Qin Qing’s house.

After calming down from her own mistake, Qin Qing left her room in search of Niu Chang to apologize.

Without asking for permission, she opened Niu Chang’s bedroom and found only a large sack, devoid of any other presence.

"Well, at least he didn't leave the bed in disarray," Qin Qing nodded, content with the tidiness.

She left the room without disturbing any of Niu Chang's belongings.

As she reached the kitchen, she discovered the meal that Niu Chang had prepared for her. It was evident that he hadn't bothered cooking for her since it was a small portion. Qin Qing approached the food and inspected it— the rice was white and evenly cooked, with no strange odor, and the vegetables were well-prepared and cut into bite-sized pieces.

A strange feeling gripped her heart. Ever since her parents' death, she hadn't experienced much kindness from others, mainly due to her anger management issues. People tended to avoid her. Carrying the food to the table, Qin Qing sat down and began eating slowly.

The long-forgotten texture of rice stirred memories of her mother's cooking. It didn't taste exactly the same, but the familiar sensation rekindled the flavors of old. A heaviness settled in her heart, causing tears to well up in the corners of her eyes. She picked at the vegetables, savoring their texture more than their taste. Tears streamed down her cheeks, unlocking memories of her parents with each bite.

A whimper escaped her throat, but she continued eating, determined not to let these long-lost emotions slip away.

It was fortunate that Niu Chang wasn't present to witness this display of vulnerability. If he had, he would have likely scorned and mocked the weak Qin Qing.

"It's just food. No need to be so dramatic, right? If you want, I can cook for you tonight," he would have said, prioritizing his own taste buds and jaw muscles over her well-being.

. . .

Walking through the forest, Niu Chang felt as though he was strolling in his own backyard. The confidence in his physical strength, coupled with the protection of the Automatic System Answerer against any surprises, granted him an unexpected sense of ease.

Niu Chang recalled the conversation he had with the villager that was rather close with him.

“They said they just wanted to live in the countryside to avoid the danger of the mortal world.”

There was nothing of much interest until after the fateful winter. "Some villagers said they saw the Qin family couple leaving the village during heavy snowfall. After waiting for three days with no news, everyone accepted it as a misfortune that couldn't be avoided," they explained.

"As for the change in little girl Qin? Yeah, I remember something about her. She used to be cold and withdrawn from the outside world, but after her parents passed away, she started opening up and working honestly in the fields.”

"At first, I thought her bad mood was due to her parents' death. But as time passed, her anger issues became more apparent, and now everyone calls her the short fuse. You know what I mean? Short both in height and temperament. Hahaha."

"Anyway, it's best to avoid her as much as you can. Her taste in food is strange, and due to her problematic temperament, no one wanted to teach her how to cook."

"As for the mass crop failure? Well, that was an unfortunate event. I remember hearing that it wasn't just happening in our village, but also in Yellow Village and Yellow Roc Village at the same time! Do you understand what I mean? It means this year isn't good for farming!"

"Now, about the disappearance of the three people? The young boy from the Ning family, the poor young man, and the old man from the Jiu family? Shhh, keep your voice down, no one wants to recall that strange event. You know we have a rule to not speak of ill things, as it may bring repetition."

"After a lengthy investigation, nothing could be found. No clues or anything useful to tell us how they went missing. But one thing is for sure, I believe it must be the work of a ghost or evil spirit sealed in this land! It must be some kind of sacrifice to appease their endless resentment."

‘In short, little girl Qing indeed has a mental condition that prompted her parents to relocate to this village,’ Niu Chang mused, shaking his head and suppressing a chuckle at his own jest. ‘But, of course, that was purely a jest. Did her parents truly venture out in the midst of a heavy snowstorm? It all appears rather dubious and peculiar. Since I have never crossed paths with them, it is difficult to discern whether they possess martial arts prowess or not.’

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'Maybe they grew tired of dealing with little girl Qing's problem and chose to leave her in this village? That sounds more realistic!'

Aside from the past fateful encounters, he also learned about the esteemed individuals who had not yet returned to the village.

Niu Chang pondered it for a moment, considering the danger. In the end, he found himself inside the forest, taking his chances.

After a short time in the forest, Niu Chang halted his steps, confronted by signs of a recent battle. Sword marks marred the trees, some toppled, and the ground lay devastated.

‘Am I really this fortunate?’ Niu Chang pondered, unsure if his luck was favorable or otherwise.

If it was good luck, then he had entered the forest at a crucial moment. But if it was ill-fated, he had entered at a time of great danger.

Approaching the destroyed tree, he examined the sword marks. Some were shallow, others deep, and a few even succeeded in felling nearby trees.

"These seem to be the result of martial artists employing sword techniques. Perhaps the two wandering martial artists?" Niu Chang speculated.

Following the trail of the battle, Niu Chang stumbled upon something unexpected. Traces of a peculiar energy piqued his interest.

Touching a decaying, withered tree for no apparent reason, Niu Chang sensed an unusual energy permeating it.

As the qi within the tree resonated with him, Niu Chang narrowed his eyes. "Cold and lifeless. It feels more like the dead qi of a demonic cultivator rather than the brutal aura of a beast."

‘Could this be the machinations of a mere random demonic cultivator, or does it hold some connection to my fateful encounters?’ Niu Chang pondered deeply. ‘If indeed there is a correlation, then which one of my encounters could it possibly be?’

His mind raced, deducing various possibilities and envisioning different outcomes. But he was dissatisfied with the ordinary paths, and Niu Chang's attention turned to the periphery of his vision. He nodded, embracing the allure of the unknown.

If Niu Chang were an ordinary individual, he would have eagerly rushed to the aid of the wandering martial artists, chasing after the trail of the battle like a valiant knight in shining armor, mounted on his majestic white steed.

But in this world, there were no "ifs."

‘In the end, it's not just about the demonic snake. There are other factors at play, and I choose to trust my instincts as an experienced reader.’

Recalling the forest's terrain in his mind, Niu Chang identified potential hiding spots for the massive demonic snake.

As for the two wandering martial artists, they would have to rely on their own abilities.

Directing his steps towards the first designated location, Niu Chang arrived in a dense section of the forest. The trees stood so close together that sunlight struggled to penetrate the canopy, casting an eerie darkness.

Trusting his seasoned instincts, Niu Chang pressed forward into the heart of the foreboding realm.

Even at midday, the forest emanated a chilling aura. The rustling of leaves created an unnerving symphony, amplified by the meticulous arrangement of the trees.

"Come out! I know you've been watching me!" Niu Chang suddenly bellowed, exuding confidence. His eyes gleamed with determination, unwavering in the face of uncertainty.

It was a reckless move, driven by curiosity and the desire to explore the possibilities of his newfound circumstances. Niu Chang contemplated the consequences, unaware of the answer he sought.

Humans were like this—curious about actions they longed to take but were unable to. Now that Niu Chang had the opportunity, he wouldn't squander it.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if the main character acted foolishly and incited suspicion in their adversaries?

Well, Niu Chang didn't know the answer, but he aimed to find out.

There was no cost to such a gamble; in fact, it could only benefit him if it worked.

After all, his system required a trigger to activate.

To meet his demise, unaware of an assassin lurking in the shadows, while relying on the invincibility bestowed by the Automatic System Answerer, would be a grave disappointment.

Niu Chang stood his ground, unwavering. He possessed an unwavering belief that nothing could sway his resolve, even if he was merely pretending. His own conviction would convince even himself of the sincerity behind his charade.

"Still too afraid to show yourself? Do you need me to pinpoint your hiding spot, you fool!"

Niu Chang calmly surveyed his surroundings, though his actions lacked purpose. He reveled in his own bravado.

"Hmph, a mere rat that eats shit, hiding in a hole full of filth, smelling like excrement, consuming feces day in and day out, and giving birth to more pieces of shit like itself-"

Niu Chang intended to continue his creative string of insults, but his foolish theatrics succeeded.

The wind fell silent, and a faint yet formidable aura enveloped the area where Niu Chang stood.

'So, it's not the demonic snake after all,' Niu Chang thought, bewildered. He had anticipated bypassing the mob fights and encounters with wandering martial artists to face an unprepared boss directly.

Little did he know that instead of the demonic snake, he would find himself face-to-face with a rather unexpected enemy.