Chapter 66
[Merchant level has reached Lv7. New items available for exchange in the mall: Red-skinned Peanuts, Pepper Powder, Shampoo (Anti-Dandruff). For details, please check the “Wholesale Market.”]
[Special Skill “Remote Item Retrieval” has been upgraded to Lv6. For details, please check the skill panel.]
[Personal storage slots +1. Current slots: 11]
[Normal Task Refresh Card +1]
[Please select a delivery address…]
This time leveling up, he unlocked three new items as usual.
Seeing the “Pepper Powder,” Tang Yu’an’s eyes lit up.
In cold weather, drinking a bowl of soup with pepper powder warms up the whole body!
As for the other rewards… Huh? How did the “Remote Item Retrieval” skill continue to upgrade? This is different from what they speculated!
Could it be that the distance increased to 100,000 kilometers?
That’s too far! Tang Yu’an remembered from science programs that from the capital city to Russia’s capital is only 5,000 kilometers. What concept is 100,000 kilometers?
Tang Yu’an was a bit curious and couldn’t help but open the skill panel to check.
[Remote Item Retrieval Lv6]
[Description: Within a straight-line distance of 10,000 kilometers from the shop, the merchant can remotely retrieve and place any goods from the grocery store, with no cooldown time.]
[Advanced Effect: After retrieving an item, it can be remotely placed at any location within one meter of oneself, achieved through visual targeting.
(This skill level cannot exceed the merchant’s level and cannot be downgraded when granted to employees.)]
[Upgrade Method: Upgrades as the merchant’s level increases]
Tang Yu’an looked at the skill description, and his eyes lit up.
He could remotely place items!
Previously, when using this skill, items would appear directly in his hand. Now, after upgrading to Lv6, he could remotely place the items he retrieved!
Tang Yu’an really wanted to try it immediately, but with Mingzhu and her son present, it wasn’t appropriate to experiment.
Due to his brief daze, Xiao Bao looked at him with curiosity and inquiry in his eyes.
Tang Yu’an smiled at him, reached out to touch his fuzzy head, then stood up and said, “Sister Mingzhu, have you been waiting here for a long time?”
Although curious about what Tang Yu’an had given her son to eat, Mingzhu didn’t ask. Hearing his words, she shook her head: “No, we just arrived when we met you.”
Actually, she had been waiting for an hour, but there was no need to let them know.
“Are you going down the mountain?” She glanced at Zhou Qi and Old Li. Zhou Qi nodded to her, while Old Li looked indifferent.
“Yes,” Tang Yu’an replied. “Would you like to go together?”
He remembered that Mingzhu and her son seemed to live in the second outpost.
Mingzhu hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “Okay.”
“Did that Chen Liu continue to bother you?” On the way down the mountain, Tang Yu’an asked as they walked.
Hearing this question, a strange expression appeared on Mingzhu’s face.
“That bad guy died!” Xiao Bao eagerly answered.
Tang Yu’an paused, couldn’t help but look back at Zhou Qi. It was Zhou Qi who continued to ask, “How did he die?”
“He kept laughing and then was beaten to death!” Xiao Bao said.
Seeing her son not explaining clearly, Mingzhu had to elaborate: “He seemed to suddenly go crazy, laughing nonstop. People in the outpost were afraid he’d attract the mutated snake, so they acted.”
“They might have been too heavy-handed, and he died…”
They said it was accidental, but likely people in the outpost had long been displeased with Chen Liu, so they took the opportunity to get rid of him.
Actually, this matter had nothing to do with them anymore because she had taken her son to another outpost that day to make a living.
Unexpectedly, the next day she heard from people going up the mountain that now in the outpost, rumors were spreading that she had awakened an ability to drive people insane.
Because besides Chen Liu, other villagers had seen another person who had stopped her and her son suddenly start crying, and then he fell down the cliff and died.
Now people in the outpost were looking at her with strange eyes.
Mingzhu was at a loss, but she also felt that perhaps she could take this opportunity to return to the outpost and retrieve the things she had left behind.
Of course, she didn’t say these things out loud.
She walked in the middle of the group with her son. She was somewhat silent at first, but Tang Yu’an kept engaging her in conversation.
Because his words were mixed with useful knowledge, Mingzhu unconsciously became absorbed, not only listening attentively but also engaging in dialogue.
In such exchanges, Tang Yu’an unknowingly collected experience points from the mother and son.
Lv7 (5/140).
When they return to the Desolate city, it won’t be so easy to gain experience points… Just as Tang Yu’an was feeling a bit regretful, a system prompt popped up.
[Employee “Xiao Cao” completed a profitable transaction with a regular customer. Points +10, Experience +1]
Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but smile.
With Xiao Cao around, perhaps he didn’t need to worry too much.
[Employee “Xiao Cao” completed a profitable transaction with a new customer. Points +9, Experience +3]
[Employee “Xiao Cao” completed a profitable transaction with a regular customer. Points +1, Experience +1]
[…]
As evening approached, Shi Tou’s “barber shop” probably reopened. Every time Tang Yu’an walked a certain distance, he saw experience points notifications popping up, making him almost unable to suppress his smile.
Because it only required 10 experience points, Xiao Cao’s employee level quickly rose to Lv1.
Tang Yu’an generously rewarded her with 10 points and unlocked a new item for her—Pepper Powder.
According to the original plan, he should have unlocked millet.
But after seeing the newly unlocked pepper powder, which could be exchanged at 1 point for 1 gram, he changed his mind on the spot.
The wasteland nights are as cold as deep winter; pepper powder is excellent for dispelling cold, and since it looks like fine sand, it’s less conspicuous than salt.
Later, he could design a guidance task; anyway, Xiao Cao probably didn’t have time to exchange for pepper powder yet.
As for dangling an unreleased item like “fuel oil” as a carrot, as he did with Chi Hao?
Tang Yu’an didn’t do that.
Because it wasn’t necessary; the items she could exchange already had enough appeal to Xiao Cao. For survival, she was highly motivated to attract customers and do business.
Moreover, Brother Qi said that if they stimulated her too much, she might take reckless risks, which would be counterproductive.
Tang Yu’an was about to exit the interface when several figures blocked their way.
It turned out that, unknowingly, they had reached the second outpost.
“Mingzhu, we heard you awakened an ability?”
Blocking them were several men. Tang Yu’an recognized them; when Chen Liu was beating Mingzhu and her son that day, these people were among the onlookers. They were likely Chen Liu’s associates.
Mingzhu’s face turned slightly pale, but she straightened her back and said, “I’m here to take back my own things. I won’t stay here anymore. Don’t force me to take action!”
Tang Yu’an blinked. Sister Mingzhu awakened an ability?
Then, unexpectedly, he noticed that Xiao Bao, who had been following them, had disappeared at some point.
He glanced at the map and found that the boy hadn’t followed them into the outpost but was hiding in a spot in the woods along the mountain path.
“You mean these things?”
Those men placed a basket on the ground containing miscellaneous items; Tang Yu’an even saw two books.
Mingzhu wanted to step forward to take them but was blocked by one of the men.
“We’ve never seen an ability that can make people laugh and cry. Why don’t you show us today?”
Tang Yu’an was stunned.
Making people laugh and cry… Why does that sound so familiar?
Mingzhu bit her lower lip. Her gaze involuntarily fell on Old Li.
Actually, what made her decide to come back and get her things was the old hunter from the Desolate city. She knew he was powerful. She hoped these bastards would spare her because she was walking with this old hunter.
But obviously, she overestimated the deterrent power of the old hunter and underestimated the audacity of these people.
“What’s going on?”
The guards in the outpost, who usually only defended and rarely intervened, now walked over.
Hope rose in Mingzhu’s heart.
She just wanted to take back her things. They might be worthless to others, but they were belongings she had accumulated over a long time…
“Haha, nothing’s going on. We saw that Mingzhu was back and wanted to see her ability!”
Hearing the commotion, other people in the outpost gathered around.
Mainly because what happened to Chen Liu was too bizarre; everyone was curious whether it was Mingzhu’s doing.
The guard ignored those ruffians and looked at Tang Yu’an, with a gentle and respectful attitude: “Did nothing happen?”
Tang Yu’an knew that the two people who had been monitoring them went to notify the guards; he could see this clearly on the mini-map.
Perhaps Sister Hong Li had sent guards to follow them not only to monitor but also to protect them.
Looking at the guard, Tang Yu’an hesitated.
Indeed, he could let the guards teach these ruffians a lesson, so they’d stop bothering Mingzhu.
But would that be effective?
They couldn’t have the guards kill these ruffians. After they left, Mingzhu and Xiao Bao would still be harassed, unless they left Jufeng Mountain entirely.
So the best way was to help Mingzhu stand up for herself.
Tang Yu’an’s mind raced, and he quickly made a decision.
“Nothing happened.”
Under Mingzhu’s hopeful gaze, Tang Yu’an shook his head, then looked at her and said, “Sister Mingzhu, did you awaken an ability? What kind of ability is it?”
Originally a bit intimidated by the guards, the ruffians couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this.
“It’s an ability that can make people laugh and cry uncontrollably. Those affected act as if they’re crazy. We really want to see it!”
They looked at Mingzhu maliciously.
“Mingzhu, we kindly helped you keep these things. Can’t you show us?”
They said they wanted to see it, but actually, they didn’t believe Mingzhu had such abilities.
They had lost two of their buddies inexplicably, so they needed someone to blame, and the helpless Mingzhu was the best target.
Hearing this, Tang Yu’an could only think: I’ve never heard such a special request!
Since you want it so much, then let me fulfill your wish.
Tang Yu’an returned the “Happy Marble” to the grocery store warehouse, then fixed his gaze on the loudest of the ruffians.
Remote Item Retrieval skill, activate!
No one noticed that a bead silently appeared in mid-air, then… just happened to fall into that person’s collar.
Ah, this…
Tang Yu’an widened his eyes slightly.
He only wanted the guy to laugh for ten minutes!
But… Well, forget it, this could be considered as evil meeting its due.
The ruffian who first blocked Mingzhu felt a chill on the back of his neck, as if some insect had fallen into his clothes.
He instinctively reached back to scratch his back.
Because his shirt was tucked into his pants, the bead didn’t immediately fall to the ground after entering his clothes but rolled back and forth inside as he moved.
Repeatedly touching him, he couldn’t catch the bead.
And the smile on his face gradually became uncontrollable. By the time he realized the problem, his body was no longer under his control.
“Ha ha ha ha—”
Under everyone’s gaze, he started laughing weirdly.
“Ha ha—ha ha ha—”
He laughed so hard he bent over, and the Happy Marble that had fallen into his clothes was quickly shaken out.
Tang Yu’an noticed this and quickly pulled Zhou Qi and Old Li back to avoid accidental contact with the Happy Marble.
Fortunately, the people closest to the ruffian were his own companions.
Soon, a second person was affected.
He was hit on the calf by the Happy Marble. Although it was just a light touch and he didn’t feel much, he quickly started laughing as well.
“Ha ha—ha ha ha—”
“Ah ha ha ha—”
The two of them held their stomachs, laughing together, but from their tear-filled eyes, one could see deep fear.
They were afraid they would be beaten to death like Chen Liu for laughing uncontrollably.
“Ha ha ha—ha ha ha ha—”
The eerie laughter echoed in the outpost.
When Tang Yu’an pulled Zhou Qi and the others back, the onlookers had already retreated far away, afraid of being affected.
Around Mingzhu, except for the four ruffians, everyone had cleared out; no one dared to approach her.
The two laughing ruffians crawled toward her feet while laughing, eyes full of pleading, but they couldn’t even utter words to beg for mercy due to their uncontrollable laughter.
Mingzhu was stunned and at a loss, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but wonder.
Could it be… she had awakened an ability she didn’t even know about?
“Ha ha ha—ha ha ha ha—”
Amid the eerie laughter of their companions, the only two ruffians still standing panicked. One of them finally couldn’t stand it and turned to run.
How could Tang Yu’an let him run away?
But his remote placement ability only worked within one meter, and if the ruffian ran beyond this range, plus he had already pushed through the crowd, it would be easy to harm the innocent…
“Thud—”
A metal piece suddenly hit the fleeing man’s knee, causing him to fall flat on his face.
Tang Yu’an was startled and glanced at Zhou Qi.
Was it Brother Qi who acted?
Zhou Qi nodded to him. Tang Yu’an smiled, quickly took a few steps forward, blending into the crowd as if watching the excitement, his eyes fixed on that person, then…
Remote Item Retrieval, activate!
The blue “Sadness Marble” fell, accurately hitting the man.
The ruffian, who was just about to get up after falling, suddenly felt a surge of sadness, and then, under everyone’s gaze, he covered his face and started crying.
“Woo woo…”
“Woo woo woo…”
He cried very sadly, as if he had suffered a great grievance.
It’s the kind of ability that makes people cry!
The crowd exclaimed and scattered in all directions, leaving the man sobbing on the ground.
Tang Yu’an had already picked up the Sadness Marble that had rolled to the side.
“You… what’s wrong?” He pretended to help the ruffian, but actually slipped the Sadness Marble under him.
At this moment, the guard quickly came over and pulled him away to prevent him from being hurt.
“Woo woo woo—woo woo woo—”
“Ha ha—ha ha ha ha—”
The sounds of crying and laughing intertwined, and everyone’s eyes involuntarily fell on Mingzhu.
She looked so weak and thin, but in the eyes of those witnessing this moment, she was terrifying.
Mingzhu couldn’t help but doubt herself until she saw Tang Yu’an mischievously wink at her.
In that instant, Mingzhu understood everything.
The one who truly had an ability was this young man!
“Please spare me! I won’t dare again!” The remaining ruffian didn’t dare to run, kowtowing to Mingzhu on the ground.
While Mingzhu was at a loss, Tang Yu’an stepped forward.
“Sister Mingzhu, please forgive them. I believe they won’t dare again.”
Mingzhu pressed her lips tightly, not knowing how to respond, but her silent appearance made her seem even more terrifying to others.
Tang Yu’an thought for a moment and asked, “How long will they keep laughing?”
The onlookers pricked up their ears.
Mingzhu finally spoke: “I don’t know.”
She truly didn’t know; even now, she was still confused.
“Is it because you just awakened your ability and can’t control it?” Tang Yu’an continued.
Mingzhu looked at him and hesitantly nodded.
Tang Yu’an clicked his tongue twice, picked up the basket that belonged to Mingzhu from the ground, handed it to her, and said, “Then let’s not worry about them. After all, they asked for it.”
Looking at the smile on the young man’s face, Mingzhu felt a sourness in her nose and couldn’t speak.
She took the basket and gratefully said, “Thank you.”
“We’re going down the mountain now. Take care, sister.” Before leaving, Tang Yu’an greeted the guards, asking them to help look after Mingzhu and her son.
The guards nodded repeatedly, but their expressions clearly said: She has such a powerful ability; does she need us to look after her?
Mingzhu saw them off to the outpost’s exit.
Until their figures disappeared on the mountain path, she turned to find her son.
As she walked, people avoided her.
Those who had a decent relationship with her showed ingratiating smiles but didn’t dare to get close. Those who had conflicts with her avoided her like the plague.
Seeing this, Mingzhu couldn’t help but think…
Perhaps she could continue to survive in this outpost?
*
They had walked far away, but the intermittent sounds of laughter and crying could still be heard.
Old Li, who had been silent all this time, finally couldn’t help but say, “An’An, did you just make a move?”
His tone carried some uncertainty.
With his eyesight, except for when Tang Yu’an bent down to help the person, he really didn’t see when the young man acted.
And before he went to help, the person was already crying!
Tang Yu’an nodded. There was no one else besides them, so there was nothing to hide.
“I’ve had new insights these days,” Tang Yu’an said mysteriously. “It’s hard to explain specifically.”
Old Li nodded understandingly.
“Not bad. If you use this ability well, you won’t have to fear bad people when you’re out and about.”
He was full of gratification, making Tang Yu’an feel warm inside.
There was obvious curiosity in Zhou Qi’s eyes, but he didn’t ask, just patted Tang Yu’an’s head and said, “An’An is amazing.”
Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but grin.
They walked along the mountain path under the afterglow of the setting sun, smoothly arriving at the first outpost after entering the mountain. After Tang Yu’an showed the Mountain Lord’s Token, they successfully checked into the guard station.
Compared to the mountain, it was much quieter here.
But quietness had its advantages. With fewer people, they had fewer concerns about acting. With many people, it’s hard to move around.
After nightfall, bonfires were lit in the open space of the outpost.
Zhou Qi built a fire near the bonfire, borrowed a pot from the guard station, cleaned it, and placed it over the fire.
Once the pot was hot, he first added a few pieces of fatty pork, rendering out the fat, then added chopped mushrooms and herbs to stir-fry.
The herbs were picked on the way down the mountain. They didn’t taste as good as ginger, scallions, and garlic, but as substitutes, they were sufficient.
Then he added cleaned wild vegetables, poured in half a pot of water, and seasoned with coarse salt and pepper powder. Soon, a pot of steaming mushroom and wild vegetable soup was ready.
On a cold and bleak night, drinking such a warm bowl of soup warmed every cell in the body.
People staying in the outpost were attracted by the soup.
It smelled so good!
Finally, the guard captain was the first to come over.
Coincidentally, this guard captain was the leader who had intercepted them in the mountains when tracking the mutant snake.
His name was Qiang Gang, likely a metal-type ability user. Their accommodations at the outpost were arranged by him.
Before he could speak, Tang Yu’an said, “Thank you, Captain, for taking us in. Please have some hot soup.”
Then he served a bowl of hot soup and handed it to Captain Qiang Gang.
Qiang Gang was startled, then laughed heartily.
“Ha ha, young brother is straightforward!”
He didn’t stand on ceremony, sipping the hot soup, and his eyes widened.
It was a taste he had never experienced before. The salty flavor with a slight spiciness made his tongue and mouth a bit numb, but after drinking it, his whole body warmed up.
As he drank, he couldn’t help but give Zhou Qi a thumbs-up.
Zhou Qi smiled and continued serving soup.
Tang Yu’an was already bringing soup to the other guards.
They had borrowed bowls from the outpost kitchen. They had cooked this pot of soup to share with the dozen or so people in the outpost.
Although the system recorded more than a dozen loss-making transactions in the end, Tang Yu’an successfully gained 35 experience points, and his experience bar increased significantly.
He smiled happily, like a lovable lucky doll.
In the outpost, there was only a six-person guard team. The rest were people like Tang Yu’an and his group, waiting to enter or leave the mountain the next morning.
As the saying goes, “When you take from others, you must be polite; when you eat from others, you must be kind.” After a bowl of hot soup, the atmosphere in the outpost became lively.
“Little brother, are you also going into the mountains tomorrow?” A middle-aged man came over.
He was carrying a large bundle, seemingly preparing to go to Jufeng Town to trade.
“No, we’re leaving,” Tang Yu’an replied.
The middle-aged man looked disappointed. “I was hoping we could enter the mountain together tomorrow.”
Then he said, “My name is Jin Fu. Let’s be friends.”
Old Li, who had been silently drinking soup, glanced at him, then lowered his head indifferently.
Zhou Qi looked at him but didn’t speak.
Tang Yu’an smiled and introduced, “Sure, my name is Yu’an. This is my brother and grandpa.”
Then he glanced at Jin Fu’s large bundle and asked, “Are you going to the market to exchange goods? Do you have clothes and such?”
“Clothes?” Jin Fu shook his head.
Tang Yu’an wasn’t disappointed. He and Brother Qi had already decided to make some clothes for Jin Lili when they returned.
“Do you live in Jufeng Town?”
Jin Fu nodded, “Yes, I went to the neighboring town this time and brought back some specialties.”
“Neighboring town?” Tang Yu’an immediately perked up.
Now, for him, towns were no longer just places where people gathered but excellent places to gain experience points and points.
So besides Jufeng Town, are there other towns nearby?
