Chapter 10: The Wool Sweeping Method That Spares No NPCs

"If you won't heed, then chant your sutras!" Gu Shanhai's words were accompanied by swift action as he approached, carrying both a potted plant and a lifeless body on his shoulders. The speed of his advance left the old white ape man momentarily stunned.

Thankfully, the old ape was seasoned and reacted swiftly, brandishing his bamboo stick and aiming it squarely at Gu Shanhai's chest.

*Keng~*

The sound reverberated as the bamboo stick struck, seemingly meeting an immovable force in front of Gu Shanhai, as though it had collided with an invisible barrier.

"This is internal body protection! It can't be!" The old white ape's expression shifted, retreating hastily. 

In this era, those proficient in internal cultivation were already considered elite. External manifestation of internal strength was deemed mythical. 

The three individuals prior had lacked any internal strength, relying solely on physical hardiness and martial prowess.

The old white ape had managed to navigate the realm of martial arts in his advanced age due to his cultivation of internal strength.

Witnessing Gu Shanhai's demonstration shattered his preconceptions.

*Click!*

In the next moment, Gu Shanhai's body protection spirit blade crushed the opponent's bamboo staff.

The potency of his body protection aura and spirit blade was formidable, particularly augmented by the magic mirror and robe, delivering heightened power with minimal expenditure.

"Wait, there's been a misunderstanding," the old white ape conceded. With age comes wisdom, and he recognized the gravity of the situation.

"No matter. As the saying goes, one must own up to their mistakes." Gu Shanhai's resolve was unwavering. He had set his sights on the old ape's fate; there was no turning back.

"Miss Wang, restrain this man. He holds the key to the leak that prompted our encounter here." The old white ape pleaded desperately.

In this world of martial arts, individuals of the Jianghu were often in a precarious position. Their prowess was formidable, yet they paled in comparison to a well-equipped adversary. 

While possessing internal strength was advantageous, those lacking such prowess faced a harsh reality in their later years, grappling with depleted qi and lingering injuries.

Observing the scene unfold, Ms. Wang contemplated intervention. Yet, witnessing Gu Shanhai's determination, coupled with the burden of the lifeless body he bore, she reluctantly spoke, "Young man, pause for a moment. There may be a misunderstanding."

However, Gu Shanhai remained resolute, forging ahead in pursuit of justice. The old white ape, ensnared in the unfolding drama, found himself at the mercy of Gu Shanhai's relentless pursuit, already battered and sprawled on the ground.

"You two, please try to reason with me. This matter concerns the vital affairs of my Wang family, and there must be repercussions," Ms. Wang implored, dismayed by Gu Shanhai's disregard for her words.

The pair exchanged glances, then glanced at the task bar, but no hidden task had been triggered.

Observing Gu Shanhai trampling the old white ape man underfoot, they remained unmoved. Wasn't it nonsensical to expect them to halt the BOSS without any incentives? They couldn't help but feel disillusioned.

An ordinary NPC and a skilled player, faced with the choice of whom to support, would they really plead on behalf of the BOSS? It seemed preposterous.

Had it not been for Gu Shanhai's cunning, would the old white ape man have shown them any mercy?

"No mission?" Gu Shanhai inquired, pivoting to face them.

"No, it's likely a trap," the robust little iron pot muttered under his breath, visibly disgruntled.

"Very well, then I'll dispatch him," Gu Shanhai stated tersely, swiftly dispatching the old man before dropping the lifeless body of the ghost-faced King Kong and commencing his search of the old man's belongings.

"Are you even considered a BOSS? Aside from higher attributes and superior skills, you're impoverished," Gu Shanhai remarked disdainfully, refraining from pilfering anything.

Finally, he stacked the two corpses, hoisted them onto his shoulders, and approached the trio.

Ms. Wang's countenance soured. Gu Shanhai had blatantly disregarded her earlier plea. Despite being the esteemed lady of the Wang family, she found herself powerless in his grasp.

"Once we exit this forest, we'll reach Qingshui City," Gu Shanhai announced.

"Yes, we're almost there," Ms. Wang acknowledged, contemplating her next move.

"Very well. You can proceed the rest of the way on your own. I won't accompany you any further, but rest assured, I didn't act without cause," Gu Shanhai's tone was severe.

He intended to make her traverse the remaining distance alone, but not before she conducted a thorough search.

"Young man, didn't you mention sharing the treasure map with me upon returning to the palace?" Ms. Wang forced a smile.

"Don't be ridiculous. Fetch whatever you can find, whether it's a sachet or something else," Gu Shanhai directed the fluttering big white goose.

The two onlookers were rendered speechless, anticipating another round of scavenging.

Had the mission target been killable, they speculated, perhaps Gu Shanhai would have taken them along, driven by a certain degree of obsessive-compulsive disorder regarding the completeness of the bodies, as evidenced by his disdain for Huanghua Diao and Luoxiake's incomplete remains.

"Ms. Wang, don't resist, lest he act again," the fluttering big white goose chimed in with a smile, proceeding to scavenge.

Unperturbed, Gu Shanhai turned to the robust little iron pot. "Here, this item is equipment. Claim it for yourself, and I'll exchange it for your wife's red flame talisman."

Equipment held minimal significance for Gu Shanhai. While Luoxiake's sword boasted special effects in the hands of a player, in Gu Shanhai's possession, it was merely an ordinary blade of likely subpar quality.

He refrained from specifying the item, as he lacked the means to assess its worth, but the robust little iron pot quickly retrieved a jade pendant.

"You won't be at a loss, Master," the robust little iron pot assured him upon procuring the items.

"Thanks to your talent for scavenging," Gu Shanhai quipped dismissively. "When the time comes, you and your wife will rendezvous there to complete the task, and I won't be joining you."

Meanwhile, the fluttering big white goose collected all of Ms. Wang's belongings, including the sachet, silver, and purported treasure map, stashing them inside the potted plants of Yunlingcao, along with three red flame talismans.

"I'll give you all three cards I have, and we can add each other as friends later," the fluttering big white goose suggested shrewdly.

"Alright, but I doubt we can add each other. Due to my talent, my ID has been blocked," Gu Shanhai revealed. It was impossible for him to add friends, lacking a friend system.

"Oh, I thought your ID was ***," the robust little iron pot mused, increasingly curious about Gu Shanhai's talent, which seemed even more peculiar than his own.

"Enough of that. Take this fellow to complete the task; it's been delayed for far too long," Gu Shanhai decided, realizing that prolonging their stay would only exacerbate Miss Wang's ire. His actions, he conceded, were decidedly unethical.

(End of this chapter)