Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 153: Perverse Quest Upgrade

While Cheng Xiaoxiao and others were discussing, many people in the village couldn’t wait to enter the city.

They hadn’t seen such a bustling scene in a long time. They longed for the prosperity of lively streets and had faced nothing but confusion and desolation along the way, with not a trace of life’s vitality.

Cheng Xiaoxiao’s final thought was to negotiate with the leader of the Rebel Army to see how much food they would need to allow them through. If their demands weren’t too excessive, it wouldn’t hurt to give them some grain.

If they asked for too much, then she wouldn’t hold back and would have Dongfang Xu capture the leader. As the saying goes, to capture bandits, first capture the king. If they could control the person with the most authority, would they still fear not being able to get through the city?

Of course, it was best not to fall out with them if possible. She didn’t want to cause unnecessary killings; after all, they were fellow countrymen.

After the group communicated, they decided to implement Cheng Xiaoxiao’s method and returned to their tents to rest after the meeting.

"Sister, are we really going to negotiate? Aren’t they letting the common people into the city?"

Lying in bed, Erya tossed and turned, unable to sleep, not understanding why they had to give food to those people when they weren’t settling in Yu County.

"Silly girl, Yu County is now the Rebel Army’s territory. We’re crossing their land, so we have to pay a toll!" Cheng Xiaoxiao patiently explained to Erya.

Erya furrowed her little brows, "But didn’t they say all common people would receive a bowl of gruel and a pair of straw sandals? We didn’t need their help, and we’re giving them grain instead. It feels like a loss."

Cheng Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but laugh; it turned out her sister was worried about their grain!

"Being able to use some grain in exchange for passage is still good. If..."

Cheng Xiaoxiao stopped mid-sentence, leaving Erya puzzled, "Sister, what do you mean by that? Are they going to stop us from passing?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao nodded.

Erya was too kind-hearted. In these tough times, one needed to be clever to survive.

"Remember, Erya, the outside world is not like Qingshan Village. No matter who you meet or what happens, always be cautious and don’t trust anyone except family."

Erya earnestly nodded, "Understood, Sister!"

"Tonight, Sister will teach you the first lesson of survival rules."

A fledgling bird that hasn’t endured the roughness of society cannot soar high in the sky; first teaching theoretical knowledge and then practicing slowly.

Then Cheng Xiaoxiao transformed some modern scam tactics into simple stories for Erya to understand.

For example, helping an elderly woman who fell, only to be accused of being the one who harmed her.

For example, someone faking an accident on the street to extort money, insisting you take responsibility by throwing a tantrum.

For example, generously helping someone in need, which turns into unwanted obligations.

For example, when a cheerful fellow villager approaches you with an opportunity, it might be the beginning of their scheme.

Each case was a fascinating story, and Erya listened with rapt attention. When Cheng Xiaoxiao finally finished, almost losing her voice, Erya still wanted more.

However, Cheng Xiaoxiao suddenly changed her approach, "After listening to so much, what have you learned?"

"Ah!" Seeing her sister’s serious expression, Erya reluctantly said, "If I meet such people, I’ll stay far away and not let them succeed."

After speaking... seeing her sister still staring intently at her, Erya felt a bit guilty, softly asking, "Isn’t that right?"

"Of course not, bad people don’t have it written on their foreheads. You need to learn to observe details and distinguish between those who are good and those who have ill intentions."

Though it sounded challenging, Erya vowed to herself that she would learn diligently.

"Now let’s analyze those thirty or so refugees."

"What’s up with those refugees? Those bad men have already been chased away, and the rest separated from us when we reached Yu County, right?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao shook her head, "Think again, recall every detail from when we encountered them, and see if there are any discoveries."

While telling stories earlier, Cheng Xiaoxiao had a sudden epiphany, realizing a crucial point she hadn’t verified yet, waiting for tomorrow to test it out.

"Discover... what... detail."

Erya rubbed her temples, trying hard to remember.

Half an hour later...

"Sister, I thought of something, I don’t know if it’s right." Erya said excitedly.

"Hmm, let’s hear it."

"When you asked Coach Leng, he said those four men had martial skills, but when they were caught stealing grain, they didn’t resist. If they were family with those twenty-plus women and children, it would make sense, but they’re not related! They could have easily escaped when discovered!"

"Hmm, well said, this is indeed suspicious."

"Anything else?" Cheng Xiaoxiao was pleased her sister could see some insight.

Erya thought hard again but couldn’t find anything peculiar.

"Have you never suspected those twenty-something people?"

Erya looked astonished, "What?"

Those twenty-something people had issues too?

"Hmm, tomorrow, observe carefully and see if there are any differences."

Erya nodded her little head.

"It’s too late now, go to sleep!"

"Sister, I will observe carefully tomorrow."

"Good!"

After their conversation, the sisters fell into a deep sleep.

As Cheng Xiaoxiao drifted into a drowsy sleep, the long-unseen system task suddenly activated, waking her with fright. Unshakable sleep was interrupted by the beeping of a system task, a soul-crushing dread arose, waking her.

[System Rescue Task Activated]

[This month’s task, detected that tomorrow night at midnight, the key figure Gu Ming will encounter a life-or-death crisis at Yue Mountain. The host must arrive at Yue Mountain before midnight to rescue the target. Completion rate should be 100%. Successful completion will reward a Special Skill; failure will result in reclaiming the host’s body.]

This task came as a shocking bolt from the blue, leaving Cheng Xiaoxiao stunned for a long time.

What does reclaiming the body mean?

Hadn’t she perfectly merged with this body?

Is she going to be forcibly extracted?

Good heavens!

It’s too frightening; without a body, she’d become a ghost?

Wuwuwu!

She doesn’t want to be a ghost!

"77! What’s the deal with this task?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao swallowed her bitter feelings, forced to face the reality.

"Who is Gu Ming? And where is Yue Mountain? Oh! Right, you haven’t been anywhere far either, so why am I asking you; I’m getting confused from the fright."

Before the system could say a word, Cheng Xiaoxiao had already found her own reasoning.

"Host, although the penalty is severe for this task, only needing to rescue one person shouldn’t be difficult."

Cheng Xiaoxiao could only think, haha!

When isn’t a system task perverse?

She is just a pitiful tool person.

Early the next morning, Cheng Xiaoxiao eagerly found Leng Qi to inquire about Yue Mountain’s location, to see which direction she should prepare to set off in.

"What?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao looked petrified.

"Three thousand miles away!"

The mountains to the west of Salt City in the Capital City direction are called Yue Mountain.

Oh my gosh...

Don’t say it’s not a trap task; she can’t fly or disappear into thin air.

How can she possibly reach Yue Mountain within a day?

Fly on an airplane?

Cheng Xiaoxiao mocked herself!