Chapter 99 – It’s Stink!
Lin Jiu and Si Xu didn’t stay at the temporary shelter. Instead, they went out for a walk.
They mainly wanted to find a secluded place to open treasure chests and draw from blind boxes.
They went to a spot near the town, a safe area where no one dared approach.
Lin Jiu mumbled, “Whether we can save these demon points depends on your luck. Do your best.”
Si Xu: “I’ll try.”
Lin Jiu: “Let’s start with the treasure chest.”
Leaning against Si Xu’s chest, Lin Jiu had Si Xu hold his hand to open the treasure chest.
The system was on the verge of exploding, muttering in its mind: [You won’t get anything, you won’t get anything…]
Lin Jiu suddenly said coldly: ‘I heard you cursing me.’
[System: …]
[Don’t be ridiculous, I wasn’t.]
Lin Jiu: ‘You’d better not be. If we don’t get anything good, I’m blaming you.’
The system, feeling wronged, mentally punched and kicked a tiny version of its host.
Lin Jiu: “Alright, let’s begin.”
Si Xu guided Lin Jiu’s hand to the designated spot.
[Congratulations, host. You’ve obtained a formula for a pheromone removal potion.]
[System: …]
Si Xu: “…”
Lin Jiu: “Hahahaha!!!!!”
Lin Jiu jumped up from the ground in excitement. “The moment Si Xu takes action, it’s clear success is guaranteed! Hahaha!”
[System: …]
Si Xu quickly grabbed the laughing man back and covered his mouth to prevent him from saying something reckless in his excitement.
The system was about to explode from anger.
[Don’t get cocky! So what if you have the formula? Without the materials, you won’t be able to make it!]
Lin Jiu: “If we could make a low-grade version of the basic gene enhancer, making a pheromone removal potion, which is less complicated, won’t be a problem for Si Xu, right?”
[System: …]
The system was crying internally—dealing with the Demon Spirit race was like dealing with a cheat code!
Watching the massive amount of demon points slip away, the system’s heart shattered into pieces!
If Lin Jiu could complete the mid-level bloodline purification, it would cost 500,000 demon points to buy the mid-level purifier. If Si Xu advanced to high-level genetic enhancement, that would cost 1,000,000 demon points for the potion—a total of 1.5 million points! The system had been ready to count demon points until its hands cramped.
But now! The huge sum of demon points was about to vanish!
Si Xu calmly reassured the system: “If we can make the pheromone removal potion, we could trade it for magic crystal essence. They’d prefer to give one or two crystals to solve the issue rather than five or six at once.”
[One or two? How is that better than five, six, or seven crystals?!]
Si Xu: “Would you rather have one or two crystals or none at all?”
[O-Of course, one is better than nothing.]
Si Xu: “Then you should help us make the pheromone removal potion, so we can trade it for the magic crystal essence.”
The system thought about it with its clever little brain.
[This is too much trouble. Why don’t we just go to the sea and find the magic crystal essence ourselves?]
Si Xu: “We’re covered in pheromones right now. Going into the sea would be like offering ourselves as bait.”
[You could just buy a pheromone removal potion for yourselves and then search for the crystals. It’d be easier.]
Lin Jiu, face darkening: “Doesn’t buying the pheromone removal potion also cost demon points?”
[System: …]
[Dear, let’s run away together.]
Lin Jiu: …
Lin Jiu screeched in anger, ready to tear the system apart. Anyone who dared to steal his man had to die—system included!
Si Xu hurriedly pulled the furious Lin Jiu into his arms to calm him down. “There’s still the blind box. Why don’t you draw from that too?”
Lin Jiu rolled up his sleeves with a fierce look: “Just wait! I’m going to draw both the mid-level bloodline purifier and the high-level gene enhancer, and then you can kiss your plan goodbye!”
System: …
“Is it really appropriate to laugh so loudly right now?” came a heavily accented voice speaking in an international language.
Lin Jiu froze mid-sleeve roll and turned to see two people approaching.
Lin Jiu: …
Of all times to show up, they had to come now? Interrupting us while we’re drawing blind boxes!
Lin Jiu immediately asked the system to convert the formula. Having done it once before, the process was even smoother this time.
To motivate the system, Lin Jiu gave it 100 demon points, with the rest as a tip for its hard work.
Reluctantly, the system began converting the formula.
The two people who approached were Choi Jaecheng and Han Yajing, and they were looking at Lin Jiu with complicated expressions.
Si Xu asked, “What’s the matter?”
Choi Jaecheng said, “There’s something we need to discuss. Is that young man really the mermaid?”
Choi Jaecheng and Han Yajing stared at them, trying to gauge their reaction.
Si Xu remained expressionless, showing no reaction. Lin Jiu, wearing a mask with only his eyes exposed, wasn’t clearly visible in the darkness.
Choi Jaecheng’s probing remark seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Lin Jiu replied with something they could understand: “Do you ask everyone with long hair that question?”
Choi Jaecheng chuckled, “Of course not. It’s just that you perfectly match the description of the mermaid.”
Han Yajing added, “We mean no harm. We just want to know, can mermaids really control giant sea monsters?”
Si Xu tightened his grip on Lin Jiu’s hand. “That’s something you should ask a mermaid, not us.”
The two of them glanced at their tightly held hands, seemingly guessing that their relationship wasn’t ordinary.
Si Xu said, “Let’s go. It’s time to rest.”
Without hesitation, Si Xu led Lin Jiu away by the hand.
Han Yajing stepped in front of them, blocking their path, and stared directly at Si Xu. “Can we talk privately?”
She spoke in H Country’s language, which Si Xu understood, but Lin Jiu did not. Still, Lin Jiu could sense the shift in tone and atmosphere.
Having just been provoked by the system’s talk of eloping with his man, Lin Jiu was in a sensitive mood. He immediately asked Si Xu in his own language: “What’s she saying? Is she asking you out? Is this a challenge to my position right in front of me?”
Like a little siren who’d fallen into a vat of jealousy, Lin Jiu bared his claws, ready to spear someone with a trident. Si Xu, amused and charmed, felt his heart skip a beat.
Si Xu gently squeezed Lin Jiu’s hand to comfort him and responded to Han Yajing in the international language, “If you have something to say, you can say it here.”
Han Yajing hesitated for a moment before speaking in H Country’s language.
Lin Jiu was fuming. Of the four people present, he was the only one who didn’t understand H Country’s language. They were clearly excluding him on purpose by speaking in a language he couldn’t understand!
[Moshi moshi, do you need translation?]
Lin Jiu froze for a second. How could he forget about his all-capable system?
Lin Jiu: ‘Translate, translate, translate!’
[Translation service will cost 10 demon points.]
Lin Jiu exploded: ‘Are you robbing me of demon points?!’
[You can choose not to translate.]
Lin Jiu: …
Grinding his teeth, Lin Jiu relented: ‘Fine, translate!’
The system imitated Han Yajing’s tone.
[Captain Si, isn’t there really anything you can do? If there’s a way, please help me. You’re the only one who can smell the pheromones. When I touched that child’s hand for a bit too long, I think I absorbed a lot of the scent. Could you check for me?] The system suddenly added, [Holy crap! She’s trying to steal your man! Quick, tear her apart!]
Just as Si Xu was about to speak, Lin Jiu yanked him behind him.
Lin Jiu pulled off his mask and used his enchantment ability on Han Yajing and Choi Jaecheng. “How did you find us?”
For a brief moment, both Han Yajing and Choi Jaecheng’s expressions became dazed, their souls seemingly out of their control. Their faces flushed, hearts racing as they gazed at Lin Jiu with obsession.
Choi Jaecheng was the first to speak, “We saw you leave and quietly followed.”
Han Yajing added, “We know that those with abilities have keen senses, so we didn’t dare get too close.”
Even while under enchantment, the two of them still spoke in the international language.
Lin Jiu put his mask back on. “Did you hear anything?”
Both of them shook their heads, still staring at Lin Jiu with infatuation. “We only heard laughter.”
Lin Jiu pulled Si Xu over. “What are you planning with him? Trying to steal my man?”
Si Xu, the passive participant: “…”
Han Yajing responded, “He’s a famous singer from H Country. I know him; he’s very handsome and strong. I like him a lot…”
“How do you know he’s strong?” Lin Jiu barely contained his urge to punch her.
Han Yajing replied, “Anyone who can be a leader has to be strong.”
Lin Jiu: “…”
Lin Jiu warned her, “From now on, don’t come near him. If you try to steal my man, I’ll kill you!”
Han Yajing: “I won’t anymore. I only like you.”
Si Xu: “…”
Si Xu pulled the jealous little siren into his arms. “Are you happy now? Because I’m not.”
Lin Jiu: “???”
Si Xu: “I don’t like it when you use that ability.”
Lin Jiu cleared his throat, “I-I had a reason. I was just trying to get some information.”
Straightening his posture, Lin Jiu asked, “What’s your plan with the mermaid?”
Choi Jaecheng hesitated. “The mermaid belongs to H Country. No matter the cost, we must bring the mermaid back.”
Lin Jiu: “…”
What the hell? Just because I showed my face in your country, you think I belong to you? Your ego is enormous!
Si Xu’s voice grew cold. “What’s your plan?”
Choi Jaecheng frowned, struggling internally. “We plan to… lure people suspected of being mermaids into the sea to see if they turn into mermaids. Legend says that when a mermaid enters the sea, their tail will appear…”
Lin Jiu quickly followed up: “How many magic… no, how many unknown energy crystals does H Country have?”
Choi Jaecheng hesitated for even longer this time.
Lin Jiu turned to Han Yajing. “You answer.”
Han Yajing’s face twisted with rapid changes in expression.
Choi Jaecheng was the first to succumb to the enchantment. “Two…”
“Ahhhhh!!!”
Suddenly, Han Yajing let out a shriek, tearing her clothes apart. With a *whoosh*, black bat wings spread from her back, and she flew into the air, her long tail whipping through the darkness. Enraged, she screamed and dove toward Lin Jiu!
Si Xu grabbed Lin Jiu, and with a swift backhand, sent Han Yajing flying backward. Her black wings and tail fluttered in the air as she stabilized herself, landing on a tree branch.
In international language, she shouted, “You dare use enchantment on me! You’re courting death!”
[Ahhhhhh!!!! A living Charm Sprite! Host, bite her to death! Charm Sprites love enchanting Demon Spirit! Demon Spirit’s strength drives them crazy! Your man’s about to be stolen!!!!]
“Shut up! I’d like to see anyone try!” Lin Jiu growled, summoning a trident into his hand.
Han Yajing flew higher, flapping her black wings and releasing a strange scent that wafted toward the three on the ground.
The system quickly explained, [Charm Sprites are experts in enchantment. They have special glands under their arms that release an alluring fragrance… well, it’s alluring to ordinary races. To sea demons, it smells so bad it’s unforgettable for life…]
Before the system could finish, Lin Jiu caught a whiff of the stench.
Lin Jiu felt dizzy.
Lin Jiu couldn’t breathe.
Lin Jiu: “Ugh…”
Overcome by the smell, Lin Jiu hurled his trident at the source of the stench in the sky!
Han Yajing dodged in a panic, and the stench attack missed its target. Lin Jiu followed up with a piercing screech, freezing Han Yajing in midair. When the screech ended, she fell straight down, landing with a thud and lying motionless on the ground.
Si Xu gestured, and the trident flew back to Lin Jiu’s hand, who then stowed it away.
Si Xu patted his back. “How are you feeling? Are you okay?”
Tears welled up in Lin Jiu’s eyes from the nausea. “Damn it, that smell was killing me!”
“What happened?!” a voice with a thick accent in international language called out.
Lin Jiu knew more people were approaching and put the trident away.
A group of ability users from H Country surrounded them.
