Xu Mo continued:
“Look, you want to become a Scavenger, kill aberrations and anomalies, and protect this world, right?”
“I can help you rapidly increase your strength and help you navigate the dangers of this world.”
Bai Feifei gripped the scissors tightly. She didn't believe in free lunches. An evil god suddenly appearing in her mind and offering to help her? How was that possible?
“Of course, as a trade, you have to do one thing for me.”
“Don't worry, I'm a good Old-Timer. I'm not like the others. It's something very normal.”
“I don't have a physical body right now, which is why I'm inside you.”
“You just need to follow my instructions to gather the materials for reconstructing a body. Once that's done, I'll leave your body, and we'll be even!”
In Old Ones' Awakening, there were actually hidden character creation quests that allowed players to create their own custom avatars and change their appearance in the mid-to-late game.
Xu Mo had never cared about this feature before, but now it seemed that if he had truly transmigrated, obtaining a body of his own was a rather important goal.
“Can I... refuse...?”
Bai Feifei bit her lip, speaking weakly.
Clearly, no matter what Xu Mo said, she was unwilling to accept the taboo act of “making a deal with an evil god.”
“Refuse?!” Xu Mo's voice suddenly rose an octave, sounding sinister.
“Of course you can. However, without a physical body, my power will instantly sweep through the mortal realm. At that time, life will be devastated, and all things will fall silent.”
“Just like right now—if you commit suicide, my power will explode instantly.”
“O righteous young maiden, you wouldn't want this innocent world to be buried along with you, would you~?”
Bai Feifei's heart trembled, and her hand went limp. The scissors fell directly to the floor.
What was there to discuss? She didn't have a choice at all!
Gritting her teeth, she spoke up boldly:
“I have one condition.”
“Speak!”
“When you are controlling me, you cannot wantonly slaughter the innocent.”
“Psh~ don't worry. That kind of thing was only fun when I first started. I haven't done that in ages.”
Bai Feifei: ...?
Hearing this answer, she felt her future was exceptionally bleak. She could only pray that her choice today wouldn't be a catastrophic mistake.
“Fine, then the deal is struck!” Xu Mo announced the happy (one-sided) conclusion of the trade.
After a night of chaotic thoughts, morning arrived.
“Mr. Old-Timer? Are you still there?” Bai Feifei woke up early and spoke tentatively.
Xu Mo didn't respond. He had fallen asleep inside Bai Feifei last night and hadn't woken up yet.
Hearing no response from Xu Mo in her mind, Bai Feifei set out on her own to the testing location.
She actually hoped that the evil god inside her had suddenly disappeared—that would be for the best!
...
“You're quite early. Good, punctuality is a great habit.”
As soon as Bai Feifei arrived at the assessment venue, she ran into Wan Qianhong from yesterday, who greeted her warmly.
“Hello, Senior Wan,” Bai Feifei greeted her somewhat stiffly.
Wan Qianhong leaned in mysteriously and whispered in Bai Feifei's ear:
“This is the largest Scavenger recruitment Dawn City has seen in ten years. A Prophet will be coming to the scene to watch your performance.”
“Perform well. You have good strength; this might be a very rare opportunity for you!”
Hearing this, Bai Feifei's pupils shrank suddenly.
In the Scavenger ranking system, the first five levels were Rank 1 through Rank 5 Scavengers. These ranks usually had to follow the organization's orders and carry out various missions.
Above Rank 5, there were four other ranks: Edgerunner, Prophet, Great Saint, and Eternal Sleeper.
Once someone reached the level of Edgerunner or above, they could no longer be called human in terms of strength, and they enjoyed a significant degree of freedom within the organization.
She was actually going to have the chance to see a Prophet?!
“A... Prophet? I will do my best...” Bai Feifei said.
Wan Qianhong patted Bai Feifei's shoulder firmly and said with a laugh:
“Why the sudden cold feet? There's no need for modesty when you have strength. I still prefer that arrogant little devil from yesterday.”
“I've already reported your details in advance, so don't be shy.”
Bai Feifei: ...
Reported what?!
That arrogant devil wasn't me!
After finishing her chat with Bai Feifei, Wan Qianhong left.
Bai Feifei sat alone in the oval-shaped venue, nervously watching the crowd grow.
Those seated here were all screened from various parts of the Outer City.
They all had the potential to become Scavengers and were currently sitting with solemn expressions.
Looking at them, Bai Feifei thought that if it hadn't been for the “Old-Timer's” help yesterday, she likely wouldn't even have the strength of these people.
Suddenly, a boisterous voice came from the entrance of the venue.
“What the hell is this place? I can smell the stench from here. The air in the Outer City is disgusting.”
“Haha, there's no choice. Young Master Huang will just have to endure it. This is still a transition zone, not the true Outer City. If it were a proper Outer City area, it would be a pigsty.”
Several flashily dressed people entered, surrounding “Young Master Huang” like stars around the moon. Their loud shouting shattered the silent atmosphere.
The Outer City residents present all turned their gazes toward them, but after a few glances, they quickly lowered their heads again.
Just as people from the Outer City wanted to become Scavengers, there were also people from the Inner City who would join. These before them were the noble Inner City people.
The man called Young Master Huang was named Huang Jiahao. With a haughty smile on his face, he said casually:
“Are these beggars the Outer City people who passed the initial screening and want to become Scavengers?”
“I heard the Outer City is under constant threat of aberration infection. I thought they couldn't survive out here. Heh, there are still too many people...”
His mocking voice wasn't concealed at all, reaching everyone's ears and making Bai Feifei feel a sting in her heart.
In her mind, being a Scavenger should be a profession of faith. Could people like this... also become Scavengers?
After Huang Jiahao finished speaking, his lackeys immediately chimed in.
“These sorts becoming Scavengers are nothing more than cannon fodder. They'd be lucky to be Young Master Huang's dogs.”
“To truly reach a high position among Scavengers, it has to be Young Master Huang!”
A woman's voice laughed nearby, “Is anyone willing to take the initiative and come be a dog for Young Master Huang? To be honest, it has a better future than working yourself to death as some Scavenger~”
“Ladies first! Haha~”
This was followed by bursts of laughter.
The lackeys' voices were very loud, as if they were intentionally humiliating everyone present, practically having “spoiled brat” written on their foreheads.
Although Huang Jiahao didn't say much, his expression made it clear he was enjoying it.
These lackeys' flamboyant and brainless words were spoken on purpose because Huang Jiahao enjoyed the feeling of being superior to others.
Like a stray dog patrolling its territory, he scanned the room, watching as everyone avoided his gaze.
Heh... he knew it. Even if you pointed at their noses and cursed them, those from the Outer City wouldn't dare to resist.
His gaze swept through the crowd and suddenly met the frowning eyes of Bai Feifei.
Although Bai Feifei quickly looked away, her appearance was already outstanding, and she was wearing the clothes Wan Qianhong had given her yesterday.
She stood in stark contrast to the raggedly dressed Outer City people around her.
A flash of surprise and attraction crossed Huang Jiahao's eyes. He hadn't expected to find such prey in a place like this.
He immediately began walking toward Bai Feifei.
Seeing the situation turn sour, the people sitting near Bai Feifei all took the initiative to move away.
Bai Feifei thought to herself that this was trouble. She had always been a nobody, but since yesterday, she didn't know why this kind of inexplicable trouble kept finding her.
Just then, the voice of that devil suddenly rang out in her mind.
“Ah~ where did I end up? The character can move on its own? I'm not used to that.” Xu Mo's voice sounded like he had just woken up, followed by a yawn.
“Holy crap!? I'm meeting this brat here?” Through Bai Feifei's vision, he saw a figure that surprised him.
Bai Feifei was also startled. It seemed the evil god inside her was still there.
Then...
Huang Jiahao had already arrived in front of Bai Feifei and spoke:
“Heh, little sister, those clothes you're wearing don't look like something an Outer City person could afford.”
As he spoke, he reached out his hand, his claws moving toward either Bai Feifei's shoulder or her face.
Bai Feifei's figure blurred as she dodged a meter away.
After yesterday's “grinding,” Bai Feifei's physical constitution had received a massive boost, and her movements were extremely fast.
“I don't believe we know each other,” Bai Feifei said coldly to Huang Jiahao. “Also, I advise you... you'd better stay away from me.”
After saying that, she turned to leave.
Huang Jiahao was stunned for a moment before he couldn't help but laugh. Interesting—this was the first time he had seen an Outer City woman like this.
The lackey nearby was also very quick-witted. He immediately charged forward, the metal bracelet on his wrist rearranging itself into a dagger, blocking Bai Feifei's path.
“Sister, don't be in such a hurry to leave.”
Bai Feifei's body came to a halt and suddenly trembled. Her gaze changed instantly, as if she had become a different person.
—Xu Mo has logged in!
Xu Mo slowly turned his head, looking at Huang Jiahao with a half-smile.
His gaze swept up and down before finally settling on a dark green ring on the man's right hand.
“That ring of yours looks pretty good?”
Huang Jiahao burst out laughing. In his view, this girl must have calmed down and realized she didn't dare defy him.
If he didn't let her leave, did an Outer City peasant really dare to have an attitude?
He smugly raised his hand and rotated his wrist, the dark green ring reflecting a dazzling light.
“This is a storage ring. As for its value? This thing is worth more than your whole family's lives. But, if you're willing...”
Before he could finish, Xu Mo moved in an instant. In the blink of an eye, the dagger in the lackey's hand was in his own!
A twist of the body, a level slash!
A right hand, still wearing the ring, was severed instantly!
Rate on N.U.
