Perhaps because she was currently flying in the sky and couldn't wash her hands to rid herself of bad luck before drawing from the prize pool, Yun Shu's bad luck reached a whole new level of abysmal once again.
After three hundred pulls, not only did she only get two high-grade outfit pieces, but they both went off-banner to the Miao Holy Maiden Set.
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Miao Holy Maiden Set—Robe Piece (1/4): Holy Robe of Ten Thousand Poisons.】
【Piece Description: Can summon two green-scaled spirit snakes to coil around your body and serve you. (Cooldown: 120 hours)】
【...】
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Miao Holy Maiden Set—Crown Piece (2/4): Phoenix-Butterfly Silver Crown.】
【Piece Description: Wearing this crown increases affinity with venomous insects, making you highly favored by them.】
【...】
【Current Shock Value: 297,100】
Looking at the balance displayed on the system panel, Yun Shu told herself not to panic. Even if she had to throw all her Shock Value at it, she would force the Rainbow and Feather Garment out!
Giving herself a quick pep talk, her fingertips trembled slightly as she clicked on another three hundred pulls.
Golden light flashed repeatedly.
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Miao Holy Maiden Set—Handheld Piece (3/4): Illusionary Sound Gu Flute.】
【Piece Description: When the flute sounds, all venomous creatures in the vicinity will be driven by its melody. (Cooldown: 120 hours)】
【...】
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Miao Holy Maiden Set—Pendant Piece (4/4): Jar of Ten Thousand Poisons.】
【Piece Description: Opening the jar randomly grants one rare venomous insect. (Cooldown: 4 months)】
【...】
Perhaps because she had a bad feeling all along, Yun Shu felt unexpectedly calm upon seeing yet another piece of the Miao Holy Maiden Set. She simply looked a bit dead inside.
Every time she used the prize pool, she never got what she wanted. Instead, everything she didn't want would force itself on her like an unwanted lover.
She was used to it by now. Truly.
Just as she lost all hope and prepared to give up on the prize pool to seek other alternatives, the very last card flipped over.
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Rainbow and Feather Garment Set—Handheld Piece (1/4): Peacock Fan.】
【Piece Description: Its feathers are magnificent, harboring the wind within. Allows the user to command the wind. (Cooldown: 120 hours)】
【...】
【Current Shock Value: 207,100】
The final piece had finally yielded what Yun Shu wanted, yet she found herself unable to celebrate.
The timing of the Rainbow and Feather Garment piece's appearance made it difficult not to suspect a trap. This felt like bait.
Much like gambling, it always offered a taste of sweetness to hook the player, driving them to go all-in until they were left with absolutely nothing.
It was always better to be safe than sorry.
Initially, she had simply chalked it up to bad luck, never suspecting that the prize pool might actually be rigged against her.
It was only after the system shared some of the Great God's dirty secrets that she began to harbor suspicions.
Although the Shock Value consumed by the prize pool was far less than what was required to upgrade her outfits, those upgrades were transparent, and she received tangible benefits from them.
The prize pool, on the other hand, seemed to swallow a massive amount of Shock Value whenever she desperately wanted a specific set.
After some thought, she closed the limited-time prize pool.
She would take a breather and try again in a couple of days. The limited-time pool only refreshed every seven days, so there was no rush.
The skill from the Miao Holy Maiden robe combined with the handheld skill of the Rainbow and Feather Garment should be just enough to save everyone. However, wearing them together would look rather mismatched.
It was a severe blow to her inner perfectionist.
“This prize pool is a total scam. It would have been so much better to just get the full Rainbow and Feather Garment to summon rain and put out the fire.”
Yun Shu couldn't help but grumble.
“Host, I remember there's a system skin that can summon rain over a small area,” the system said, scratching its head. “It's not very good-looking, though, and I forgot what it's called.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Shu's gears began to turn, and she immediately came up with a brilliant plan to both save lives and harvest a massive amount of Shock Value. “System, quick! Help me find that skin!”
The two of them spent a long time digging through the system interface.
Eventually, they located a skin called Rain Master in the system shop, priced at 100,000 Shock Value.
Without a single moment of hesitation, Yun Shu bought it.
【Current Shock Value: 107,100】
The system: “...”
It really didn't want any more skins.
Every time its host bought it one of these hideous skins, its acting skills were put to the ultimate test.
...
The courtyard was already ablaze. Flames soared into the sky as thick, billowing smoke and waves of heat carrying an acrid, burnt smell rushed over them.
Lu Sui and the others were trapped in the very center of the courtyard. Tongues of fire crept toward them, and windblown sparks landed on their robes, instantly burning small, black holes into the fabric.
Outside the courtyard stood two to three hundred commoners of Yecheng.
They brandished hoes and clubs, while others held aloft burning torches, their faces twisted with anger and grief.
At the front stood a burly man. His eyes were bloodshot as he glared venomously at Lu Sui and the others. “You people from Xindu! What right do you have to burn my brother's corpse??”
“Exactly!”
“Do you people have any conscience at all?!”
“You won't even let the dead rest in peace! You want to burn their bones to ashes! You will suffer heavenly wrath for this!”
“Burn them! Burn them to death!”
The angry shouts surged like a rising tide, growing louder by the second.
Lu Sui shielded the physicians behind him. His voice was hoarse yet firm as he tried to speak over the roaring crowd.
“Everyone, please listen to me!”
“The plague is raging right now! If the corpses are not cremated, the source of the disease cannot be eliminated, and even more people will fall ill and die! We do not mean any disrespect to the deceased; we are doing this to save those who are still alive!”
“Bullshit!” the burly man spat back in rage. “You clearly killed them with your treatments and want to destroy the evidence! I'm telling you, none of you are walking out of this courtyard alive today!”
No sooner had he spoken than a sudden commotion broke out at the back of the crowd.
“Make way! Move aside!” an elderly, anxious voice cried out. “If we don't put out the fire, people are going to die!”
A group of commoners carrying wooden buckets and clay pots stumbled through the crowd.
At their head was a white-haired, hunched old man, clutching a bucket of water tightly as it sloshed over the edges.
Behind him came women and children, all dressed in rags and pale with hunger.
“You can't do this!” the old man cried, stumbling to the edge of the courtyard and throwing his bucket of water onto the flames. “These physicians are good people! They saved my grandson's life!”
The water hit the fire with a loud hiss, sending up a plume of white steam.
The flames subsided slightly, but did not go out.
The burly man's face darkened instantly.
He spun around and grabbed the old man by his collar, nearly lifting him off the ground. “You old fool, have you lost your mind?!”
“You're the one who's lost his mind!” the old man gasped, struggling to breathe but refusing to let go of his empty bucket. “Do you have any idea how many people in this city they've cured?! Your brother was the one who refused to listen to the doctor's orders and did whatever he wanted! How is that the physicians' fault?!”
Shamed into anger, the burly man shoved the old man away.
The old man stumbled backward and crashed to the ground. His wooden bucket clattered away, spilling what little water remained.
A few people stepped forward to help him up, but he waved them off.
“Don't worry about me! Throw the water! Throw it!” The old man lunged forward and threw his arms around the burly man's leg, crying out hoarsely, “Put out the fire! We have to save the physicians! They are good people!”
Rate on N.U.
