Chapter Forty: Forcibly Grafting the Mission

Zhao Nan let out a cold laugh and suddenly stopped his hand, though his staff still glimmered faintly, a new spell already brewing.

"If you were in my place, and someone ambushed you, intent on your destruction, would you show mercy? I doubt it. Am I right, President of 'Blood Shadow'... Mr. Zuo Panglong?"

"The quest for this fantasy instance is in my hands. Even if you kill me and manage to enter, you’ll receive nothing."

Amidst the haze of gunpowder, a calm, steady voice suddenly rang out.

After those words, silence swallowed the surroundings, so profound that even the quickened breaths were audible. In that frozen moment, the smoke seemed to swirl more fiercely, and for an instant, a vacuum was carved out of the air.

Twin tornadoes burst forth side by side, slicing past either side of a man’s head.

Thunderous crashes erupted as the tornadoes smashed into the rocky wall behind him, the rebounding air currents shoving his body forward.

He staggered, barely managing to steady himself after several steps, a cold bead of sweat sliding down his brow.

Zhao Nan stooped to pick up a crystal stone. Within thirty meters, the six attackers were now completely exposed. Three already lay on the ground, gulping down healing potions.

"So, you’re Zuo Panglong?" Zhao Nan scrutinized the man before him.

Squinting, Zhao Nan sized up the man stabilizing himself before him. He appeared to be in his thirties or forties, his complexion pallid—not from fear, but a natural paleness matching the rest of his skin. He was clad in shining silver armor.

Knight’s armor.

"That’s right," Zuo Panglong admitted with composure, planting his knight’s sword in the ground. "I mean you no harm."

"Who would believe that?" Zhao Nan chuckled softly, raising his palm to the sky. One after another, small fireballs floated out, and in the blink of an eye, six were spinning above his hand.

The six men, faces already scarred by the memory of such terrifying attack speed, paled visibly. Zuo Panglong hurriedly spoke, "I told you, the quest for this fantasy instance is in my hands."

"So what?"

Yes—so what?

Zuo Panglong was taken aback. The initiative now seemed to be in his opponent’s hands. Yet he was unwilling to yield so easily, and sneered, "If you want to enter the instance, you’ll have to work with me."

"If you want to live, it seems you’ll have to work with me," Zhao Nan replied, eyes narrowed.

"You think I came here just to bow to you?" Zuo Panglong scoffed.

"In that case... farewell."

The six fireballs shot out together. Qin Wulan’s mouth fell open—he had thought the sword in the ground meant a willingness to negotiate, yet his opponent simply ignored him and attacked!

In that instant, his plans were completely disrupted.

There were less than ten meters between them. The fireballs streaked through the air with frightening speed; by the time he reacted, they were already upon him.

"Commander!!"

Suddenly, a tall figure shielded Zuo Panglong. A burly man, he took the brunt of the fireballs on his back, letting them blast his flesh to ribbons without uttering a sound.

But his already low health nearly bottomed out.

"Chen Kai!"

Zuo Panglong cried out, catching the man in his arms, anxiety etched across his face.

Zhao Nan, unmoved, walked forward. The remaining four quickly formed a protective barrier around their leader, glaring fiercely.

Zuo Panglong’s gaze was equally cold as he stared at Zhao Nan, his tone icy. "Very well... I had no intention of truly harming you. But you’ve injured my closest brother—I cannot let this go!"

Zhao Nan was unfazed by the threat, though the title "Commander" did pique his curiosity. But there was no time to dwell on it, for the four men before Zuo Panglong were already charging with skills ablaze.

With a flick of his staff, a two-meter-high ice wall sprang up before his attackers. Their skills smashed into it, shattering it in the blink of an eye.

"Switch!"

Zhao Nan barked, leaping backward as Finina vaulted past him, swinging her sword down hard on the path ahead.

A massive crescent-shaped sword light crashed down. Two of the four failed to dodge, sent flying and forced to chug healing potions. The other two pressed forward, undaunted, roaring their defiance.

"Quagmire!"

As Finina leaped ahead, Zhao Nan’s staff struck the ground. The earth turned to mire, trapping the two men in sludge and slowing their movements.

Finina twisted in the air, her sword flashing into a terrifying silver arc.

One of the Sky Sword Saint’s skills—Stellar Combo! At her current level, Finina could unleash twelve consecutive strikes.

Twelve sword lights burst in unison, detonating across the two men.

Blood-red damage numbers appeared as their health plummeted at a terrifying rate.

Seeing that the two would soon be cut down by the combo, Zuo Panglong clenched his teeth. His knight’s sword flashed, and Finina’s attacks were unexpectedly redirected.

Her sword light veered toward Zuo Panglong, her body compelled by the skill’s force to attack him.

One of the knight’s skills—Light of Provocation. It forced the target to attack the caster while granting 3 to 5 seconds of invincibility, depending on skill proficiency.

Meanwhile, Chen Kai, who should have been down, had risen. His muscles bulged, axe gripped tightly—he was a berserker, ready to strike.

"So naïve..."

Zhao Nan scoffed. In the air, Finina swiftly raised her left hand and slashed—another crescent sword light tore into Chen Kai.

The Sky Sword Saint mastered both hands. With two swords, Finina could execute identical attacks simultaneously; even unarmed, she could unleash skills.

Chen Kai’s body was brutally ripped open by the sword light, a massive wound stretching from his left shoulder to right thigh. Blood sprayed as he collapsed.

Now Zuo Panglong’s face changed. Under the effects of Light of Provocation, his own invincibility rendered him immobile.

Finina’s sword struck his neck with a metallic clang but failed to penetrate.

In a flash, just as his invincibility was about to expire, Zuo Panglong’s eyes darted—not afraid at all.

But Finina’s sword did not move an inch further, simply resting against his neck. Zuo Panglong was baffled.

Then his face changed drastically—his body was suddenly bound by several thick vines.

Glancing up, he saw the mage’s staff planted in the ground, pointed directly at him.

A miscalculation!

"Commander!!"

His men, shocked and enraged, moved to help, but Zhao Nan snapped coldly, "Anyone moves, and I won’t guarantee their head stays on their shoulders! Not even instant healing potions will save them!"

"You—!"

"Stand down!" Zhao Nan’s shout froze them in place.

"Listen to him. Don’t act rashly," Zuo Panglong said, strangely calm. He looked at Zhao Nan and sighed, "You’re strong. The two of you have suppressed us so completely we can’t even resist."

Zhao Nan walked slowly forward, unmoved by the hollow compliment—it meant nothing under these circumstances.

He approached Zuo Panglong and seized both his wrists, lifting them.

"What are you doing!"

Now genuine fear flickered in Zuo Panglong’s eyes. He tried to struggle, but the vines seemed to drain his strength, leaving him weak.

Controlling his hands, Zhao Nan tapped open Zuo Panglong’s bracelet, and all information spilled out before his eyes.

After the first update, such forceful peeking would become impossible—player panels would be bound to individuals, viewable only by their own eyes.

A player’s bracelet held all their secrets. Zuo Panglong broke into a cold sweat. It felt as though every secret he owned was being laid bare.

"Damn you, what are you doing? Stop!"

"Be quiet, or you’ll lose your head."

Finina pressed her sword against Zuo Panglong’s neck, drawing blood.

Though Zuo Panglong seethed with rage, his life was in their hands—resistance was futile. He could only watch helplessly as Zhao Nan perused his secrets.

Zhao Nan focused intently on the information. Since the other had come with murderous intent, Zhao Nan showed no mercy.

Zuo Panglong, character level 12. Profession: Divine Guardian Knight (Iron rank)—a hidden class, as expected.

Not unique, but still rare and powerful among hidden professions.

Attributes, equipment, wealth, items—Zhao Nan left nothing unchecked. Finally, he examined the quest panel.

Only one quest was listed, its text in gold—the quest for this fantasy instance.

"Quest: Seek the Fountain of Youth. Details: The Witch of Wind Valley desires eternal youth. Anyone who finds the legendary Fountain of Youth, uses the Moon Horn to summon her pet Ozanik on the night of the full moon, and offers the fountain’s water will receive the witch’s counsel. Difficulty: Medium. Rewards: Resurrection Stone x1, 3,000 experience, 1,000 gold, Witch’s Blessing."

The so-called Moon Horn was in Qin Wulan’s backpack. After some thought, Zhao Nan initiated a forced transaction.

Not only the Moon Horn, but all items in Zuo Panglong’s pack were transferred at once.

"Zhao Nan! Very well, I’ll remember this name!" Zuo Panglong ground out, as if making a vow.

Having seized everything, Zhao Nan was unconcerned by his enmity. Guild tokens were bought and sold in the open market; the highest bidder won. But Zuo Panglong’s subsequent actions had been petty, even murderous—Zhao Nan felt no remorse.

"Hope you still believe in the afterlife," Zhao Nan said indifferently, pressing his bracelet to Zuo Panglong’s.

Two identical interfaces appeared before them.

"Would you like to transfer the quest?"

"Impossible..." Zuo Panglong was stunned—quest transfer! It was possible! That meant he’d lose his only bargaining chip.

Zhao Nan confirmed, and forced Zuo Panglong to do the same.

The quest was being transferred. Zuo Panglong’s face went ashen, his eyes murderous.

"Ding! Quest transfer complete!"

The system’s voice rang in both their ears. Zhao Nan smiled sincerely, "If there’s a next life, try to be a better man."

Suddenly, a barrage of arrows whistled toward Zhao Nan from behind. Alarmed, both men leapt aside.

Behind them, dozens of figures crowded into the narrow corridor.