Chapter 5: Battle for the Magic Potion (Please Vote with Your Monthly Ticket)

“Shut up!”

“Don’t say another word!”

Yang Liuqing stomped her right foot on the ground.

It was a nervous habit of hers.

The sturdy floor instantly cracked and sank slightly under the pressure.

But even such a drastic change couldn’t pull her attention away from the broadcast.

“Goose… Goose, what was it again? Right, Goose City. I’ve placed a one-of-a-kind legendary Magic Potion in Goose City.

It’s a miraculous item that can change your fate.

A very lucky person has drawn it.

You all want it too, don’t you?

I understand you perfectly.

If you want something, just take it.

That’s right, this little game is called the ‘Magic Potion Battle’!

Huh? What if the potion has already been eaten?

No problem! Eating the person means eating the potion, doesn’t it?

Hee hee, it’ll still be effective within twenty-four hours.

Also, I certainly can’t let that lucky person off easy.

If they can keep the potion safe, I’ll reward them with something special.

As for what it is, stay tuned~”

The broadcast ended.

Yang Liuqing felt as if an ice pick had been driven deep into her tailbone, then twisted joyfully, sending an ultimate numbing chill through her.

“Master, why are you drenched in cold sweat?” Ke Ling hadn’t heard the broadcast and had no idea what had happened.

Ke Li was the same.

“Run… I can’t stay here. They’ll eat me!” Yang Liuqing forced down the chill surging from within and briefly recounted the broadcast content.

After hearing it, the two little ones couldn’t help but shiver.

Why is this Game Manager so wicked!

“Eat… that’s a thing?” Ke Li was horrified.

“This place isn’t safe. Does Master need to pack anything?” Ke Ling rolled up her sleeves.

“No…” Before Yang Liuqing could finish, a loud crash came from outside the door.

bang!

It sounded like something massive had slammed into the iron door!

Her rental had two doors: an outer iron door and an inner wooden door.

Now the iron door was twisted and deformed, and the wooden door was cracked from the impact.

“Enemy attack.” Ke Ling instantly realized something was wrong.

“How is that possible?” Yang Liuqing was stunned.

The broadcast had just ended, and someone was already attacking?

Was this a joke?

Or was it deliberately arranged?

bang!

With the second impact, both the iron and wooden doors were blasted open, sending fragments flying.

Ke Ling and Ke Li moved to block Yang Liuqing, raising their small hands to form a translucent cyan barrier.

The debris struck it and bounced off harmlessly.

“You are home! I’ve come to play with you, Xiaoqing~” A familiar figure emerged from outside the doorway.

He wore a slightly yellowed white tank top and gray shorts, with long black socks and leather shoes. The handle of a meat cleaver stuck out from his waistband.

About forty years old, with yellowed teeth and a lecherous face.

This guy was one of the people Yang Liuqing despised most.

He was the pork seller, Zhurou Rong, who set up shop across from her rental building.

A true homosexual.

Ever since he’d set his sights on her, Yang Liuqing had considered moving.

Unfortunately, she’d paid three months’ rent as a deposit, and the landlord refused to refund it.

She had no choice but to endure that creep’s perverted looks.

Luckily, until just now, he hadn’t done anything out of line, so she could barely tolerate it.

She never expected he’d dare a night raid today!

Looking closely, she noticed his right hand was very different.

It was several times larger than usual, almost as thick as an elephant leg.

Black and grimy, stretching nearly to the ground.

Looking down, the palm part had been replaced by a huge mouth filled with sharp teeth.

A long tongue protruded, drooling saliva that corroded small holes in the floor, emitting white smoke.

He had undoubtedly been chosen and gained an [Ability].

No wonder he dared raid at night.

“Huh? Xiaoqing, how come you’ve shrunk?

Hehe, small and cute is fine too.

Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you, and my right hand too!!”

Zhurou Rong stuck out his tongue and licked the air.

Disgustingness factor: five stars.

Ke Ling and Ke Li almost threw up.

This guy—better just cut him down!

“I have no grudge against you. You’re bringing this on yourself.” Yang Liuqing pretended to be calm.

But the pressure from him was extremely strong, making her extremely uncomfortable.

“He’s a bit tough for a first opponent.” Ke Ling was worried.

The rental was small, and with him blocking the door, there was no way to escape.

They had to fight.

The problem was, his aura had already overwhelmed her master.

“Not good.” Ke Li was serious.

Even she couldn’t joke around in this situation.

Her master was a complete rookie, facing an enemy radiating such malice. This wouldn’t be easy.

It wasn’t just a matter of raw strength.

Once your spirit was suppressed, you’d become hesitant and timid.

It would be hard to leverage your advantages.

And he wouldn’t give you time to adapt.

“Master, don’t forget what I said before!” Ke Ling decided to snap her out of it.

What she said before?

Yang Liuqing’s eyes widened slightly.

Lightning flashed through her mind.

That’s right, they were a community of shared fate.

No, not that.

[‘When you need to kill, kill. Otherwise, we’ll be the ones dying.’]

“Tonight, we’ll finally become one!” Zhurou Rong smashed through the obstructing wall with his fist and lunged.

His solid body was like a lump of alien iron—a single collision would likely rupture internal organs and shatter bones.

But even more lethal was his mutated right hand.

It was more fitting to call it a giant mouth than a hand.

One bite could snap Yang Liuqing’s head clean off!

Ke Li pressed her right index and middle fingers together, condensing a subtle sword aura.

This was her trump card.

If her master couldn’t react, she would act herself.

Ke Ling had the same thought. Unless absolutely necessary, they didn’t want to interfere with their master’s battle.

Yang Liuqing stared blankly at the lunging Zhurou Rong, showing no reaction.

In her perception, he was moving as slowly as if frozen in midair.

He posed no threat.

What was happening?

She didn’t know.

She’d never experienced this before.

Sounds, too, seemed slowed down a hundredfold.

What reached her ears was pure noise.

Annoying.

She wanted to destroy this noise machine.

Cut his throat?

Stab through his heart?

Or slice him into pieces?

Any method seemed fine.

Yang Liuqing was eerily calm.

At that moment, she was incredibly focused.

The Huayue Zimu Sword in her hand trembled with excitement.

Without any professional stance, Yang Liuqing swung the sword as if chopping vegetables.

In this abnormal state, her speed was unimaginable.

First strike: throat cut.

Second strike: severed the mutated right hand.

Third strike: pierced the heart.

Fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth strikes all landed on that right hand.

She didn’t know why she did it.

Her subconscious told her that arm was the real threat.

As the Huayue Zimu Sword was withdrawn, the slowed time instantly returned to normal.

In Ke Ling and Ke Li’s eyes, Yang Liuqing’s sword was as fast as lightning.

In an instant, she had hacked her opponent into pieces.

Both of their mouths fell open in an O-shape.

They felt like they’d been duped.

You call that a beginner!?