Chapter 23

"Hiss, hiss, hiss..." Dugu Fu pushed the door open, and in an instant, dozens of expectant gazes in the inn turned to him.

Those were nakedly eager eyes, seeking tasks.

Dugu Fu had been mentally prepared to become an NPC, but he hadn't expected to face so many at once.

Even though he was prepared, it was far from enough!

"Sir, there's a small room behind the stable..." At this moment, the innkeeper spoke softly from behind.

Dugu Fu gave him a resentful look. Why didn't you say so earlier? But upon reflection, the innkeeper had indeed tried to say something, but he had walked too quickly.

The innkeeper is a good person.

Nodding, Dugu Fu turned around. His heart was in turmoil, but his face remained calm.

So many players gathered here, they must have a purpose. If he just ran away from the door, they might not chase him.

But... he also had to consider that they might be here for a common task. If he ran, they might misunderstand and think he was involved, and chase him to the death. That would be a complete tragedy...

In an instant, his mind raced, and Dugu Fu made his decision. His expression remained calm, but he showed a hint of confusion: "Where's San Guang Bu Zu Dao? I had an appointment to meet him here."

San Guang Bu Zu Dao was the real name of the player who rode and slashed.

This player had people under him and could organize targeted attacks on NPC families. Dugu Fu bet that he had some small fame around here.

"What? San Guang Bu Zu Dao also knows about this task?" Someone was stunned upon hearing this.

"I heard that guy's hunting had some issues, and his buddies can't find him. He's really worried," another said.

Regardless of the response, the fact that some of them knew San Guang Bu Zu Dao was enough.

Impersonating a player successfully!

The spotlight-like gazes dispersed: "Pfft, you're just a player."

"But... why are you dressed like that?" someone asked curiously.

"Out on the road, this way NPCs won't be on guard, making it easier to discover tasks."

"Smart, really smart. I'll try it next time."

Try your head off, Dugu Fu thought, wiping the cold sweat from his back. He boldly squeezed next to the guy: "Move over, move over, boss, bring the wine and food."

The innkeeper was still in a daze, still adapting to Dugu Fu's transformation. Hearing this, he gave him a complex look and went to the kitchen.

Dugu Fu didn't hesitate, picked up the chopsticks, and drank and ate heartily, like a whirlwind.

First, since he was already inside, he couldn't miss the good wine and food;

Second, he was about to leave for the restroom soon, and he needed to fill his stomach to run.

He was eating and drinking happily, but the players around him were mostly already full and a bit impatient: "Why isn't he here yet?"

"Yeah, how long have we been waiting?"

Dugu Fu really wanted to ask what they were waiting for, but he couldn't. Asking would expose him.

He buried his head and continued eating, pretending to be deaf and mute.

"Phew, it's raining, and we're idle anyway. How about we find some fun?" someone suddenly suggested.

"Find some fun? What kind of fun? Don't delay the task."

"Right here, what's there to delay?" the proposer said, suddenly slamming the table, "Boss, the bill!"

"Sir, the total is seventy-three coins," the innkeeper said, appearing.

The proposer took out a Yuan coin, pretending to hand it to the innkeeper, but suddenly stopped: "Boss, can you give us a task?"

The innkeeper was startled and whispered after a moment: "Sir, the stable hasn't been cleaned yet..."

"What? Clean the stable! Do you want me, a noble, to do such lowly work?" the man shouted.

The innkeeper was sweating slightly: "The kitchen, the kitchen still has dishes that haven't been washed..."

Before he could finish, "Bang!" The proposer's palm sent the dishes flying, the table shaking. He frowned and glared: "I advise you to think carefully before speaking!"

The innkeeper's face twitched, and after a moment, he gritted his teeth: "The shop has been doing well lately, and we're short on ingredients. Could you help... catch two mountain chickens?"

The proposer's expression softened, and he patted the innkeeper's cheek: "That's more like it!"

Cleaning the stable and washing dishes weren't rejected because they were lowly, but because they were too easy, and the system's rewards were minimal.

"But, as you said, the business is booming. Two mountain chickens aren't enough. I'll catch ten for you."

"No, no..." the innkeeper waved his hands.

"No nonsense, it's settled!" the proposer said cheerfully. The reward for ten mountain chickens was, of course, different from two.

As he spoke, he magically pulled out three mountain chickens from his backpack.

"I only have three. Does anyone else have any to contribute?"

The players understood his meaning and didn't hesitate. One contributed one, another two. Players' backpacks were full of miscellaneous items, and in the blink of an eye, ten mountain chickens were gathered.

"Boss, here's the task!"

Thus, the money the innkeeper hadn't even pocketed was gone in a flash.

Not only that, but he had to pay an additional hundred or so coins, almost a Yuan coin.

During the Republic of China era, one Yuan coin could be exchanged for 170 to 300 copper coins.

If bought normally, ten mountain chickens, even of the best quality, would cost no more than 60 to 70 coins.

Through the task, the price had quadrupled or quintupled. This was the power of players in daily life.

The proposer set the example, and the others followed.

At first, the innkeeper was trembling and sweating profusely, but after a while, he stopped sweating.

He stood there, his face pale, mechanically serving the players.

Dugu Fu calculated that in this short time, the innkeeper had lost nearly ten Yuan coins. Ten Yuan coins were enough to support a family for several months.

"Thud," a sudden sound caught everyone's attention. They saw the innkeeper kneeling and wailing: "Sirs, my ancestors, I just rented this shop, spent all my savings, and have to pay rent every month. I don't even have money to buy vegetables for tomorrow. How can I open the shop... If I can't open, my whole family will starve... Please, sirs, please let me off."

A man in his forties, strong and sturdy, was crying and banging his head on the ground, his forehead bloody and bruised.

"My family..."

"Are you going to say you have an eighty-year-old mother and a newborn child at home?" a player teased.

The innkeeper was stunned, his words stuck in his throat, and he could only keep banging his head.

A man in his thirties with a family, having elderly parents and young children, wasn't that normal?

Dugu Fu sighed softly, slowly stopped eating, wiped his mouth, and prepared to help the innkeeper.