Chapter Thirty-Six: The Wise Old Village Chief

This was the seventh month since Mo Fangyuan had crossed over into the Block World. He had arrived in March; now, as the year drew to a close, the footsteps of winter approached ever nearer.

After struggling for a week in the Black Forest, all he’d managed was to barely nudge his experience bar up by a quarter—still a long way from reaching level nine. In contrast, Zhang San, who had only just acquired the attribute panel, had quickly overtaken him; within a week, she had reached level eleven. Her physical attributes were not only enhanced, but her combat power greatly improved; she had even acquired the Spark spell, an offensive magic.

This left Mo Fangyuan questioning the very fabric of his existence.

It would have been one thing if leveling up wasn’t his unique golden finger, but did his experience requirement for each level have to be so high?

“Am I really the protagonist here?” Mo Fangyuan would often ask himself.

“Lin Ye, let’s go.”

No doubt, after the area had suffered under the skeleton forces for a week, the difficulty of subduing the western Block People might be greatly reduced!

Mo Fangyuan had no special instructions—after all, it would only be for a day or two.

This time, he took only Lin Ye with him, leaving Zhang San behind in the kingdom to adapt to her newly changed body.

Truth be told, Mo Fangyuan actually wanted to bring Zhang San along. After all, sleeping at night was more comfortable with her—no, wait! He meant, Zhang San was quite familiar with the region, so having her as a guide would make the trip smoother!

But Zhang San had caused such a stir on the western plains that some of the villages’ Block People might recognize her if she came along. That would be difficult to explain.

“Ah, what a pity,” Mo Fangyuan sighed for reasons even he didn’t quite understand. Beside him, Lin Ye appeared heavy-hearted, his expression clouded with thoughts known only to himself.

Only Lin Ye understood: his potion was almost fully digested…

This journey had clear objectives and ample time, so Mo Fangyuan chose not to take Zhang San’s old route. Otherwise, he might become another Zhang San—chased and cornered by skeleton monsters, only to wake up as a girl.

Though girls were wonderful, what Mo Fangyuan really wanted was for his subordinates to turn into girls—not for him to become one!

“Hot-blooded heroics? Impossible!”

“Unstoppable dominance? In your dreams!”

“Caution is the way to survive!”

Mo Fangyuan ranted into the air, prompting Lin Ye to suspect His Majesty was suffering from a touch of sunstroke.

“Does anyone actually think I can rip the Skeleton King apart with my bare hands? Or kick the Zombie King into oblivion?”

“Surely not? Surely not?”

After venting his feelings, Mo Fangyuan returned to rationality.

“We’ll head west first, circling around that small valley; then move east… That’s where the first village we need to reach is.”

Mo Fangyuan planned to detour to the westernmost point of the map, then work his way east, gradually bringing the villagers of each settlement back to the Block Kingdom in batches.

This overturned his original plan to concentrate immigration, but it would greatly improve safety and allow the first arrivals time to adapt to life in the Block Kingdom.

“I really am painstakingly considerate. No king could be more responsible than I am… Don’t you agree, Lin Ye?”

“Whatever you say, Your Majesty…”

Lin Ye hesitated, as if wanting to speak but holding back.

The Great Plains stretched endlessly before them, a sea of grass rolling toward the horizon, blending with blue skies and white clouds to create a breathtaking vista.

If Li Bai had stood here, Mo Fangyuan might have found himself memorizing another ancient poem during his middle school years.

“What a place—perfect for developing animal husbandry!”

Mo Fangyuan was no longer the naïve, clueless novice he once was. His first thought upon seeing the plains was how to annex them as part of the Block Kingdom, to establish a livestock breeding base.

“Your Majesty, we’ve arrived…”

From a hundred blocks away, Mo Fangyuan and Lin Ye could already make out the vague outline of a village.

This land was indeed ripe for development; the crops it produced could feed an entire village. But for that very reason, it was also vulnerable to monster attacks.

“According to Zhang San’s report, this village isn’t large, but it has a sizable population—twenty-seven people…”

Lin Ye consulted his little notebook.

The old village chief was terrified. Lately, many skeleton monsters had appeared on the plains, attacking people everywhere. The neighboring village had already been wiped out—all twenty-one inhabitants had perished.

Their own village was right next to the slaughtered one; who knew when the monsters would target them?

With only one combat professional in the whole village—and that one only recently emerged—the old chief was deeply afraid.

He hadn’t slept well all week, dreading that the monsters might descend upon them at any moment. His already-bald head had suffered unprecedented torment.

“Oh, what am I to do…”

He couldn’t fathom why so many skeletons had appeared here. The plains were so flat, offering no cover from the sun for monsters. Even if there had been any shelter, the locals would have cleared it all away together. There simply weren’t the conditions for a Monster King to arise!

“If we stay here, we’re doomed!”

The village owed its continued existence to the chief’s wisdom—knowing, for example, to relocate the entire settlement at the first sign of trouble.

“Chief! Chief! There are two strangers outside looking for you!”

“They say they can help us!”

The young messenger was excited, and continued,

“They’re wearing the legendary iron armor!”

“Iron armor?!”

The old chief’s expression was one of shock.

Iron! That could only be mined thirty-five blocks underground!

A well-traveled man, the chief knew that ordinary villages could never obtain iron; only the Human Kingdom’s forces could afford iron armor!

“Hurry, hurry! Take me to see these… warriors!”

The old chief realized this might be a golden opportunity. If things went well, perhaps they could join the ranks of the Human Kingdom, and never again have to fear monsters—able to live in peace at last!

Soon, Mo Fangyuan and Lin Ye, standing at the village entrance, saw two figures hurrying toward them, the gathered villagers making way of their own accord.

It was clear the elderly man was the village chief.

“Greetings! Are you the chief of this village?” Lin Ye spoke first.

A noble king could hardly be expected to converse with ordinary folk; such matters were best left to him. Lin Ye was well on his way to becoming a sycophant.

“Greetings, brave warriors! I am indeed the village chief. Welcome to our home!” The old chief surreptitiously observed Mo Fangyuan and Lin Ye’s attire, immediately judging them members of the Human Kingdom—and of no low status at that.

His eyes shone with hope; what an opportunity—he had to seize it!

“One, two, three…”

“Your Majesty, the report was wrong. There are at least thirty-five people here!” Lin Ye, having taken the Assassin’s Potion and gained an assassin’s perceptiveness, could easily discern the number present. He was also the best student in mathematics among those Mo Fangyuan had taught.

Noticing the discrepancy, he alerted Mo Fangyuan on the spot.

“Well, well—Zhang San, you rascal!”

Mo Fangyuan’s gaze grew heated as well.

He and the old chief shook hands in mutual respect.

From Lin Ye’s perspective, it was as if two grown men were clasping hands, their eyes conveying some indescribable emotion…

Lin Ye nearly broke out in goosebumps.

“No way…” Lin Ye swallowed down an imaginary mouthful of saliva.

“Elder, we’d like to stay here for the night, if that’s agreeable,” Mo Fangyuan said with a smile.

“Of course, brave warrior! Stay as long as you wish—it’s no trouble at all!” The old chief and Mo Fangyuan were both quietly delighted.

“This is a great chance! Anyone wearing iron armor must be formidable… Tonight, I’ll lure some monsters to the village, have them slay the creatures, then express my deep gratitude and pledge allegiance. That way, I can lead my villagers to the Block People’s Kingdom!” The old chief was quite pleased with his plan.

“Well done! I’ll bring some monsters here tonight, defeat them, and display my heroic might before the villagers—then sweep them all up into my fold…” Mo Fangyuan smirked slyly.

The two blocky men gripped each other’s hands even more tightly.