Li Rufeng had just let out a sigh of relief, thinking that successfully dealing with the assassin meant everything was fine. At that moment, the cold voice of the System rang out in his mind again: "Ding! Main quest completed. Reward: 'God-tier Support Skill Pack', containing advanced tactics, Healing Spell, and Teleportation Spell. Side quest completion at 50%. Penalty: Bad Luck Curse for one day, taking effect immediately."
Li Rufeng was stunned for a second, his eyes widening. He couldn't help muttering under his breath, "What on earth is this? How is the side quest only half completed? A whole day of bad luck—how am I supposed to survive this?"
Ding! The System spoke up: "If you keep muttering, the punishment will be extended to three days."
Li Rufeng hurriedly pleaded, "System, you're my master, I won't do it again, please spare me! Please don't add more days, it'll kill me."
The System replied, "Dying would save me the trouble of obliterating you, not to mention wasting my time."
Hearing him mutter, Deputy General Mei Yuxin asked curiously, "Li Rufeng, what are you mumbling about? Hurry up and move."
With a bitter face, Li Rufeng said, "General Mei, I... I've hit absolute rock bottom. I've been cursed with a day of bad luck, and the countdown has already started!"
Hearing this, the surrounding guards burst into laughter. A guard teased, "Haha, Li Rufeng, your Bad Luck Curse even backfired on you! Looks like we're in for a good show."
The Empress also smiled and shook her head, "Li Rufeng, it seems your luck fluctuates. Still, that Bad Luck Curse you used on the assassin was quite amusing."
Before she even finished speaking, Li Rufeng suddenly felt his foot slip and lunged forward. It turned out he had stepped on a puddle of grease left behind by the assassin. With a loud thud, he face-planted into the dirt. Everyone burst into laughter all over again.
"Ouch, that hurts like hell!" Li Rufeng struggled to his feet, his face covered in dust.
A vegetable vendor passing by saw this scene and couldn't help laughing, "This young man was just acting all imposing against the assassin, how did he end up flat on his face in the blink of an eye?"
The Woodcutter Uncle also laughed and said, "Looks like this bad luck strikes whenever it pleases. Li Rufeng, you'd better watch your step."
Helplessly, Li Rufeng patted the dirt off his clothes and continued walking with the procession. They hadn't gone more than a few steps when a bird flew over his head, and with a splat, a dollop of bird droppings landed squarely on top of his head.
"Agh! What on earth is this?!" Li Rufeng jumped up in anger, and the people around him laughed even harder.
Deputy General Mei Yuxin held back her laughter and handed him a handkerchief, "Hurry up and wipe it off. Your bad luck really is punctual."
As he wiped off the bird droppings, Li Rufeng grumbled, "This System is such a trap. How am I going to get through this entire day?"
Just then, a soldier ran over and said with a grin, "Li Rufeng, why don't you cast another Bad Luck Curse and transfer this bad luck onto someone else?"
Li Rufeng gave him an annoyed glare. "You think I can just use the Bad Luck Curse however I want? I'm already this unlucky myself."
The group continued on their way, but Li Rufeng's misfortunes came one after another. As they walked, his shoelace suddenly came untied, he accidentally stepped on it, and he tripped and fell to the ground once again.
"Hahaha, Li Rufeng, are you trying to put on a masterclass in falling down for us?" a guard laughed aloud.
Li Rufeng felt like crying without tears. He thought to himself, "This is only the beginning, and I still have a whole day left. How am I supposed to survive this? Who knows how many more times I'll make a fool of myself before we reach the military camp."