Chapter 1 They've Started

Nie Yan glanced towards the lakeside. It seemed they had already begun.

The murloc tribe was under attack by the Triumphant Guild. The murlocs surrounding Nie Yan abandoned him and returned to the tribe to provide reinforcements. He never imagined that the Triumphant Guild would save his life. This world was truly wondrous.

With all the murlocs gone, it was safe in the vicinity. Nie Yan accelerated his search for treasure chests, and finally discovered another chest amidst the dense aquatic plants—a white treasure chest.

The surrounding scenery overlapped perfectly with his memories. This was the place!

Nie Yan opened the chest and rummaged inside, pulling out a skill book: a gathering skill book. He crushed the skill book into white light, and a new skill appeared in his auxiliary skill bar: Gathering.

A good harvest. He wondered if there were other treasure chests nearby, but searching like this was too time-consuming. He knew the locations of many other treasure chests anyway, and he could retrieve them at any time once he leveled up.

Nie Yan swam forward, weaving through the aquatic plants. He avoided monsters from a distance. After about ten minutes, Nie Yan discovered an island in the center of Lake Ranndor. Only then did he swim towards the surface.

System: You have discovered Heart of the Lake Island.

Nie Yan went ashore and checked the coordinates. It was in this vicinity. He searched with his eyes and discovered a person sitting on the shore, fishing.

It was a very strange NPC old man who would ask every player who encountered him to find fine silk threads for him. Each roll of fine silk threads could be exchanged for a silk cloth.

The selling price of fine silk threads at the NPC was three copper coins, while the selling price of silk cloth was two copper coins. This meant there would be a price difference. After the exchange, this NPC old man would not give players any compensation.

Many players had done this quest, but it was always at a loss. They never received any rewards.

In his past life, Nie Yan had also done this quest. After he submitted five fine silk threads, he stopped continuing with the quest. It was really not worth it to exchange fine silk threads for silk cloth.

Later, some people didn't believe it and continued to submit thirty fine silk threads before finally receiving a quest reward. That NPC would teach a Combat Bandage skill, and it would immediately be a mid-level Bandage skill. When the news spread, the players were in an uproar and went to accept this quest one after another, but that NPC had already left.

There were water spiders nearby that produced fine silk threads. They were level-3 monsters. Farming thirty fine silk threads would probably take about three days. He could level up while farming water spiders to collect quest items. Exchanging thirty fine silk threads for thirty silk cloths would only be a loss of thirty copper coins. Compared to the mid-level Combat Bandage skill, it was insignificant.

Nie Yan walked towards the old man.

"At this time of year, Hilton Fortress always welcomes a batch of magical creatures from the distant underground. The warriors guarding the fortress have sacrificed countless blood and lives to protect this vibrant land. The wounded always spend every day and night in pain. Yesterday or tomorrow, tomorrow or yesterday, young man, tell me, is it better for me to fish on the shore or in the water?" The NPC old man muttered to himself, turned his head to look at Nie Yan, and asked.

The NPC old man's hair was gray, and he was very old and frail. His skin was like the bark of a withered old tree, covered with wrinkles. He was wearing an inconspicuous gray cloak and holding a fishing rod.

In Nie Yan's impression, this NPC old man was a confused and funny person who asked a series of muddled questions. He just needed to give a vague answer. But now, when Nie Yan heard the phrase "Yesterday or tomorrow, tomorrow or yesterday" again, he had some new feelings.

This NPC old man was not a confused old man, but a wise man!

He could just answer this question casually, but Nie Yan said as if possessed, "As long as you can catch fish, what's the difference between the shore and the water?"

Hearing Nie Yan's answer, a sharp glint flashed in the NPC old man's eyes.

The NPC old man's gaze fell into Nie Yan's eyes. He was even more convinced that this NPC old man was not simple at all.

"Time is like an illusion, time flies, years pass, suffering recurs, and in the end, it is nothing more than a pile of dry bones. Even if those warriors guard this great world, they will eventually not escape illness and death, so what is the meaning?" The NPC old man lamented.

"The meaning of life lies in pursuing and having no regrets," Nie Yan said with deep feeling. This was his insight after experiencing his past and present lives. He then answered the old man's words, "In this great world, they have their brothers and their relatives. They resist the enemy's attacks, but bring joy to their brothers and relatives. They use their lives to protect their beliefs, that is their glory. The God of Light will bless them."

Nie Yan guessed that this NPC old man might be an NPC from Hilton Fortress who came out to find fine silk threads.

After hearing Nie Yan's words, the NPC old man's chaotic eyes became clear and transparent.

"Young man, I need a lot of fine silk threads. Can you help me find them?" the NPC old man asked.

"I am willing to serve," Nie Yan said happily. This was what he was waiting for.

System: You have accepted the quest, Physician Blewinstone's Request, to find fine silk threads.

Nie Yan remembered that in his previous life, he just answered the question casually and received the quest from the Nameless Old Man. The quest name was a little different from this life.

This old man should be a physician from Hilton Fortress. Did he come out of Hilton Fortress to find fine silk threads?

Adding in the fact that this old man taught the mid-level Bandage skill, Nie Yan was even more certain.

Regardless, he would complete this quest first.

Nie Yan bid farewell to the NPC old man and hurried to the south side of the island. There was a lake area there where water spiders were active. Although water spiders were level-3 monsters, their combat power was not very high. They were somewhat difficult to deal with because they were active on the water surface.

Plunging into the lake again, Nie Yan kept his head above the water. There were no monsters active at the bottom of the water in this area, so he was not afraid of monsters attacking from below.

He found a water spider. Water spiders were some giant spiders. They could walk quickly on the surface of the water, which was a little different from other spiders. They did not use venom attacks and were afraid of humans. As long as humans did not attack them, they would not attack first.

Water Spider: Level 3, Health 8080.

Nie Yan slowly approached the water spider from behind, suddenly jumped up, raised his dagger and pounced on the water spider, stabbing into the water spider's back, and attacking several times in succession.

The water spider squeaked and screamed as it pounced on Nie Yan. Nie Yan dodged, then backstabbed, accumulating enough energy for a vital attack, stabbing into the water spider's eyes.

The water spider screamed shrilly, its body curled up, floating on the water surface.

This water spider dropped a copper coin. Nie Yan caught the copper coin that the water spider dropped and swam towards another water spider.

The drop rate of fine silk threads was one in two hundred. In other words, Nie Yan had to kill more than six thousand water spiders to get thirty fine silk threads, which would take nearly three days.

Three days was enough time for Nie Yan to level up to level 3, learn the Bandage skill, and then go back to buy some skill books. His strength could be greatly improved.

Nie Yan swam towards a water spider that was crawling quickly on the water surface in the distance.

A Holy Strike fell from the sky, attacking the water spider. A damage value of thirty-six points floated from the water spider's head.

Holy Strike, a Holy Word Priest skill.

Were there other people here?

Nie Yan became alert and looked over there, discovering three water spiders chasing a person.

The distance was a bit far, and Nie Yan could only see clearly that it was a Holy Word Priest, and a woman at that. She wore a white robe and held a blue staff, but he couldn't see her specific appearance.

It seemed that person was in trouble. Nie Yan was silent for a moment, then plunged into the water and swam over there. If it was an enemy player, he would kill her. If there was no deep hatred, he would help her out.

The Holy Word Priest fought against the water spiders chasing her while swimming towards Nie Yan's direction.

Nie Yan emerged from the water, about five yards away from the Holy Word Priest.

The Holy Word Priest discovered Nie Yan appearing not far from her and became nervous. She immediately turned around and swam to the other side.

Being chased by monsters, if she encountered someone who would kick her when she was down, she would surely die.

The distance between the two sides was already very close.

When the Holy Word Priest turned her face, Nie Yan saw the other person's appearance clearly. It was a beautiful woman with her hair tied into a ponytail in the back. A strand of hair hung down from the side, her cheeks were fair, and her bright eyes were clear as water.

*Faith* adjusted the appearance of players, but only made slight modifications. Beauty and ugliness would not change and were basically the same as in the real world. This was also the reason why *Faith* was attractive.

Nie Yan could tell at a glance that the Holy Word Priest opposite him was a beauty.

The Holy Word Priest glanced worriedly towards Nie Yan. Their eyes met. The Holy Word Priest turned her head and continued to deal with the water spiders. It was indeed a bit difficult to dodge three water spiders at the same time, but she was very calm. She used an Acceleration Scroll, and her speed immediately increased a lot.

After seeing the other person's appearance clearly, Nie Yan's mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg. How could he encounter her here!

He couldn't help but exclaim that this world was so small.

That beautiful Holy Word Priest was called Yao Yao. Speaking of which, the two of them had an inexplicable entanglement in his previous life. He didn't expect to meet her here again. It was really true that enemies always meet.

Perhaps there was a kind of fate called destiny.

Nie Yan and his friends went to a dungeon together, and they were short of a mage. His friend pulled Yao Yao in. That was the first time the two of them met. Later, there were more opportunities to go to dungeons, and they gradually became familiar with each other. Later, even more stories happened.

The old friend was still the same. Nie Yan was filled with emotions.