Chapter 5

The System 007 was quick to display a task prompt, and the players’ spirits lifted at once.

【Triggered daily task: “Gather Ingredients”】

【Task Description: Even the cleverest cook can’t whip up a meal without ingredients. Heart Washing Manor’s stores are limited, so please lend a hand in stocking the pantry, young heroes! Strong reminder: The Back Mountain is rugged and treacherous, with endless ridges stretching into the distance. Danger lurks deeper in—teams are highly recommended!】

【Task Duration: One full day】

【Team Size: No limit】

【Task Rewards: 500 experience, 2000 copper coins, one meal, 20 Heart Washing Manor contribution points, 2 Favorability with Chef Shao, 1 Favorability with Ruan Xuezong (chance to obtain), Divine Chef Recipe (chance to obtain)】

Jiangnan City was bustling and prosperous, but its landscape teemed with waterways and mountains shrouded in thick mists, swamps, and miasma. Venturing deep into the forests meant not only foraging for ingredients amid fierce beasts but also risking encounters with local water bandits and mountain thugs. Ordinary hunters wouldn’t dare go in without full quivers of arrows and sharpened cleavers, lest they succumb to miasma poisoning and die alone, or lose their lives in the wilds with no one to claim their bodies. But the interstellar Players were different!

They were fearless!

Death was no big deal. A sip of Biluo Huangquan Water, and they’d respawn at the checkpoint. With tasks to complete and experience to earn, they were pumped up like they’d mainlined adrenaline, buzzing with excitement.

Unlike the brand-new arrivals, Linghu Xiao and Sichuan Pepper Little Bunny had already tackled a few days’ worth of tasks. Both at level 3, they scanned the details and immediately stepped up to rally the troops like pros. Linghu Xiao had rushed over in a hurry—he’d been in the middle of work when Sichuan Pepper Little Bunny messaged him about the task. He’d slapped on his helmet and logged in, vowing not to miss even a drop of that meat stew!

“Gather Ingredients Squad, sign up here! We’re focusing on chopping bamboo and digging shoots. I swear on my life, bamboo-tube rice and bamboo shoot chicken are to die for! If we’ve got time left, we can pick flower petals too—Jiangnan’s flower pastries are legendary!”

“Hunter Squad, sign up! You’ve all seen my fishing video, right? We’re splitting into two: one team hits the rivers and lakes for bass, softshell turtles, crabs, and such. King vs Concubine uses turtle and chicken—I haven’t tried it, but it sounds amazing. As for crabs, don’t freak out over Starnet’s dark river monsters. Ancient Earth crabs are food—think drunken crabs or crab-paste soup dumplings…”

“Oh oh oh, I’m in!”

Linghu Xiao barely finished yelling about crab-paste soup dumplings before his group filled up.

“Hey, wait—this team’s too crowded! Don’t all pile in here.” Linghu Xiao looked helpless as everyone swarmed him, nearly crowding him out.

In the end, he nearly spat blood. To cap the numbers, he tweaked the lineup: “Rivers and Lakes has killer realism, so Fishing Team has a skill check—swimmers get priority!”

“The other team’s heading into the woods to hunt whatever we find. We’re the heavy hitters—might tangle with beasts, so be ready to sacrifice! Low-health folks take bows, tanks take blades. If you’re bleeding, don’t stick around—pull back and follow my lead!”

Ruan Xuezong stood with hands clasped behind his back, calmly watching the Players’ enthusiasm for the task.

Under the pair’s passable leadership, the three teams formed up quickly. Some grabbed fishing rods, others bows and arrows, while the rest hefted empty baskets. Everyone bounced around in excitement. These Players hadn’t expected to jump into tasks right after joining the manor, let alone team up freely.

One of Starnet’s social system tips held true: grouping up always boosted bonds and fun.

Five-Colored Mottled Black stood between the two main teams, dithering. He glanced at the “Gather Ingredients Squad,” then the “Hunter Squad,” his indecision kicking in.

When the groups set off, he stumbled after the Gatherers. Seconds in, he regretted it. The hills were lush and green, birdsong filling the air—it all seemed too tame. No thrills, no challenge. Hunting pheasants, rabbits, or wrestling beasts sounded way better.

That was Five-Colored Mottled Black’s punchable trait: not just choice paralysis, but instant regret after deciding.

But the thought barely crossed his mind before he lost himself in the paradise of babbling springs, encircling bamboo groves, and flower seas that could intoxicate anyone. He stepped carefully around fallen leaves and moss—Jiangnan mornings brought recent rain, leaving the ground damp and dim. Vines twisted around tree roots, and tiny glowing plants peeked out, trembling.

Colors everywhere: vibrant orange, brilliant red, intricate purple, and his favorite, fluorescent green! These wild mushrooms were adorable—dainty umbrella caps, delicate green stems with a fragile air that tugged at his heart.

Five-Colored Mottled Black felt a pang of pity for the fungi and cradled one in his palm.

He resolved to hit the forums later, serializing his playthrough with a big hype post on Rivers and Lakes’ scenery.

He drafted the words in his head, then caught a fresh, planty scent. Tentatively, he brought it to his lips and nibbled. In that instant, rich, sweet juices from the cap burst across his tongue. Before he could savor it…

Sichuan Pepper Little Bunny, level 3, led her pack of level 1 newbies with captainly zeal. She thumped her chest: “Don’t worry, folks. I’ve been gathering ingredients for days. My eyes aren’t great—I miss stuff looking down sometimes—but danger? Never seen any…”

Her words cut off at a scream. The captain jolted, raising her cleaver defensively. “W-what’s wrong?”

“Captain… I can’t… make it.” Five-Colored Mottled Black lay on the ground, weakly coughing blood. Debuffs floated over his head: Weakened, Poisoned, Paralyzed. Seconds later, whoosh—he vanished.

“…” Sichuan Pepper Little Bunny had no words for the idiot. She ditched him and pressed on with the team.

【Gathered successfully! Obtained 2 ginseng roots!】

【Gathered successfully! Obtained 1 bamboo shoot!】

Five-Colored Mottled Black’s mishap was a lesson—no one else goofed off. The team racked up finds, baskets filling fast.

Meanwhile, the Hunter Squad struck gold too. They flushed a brilliantly feathered chicken from the grass, and salivating Players erupted in howls and chest-beating. “Ooooh, chicken dinner tonight!”

Archers loosed arrows—ten shots, zero hits. But the pitiful accuracy didn’t dampen their thrill for primal hunting. The thirty-strong mob ditched bows and mobbed the flapping, terrified bird.

【Hunt successful! Obtained 1 wild chicken!】

Human wave tactics never failed.

But the Hunter Squad’s luck soured. As they converged with the Fishing and Gatherer teams—each clutching chickens and rabbits, wild piglets slung over shoulders—hulking figures in deerskin emerged from the wooded ravines. Burly brutes with bushy beards, red names overhead: “Highway Robber Water Bandits,” average level 10. They eyed the Players hungrily, sneering filthily.

“Look at these snot-nosed punks—jackpot today! Drop your game and pay tribute to your grandpas, kids, or we end you.”

The Players flinched. Level gap checked: 10s versus their max 3. No martial arts unlocked yet. Surrender?

Among the bandits, a pale, numb-faced woman lifted her head slightly. Prompt: 【Triggered rare encounter: Qianniang’s Plea for Help!】

【Task Description: Qianniang was a gentle embroideress from Jiangnan City, set to wed in peace. But Smoky Water Stronghold abducted her, dooming her to misery. Young heroes, rescue her from perdition!】

【Task Rewards: 300 experience, 3000 copper coins, 20 Heart Washing Manor contribution points, 10 Fame points, 3 fixed Favorability with Ruan Xuezong】

The chime flipped the mood. Rare encounter! Contribution and Ruan Xuezong Favorability—three points!

Linghu Xiao had panicked briefly, but the haul spurred him on. He whistled sharply and bellowed: “Form up! Form up! I’ve called the other teams—they’re en route. Hold the line, respawn if you die, and they’ll back us up fast!”

Emboldened, they dropped game, grabbed bows and blades, and charged.

…

By the time Ruan Xuezong got word, half the day had passed.

He couldn’t help a smile. He’d underestimated the Players’ chaos factor and boundless guts.

Smoky Water Stronghold was a local powerhouse. Sure, beyond Jiangnan, it was nothing in the star-studded jianghu, but it terrorized the region. Players were low-level, but their mob power was insane—hundreds could swarm on a whim to raze the place.

System 007 was speechless. In its script, Players hit level 10 before touching Jiangnan.

Then, idling in the city, they’d snag “Find My Childhood Sweetheart Xiaoqian” from a despondent vendor at a stall. The token: a worn plum blossom hairpin. He’d sigh that she’d understand on sight.

Clues led to Smoky Water Stronghold, revealing the rage-worthy tale: three years back, on a Wu Peng Boat, the stunning, graceful Xiaoqian caught a bandit’s eye mid-embroidery and was snatched.

Locals suspected, but fear kept the vendor silent.

Players rescued her, mentioned the commission and hairpin. Her dead eyes sparked; she’d ask after him, leading to two endings.

One: False hope from poor prep. She returns to find him calling another “wife” and suicides in despair.

Two: Truth—he loved her but caved to family pressure. She finds peace, leaves Jiangnan anew.

Players derailed it: no vendor quest, so Qianniang felt pure gratitude to her saviors and Heart Washing Manor. Especially after they torched the stronghold and marched her back.

“Young Master! We brought tons of ingredients—and did a rare encounter… er, saved a poor woman.” The Players eyed Ruan Xuezong anxiously but brightly, expectant for rewards. No surprise they went rogue; task panels had tipped them off to his stance!

“You’ve all done well.” Behind the mask, Ruan Xuezong smiled faintly. He tapped, granting each 3 Favorability points and heaps of experience. Upgrades flashed golden on everyone amid cheers and grins.

Once the jubilation died down, Ruan Xuezong addressed Qianniang. “As for this unfortunate woman, the manor can spare the meals. Let her stay.”

And so, Heart Washing Manor gained an embroideress. Word spread, lifting the manor’s long-dormant jianghu reputation.

Meanwhile, two dashing swordsmen arrived at the gates, seeking to join—for they hunted swords!