Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 325 "Perfect Creature" and Fog Lantern Grass

River Valley Town, second floor of the White Sparrow Tavern.

Xia Nan never considered herself a narcissistic person.

Whether it was my past life as a working-class person or my present life after time travel, it's always the same.

However, it must be acknowledged that the instinctive human pursuit of survival advantage has long been deeply ingrained in his blood and has subtly influenced his views and behaviors in daily life.

He formulated a rigorous training plan and resolutely implemented it. The clear phased goals provided him with positive feedback upon completion of the plan, which continuously motivated him to move forward.

Every swing of the sword, every page of knowledge, even every bit of proficiency...

His strong sense of control over his body and life allowed him to gradually alleviate the pressure and anxiety brought about by the unfamiliar world through sweat and becoming stronger.

The morning sunlight refracted through the glass, casting ripples of light on the bed like water ripples, while dust motes floated and drifted in the air.

After returning from her morning exercise, Xia Nan took a cold bath in the stream outside the town. Her dark, tousled hair was still a little damp, swaying gently in the breeze outside the window.

The mirror surface was mottled and slightly blurry, with some verdigris on the edges, but it still perfectly reflected the body in front of it, which seemed to have undergone countless trials:
Standing at nearly 1.9 meters tall, with a robust and upright physique far exceeding the human average, he exudes a subtle sense of pressure simply by standing there.
With broad shoulders and a thick back, the trapezius muscles resemble two sturdy bridges, extending naturally from the base of the neck to both sides of the shoulders, connecting to the well-developed and full deltoid muscles.

Long hours of wielding a longsword have made his shoulders round and strong, and the powerful beauty of his arm muscles stretching and contracting is fully displayed. His chest, as thick as plate armor, outlines a angular contour, which is the effect of wearing heavy armor for a long time and is the core of his body's weight-bearing and power generation.
Further down, the distinct abdominal muscles in the waist and abdomen area resemble interlocking rocks, with clear blocks deeply embedded in the skin and flesh, firm as if they can withstand tremendous force, running, jumping, and slashing. This is the hub for the transmission of the body's power.

In his previous life, Xia Nan was not keen on exercising, or rather, he did not have enough time and energy to work up a sweat on those fitness equipment.

Perhaps during their student days, they once felt a healthy body full of vitality, but after graduation, in just a few short years, the busy work day and night has covered the once clear muscle contours with a thick layer of fat, making them unrecognizable.

Currently, it has been more than a year since I traveled to the continent of Aifara.

The daily dedication to rigorous training, the gradual improvement in physical fitness, and even the residual energy flowing within my body at this moment...

His elevated life level is driving his body towards becoming a "perfect being".

Standing quietly in front of the mirror, gazing at his muscular upper body without a shirt, he carefully considered the formidable physique he had honed through day after day of training and battles.

Xia Nan felt a strange sense of accomplishment welling up from the depths of his heart.

His chest rose and fell, his breathing was long and deep.

Perhaps it was the growing noise from the street outside the window that reminded him that Xia Nan turned around, picked up the dry shirt that was neatly folded on the bed, shook it a couple of times, and put it on.

Slightly loose, soft, dark fabric covered the skin, keeping the firm muscles underneath out of sight, leaving only a vague outline that could be seen and seen in the folds of the fabric.
The fine chainmail, gleaming with metallic luster, was lifted by both hands and pressed down heavily with the creaking of the buckles, like a waterfall of steel cascading from above. The weight was evenly distributed across the chest and shoulders, pressing the inner lining tightly against the ground.
Bending over, the finely textured light gray leg warmers were tightly bound to my legs one by one, and the hard tanned leather gave me a distinct feeling of being wrapped up.

His right hand reached for the dark arm shield on the table beside him, while his left arm passed through the inner strap and snapped shut with a "click" as it was fastened to fit tightly against the forearm muscles and bones.
He rubbed the two silver rings on his right index and ring fingers, then gently lifted the necklace hanging on the outside of his chainmail, carefully tucking its crystal-clear, emerald-green teardrop-shaped pendant inside his shirt, leaving only an inconspicuous thin metal chain peeking out from the gap between the chainmail and his shirt, clinging to his neck.
Finally, Xia Nan reached for the two longswords leaning against the bed. The straight sword was cold and the wooden sword was flexible. Both were already sheathed. He skillfully crossed them on the left and right, and with a soft "clang", the leather straps of the scabbards tightened, turning the two blades into an "X" on the back.

At this moment, when he looked at the mirror in front of him again, what was reflected in it was no longer the "perfect creature" that nakedly displayed the beauty of power. Instead, it was a cold entity that was armed to the teeth, calm and deadly, like a killing machine made of steel and flesh.

After checking one last time to make sure nothing was missing, Xia Nan picked up the supply backpack that had been prepared before closing the door, pushed open the door, and walked downstairs.

……

Seven days have passed since he and the Blackwood Squad returned to the town.

Both association tasks have been settled.

It's pretty much as expected, totaling 703 gold.

In addition to the profits from selling miscellaneous loot and demon-related materials, his total earnings from this trip reached an astonishing 901 gold, 6 silver, and 2 bronze.

However, before the money could even be held in their hands for long, it was transferred to the bank account of Rockhammer Blacksmith Shop.

Having already paid a deposit of 1000 gold, Xia Nan immediately settled the remaining 2000 gold for the [Emberfall] Straight Sword after the mission reward arrived.

His savings plummeted from four figures to just 430 gold, 2 silver, and 1 copper—after deducting the 50 gold he spent on purchasing chainmail.

It looks like quite a lot, enough to live a carefree life in town for a while.

However, Xia Nan is still in debt.

After all, the new armor, made primarily of the Demon Blade and custom-made to order, is still in the forging process.

According to Barn's estimate, the finished product would cost between 500 and 600 gold, roughly the same level as the [Bone-Binding Iron Greaves] he was currently wearing.

Compared to a shield and a straight sword, it wasn't particularly expensive, but it still far exceeded the amount of money he currently had.

Fortunately, they were all regular customers, and they had just finished such a large deal. Barn didn't even collect a deposit before starting the forging process, giving Xia Nan ample funds to purchase supplies for his adventure.

Compared to the exorbitant debt burden of the previous [Emberfall] straight sword, Xia Nan's current shortfall is only around one or two hundred gold. With a bit of luck, he can earn it back in a month.

The pressure dropped sharply.

He has already made corresponding plans for this.

"Crench, crunch."

Accompanied by the subtle friction between metal, the wooden staircase creaked and groaned as footsteps descended.

Xia Nan walked down from the second floor and glanced around the tavern lobby.

Immediately, a familiar figure came into view.

There was no obvious difference from when we met a few days ago. "Green Blood" Adeline was still dressed in the same messy way. Her short hair, which had been roughly shaved, had grown a little longer, but it was still shorter than Xia Nan's. Judging from her messy appearance, she obviously did not intentionally grow it long, but was just too lazy to take care of it.

As if she had just returned from a mission, there were traces of blood on the surface of her armor.

No need for deliberate identification; the residual scent on the other party and the color of the congealed bloodstains on the armor surface are enough to determine that these were left by those green-skinned goblins.

He called out to Chapton, the pub owner behind the counter, and ordered a classic set meal number three with cream of mushroom soup.

Xia Nan went straight up and sat down opposite Adeline.

"We've already completed the advancement mission, why are we still bothering with those green-skinned people?"

He joked casually.

Both being professionals with keen observation skills, Adeline noticed the more refined and unfathomable aura emanating from Xia Nan the moment he sat down.

It's only been a little over ten days since I last saw you, and it seems... you've gotten stronger again?
He was somewhat surprised, but didn't show it much on his face. He simply pursed his lips and replied:

"You act like you're going to let those greenskins go, huh? You probably even know the locations of those goblin lairs near the town, right?"

They're old teammates, often getting together for meals during breaks between missions. They know each other well, and Adeline was certainly aware of the somewhat strange and peculiar hobbies of the black-haired young man before her. "What have you been up to lately, or is it the same as before?"

Playing with the silver ring on her index finger, Xia Nan sat in her seat waiting for her breakfast.

There was nothing to hide. Adeline scooped a spoonful of broth into her mouth and nodded slightly.

"Although I have now obtained a professional level, those guys in the team are far behind. I was the one who brought them into the industry. I can't just abandon them like this... I'm not at ease."

"I plan to take them with me for a while longer. I'm not in a hurry to use the money anyway. The rewards from goblin-related missions are less for professionals, but they're enough for me."

"Let's talk about it after they've all settled down in town... Then, whether they continue to follow me or have other plans, that's fine too."

Upon hearing this, Xia Nan fell silent.

Even the fingers that were originally exploring the ring face stopped moving.

At that moment, what came to his mind was not goblins or gnomes.

Instead, it was that green newbie who once stood tall and fearless on the front lines of battle, that seasoned veteran who was gradually corrupted and degenerated by the temptations of the industry and lost his original aspirations, and that lowly adventurer who finally pressed his handprint on the devil's contract in front of him.

If Abby hadn't chosen to leave the team and had stayed with the "Green Blood" team, would his fate have been completely different? Would there even be one more person sitting across the table right now?
It is completely dead; all assumptions are meaningless.

"What's wrong? Are you under a lot of stress lately?"

Seemingly noticing Xia Nan's abrupt silence, Adeline asked with some confusion.

After thinking it over for a moment, he felt that he shouldn't keep this a secret.

Xia Nan paused briefly to organize his thoughts, and then told the other party about his encounter on his last mission, including the Blackwood Squad, the Devil, and Abi.

Immediately, Adeline's expression froze, as if she had just been standing still.

There was no rush to inquire about the veracity of the matter, nor was there any eagerness to ask about the specific details that occurred.

She simply met Xia Nan's gaze silently with her somewhat cloudy eyes and an extremely serious expression.

Only when she saw the truth and frankness in the other person's eyes did she suddenly lower her head again.

The handle of the spoon in my hand created ripples on the surface of the soup.

After a long while, accompanied by a wistful sigh, Adeline's somewhat hoarse voice echoed across the desktop.

"Pity……"

Adeline was not unaware of the changes that occurred after Abby left the team.

In fact, she had mentioned this information when she was chatting with Xia Nan earlier.

She knew that this once novice adventurer had already been tainted by the corrupting influence of the industry.

But I never expected things to happen so quickly and so suddenly...

Suddenly, the atmosphere at the dinner table became cold and quiet.

Separation from loved ones and death are commonplace for adventurers, especially for "Green Blood" Adeline, who has been in this profession for many years.

Knowing that the other person only needed a short period of time to accept the death of their former comrade, Xia Nan didn't say anything more.

After finishing the mushroom soup served by the tavern waiter, he said goodbye and left the White Sparrow Tavern.

……

For Xia Nan now, the road ahead is very clear.

Short-term goals: 1. Earn money to pay off the loan; 2. Wait for the armor to be forged.
Mid-term goals: 1. Learn suitable new combat skills and improve job level; 2. Search for information related to the [Dream Corridor] key; 3. Find secret realms to recharge the [Dream Corridor];
Long-term goal: To improve my abilities and accumulate wealth as much as possible, and then retire comfortably.

With such full gear and supplies already prepared, they are naturally ready to embark on a "long journey".

Of course, although it's called a long trip, the round trip only takes about ten days.

Furthermore, considering that the new armor has not yet been fully forged, this mission he specifically chose will not pose any serious dangers along the way, including to the target itself.

It's like running an errand for someone else.

……

Mission ID: F-30623
[Type]: Data Collection
[Reward]: 15-150 Gold / 1-5 Points
[Task Summary]:
Lady Edwina of the "Grass Cauldron" needs one or a group of reliable adventurers to travel to a remote canyon on the outer edge of the southwestern Misty Forest to collect a special crop called "Mist Lamp Grass".

[Limited Time]: 15 days;
[Additional Information]: For mission details, please accept the mission at the Association's front desk and then consult Ms. Edwina at the "Grass Cauldron".

……

Xia Nan considered it very carefully.

In fact, given his current state, he doesn't really want to go too far from River Valley Town.

After all, what he was wearing was just a set of fine chainmail, which was slightly inferior in terms of defensive capabilities. Killing a few goblins was no big deal, but the margin for error decreased in high-intensity battles.

He only came across this task in the association's task list a few days ago after he paid the final payment for the straight sword.

To some extent, its task level of only "F" already indicates its actual difficulty.

Just to be on the safe side, Xia Nan even consulted his personal receptionist, Jasmine.

It was learned that Ms. Edwina issued this "Fog Lantern Grass" gathering quest almost every year, and that no adventurer had ever died.

The route is clear, and even the potentially dangerous parts along the way have been explored by adventurers who previously accepted the commission.

Only then did he feel relieved enough to accept it.

I also took on two extra goblin extermination commissions that I could handle along the way.

In this way, even if no spoils are brought back in the end, the gold coin rewards from just a few commissions will be enough to pay off the debts and even make a little more in just ten days.

Of course, before setting off, he had to go to the "Grass Cauldron" to ask the plump and gentle lady for some specific information about the mission.

(End of this chapter)