Chapter 106: Mongo's Hesitation

“Lu Kuan, are you sure you’re not coming over? These fishmen are practically walking reputation bundles!” A-Kui shrieked excitedly over the party channel, her voice occasionally drowned out by the ear-splitting roar of magic. The ferocity of the battle was plain to hear.

“No, I’m going to turn in the quest first.”

Lu Kuan glanced back at Old Blind Eye, who was barely clinging to life, then spoke over the party channel. “Once you’ve killed most of the fishmen, that’s enough. Ignore the remaining stragglers and return to Clear Water Stronghold as soon as possible. A new quest is about to become available here.”

Little Fatty and the others acknowledged him before turning back to the thunderous battle to eradicate the fishmen. Lu Kuan raised his head and saw the gates of Clear Water Stronghold in the distance.

“Quick, someone go call the High Commander!”

The guards at the village entrance immediately crowded around Lu Kuan when they saw him. While one of them hurried off to summon Uncle Tao, the others helped Old Blind Eye down from Lu Kuan’s back.

Clear Water Stronghold had its own infirmary, and Old Blind Eye was quickly carried inside. Lu Kuan was resting in the outer hall when Uncle Tao came rushing over like a gust of wind.

“What happened?”

Uncle Tao’s expression was grave as he examined Lu Kuan from head to toe. “I thought you were the one who had been injured. What happened to the fishman who came with you?”

The people living on Banyan Tree Prairie all paled at the mention of fishmen. The name “fishman raiders” carried an especially dreadful reputation, and even Uncle Tao, lord of Clear Water Stronghold, treated them with considerable wariness.

Lu Kuan first handed him the leather pouch containing the fishmint, then dropped back into his chair and settled into the most comfortable slouch imaginable. He stretched lazily.

“My lord, get Flash treated for the poison first. As for what happened…” Lu Kuan exhaled deeply, leaned his head against the back of the chair, and said with easy nonchalance, “that’s a long story.”

Half an hour later, in the forest behind Clear Water Stronghold.

Flash, the saber-toothed tiger who had vanished for days, appeared before everyone once more. The poison had left the once-ferociously powerful beast shockingly thin, but now the ancient predator had made a complete recovery.

The change was clearest in its eyes. Its pale-yellow irises shone brightly, and compared with its former poisoned weakness, it seemed full of vigor.

At that moment, the saber-toothed tiger was lying before Lu Kuan. Its head was nearly as large as his upper body, and it rubbed its nose affectionately against his chin. Lu Kuan was extremely ticklish, and soon he was laughing helplessly.

In his previous life, the pet that had accompanied Lu Kuan the longest had been a great snow-mountain stag. It was nothing particularly rare, but it had stayed by his side for five or six years. Feeling Flash’s presence now, Lu Kuan was reminded of those distant days, and a trace of melancholy stirred within him.

Uncle Tao stood beside the saber-toothed tiger and stroked its forehead with a look of relief. Then he turned to Lu Kuan and bowed solemnly.

“Adventurer, please accept my heartfelt gratitude. Thank you for everything you have done for Flash!”

“High Commander, there’s no need to thank me. It was only right.”

Lu Kuan did not dare accept such a gesture and quickly rose to help Uncle Tao to his feet.

At the same time, a series of quest-completion notifications appeared before Lu Kuan’s eyes.

“Congratulations. … completed. You have received 450 experience points and 1 skill point.”

“Quest completion exceeded 90%. You have received 1 additional skill point.”

“Uncle Tao’s favorability toward you has increased by 1,000. Current favorability level: ‘Intimate.’”

“Your reputation in Clear Water Stronghold has increased by 3,000. Current reputation level: ‘Revered.’”

…

The string of numbers nearly dazzled Lu Kuan, filling him with immense delight.

“So that’s how it is! I always wondered why the core player’s reputation in my previous life had risen so terrifyingly fast. Completing this step alone gives 3,000 reputation?”

Lu Kuan could not contain his joy, and his face split into a broad grin. Moreover, judging by his deductions, that player from his previous life certainly had not possessed as much reputation as he did now.

Once one’s reputation in Clear Water Stronghold reached the “Legendary” level, it became possible to purchase a pet egg with excellent attributes directly from the quartermaster. The pet egg that had appeared on the market in his previous life had not surfaced until much later.

Lu Kuan kept the two newly acquired skill points unused. He also intended to save all future skill points until he had tamed a pet, then use them to improve several of the Beastmaster’s exclusive skills.

Flash’s recovery was a momentous occasion for all of Clear Water Stronghold, and Lu Kuan’s personal quests there had finally come to an end.

After learning from Lu Kuan that Old Blind Eye had nearly lost his life obtaining the fishmint, Uncle Tao was deeply grateful to the old fishman. He thumped his chest and assured Lu Kuan that he would do everything in his power to cure him.

“By the way, the halfling girl’s condition has stabilized. Would you like to go see her?” Uncle Tao asked with a broad smile.

Lu Kuan nodded. Of course he was going. Otherwise, why would he have gone to all that trouble to rescue her?

Mongo had been placed in the home of one of the village residents. When Lu Kuan saw the girl again, she was arguing with the female guard assigned to watch over her.

“Why won’t you let me out? Open the door! I need to find my mother!”

“Miss Mongo, your injuries have not yet healed…”

“I know my own body! You’re keeping me here under the pretense of protecting me!”

“But Old Deer instructed us to ensure your safety.”

“I don’t know any Old Deer or Young Deer! I just want to go home…”

…

At that moment, Lu Kuan pushed open the door and walked in, smiling at the halfling girl, who was half reclining on the bed.

“Miss Mongo, if I remember correctly, your parents died when you were very young. Which home exactly are you planning to return to?”

When the girl saw Lu Kuan and Uncle Tao enter, the female guard visibly relaxed. She stood and bowed to them, clearly exhausted from dealing with the little menace.

The moment Mongo saw Lu Kuan, her noisy protests ceased. She lowered her head and said nothing. Only after Uncle Tao and the female guard had left the room did she raise it again, fixing Lu Kuan with a wary stare from a pair of large blue eyes.

The injuries on her body had all been carefully treated, and the wounds on her face were covered with white ointment. Mongo still looked weak, but she had regained her spirit, which at least meant that her condition had not deteriorated.

And judging by her current attitude, Uncle Tao had not pressed too deeply into her identity. Lu Kuan was quite satisfied. Uncle Tao was a man who kept his word—an NPC worthy of trust.

“What’s with that attitude toward your lifesaver?” Lu Kuan dragged over a chair, sat down, and smiled at the halfling girl.

“Why do you know so much about me?” Mongo asked directly. She was not easy to deceive.

Someone like Mongo, who had spent years moving through the darker corners of the world, would never be moved to tearful gratitude merely because Lu Kuan had saved her life. Conspiracy and betrayal were the elements she encountered most often.

Lu Kuan had prepared an excuse long ago. Crossing one leg over the other, he answered leisurely, “You’ve offended quite a few people in Riptide Harbor and Lava Fortress, haven’t you, Miss Mongo? Otherwise, how would your name have appeared on the blacklists of both cities’ guard forces?”

Mongo’s expression changed at once. Clearly, Lu Kuan’s words had made her wary.