Chapter 28: Winning a Woman’s Heart Isn’t About Looks

By the time things had settled over there, I had already dealt with two waves of fat Kodo beasts, though the spoils were pitifully sparse! After asking Teatime, I learned that as the level difference widens, not only does the experience decrease, but the items dropped become fewer and fewer. She and White Day said that killing ten thousand fat Kodo beasts for a single silver coin was already a stroke of luck.

Only then did I understand why, at night, neither newcomers nor veterans liked to venture into the Kodo Beast Valley. From level six up to now, apart from the 21 experience points per Kodo beast, I’d only collected a handful of silver coins... compared to the few gold coins I used to get, the gains had shrunk drastically. What else would anyone get here besides air?

Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but feel dejected: I still needed over twelve hundred experience to reach level seven, and by then, not only would the experience drop to a mere five points per beast, but even silver coins would be scarce.

In my gloom, I suddenly felt some admiration for Ai, not far away—she was already level seven, earning only five experience points per fat Kodo beast. Yet ever since earlier, she had been repeating my actions...

Though her movements were somewhat stiff and her strikes often missed the mark, she cleverly used her equipment advantage to get close to the ugly-faced fat Kodo beasts. Like me, who used my forearm to absorb their attacks, she did so not just to minimize damage and secure victory, but to seize the opportunity to approach their wounds and improve her hit rate.

She truly succeeded!

Through more than a dozen trials, her success rate in landing hits on wounds and gaining damage bonuses steadily increased; only the final move challenged the deepest moral boundary in her heart.

The shrill, desperate wails echoed in her ears, far more shocking when up close... That soul-wrenching despair was not something a young girl could easily digest.

Several times, she couldn’t bring herself to deliver the final blow, her face pale as she withdrew her sword and stepped back, only to grit her teeth and attack again. Eventually, Bear, seeing her struggle, simply stepped in and finished off the fat Kodo beast that had lost most of its HP for her.

After a few rounds, Ai tacitly accepted Bear’s help, no longer wishing to hear those hopeless cries.

With each round, Ai’s complexion gradually improved, and her leveling pace quickly caught up.

At this point, I couldn’t help but glance at the Poet Saint, standing awkwardly among the Kodo beasts, his expression one of deep regret as he watched the pair. I secretly chuckled:

Indeed, they were both companions and rivals in love, so it was no surprise that sacrifices were made so readily to help Ai level up... Pity for the Poet Saint, though—his chances were slim. Though I was young, I understood: winning a woman’s heart takes more than just appearance.

Though the Poet Saint was far more refined than Bear in terms of looks, when it came to brains... the seemingly simple Bear possessed a cleverness that belied his appearance.

He would quietly stand by when Ai needed no help, and decisively step in when she did.

Rough yet attentive!

Such a man had a better chance of winning a beauty’s heart than the Poet Saint.

Seeing the tacit understanding between Bear and Ai, the Poet Saint, toiling in the darkness to lure monsters, felt bitter at heart. But who could blame him for taking on the task in the first place?

Ah... what a pitiable fellow.

...

Twenty minutes later, I finally reached level seven.

This time, I invested all my attributes in stamina. Having my stamina depleted after every thirty or so fat Kodo beasts was a blow to my enthusiasm...

Then, amid the strange smiles of White Day and Teatime, I changed into the silver, knee-high “Silver Beast Boots” and “Silver Beast Ring.”

Silver Beast Boots (Bronze Equipment): Defense 3-4, Agility +3, Integrity 100%, Strength requirement 8, Agility requirement 18, Level requirement 7.

Silver Beast Ring (Bronze Equipment): Agility +3, increases resistance to paralysis, Strength requirement 7, Agility requirement 15, Integrity 100%, Level requirement 7.

...

Wild Qilin: Level 7

Strength 10: Attack 7-10 (Bronze Short Sword Attack: 4)
Agility 24: Defense 8-8 (Forearm Defense 9-9; Body Defense 10-12; Leg Defense 2)
Stamina 6: HP 19/19 (one point added per level)
Spirit 1 (civilians cannot activate)
Wisdom 1: MP 5/5 (one point added every two levels)

No wonder bronze equipment is so outstanding. The extra six points of agility not only made me feel no extra burden after changing gear, but I actually felt lighter; moreover... the Silver Beast Boots fit snugly against my calves without gaps, not hindering my movement in the slightest, and even offered higher leg defense than body defense... The enchanted Silver Kodo beast really did drop a fine item!

Just as I was admiring myself, Bear and Ai walked over, followed by the Poet Saint, staring up at the sky—what a sight...

“Big Brother White, both Qilin and Ai have reached level seven. Should we let them train somewhere else?”

White Day, Teatime, and I exchanged amused glances and quietly nodded:

Hehe, they finally couldn’t sit still.

Truth is... the three of us had already planned it: a level 26 heavy sword warrior, a level 21 berserker, a level 17 bronze lion warrior, plus a level 24 water mage, could easily fight their way into the Kodo Beast Valley. No matter how fast the monsters respawned, the three warriors could handle it without trouble...

As long as we found a corner in the valley with fewer Kodo beasts, they’d be safe leveling under the protection of the three warriors, and it would certainly be faster than fighting fat Kodo beasts outside for five experience points apiece.

However, this suggestion couldn’t come from us...

After all, Ai would be the first to reach level eight... We didn’t want to somehow end up owing them a favor.

Now that they brought it up, we readily agreed, deciding to venture deeper into the Kodo Beast Valley! But before that, the six of us needed to return to town...

After half an hour of fighting, both Ai’s and my weapons had suffered varying degrees of wear. Once inside the Kodo Beast Valley, we’d surely be staying for a long time, so it was best to keep our weapons at 100% integrity, lest excessive wear reduce their attack power. (If integrity drops below 60%, attack power is reduced.)

Also... the valley was more dangerous than outside, plus there was always the chance of encountering a boss, so we had to return to town to restock on potions, including Ai and myself.