Chapter Six: The Task of Proposing Marriage

For Zhao Nan now, it was as if he had participated in the game’s closed beta, re-entering the world with a trove of strategies at his disposal. As long as a tester wasn’t too unlucky and planned their early upgrades carefully, they would rarely end up doing poorly. Even before the first update, Zhao Nan had already begun planning his future path. In this life, with his extraordinary base spirit attribute, he didn’t hesitate to choose the mage class, and he also possessed a miraculous double experience card. Such an opportunity had to be exploited to the fullest.

Prior to his rebirth, three years of gameplay had revealed most of the early secrets, including the details of many hidden classes. In “Global Monster Online,” beyond the initial starting class chosen by players, there existed numerous hidden classes. These were categorized as regular hidden classes, special hidden classes, and unique special hidden classes.

Those fortunate enough to become unique special class holders were all among the world’s top one hundred players. Even those who attained a special hidden class could at the very least squeeze into the world’s top five hundred.

Zhao Nan knew some of the quest routes for these special hidden classes, but if he was going to pursue one, he was determined to do so perfectly.

“Duan Tianlang… I hope you weren’t lying…” With apprehension in his heart, Zhao Nan wandered through the city for quite a while before finally finding an unremarkable weapons shop.

This was the final step to obtain the quest: proposing marriage to the weapons shop owner’s daughter…

Duan Tianlang had once been ranked among the world’s top fifty powerhouses. Once, in a drunken moment, he had revealed the secret to his extraordinary strength, finally letting players understand why he had an NPC wife.

Of course, Duan Tianlang had always refused to let his wife appear in public. Some speculated that his NPC wife must be hideous.

To such rumors, Duan Tianlang always maintained a tacit silence, as if it were a taboo subject.

But as one of the top fifty elites, no one dared mock him openly; at most, they whispered behind his back.

Pulling his thoughts back, Zhao Nan pushed open the old pine door with a creak and steeled himself to step inside. Having spent hours just reaching this point—and likely fallen behind many others—there was no turning back now.

Even if she turned out to be hideous, he could always seek out the legendary Spring of Changing Faces in the Elven Forest once he was strong enough.

“What do you want?” Before Zhao Nan stood a terrifying-looking middle-aged man—the weapons shop owner, whose appearance was truly intimidating.

Zhao Nan’s heart sank. A man like that was unlikely to have a beautiful daughter…

Well, a child doesn’t shun an ugly mother, nor a husband an unattractive wife; one who aspires to greatness does not fuss over trifles!

“Hello, are you Mr. Haidian?” Zhao Nan inquired.

“I am, but I don’t know you,” Haidian replied, a wary gleam in his eyes. “What do you want from me?”

“I… I wish to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage, Mr. Haidian!” Zhao Nan stammered.

Though it was just a quest and he had already decided to sacrifice certain things, the moment the words left his mouth, Zhao Nan couldn’t help but feel a bit too eager for success.

But since he’d already spoken, he could only press on.

Haidian’s eyebrows shot up, then he burst out laughing. “Marriage? Have you ever even met my daughter? Do you know her?”

Zhao Nan shook his head.

“Go home, boy,” Haidian said, dismissing him instantly.

“Please wait, I am sincere!” Zhao Nan pleaded, forcing himself to continue.

“Sincere?” Haidian snorted, clearly unconvinced. “Then go gather a stalk of moonwort and show me your sincerity.”

“Ding! Would you like to accept Haidian’s trial quest: Gather a stalk of moonwort?”

“Accept!”

Exiting the weapons shop, Zhao Nan let out a slow breath. Whether or not he’d regret this later, at least he had taken the first step.

Shaking his head, he slipped quietly into the city.

Time in “Global Monster Online” nearly matched Earth’s solar cycle. After the first update, Zhao Nan’s region was at dusk; now, it was past ten at night.

The streets were still filled with players wandering about.

Watching them interrogate every NPC they came across, Zhao Nan couldn’t help but smile wryly. He, too, had once been just like them.

He gave himself a silent pep talk and began planning to tackle his current quest.

Thanks to the five silver coins he’d earned from monster hunting before the update, Zhao Nan was able to purchase some supplies.

“One silver coin spent, received 5 Minor Mana Potions.”
“One silver coin spent, received 5 Elven Biscuits.”
“One silver coin spent, received 1 Suburban Map of Eastsource City.”

At the city gate, an electronic voice sounded: “Monsters are 20% stronger at night. Player Zhao Nan, do you confirm you want to leave the city?”

“Confirm.”

“Enjoy your game!”

With a thunderous rumble, the city gate opened. Zhao Nan took a deep breath and strode through.

“Is that guy crazy? Leaving the city at this hour! Doesn’t he know if his health hits zero, he’ll really die?”

“Why do you care? Mind your own business! Maybe he’s read too many web novels and thinks he’ll stumble into some miracle!”

“You might be right. I’ve already heard of players trying to solo monsters and bosses, only to be killed instantly! Frightening!”

…

The outskirts of Eastsource City had changed completely—highways were now yellow dirt paths, streetlights replaced by towering trees. The five hundred meters beyond the city walls were still a viable safe zone.

Along the road ahead, every so often there floated a basketball-sized orb, casting a faint glow as a nighttime light source. Still, visibility was poor. Because monsters were stronger at night, most players chose to return to safety.

But nighttime monster hunting also granted a 20% experience bonus. In Zhao Nan’s memory, all the top experts of the previous world had been night-hunting fanatics.

The fact that these players dared venture out at night, even in such a dangerous early game, explained why they later became legends.

Courage, and self-confidence.

“First, I’ll head to where the zombie dogs roam. If I’m lucky, I can complete several zombie dog quests before dawn, then on to the shambling zombies, then rabid rabbits, then gather moonwort, then circle back to hunt Chichi Cats, and finally return to the city!”

After checking his map, Zhao Nan tore open an elven biscuit—enough to keep his energy up all day and stave off hunger.

Chewing the bland biscuit, Zhao Nan quickly left the safe zone, heading into the monster-infested wilderness…

……

PS: Since this is a realistic game world, there’s no logging off to rest. However, players do experience hunger. If the hunger meter drops, it affects attack power, stamina, judgment, and reaction time.