The old farmer had no objections to being called an "adventurer." He even made a special trip to the kitchen to give him seasonings and explained his family’s taste preferences, telling the adventurer to cook as he saw fit.
Indeed, he let the adventurer cook.
Ren Suo tried to have the adventurer launch a surprise attack and kill the old ox, but the options provided by the adventurer had no attack-related choices. Ren Suo had already discovered that in front of other villagers, the adventurer could not be harmed by attacks from inanimate objects or animals, nor could the adventurer strike.
So Ren Suo had thought of letting the adventurer into the yard and then immediately launching a surprise attack to kill the chickens and fish. The situation was similar to when the adventurer had just left the cave and killed the wild dogs; as long as the adventurer struck first, these animals wouldn’t get a chance to transform.
But this method could only be employed when the villagers couldn’t see, and the adventurer rarely had such an opportunity. When the villagers left to cook, those monsters would immediately transform and attack, leaving the adventurer no choice but to confront them head-on.
Such opportunities were rare. During this meal at Fugui’s, Ren Suo keenly seized the moment, allowing the adventurer to act decisively and successfully eliminate two waves of enemies.
It’s possible the game also recognized the difficulty at Fugui’s home and had intentionally prepared this loophole for players. If a player had died dozens of times, didn’t have many energy points, or hadn’t found any good items in the real world, they would naturally click around and soon discover that ’these chickens and fish can actually be used to make soup.’
Of course, Ren Suo guessed this approach might lower the final mission rating, as defeating all enemies head-on would most likely earn an achievement score, but right now, he couldn’t worry about that.
Now, only the fierce Azure-Purple Qilin Ox remained. Heaven knows if it recognized the chickens and fish, but seeing the adventurer making teriyaki chicken fillets and iron-plate fish steaks, the Azure-Purple Qilin Ox drooled a drop of black saliva. The saliva hit the ground and melted a small hole in the yellow earth.
The adventurer still had time to taunt the Azure-Purple Qilin Ox. Ren Suo didn’t know whether he genuinely lacked memories from the previous few save files or had become detached from worldly matters; regardless, with his current abilities, he was utterly incapable of defeating the Azure-Purple Qilin Ox.
At this point, of course, it was Ren Suo’s turn to step in.
However, Ren Suo always felt a pang of conscience saving the adventurer time and again.
"The first time, I gave you a flower, and you let it wither."
"The second time, I played ’Location of the Stars’ for you on a chromatic harmonica, and you let the harmonica rust."
"I don’t have a habit of flattering others three times. Since offering flowers to the ox didn’t work, and playing music for the ox didn’t work... then I can only make you understand what it means—"
"You cannot insult the strong!"
"Lustrous Rosary Beads!"
Seeing 150 energy points disappear, Ren Suo thought that if these beads didn’t work, he would have lost 2,499 yuan.
"Lustrous Rosary Beads: Epic-level prop. Consecrated and long-used prayer beads. When equipped, the player gains the ’Buddha Light’ effect, causing all attacks to deal divine damage (ignoring energy-based defense). Also grants ’Iron Blood’ and ’Lustrous Heart’ effects. Requires 180 energy points.
Iron Blood: Defensive power and self-healing ability are significantly increased.
Lustrous Heart: Grants immunity to all mental and soul attacks, with high priority."
This string of prayer beads was a Consecrated Dharma Instrument that Ren Suo had bought from a monk at Pure Wisdom Temple. It was allegedly one of the rosaries frequently used by the late Zen Master Jinghai, the previous abbot of Pure Wisdom Temple.
The bald staff member told Ren Suo that Zen Master Jinghai often held these prayer beads while chanting the Sutra of the Master of Healing. Therefore, wearing these beads supposedly also increased physical immunity, improved sleep quality, helped blood cells find their way, among other amazing benefits. Now, for a mere donation of 2,499 yuan to the temple, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...
When he saw Ren Suo actually buying them, he thought he’d encountered an easy target and enthusiastically recommended various other magic artifacts and Buddhist treasures. However, Ren Suo, having a smartphone, quickly checked and understood the true nature of those items, so he simply picked up the prayer beads and left.
Now, everything depended on whether the prayer beads were effective. Ren Suo particularly valued their ’Lustrous Heart’ effect because the Azure-Purple Qilin Ox attacked silently. According to the information log, the adventurer in previous attempts had died without feeling much, meaning it wasn’t a physical or energy attack the adventurer recognized. Thus, Ren Suo naturally suspected a soul attack.
Of course, it was also possible that the Azure-Purple Qilin Ox had opened the console and used a cheat code like ’kill’ on the adventurer. If that was the case, Ren Suo would have to resort to his fourth method.
"Blood surges like iron, heart clear as crystal."
"Brother Ox, I am a very democratic person. I respect your dignity as food—how well-done do you like it?"
The adventurer tied the prayer beads around his right hand, and a faint golden glow enveloped his entire figure. At that moment, the Azure-Purple Qilin Ox stared at him, its mouth emitting a foul breath. Instantly, a cloaked skeleton appeared on the smartphone screen, raising a scythe towards the adventurer!
"This ox has used a soul attack on me: Soul Reaping!"
At that moment, a burst of white light erupted from within the adventurer; a heart-shaped, clear, and pure Crystal Heart shone brightly. When the cloaked skeleton’s scythe swung down, it was surprisingly caught by the Crystal Heart!
The adventurer continued to advance. The cloaked skeleton completely dissipated, symbolizing the utter failure of the Azure-Purple Qilin Ox’s killing blow!
Flames erupted from the adventurer, but suffused by the golden light, they transformed into a divine Golden Flame. The adventurer’s silhouette even looked somewhat Buddha-like—because his hair seemed to have been burned away!
"Just when I was about to turn this ox into a steak, I suddenly heard a voice—"
"’No, I don’t want to become food’."
"Brother Ox, you’re missing the point. I was asking how well-done you wanted to be!"
Ren Suo reluctantly closed his eyes, mainly because he hadn’t eaten yet, and watching would make him hungry.
However, this Azure-Purple Qilin Ox was different. After the adventurer completely defeated it, it didn’t turn into food but directly turned into flying ash and dissipated.
Ren Suo contemplated. In the past few days, some of the enemies the adventurer had defeated reverted to their original forms on the spot (like the Figurine Corps), while others turned into flying ash (like the birds and the ox).
The villagers didn’t seem to mind the animals turning into flying ash, casually remarking that they had just gone out for a stroll and would soon return.
It seemed the adventurer could only defeat these creatures, but they would soon resurrect and then... continue to protect their masters.
"As I was picking vegetables, the old farmer returned home with his family."
"They joined me in washing rice, picking vegetables, cooking, and before long, we had prepared a table full of delicious food."
"The old farmer introduced himself; his name was Fugui, and the old granny next to him was his wife, Jiazhen."
"The meal was quick and simple. Afterwards, Grandpa Fugui and Grandma Jiazhen did indeed ask me to deliver messages. This time, they were for multiple recipients: their son You Qing, their daughter Fengxia, their son-in-law Er Xi, and their grandchildren Ku Gen and Mantou."
"I said, ’I’m basically a voice recorder now; let’s all have a chat together!’"