Chapter 69: Rewards for Merit

Tonight at 12:10 AM, a new chapter will be updated.

============================

Grain was scattered all around the bandit stronghold—there was no reason not to seize it. The players surged forward in a frenzy, snatching up every valuable they could lay their hands on within the compound.

Radiant Swordsman was desperate. He and Zhan Xiaobai had long since made a pact to join forces and monopolize the stronghold’s spoils for themselves. But now, with everyone scrambling in chaos, the loot was slipping away.

Radiant Swordsman hurriedly ordered his men to kill players from the other villages, but the others were unwilling to yield. Soon, a wild melee broke out inside the stronghold, and the NPC soldiers mixed in the crowd were swept up in the turmoil. Flames soared, confusion reigned, and many died without knowing whose hand struck them down.

Zhang Feng cut down the stronghold’s great banner and, seeing the disorder, tried to rally the NPC soldiers. In the end, only a dozen squad leaders and section chiefs remained alive. Furious, Zhang Feng led the battered survivors back to Wuwei City and reported to the prefect: “Several villages in Longyou have risen in revolt. I request immediate reinforcements to suppress the unrest!”

But the prefect of Wuwei paid him no heed. “No need to make a fuss. As long as the villages don’t openly rebel, all is well.”

Though Zhang Feng had succeeded in his campaign, the heavy losses meant his efforts went unrecognized by the prefect. Disheartened and contemplating retirement, he considered seeking his uncle Zhang Xiu, an official in Zuli, but he was loath to give up his current position. Thus, he remained at home, idle and depressed, drinking away the days.

……

Meanwhile, Zhan Xiaobai, Qiushui, and more than two hundred elite players from Xiaobai Village, laden with grain and spoils, hurried back to the village under cover of night. The battle had begun at nine o’clock and lasted a full four or five hours; everyone was utterly exhausted.

Zhan Xiaobai sent everyone to rest, postponing other matters until the next day. The old hunter Lü Shan and Firehouse Baobao also arrived at Xiaobai Village, planning to spend the night before returning to their hut deep in the mountains. Players could safely log off at designated spots within the village, but NPCs needed lodging.

Zhan Xiaobai instructed Li Asan to settle the old hunter in a private guest room at the inn and to see he was well attended.

As for the canine-brained strategist Gou Buli, he’d been downcast ever since the stronghold was breached—his title as “Chief Advisor to King Tiger of Tigerhead Stronghold” was gone, reduced now to that of a “wandering strategist.” Disheveled and lost, Zhan Xiaobai feared he might wander off and personally arranged for him to rest at the inn.

Li Asan immediately recognized Lü Shan’s formidable presence and dared not slight him. He asked Aunt Xu from the tavern to prepare her best dishes, brought out freshly brewed rice wine, and personally accompanied the old hunter for dinner at the tavern. The inn’s boy bustled about, refilling wine and adding dishes. “Best stir-fried pork with green bamboo shoots, please enjoy!”

The old hunter was quite pleased—he hadn’t been treated so well in a long time. Tasting the food, he couldn’t help but praise it. “Delicious! Crisp and flavorful!”

Li Asan beamed. “These are Aunt Xu’s signature dishes—naturally, the taste can’t be beat. Come, Brother Lü, let’s drink to that.”

After settling the players, Zhan Xiaobai came to the tavern and saw Li Asan and the old hunter toasting each other. He couldn’t help but smile. “Master Lü’s archery tonight was simply miraculous—truly admirable. I must seek your instruction someday.”

“Not at all, not at all. I’m getting old. Back in my day, I could take on ten bandits at once by myself! Oh, that reminds me…” The old hunter, delighted at the memories, suddenly remembered something. He took out a small wooden chest he carried, produced a wooden key, and deftly unlocked it.

From within, the old hunter drew out two items—a pair of jadeite bracelets and a blueprint—pressing them into Zhan Xiaobai’s hands. “On the road, I opened this little chest and found these inside. I have no use for such things. Better the village chief keeps them.”

Zhan Xiaobai was a little surprised. “Master Lü, you’re giving me just an empty chest?”

The old hunter laughed. “Do you think this little chest for storing treasures is ordinary? I’ll have you know, without the key, no one can open it. No carpenter alive today could make such a chest.”

Zhan Xiaobai chuckled, then accepted the bracelets and blueprint.

Jadeite Bracelet: Usable by level 10 female characters, +1 Charisma.

There was also a blueprint. Delighted, Zhan Xiaobai checked its properties, only to find: ??? Sweat trickled down—unidentified. Who knew what it was? It could be a plan for constructing a small village, a blueprint for upgrading the village, or a weapon design. There were so many types of blueprints, it was hard to tell.

Both items would be useful, so Zhan Xiaobai didn’t refuse and put them away. The three of them drank and ate, chatted leisurely, and eventually retired to rest.

……

At dawn the next day, Zhan Xiaobai convened all the core members of Xiaobai Village in the administrative court. The purpose was simple: to reward merit and bestow honors—to recognize those who had made outstanding contributions during this period.

He’d wanted to do this for some time, but never found the right moment. Now, with the bandits defeated and new items acquired, he finally had the means to give out rewards.

The courtyard was almost packed, everyone gazing at Zhan Xiaobai atop the highest step, anticipation in their eyes.

On the left side of the courtyard stood Jianba, Qiushui, Shaoxia of Spring and Autumn, Afey, Li Asan, Wutong, and others, along with the canine strategist, the wounded veteran, the carpenter, Aunt Xu [Tavern], Old Bean [Inn Boy], Old He [Chicken Keeper], the groom, Bloodrage One, and a dozen other NPC villagers. The old hunter and Firehouse Baobao stood nearby.

On the right side were mainly the village’s players, including Guang’an and Blood Wolf under Shaoxia of Spring and Autumn, the brothers and sisters under Qiushui, Afey, and Jianba, as well as dozens of players who had contributed greatly to the village’s construction and defense, like Xiaozhuo. There were also heads of player guilds, such as the Hotblooded Family and Brotherhood, and players who had learned skills through quests—Money All Around [Merchant], Thousand Hands [Thief], and so on.

The bandit strategist Gou Buli stood among the crowd, head drooped, thoroughly dejected. With the stronghold gone, what would become of him? He didn’t know what fate Xiaobai would decide for him.

Zhan Xiaobai looked out over the crowded courtyard, clasped his hands, and smiled. “It is thanks to everyone’s hard work that Xiaobai Village is what it is today. I won’t say more—let me thank you all here and now! Xiaobai Village has thrived because of your support and affection. Yet as your chief, I’ve never been able to do much for you, and I feel deeply ashamed. Yesterday, with everyone working together, we made a little windfall. So today, I finally have the chance to be generous, to let everyone share in the village’s growing strength. It is my honor.”

The players burst out laughing. “Chief Xiaobai, you’re too polite!” “Come on, announce the rewards! We can’t wait!”

“Very well! Let’s begin the awarding of merit.”

With a slight gesture from Zhan Xiaobai, a female player stepped forward, holding an item in both hands.

The core members in the courtyard wore various expressions. Anyone with sense knew that this round of rewards would be Zhan Xiaobai’s clearest judgment of their abilities and contributions—directly influencing their future status in the village. Naturally, they were anxious.

On the periphery, the other players craned their necks, eager to see who would receive the first honors—and what treasures might be awarded. After all, items in the game were extremely scarce; any good thing was hard to come by.

On the game’s major rumor forums, live broadcasts were already underway, covering the first grand award ceremony ever held by a village in-game.