Chen Fan took another minor returning pill. At this time, the minor returning pill could only restore less than 500 health points. His own health was maintained at about half. Chen Fan looked at the Black Wolf King opposite with some arrogance, tapped his long sword lightly as a signal, and the provoked Black Wolf King's ferocity resurfaced, biting towards Chen Fan. Chen Fan sidestepped and dodged, then gripped the sword with both hands and slashed upwards from below towards the Black Wolf's jaw. However, the Black Wolf King's agility was still higher than his, and its jaws still managed to bite Chen Fan.
"-456"
Chen Fan's attack, originally aimed at the jaw, only landed on the wolf's body. Fortunately, another wisp of black mist was transmitted from the Spirit Devouring Sword to the Black Wolf King. The Black Wolf King paused, and Chen Fan struck again, "-389". Thus, the Black Wolf King and Chen Fan began a tug-of-war. Without the harassment of ordinary wolves, Chen Fan's pressure was significantly reduced. What made Chen Fan even more delighted was that the black mist effect of the Spirit Devouring Sword could stack. As wisps of black gas entered the Black Wolf King's body, the Black Wolf King's agile figure gradually slowed down. Chen Fan even felt that the Black Wolf King's speed was no longer faster than his own. The scales of victory slowly began to tip in his favor.
"-586"
Another sword strike hit the Black Wolf King's head, and a high damage value floated up. The Black Wolf King let out a pained howl and no longer entangled with Chen Fan, turning to run towards the jungle. But at this moment, its speed had greatly decreased. Where could it escape? Chen Fan hurriedly pursued and began to slash at the Black Wolf King, cursing as he did, "You want to run after showing off? No way! Die!"
After a while, another wisp of black gas entered the Black Wolf King's body, and its movement slowed down completely. Chen Fan leaped high and struck the wolf's head with a powerful blow, "-788!". The Black Wolf King fell to the ground without even a whimper.
"Weren't you arrogant before? Come on and show off again! You dog!"
Amidst Chen Fan's venting curses, the Black Wolf King slowly turned into a ball of white light, and then another wisp of black energy slowly entered the body of the Spirit Devouring Sword, making the sword body appear darker.
"It seems only Lord-level monsters can be absorbed by the Spirit Devouring Sword," Chen Fan thought to himself.
He then quickly began to loot the battlefield. After all, this was a level 20 BOSS. What drove Chen Fan crazy was that besides advancing his experience considerably, the level 20 Lord actually dropped no equipment at all.
"Damn it, you incomparably useless BOSS, poor as a dog..." After a torrent of abuse, he also ranted about the Starry Sky Planner, completely lacking the good sense of a former Star Shell employee.
"Wasting more than thirty minor returning pills on me, and all I got was a few wolf hides and a piece of Black Wolf King hide? What do I need this damn wolf hide for?! You piece of..." After a while, Chen Fan figured he was tired of cursing, sighed, and still picked up the wolf hides on the ground one by one into his backpack. Even a mosquito's leg is still meat.
The healing effect of the Life Fruit was indeed astonishing, but Chen Fan experienced even more what it means to be envied for possessing treasures. He had only just realized the miraculousness of the Life Fruit, and it had immediately brought him so much trouble. After using more than thirty minor returning pills, he only got a few wolf hides. If he hadn't had the orange weapon, he would have already turned into a beam of light and returned to the city. The only gains were experience and the improvement of the Spirit Devouring Sword. Why did a level 20 Lord have nothing? It was simply unbelievable.
After this battle, Chen Fan understood that although the Life Fruit was powerful, it should not be used lightly. Otherwise, he didn't know what kind of ghosts and monsters it would attract. If that towering giant tree was attracted again, let alone the minor returning pills, even the best pills from gods wouldn't be able to save his meager health.
However, changing his perspective, if he could confirm that his surroundings were safe enough, attracting Lord-level monsters with this thing seemed feasible. After all, the influence range of this fruit was definitely limited. If taking it out would let the whole continent know, then what's the point of playing? Thinking of this, Chen Fan couldn't help but feel pleased with himself. Indeed, one perspective leads to a different world; he still had some talent. Later, he would need to find Lord Elites or similar monsters to upgrade the Spirit Devouring Sword's quality. This method could be tried!
When the cooldown for the medicine was over, Chen Fan took an Aifang Ointment to restore his health to a healthy level. Chen Fan then brandished his sword and continued to search for Black Wolves in the vicinity, venting his frustration while also completing the wolf hide collection quest. Thus, a new round of monotonous monster grinding and skill proficiency improvement began...
Chapter 28: The Most Beautiful Reunion
Interest is a person's best teacher. From childhood, Chen Fan had a fondness for anime games and yearned for the life of a typical otaku. However, when you truly treat gaming as a profession, it always feels tiring, not as wonderful as imagined, because reality is quite harsh.
If it were always like this: Old Man Huang's desperate counterattack, or intense battles between strong players like the Swordsman and the Life Fruit Tree, with high engagement, Chen Fan wouldn't feel bored at all. Instead, he would feel a strong sense of participation and great rewards. But if it were just monotonous monster grinding and item looting, no matter how detailed or immersive, one would eventually get tired.
As the White Wild Boar in front of him turned into a ball of white light, Chen Fan picked up the boar tusk dropped by the monster. After a long period of wilderness leveling, he wasn't particularly hungry. The nutrition from the Super Energy Pills was enough to sustain him for a long time, but he felt mentally exhausted. Looking at his experience bar nearing the 18-level mark, he had no desire to push for an immediate level-up.
He found a quiet place at random and logged off. Taking off the Game Helmet, Chen Fan felt a bit dazed. Looking at the time on the electronic clock on the wall, he realized that this session had lasted a full fifteen hours. Perhaps the lack of regular work and rest hours made Chen Fan, who had just become a full-time player, feel inexplicably uneasy. The sunlight outside was just right; it was a bright and beautiful morning. However, he was a bit tired and would spend this beautiful morning sleeping. Looking at the face in the mirror with a hint of fatigue, Chen Fan gave a wry smile. After a simple wash-up, he fell asleep on the bed. And so, the beautiful morning passed in sweet dreams.
It was moonrise again. Chen Fan slowly opened his eyes in the soft moonlight. He had slept soundly and very sweetly. Stretching comfortably, he went to the bathroom for a quick shower to refresh himself, planning to go downstairs and find a restaurant to treat himself.
High-quality sleep can effectively relieve stress. After waking up, Chen Fan's unease had eased considerably. After all, he had earned six hundred and fifty thousand in just a few days. In the past, that would have been a year's salary from Star Shell. What was there to be anxious about? Even if he didn't make money as a full-time player in the future, his circumstances wouldn't be too bad; he could always find another job. What was there to be flustered or annoyed about? People sometimes fall into a vicious cycle, especially when they are mentally unwell. The more they think, the more paranoid they become, causing themselves great pain. In reality, all they need is a good sleep. After waking up, everything might become clear and smooth sailing.
Walking on the green path of the Star Shell apartment complex, the evening breeze caressed his face, and he felt the fresh air from the surrounding greenery, which was extremely comfortable. Even with the groundbreaking realistic experience of Starry Sky, there was still a gap compared to reality; it lacked that true feeling of nature, an ineffable wonder.
"Beep!"
A crisp and short authentication sound came. Chen Fan walked out of the large gate of the Star Shell apartment complex. There were some restaurants within the Star Shell apartment complex, but most of them used synthetic meat, which was not to his liking. To dine out, he had to go outside to experience the pure aroma of stir-fried meat with garlic and onions, which made his mouth water just thinking about it.
Just as Chen Fan began to look for a dinner spot, a familiar voice called out to him: "Hi, Chen Fan, bumping into you again."
Chen Fan turned his head towards the sound and saw the same girl he met at the supermarket last time. This time, she was wearing a blue and white sports suit, her shoulder-length hair tied up. Her face had a slight blush, and there were droplets of sweat on her forehead. Under the streetlight, the girl seemed to be radiating light.
"Long time no see, just finished exercising?"
Chen Fan smiled and nodded, replying, his voice steady, gentle, and continuous. Chen Fan himself found it a bit unbelievable, as if he had entered some strange state. Facing such a beautiful woman, his face didn't flush, his heart didn't race, and he wasn't nervous at all, feeling a subtle sense of unity with nature.
"Yes, I just went for a run. Life is about movement," the girl replied happily.
"Exercise is good..." After saying just four words, Chen Fan's mind seemed to short-circuit again, and he didn't know what else to say. The atmosphere became a little awkward, and his Dao heart began to waver.
"It truly is good. Do you exercise regularly?" Fortunately, the girl responded promptly.
"I don't really like exercising, but I do go out for some training occasionally." Chen Fan didn't short-circuit when asked questions; after all, it was just the truth. He was still quite methodical.
"I see. Indeed, the work of you Star Shell engineers is very busy, and you don't have much time to exercise. However, your physique seems to be maintained quite well," the girl observed Chen Fan up and down.
"Haha... luck, just luck," Chen Fan's old face turned red, and he touched his head awkwardly. In reality, Chen Fan didn't have much of a pursuit for food, only occasionally indulging in something better. Unlike that fellow Lin Dong, who both liked to eat and drink. Coupled with the demanding schedule of his previous studies and work, he had relied on Super Energy Pills to get by, so his physique naturally wouldn't go out of shape. However, his Dao heart, which had just achieved unity with nature, was now completely shattered.
"Where are you planning to go tonight?" the girl asked again.
"I was bored at home and wanted to go for a walk, and also to improve my diet, to have a good meal," Chen Fan replied quickly.
"Are you alone?" The girl looked straight at Chen Fan.
"Yes, I can only be alone," Chen Fan blurted out.
"Then how about we have dinner together?"
"This..." Chen Fan was momentarily stunned. He had never had a beautiful woman of such a high caliber ask him out for a meal. It felt a bit unreal; he was in a daze, unsure how to respond. "Am I still dreaming?" he thought, still incredulous.
"If it's not convenient, then forget it." Seeing Chen Fan's prolonged silence, the girl spoke. Chen Fan thought he detected a hint of disappointment in her tone.
"No, no, no, that's not what I mean. Of course, I can! It's my honor to have you for dinner!" Chen Fan said hurriedly.
"Okay, then let's go." Seeing Chen Fan's somewhat clumsy and hasty response, the girl smiled brightly.
And so, Chen Fan's dinner excursion gained a beautiful female companion. "Could it be that my luck from fighting the Black Wolf King has carried over to tonight?" Chen Fan still couldn't believe it.
Along the way, the two chatted casually. Originally, Chen Fan wanted to find a lively street food stall for a hearty meal. However, with a beautiful woman accompanying him, he had to choose a restaurant with decent decor and walk in. For the first time eating with a beautiful girl, Chen Fan was very nervous and didn't know what to order. He just felt that he couldn't seem insincere, so he ordered many dishes. The girl saw this and repeatedly waved her hands, saying they couldn't possibly eat so much and would be wasteful. She made him return several dishes. This simple act elevated Chen Fan's impression of the girl considerably.
"Do you remember our first meeting? I had just arrived when Lin Dong collapsed from drinking. We didn't even get to talk before sending him back," the girl said, smiling.
"Yeah, we were supposed to hang out together, but that guy started drinking with people at the next table. He had already passed out before you guys arrived." Chen Fan recalled that night with some annoyance. He waited for a long time at Dà Làng Táo Shā, and ended up paying the bill. He was almost beaten by Lin Dong's wife.
"Lin Dong was drunk, and we sent him back together. Seeing his wife standing at the door with her arms crossed, we didn't dare to go over," the girl said ruefully.
"Yeah, I was scolded badly by his wife, like a dog raining blood," Chen Fan replied with a wry smile.
"Hahahaha..." The girl suddenly couldn't stop laughing, as if she remembered something. Chen Fan was momentarily stunned again.
"Lin Dong was lying on his doorstep, unconscious, and you were standing there with your hands behind your back, head bowed, while his wife stood at the door, arms crossed, scolding him. You looked like a student who made a mistake and was being lectured by the dean. Hahahaha..." The girl laughed even more heartily.
At this moment, Chen Fan's old face turned red. Recalling that terrifying moment, he couldn't help but think, "This is so embarrassing. That bastard Lin Dong deserves to be cut into ten thousand pieces for putting me in such a situation."
The beginning was warm and wonderful, and it was destined that the dinner that evening would not be cold. Gradually, Chen Fan no longer felt restrained or nervous. Moreover, the girl was not introverted. The pleasant time of dinner began, proceeded, and ended in such a lively atmosphere of give and take.
"Thank you for tonight's treat. I'll treat you next time," the girl said with a smile.
"You're welcome. It's my honor to treat a beautiful lady," Chen Fan replied with a smile.
"Then I'll be going up now. Get some rest early, Chen Fan," the girl said, waving goodbye to Chen Fan with a smile before turning to walk into the building.
"Get some rest early!" Chen Fan waved goodbye, watching the girl's figure with some reluctance.
Through this wonderful dinner, the two exchanged EP contacts. Looking at the sky-blue avatar displayed on the screen, Chen Fan couldn't help but smile. Chen Fan also learned that the girl's name was Xià Zhúyīng, and she was currently single. Perhaps due to his initial impression, he even found the name incredibly charming. This was likely the halo effect. The girl also lived in the Star Shell apartments, but she lived in Area B, while he was in Area H. Although the letters seemed close, the Star Shell apartments covered a vast area. The apartment complex had green spaces and recreational facilities envied by outsiders, comparable to high-end residential areas. Thus, the actual distance was not short. However, unlike his former employee status, she was not a Star Shell employee. She currently worked for a transportation company and was on vacation, staying with a friend.
Looking up at the brightly lit building, he lost himself in thought, wondering which floor and room she lived on