C4 The Reward of the Treasure Box

When Lin Xiaoqiang saw Lee Laohu's son picking on Zhang Lili, he was seething with rage. Without hesitation, he activated his tactical combat analysis system.

The system revealed the combat strength of Lee Laohu's son, nearly on par with his father's.

Confident now, Lin Xiaoqiang thought, "If your dad's no challenge for me, you're nothing."

He positioned himself just right and struck with his shovel, hitting Lee Laohu's son square on the buttocks.

Thanks to Lin Xiaoqiang's enhanced physical abilities, his speed was significantly faster than before. He swiftly removed the assailant, exposing Zhang Lili's fair skin.

Lin Xiaoqiang didn't waste a moment; he tossed his old sheepskin coat to cover her.

Zhang Lili and her attacker were both drained. If Lin Xiaoqiang hadn't intervened, she would have been defenseless.

Seeing how attentively Lin Xiaoqiang dressed her, her previous fury towards him had completely vanished.

Meanwhile, the injured Lee Laohu's son got back on his feet, drew a dagger from his pants, and charged at Lin Xiaoqiang with a menacing glare.

The system tried to alert Lin Xiaoqiang, but he had already cursed it out.

No time for alerts now; it was time to act.

Lin Xiaoqiang effortlessly sidestepped the dagger, thinking the son's movements were alarmingly slow, almost like watching something in slow motion.

"If you're not going to be polite, neither will I," Lin Xiaoqiang thought, and with a shovel and a kick, he knocked out Lee Laohu's son cold.

System Notification: Battle Experience Reward: 5, Attack Power Reward: 5.

Current combat strength: 21

Attack Power: 114

Lin Xiaoqiang found it all rather dull.

The rewards were too meager. Why so little?

But then, a system notification perked him up.

He was awarded a 'Bravery Gift Pack.'

No sooner had he heard the notification than a large gift pack materialized on the ground.

Upon opening it, Lin Xiaoqiang was thrilled.

Inside was a small blade, just an inch long.

It was tiny, but not without charm, resembling a miniaturized version of Guan Yu's legendary Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, scaled down a hundredfold.

Yet, for all its appeal, the blade was practically useless—sharpening a pencil with it would be a struggle.

Lin Xiaoqiang continued his search inside, hoping to find something else of value.

Deep within, he discovered a detailed description.

Weapon Name: Azure Dragon Blade.

Normal Size: The blade measures nine feet and five inches in length, weighing 82 pounds.

Techniques: White Tiger Leap, Breath of the Wind, Scissor Slash, Dominating Mountains, Subduing Elephant, and Flaming Sun. Each technique consists of six forms, adding up to a total of thirty-six forms, each accompanied by an illustration.

Lin Xiaoqiang had barely glanced at the illustration when the figure depicted sprang to life, swiftly embedding the movements into his mind.

Suddenly, he had mastered the thirty-six forms of the Azure Dragon Blade Technique, much to his own astonishment.

Yet, upon examining the Azure Dragon Blade, which was scarcely the size of his palm, he felt a twinge of disappointment.

Impressive techniques, but the blade itself left much to be desired.

He was about to discard the manual when a sheet of gold foil paper slipped out.

It was inscribed with the methods for nurturing the blade.

The Azure Dragon Blade thrived on the blood and souls of humans or animals.

With each villain or fierce beast slain, the blade would automatically extend by one centimeter...

Ugh...

Lin Xiaoqiang felt a wave of frustration. Nine feet and five inches—how many villains would he need to vanquish?

If he dared to challenge a more formidable opponent, the blade's length could increase by ten centimeters with each victory.

Lin Xiaoqiang found this notion intriguing.

He just wasn't clear on what constituted challenging a stronger foe.

The system offered a patient explanation: it meant facing an adversary with twice his combat strength.

Though challenging, Lin Xiaoqiang sensed a glimmer of hope.

He had the advantage of a navigation system that allowed him to see his opponent while remaining unseen.

If the fight proved too much, he could always take a stab and make a quick escape.

As Lin Xiaoqiang murmured to himself, Zhang Lili sensed something amiss. She dressed and approached him, giving him a pat to check if he was under some strange influence.

Reacting instinctively, Lin Xiaoqiang executed one of the thirty-six techniques, inadvertently sending Zhang Lili flying.

Her fright turned into tears.

It was only then that Lin Xiaoqiang came to his senses, hurriedly reassuring her, "Don't cry, it wasn't intentional."

Quickly, he helped Zhang Lili to her feet and inquired if she was hurt.

Upon seeing Lin Xiaoqiang's newfound strength, Zhang Lili blushed and assured him she was alright.

It was only then that Lin Xiaoqiang realized he was embracing Zhang Lili in a somewhat intimate manner, so he promptly set her down and escorted them home.

Thanks to the GPS, they easily located Zhang Lili's residence.

Once home, Zhang Lili changed her clothes and handed Lin Xiaoqiang his old sheepskin coat, which still carried her scent. Lin Xiaoqiang couldn't resist taking a deep whiff.

Zhang Lili's cheeks flushed a deep red.

"Stay for dinner, I'll make you noodle soup," Zhang Lili offered before heading to the kitchen.

But she soon returned, looking at Lin Xiaoqiang with embarrassment, nervously wringing her hands, her voice barely a whisper.

"I thought we had flour, but for some reason, it's gone," she lamented, wishing she could disappear.

Lin Xiaoqiang then remembered his purpose was to repay a kindness.

Without hesitation, he retrieved one hundred and fifty kilograms of white flour from the base, telling her it was a gift. If not for their half a sweet potato, he would've perished long ago.

As he parted with the flour, Lin Xiaoqiang was filled with regret. The flour he had toiled for was now all gone; he chastised himself for not keeping any.

Women were trouble, he mused; they muddled his thinking.

Zhang Lili's eyes sparkled at the sight of so much flour.

Yet, considering Lin Xiaoqiang's needs, she couldn't accept so much from him.

She tried to decline, but Lin Xiaoqiang had an idea. He suggested he could dine with them in the future, and any surplus would simply be his ration.

Zhang Lili, pleased with this arrangement, nodded. "Then it's settled. You'll come over every day."

Lin Xiaoqiang agreed, "I'll be here without fail."

With that, Zhang Lili set about cooking, while Lin Xiaoqiang busied himself with setting up their stove and kindling a fire.

As the stove flared to life, warmth flooded the room instantly.

Zhang Lili was frolicking joyfully, and upon spotting Lin Xiaoqiang, she couldn't suppress a sneaky chuckle. It had been ages since she'd seen such happiness in the child, especially after the loss of her father.

Soon enough, the broth was ready, its aroma of chopped onions and fragrant oil wafting through the air, enticing Lin Xiaoqiang's stomach to rumble once more.

Post-meal, Lin Xiaoqiang made his way back to his own home, while Zhang Lili watched from her doorway, her gaze tinged with a hint of reluctance.

Back at his place, Lin Xiaoqiang felt the stark emptiness. A twinge of regret for returning crept in, but with no valid reason to leave again, he resignedly began to stoke the fire.

The stove crackled to life, and the kettle sang its bubbling tune atop the flames, a soothing symphony for the soul.

Lin Xiaoqiang toyed with the Azure Dragon Blade in his hands, lost in thought, when suddenly, an alert from his chat interface broke the silence—a bounty message.

It was a call for assassins: 50 kilograms of white flour, 100 iron coins, and contact details provided. The offer piqued Lin Xiaoqiang's interest. He needed to upgrade his weapon and stock up on food. This assassin gig promised both.

Without hesitation, Lin Xiaoqiang fired off a private message to make contact.