Swallowing the Stars: Providing a Loan to Luo Feng Begins

Chapter 5: Using Loans to Pay Off Other Loans (Please continue reading!)
On a dilapidated highway, Luo Feng, carrying only a simple pack on his back, walked along. He had already left the supply base.

"Chen Qi."

"From what I read, when martial artists go out to hunt monsters for the first time, they have to prepare a lot of weapons and equipment."

But we haven't prepared anything!

Last night, Luo Feng read a lot of information about hunting, such as essential items for martial artists: 'combat communication watch', 'battle knife', 'shield', 'combat suit', etc.

"It's unnecessary for you and me," Chen Qi replied.

Why not buy equipment? Because Chen Qi has better options!

The fact that Luo Feng was not allowed to join any faction also meant that no organization provided any start-up capital. Luo Feng's family were just ordinary people, so if he wanted to collect all the equipment, he would have to make money first and then buy it.

Killing monsters, selling monsters, buying equipment... the whole process can't be completed in less than a few days.

It's such a waste of time, I might as well join a faction.
Therefore, this method was not within Chen Qi's plans.

Chen Qi's plan was simple:
"System, lend me some throwing knives comparable to the A5 model on Earth, knives that can fight against 'intermediate beast generals', the more the better!"

The system's loan limit is determined by only two factors:

'Credit score' and 'Repayment ability'.

Given Luo Feng's current repayment ability, he can certainly borrow a lot of things, but unfortunately, he has never repaid any loans, so his credit score is not high enough.

Only the remaining 5% of the credit limit from the previous loan of 'Herbal Essence Dew'.

[The design is underway based on loan demand instructions...]

【——Loan Agreement——】

[Loan Project: A5 model 'flying knife' * 20]

[This loan will utilize 5% of your credit limit]

The loan amount must be repaid within three days; late payments will incur additional interest.

"A 95% credit rating is equivalent to a three-headed mid-level beast general, and a 5% credit limit should be easily repaid."

"This one will do. Oh, no, that's not right."

Chen Qi suddenly realized that while throwing knives were more effective at killing beast generals, why bother using them when killing beast soldiers?

Some blades that use less material can easily solve this problem.

They could even capture them alive, using ropes to solve the problem. Based on the loan repayment amount, capturing a monster alive would be worth about three times more than the monster's carcass.

"System, send me three of these throwing knives, and five thin 'A5' grade blades."

"Then use the remaining loan amount to make ten ropes to bind 'advanced beast soldiers'!"

[Under redesign based on loan demand instructions...]

【…】

[This loan will utilize 4.7% of your credit limit]

【…】

Ropes are larger and require more materials, making them suitable for capturing monsters alive, but they are just as expensive as, or even more expensive than, throwing knives.

"I'm so smart! I really saved a lot on the loan amount."

Thinking about this, Chen Qi realized that the first loan he gave to Luo Feng for 'herbal essence dew' might have been a loss. If he had designed the loan more meticulously, he probably could have saved some money.

"System, grant me the loan!"

[You have drafted a loan application for the borrower 'Luo Feng'. Now, please blink three times in quick succession...]

"Luo Feng, blink." Chen Qi continued.

Luo Feng blinked reflexively.

"Yes," Chen Qi repeated, continuing to say as instructed, "Nod again."

Luo Feng was about to nod when he suddenly stopped. He realized something. Before Chen Qi made him the Herbal Essence Dew last time, he had also asked him to do some actions.

Then
"Luo Feng, nod your head."

Chen Qi continued speaking.

Luo Feng, now certain, bluntly stated, "Chen Qi, you're giving me a loan again, aren't you!"

"Ah, this is a small loan, just a little bit, it's nothing, you can pay it back easily." Chen Qi sensed that Luo Feng had stopped outside, clearly realizing that this was the loan process.

Chen Qi directly presented the entire 'loan agreement' and began explaining:

"Let's borrow some equipment. That way, we'll be more efficient at killing monsters and it'll be easier to repay the loan. That's called using loans to pay off other loans!"

"I haven't even finished paying off the last loan yet, how am I supposed to repay this one! If this continues, won't I, Luo Feng, become a deadbeat?" Luo Feng couldn't help but say.

Chen Qi felt Luo Feng was being too conservative. The system's credit score was meant to be spent, wasn't it? Even if you didn't repay it, there were no consequences; at most, your credit score would drop. How could you increase your loan amount or upgrade your credit rating if you didn't spend it?

After much deliberation, Chen Qi decided to unleash his ultimate move, using the information he possessed to pressure Luo Feng, as Luo Feng's excessive conservatism was detrimental to his growth.

So Chen Qi said:

"Luo Feng."

"Do you remember me saying that Xu Xin, whom you have a crush on, is the eldest daughter of the Xu family in the HR Alliance? Her family has some War God-level warriors and is very powerful. If you want to marry her, do you have the strength now?"

"Xu Xin."

Luo Feng was slightly moved. Xu Xin was his white moonlight, and he had a crush on her for so long in high school. How could he not feel anything when he heard this? So he couldn't help but ask, "Really?"

"Would I lie to you? Think about it carefully. Although Xu Xin was very low-key in high school, wasn't she a little different from others?" Chen Qi remembered that in the original novel, Xu Xin was very low-key in high school.

But no matter how low you try to hide it, lies can never be completely covered up.

Once this seed is planted, given how often Luo Feng would glance at Xu Xin during high school, he would definitely be able to recall some flaws!
Luo Feng searched through his memories and realized something was different.

"Also, I told you before about your brother's disability..." Chen Qi continued to make grand promises.

Luo Feng finally couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Stop talking, I'll take out the loan, but you have to make sure I can pay it back."

“Of course, didn’t you read the loan agreement? It only scratches the surface of the last loan!” Chen Qi said.

"Come on, blink..."

This time, Luo Feng started to cooperate.

The loan has been disbursed.

"Go!" Chen Qi teleported everything out and piled it in front of Luo Feng, then explained how to use the 'rope'.

Those specially made ropes are used to capture low-level monsters alive.

Throwing knives are used to hunt down monsters of the Beast General level.

"Begin the slaughter!"

Luo Feng is currently in a city where low-level martial artists are active. Chen Qi and Luo Feng had already planned their route last night, intending to fight their way to the wilderness area of ​​the nearest prefecture-level city from before the Great Nirvana period.

In the wilderness areas of 'prefecture-level cities', the monsters that gather are generally more powerful.

A large number of beast generals will be active over there!

As you slowly approach that direction, you'll encounter increasingly powerful monsters. Along the way, you can use loans to acquire some equipment and small items.

Before long, a 'giant bull' appeared in the distance ahead. Its shoulder height was more than three meters, and its gray mane was shiny. It looked a bit like a gray mammoth in the form of a bull... but it was a genetically mutated monster, and its destructive power was definitely much more terrifying than that of a 'mammoth'!
This is a monster whose name has not appeared in the original work, so Chen Qi knows nothing about 'it'.

Fortunately, Luo Feng seemed to know a lot about monsters.

"This is a mid-level beast soldier-grade 'Greymane Bison,' with strength roughly equivalent to a high-level beast soldier-grade. Its distinguishing features are its thick hide and a huge, sharp horn," Luo Feng explained to Chen Qi.

In order to become a martial artist, it seems that Luo Feng had memorized a lot of information about monsters in the past.

"Good job, let's go! Use your mental power to control the ropes and catch him!" Chen Qi was acting as the 'Fountain Commander' in the system space.

From Luo Feng's backpack, four ropes swiftly shot out and headed straight for the 'Grey Mane Bison'.

This was Luo Feng's first encounter with a monster, and he was filled with excitement. The 'Greymane Bison' noticed the rapidly approaching rope and was about to charge.
Unfortunately, a rope suddenly taut, tripping 'it' and causing it to fall to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, the remaining ropes bound the limbs of the grey-maned bison, trapping it firmly in place, leaving it only able to flail its lower legs.

"Luo Feng, come closer, I'm returning 'it' to the system," Chen Qi instructed.

Luo Feng approached the 'Greymane Bison,' which roared wildly. The next moment, right in front of Luo Feng, the 'Greymane Bison' vanished.

[Borrower 'Luo Feng' has already repaid a portion of the loan fees. Given the borrower's extremely high repayment rate, his credit limit will increase significantly once all 'loan agreements' are fully repaid!]

"Hehe, Luo Feng, let's keep killing!"

We slept and ate in the open air along the way.

It is quite normal for martial artists to spend several days away from the wilderness.

Luo Feng honed his combat skills through relentless killing, while Chen Qi laughed wildly in the system space.

Along the way, they took out loans and made repayments, managing to procure a perfect set of equipment for Luo Feng.

Combat uniforms, combat communication watches... and so on, everything is provided.

"This feeling is so much better than struggling on my own!"

"The monsters are scattered in different places and have their own territories, so they are not easy to find. In that case, I will have to borrow another good one."

Please read on! Please read on!

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(End of this chapter)