Chapter 50: The Monster in the Barn

Considering the price of this hunting hound, it could not be wasted recklessly.

The two could only repeat yesterday's routine: when the scarecrow dropped to around half health, one would release a combat skill while the other delivered the finishing blow, leaving the two dogs with nothing to do on the sidelines.

Meatball could at least bark a couple of times to hype up the atmosphere, but Broken Tooth could only watch helplessly.

Fortunately, the two were already quite familiar with this routine, taking turns to use combat skills and recover stamina. This way, they didn't even need to consume vigor pills, ensuring they wouldn't get scorched by the scarecrow's ultimate attack.

After cutting down more than twenty scarecrows in one go, there was still no sign of any fiends spawning in the surrounding area.

Xiao Jie muttered to himself whether fiends were actually triggered by slaying scarecrows. Could it be that they had to grind for another hour or two before one would appear?

Boom! Another scarecrow was cleaved down, dropping a necklace.

Xiao Jie picked it up to take a look, and well, it turned out to be a completely unenhanced white-tier item.

[Gold Necklace (Accessory)]
[Attributes: None.]
[Item Description: A necklace crafted from gold. Although it has no practical use, gold itself is its value, allowing it to be sold for a good price at shops or given to NPCs to increase favorability.]

Since it could be used to raise favorability, it couldn't be said to be completely useless.

He was just wondering who to give it to when he heard a familiar voice ringing out from the distance.

"This is my field, this is my land! Where did you two bumpkins come from, daring to take my family's things—you have a death wish!"

The two turned around and saw a middle-aged woman shrouded in ominous black Qi rushing out from the distant wheat field, brandishing a kitchen knife and charging straight at them. It was none other than Mother Tian.

Oh? A flash of inspiration crossed Xiao Jie's mind. He remembered that Mother Tian had spawned yesterday right after they dropped an ancient bronze ring.

Today, Mother Tian had appeared again the moment a necklace dropped. Could there be some kind of connection here?

That must be it. Tian Bao had previously mentioned his ancestors. Mother Tian was the housekeeper of the Tian family; with her around, not even a blade of grass would be allowed to be taken away. Could it be that the accessories dropped by the scarecrows had lured her out?

If so, didn't that mean the other two members of the Tian family could be lured out using a similar method?

Thoughts raced through his mind, but they didn't hinder Xiao Jie's combat. He raised his shield to parry and swung his blade to slash. The two hunting hounds finally found a chance to show their worth, swarming forward together—one clamped onto a leg while the other locked onto the throat. The result of a four-on-one battle was an instant victory.

This time, no keys or kitchen knives dropped; instead, a skill book came out—well, let's just call it a skill book for now.

[Rustic Flatbread (Recipe)]
[Learning Requirement: Prerequisite skill—Cooking (Novice).]
[Item Description: A recipe recording the method for making rustic flatbread. This is a flatbread made from wheat flour and vegetables, full of rustic flavor and a common delicacy in rural areas.]

"This..."

Xiao Jie was speechless for a moment; literally anything could drop. This item couldn't be called useless either; at least after learning it, he could bake some flatbread to eat when he had nothing to do, instead of always eating instant noodles.

"The gold necklace or the recipe, which one do you want?"

"I'll take the gold necklace."

Xiao Jie nodded, and the two divided the items.

After splitting the loot, however, they weren't in a hurry to continue leveling up. Instead, they stood beside their notes and pondered.

"What is it, Brother Feng? Let's keep grinding."

"I'm wondering how to open the door to the ancestral estate. Based on the information I gathered this morning, the key to opening the ancestral estate should lie with the three family members of the Tian family: Mother Tian, Tian Daoniu, and Old Master Tian.

I think I've figured out the fiend respawn pattern. Remember yesterday, we also looted an ancient bronze ring, and then this woman spawned. This is definitely no coincidence.

The three members of the Tian family: Mother Tian manages the household, Tian Daoniu is martial, and Old Master Tian is exceptionally frugal...

What is the best food in your bag?"

"Smoked wild boar meat."

"Throw a piece of the meat on the ground."

I Want to Become an Immortal didn't hesitate and followed the instruction immediately.

The two stared at the wild boar meat on the ground, and Meatball and Broken Tooth also fixed their eyes intently on the meat.

Two humans and two dogs surrounded the wild boar meat in a stare-down. Time ticked away—one minute, two minutes, five minutes, ten minutes.

There was no movement at all, save for the sound of Meatball drooling.

Meatball: Master, what is this wild boar meat for? Is it meant for me to eat? If so, I won't stand on ceremony!

"Don't eat it!" Xiao Jie stopped him, thinking to himself: Could my deduction have been wrong?

Just then, the smoked meat finally began to fade away slowly, having been refreshed and cleaned up by the system.

That sight made Meatball let out a sorrowful howl, breaking its little doggy heart.

The next second, an emaciated old man wearing a bamboo hat and a long robe appeared out of thin air, his face wreathed in black Qi, brandishing a cane in his hand.

Old Master Tian (Fiend), Level 8, Health: 160.

Old Master Tian (Fiend): "Alas, such fine things wasted like this! Let me teach you two reckless scoundrels who squander heaven's gifts a lesson!"

With that, he brandished his cane and charged toward the two of them.

Instead of being alarmed, Xiao Jie was overjoyed—his train of thought was spot on!

Mother Tian was the housekeeper, so she could not tolerate others taking drops from the wheat field.

And Old Master Tian was naturally frugal, so he appeared the moment he saw food being allowed to expire and vanish.

Tian Daoniu should also be able to be lured out using a similar method.

By now, the battle had already broken out. Old Master Tian's combat strength was even inferior to Mother Tian's. Tangled up by the two dogs dragging at his legs, I Want to Become an Immortal unleashed a Stone-Splitting Slash, knocking the old man flat to the ground in a single blow. The battle was resolved without even needing Xiao Jie to strike.

The old man lacked formidable combat power and was hacked down to the ground within a couple of strikes.

He dropped a key and a bamboo hat.

[Granary Key (Key)]
[Usage: Opens the granary door.]
[Item Description: A rusty key that can be used to unlock the corresponding door lock.]

[Old Man's Bamboo Hat (Helmet)]
[Head Defense +3.]
[Equipment Special Effect: Elder's Wisdom. Comprehension +1.]
[Item Description: A tattered bamboo hat. Wearing it gives people a somewhat profound feeling. Perhaps this aged bamboo hat also contains some kind of neglected wisdom.]

This bamboo hat was claimed by Xiao Jie. Since I Want to Become an Immortal already had a leather helmet, he had no use for such a white-tier equipment piece.

Xiao Jie, however, knew the value of comprehension; even though it was only a single point, it was better than nothing.

He placed the bamboo hat on his head. With his goose-feather saber in hand and the bamboo hat upon his head, he truly possessed the demeanor of a pugilistic swordsman of the martial world.

This granary key could be put to immediate use.

The two arrived in front of the granary. Looking at the granary doors, Xiao Jie wondered if the entrance to the cellar was inside the granary. It didn't really feel like it, though.

Logically speaking, it ought to be inside the Tian family mansion. So what could possibly be inside the granary?

Gazing at the granary doors before them, Xiao Jie could not help but grow vigilant.

"Get ready, there might be a fight—Meatball, come to my side." He said uncertainly.

I Want to Become an Immortal acknowledged the command, standing by the doorway with Broken Tooth, gripping his battle axe and ready for combat at any moment.

Xiao Jie also restored his stamina to maximum, flexing his fingers to ensure he was in peak condition, and then clicked on the lock of the granary door.

Clack! With the sound of the lock opening, the granary doors were slowly pushed open.

The instant the doors opened, a dense row of small red eyes emerged from the darkness, giving Xiao Jie a fright.

Among those small red eyes, there was even a pair of massive red eyes. The darkness obscured the true size of the monster, causing him to instinctively step backward. When the creature finally emerged from the shadows into the light, even though Xiao Jie had mentally prepared himself for encountering monsters, he was still startled.

It was a gigantic rat over three meters long, easily the size of a bull. Its grayish-black fur was somewhat festering and ulcerated, making it all the more hideous, and its scarlet gaze flickered with a ravenous, murderous cruelty.

Bone Chewer (Corrupted Giant Rat): Level 9, Health: 500.

Damn it! A boss had actually spawned!

PS: Two chapters still owed.