Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 168 Giving One's Life
First, it's damp.

The extremely dense water vapor in the sewers, under the slight influence of the temperature difference between the inside and outside, transforms into tangible, turbid dewdrops.

It seeped out from the air and condensed on the surface of the metal railings covered with rust and moss.

With just a light touch, your hands will be covered in verdigris and rust.

Then came the sour, putrid stench that permeated the air.

The comprehensive enhancement of his physical fitness gave Xia Nan abundant stamina, meticulous observation skills, and balanced and flexible body control...

He enjoyed the conveniences that came with the improvement of his physical attributes.

However, correspondingly, at times, he also needs to bear some unspeakable side effects as a result.

It was like the sound of a bed swaying from the end of a hotel corridor, three or four rooms away, when you were resting late at night;
Having just enjoyed a "feast," its body was covered in food scraps, tiny insect-like compound eyes turning, and bristles fluttering on the surface of its chelicerae.

As the chest rises and falls slowly, air flows into the nasal cavity with each breath.

Xia Nan could clearly smell the slightly acidic, greasy, rotten, and foul odor coming from the sewer.

This causes the appetite, which was originally increasing and wriggling in the stomach, to suddenly decrease.

Speaking of which, I ordered a few dishes at [Iron Bucket Toad] earlier, but before I could even taste them, Wood dragged me out.

I wonder if the cream of mushroom soup at this tavern is any good, or if it tastes as good as the white tit's.

Finally, there was the sudden silence in the surrounding air.

It felt like entering another world. Climbing down the ladder to the sewer, even though the manhole above was still open, all the noise that had been filling my ears but going unnoticed disappeared.

Only the ceaseless, echoing sound of rushing water within the utility tunnel remained.

Looking up, the dark eyes reflected the bright well opening.

At this moment, Xia Nan felt like a drowning person who had fallen into the deep sea.

My body was gradually swallowed up by darkness and dampness.

Suddenly, a faint, dark red light flashed before his eyes.

My gaze followed instinctively, and what came into view was a small clump of strange fungus growing and spreading outwards from the crack in the wall.

It is dark red and hard throughout, with tiny particles on the surface that seem to radiate a metallic luster, like crystals.

"Iron scab moss".

As his feet touched the ground, he heard Tie Tou's rough voice, deliberately lowered, coming from inside the sewer.

"A plant commonly found in the sewers of Newme."

"After grinding up the dark red crystalline particles on its surface, applying it to the wound can stop bleeding and accelerate healing."

"However, long-term use may lead to skin erosion and leave dark red scars at the wound healing site."

Seeing that Xia Nan seemed interested in this information, the bald, burly man sandwiched in the middle of the group tactfully shared his knowledge about the plant.

"It is said that many years ago, an alchemist who was passing through Newme tried to make a cheap healing potion using iron scab moss as the main ingredient."

"It is said that it was later mass-produced and became popular among adventurers in the vicinity because of its low price."

"But perhaps due to the side effects of the iron scab in it, many adventurers who drank this treatment for a long time developed symptoms of internal organ crystals and wound gangrene, and many people died."

"Later, this potion was banned by the association, and the alchemist who made a fortune from it disappeared without a trace."

Although Xia Nan's expression remained unchanged as he listened to the anecdotes the other party shared, he found them quite interesting.

I never imagined that this little, unnamed plant I stumbled upon on the road would have such a story behind it.

"Stop trying anything funny, lead the way!"

In contrast, Wood, the first wanderer to come down from above, appeared very serious.

Perhaps he had become accustomed to his job as a bodyguard, or perhaps it stemmed from his distrust of gangsters like Tie Tou.

After checking that there were no traps or ambushes nearby and that it was safe for the time being.

He then coldly reprimanded the bald man to lead the way.

"Here you are, sir. Please don't worry, we'll show you the way right away."

Unlike his arrogant demeanor in front of ordinary residents and underlings, Iron Head, under the gaze of the two professionals, was like a new apprentice in a blacksmith's shop, showing a remarkable submissiveness and adaptability in contrast.

He showed no resentment in the face of Wood's reprimand, and even his previously stiff smile became much more natural. He bowed and scraped as he stepped forward to guide the two of them.

As Xia Nan entered the sewers and was gradually engulfed, the cold, deep darkness and the pressure slowly building in the silent air made him feel as if he had returned to a misty forest and entered an adventure mode.

While tensing your muscles and focusing your mind on potential dangers in your surroundings, prepare for battle.

Fortunately, although I had never ventured into such an environment before, and the Newme sewers were much larger than those of a typical town.

But compared to the misty forest, where you have to be careful of every bush under your feet and be highly focused, this is a different story.

The Newme sewers are a little easier.

Both sides are hard walls covered with moss, and even if there is danger, it mostly comes from the dark depths of the front and rear pipe corridors, which is easy to spot.

As for the huge pipes that should have been flowing with wastewater, perhaps because their location had been abandoned, only the dry bottoms with residual dirt remained, reflecting the sound of water flowing from afar.

The environment inside the sewers is extremely complex, like a vast underground palace built by some kind of intelligent creature living underground.

Branch after branch, corner after corner.

And because those walls are all the same, with no difference at first glance, the only way to distinguish them is by the different distribution of moss and the occasional falling ladders.

If an ordinary person were to enter this place, they would probably get completely lost after walking only a short distance, and would have to rely on luck and their survival instincts to find a way out.

Even for Xia Nan now, if he wants to figure out where he is and find a way out, he probably has to stand still and think carefully, and reconstruct his journey based on his memories.

Meanwhile, at the very front of the group, Ironhead, who was leading the way under Wood's watchful eye, seemed completely at ease.

It was like coming home, and I didn't know what I was using to find my way. I just kept walking without stopping.

If it weren't for the increasing traces of human life appearing in the corners of the walls over time, along with the gray wolverine graffiti on the walls, that Xia Nan was certain that the group was indeed approaching the core stronghold of the Gray Badger Gang.

He might even think that the other person is deliberately leading the way randomly just to buy time.

It was only then that Xia Nan finally understood why Wood had been so cautious.

In this godforsaken place, if this bald guy really gets away...

Even though the opponent's straight-line speed is likely not as fast as the two professionals, they can still shake them off by making a few turns in the sewers.

Without their "guide," even if Xia Nan and his companion simply managed to escape through the sewers, they would likely have to wander around for quite some time.

On the other hand, it's also something to be thankful for.

The group of people did not encounter any danger while walking through the dimly lit underground pipes.

Not to mention ferocious and dangerous monsters, there wasn't a single creature taller than knee-high in sight.

The most common sights were only a few long-haired rats darting out of the darkness, and a few unidentified flying insects emitting a foul odor.

On the contrary, it seemed as if Xia Nan and his companions had disturbed this underground world, making it exceptionally peaceful and safe...

"roar!!!"

A high-pitched and chilling howl of a wild beast echoed from the far end of the corridor.

The roar echoed between the walls, the distance making the originally high-pitched and fierce sound somewhat distorted, taking on a chilling tone. It sounded particularly eerie.

Xia Nan was so startled that she almost jumped.

He couldn't help but look back.

All that met my eyes was a deep, bottomless darkness.

I had just walked past it a few minutes ago, but after being swallowed by the darkness, it felt somewhat unfamiliar.

"Don't worry about it, sir."

Iron Head, however, acted as if it were nothing out of the ordinary and explained.

“The Newme sewers are very complex, covering an area even larger than the entire slum, and after so many years of construction, there’s a little bit of everything… that’s normal.”

"Monsters certainly exist, but even though the city's church and government send knights and priests down every year to clean them up, they still can't get rid of them completely."

"It's extremely dangerous for us... at least for ordinary people like me."

"Fortunately, the routes we took were already explored by the brothers in the gang, so under normal circumstances, they are relatively safe."

At this point, the burly, bald man seemed to suddenly remember something and shrank back.

"Although it's not something I should say in my capacity, gentlemen, I still have to offer a reminder."

"For safety reasons, it's best to avoid entering the sewers unless someone knows the way."

“Several of my buddies in the gang never came back because they accidentally took the wrong turn.”

Xia Nan was puzzled as to why the other party would offer such advice when their relationship wasn't particularly friendly.

But Wood didn't refute this, nor did he urge the other party to focus on leading the way as before, as if he had tacitly agreed with the correctness of Ironhead's words.

He secretly memorized the information the other party revealed, intending to use it later when needed.

I don't know how much time has passed.

One hour, or maybe two hours.

Or perhaps it's just that the journey feels too long because of its monotonous nature.

As the wolverine graffiti on the walls increased, the three finally arrived at their destination:
—The underground lair of the badger gang.

"Rotten teeth, rotten teeth!"

"Lure, come out!"

"That's strange. Where did these kids go? Did they sneak out drinking again? That's unusual. Didn't they get punished by the boss a while ago? How dare they?"

Tie Tou scratched his head, puzzled. In front of him was a simple little tent set up in the corner of the utility tunnel.

The tent flap was open, revealing several rolled-up blankets inside.

The charred firewood in the brazier was still glowing with embers, smoldering in the damp, cold air of the sewer, and had clearly only recently been extinguished.

Although it's just a small gang in the West District, with not many members in total.

However, it was still a force that "legitimately" controlled several streets, and there were always people guarding the entrances and exits of its core territory.

As a minor leader in the Badger Gang, Ironhead naturally recognized "Rotten Teeth" and "Urine Pot," who were on duty today.

He just didn't expect his two little brothers to be so bold as to abandon their posts after being reprimanded by the gang leader just a few days ago.

"I'll settle the score with them when I get back, gentlemen. It's just a short walk ahead."

The Badger Gang isn't some kind of military organization; its lower-level members are mostly uneducated, idle people and petty thugs from the city.

Such things are perfectly normal.

The core base of the Badger Gang is located in a secluded spot deep in the sewers, and few outsiders can get there on their own.

Tie Tou didn't think much of it.

He called out a couple of times to the surroundings, but when he received no response, he continued to lead Xia Nan and the other person deeper into the area.

But perhaps his voice was too loud, or perhaps it was for some other reason.

As the echo of Tie Tou's rough voice lingered and faded away, a series of faint and strange sounds suddenly came from the darkness deep within the utility tunnel ahead.

Like raindrops falling densely onto the water's surface, the sound of hurried, scattered footsteps rapidly approached.

Two crimson eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness, swaying up and down as the creature darted about, and the blurry outline of its wet fur swaying in the air could be vaguely seen.

Swah——

A steely gray sword flashed through the air.

Xia Nan, whose perception attribute was enhanced due to his job advancement, reacted almost at the same time as Wood, who was a wanderer.

The decapitation sword was already drawn, its blade gleaming against the backdrop of the short dagger in front of it.

He gripped the sword hilt tightly with both hands, his dark eyes fixed on the distance.

"Squeak!"

A sharp, piercing whistling sound shattered the silence in the air of the pipes.

The long, fleshy tail left zigzag marks on the dusty ground. Its already grayish-black, damp fur was made even dirtier by the sludge from the sewers. A pair of incisors that bulged down from the upper jaw gleamed with a hard luster in the dim light.

This is a giant rat whose height when crawling is close to the shinbone of an average person, and its tail is about two meters long!
Extremely fast.

When its full form came into view, Xia Nan and the others had already entered the rat's attack range.

Its short, stocky legs suddenly exerted force, and the bulging, taut muscles allowed it to unleash a powerful burst of strength that did not match its bulky physique.

In the blink of an eye, it had leaped into the air, its two sharp front teeth about to strike the fresh blood-sucking thorns in front of it.

However, it was extremely abrupt.

Halfway up the gray mouse's leap, it hadn't yet reached the highest point it should have reached.

It was as if an invisible giant hand had appeared in the air.

Pulling on his ugly, hairless long tail...

Give it a strong tug!
"Sizzle!"

Suddenly, the dull sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh echoed through the quiet utility tunnel.

Blood gushed from the wound.

It convulsed and spasmed, its four short legs struggling and flailing in the air, and a shrill, painful wail came from its mouth.

A sturdy longsword with a sleek, iron-gray design had pierced through its chest.

There was no need to exert any force or adjust the angle.

Simply raise the tip of the sword slightly to manipulate gravity.

This gray rat, which had just regarded the people in front of it as delicious food, seemed to be attracted by the blade and deliberately ran into it.

It gave its life.

(End of this chapter)