Chapter: 77

An old tree root served as the main pillar for the entire space, with a waterproof tarp of unknown origin as the roof.

A thick layer of sod was spread on top to barely hold the tarp down. In the corner, a collection of discarded items was gathered, including tables, chairs, and benches, as well as various kinds of household waste.

As for why they were called discarded items, it was because these things clearly had signs of being repaired, and the repairs were very ugly. It was estimated that the original owner would rather buy a new one than use such an ugly thing.

All around were dilapidated walls made of small crushed stones mixed with mud. The rudimentary construction made Yan Yunqing feel that a slightly stronger wind could blow them down.

A piece of torn cloth served as a door curtain, hanging at the entrance. The cloth was dark in color, and its edges were frayed.

"We're here." Nika looked at this dilapidated home, then at Yan Yunqing's luxurious clothes that were out of place here, feeling a little embarrassed.

She walked in the front, lifted the curtain, and rubbed her hands, "Actually, it's quite clean here. The children who stay at home are responsible for cleaning."

As she spoke, one, two, three, four, five, six little heads popped out from behind the curtain, like little kittens peeking out, curiously observing the stranger who had suddenly appeared here.

"Sister Nika, is this the big brother you said would be a guest at our house today?"

A little girl who looked to be about four or five years old tugged on Nika's sleeve, looking at Yan Yunqing with curiosity.

"Yes, it is, Belo." Nika patted her little head, "Can you go prepare a cup of hot water for this big brother? Use the cup Rocco brought back before. Wash it before filling it with hot water, understand?"

Belo nodded and ran towards the inside of the house.

Nika looked at the other children and said to them, "Go stand guard around, don't let anyone else get close."

The children all nodded. Even though they were curious about Yan Yunqing, they obediently ran off and returned to their posts.

Yan Yunqing lifted the door curtain and followed Nika into the house. The house, which was just the right size for Nika and the others, seemed a bit short for Yan Yunqing.

At his height, he actually had to bend over to enter. If Yan Yunqing stood up straight, his head would hit the waterproof tarp above.

Yan Yunqing could only find a broken stool to sit on. Fortunately, this broken stool was sturdy enough, otherwise, Yan Yunqing was afraid he would break another stool for this not-so-wealthy family.

Nika didn't seem to have any intention of entertaining Yan Yunqing right away. Instead, she walked into an inner room.

Yan Yunqing heard her say from inside, "Jeff, I've brought that big brother back. Do you want to come out?"

A few coughs came from the room, and a muffled voice said, "Wait a moment, I'll be right out."

Nika came out, also pulled a small stool, and sat in front of Yan Yunqing, smiling at him, "Jeff will be out soon, big brother, please wait a moment!"

Sure enough, after a short while, a teenager who looked to be seventeen or eighteen, leaning on a wooden stick, limped out from behind the door curtain.

His face was equally pale, with lingering bruises. His right foot was twisted at a strange angle. It was clear that his leg had been broken and had not received proper treatment, resulting in this state.

He came out leaning on the wooden stick, his movements very slow. Every move seemed to exhaust all his strength. Sweat slowly seeped from his forehead. Nika wanted to go up and help, but was refused by Jeff.

He limped to Yan Yunqing and Nika and sat on the only chair of normal height.

That chair had one leg that was half-missing. Yan Yunqing hadn't chosen that chair for fear of breaking it. It turned out this chair was for Jeff.

This series of movements had exhausted all of Jeff's strength. As soon as he sat down, he began to gasp for breath uncontrollably. Yan Yunqing was afraid he would rupture his lungs with one forceful breath.

He took a moment to catch his breath and smiled friendly at Yan Yunqing, "Hello, I'm Jeff, the older brother of these children."

"I heard you saved Nika yesterday, and you also gave her those potions. It saved my life too. Without it, I'm afraid I would have been gone yesterday." Jeff said softly, "I'm really grateful to you."

Yan Yunqing looked at Jeff's panel and knew that Jeff was avoiding the important points. His status bar was full of debuffs, and his health bar was only a sliver.

It was indeed his Small Red Potion that had saved his life, barely giving him a small positive buff of health regeneration.

But without clearing the continuous damage debuff, this Jeff still wouldn't live much longer.

Yan Yunqing could almost see his death countdown.

Yan Yunqing pointed it out very directly, "My potion won't be of much help to you. If you can, you should get treatment as soon as possible. If this continues, you will still die."

Upon hearing this, Nika's expression immediately tensed up. She stared at Jeff with worry in her eyes. She opened her mouth to call Jeff's name but was stopped by him.

Jeff sighed lightly, "I know... It's just that the family really doesn't have that much money to treat me... Even if we did, it would barely save my life. From now on, am I to stay at home like a cripple and wait for them to support me?"

A bitter look appeared on Jeff's face, "If I have to live like a cripple, I'd rather die."

"Jeff!" Nika shot up to her feet. She said anxiously, "You won't, you won't become a cripple. Have you forgotten what you said before? It doesn't matter if you're a little weak, as long as everyone is still here, we won't give up on any of our brothers and sisters."

She spoke so quickly that after finishing this long speech, her chest began to heave violently, and there were signs of difficulty breathing again.

Jeff soothingly patted her back to calm her down, "Don't worry, don't worry... breathe slowly, Nika. You know, the gods have given you the ability to stay calm. You should make good use of it."

Nika closed her eyes but obediently followed Jeff's rhythm and slowly calmed her emotions. Her racing heart gradually slowed down, and her breathing was no longer rapid.

"Good girl." Jeff touched Nika's cheek with the back of his hand, "Our Nika will always defeat the demon."

Yan Yunqing watched this scene quietly without saying a word.

After Jeff had calmed Nika down, he said apologetically to Yan Yunqing, "Sorry, Nika gets like this when she's emotional. Let's get back to our previous topic."

He looked at Nika, then at Yan Yunqing, "I believe Nika has already explained the reason when she invited you over."

Yan Yunqing's eyes flickered, and he nodded slightly, "She said you can help me. I'm also very curious. I don't even know what my purpose is, yet you say you know what I'm here for and want to help me?"

Even though Nika had previously deduced that he was going to Mandiper, Yan Yunqing still did not confirm her statement at this moment.

He was preparing to fish for more information, preferably to find out the source of their information.

"Actually, we don't know what you're here for either. It's all Nika's guess." Jeff patted Nika's head, "Nika, you tell him how you figured it out."

Yan Yunqing's surprised gaze fell on Nika, who was clinging to Jeff's side, "You? Figured it out?"

Nika hesitated for a moment, and under Jeff's encouraging gaze, she nodded, "Yes, I guessed it."

She lowered her head slightly and explained her reasoning process: "Big brother, from your clothes and appearance, it's clear you're not from the Free City, nor do you seem to be a resident of the nearby cities. So I think you must have come from a farther place."

"There are many outsiders who come to the Free City. They can generally be divided into several categories. One is mercenary groups, because the headquarters of the Bounty Hunter's Association is here.

Many mercenary groups also use the Free City as a base. I've seen many of those mercenaries, and they have a lingering smell of blood on them. Big brother, you don't have that smell."

"So I think big brother, you shouldn't be a mercenary, nor are you here for the Bounty Hunter's Association."

Yan Yunqing didn't know how Nika judged it. Not all mercenaries took on assassination missions. Most of them were against demonic beasts.

The number of demonic beasts that had died at Yan Yunqing's hands these days was countless. Of course, he hadn't killed a few people either. Before, in Bartovita, he was killing 'red-named monsters' one by one with his blade.

"Of the remaining people who come to the Free City, besides some stationed personnel sent by some guilds, there are only people preparing to enter Mandiper."

Nika said quickly, "Those guild people all carry an air of superiority. For them, being stationed in the Free City is a hardship.

From the day they enter the city, their mood will become irritable and angry. Let alone forgiving Rocco and the others for stealing the money pouch, even if a child accidentally bumped into them, they would be severely reprimanded by those big figures."

"Big brother, you're too gentle..." Nika shyly pinched the palm of her hand, "From the very beginning, I judged that big brother was preparing to go to Mandiper.

People who go there will carry a lot of valuables with them, so we later thought of following you and stealing some money..."

Her voice became lower and lower towards the end, and by the last sentence, it was almost inaudible.

Yan Yunqing nodded, "I can reluctantly accept this explanation, but are you so sure I'm going to Mandiper? What if I'm just here to have fun in the Free City?"

Nika's logic wasn't actually rigorous, and many of her guesses were taken for granted. A few more variables could overturn the entire conclusion, but it just so happened that Yan Yunqing was indeed here for Mandiper.

It seemed that there was indeed no other force behind these children. His previous thoughts were purely scaring himself.

Yan Yunqing's rebuttal to Nika made her look up in astonishment. She was a little hesitant, "To have fun... in the Free City?"

Nika tilted her head, very puzzled, "How could anyone be willing to come to the Free City to have fun? Here, even killing people won't be punished. What if you get killed?"

Now it was Yan Yunqing's turn to be at a loss for words. It seemed there was some truth to what she said.

How could anyone who wasn't a heinous criminal or had a purpose run to the Free City? It was too chaotic here. Perhaps a small argument on the street could lead to someone being killed directly.

There was no law here.

Although... in those empires, nobles could also kill commoners at will, but at least there were guards as decorations. Commoners could hide away and generally not be threatened with their lives as long as they didn't provoke those notorious nobles.

Yan Yunqing thought along Nika's logic and surprisingly found that he could only be here for Mandiper. Other possibilities could be crossed out.

Really... so this is how he was exposed?

He had been wondering how he was discovered when he hadn't even found Mandiper and had only been wandering in the city for half a day.

Yan Yunqing was helpless, "Alright, I am indeed here for Mandiper. Then what do you mean by you can help me?"

Nika looked at Jeff, who nodded at her, and then she continued, "Big brother, I know you must be here for the Chi Bone Sword, right?"

Yan Yunqing was stunned.

What Chi Bone Sword? He hadn't even (fourth tone) recharged the Grand Moon Card? Where did the Chi Bone Sword come from?

No, how did this Chi Bone Sword pop up? What does it have to do with him going to Mandiper?

"...Can you be more specific?"

"A month ago, Mandiper suddenly released a piece of news. They would bestow that legendary divine sword, the 'Chi Bone Sword,' made from brilliant dragon bones, as an honor to the top 'Midas Touch.'"

Yan Yunqing blinked. Made from what dragon bones?

Nika didn't notice Yan Yunqing's abnormality and continued, "As soon as this news came out, the people in the Free City went crazy. I'm not sure if Mandiper really has this legendary sword, but some of the beautiful children among us were chosen to be pages in Mandiper.

When they came back, they did say that a very beautiful sword had been added to Mandiper's display stand."

"That sword is entirely white, as if carved from jade, and it faintly emits a golden light. Many guests who go to Mandiper are very interested in it. That is probably the real Chi Bone Sword."

"In this past month, many outsiders have come to the Free City, and their purpose is all for that Chi Bone Sword. I can see the madness in their eyes."

Yan Yunqing suddenly understood: no wonder Nika would guess he was here for Mandiper.

It wasn't because of the reasons she had mentioned before, but simply because Mandiper had suddenly put up a prize, and most of the people coming to the Free City recently were for that prize.

As for Yan Yunqing? He had just arrived at this time to do the recommended entrance exam for Sigret Academy.

This was truly a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, a coincidence that couldn't be more coincidental.

Yan Yunqing: "You think I'm also here for the Chi Bone Sword, and you want to help me get it? How can you help?"

Nika nodded solemnly, "As I said just now, some of our children are pages in Mandiper. They have stayed there for a long time. I can have them assist you in winning those gambling games."

"Big brother, you may not be familiar with Mandiper. The dealers and gamblers there are very cunning. They will let you win very smoothly when you are cautious, but when you throw out all your bets, they will swallow everything you have."

Nika said, "My companion once watched a nobleman mortgage his manor in Mandiper, and in the end, he lost everything, even his title was lost to Mandiper."

Yan Yunqing: "...Wait, you can even lose your title?"

Nika gave Yan Yunqing a strange look, "Yes, the titles of some minor nobles can actually be bought and sold. I heard that a viscount in Romunik sold his title to a merchant... Hmm, but I only heard about it, I didn't see it with my own eyes."

Yan Yunqing was shocked. If titles could be bought and sold, why was Xavier rejected by the royal family when he wanted to inherit a baron's title?

No, someone was definitely setting a trap for Xavier behind the scenes, right?

Yan Yunqing felt that this identity was becoming more and more tricky, but he was now in a dilemma. In order to reap the benefits of Sigret Academy, he could only use this identity to complete the entrance examination to enter the academy.

Yan Yunqing's expression was unpredictable. Nika looked at him cautiously a few times. In the end, Yan Yunqing could only suppress the inexplicable annoyance in his heart and let out a long sigh.

He comforted himself in his heart: It's okay, at worst I'll just change my identity and run. Reaping benefits is the most important thing!

"You mean—" Yan Yunqing said, "Your companion can help me win those gambling games?"

Nika nodded repeatedly, "My companions are very skilled. They have stayed in Mandiper for a long time and have also learned some ways to manipulate the gambling games.

I can have them teach you, and then they can cooperate with you to win the games."

"What are your conditions?"

Yan Yunqing didn't believe Nika's words at all. None of these children living in the Free City were naive and kind.

Yan Yunqing didn't believe that the other party would repay him with such a big reward just for a few bottles of his potion.

To put it nicely, it was helping him. To put it bluntly, it was letting her companions risk their lives and betray Mandiper to help him.

Would her companions agree? For something with no benefit, Yan Yunqing put himself in their shoes, and he would definitely not be willing.

Nika was not surprised that Yan Yunqing would discover her ulterior motive.

"The authority of a 'Midas Touch' in Mandiper is great. In Mandiper, a 'Midas Touch' can enjoy everything, including the attendants and pages, as long as they pay enough gold coins." Nika said, "My companion... among them is one called Nana. She has been targeted, and... and..."

Nika looked at Jeff, her eyes revealing sadness and anger.

Jeff sighed and took over Nika's words, "Nana is about the same age as Nika. She is beautiful and was chosen to go to Mandiper when she was very young."

"To be honest, struggling in the Free City is not as good as being chosen to be a page in Mandiper. At least there, you can eat and wear warm clothes, and you don't have to worry about not having money for treatment when you get sick." Jeff said, "I was once very happy for Nana."

"A month ago, being chosen to go to Mandiper was still a good way out. Although there were certain risks, they were still young, and those 'Midas Touches' were more willing to let the older attendants accompany them. Nana and the others were also very smart, and they hadn't had any accidents in these few years."

"But things changed a month ago."

Yan Yunqing said in a low voice, "Because of that Chi Bone Sword?"

Jeff nodded helplessly, "Yes, it's because of that Chi Bone Sword. It attracted too many people to the Free City and into Mandiper.

As the 'Midas Touches' increased, Nana and the others' situation became much more difficult."

"Nana and the others want to leave Mandiper, but Mandiper won't allow it. They were originally children bought by Mandiper and trained.

Mandiper has spent a lot of gold coins on them. How could they let them leave before they get a return?"

"This matter has been dragging on like this. Fortunately, Nana and the others are still quick-witted and have not been harmed."

Jeff shook his head, "But recently, a group of mercenaries who are also after the Chi Bone Sword, called Black Snake, came."

"Their reputation is not very good. After the most powerful one among them successfully advanced to become a 'Midas Touch', he... took a fancy to Nana."

Yan Yunqing frowned, Black Snake?

This name sounded a bit familiar... He recalled for a moment, wasn't that the person who injured Jeff, as the children had said when they found him and thanked him before?

Yan Yunqing's gaze fell on Jeff's twisted right leg. The degree of the bend was such that it was basically completely useless without treatment.

"One of the children in Mandiper ran out to ask me for help, but when I got there, Nana had already been taken away." Jeff's eyes were filled with unconcealable pain, "I wanted to bring Nana back, but... sigh."

Jeff's shoulders slumped, and he closed his eyes, unable to help but cover his face with his hands, "As the children's older brother, I am indeed useless."

Nika, however, held Jeff's hand in reverse, "Nana... Nana has never blamed you, Jeff."

Yan Yunqing interrupted them, "So, what are your requests?"

Jeff wanted to speak, but Nika beat him to it, "We will do our best to help you win every gambling game.

The condition is that during this period, you help us protect the children in Mandiper. After you win the Chi Bone Sword, please help us redeem them... and Nana."

"Mandiper allows 'Midas Touches' to buy attendants and pages with money. Compared to attendants, the price of pages is not expensive.

Of course, you don't have to worry about this price. Our companions will help you win more gambling games, and that money can be used to buy them."

"And, kill everyone in the Black Snake mercenary group."

Nika's eyes flickered with hatred, as if she couldn't wait to skin those people she spoke of alive, tear out their bones, and devour their flesh and blood.

This was contrary to Yan Yunqing's first impression of Nika, but after a little thought, Yan Yunqing could guess that perhaps eight-tenths of Nika's weakness in front of him was also an act.

To be able to survive in this Free City, even a child couldn't be that innocent. They had long had their own set of survival rules.

Compared to these children, it was this older brother...

Yan Yunqing looked at Jeff and couldn't help but sigh: this older brother is the truly kind one.

On the way here, he had heard these children chattering about it and roughly understood why these children had formed a decent little group.

This Jeff in front of him could only be considered half a resident of the Free City. His parents were both mercenaries, but they died in the wild due to an accidental encounter with a demonic beast when he was eight.

So, the eight-year-old Jeff guarded his parents' inheritance and began to struggle to survive in the Free City.

At first, there were people from his parents' mercenary group to take care of him, but later on, the people in that mercenary group also almost all died, and Jeff became alone.

He was quite optimistic, and his life alone was still passable. Because of his good genes, his martial strength was not low. He also joined a mercenary group and occasionally went out on missions with the team.

Later, he picked up the first child in a village attacked by demonic beasts. Jeff took that child back and raised him as a younger brother. From then on, he began a career of constantly picking up children.

The inheritance his parents left him was difficult enough to support himself, let alone a group of children.

Jeff actually sold the house his parents left behind and moved into the slums with the children he picked up, building this little nest for them.

Jeff's story was quite famous in the Free City. Everyone knew there was a foolish young mercenary who liked to pick up children.

Later, there were even a few families who didn't want their children, and after giving birth, they directly abandoned them on Jeff's usual path. He actually picked them up too.

Nika, Rocco, Fudi... they were all brought back by Jeff like this.

This was practically the director of an orphanage in another world! Mother Mary!

After hearing this, Yan Yunqing only felt that if this Jeff went to their Blue Star, the Leshan Giant Buddha would have to get up and give him its seat.

And after hearing what Jeff had just said, Yan Yunqing couldn't help but suspect: could it be that this guy lost his parents at a young age, and because he lacked love, his desire to protect other orphans gradually became abnormal?

There really were people who, after experiencing hardship, couldn't bear to see others who were experiencing the same hardship as him, so they would rather sacrifice themselves to help others.

Anyway, if it were Yan Yunqing himself, he couldn't do this.

Facing such a purely good person, even a good person who was a little perverted, Yan Yunqing only felt awe.

Yan Yunqing's gaze swept over Nika and Jeff, "Are these all your requests?"

After Nika said to kill all the members of the Black Snake mercenary group, she felt a wave of apprehension in her heart.

She knew that the mercenary group was very strong, and the person in front of her might not necessarily be able to successfully kill those people.

But Nika had no other choice. She couldn't find a second person as kind and powerful as Yan Yunqing.

Yes, she had already figured it out later. Rocco's skill [Theft] was very hidden. They had even successfully stolen the money pouch of a level fifty-eight mage once, and that mage was completely unaware.

But this time, Rocco was caught just by getting close. The seemingly average-strength big brother in front of her must not be weak. Perhaps he had a chance to win against the Black Snake gang.

But Nika was also not sure if he would agree. She could only bet that Yan Yunqing was determined to get the Chi Bone Sword and at the same time was not good at gambling, so that her little friends who were pages in Mandiper could become the conditions for their cooperation.

She thought in her heart, it doesn't matter if the big brother in front of her is not willing to kill those people from Black Snake. As long as he promises to buy back Nana and the others in the end, they can still cooperate.

"Your conditions, I agree."

As Yan Yunqing's voice fell, not only did Nika's eyes light up, but several tasks also appeared on his game task panel.

[Save Nana]

Description: Nana, a flower that bloomed brilliantly but is about to wither. She grew from corrupt gold coins and will also wither in that brilliance. You can't bear to see her fall like this and decide to lend a helping hand.

[Protect the members of the child group in Mandiper (11/11)]

Description: Nika cooperates with you, and the members of the child group in Mandiper will assist you in becoming a 'Midas Touch'.

At the same time, you must shoulder the responsibility of protecting them. During this period, if more than three die, the mission is considered a failure.

[Redeem the members of the child group in Mandiper (0/11)]

Description: You promised Nika to bring back her companions at the end of everything. She has placed all her trust in you. Can you fulfill her wish?

[Annihilate the Black Snake Mercenary Group (21/21)]

Description: Nika described the encounters of Nana and Jeff. She entrusted you to kill these evil mercenaries. After listening to their stories, you decided to help.

Yan Yunqing glanced at it and found that the rewards given by the system for these four tasks were actually not small.

The experience calculated was enough for him to level up twice. You should know that he was already level forty-four now. After level thirty, the experience bar required for each level increased exponentially.

And these four seemingly ordinary tasks could actually make him level up twice?

This was a good deal. He was indeed very sympathetic to the encounters of these children. Being able to complete it would be killing two birds with one stone.

Nika excitedly jumped up from the small stool, "Okay, then we will also do our best to assist you in winning every gambling game. That Chi Bone Sword will definitely be yours!"

Yan Yunqing paused, his gaze drifting.

He really wasn't here for the Chi Bone Sword... He still had a whole set of weapons and armor made from brilliant dragon bones lying in his backpack.