9: Chapter 9 Chen Nianchu accepts the commission

To prepare for the upcoming college entrance exam, Zhang Wen didn't dare to slack off at all, heading to the Training Hall every day without fail to hone his skills. Since his Family background was far less affluent than Ding Siyi's, he also frequently took jobs at the Mission Hall to earn some money for cultivation Materials, always wanting to share more of the Family's burden.

On this day, Zhang Wen stepped into the Mission Hall as usual. Just as he was about to browse the mission board, a woman suddenly stepped forward and spoke with a beaming smile, "Please wait a moment, young man. I've seen you taking missions frequently these past few days, so I assume you're in urgent need of money? I happen to have a mission here that requires someone with strength like yours. I wonder if you would be willing to do me the honor of accepting it?"

Zhang Wen's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly at her words. A commission from a stranger always felt shrouded in mist; no one could say how many variables were hidden behind it—whether it was a smooth path with generous rewards or a quagmire filled with hidden traps was unknown. His fingertips subconsciously rubbed the Storage Pouch at his waist, and just as he was about to politely decline, a mechanical notification suddenly exploded in his mind:

[Triggered Random Mission: Accept the Unknown Commission. Mission Requirement: Complete the task entrusted by the woman. Mission Reward: Issued based on completion rate; maximum rewards include "Body Tempering Pill x 3" and "Skill Proficiency +50."]

"Hmm?" Zhang Wen's eyebrows shot up, and a hint of pleasant surprise instantly rippled through his dark pupils. He had originally just wanted to earn some hard-earned money for cultivation Materials, but he hadn't expected to stumble upon a System mission; this was simply an unexpected boon. Body Tempering Pills were exactly what he lacked most to break through his Bottleneck, not to mention the added Skill Proficiency.

He suppressed the smile at the corner of his mouth, his fingertips pausing on the Storage Pouch. When he looked up at the woman, his tone was much calmer: "I'll take your commission. However, the specifics of this mission aren't clear yet. I need to go back and get some suitable tools. Can we meet here in half an hour?"

After saying this, he surreptitiously glanced at the hourglass in the corner of the Mission Hall—he had to be prepared before the System countdown ended; he couldn't let a hasty start ruin his chance at the rewards.

Upon hearing this, the smile in the woman's eyes deepened, and her slightly testing gaze softened, as if she were nodding in relief. "That's wonderful. Thank you for being willing to help, young man." She raised her hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her movements carrying a hint of gentleness. "I forgot to introduce myself; my name is Chen Nianchu. This matter is indeed quite urgent. It's truly lucky to find someone who looks as reliable as you."

Looking at her frank expression, the excitement in Zhang Wen's heart from the System mission settled slightly. Maintaining a calm exterior, he gave a slight nod in response: "My name is Zhang Wen." He paused before adding, "I'll see you in half an hour. I'll be right back."

Without further word, he turned and walked out of the Mission Hall. His steps seemed ordinary, but his mind was already calculating—since it was a System mission, it certainly wouldn't be simple. He had to go back and bring the iron sword that had been tempered three times, and prepare some healing ointments just in case.

Chen Nianchu watched his upright back disappear through the doorway, a fleeting, imperceptible complexity crossing her eyes before she resumed her gentle smile and quietly sat down on a bench in the corner of the hall to wait.

"Young Miss, do you really think that kid can help us take down that Initial Blooming Realm Vicious Beast?" An old man dressed in blue-grey martial attire asked with a deep frown, looking in the direction Zhang Wen had left, his tone filled with doubt. He stroked his grey beard, his eyes hiding a bit of unease—after all, that Vicious Beast had sharp fangs and thick hide; even several skilled members of the Family had fallen to its claws.

Chen Nianchu's fingertips lightly brushed the jade pendant at her waist as she mused, "He should be able to. When he was standing there just now, although his spiritual Qi was well-restrained, I could feel a hidden sharpness, like an unsheathed sword—subdued yet concealing a sharp edge. At the very least... I'm not confident I could defeat him."

"What?!" The old man's eyes nearly bulged out of his head, his voice suddenly rising before he hurriedly lowered it. "Young Miss, you're not joking, are you? You've awakened the A-rank 'Frost Blade Ice Heart'! That's a top-tier talent that can turn frost into blades and make the heart like cold iron. Combined with your Peak Glimmer Realm cultivation, there are only a handful of your peers who can steadily surpass you. How could..."

He grew more anxious as he spoke, his grey beard trembling slightly. One must know that his Young Miss was a once-in-a-century Genius of the Family. With an A-rank talent and Peak Glimmer Realm cultivation, she was already as rare as phoenix feathers among her peers. Now she was saying she was inferior to a seemingly ordinary youth?

Chen Nianchu gently shook her head, her gaze falling on the street corner where Zhang Wen had disappeared. Her tone was calm yet certain: "Elder Li, have you forgotten? There is always a higher mountain and a person more capable. There are always geniuses in this world who don't show their true strength. That restrained Qi of his is definitely not something an ordinary Cultivator can compare to. Perhaps... he is our turning point this time."

Elder Li opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but was stopped by a look from Chen Nianchu. Looking into his Young Miss's clear yet cold-tinged eyes, he finally sighed—forget it, the Young Miss's judgment had always been accurate; perhaps that youth really did have some extraordinary qualities. But at the thought of that ferocious Vicious Beast, his heart still couldn't help but hang in suspense.

In just fifteen minutes, Zhang Wen returned with great strides. Chen Nianchu was leaning against a pillar looking at a map. Catching a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of her eye, she looked up and burst into a "pfft" of laughter—the youth was actually wearing a dusty grey safety helmet, its edges still stained with dried mud, making his originally handsome features look somewhat comical.

"You're..." Chen Nianchu pointed at his safety helmet, holding back laughter. "You're wearing that to deal with a Vicious Beast? Are you afraid of getting hit in the head by a rock?"

Zhang Wen touched the safety helmet with a straight face and tucked a roll of blue-and-white striped material under his arm further behind his back, asking blankly in return, "Is there a problem? Last time I did a mission in a mine, I relied on it to block falling rocks. It's quite useful."

As he spoke, the object behind him accidentally slipped out, revealing half a piece of fabric printed with a lightning pattern—it was actually an exceptionally thick bath towel.

Chen Nianchu's gaze paused on the "thunder bath towel," and the smile in her eyes grew even stronger. "Your equipment is certainly... unique." She didn't ask further; after all, everyone had their own handy tools. Perhaps this seemingly ordinary bath towel had its own hidden mysteries.

"Let's go." She straightened up, folded the map, and tucked it into her sleeve. "The mission location is in the Rime Forest to the west of the city, thirty miles from here. We need to get there before sunset."

Zhang Wen gave an "oh," tucked the bath towel firmly back in place, tightened his safety helmet, and followed closely behind. The sunlight through the carved windows of the Mission Hall cast small spots of light on his safety helmet, giving this seemingly dangerous Vicious Beast hunting mission a strangely relaxed feel.