Chapter 100: Mission Failure and Repatriation

After several rounds of drinking, they had grown considerably more familiar with each other, yet the few clerks still hadn’t brought up the main topic. Li Xin naturally understood their intentions and excused himself to use the restroom.

“Gentlemen, could I have your phone numbers? I’d like to save them, just in case I lose my way later,” he said.

They all smiled knowingly and shared their numbers in turn. Li Xin saved each one before heading to the restroom, quickly returning. By then, each of their Alipay accounts had received an additional 10,000 gold coins.

Throwing out 40,000 gold in total caused a pang of pain for Li Xin, but he didn’t regret it.

“Haha, brother, you’re clever—how could you lose your way? You almost had us worried for nothing,” chuckled NPC Chaha’er.

“Come, come, sit, Ran. Now that we’re well-fed and well-lubricated, let’s just chat. We’ll tell you about the strange things in Haifeng City, which you might find interesting.”

Li Xin nodded with a smile. “I’m all ears.”

“Beneath Haifeng City lies a terrifying beast. This beast is immune to us locals, so it can only sustain itself by absorbing the life essence of outsiders like you.”

“Because of the protective formation around the resurrection point, there’s an 800-meter rectangular safe zone. Step outside this boundary, and death is certain. But if you leave the city entirely, there’s no danger.”

“There’s also a rumor that adventurers are unaffected, though no adventurers from outside have entered the city yet, so its truth is uncertain. You’re the first.”

One by one, they filled in the details, and Li Xin quickly grasped the whole situation. The shock he felt was beyond words.

Haifeng City existed solely to suppress this monstrous beast.

Was this a unique phenomenon on the continent, or a widespread but little-known occurrence? Coupled with what Wang Xiaoqian said about the unknown creatures in the Shanyao Basin, beneath the seemingly ordinary surface of Jialin Continent lay countless mysterious and eerie secrets.

Soon, as afternoon work hours arrived, the NPCs took their leave, assuring Li Xin that if he ever ran into trouble, he could find them. Li Xin smiled in return, bid them farewell, and then purchased a train ticket on his phone.

His destination: Mount Motuo.

Taking a bus had attracted attention upon arrival, but the train was a different matter—he could simply disembark with the crowd at the nearby station and walk the rest of the way unnoticed.

Three hours later, Li Xin arrived back at the military base on Mount Motuo. The sun was setting, bathing the land in a soft golden-orange glow, creating a beautiful scene.

“Captain, you’re back,” an NPC soldier immediately recognized him.

“Mm,” Li Xin replied with a smile.

“Oh, Captain already, yet you remain so humble and low-key,” the NPC soldiers laughed.

“Hmph! What’s the big deal?” came a discordant voice, drawing the attention of the on-duty soldiers. Turning around, they saw a Major approaching.

Game ID: Lingnan A Yong.

The ranks of Major and Senior Major were special—they alone occupied a full ten-level progress bar, marking a transitional stage to higher ranks.

With a crisp series of salutes, the NPC soldiers snapped to attention and returned to their posts, no longer daring to speak.

Lingnan A Yong sneered disdainfully and strode over with a group of people—mostly players, but a few NPCs too, including Major Wang, the squad leader of the guard.

“You must be Yi Ran?” Lingnan A Yong appraised Li Xin coldly.

“That’s me,” Li Xin smiled faintly. As a fellow Chinese player, he wished to avoid internal conflicts. Lingnan A Yong was a high-ranking figure, ranked among the top ten on the military leaderboard; he had no wish to provoke him.

Yet fate was unkind.

Lingnan A Yong had disliked Li Xin from the start and took advantage of his recent absence to quickly promote himself to Major, intending to use his rank to suppress Li Xin. With Major Wang, a minor boss sharing his foul disposition, backing him, what was there to fear?

“Impertinent!” A Yong suddenly snapped.

Immediately, Major Wang stepped forward. “A subordinate who refuses to salute their superiors—is this an act of rebellion?”

The officers exchanged uneasy glances. They were all officers and preferred not to get involved, but they could offer some verbal support.

“A mere captain, acting arrogant in front of a Major and a Senior Major—how audacious.”

“Isn’t that the truth? Humph.”

Their sneering provocations stung, leaving the NPC soldiers visibly embarrassed and resentful.

Lingnan A Yong and Major Wang exchanged a look, smug with satisfaction. They thought this kid was clearly not submissive and would resist. When that happened, they could suppress him under the guise of superior authority and teach him his place.

At that moment, Li Xin suddenly stood erect and delivered a military salute.

“Reporting to Senior Major and Major: Captain Yi Ran has completed the mission and returns to report to headquarters.”

The crowd’s expressions shifted instantly, freezing in place.

Damn it, this kid didn’t just back down—he openly mentioned his mission and headquarters in his salute. Who would dare misbehave after that? It was practically defying headquarters itself.

“You… you brat…” Major Wang’s face darkened with fury, his words barely coherent as he trembled with rage.

Lingnan A Yong sighed helplessly. Major Wang was nothing but a fool who thrived on bluster—how could he not see this?

“Since this is a report, I won’t detain you further. I’ll find you again when I have time,” A Yong smiled and stepped aside.

Li Xin left immediately. Lingnan A Yong was thick-skinned, but this minor incident was nothing to him.

After activating his Death Warrior identity, Li Xin planned to leave Mount Motuo. No one but headquarters knew his next destination—the position of the opposing Holy Angel Legion—so there was no worry about being sabotaged intentionally.

Besides, since the system had arranged for his identity to be exposed, it must serve a special purpose, though its meaning was still unclear. It was undoubtedly important.

Entering the tent of Mentor Sarion, the elderly man awaited him.

“Sarion Mentor, I have returned and fulfilled the mission. Here is the black mane of the Black Lion King,” Li Xin said calmly, presenting the black mane with reverence.

The aged Sarion examined it, took ten strands, and put them away.

“The rest are yours.”

*Ding!*

“Death Warrior activation mission complete. You are now officially a Death Warrior.”

Sarion produced a wand-like object from somewhere and waved it a few times over Li Xin. Suddenly, black holy light descended from the heavens, enveloping him. Soon, a black mark appeared on the webbing of his left hand.

A black circle bore the character for “Legion,” clearly signifying his status as the Death Warrior Legion Commander.

Just as Li Xin prepared to check his attributes panel, Sarion suddenly raised his wand and shouted, “Go, young man! Fulfill your glory and bring rebirth to the Black Lion Legion!”

A flash of light enveloped Li Xin, instantly teleporting him away.

At the same time, the Black Lion Legion Headquarters issued an announcement: Infantry Captain and Company Commander Yi Ran failed the mission and has been sent back to his original posting.