Chapter 10

Nie Yan glanced in the direction of the lakeside. It seemed they had already started.

The Merfolk Village was under attack by the Triumphant Guild. The merfolk surrounding Nie Yan abandoned him to return and defend their village. He never expected that the Triumphant Guild would save his life. The world was truly full of wonders.

With all the merfolk gone, the area was now safe. Nie Yan hurriedly searched for treasure chests. Finally, he found another one amidst the dense aquatic plants, a white treasure chest.

The surroundings matched his memories. This was the place!

Nie Yan opened the chest and felt inside, pulling out a skill book, a Gathering Skill Book. He used his hand to absorb the skill book, which emitted a white light. An additional skill, Gathering, appeared in his auxiliary skill bar.

The harvest was good. He wasn’t sure if there were other treasure chests nearby, but continuing to search would be a waste of time. He knew many other locations of treasure chests and could go for them after leveling up.

Nie Yan swam forward, weaving through the aquatic plants and avoiding monsters. After about ten minutes, he discovered an island in the middle of the lake and swam toward the surface.

System: You have discovered the Lake Heart Island.

Nie Yan landed on the shore and checked the coordinates. He scanned the area and spotted someone sitting by the shore, fishing.

It was a strange NPC elder who would ask every player who encountered him to find him some fine silk. Each roll of fine silk could be exchanged for a piece of silk.

The NPC sold fine silk for three copper coins, while silk was sold for two copper coins, creating a price difference. After the exchange, the NPC elder wouldn’t give the player any compensation.

Many players had done this quest but always ended up at a loss, receiving no rewards.

In his previous life, Nie Yan had also done this quest. After submitting five rolls of fine silk, he stopped. Exchanging fine silk for silk was simply not cost-effective.

Later, someone, not believing in the futility, submitted thirty rolls of fine silk and finally received the quest reward. The NPC would teach a Combat Bandage skill, and it would start at the intermediate level. When this news broke, players were astonished and rushed to take the quest, but the NPC had already left.

There were water spiders nearby that dropped fine silk, which were level three monsters. Collecting thirty rolls of fine silk would take about three days. He could level up while farming water spiders and collecting quest items. Exchanging thirty rolls of fine silk for thirty pieces of silk would only cost him thirty copper coins, which was insignificant compared to the intermediate Combat Bandage skill.

Nie Yan walked toward the elder.

"Every year at this time, Hilton Fortress is attacked by monsters from the distant underground. The brave defenders of the fortress have sacrificed countless blood and lives to protect this vibrant land. The wounded always endure pain through each day and night. Whether it’s yesterday or tomorrow, tomorrow or yesterday, young man, do you think it’s better to fish from the shore or from the water?" the NPC elder muttered to himself, then turned to look at Nie Yan and asked.

The NPC elder had white hair, a haggard appearance, and skin like the bark of an old, withered tree, covered in wrinkles. He wore a gray, unremarkable cloak and held a fishing rod.

In Nie Yan’s memory, this NPC elder was a forgetful and comical character who would ask a series of confusing questions. Just answering them casually was enough. However, now, hearing the phrase "yesterday or tomorrow, tomorrow or yesterday" again, Nie Yan had a new feeling.

This NPC elder was not a senile old man but a wise one!

He could have answered the question casually, but Nie Yan, as if possessed, said, "As long as you can catch fish, what difference does it make whether you fish from the shore or the water?"

Hearing Nie Yan’s answer, the NPC elder’s eyes flashed with a sharp light.

The NPC elder’s gaze met Nie Yan’s, and he became even more convinced that this NPC elder was far from simple.

"Time is an illusion, fleeting and transient. Years pass, and pain cycles. In the end, all that remains is a handful of dry bones. Even if those brave defenders hold onto this beautiful world, they ultimately cannot escape illness and death. What is the point?" the NPC elder sighed.

"The meaning of life lies in pursuit and without regret," Nie Yan said, deeply moved. This was a realization he had after experiencing his past and present lives. He continued, "In this beautiful world, they have their brothers and families. They resist the enemy’s attacks, bringing joy to their loved ones. They protect their faith with their lives, which is their glory. The God of Light will bless them."

Nie Yan guessed that this NPC elder might be an NPC from Hilton Fortress, who had come out to find fine silk.

Hearing Nie Yan’s words, the NPC elder’s cloudy eyes became clear and transparent.

"Young man, I need a lot of fine silk. Can you help me find it?" the NPC elder asked.

"I am willing to assist," Nie Yan said joyfully. This was exactly what he had been waiting for.

System: You have received the quest, Physician Blavins’ Commission, to find fine silk.

Nie Yan remembered that in his previous life, he had answered the questions casually and received a quest called the Commission of the Nameless Elder, which was slightly different from this one.

This elder was likely a physician from Hilton Fortress who had come out to find fine silk.

With the elder teaching the intermediate Combat Bandage skill, Nie Yan was even more certain.

Regardless, he would complete the quest first.

Nie Yan bid farewell to the NPC elder and headed south of the island. There was a lake area where water spiders were active. Although water spiders were level three monsters, their combat ability was not strong. They were only somewhat challenging because they moved on the water’s surface.

Diving back into the lake, Nie Yan surfaced. The area’s underwater was relatively safe, with no monsters to ambush him from below.

He spotted a water spider. Water spiders were giant spiders that could move quickly on the water’s surface, unlike other spiders, they did not use venom. They were also afraid of humans and would not attack unless provoked.

Water Spider: Level 3, HP 80/80.

Nie Yan slowly approached the water spider from behind, then suddenly lunged, raising his dagger and stabbing the water spider’s back, attacking several times in quick succession.

The water spider screeched and lunged at Nie Yan. He dodged and countered with a backstab, then used a critical strike, stabbing the water spider’s eye.

The water spider let out a piercing scream, its body curling up and floating on the water’s surface.

The water spider dropped a copper coin, which Nie Yan caught. He then swam toward another water spider.

The drop rate for fine silk was one in two hundred, meaning Nie Yan would need to kill over six thousand water spiders to get thirty rolls of fine silk, which would take nearly three days.

These three days would be enough for Nie Yan to level up to level three. Learning the bandage skill and buying some skill books would significantly boost his strength.

Nie Yan swam toward a water spider that was quickly moving on the water’s surface.

A Holy Judgment fell from the sky, striking the water spider, dealing thirty-six points of damage.

Holy Judgment, a skill of the Holy Word Mage.

Was there someone else here?

Nie Yan became cautious and looked over, spotting three water spiders chasing someone.

The distance was a bit far, but Nie Yan could see it was a Holy Word Mage, and a woman at that. She wore a white robe and held a blue staff, but her face was unclear.

It seemed the person was in trouble. Nie Yan hesitated for a moment, then dived into the water and swam over. If it was an enemy player, he would eliminate her. If there was no enmity, he would help.

The Holy Word Mage, while dealing with the pursuing water spiders, swam toward Nie Yan.

Nie Yan surfaced, about five yards away from the Holy Word Mage.

The Holy Word Mage, noticing Nie Yan nearby, became tense and immediately turned to swim in another direction.

If she was chased by monsters and encountered someone who might take advantage of her, she would surely die.

The distance between them was closing.

When the Holy Word Mage turned, Nie Yan saw her face clearly. She was a beautiful woman with her hair tied back in a ponytail, a strand of hair falling to the side, her cheeks pale, and her eyes bright and clear.

Although Faith adjusted the players’ appearances, it only made minor changes, not altering their beauty or ugliness, keeping it close to their real-world appearance. This was one of the reasons Faith was so appealing.

Nie Yan could immediately tell that the Holy Word Mage was a beautiful woman.

The Holy Word Mage glanced at Nie Yan with concern, their eyes meeting. She then turned back to continue dealing with the water spiders, using an acceleration scroll to increase her speed.

Seeing her face clearly, Nie Yan’s mouth dropped open in shock. How could he run into her here!

He couldn’t help but marvel at how small the world was.

The beautiful Holy Word Mage was named Yaoyao. In his previous life, the two had a complicated relationship. He never expected to meet her again here, truly proving that old saying, "Not enemies, not to meet."

Perhaps some fates were destined.

Nie Yan and his friends had once lacked a mage for a dungeon run. His friend brought Yaoyao in, and that was their first meeting. As they ran more dungeons together, they gradually became closer, and many stories unfolded.

Seeing an old acquaintance, Nie Yan was filled with emotion.

~~New week, aiming for the charts, seeking recommendations!!