The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 174 Beastly Attack (5k8k)

"Where did you get this thing?"

The dwarf blacksmith marveled, circling the magnificent carapace and occasionally stroking its frosted texture.

“I’ve only heard people say that there is one in the sandalwood forest—but ordinary people can’t get into that kind of place.”

"In the deep well."

Tang Qi didn't intend to explain too much; he just wanted to get things done as soon as possible.
Name your price.

"You're going to sell me something this valuable right away?"

"if not?"

"It's an essential material for forging the [Spell Resistance Shield]! That thing is incredibly powerful—you know Fireball, right? If it hits the shield, at most you'll feel like you're soaking in a hot spring!"

【Anti-Magic Shield】, an extremely rare piece of armor. During the synergy period, a shallow anti-magic field will be released on the surface, causing any magical effects or spell attacks to deflect to a certain extent.

There are very few things in this world that can target the spellcaster.

This also makes items like the [Spell Resistance Shield] the dream equipment of every non-spellcasting adventurer.

A legendary warrior wielding a magic-resistant shield might not be able to walk around indiscriminately in front of spellcasters, but he would certainly make them wary.

This is already rare.

"You mean you can forge?"

Tang Qi became somewhat interested.

The dwarf blacksmith was quite frank, scratching his head as he spoke:
"If I could forge such high-level things, would I still be stuck in the tiny Dragongold City? The Wizard Tower would have to send a griffin carriage to hire me!"

Although Tang Qi encountered a plethora of magical items along the way, as if they were free.

But this does not mean that it is rampant.

At least in the Adventurers' Guild, most adventurers were considered wealthy if they possessed a Nord steel weapon forged by the Northern Dwarves—like the [Wolf Explosion] in the mercenary group.

Even seasoned adventurers like Black Serpent and Shattered Stone only possess one or two rare magical items.

As for extremely rare...

To obtain it, one would have to choose one of three options: go to the Great Desert, raid the Wizard's Tower, or conquer the Terran Empire.

It was for this reason that Tang Qi decided to sell the shell—

While a magic-resistant shield is valuable, if it cannot be forged, it's not as worthwhile as five thousand gold coins.

So, are you going to accept it or not?

“I really want to take it, but there’s no need. There are only two kinds of things in this world that will get stuck in your hands: things that are too cheap and things that you don’t need.”

The dwarf shrugged, but his gaze remained fixed on the colorful carapace.

Which blacksmith wouldn't want to create a top-tier piece of armor?

However, he had neither the ability to forge a magic-resistant shield, nor the blueprints, nor any other precious materials—a shield could not be made with just a shell.

As a blacksmith with no connections, the most important thing is to recognize his own abilities:

"I must remind you that the anti-magic effect on this can only last for a year at most—if you can't sell it or make it into equipment within a year, you can sell it back to me."

However, the price is the same as that of a giant snail's shell.

All I need is this thing; after all, the shields made from it are just as good as those made from Nord steel.

"It has to be a complete carapace?"

"Of course. Because its magical structure is stable."

The dwarf tapped his aching back with his hammer, then couldn't help spitting out a curse.
"Once the shell is damaged, the original magical links will crack, making it as fragile as glass. Only a complete shell can remain sturdy after being melted by the high-temperature furnace, thus creating extremely excellent armor."

But those muscle-bound idiots can never control themselves, bringing over a pile of scraps as delivery—some even piecing the pieces together, as if they think I can't see the cracks!

"Then they should have left the crack at the very top of the carapace," Tang Qi muttered softly.

"What did you say!?"

"I said these tall guys are as stupid as pigs; a complete carapace doesn't need to go through all that trouble."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"Take a look at these and see if there's anything you can acquire."

Tang Qi retrieved the shell and set aside the other spoils of war from the package.

The dwarf scrutinized him closely, his gaze towards Tang Qi now tinged with surprise:
"Giant spider silk glands, displacement beast skin, tentacles, earth behemoth core... Hey, quite a lot, and all top-quality stuff. Where are you from, adventurer? I've never heard of you before?"

"You'll hear about it. Name your price."

"All things considered, plus the complete shell method you mentioned, I'll give you 100 gold coins."

"make a deal."

Tang Qi took the gold coin, looked at the dwarf blacksmith's eager eyes, and continued,
"The method is very simple: just sprinkle salt on the giant snail."

"what is this?"

"Trust me, you won't go wrong. If you don't believe me, go find a snail and try it."

Tang Qi waved to the dwarf.
"If you're interested in similar methods, you might want to wait for my new book. It's not just about giant snails; I've written about methods for collecting a range of items there, including silk glands."

"Works? You're a writer?"

An adventurer writer? This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing.

No, wait, this doesn't seem like the first time?
The blacksmith blinked before hearing the tall man's reply as he left:

"Tang Qi's Guide to Dragon Gold City will be released before I leave."

"Damn it! It was you!?"

The blacksmith blinked, grabbed his hammer, and rushed outside, only to find that the tall man who had been quite popular was nowhere to be seen.

I couldn't help but stomp my foot and look back at the notice in front of my door.

It has already been torn off.

The blacksmith stamped his foot and could only snort coldly:
"If that method doesn't work, I'll definitely paste it back for you!"

Afraid of being hit on the knee by the blacksmith's hammer, Tang Qi jogged all the way, and only stopped panting after turning two corners, leaning against the wall to rest for a while.

Glancing at the Ring of Glory on his hand, Tang Qi could sense that Dawn wasn't too far away.

Besides selling spoils of war, his main purpose in coming to the Deep Well District was to visit [Starry Sky] with Dawn.

Having a paladin by your side makes you feel more at ease no matter what you do.

"She seems to be further east?"

Tang Qi initially thought of calling her directly through the ring, but he was also curious about the progress of Chenxi's 'atonement', so he decided to come and see for himself.

"Hey, you over there, I'm talking to you—look up and come over here."

Perhaps because he was the only homeless person on this deserted street, and was huddled in the shadows of the alley, he quickly attracted the attention of the patrolling guards.

The sight of six men in black robes, armed with broad shields and spears, in full gear, suggested that the security situation in the area was not optimistic.

Tang Qi had no intention of clashing with the guards. He raised his hands and stepped out of the shadows, indicating that he meant no harm.

"Sorry, I'm just tired from running and I'm resting nearby for a while."

"You should be glad it's daytime, otherwise, with your sneaky appearance, I would have already put you in shackles."

The guard gestured for Tang Qi to stand at a relatively safe distance.

"Now, please take off all your clothes."

Tang Qi raised an eyebrow: "The Brothers Club has taken over the entire Deep Well District?"

"Damn it, I have no interest in men's hooks. This is just a routine check-up—blame yourself for showing up on the streets of Deepwell."

"Is it illegal to walk in the deep well area?"

"Are you from the countryside? Don't you know about the recent attacks that have been making headlines?"

Tang Qi hadn't heard about the 'attack' in the newspapers, but he did know that Long Jincheng had been cracking down on crime recently.
"A beast-like human? Or a reanimated corpse?"

"All!"

The guard sighed wearily.

"So we need you to take off your clothes to prove that you don't have any bite marks from beastmen."

"I just came back from the dungeon, there's no need for this."

Tang Qi doesn't have a penchant for disarming himself in public.

"Who are you trying to fool? The dungeon is completely sealed off!"

“You can ask the captain of the guard, I just met him—tell him Don Qi Weinberg.”

"Hey, you're that writer of dwarf jokes? The boss always brags to us about how one of his friends has been making headlines these past few days!"

Tang Qi then took out the unpublished manuscript and handed it to the head guard for inspection:
"This proves my identity."

That's the benefit of becoming famous.

The book "Praise" contains a quote that reads: "Fame itself signifies a certain status and credibility, which often saves you a lot of trouble with the nobility."

Thanks to Long Jincheng's compulsory education, most people living in the city can still recognize the common written language.

Tang Qi's writing style was fairly easy to recognize, and the guards immediately relaxed their guard.

"So we're considered among the first readers of the new book?"

"Ha, these are some good jokes. I'll definitely write them down and recite them to the girls in the brothels someday to make them laugh."

Tang Qi felt that the way the "Guide" became a hit was somewhat different from what he had imagined.
He thought readers were drawn to his thrilling adventure stories and meticulously researched monster illustrations.

"In short, thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Tang Qi." The guard returned the manuscript to him.
"But in any case, the Deep Well area is not a good place to stroll around right now. So I suggest you leave here as soon as possible."

Tang Qi was very curious: "So what happened in that attack?"

"As you know, around the time of the double moon, beastmen become bloodthirsty and violent. Also, not every beastman is willing to live in the countryside or forests..."

The Deep Well District is teeming with adventurers, the Red Scarf Gang, and other chaotic elements. If even one of these beastmen were to succumb to his nature, the entire Deep Well District would suffer.

Just two weeks ago, a crazed beastman wreaked havoc in the streets and alleys of the Deep Well District, causing many innocent citizens to be implicated.

Although we isolated most of the victims in prisons, we couldn't rule out some who didn't want to be supervised, hiding in some corner of the prison.

"What happened to those who were imprisoned?"

"Those who cannot suppress their animalistic nature will be put to death. Fortunately, the priests of the Twilight Temple preach their doctrines and soothe the soul, so that this is ultimately only a small minority."

Tang Qi frowned deeply: "Have similar situations occurred in previous years?"

"This year is the most serious since I took office."

It seems I should remind Ambiya when I get back that she should stay home during this time.

Tang Qi nodded and noted down this important matter:

"Thank you very much. I just plan to go to the orphanage in the east and then leave."

"Orphanage?"

The guard blinked and hesitated.

"Then you'd better be careful—"

After all, the first murder case started there.

……

Water stains flowed down the dark and damp ceiling, dripping "pitter-patter" into puddles in the corners.

Its slow, rhythmic flow is like the hands of a clock, each drop symbolizing the passage of time.

As dawn broke, the light gently caressed the girl lying on the bed, using her only remaining left hand to brush away the freckles on her cheeks and wipe the cold sweat from her forehead.
"You shouldn't have done that."

Beside the bed, a boy holding a bowl and plate placed a steaming bowl of soup on the decaying bedside table, looking rather timid.

“But…but Bird said he would definitely die if he were taken away. That’s why we thought of keeping it a secret for him…”

"The consequence of not being taken away is that you also risk being cursed."

Chen Xi sighed, recalling the boy she had knocked unconscious not long ago—

On its thin body covered in jet-black fur, a wolf-like head gleamed fiercely.

With its sharp fangs bared, it lunged at the girl who had cared for it all day long.

His animalistic instincts clouded his judgment, leaving him only with a lust for flesh and prey.

The claws unleashed a power that even adults couldn't withstand, let alone an overworked girl.

They were so close that the wolf cub easily tore the girl's waist and abdomen apart, and gnawed at the flesh of her shoulders and neck.

When dawn slammed him against the wall, the girl was already on the verge of death.

She used [Holy Healing] to stabilize the girl's injuries, but she couldn't stop the curse from taking hold—

"Fate will not show mercy because of your good fortune."

Chenxi sighed and said truthfully,

"This is a curse that even adults cannot resist, let alone you who are still children."

The boy looked at the girl on the bed with some fear, and couldn't help but take two steps back:

Will Jasmine... turn into someone like the Dean and Bird?

"possible."

To soothe the boy's feelings, Chenxi tried to be as tactful as possible.

But the truth won't change because of comforting words—

Jasmine couldn't hold on any longer.

"I need you to check on the other children and make sure they don't have similar injuries."

The boy knew that Chenxi was referring to the teeth marks, nodded repeatedly, and left the damp basement.

But not long after, he jogged back:
"Um... Sister Knight, someone outside is asking about you."

"Bring him down."

Just like Tang Qi could use the ring to determine the direction of dawn.

Even the dawn light can sense the location of the ring.

So neither of them was surprised by the other's appearance.

Tang Qi climbed down the ladder and entered the cellar. He looked around and found that, in addition to Chenxi and Moli, there was a werewolf who had fainted and was bound by hemp rope. He was lying under the dim light so that Chenxi could assess his condition in real time.

With just a glance around, Tang Qi understood the general situation:

"I heard from the guards that the first beastman appeared in the orphanage."

So, was that child cursed and unable to be taken away, which led to more victims?

“Yes.” Chenxi realized that she didn’t need to explain anything further.

"Then it seems you don't want to leave her side right now."

"What do you want from me?"

"I need a bodyguard."

"I--"

She glanced at Jasmine on the bed, then turned back to look at Tang Qi.

One is atonement, the other is a promise—

When she handed over the Ring of Glory, she vowed to become Tang Qi's sword, to abandon everything when he needed her.

Now, in silence, she asked with difficulty:
Do I really have to choose one?

Tang Qi shook his head:

"Can you please stop thinking of me as a villain? I have no interest in putting you through a moral dilemma—move aside, let me check on her."

Chenxi left her seat, allowing Tang Qi to see Jasmine's youthful face clearly.

She seemed to be trapped in a long nightmare.

Sometimes struggling, sometimes in pain, his tightly furrowed brows showed no sign of relaxation.

That was her way of trying to fight against her animalistic instincts.

Are you still able to cast [Holy Healing]?

The holy light contained within the Holy Spring of the Soul can only slowly accumulate over time, which gives each instance of [Holy Healing] its limits.

"I can't do it."

Chenxi removed the arm guard from her left hand, allowing Tang Qi to see her palm, which looked as if it had been burned, with the flesh torn open, festering, and charred.

Tang Qi sighed and had no choice but to take out the last two bottles of [healing potion] from his pack:
"The expenses are on your tab, so you'll have to work even harder to earn them back for me."

Chenxi didn't understand what Tang Qi wanted to do:
"Her external injuries should have completely healed by now."

“I know, but what she needs right now isn’t a physical cure—go lock the basement door so those kids don’t see what I’m doing.”

Chen Xi did as instructed, but when she turned around, she found that Tang Qi had already drawn his scimitar.

"This is?"

"Shhh."

Tang Qi closed his eyes, trying to find the right emotions from his past experiences—

Animalistic nature is a primal quality shared by both humans and wild animals.

However, the rationality born of wisdom allows people to conceal their animalistic nature and subtly disguise it, revealing it to the world in a more civilized form.

Ultimately, it is the greed and violence born from desire that are the root cause.

"Indeed, only tranquility can suppress violence."

Tang Qi was so familiar with the feeling of 'sage mode' that he didn't need to search for too long before he could pour his calm mind into the blade.

He then gently cut the unconscious girl's finger with the tip of his knife, pouring the tranquility bestowed by the [Mind Blade] into her wound.

Jasmine did not regain consciousness due to the pain, and her expression showed no signs of improvement.

Considering the characteristics of 'more severe injuries and more severe impact'.

Tang Qi could only choose some unimportant areas to continue cutting her skin.

Chenxi was concerned about Tang Qi's choice, but she also understood that he wouldn't do anything meaningless.

As the external injuries accumulated, Jasmine's expression finally improved somewhat.

But inevitably, the pain brought me to my senses.

She recognized Tang Qi, but was somewhat afraid of his act of bleeding her.

She screamed and nearly fainted.

Tang Qi, however, timely applied the aqueous solution of the [healing potion] to the wound on her shoulder:

"Don't be afraid, I'm here to save you."

(End of this chapter)