about to find an excuse to lure her outside when—
She Qingqing suddenly turned serious. "You need to leave. Now."
"Huh?"
"This place is a monster's den. A monster has its eyes on you, and you're about to die..." She Qingqing said.
"Huh?"
"You don't believe me, do you?" She Qingqing said quickly. "You're cursed. If you fall asleep, you'll die. I know a place that can break the curse. Come with me right now, and there may still be time."
"Huh?"
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