Chapter Fourteen: Proof of Honesty

The valley where the evening primrose grows is entirely devoid of monsters. However, the gases released by the primrose induce hallucinations. After collecting the quest items, the two of them relied on Xu Yang’s Sage abilities to easily retrace their steps back to the entrance.

“Um… Do we have to use the same method to get out again?” Xu Yang said hesitantly, sticking out her tongue as she gazed at the stampeding wild bulls.

“If you have a better idea…” Zhao Nan’s reply dashed Xu Yang’s hopes as he once more stepped outside the safe zone, luring another wild bull using the same technique.

Having witnessed Zhao Nan do this once before, Xu Yang was much calmer this time. It wasn’t until she saw Zhao Nan climb onto the bull’s back that she finally relaxed. This time, she was mentally prepared; when Zhao Nan lifted her onto the bull, she wasn’t nearly as flustered as before. At the very least, she could observe her surroundings. She leaned against Zhao Nan’s chest, her body inexplicably soft. Now that the quest was over and her mood had lightened, the friction of his chest against her made a blush creep up her ears.

Xu Yang glanced sideways, seeing that Zhao Nan was focused solely on controlling the bull’s horns. She let out a quiet sigh of relief.

But why am I worried he’ll notice something? He’s still so young… Stop it, Xu Yang, what are you thinking!

Throughout the journey, Xu Yang found herself caught in a peculiar turmoil.

They made it safely out of the wild bull area. The sun had already begun to climb high in the sky, and Xu Yang’s quest time was nearly over.

But asking a Sage with little combat ability to traverse the wild rabbit area alone seemed unrealistic. Left with no other choice, Zhao Nan abandoned his plan to clear out the Chirping Cat quest, and the two headed back to Dongyuan City.

“You know… I can go back by myself. I’ve troubled you enough already…” Xu Yang lowered her head, unable to meet Zhao Nan’s eyes. Through their time together, she’d noticed that Zhao Nan’s actions always seemed purposeful and decisive, never hesitant.

“You saved my life, after all. Escorting you back is nothing,” Zhao Nan shook his head, though his gaze was tinged with anticipation. His true intention was to see what reward a divine-tier quest would yield.

If that old woman could issue such a rare quest, perhaps she’d have other, even better tasks. Divine-tier quests were the stuff of dreams; that was what truly stirred Zhao Nan’s heart.

“Beep beep beep.”

Xu Yang’s bracelet suddenly chimed; she exclaimed in delight, “It’s an email from the school! Thank goodness, everyone’s safe! Wow, my parents are unharmed too! I’m so relieved!”

“Is that so? Congratulations… They’re not in Dongyuan City?”

If they were in the same city, surely they’d have met up by now.

Xu Yang shook her head. “I came here for a job on my own, didn’t want to rely on family connections… By the way, Zhao Nan, what about your family?”

“I have no family,” Zhao Nan replied calmly.

“Did they…?” Xu Yang covered her mouth, looking at him with sorrow.

Zhao Nan shook his head. “Not exactly. They left a long time ago.”

“Oh… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

Zhao Nan laughed softly. “It’s nothing… In hindsight, perhaps it’s better. They didn’t have to endure such cruelty. Maybe, for them, that’s real happiness.”

Yet that smile made Xu Yang feel the urge to cry… Suddenly, she felt an inexplicable compulsion to truly understand Zhao Nan.

Already, Zhao Nan had walked several paces ahead, only to turn and impatiently call out, “Why are you dawdling? It’s nearly noon.”

---

“I know, wait up… Can’t you be a little more polite? You problem student!”

…

The area of the wild rabbits was now bustling with players forming parties to hunt monsters. There were groups of two or three, some with several, a few with a dozen or more, all experimenting with ways to hunt more efficiently.

Occasionally, disputes broke out, even fights over monster kills were common.

“What are they doing? The monsters respawn after dying; is there any need to fight over them?”

“Hunger,” Zhao Nan replied unexpectedly.

“Hunger?”

Zhao Nan nodded. “Do you think this is just a virtual game? That you can log off whenever you’re hungry to grab a bite? Now, all of humanity lives in this world. Everyone starts with nothing. Besides losing all your health, there’s another, more immediate way to die here.”

“Starvation…” Xu Yang realized instantly.

“NPCs can provide food, but only if you have money. Without money, nobody will pay you any mind. You can try to steal, but even the lowliest NPC is at least level 15. Even the children can cripple players. For now, apart from completing quests and hunting monsters for money, players have no other way to earn.”

“But can’t they just wait a bit?”

“Hunger makes people desperate. As a teacher, haven’t you heard the story of parents eating their own children?” Zhao Nan’s gaze was icy.

Of course she knew… She just didn’t want to think about it.

Xu Yang fell silent, barely speaking another word to Zhao Nan as they entered the city gates and made their way toward the old woman’s abode.

Most players were busy with their own tasks, not paying attention to their movements. After all, in the past day or two, Dongyuan City had seen plenty of battered, wounded people wandering its streets.

At last, by noon, Xu Yang arrived at the old woman’s home.

The place no longer resembled Dongyuan City; instead, a treehouse nestled at the root of a towering ancient tree. The surrounding area was filled with similar giant trees, devoid of any NPC inhabitants.

“Zhao Nan, aren’t you coming in?”

“I’ll wait here,” Zhao Nan leaned against the doorframe. “Since you’re meant to complete this alone, best not to give her any reason to feel suspicious.”

Xu Yang nodded and pushed open the door.

Zhao Nan had his own reasoning. NPCs who controlled special quests were highly intelligent; if he accompanied Xu Yang inside, it would be easy for the old woman to sense ulterior motives.

“Dealing with these system-created races is truly difficult…” Zhao Nan mused quietly.

…

“Old woman, here’s what you asked for!”

“Evening primrose! So you really managed to collect it, little girl!” Before Xu Yang stood an ugly, ancient crone clad in a huge black robe, looking every bit the medieval witch. Her smile was ghastly, her voice sharp as a serpent’s hiss: “I’m truly grateful!”

Xu Yang quickly shook her head. “It was nothing, really.”

The old woman asked, “Can you tell me how you managed to collect it?”

---

Xu Yang considered, then recounted the entire process without any concealment.

“So it wasn’t your own strength alone that got it?” the old woman remarked blandly.

Xu Yang didn’t mind, sighing, “Honestly, if it were just me, I might never have reached the place. If not for Zhao Nan, I doubt I’d have survived.”

“Oh? And where is he?”

“He’s waiting outside.”

“Bring him in. I have questions for him.”

The door creaked open; Zhao Nan entered, glanced at the two, nodded to Xu Yang, then stood before the old woman, neither humble nor arrogant. “You wanted to see me?”

A gleam flashed in the old woman’s cloudy eyes as she pointed at Xu Yang. “Little girl, step outside for a moment. I have something to discuss with this young man.”

“Zhao Nan…”

“Do as she says,” Zhao Nan replied softly.

Once Xu Yang left, the old woman fixed Zhao Nan with a probing gaze. “Why did you help her?”

“Because of her kindness,” Zhao Nan answered after a brief pause, voicing his true thoughts. “I suffered a minor injury once, and she used an instant healing potion on me. Her kindness moved me. Besides, I had a quest to collect evening primrose myself, so we journeyed together.”

“Now that the primrose is collected, why did you continue to follow her?” The old woman’s voice grew deep and her gaze intense.

Zhao Nan thought: Here it comes!

Countless players in his past life had warned, through painful experience, never to try clever tricks with certain special NPCs.

Honesty! Only honesty could win their favor.

Zhao Nan exhaled, holding nothing back. “Opportunity. Xu Yang received this quest from you; I wondered if I might also obtain something from you. Of course, it was just a gamble, but if there’s a chance, I won’t let it slip.”

“Your candor has earned my respect, honored Chosen One.” The old woman placed her hands before her and bowed slightly to Zhao Nan. Without waiting for him to respond, she called aloud, “Little girl, come in!”

When Xu Yang returned, the old woman approached her with a smile. “I have a map here that will be useful to you. Take it as my thanks for collecting the evening primrose.”

“This…”

“Accept it, it’s her goodwill,” Zhao Nan reminded instantly.

“Thank you so much, old woman!”

The old woman laughed softly, then turned to Zhao Nan. She produced a small star-shaped badge from her robe. “I have nothing of great value, only this ‘Proof of Honesty.’ If you don’t mind, please wear it.”

Proof of Honesty (Level 0): No requirements to equip. Only obtainable from certain special hermits. Cannot be dropped. Increases the wearer’s favorability with natives by 20%.

So it was this legendary item, famous for boosting NPC favorability.