Chapter 164 Snakes & Ladders

Who was this?

Old Fru's lips twitched whenever he thought of how many times he explained his current appearance to those who couldn't recognize him. And the worst part was that at the rate he was going, he did expect to breathe through to the 12th Dan of the True Qi realm in another month or so.

Then when that happened and he got younger again, wouldn't he start explaining things all over the same way he was doing now?

Sigh... If only he had successfully ranked up all those years back.

Then, he would've maintained his appearance and avoided all this useless Mombo Jombo stuff.

Alas... even the Village head, Yangku, couldn't remember him.

'Eh-erm!' He coughed: "Village Chief Yangku. It's me... It's Old Fru!"

"What?... Old Fru, is that really you?"

(°0°)

.

The gang of men looked at Old Fru in disbelief.

Besides Miroku, the Village head's son, all the other men had seen Old Fru years back. Whether briefly or up close.

And what they remembered was an old man with very gray-white, long hair and a face full of wrinkles and aging lines.

So seeing him like this gave them a great shock!

But they also seemed to understand why he suddenly got younger.

Yes! That's it! He broke through, didn't he?

Instantly, their blood boiled with excitement, as any struggling cultivator would when coming across this scene.

One should know that they were already somewhat old-looking too.

No... it was accurate to say that they looked like 45-year-old men.

It was just 7 years ago that people in their small village had an accidental encounter that made them shed their mortal shells and begin the road to cultivation.

.

At that time, they found a group of lower-grade pills in a sac that dropped off from the side of the road close to their village.

It looked like it fell off a transportation wagon or the back of a transport beast.

And maybe the traveling merchants it belonged to didn't bother looking for it because it was the lowest and cheapest pill for cultivators.

Yes. To mortals, the pill was heavenly. But once on broke their mortal shell, there was no use taking such a pill again

Of course, depending on one's talent, some people need to take 6 pills to break their mortal shells/bodies, while others only need 1. And the absorption rate for many might also be different, meaning some people could use 3 years to absorb 6 pills while others used just a single month.

That was the difference between innate talent and trash! And at that time, they found a massive gathering of these pills.

Of course, they first had someone validate one of them to see if they were suitable for consumption. And after that, most men in the village took the pills.

From then on, they did manage to buy a few low cheap techniques and breathing exercises that everyone could practice.

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And as one would expect, life became seemingly less stressful for them

Cutting wood and hunting for ordinary animals became easier.

But they still dared not hunt Animals that also broke their mortal shells.

Anyway, when they took the pills 7 years back... at the time, Village Chief's son, Miroku, was already 29 years of age.

But because he entered the 1st Dan, even after 7 years, his appearance resembled that of a 23-year-old.

The same could be said for the other men.

They were all above 55 but looked 45 instead.

.

Well, things in the village seemed to be going great for them... That is until a new bandit group called the Fire Flames Bandits suddenly emerged and situated themselves within close range to themselves and several other villages.

During this time, they realized that their 1 Dan and 2 Dan strengths were nothing in the face of ultimate power! And that's why they came here for help.

Back then, when the former Town Lord was still alive, they had come here to ask for food relief during a bizarre food shortage period.

That is... out of nowhere, a strange occurrence happened that made the entire region seem affected.

Even Wenji Town at the time was suffering too.

But luckily, the Old Che man gave them powerful elixirs in vials that reverted the land to its original state.

And after 2 months, their crops could finally grow again.

But more importantly, they didn't have to risk their lives hunting very often.

During that time, they found that the fishes seemed to have vanished, fleeing deeper and deeper into Large waters as if scared for their lives.

Even the streets had no fish in sight. And the village men dared not go towards the large water bodies deep in the forest since all sorts of creatures would be in it.

What if they get swallowed and eaten by a beast?

No! What about the other Beasts that would typically go to the water beds to drink?

.

Additionally, during that time, even hunting ordinary animals seemed scared and decided to hide.

In short, the entire scene was too shocking for words alone.

But back then, a few people claimed that during that time, they saw a great light shine from the sky onto Wenji Town.

And by the end, the Town Lord's estate was brutally damaged.

No one knows if the light was the real cause of the famine or something else.

But during that time, the current Town Lord of Wenji had provided food to any village or communities that had been affected somehow.

Of course, no one paid attention to the gossip and only felt that the Old Che man was kind.

After all, no matter how one looked at it, he saved them from starvation.

Chu Chu looked at the group of people curiously.

Old Fru seems to know them... but his predecessor had no memory of them.

So who were they?

.

"Ah!... Young Master, this is Village Chief Yangku and his men... They come from the Hyu Village a bit further away from here."

Eh? ... The Hyu Village?

Chu Che took note of this. And likewise, the blade men also took note of Chu Che too.

Their eyes burst with excitement as if finally meeting their prey.

So this was the Young Town Lord?

No doubt he had a striking resemblance to the deceased old man!

Yangku quickly bowed, and the rest followed: "Great Town Lord! We have come to plead for your help! Please, save our village... We are ready to pay any amount. So... Please save our women and children from being sold into bondage!"

-Silence-

Everyone walking around paused when seeing these men humble themselves so much before Boss Chu.

And even Chu Che was feeling embarrassed as well.

"It's okay. It's okay. I'll listen to you first, alright?"

Hearing this, the men all raised their heads with grateful smiles: "Thank you, Town Lord! Thank you for giving us a listening ear!"

(-_-)

Looking at the adults who were about to cry joyfully, Chu Che could only shake his head wryly.

But soon, he noticed that they had membership cards on them.

And almost immediately, the system's notification popped out.

~Ding.

[Side Mission: Save The Hyu Villagers, and set up a teleportation point in their village.

Mission Rewards: None. The Host should already feel rewarded by doing this. After all, it will only continue to boost the Park's popularity.]

Eh?

Chu Che looked at his side mission calmly before turning towards the group of villagers before him.

"Well, since you're here, why not join us?"

"Join you?"

"Hmhm... It's time to enter the world of Snakes & Ladders."

With that, the villagers joined Chu Che's group.

And off they went into the new realm.

.

[Simulation Commencing In 3... 2... 1...]

~Swish!

The scene before the villagers changed.

[Welcome all players to Snakes & Ladders!]

WHAT????

Miroku looked at the scene before him in a daze.

When? How? You! This! ... Sorcery!

(°∆°)

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