TAG Chapter 11

Qiao Jingting increased his Recovery Power to 35. He discovered that the speed of Healing Scrolls’ restoration was closely related to his Recovery Power. If he enhanced his Recovery Power to an extremely high level, minor injuries should be able to heal within a short period.

He then added 2 points each to Stamina and Speed, and bought 5 more Healing Scrolls. Afterward, he had 546 points remaining, which he intended to keep for emergencies.
His six body attributes were now as follows: Stamina 42, Speed 42, Recovery Power 35, Mental Power 32, Intelligence 19, and Luck 7.

He felt that Mental Power, Intelligence, and Luck weren’t of much use to him, so he hadn’t increased them at all.

Originally, after killing three people of higher levels and earning 6,800 points in one go, he thought he could achieve something significant. But in the blink of an eye, it was all gone. Qiao Jingting felt frustrated. No wonder Shu Ai had said that accumulating 3,000 points for washing the Bone Marrow was not easy because they were being used up too quickly.

In the future, it would be unlikely for him to rely on killing higher-level individuals to earn points. Killing someone higher level than himself only rewarded points the first time within the same level. In other words, if he were to kill people of levels 3, 4, or 5 in the future, he wouldn’t receive any additional points unless he reached those levels himself. Only when he devoured someone of the same level would he receive a fixed 1,000 points.

Within the entire newbie village, only Han Bin and Zou Yidao could provide him with additional bonus points, but with his current strength, he couldn’t even touch Han Bin.

After allocating the points, Qiao Jingting logged out of the platform and decided to take a bath. He felt sticky, dirty, and smelly.

Entering the bathroom, he looked at his blood-stained body and suddenly felt somewhat unfamiliar. It had only been seven days since he entered the game, but he could no longer return to his previous mindset.

He suddenly noticed that the pendant on his chest was stained with blood. He quickly took it off and rinsed it under the faucet.

This pendant was left to him by his grandfather. It wasn’t something valuable or visually appealing—it looked like a piece of dried tree bark. However, his grandfather had always treasured it.

In the 1980s, his grandfather was working in a production team when he and his colleagues accidentally unearthed a piece of thousand-year-old “Tai Sui.” Tai Sui was a peculiar entity that couldn’t be classified as an animal, plant, or even bacteria based on its physiological structure. It was commonly referred to as the “Meat Lingzhi” and was said to have significant medicinal value. However, claims that consuming it would lead to longevity were purely folk legends. Nevertheless, as a biological specimen with unique cellular structures, it had certain scientific research value.

The Tai Sui they found weighed over ten kilograms, and it was said to have been sold for a hundred thousand yuan at that time. A hundred thousand yuan in the 1980s was an astronomical sum. However, the money went to the production team, and they divided a small piece accidentally shoveled up during excavation among themselves. Each person only received a piece the size of a quail egg, which was practically worthless. The elderly believed it to be a spiritual item because it had grown for thousands of years. They dried it and made it into a necklace, which the grandfather had always worn. Unfortunately, he still passed away in his sixties.

Qiao Jingting carefully brushed the pendant clean with a toothbrush before wearing it around his neck again.

After taking a shower and changing into clean clothes, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep as soon as he closed his eyes.

Waking up from his sleep, Qiao Jingting found that the messy living room from yesterday had been restored to its original state. Even the small decorative items and the two corpses were nowhere to be found. There was not a drop of blood or a single wood chip on the floor.

Qiao Jingting realized that all these things were computer programs that could be adjusted at any time. This realization made him even more terrified. If everything in this game world was created by a computer and could be manipulated at will, then what was he? Did he have a physical body, or was he just a program with consciousness? Could it be that they were really living in nutrient tanks like in the movie “The Matrix,” and their presence here was just their consciousness?

How could they escape from this place? Who would be the savior to awaken them and overthrow this false world?

Shu Ai had already been awake for a while, but her eyes were dark and it was clear that she hadn’t slept all night. When she saw Qiao Jingting, she said, “I remembered something. When I was locked up, I heard that Han Bin had his subordinates help Zou Yidao with a mission.”

“You can help others with missions?”

Shu Ai nodded. “Some missions can be completed by others. For example, there might be a mission to collect 100 gray rat tails, which would be simple for Zou Yidao. But to please him, Han Bin wouldn’t let him do such physically demanding work. Instead, he would send his subordinates to collect the tails and give them to Zou Yidao.”

“So Zou Yidao is close to 100 points now?”

“Yes, if Han Bin wants to kill Zou Yidao, he doesn’t have many opportunities left. He will definitely wash his Bone Marrow in the next few days. Only by washing the Bone Marrow can he have the strength to fight Zou Yidao. Although Zou Yidao is powerful, his inability to kill anyone is his fatal weakness. On the other hand, Han Bin has a large number of points that he can use to buy powerful weapons, and he has many subordinates at his command. So, victory is uncertain.”

Qiao Jingting pondered for a moment. “Whether we choose to run or fight, we need to seize the opportunity when they start the war.”

“Yes, that’s why I suggest we stay put for now. Han Bin is under more pressure than we are, so we don’t need to take unnecessary risks right now.”

“That makes sense. Let’s wait a few more days.”

“Now we…”

Suddenly, a muffled thunder sounded outside the window. Qiao Jingting raised an eyebrow, recognizing the sound. He had heard it when Zou Yidao appeared in the newbie village.

Shu Ai, however, seemed unfazed. “It’s a newcomer.”

“So frequent?”

“Almost every week.” Shu Ai looked at the Demon-Slaying List. “Bai Er, 17 years old. So young…” There was a hint of sympathy in her tone. Being that young, the newcomers were likely the most oppressed group. She added, “Fortunately, it’s not a girl.”

“Isn’t there an age restriction for this game?” Qiao Jingting scoffed, not even sparing the underage players.

“I’m not sure. The youngest I’ve seen is 13.”

Qiao Jingting looked out the window and indeed saw a group of people gathered around the Tree of Life. However, there were far fewer people compared to when Zou Yidao appeared. Most of them were simply curious about the newcomers.

Some people were specifically there to control the newcomers, like Fatty. Fatty’s role under Han Bin was probably to intimidate, educate, and recruit newbies.

Qiao Jingting smirked coldly. He had already killed Zheng Wei, and he had no intention of letting Fatty go either. Remembering the fear in Fatty’s eyes when he looked at him last night, he was filled with anticipation for revenge.

Qiao Jingting wasn’t interested in seeing the appearance of the newbies, and he could already imagine what would happen next. If he hadn’t resisted back then, he would have been just a dog under Han Bin’s command.
Qiao Jingting closed the curtains and took out some paper currency. He wanted to write down the attack patterns of the Shallowwater Crocodile to share with Shu Ai. If they had a chance to escape, the Shallowwater Crocodile would still be the best grinding spot.

As he wrote and explained, Shu Ai sat by his side, taking notes. Halfway through, Shu Ai suggested that they also try entering the void space. She now fully trusted Qiao Jingting.

Qiao Jingting smiled and said, “Sure, go ahead and give it a try. See if you can encounter other monsters or find something good.”

Shu Ai moved the Silver Ice Device to her fingernail. She glanced nervously at Qiao Jingting, then gently scraped it off.

As soon as the Silver Ice Device separated, Shu Ai closed her eyes and fell peacefully asleep.

Qiao Jingting lightly touched her nose with his finger, confirming that there was no breathing or heartbeat. She appeared completely lifeless, just like she had died. No wonder Shu Ai wanted to bury him back then.

Relying on his memory, Qiao Jingting continued writing and drawing while keeping an eye on Shu Ai. He hoped that she would encounter other monsters, preferably of higher difficulty, or at least find a powerful area-of-effect weapon.

To prevent Shu Ai from spending too long in the void space on her first attempt and getting uncomfortable, they agreed to wake her up after half an hour.

Half an hour quickly passed. Qiao Jingting had completely written down the attack patterns of the Shallowwater Crocodile, although there might be some variations that needed adjustment after actual combat. It was at this moment that he realized the value of intelligence, and he decided to allocate points to intelligence in his next level-up.

He placed the Silver Ice Device back on Shu Ai’s skin, and she gasped for breath as if coming back to life. Then she abruptly opened her eyes.

Qiao Jingting also let out a sigh of relief.

Shu Ai sat up and looked at Qiao Jingting with confusion. “Is it over?”

Qiao Jingting didn’t understand. “Yes, what happened?”

“Is it over just like that? Half an hour has passed?”

“Yes, anything good?” Qiao Jingting asked eagerly.

Shu Ai furrowed her brows deeply. “Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

“Well, that’s normal. Firstly, your time inside was relatively short, and secondly, not every time you can encounter…”

“No,” Shu Ai sounded disappointed. “What I mean is, I didn’t enter any void space. It was like I slept for a while, a dreamless sleep. For me, nothing happened in that half hour.”

Qiao Jingting was taken aback. “Could it be that the time was too short?”

“That’s possible. Should I try again?” Shu Ai wasn’t ready to give up just yet.

She was about to give it another try when suddenly, a scream came from outside. Both of them exchanged glances and quickly pulled back the curtains.

There were several people standing near the Tree of Life, and one person lying on the ground. The distance between the house and the Tree of Life was over a hundred meters, which had made it difficult to see people’s faces before. But since Qiao Jingting had enhanced his physical attributes to level 46, he realized that his vision had greatly improved. He could now clearly see everyone there.

The person on the ground was a stranger, clutching their neck and bleeding profusely.

The standing individuals included Fatty and his henchmen, as well as a slender teenager with unusually pale skin.

The teenager not only had nearly translucent white skin, but also white hair, eyebrows, and even lips lacking color. From this distance, it was difficult to discern their expression clearly, but their features appeared delicate. This was definitely not the skin color of a normal person; it seemed to be a case of albinism.

The teenager held a blood-stained knife, the dagger that the system had given them. Qiao Jingting had no idea that there was a dagger in his inventory; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been beaten so badly by Fatty’s group.

After a while, Shu Ai whispered softly, “It’s that newbie.”

Qiao Jingting also realized it, feeling somewhat surprised.
Fatty and his men rushed towards the teenager. The teenager remained eerily calm, effortlessly leaping into the air. With a single tap of his toe, he landed on someone’s shoulder, then brought his knee crashing into their neck. The person’s neck twisted unnaturally, and they fell to the ground lifeless.

The dagger in the teenager’s hand moved like a bloodthirsty snake, slashing through the throats of two more people.

Fatty was petrified with fear, attempting to run away. But the teenager moved like a ghost, instantly catching up to Fatty. With a swift motion of the dagger, Fatty’s throat spewed forth a fountain of blood.

Qiao Jingting and Shu Ai watched in astonishment, along with the other residents of the newbie village who were left dumbfounded. They had never witnessed such a fierce newcomer.

In a mere half a minute, the teenager named Bai Er killed five people, each with a single deadly strike!

More people rushed toward the Tree of Life, armed with guns.

Bai Er lifted Fatty’s lifeless body, using it as a shield against the incoming gunfire. He retreated while ducking behind the walls of a nearby house. As he passed by, Qiao Jingting got a clear view of his face—a visage of ethereal beauty. The pale, dirt-streaked skin only enhanced the otherworldly impression he gave. Yet, the calmness in his eyes and the deadly weapon in his hand sent shivers down one’s spine.

Shu Ai gasped, “Who is this kid? He’s so powerful.”

“He’s not an ordinary person; he’s dangerous,” Qiao Jingting replied.

“He’s right there! Use your guns!” one of the men shouted, and they split into groups, intending to surround Bai Er.

Bai Er wasn’t far from Shu Ai’s house, and the two of them watched his every move. They saw him try to break through the window by striking it with his elbow, but he was repelled by an energy barrier. Without the owner’s permission, he couldn’t enter.

He grabbed a bundle of dried hay from behind the house, picked up a kerosene lamp from the windowsill, and set the hay on fire. He threw it toward the pursuing group, then hurled the lamp at the hay. The lamp exploded with a loud bang, engulfing the hay in flames. The pursuers were frightened and retreated.

Bai Er took the opportunity to run toward the next house, once again attempting to break through the window. However, he was met with the same energy barrier and was forced back.

Outside the house, voices overlapped, and someone shouted, “Should we call Big Brother?”

They were immediately scolded, “You want to bother Big Brother with just a newcomer? Do you want to be chopped up by Big Brother?!”

A group of people, each carrying a gun, decided to encircle Bai Er once again. Bai Er had only one dagger on him and looked somewhat desperate as he tried to flee the village. But as soon as he showed himself, bullets rained down on him.

Dodging and retreating, Bai Er managed to reach the next house. However, he was shot in the shoulder, and his white shirt was instantly soaked in blood.

Qiao Jingting frowned and couldn’t help but open the window and shout, “You just earned points, buy a gun!” He saw himself reflected in this teenager—back when he was all alone and helpless. If he hadn’t discovered the system bug, he would have silently died long ago.

Bai Er glanced at him, and sure enough, another submachine gun appeared in his hand. He lifted it and started spraying bullets. The way he changed magazines was incredibly skillful, truly extraordinary.

One of Han Bin’s henchmen charged forward, protected by a shield. Bai Er’s bullets had no effect, and a hint of surprise flashed across his face.

In the next second, the henchman suddenly pulled out a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher and unhesitatingly fired a small projectile in Bai Er’s direction.
Bai Er’s pupils contracted intensely, and he sprinted in the opposite direction with all his might.

The explosion of the shell behind him sent shockwaves that lifted his body off the ground. He crashed heavily, rolling several meters before colliding with a brick wall, finally coming to a stop. His back was covered in extensive wounds from shrapnel, drenched in blood. Sweat coated his face, and his gaze grew even fiercer.

The person carrying the rocket launcher ran over, aiming the barrel at Bai Er once again. Bai Er surveyed his surroundings, seemingly searching for an escape route. Then, his gaze collided with Qiao Jingting’s.

His eyes were sharp and bright, devoid of any anxiety that would be expected in such a dire situation. Instead, they were filled with a resolute determination.

Qiao Jingting furrowed his brow deeply and glanced at Shu Ai.

Shu Ai immediately understood and shook her head. “No, he’s too dangerous.”

Qiao Jingting hesitated as well. They both had witnessed the formidable abilities of this teenager and his merciless composure when killing. Allowing someone like him inside could pose a significant threat, but…

Qiao Jingting’s tone grew firm. “Shu Ai, let him in.”

Taking a deep breath, Shu Ai nodded. Qiao Jingting promptly opened the door and shouted, “Kid, come in!”

Without hesitation, Bai Er climbed to his feet and sprinted at full speed.

Another projectile was fired from the rocket launcher, and Bai Er pushed off the ground, throwing himself toward the door.

The explosion detonated behind him, and the shockwave, accompanied by deadly shrapnel, came hurtling toward him. He was propelled by the heatwave and tumbled into the house. As the explosion’s damage reached the protective barrier of the house, it dissipated as if absorbed by water, creating ripples that gradually settled into calmness.

Bai Er crashed heavily onto the floor, motionless as if dead, blood flowing from his body.

Han Bin’s henchmen cursed helplessly outside their door.

Shu Ai closed the curtains.

After a long while, the person on the ground stirred and slowly began to rise.

Qiao Jingting shielded Shu Ai behind him and silently watched the teenager.

Bai Er propped himself against the wall, sitting down. His skin was shockingly pale, making the blood on his body even more striking.

Qiao Jingting asked, “Your name is ‘Bai Er’?”

Bai Er remained expressionless, his gaze fixed on Qiao Jingting.

Qiao Jingting didn’t immediately reveal the existence of the healing scroll. He was also concerned about the potential danger this kid posed. He pointed outside the window and said, “Once inside, behave yourself, or else I’ll throw you out to feed the bullets.”

Bai Er calmly asked, “What’s your name?”

“Qiao Jingting.” Qiao Jingting pointed to his own head. “Look here, you can see it.” He also glanced at Bai Er’s head and noticed that the kid was now Level 3, probably having killed a Level 2 during the chaos and leveled up.

“Qiao Jingting, I owe you my life.” Bai Er closed his eyes wearily and said, “I will repay it.”

Unable to hold back, Shu Ai chuckled and glanced at Qiao Jingting. “He’s just like you back then.”
Qiao Jingting rubbed his chin and raised an eyebrow. “A bit.” The kid’s experiences and personality really resonated with him. Back then, he had let Shu Ai allow people in, driven by both sympathy and the fact that they shared a common enemy. Seeing Bai Er mercilessly kill the fat man had brought him great satisfaction.

Shu Ai seemed to have eased her wariness towards Bai Er a little. She said, “Bai Er, you can buy two healing scrolls to repair all your injuries.”

Bai Er opened his eyes, and there were two healing scrolls in his hand. In no time, his wounds were completely healed. He jumped up from the ground and looked outside. “Why can’t they come in?”

“The houses in the newbie village have a protective function. Only people authorized by the owner can enter.”

Bai Er fell silent for a moment. “Where is this place?”

“The game world.”

Bai Er glanced at both of them. “I didn’t believe it earlier, so I killed someone to test it out. Now I believe.”

Killing someone to test it out…

Qiao Jingting scrutinized him. “Who are you?”

Bai Er remained silent.

Suddenly, the sound of gentle and unhurried tapping on the glass came from outside, displaying exceptional politeness.

Bai Er pulled open the curtains in one swift motion.

Standing outside the window was Zou Yidao.

When Zou Yidao saw Bai Er, he paused for a moment and then revealed a knowing smile. “You’re truly from the Bai family.”