Chapter 74: A Chance to Make Amends

"Adventurer, this is why I asked you for the gemstone." Tauber knelt beside the saber-toothed tiger, gently stroking its soft fur. His playful demeanor was gone, replaced by a grave tone. "This is my companion, and the guardian beast of Clearwater Village."

Lu Kuan nodded in silence, still frowning in deep thought.

He knew all that Tauber had said. He also knew the saber-toothed tiger’s name was Lightning, a pet who had been by Tauber’s side for over twenty years, and the protector deity of the village. The wound Lightning suffered came from the bite of an unknown, highly venomous creature.

It was precisely because of this that Lu Kuan felt even more pressure.

In his previous life, when he had participated in this quest, it was already at its final stage. By then, Lightning had long since died, and Tauber’s new companion was a young Shadow Howler Wolf. In Lu Kuan’s memory, the Clearwater Village quest was a massive chain mission, involving nearly a hundred players from Molten Fortress, himself included.

Of course, the player who initially triggered the quest and was central to the entire storyline was a core member of a major guild—an opportunity someone like Lu Kuan, an ordinary player, would never have had.

The quest was extremely difficult, and at its conclusion, Lu Kuan had watched the final battle from afar, witnessing Tauber fight to the death to defend the village against a monstrous horde. Clearwater Village was ultimately overrun and destroyed.

Although, in the end, the players avenged the villagers and received their rewards from the lord of Molten Fortress, the ending was forever incomplete, leaving a sense of regret in the hearts of many.

"Now, do I have a chance to change the course of this quest through my efforts?" Lu Kuan could not help but wonder.

He remembered clearly that, in his previous life, when the quest was completed, the overall progress was less than fifty percent—meaning the central player had been far from achieving a happy ending.

"Well, adventurer, what are your terms? Feel free to say whatever you want," Tauber’s voice interrupted Lu Kuan’s thoughts.

Lu Kuan stood, facing Tauber. With a smile, he replied, "As it happens, I’m especially fond of animals as well. Consider this gemstone a gift from me to Lightning."

As he spoke, Lu Kuan took the "Holy Cage" from his pack and handed it over.

Tauber had already prepared an item for exchange, so Lu Kuan’s sudden generosity caught him off guard. He paused, then bowed deeply in gratitude. "May Melika bless you, adventurer. On Lightning’s behalf, thank you."

Melika, the ranger goddess in "Echoes of the Gods," was one of the most beloved deities. Seeing Tauber so solemn, Lu Kuan returned the bow in kind.

Without delay, Tauber turned and placed the gemstone on Lightning’s forepaw.

The milky-white glow of the gem slowly radiated outward, purifying the poison within its reach. After several minutes, the color around the wound appeared to lighten, and even the slumbering saber-toothed tiger stirred, its massive head shifting slightly.

A look of joy crossed Tauber’s face, but it soon faded as a darker shade spread from the wound, far outpacing the gem’s purifying effect. The poison crept up Lightning’s right leg, threatening to reach the body.

Lu Kuan was not surprised; if the poison could be so easily neutralized, it would not be worthy of a large-scale quest chain.

Disappointment clouded Tauber’s features.

"Tauber, leave the gemstone here for now—it will help, at least a little," Lu Kuan said thoughtfully. "I want to do what I can to help cure Lightning more quickly. Could you tell me exactly what happened?"

Moved by Lu Kuan’s generosity, Tauber finally smiled. He thanked Lu Kuan again, instructed his men to care for Lightning, and invited Lu Kuan to return to the village as they talked.

"Four days ago, Lightning was bitten by something in the lake. In that short time, he’s lost nearly half his body weight," Tauber sighed. "Lightning has been with me for years, highly alert and resistant to poison. Whatever attacked him was extraordinary."

"Did you see what bit him? Was there any mark or wound when it happened?" Lu Kuan pressed, unwilling to miss any details.

Tauber shook his head. "It was dusk, and I was too far away. By the time I reached him, Lightning had already collapsed. If I hadn’t known a little druidic magic, he wouldn’t have survived even that long."

Lu Kuan listened intently, noting every detail in his quest log.

The most urgent matter was identifying the poison. However, "poison identification" was a rare specialty. He wasn’t sure if anyone in Molten Fortress could handle it.

In the game, appraisers were not omniscient. Just as blacksmiths specialized in armor or weapons—and even then, in heavy armor, light armor, or shields—so too did appraisers focus on certain fields.

For example, the chief appraiser of Molten Fortress, Old Blindeye, was, to Lu Kuan’s knowledge, a fishman specializing in unusual artifacts, otherworldly materials, and magical weapons.

Now Lu Kuan understood why the previous outcome for Clearwater Village had been so tragic. Even the first step of the quest presented a formidable challenge: in such a small settlement, finding an expert in poisons was nearly impossible.

"Please, have someone collect some of Lightning’s blood," Lu Kuan requested decisively. "I’ll return to Molten Fortress immediately and see if I can find someone who can identify the poison."

"Thank you, adventurer," Tauber nodded gratefully.

At the same time, Lu Kuan received a system notification:

"You have gained Tauber’s favor. Favorability +1."

"You have accepted the quest ‘Race Against Time (B Difficulty)’."

Lu Kuan could tell that, though Tauber was genuinely grateful, he did not truly value him yet.

It was understandable; at level twelve, Lu Kuan was little more than a child in Tauber’s eyes, hardly someone capable of much.

"You’re leaving the gemstone here to ease Lightning’s pain. I have nothing to give in return, but if you need anything within my power, I will do my best to help," Tauber continued.

"Oh, there’s no need…" Lu Kuan began to decline, but a thought struck him. He changed his mind and said, "Actually, there is one thing you might help with. Clearwater Village has been here for generations—you must know about the Shadow Grass?"

"Of course," Tauber replied without hesitation. "It’s a type of aquatic plant we use often, excellent for making boots and leather bags."