Chapter 121: Xinran’s Death (1/2)

By the time I returned to the workshop, it was already past 10 pm. So instead of grinding for levels, I purchased some food ingredients such as Garlic, Green Pepper and Chicken Meat and made some Rank 5 Magic Consumables for sale. It wasn’t a lot of money, but I was okay with covering some of my living expenses.

I went to bed at midnight. From here on, I promised myself not to stay up late unless there was a guild event.

The next day, early morning.

“Black Threads, Black Threads!”

Yamete’s slightly unhinged voice entered my room from outside. “Does anyone know where I can buy some Black Threads! It’s the only material I’m still lacking to make a level 50 Dark Steel–grade leather armor…”

Du Thirteen suggested, “Maybe buy some common threads and put them in ink?”

Gui Guzi also chipped in. “Or you can try casting a spell. Just say these magical words: Sink into darkness, you threads!”

Beiming Xue: “...”

It was at this moment I walked out of the room and said, “Calm down, I know a place where you can buy some Black Threads.”

“Really? Where?” Mamate’s eyes lit up.

“Hmm…” I thought for a moment before replying, “Yeah, I think there’s an NPC at Frost Mound that sells Black Threads. You won’t be able to buy them by yourself though. Just leave it to me, I’ll make the purchase once I log into the game. How many do you want?”

“40 stacks, please!”

“Not a problem. Just wait for good news at Floating Ice City.”

“Okay!”

I logged in after eating breakfast.

Swoosh!

I set out immediately after repairing my equipment and stocking up on potions. It took me only fifteen minutes to pass through Frost Forest and arrive at Frost Mound.

It was quite early in the morning, so the morning fog hadn’t dissipated yet. The frozen domain of death was chock-full of undeads, and I could smell the disgusting blood pools long before I saw them.

Beep!

Lin Yixin sent me a message: “Lu Chen, I found legguards that boost dark attacks. You want them? I can sell them to you cheap!”

“Oh? Send me a screenshot, please!”

“Okay!”

A few seconds later, I opened the screenshot Lin Yixin had sent me. I was surprised by how good they were. Silver-grade!

Bone-shatter Legguards (Silver-grade)

Defense: 70

Strength: +24

Stamina: +20

Passive: Increase user’s dark attacks by 50

Level Requirement: 60

“Fuck, this is amazing…” I couldn’t help but ask, “Where did you find such powerful Silver-grade legguards, Yiyi?”

“Well, Qingqing and my people challenged a Level 65 boss around 6 am in this morning, and they almost got party wiped. So, they wanted me to act as the tank and the DPS. This is my reward for helping them out…”

“It can’t be cheap, right?”

“100 gold!”

“OMG, have a heart please…”

“200 gold then. That’s the most I can afford!”

“Deal. Where are you right now? I’ll bring it to you right away.”

“I’m at Frost Mound right now.”

“Okay, see you!”

I was very pleased with this unexpected boon. No matter how you cut it, 200 gold for such powerful Silver-grade legguards was a sweet deal through and through. Not only did they give 70 Defense, 24 Strength and 20 Stamina, they added 50 damage to all dark attacks. It was worth even more than plus 50 Strength! This equipment was only average to Lin Yixin, but it was a god-tier item to me!

Hopeful and excited, I ran all the way toward Frost Mound. It was at this moment a sorrowful ring suddenly entered my ears.

Ding~!

System Notice: You have failed the quest “Promise” (SSS)!

What? I failed a… quest? What… what’s going on?

I rubbed my eyes just in case I was seeing things, but there was no denying it. The quest had turned dark gray in my quest list. Somehow, my Epic-rank quest with Xinran had ended in failure!

Did something happen to Xinran?

I suddenly had a bad feeling about this.

I passed through a forest and heard a strange, crunchy noise all of a sudden. A Night Creature was currently feeding next to a blood pool. I knew the NPC’s back well, it was none other than my trainer, Undead Swordsman Suren!

I quickly ran up to him to see what he was doing. I was utterly shocked by what I saw.

A beautiful girl was lying on the grass next to the blood pool. She was dead, and her face was full of fear. Worse, her arm had been stripped off its flesh. It was the work of Suren.

Xinran… She was Xinran...

I felt like my heart was being twisted by a knife. A Night Creature had consumed Xinran! There was a tiny bamboo basket on the ground, and its contents—bread and fruits—were all over the place. It was what Xinran was staring at until the moment she died.

Xinran once told me that she would visit me at Frost Mound, but now...

Fury suddenly exploded from my heart like a volcano. I pulled out the Ghost Ice Soul and growled. “You damn monster! I’ll kill you!”

Swhoosh!

I struck Suren’s head with Pardon and Desperate Gambit!

MISS!