Chapter 11: A Coward’s Guide to Victory

Lu Chunhe never planned for things to go this way.

One moment, he was working in the fields, diligently planting crops under the blazing sun. The next—he was getting bullied by a bunch of snot-nosed brats.

"Dogman! Dogman! Woof! Woof!"

A group of children surrounded him, hands cupped over their mouths to mimic barking. This again.

Chunhe's face twitched. He was a dignified person. He had ambitions.

But these little devils didn't care.

They ran circles around him, pretending to sniff the air. One even crawled on all fours.

And then—one of them held up a chicken drumstick.

"Here, Dogman! Want a treat?"

Chunhe's eye twitched.

The brats took it further, making him do tricks. Clap. Roll over. Shake hands. Fetch. Catch.

It was a full-on circus show, and he was the unwilling star.

This was unbearable.

Chunhe scooped up a handful of mud and threw it.

His aim was perfect—but fate had other plans.

The mud curved mid-air (how?!) and smacked directly into the village chief's daughter's face.

Silence.

Her shocked expression.

The horror in the villagers' eyes.

Then—chaos.

At first, the children blinked. Then, as if divine permission had been granted, they shrieked with laughter.

Mud flew everywhere.

The farmers joined in. The elders joined in. An impromptu mud war had begun.

Chunhe stood frozen, still processing what just happened.

Then—

Ding! New Task: Blend in with the villagers.Task Completed! Reward: +1 Strength, +1 Agility.

A smirk tugged at his lips. Easy.

Then the second message hit.

Hidden Task Triggered: Escape Before Retaliation.Failure Punishment: Triple System Tasks for a Week!

Chunhe's face turned pale.

He turned back.

The village chief's daughter wiped the mud off her face.

Her eyes narrowed.

The adults exchanged knowing glances. Revenge was coming.

"Ah."

Without hesitation, Chunhe turned and ran.

He vaulted over fences. Ducked under fruit carts. The villagers gave chase.

But Chunhe wasn't a fool—he was a survivor.

His light movement technique carried him into the fields, the tall stalks of rice swallowing him from view. He was safe.

Or so he thought.

Because just as he slowed down, another commotion erupted.

A deep, guttural roar.

The ground trembled.

And then—a massive boar, easily twice the size of a normal one, rampaged through the fields.

It uprooted crops. Trampled fences.

And worst of all—it was headed straight for Chunhe.

A bark rang out.

Big D, his only true companion, his most loyal friend—his dog—charged into the field, growling at the beast.

"Big D, no! Come back!" Chunhe hissed.

Big D did not come back. Big D was braver than his master.

Ding! New Task: Hunt the Boar.Reward: +3 Strength, +2 Endurance.

Chunhe froze.

Then, slowly, cautiously, he turned his gaze toward the monstrous boar.

It was huge.

It looked angry.

Chunhe swallowed hard.

"Actually, you see," he began, "boars have a right to exist in this world just like we do—"

Big D gave him a flat look.

The system did not care.

Failure to participate in hunt = Forced Combat Mode Activation.Punishment: Permanent Title 'Cowardly Swine' (All NPCs will instinctively mock you.)

Chunhe broke into a cold sweat.

"...Let's go."

The village men grabbed spears, nets, whatever weapons they could find.

Chunhe grabbed... his shovel.

Because why not?

The boar snorted, pawed the ground, and then charged.

And Chunhe, filled with the spirit of self-preservation, did the only thing he was truly good at.

He ran first.

Big D barked in disappointment.

Lu Chunhe was many things—a farmer, a man of strategy, a supreme coward, and, most importantly... a guy who didn't fight unless there was a 0.00% chance of failure.

And right now? He was hiding.

Crouched behind a pile of hay, he peered out with narrowed eyes. His hands gripped a shovel, but fighting the boar head-on? Absolutely not.

That was what the villagers were for.

"Chase it! Don't let it turn back!" Hong Xian, the village chief, roared as a dozen men with spears ran through the muddy fields.

The boar snorted furiously, hooves pounding the earth, chasing after a lone red blur.

Big D.

Chunhe's faithful dog, draped in his red scarf, which flapped like the cloak of a true hero.

The villagers were chasing the boar.

The boar was chasing Big D.

And Chunhe? Hiding, waiting.

The plan was perfect.

Let the villagers wear the boar down.Let Big D lead it to the trap.Let the boar fall into the pit Chunhe dug.Take full credit.

He adjusted his stance, barely breathing as he watched the grand chase unfold.

Big D was a streak of red and gold, his legs kicking up dust as he zigzagged with effortless agility.

The boar, twice the size of a normal one, was frothing at the mouth, enraged beyond reason.

And behind them? The villagers, panting, cursing, struggling to keep up.

Chunhe felt no guilt. This was survival.

"Big D, now!" he whispered, gripping his stick—the one tied with a fresh meat bun.

The signal was clear.

Big D's ears perked up. Time to execute the masterstroke.

With one final burst of speed, he shot towards Chunhe's hiding spot.

The boar followed, snorting like a storm.

Chunhe lifted the bait high.

Big D soared like a legendary beast.

His jump put all cats to shame.

His teeth clamped onto the meat bun, mid-air.

Chunhe caught him smoothly like a fisherman landing a prized catch.

And the boar?

Straight into the pit.

THUD!

Dirt flew everywhere.

Silence.

Then—the villagers erupted into cheers.

"Lu Chunhe! You genius!"

"Big D, the hero of the village!"

Chunhe stood up slowly, brushing dust off his robes, wearing the calm expression of a man who totally meant for this to happen.

"Of course," he said. "Just another day for the Dogman."