Chapter 139: So It Was an Outsider

"The map shows that there are wild chicken monsters to the south of Peach Blossom Village, which players can hunt to level up," Song Yao said while examining the map.

Just then, Pei Wangshu asked with some embarrassment, "Where do I open this map?"

Although Pei Wangshu was five or six years older than Song Yao, she had never played online games before. She had been fumbling around the player interface for quite a while, unable to figure out how to bring up the map.

"It's right here in the top right corner of the player interface," Song Yao prompted.

"So that's where it was hidden. Why didn't I notice it earlier?" Pei Wangshu said sheepishly.

"Let's finish the two daily quests first," Song Yao suggested. "With two daily quests plus one random quest, we'll have a total of three, which will earn us one attribute point."

"If we can get that extra attribute point, killing the wild chicken monsters later should go a bit faster."

Pei Wangshu nodded. "Mm."

Although Pei Wangshu was a wealthy heiress in reality and Song Yao's superior, she was a pragmatic person. She understood that her status in the real world meant nothing here. Since Song Yao had more experience with games, she was content to follow her lead.

After completing the [Fishing] and [Slingshot Bird Hunting] daily quests, along with a [Letter Delivery] random quest for the novice village, they finally reached three tasks and earned one attribute point.

Because this game utilized full-body immersion, initial player attributes were not identical. Most adult males started with over 10 points in Vitality. As women, Song Yao and Pei Wangshu were naturally slightly weaker in physique and strength, so they both started with 8 points in Vitality and 10 points in Spirit.

"Add the attribute point we just earned to Vitality. Don't add it to the wrong one; prioritizing Vitality is very important," Song Yao reminded her promptly.

Pei Wangshu nodded. After adding the hard-earned point, their Vitality increased from 8 to 9. They followed the map's guidance to the south of Peach Blossom Village and began to fight the few wild chicken monsters, working up a sweat.

Pei Wangshu and Song Yao possessed different starting skills. Song Yao’s skill was [Falling Petals]. It was a close-range attack; the moment her novice sword touched the target, the blade would burst into a shower of petals, dealing a certain amount of damage. Pei Wangshu’s starting skill was [Heavenly Dance of Flying Mist].

When activated, she would perform a dance on the spot, and colorful mist would drift from around her body, dealing damage to enemies within a certain range.

By the time the sun set behind the mountains, they had reached level 2 from killing the wild chicken monsters. Seeing that it was getting dark and they couldn't leave the novice village yet, they wandered through the village, looking for a place to spend the night.

Just then, four thugs approached them. One pockmarked man grinned lewdly, "Little ladies, you look new here. Are you lost? Why don't you come to my place for the night?"

Pei Wangshu’s lips curled slightly, her expression icy as she crossed her arms. She thought to herself that the scum in this world were exactly like those in reality. However, the situation was precarious; as level 2 novices, she and Song Yao might not be a match for these four robust village thugs. Pei Wangshu had already decided that if she fell into their hands, she would end her own life with a sword. Dying in this world would immediately log her out, preventing any humiliation by these thugs. Of course, Pei Wangshu did not realize that in the real world, Su Quan, that "sly fox," was still waiting for her.

Suddenly, someone kicked the pockmarked man hard from behind, sending him face-planting into the dirt. Before Pei Wangshu and Song Yao appeared a middle-aged man dressed in the uniform of a government constable. Though average-looking, he possessed a certain rugged masculinity.

The constable roared at the man on the ground, "Zhang Mazi, you dare harass innocent women here? Do you want me to drag you to the yamen, give you thirty lashes, and lock you in a cell?"

The other three thugs fled immediately. Zhang Mazi scrambled to his knees, begging for mercy, "Constable Zhao, please spare me this once! I have an elderly mother at home to care for!"

"Get lost! I'm in no mood to deal with you today," Zhao Zhigao said, kicking the man again. Zhang Mazi scrambled up and ran off.

Zhao Zhigao had been returning to his wife's family with his own wife and children when he happened to see Song Yao and Pei Wangshu being cornered, so he intervened.

"Thank you, kind constable, for your righteous assistance." Song Yao and Pei Wangshu quickly mimicked the gestures from television dramas, cupping their hands in gratitude. It was fortunate they had encountered an NPC constable; otherwise, they might have been done for before even leaving the novice village.

"You two have very unfamiliar faces. You aren't from Peach Blossom Village, are you? Where are you from?" Zhao Zhigao questioned.

"We... we are from out of town," Song Yao said. Naturally, she couldn't explain to an NPC that they were from a different world called Hailan Star.

"Out-of-towners? Are you here to seek out relatives?" Zhao Zhigao asked.

Song Yao and Pei Wangshu shook their heads. Zhao Zhigao assumed they were poor souls forced to leave their homes with nowhere to go.

"How old are you? Are you married?" he asked.

"I am 20, and unmarried," Song Yao replied.

"I am 26, and unmarried," Pei Wangshu added.

Zhao Zhigao thought to himself that both women were of marriageable age and quite pretty. He glanced at Pei Wangshu again—it was even more ridiculous that a twenty-six-year-old spinster was still unmarried.

*Should I secretly introduce them to Song Ye?* he mused. *They are both lovely girls; Song Ye might be interested.* Zhao Zhigao couldn't help but want to play matchmaker for Song Ye again. Of course, he would have to do it in secret, hiding it from those at the Prince Xiang Estate. He couldn't bear to watch Song Ye dragged down for life by that comatose princess. Although Song Ye couldn't openly take a wife or concubine, perhaps a secret affair to ensure the continuation of the Song family line was acceptable. At the very least, he needed an heir.

Moreover, Zhao Zhigao felt that both girls were poor, homeless souls in need of a place to belong. Song Ye was so handsome; perhaps they wouldn't mind giving him a child in secret, even without a formal title.