Chapter 31: Guests

“Side quests are divided into two types—labor commissions and personal encounter commissions.”

The second day after returning, at noon.

Bai Xiaozhi stood in front of the blackboard like a teacher.

Meanwhile, Wu Xiaomi and Lulutina had become her students.

Of course, there were more than just the two students.

Because Bai Xiaozhi was livestreaming.

The third-person perspective camera recorded this little classroom scene and streamed it live on BoboBobo.

“When we descend into this world, each of us receives a ‘Regional Main Quest’ based on our location. It’s a shared objective for everyone in the area. If we fail to complete it, there are penalties—points will be deducted.”

Bai Xiaozhi divided the blackboard into two sections.

On the left, she wrote “Main Quest.” On the right, “Side Quests.”

It made everything much clearer.

“We’ve all been through the main quest already, so I won’t go into that for now. I’ll explain the details in the next stream. Today’s focus is side quests.”

Wu Xiaomi was already getting sleepy.

She yawned, quietly exchanged some points for a bag of corn sticks, and began sneakily snacking under the desk.

Every time Bai Xiaozhi turned around, she snuck one into her mouth.

Crunch, crunch~

“The simplest side quests are part-time jobs like delivering food or painting for the locals. Any activity involving a labor contract will earn us points, though not many.” Bai Xiaozhi turned around and wrote the words “labor contract” on the board.

As her deskmate, Lulutina stared hungrily and poked Wu Xiaomi in the arm.

[Private Chat – Lulutina: Gimme some, gimme some!]

[Private Chat – Reply to Lulutina: Didn’t you already finish your quest? You mooching again?]

[Private Chat – Lulutina: I spent my points on items.]

[Private Chat – Reply to Lulutina: What’d you buy?]

[Private Chat – Lulutina: Some tools for getting rich! Trust me, you can’t go wrong investing in me!]

Tch.

You shouldn’t be called Lulutina—you should be called Moochzilla.

Wu Xiaomi reluctantly poured a small handful into her hand.

“Thunk—”

A piece of chalk shot through the air and hit Lulutina square on the forehead.

Startled, she let out a yelp, and her snacks scattered like stardust.

Looking up, she saw Bai Xiaozhi’s pretty face frosted with cold—expressionless as she stared at the two of them.

How did she know!?

“I can see the chat,” Bai Xiaozhi said plainly. Are you two stupid or what?

“…”

Damn it! Those damn tattling viewers!

Lulutina furiously flipped off the camera with both middle fingers.

“Pay attention. This concerns your lives.”

“But she’s the one who started eating first…” Lulutina muttered tearfully.

“Where was I? Right. Aside from basic labor tasks, what other ways are there to trigger side quests?”

“Uh… there’s also…” Lulutina, panicking, kicked Wu Xiaomi under the table and gave her a frantic look.

Not letting her down, a line of text quickly popped up in front of her.

[Private Chat – Wu Xiaomi: There are also special triggers, like stealing offerings from a spirit shrine.]

“Oh right! You can also steal offerings from a spirit shrine!”

“Thunk—”

Another piece of chalk flew her way.

“Even if you’re going to make things up, don’t be that ridiculous!” Bai Xiaozhi’s teeth were grinding. “Are you in a hurry to die!?”

“No, I wasn’t… I…” Lulutina flailed, pointing at Wu Xiaomi and then at the private chat text.

But no one else could see private chat messages.

“……”

In the end, all she could do was sit down angrily, glaring at Wu Xiaomi, who was giggling with puffed cheeks.

“To trigger a personal encounter commission, you need to have an extraordinary talent, or a special identity, or backing. Only then will you gain the favor of the quest giver.”

“Today we’re mainly talking about labor commissions… Based on the rewards, these are divided into three levels.”

“The most basic type is ‘part-time jobs’—like food delivery. Each task gives between 1 and 50 quest points.”

“Next is ‘daily commissions from academies and guilds.’ These require some combat ability and award between 50 and 500 points.”

“The highest tier is ‘world-scale commissions.’ These are much harder, and the rewards are expected to be greater too. But no one has completed one yet, so we can’t confirm the rewards.”

Bai Xiaozhi tapped the blackboard. “In short, while you’re completing main quests, try to take on side quests too—they’ll help you improve faster, and even accelerate the rebuilding of our homeland.”

Ooh~

After Bai the Teacher’s lecture, Wu Xiaomi had an epiphany. 

She truly felt enlightened.

Crunch, crunch.

Mmm, tasty~

“Teacher!”

Lulutina suddenly raised her hand.

“What is it?” Bai Xiaozhi looked at her.

“Wu Xiaomi just snuck another snack!” Lulutina declared righteously, grabbing Wu Xiaomi’s hand—there was still a corn stick between her fingers.

Caught red-handed.

“Ah,” Bai Xiaozhi nodded, calmly turning back around. “I know.”

You know?

Then why didn’t you throw a chalk piece!?

So it’s just me you’re picking on, huh!?

“Well, that’s it for today’s stream. Everyone digests the info and prepares for the next mission.”

Bai Xiaozhi ended the livestream.

She glanced at her BoboBobo account.

Two million followers.

And it had only been half a month.

Progress was unexpectedly fast.

At this rate, making it into the Top 100 creators by the end of the year was totally within reach.

Plus, filming videos counted as a “labor-type side quest,” which also brought in a decent amount of strategy points on regular days.

“Class dismissed~”

Wu Xiaomi clapped the snack crumbs off her hands, flopped onto the sofa, and opened her umbrella.

She crossed her legs and started reading a novel.

“So lazy,” Bai Xiaozhi shook her head. “Even the chat says you’re a total slacker with zero sense of urgency.”

“Urgency? Am I supposed to tattoo it on my face or something?”

Wu Xiaomi flipped the page with zero concern.

“Look at Big Brother Kang Jie,” Lulutina cut in bitterly. “Then look at you. Are you sure you’re not a pig in disguise?”

Wu Xiaomi: “Oink oink~”

You can never wake someone who wants to be a pig.

Wu Xiaomi still believed that this whole “return” was a time for rest and relaxation.

Phones that are never recharged always die at the most critical moment.

Since she had come back, she was going to enjoy it. 

That was her firm survival strategy.

Even if it’s the end of the world, I refuse to work 24/7!

[You have received a communication request.]

Just as she was lazily soaking in the afternoon sun, a tingling buzz came from her ankle.

She accepted the call.

To her surprise—it was Nanalia!

[Xiaomi, when are you coming back? Something terrible’s happened!]

The witch doctor’s face was filled with worry.

Which instantly made Wu Xiaomi tense up too.

“What’s wrong, Teacher?”

[That bastard’s here!]

“Who?”

[Bloodline-wise, we’re… kind of related. But she serves a different source. She serves a witch.]

“Are you in danger?” Wu Xiaomi sat up straight on the sofa. “Do you need me to come help?”

[You’d better.] Nanalia gritted her teeth. [That woman…]

Wu Xiaomi opened the exchange list.

In the strategy exchange store, there was an option:

[Temporary Descent – 100 points per hour]

It was so expensive that almost no one used it unless it was for a truly valuable commission.

“I’m heading out for a bit, I should be back soon.”

Wu Xiaomi stowed away her umbrella and geared up.

“Now? Where to?”

“Descent.”

Worried about Nanalia’s safety, Wu Xiaomi didn’t waste time explaining.

She tapped the exchange button and hurried off.

“Knock knock—”

Just moments after Wu Xiaomi left…

The courtyard gate of the little house was tapped with a light, rhythmic knock.

Bai Xiaozhi went to open it.

Outside stood an elegant woman.

“Bai Xiaozhi?” The woman’s face was shaded under a parasol as she spoke softly.

“And you are…? Have we met?”

“We have.”