Volume 1, Chapter 31: My life is worth a hundred others!

Gao Han’s expression remained stunned, her naturally fair cheeks growing even colder and more icy.

Liu Haizhu was suddenly furious.

"You bastard!"

The freckled girl jumped up and began to curse. "You scum! You’re shameless! Forcing a woman to sleep with you using this—you’re despicable!"

"Sister Han, let’s go. We won’t trade."

Liu Haizhu stared directly at Li Chuan’s face. "Listen here, Li. Remember this: don’t let me see you outside of your plant spirit domain, or one of us will surely die!"

Li Chuan couldn’t be bothered to explain. After all, his reputation was already beyond saving. He never expected Gao Han to agree; she already possessed the two essential items required to clear the level. He had only said those things to force these three nuisances away.

"Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. And there’s no need to act so noble and chaste. Everyone knows that my tent won’t be lacking women tonight."

"Sister Han, let’s go. This is a disgusting animal. He won't have a good end."

Li Chuan sneered. "I hope your wish comes true."

Gao Han stood expressionless for a moment, then her eyes turned resolute. "If you keep your word, I will agree to your request, provided you tell me the method to traverse the Forbidden Land."

The freckled girl was stunned. Liu Haizhu was stunned. Even Li Chuan was taken aback. This woman had already completed her mission, yet she...

"Sister Han, you... you don't have to do this." Liu Haizhu clenched his fists. "President, life and death are fated. You don’t need to go this far for everyone. This man, he’s not a good person! He won’t keep his word!"

Li Chuan’s expression was complex as he said calmly, "I have many flaws, but keeping my word is not one of them."

Gao Han took a deep breath and strode toward Li Chuan. "If I were the only one who had to die, I would choose death. But if I can keep a hundred people alive, I will not pass up any opportunity."

Tears streamed down the freckled girl’s face. "Sister Han, please don’t. Sister Han, no!"

Gao Han didn’t look back. "You two go back. Tell them the deal was successful and that everyone will have a chance to get a key tomorrow."

After Li Chuan stopped Xiao Lü’s aggressive behavior, he felt somewhat dazed. For a brief moment—just a tiny, fleeting moment—he felt as though he were about to turn into a saint.

"Where? When?"

Gao Han walked to Li Chuan’s side, her cold, aloof, and exquisite face looking like a painting, devoid of any expression. Now, it was Li Chuan who felt slightly unsettled.

"You... you go wait in the tent first. I’ll eat something before I head over."

Gao Han stared at Li Chuan, then at the dog meat in the pot that was almost ready. "I haven’t eaten my fill yet either. Together."

The delicious meal was spent in an atmosphere that was far from pleasant. However, the process of breaking the curse was smooth, wonderful, and lingering, even if their coordination during the act was not entirely perfect.

"Is this your first time?" Li Chuan dressed, frowning as he looked at the drops of blood on the animal hide.

Gao Han calmly put on her trench coat. "Does that matter? I saw black energy dissipating from you just now. You used me as an antidote to break your curse, didn't you?"

Li Chuan was startled. She could see even that? She was truly a top-tier player who had thoroughly mastered the player handbook. "I suppose so. It seems you really do understand the game's rules."

Gao Han looked at Li Chuan, not at all pleased by the compliment. "According to the rules, you should tell me the method now."

Li Chuan nodded and used his sword to draw on the ground. "The stone statues in the Forbidden Land are the source of the anomaly. The ones that are large and have indistinct features are 'Silent Statues.' If you make a loud noise within a ten-meter radius, they will attack you. If you walk carefully, you’ll have no issues."

Li Chuan drew another figure. "This is a 'Gaze Statue.' They usually hang in high places. As long as you stare at it, you won't be attacked."

Gao Han pursed her lips, studying the statues Li Chuan had drawn.

"There are many of these two types of statues on the outskirts of the Forbidden Land. Follow the methods I’ve described, and you can safely enter to obtain the keys. Do not go near any other statues!"

Gao Han nodded. "Is that all you know?"

Li Chuan shook his head. "I know more, but that is all you are worth."

Gao Han lifted her chin like an aloof white swan, completely unhurt by Li Chuan’s words. "My price is worth a hundred lives!"

...

Before long, Gao Han walked away with her long legs. Li Chuan composed his complex emotions and checked the items he had just traded for with two keys.

[Leap: Green]
[Requirement: Any physical class, Lv0]
[Active Skill: Reduces self-weight upon use and increases agility by 20%. Note: Archers, Assassins, and their advanced classes gain an additional 10%.]
[Cost: 1 Mana]
[Duration: Two minutes]
[Cooldown: Five minutes]
[Description: Jumping will no longer be my weakness!]

It was a skill perfectly suited for his class, so Li Chuan learned it immediately.

[You have learned a new skill: 'Leap']
[Leap: Green]
[Proficiency: Novice 0/10]
[Cooldown: Three minutes]

Using the skill, he jumped on the spot. Li Chuan felt as light as a swallow, leaping nearly two meters high and able to perform various movements flexibly in the air.

"Not bad! It’s like gaining a bit more survivability."

He also used the backpack expansion gem. His storage space doubled once more, and finally, his empty slots began to occupy a significant portion of his inventory.

...

Beneath the snow-plum tree, Liu Haizhu clenched his fists. "President, I agree with everyone! The method to safely traverse the Forbidden Land cannot be made public—at least not until we each have a key."

"Exactly, Sister Han. This is a method you paid for! You can't just give it away to everyone so easily. When we were being bullied, they were all just watching the show."

Gao Han, whose sitting posture was slightly awkward, sighed softly. "Alright then, but I will share it tomorrow night regardless. I hope everyone can understand."

...

[Aman Forest, Forbidden Land Central Light Screen.]
[Today's Weather: Cold]
[Daily Mission: I’m craving some goblin dried fruit. Who will go and steal some for me?]
[Mission Difficulty: Advanced!]
[Go deep into the Disorderly Land and steal some dried fruit from the goblin settlement. I will give you a generous reward upon completion.]
[Reward: Copper Coins *300, EXP *300, Silver Treasure Chest *1, Temporary Photosynthetic Cabin (Blue) *1.]
[Penalty: Loss of return access, exposed to the sight of all goblins.]
[Mission Time Remaining: 1 hour 59 minutes]

The next day, when the time arrived, the massive light screen appeared in mid-air.

"Disorderly Land? Goblin settlement?"

Li Chuan subconsciously recalled the terrifying scene he had witnessed the previous day! That goblin gathering place where the monster density was absolutely despairing!