Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

"Looking at you, you can’t be twenty yet, can you?"

"Tsk, tsk, look at that baby face!"

"Tell me, how many girls have you led astray so far?"

"When you frequent the brothels, do you usually pay?"

"Why the disguise? And what’s with the two scars? Did you think your own face wasn’t intimidating enough?"

"..."

Tang Wen hadn’t even opened his mouth.

Shopkeeper Li was already circling him.

At the same time, she threw a series of bizarre questions at him.

Why did it sound like two brothel regulars exchanging trade secrets?

"I am single-mindedly devoted to my Martial Arts Training!"

Tang Wen wore a perfect smile, his eyes quietly glancing at the fragments on the floor.

That was the lid of the "Iron Coffin" that he had shattered.

He had just personally experienced how extraordinary the material was, how resistant it was to impact, how soundproof, and how airtight.

Because of this, he knew the thing was definitely not cheap.

’How much am I going to have to pay?’

’Will I have to go out of the city again to hunt some Exotic Beasts?’

’But finding the right Exotic Beasts isn’t easy!’

’Hmm, even though I lied about my strength and kept saying I’m just an ordinary Second-class Martial Artist...’

’Setting that aside, don’t you, Shopkeeper Li, bear some responsibility in this?’

He thought it over and over, but it seemed Shopkeeper Li really bore no responsibility at all.

All her previous explanations and her refusal to disclose the method were just to let him experience a near-death feeling more realistically.

And he had to admit, the method was indeed effective.

Tang Wen now had quite a few new ideas about the Visualization Power of his Night Divine Fist.

"Single-mindedly devoted to Martial Arts Training? Like hell I believe... huh?"

Shopkeeper Li glanced at the now-lidless "Iron Coffin," and as if remembering something, she put away her disbelieving expression. "Are you telling the truth?"

"Faced with those youthful, beautiful, and vibrant young women;

looking at those fair-skinned, voluptuous young wives...

You’re telling me you’re not tempted at all?

You can still focus on your Martial Arts Training?"

Tang Wen was speechless.

After a moment’s thought, he decided to tell the truth.

"I just don’t want to rush things! I can’t let beautiful women affect my future."

Shopkeeper Li nodded with great understanding.

"First become Extraordinary, then hit the brothels, right? I get it!"

She wore an expression that said it was a pity to waste a face like Tang Wen’s.

"You were supposed to get three experiences, and now you haven’t even finished one! And you broke the ’Divine Sealing Coffin.’"

’Divine Sealing Coffin?’

Tang Wen sucked in a sharp breath. ’Just from the name, this thing sounds expensive.’

"Although the main body isn’t damaged, you smashed the lid to pieces. It can’t be repaired! One price: fifty thousand taels."

Hearing the price, his eyelid twitched, but he said nothing.

Based on his own experience using it, this was probably the actual price; it wasn’t an exaggeration.

A few High-level Beastial Horses were worth fifty or sixty thousand taels.

In his eyes, this Divine Sealing Coffin was far more valuable than a few High-level Exotic Beasts.

But he couldn’t produce fifty thousand taels.

A troubled look couldn’t help but appear on his face.

Seeing his expression, Shopkeeper Li arched an eyebrow and grinned, like a street punk who had just spotted an innocent girl.

Tang Wen looked at her beautiful face and well-proportioned figure and thought, ’When you smile like that, it’s really hard for me not to get the wrong idea, you know?’

Shopkeeper Li held up two fingers.

"Two options. One, you stay here and work for me until you’ve earned a hundred thousand taels. Then I’ll let you go!"

"A hundred thousand taels?"

"The extra is interest."

"Uhh, what’s the second option?"

"You help me with something!"

Tang Wen frowned. He had no idea what "working for her" would entail.

As for helping her, he wasn’t even considering it.

As the Head Shopkeeper of the Four Seas Inn, if you couldn’t say her connections reached the heavens, they were certainly far greater than those of a typical Extraordinary.

Coupled with her own formidable Extraordinary Level strength, a problem she couldn’t solve herself was probably extremely dangerous, wasn’t it?

Thinking of this, he hurriedly said, "I’m a Beastmaster. I can tame Exotic Beasts. I can make money ridiculously fast!"

Shopkeeper Li heard the refusal in his voice. "You’re not even going to ask what I need help with?"

Tang Wen shook his head repeatedly. "I’m afraid of dying!"

"Afraid of dying?"

She was taken aback for a moment, then said, amused, "What are you thinking! Let’s not even mention that you’re not an Extraordinary; even if you were, would I, the shopkeeper of the Four Seas Inn, really send you out to fight and kill?"

"Huh? Then what is it?" Tang Wen blinked, looking at her.

Shopkeeper Li suddenly became a little embarrassed. "Well, you can’t tell anyone about this!"

Tang Wen was curious, but he immediately raised three fingers and swore to the heavens, "If I leak a single word, may I, Liu Huaqiang, die a horrible death!"

Shopkeeper Li thought for a moment before speaking. "I, um, I have a friend."

"Oh, a friend. I get it, I get it."

Tang Wen suddenly remembered her hobby: she loved beautiful women.

Shopkeeper Li shot him a suspicious look. ’How does it feel like this kid knows something?’

She didn’t press it and continued, "My friend knows this woman. She is peerlessly beautiful, like a fairy descended to the mortal world. This friend of mine... has fallen for her. It’s just a pity that,"

At this point, Shopkeeper Li suddenly trailed off.

She didn’t know how to continue.

Tang Wen, ever so considerate, prompted her.

"Is the status gap between them too great, or are their families mortal enemies?

Or perhaps this fairy already has someone else in her heart?

Or is there some other obstacle?"

Shopkeeper Li tilted her head and looked at him. "You really don’t have a woman?"

"Truer than true gold."

"Right. Anyway, they can’t be together. I need you to help."

Tang Wen now completely understood. It was highly likely the "fairy" didn’t want to have any improper relations with Shopkeeper Li.

"How can I help?"

"Her husband is not good to her, and they spend more time apart than together. My friend is completely devoted to her, but because of their status difference, she just can’t accept my friend."

Tang Wen lowered his head. ’She’s even married?’

’Are the lives of you shopkeepers at the Four Seas Inn all this messy?’

’Are you guys hiring?’

Shopkeeper Li continued, "I want you to step in, get close to this lady and become intimate. Once your relationship is solid, you suddenly turn on her, say vicious things, and leave her completely heartbroken! At that moment, I—um, my friend—will make an appearance..."

Tang Wen finished, "And swoop in while she’s vulnerable!"

"What do you mean, ’swoop in while she’s vulnerable’? It’s saving her from a dire situation!"

"Right, right, saving her from a dire situation."

Tang Wen continued, "It just sounds a little improper, that’s all. In reality, your friend’s status is both a disadvantage and an advantage! A normal pursuit might not necessarily fail."

"You don’t understand! With a face like yours, how could you possibly understand the heartache of an ordinary person pursuing a woman?" A complicated expression appeared on Shopkeeper Li’s face.

She had suffered greatly in her pursuit of women over the years!

Who could possibly understand her suffering?

Tang Wen thought, ’You make a very good point!’

Shopkeeper Li said, "Time is precious. You should experience the darkness here for now! My matter isn’t something that can be resolved overnight."

"Mhm, that’s fine. In that case, thank you, Shopkeeper Li."

"My name is Li Miao."

After stating her name, Shopkeeper Li swept her sleeve. A fierce wind kicked up in the room, carrying all the fragments out of the secret chamber.

Tang Wen’s pupils constricted in shock. ’A Veteran Extraordinary!’

As the door closed, the room was plunged into darkness.

Tang Wen didn’t dare waste any time and used his Breathing Technique to adjust his state of mind.

The near-death experience, the Extreme Darkness... he now understood how it all worked!

Pure night or pure darkness, in and of themselves, were indeed nothing to be afraid of.

What was frightening was the human imagination, and the things hidden within the darkness.

For example: the terrifyingly low temperature.

For example: the fatal danger from just a moment ago!

Imagine if Tang Wen were just an ordinary Martial Artist. That last scene would have been enough to make him truly understand the meaning of despair and terror!

In that way, the night in his Visualization would gain real emotions and power.

A power born of despair, a world fraught with killing intent!