Chapter 10: Misunderstandings and Missteps

"Is this a guaranteed drop?" Feng Xue wondered aloud as he examined the white emergency fund. He speculated about the potential rewards from the other two nodes, but he didn't linger on these clueless musings for long. As the screen transitioned and revealed two paths labeled "Ordinary Combat," he chose the one directly ahead without hesitation.

"Violence isn't always the answer, but it is always an option."

With those words, his vision was enveloped by darkness, leaving only the words "Schoolyard Bullying" visible.

"Ah, the classic bullied orphan scenario at school. Seems like a cliché setup. Does the hint mean this level is all about fighting?" Feng Xue mused as he gradually became aware of his surroundings. He was looking down, dressed in a plain school uniform, holding a backpack.

Before he could take in more of his surroundings, a gruff voice caught his attention:

"Hey, kid, the boss is talking to you!"

As the voice echoed, a shadow loomed from the corner of his eye. Although Feng Xue wasn't a martial arts expert, he wasn't a stranger to physical confrontations. Reacting instinctively to the oncoming threat, he raised his arm to block, absorbing the impact with a grimace as he finally made out his attacker's face.

The assailant, also in a school uniform, had a defiant look, and two younger boys stood beside him, observing with a sense of superiority.

"You dare block?" the attacking student exclaimed, feeling his pride wounded. But Feng Xue didn't give him a chance to recover or speak further. Swinging his heavy backpack, he struck the attacker's head with precision.

The knowledge from his expert-level first aid training wasn't just for saving lives; it also allowed him to identify human vulnerabilities accurately. The backpack, weighing several kilos, knocked the assailant out cold.

As the thug fell to the ground, the expressions of his companions changed dramatically. But Feng Xue wasted no time. He lunged forward, delivering a swift punch to the nearest boy's nose, causing blood to spray and a scream of pain to erupt before he even hit the ground. With one opponent left visibly shaken, Feng Xue's intimidating presence stopped any further challenges.

"Don't come any closer! Do you know who I am?" the last boy managed, trying to deter Feng Xue with the typical threats of a cornered antagonist.

But Feng Xue, unfazed and seasoned from his experiences in strategy games where even divine beings weren't spared, swiftly kicked the boy down. He didn't rush to end the confrontation but instead took a moment to explore the panel interface he hadn't had time to check in previous fights.

To his surprise, he could now see an inventory slot active. "What's this? Can items be actively used during combat?" As he focused on the inventory, a steaming cup of red tea appeared in his hand.

"Wow, so I can actually use items like this? But is it a one-time use or can I keep pulling it out?" Feng Xue sipped the tea, contemplating its utility. To avoid potentially exhausting the item, he refrained from further testing and instead finished his opponent with a kick, as the scene around him faded.

The post-battle screen materialized:

"Combat over, perfect strategy."

"Node settlement: +2 Dreamscape."

"Loot drawing…"

"You have obtained 'How to Manage Finances' and a Management Studies Unlock Ticket."

"How to Manage Finances? What's this about? And here I thought Ordinary Combat wouldn't drop skill unlock tickets," Feng Xue remarked with a puzzled look, immediately inspecting his new acquisitions:

Item: How to Manage Finances

Category: Professional Tool

Quality: White (Common)

Effect: Unlocks or upgrades one financial skill by one level (up to Beginner)

Note: An introductory book on financial basics, but don't expect to master finance with it alone.

"It seems professional tools can directly enhance skill levels. But only up to beginner because it's white quality?" Feng Xue opened his skill list, noting a stark deficiency in financial skills in his predecessor's profile, with the highest being a vocational-level "Bargaining."

"My predecessor really neglected some important skills…" Opting for practicality over potential, Feng Xue upgraded his Beginner-level "Exchange Rate Calculation," hoping at least to understand the primary currencies of this world.

Upon activation, he learned that the highest valued currency was the Shenluo Gold Coin, followed by Xinghuan, Qingyun, and the lowest, Hongying coins—with numerous minor currencies making up the remainder.

"And to think I expected a straightforward world currency… " Feng Xue muttered, shifting his focus to the Management Studies Unlock Ticket, which offered a pool of skills like "Rhetoric," "Statistics," and "Human Resources," none above expert level.

With no hesitation, he used his remaining Legacy points to bring "Rhetoric" to a vocational level.

"Learned it, but feels like I didn't learn anything…" Feng Xue sighed, feeling the intangible nature of the newly acquired knowledge. He then set his sights on the next choice in the roguelike, randomly selecting from the three paths ahead, slipping back into the semi-conscious state once more:

"Random choices can lead to new possibilities, but remember, everything gifted by fate is already priced in the shadows."

As the cliché yet ominous phrase flashed by, Feng Xue found himself standing in the middle of a bustling street, as pedestrians instinctively cleared a path for several menacing men in suits striding through.

"Gangsters?" Feng Xue guessed, observing their sleek, Men in Black-style attire. But a sudden pang of hunger distracted him, and a new line of text appeared:

"After being expelled from school for severely injuring several students, including the headmaster's son, you wander the streets aimlessly. Upon seeing the imposing gang members, you think…"

1. "A real man should live like this."

2. "I could take his place."

"Eh, not exactly…" Feng Xue muttered, finding himself in yet another unintended and complicated situation.