Chapter 16: Wow! The Golden Legend
The site of the incident.
Shen He walked through a crowd of uniforms and reporters, glancing at the new achievement he had just acquired.
[Battle Across Tiers!]
[Earned by defeating opponents of higher rank. With this title, all existing attributes are increased by fifteen percent when facing foes stronger than yourself.]
[This achievement can continue to grow; at this stage, defeating enemies of even higher rank will further enhance it.]
[…]
Reading the description of "Battle Across Tiers," Shen He's eyes instantly lit up.
A fifteen percent boost to all attributes.
That meant, whenever he faced opponents of a higher level, every aspect of his abilities would be strengthened by fifteen percent.
Wow! Legendary gold.
A truly remarkable thing!
And at this stage, defeating even higher-level enemies would further enhance the achievement.
If he managed to slay a fourth-tier beast, wouldn’t that boost reach twenty percent?
Goodness, it was almost unimaginable.
Especially since this was the quintessential late-game power. The higher his attributes became, the more potent the boost.
It was every bit as impressive as the previously unlocked "Cheating Death."
"Cheating Death" was the ultimate survival skill—fifty percent chance of escaping from an enemy three levels higher.
"Battle Across Tiers" was the ultimate combat skill.
In summary:
Fighting feels incredible!
Shen He was grinning so broadly his eyes nearly disappeared, not even caring about the three free attribute points awarded for defeating the third-tier Earth Drake.
When he slew the first-tier Mutant Rat King, he’d received one free attribute point.
Now, after taking down a third-tier Earth Drake, only three points?
He couldn’t help but suspect this rotten game had some scheming developer pilfering his attribute points.
Otherwise, how could a third-tier Earth Drake only grant three free points?
Swindlers, utter swindlers!
Shen He flagged down a car by the roadside, heading straight for the nearby night market.
He’d done so much today, yet hadn’t had time for dinner. Now, hunger gnawed so deeply it felt as though his chest was pressed against his back.
No sooner had he gotten into the taxi than a few lines of text appeared before him.
[Ding! Congratulations, player, for completing the temporary task: Rescue the humans captured by the third-tier Earth Drake.]
[Task Reward: Earth Drake Bracer (left arm, pending collection)]
[…]
Staring at the lines of text, Shen He blinked in surprise.
He suppressed the urge to claim the reward immediately.
It was his first time receiving such an item; who knew what form it would take?
He was empty-handed in the car—if he suddenly produced a bracer, wouldn’t he frighten the driver out of his wits?
Suddenly, he glanced ahead at the driver, noticing through the rearview mirror that the driver kept glancing at him.
Just as Shen He was about to speak, the driver exclaimed excitedly, “It’s really you!”
Shen He paused, “Sir, do we know each other?”
The driver replied quickly, “Earlier, you rode in my car saying you wanted to go to the food stalls. Halfway there, a sinkhole suddenly opened in the road, and you went down to save people. That time, a lady driver rear-ended my car. Don’t you remember?”
At those words, Shen He finally recalled.
Wasn’t this the same taxi he’d taken before?
He hadn’t expected, after randomly hailing a cab, to encounter this very man again.
Fate, truly fate!
Shen He grinned, “Your car got rear-ended and you’re still out driving? How much did the lady driver pay you?”
The driver slapped the gear shift, “Don’t get me started on that!”
Shen He blinked, “She didn’t pay you?”
The driver said, “I saw a young lady get out of her car, so I didn’t want too much. The collision wasn’t serious—one or two hundred yuan would’ve sufficed, just an apology.”
“But she refused, insisted on going through insurance.”
“So the traffic police arrived, saw us arguing, told us to move the cars to the mediation room at the station for resolution.”
“I told her, just apologize and pay three hundred yuan, and we’d be done.”
“But she wouldn’t. She kept saying she wasn’t short of money. She started bidding, from three thousand all the way up to thirty thousand, but wouldn’t apologize or pay just three hundred.”
Shen He, suddenly intrigued, asked, “So? She’d rather pay thirty thousand than apologize? You must’ve made a fortune—two months’ wages at least?”
The driver replied, “Not at all! You make it sound like I’m desperate for cash.”
Shen He widened his eyes, “You didn’t take it?”
The driver shook his head, “I did, but I’m not short of money. The lady was so pretty, I didn’t want to force her to apologize. In the end, we signed a mediation agreement, she transferred thirty thousand to me, and left.”
“Imagine, not long after, I run into you. I was planning to check out the commotion. Were the people rescued?”
Shen He gave a thumbs up, “All rescued from the pit. I expect they’re already at the hospital.”
The driver nodded, “Good thing you were brave enough to go down and save them; otherwise, who knows what might’ve happened.”
Soon, the driver stopped at a night market street, “This street has the best food, and it’s the cleanest.”
Shen He got out, about to pay, when the driver waved him off, “Keep your money. Consider it my treat. You did something I wish I could but didn’t dare. I admire you. Besides, I’m not short of cash.”
With that, he turned the car around and drove off.
At the taxi’s rear, the shallow dent from the earlier collision was still visible.
Shen He waved at the rearview mirror, then turned and strode into the night market.
The driver was right—this street’s food was excellent: clean, hygienic, and, most importantly, delicious.
By the time Shen He had eaten his fill, it was nearly nine o’clock.
He ordered a car online, heading directly to his rented apartment.
The streetlights were fully lit. When Shen He returned to his floor, he saw his neighbor, Lele, coming with several parcels.
Seeing him, Lele grinned, “Oh! Shen, back so late today. Out on a date?”
Shen He lifted his chin, “I was out doing good deeds. The city bureau will award me for bravery in a few days.”
Lele rolled her eyes, “Lying with your eyes wide open.”
Shen He felt a bit indignant.
How come nobody believes the truth these days?
He eyed the items in Lele’s hands, “What did you buy? They look odd.”
Lele lifted her parcels, “Ambient lights, fill lights, a beauty-enhancing webcam, sound card…”
Shen He gaped, “Your line of work is this competitive now?”
Lele opened her door, laughing, “What nonsense are you thinking? I’m changing careers—becoming a streamer. A little risqué dancing, calling out ‘Chicken Brother’, making money faster than now.”
“But if you’re interested, my previous offer still stands.”
Shen He opened his door, “Women only slow my sword-drawing speed.”
With that, he closed the door.
Lele rolled her eyes, muttered to herself, and walked into her own apartment, closing the door behind her.