Chapter 8
Cheng Dalei held some misunderstanding about the medical capabilities of this world; heroes in films could tape a few bandages around their wounds and it won't be long before they would recover as good as new. However, the reality was that in this era where antibiotics were absent and bacteria and viruses ran rampant, even a slight cold could take a life, let alone lockjaw that could take down the sturdiest of men.
Lin Shaoyu wasn't fatally injured indeed, but the abrasions all over his body had become inflamed. He had a ceaseless fever since yesterday, and was now deeply unconscious.
Cheng Dalei dragged him back to the Mountain Fortress where several people helped him clean the wounds. After making him drink some warm water, Cheng Dalei remembered that there were 10 Resurrection Pills among the system rewards. He retrieved them and made Shaoyu take them, which should be harmless.
"Boss…" Qin Man said with a delighted face that revealed a very sincere smile.
"What happened?"
"I had a vague epiphany after exchanging blows with this man just now. My Plum Blossom Spear technique has improved." Qin Man happily said.
Cheng Dalei checked Qin Man's information again.
Name: Qin Man (A rookie top-level bandit)
Skill: Plum Blossom Spear (Five Blossoms)
He remembered that there was a system reward that could increase the skill level of one person in the Mountain Fortress, it seems to have fallen on Qin Man. The improvement of his spear technique also directly changed his personal level from excellent to top-level. If put into an army, he could fight with an equivalent of a hundred soldiers. With Qin Man around, they will have a better chance in resisting the attack from Black Stone City.
"If I have a spear, it would be great. The Plum Blossom Spear has been passed down to me, but I can't even afford a spear, sigh…"
As he said this, Qin Man heaved a deep sigh. Suddenly, his hand slapped onto a wooden post supporting the roof. A loud clanking sound could be heard, and something fell from the roof, depositing itself right in front of Qin Man.
Eh!
The four people in the room all widened their eyes. Qin Man had just mentioned wanting a spear and now one fell right out of the sky. This was a bit too coincidental! Qin Man picked up the large spear, its body as black as obsidian, and taller than himself, its pointed end was gleaming darkly.
"My Lord… why is there a spear…" Qin Man exclaimed in astonishment.
"I… I don't know… Could it be that it was used as a pillar when the house was built?" Xu Shenji was also taken aback.
Only Cheng Dalei knew what was going on. This was one of the system rewards, although the way it appeared was quite unique. He had gotten many rewards from solving the bugs today. It's high time that he found them all.
"This spear will be used by Big Brother Qin from now on." Cheng Dalei said.
"Really!" with a shocked face, the spear-loving Qin Man held it firmly. After getting a positive reply from Cheng Dalei, he suddenly ran out of the house with the spear in his hand and headed towards the training ground in the fortress.
Qin Man was adept in using spears, but a single spear required forty or fifty pounds of iron, a price he couldn't afford with his earnings from hunting. In an era when several households shared a single iron pot, the privilege of owning a weapon was only for the rich.
Although it seemed that Lin Shaoyu wasn't doing great, his exquisite iron spear, lofty horse, and a set of silk robes put him way above many; it was the perfect realization of luxury. In Cheng Dalei's previous life, the equivalent would be a personally tailored suit, a luxury sports car, and dashing down the streets drawing everyone's attention.
In short, everyone had the dream of being an adventurer, but not everyone could afford it.
Qin Man had always dreamed of owning an iron spear of his own. During hunting, he would be calculating when he could save up enough money. If he couldn't afford a heavy one, a lighter one would do. But today, he had a spear that met all his expectations. Qin Man's sense of happiness was off the charts.
He stood in the training ground with his spear, suddenly lunged forward and the spear straightened out. It darted out like a viper striking its prey, sliced through the air like a tiger shaking its head. In his hand, the spear danced as if ignoring the wind and rain, and the shadow of the spear blossomed in the air and disappeared in a flash.
"Awesome!"
Xu Shenji and Xu Ling'er clapped and cheered. Although they didn't understand, they could feel the killing intent radiating from Qin Man's spear dance.
After finishing, Qin Man stood there with his spear, his face flushed as if he was drunk.
Just at this moment, Cheng Dalei came out of the warehouse with a hoe. Xu Shenji asked curiously, "Boss, what are you going to do?"
"Treasure hunting."
"Treasure hunt? Our Frog Fort doesn't have any treasures. Boss, please don't go around causing damage."
Cheng Dalei ignored him. The system rewards were all in the fortress, and he needed to find them one by one.
Xu Shenji was jogging behind Cheng Dalei when he suddenly tripped and kicked a stone. Clutching his foot in pain, he noticed an earthen jar hidden underneath the stone.
"What's this?"
Upon opening the jar, Cheng Dalei found ten green pills inside - these must be the Blood Replenishing Pills that the system rewarded, capable of healing general injuries and illnesses.
"Here, have Lin Shaoyu take one." Cheng Dalei handed a pill to Xu Ling'er and continued his search for treasure.
He went to the stables where, currently, Mountain Fortress had three horses: one was a lean horse that belonged to the fortress originally, one had been looted, and one belonged to Lin Shaoyu. Because Lin Shaoyu had not yet joined Frog Fort when the rewards were given out, his mount did not receive an upgrade.
Cheng Dalei checked the information of the two horses.
Ordinary Yellow Horse (Lean Horse)
Skill: Escape (Increased speed when fleeing)
Ordinary Black Horse
Skill: Charge (Speed boost during a charge)
What thrilled Cheng Dalei was not only the level advancement of the two horses but also that they had each gained a skill.
"Big Brother Qin, this black horse is yours from now on," said Cheng Dalei.
"Mine!" Qin Man exclaimed excitedly. In such a short time, he had improved in spear techniques, received weaponry, and now even had a horse. Wasn't the world being too kind to him? If he could just get a set of armor, his dream of racing the battlefield would be one step closer to reality.
Xu Shenji felt a bit dizzy. He stood up and ran to the stables, shouting from afar, "Boss…"
After tripping and falling with a thud, Xu Shenji found the cause to be a wooden chest buried in the ground. As he stood up with the support of a tree, two sets of armor fell from the tree.
Cheng Dalei, Qin Man, and Xu Ling'er surrounded him; it turned out the source of the mystery was Xu Shenji.
"Why are you all staring at me? I... I... don't know how this happened either!"
"Keep an eye on Think Tank."
Xu Shenji yelped and ran back. It was odd that wherever he went, he could always find something. Drums buried under rocks, chests in the ground, dusty flags under tables...
Finally, Xu Shenji came to an old well in Mountain Fortress. He thought to himself that he should be safe there. But as he stared absentmindedly into the well, water started gushing out from the well that had been dry for over a decade.
"Wow, this is spooky."
After turning the entire fortress inside out, they gathered under the flagpole in the schoolyard. Cheng Dalei listed out what they had found: one fine iron spear, two sets of ordinary armor, ten Blood Replenishing Pills, a drum (with the skill: Inspire), a flag (with the skill: Recruit), thirty jars of strong liquor, ten sickles, a map of Mount Qingniu, a set of Scholar's Clothes.
Ten acres of farmland, a well, a spring.
Skills acquired by the fortress: Healing, Unity. Mounts upgraded collectively and gained skills.
The most astonishing number was the fifty wooden chests they had found.
Truly, their gains were immense, although the system's rewards seemed to decline in value. Xu Shenji was in awe, "Boss, did the old fortress chief leave you any last words before he left?"
Cheng Dalei remained silent while Xu Shenji picked up the Scholar's Clothes, "These clothes are tailor-made for me. After wearing them, my strategies will double."
"Drop it. That belongs to me." Cheng Dalei rebuffed him. Your intelligence is zero to start with; even if it were to multiply by ten, it would still be zero.
However, Cheng Dalei felt regretful that out of all the rewards from the system, even though it included a white robe, there was not a single sword. Could it be that he lacked the quality to be a swordsman roaming through the jianghu?
As his gaze fell on the pile of chests, Cheng Dalei's eyes lit up: "Let's open the chests."