Chapter Seventy-Four: The Learning Task

Chen Hao left the small courtyard and went to the market, where he sold the 6,000 bullets he had reassembled to Honest Dealer. In the past, he had always sold bullets to Honest Dealer in boxes of a hundred rounds each, but this time the bullets were all loose. However, Honest Dealer, whose bullet business had been booming lately, did not ask any questions. After paying 1,080 silver dollars without hesitation, Honest Dealer grinned and said, “Brother, it seems you still have quite a few bullets left! Why not sell them all to me?”

Chen Hao replied coolly, “I’m not short on money at the moment. Let’s talk about it when I need some cash.”

Confirming that Chen Hao still had bullets, Honest Dealer’s eyes gleamed as he offered a sheepish smile. “Brother, I know it was wrong of me not to buy your bullets last time. I sincerely apologize, and I promise it won’t happen again…”

“We’ll see about that next time,” Chen Hao interrupted, turning to leave. Promises from someone like Honest Dealer were worthless; only a fool would believe them.

After leaving the market, Chen Hao logged onto the “War” game trading platform and found that the exchange rate for silver dollars to RMB had reached 1:1000—a single silver dollar could fetch 1,000 RMB. In most games, the in-game currency becomes less valuable as time goes on, but “War” defied this pattern. Fewer and fewer players were selling game currency, while more and more people wanted to buy silver dollars. Clearly, players were optimistic about the future of “War.” Many wealthy individuals, eager to make their mark in the game, even had people stationed on the trading platform to instantly buy any silver dollars that appeared for sale.

Practicing marksmanship in the game required a lot of money, and attribute points became harder to improve as he progressed. Even a thousand silver dollars would only be enough for Chen Hao to raise his shooting attribute by two more points. After careful thought, he decided to exchange some of his game currency for real money. It was inconvenient to always use the internet café, and the café’s virtual brain interface didn’t come with a nutrient pod.

The “War” game could train one’s reflexes and awareness, but to keep the body in sync with the mind, real-world training was essential. High-end virtual brain interfaces with nutrient pods allowed the body to soak in nutrient solution while playing; as the player performed actions in the game, their real body would move accordingly, enhancing their physical abilities while gaming. The nutrient solution would replenish physical energy as well.

A standard virtual brain interface cost 100,000 RMB, while one with a nutrient pod cost 500,000. The nutrient solution was extremely expensive—a five-square-meter pod required 50,000 RMB to refill, and it had to be changed every week. This was far beyond what most people could afford.

No one yet knew how effective the game was for physical training, and people remained skeptical about the nutrient pods. But Chen Hao’s memories told him that the nutrient pod was essential; someone who became a powerful combatant in the game could, with the help of the nutrient pod, become a top expert in real life as well.

Therefore, regardless of the cost, a high-end virtual brain interface was a must-buy—the sooner, the better. On the trading platform, the silver dollars for sale were all in small amounts—at most a few dozen at a time. Most sellers only listed a few coins. Those who needed large amounts, even if they were wealthy, found it difficult to buy enough silver dollars, so bulk sales could fetch a higher price.

Chen Hao listed 600 silver dollars on the trading platform, each priced at 1,200 RMB—about 20% above market rate. If all 600 sold, he’d earn 720,000 RMB—a substantial sum for him.

“Heh! I told you, I’m a man and I can’t let you be my sugar mommy, so let me take care of you instead!” This was the letter Chen Hao wrote. Upon returning to the game, he went to the post office and sent 200 silver dollars to his “wife.”

They had known each other online for two years, and Chen Hao knew she wasn’t the sort who could afford to buy silver dollars with RMB. The game hadn’t been running long, and it was very hard to earn fifty silver dollars. She hadn’t exchanged them for cash or kept them for herself, but instead sent them all to him. Chen Hao would be lying if he said he wasn’t touched.

Chen Hao had guessed correctly—Ban Qianqian had been exceptionally lucky, completing a clan quest on her very first day in the game. The NPC clan she had joined was quite influential, so she received a sixty-silver-dollar welcome gift. She kept ten for herself and sent the rest to Chen Hao.

As usual, Chen Hao went to Li Pisen’s residence to study the Analects under his tutelage. After an hour, he received a system prompt: “Player Chen Baxian, congratulations! You have mastered the Analects. Your culture attribute has increased by 2 points.”

Li Pisen nodded with satisfaction. “Baxian, your aptitude is impressive and you study diligently. You have fully mastered the Analects. Next, I will teach you…”

Before he could finish, his butler burst in, flustered. “Master, something’s wrong! The young master has stolen the family’s blue-and-white porcelain vase and sold it…”

“That unfilial child! I won’t let him get away with this.” Li Pisen rose in anger. “I’ve heard for a while that he’s been carousing with a group of ne’er-do-wells, and now he dares steal from his own family. Li Hai, do you know who he’s been spending time with lately?”

The butler, Li Hai, replied, “The young master enjoys spending time with Huang Batian’s son, Huang Fei. A few days ago, someone said they saw the young master and Huang Fei at the Chunxiang Brothel…”

Li Pisen sneered. “Huang Batian has coveted our blue-and-white porcelain vase for some time. That scoundrel must have fallen into Huang Batian’s trap and sold the vase to him.”

Li Hai looked worried. “Master, Huang Batian is a brute, and that vase is extremely valuable. What should we do?”

Li Pisen waved a dismissive hand. “Huang Batian relies only on his own brute strength and the backing of some influential friends. I’ve overlooked his antics for the sake of those connections, but now he’s gone too far. This time, I won’t let him off so easily.”

“Baxian, my wayward son has likely taken the vase to Huang Batian’s house. I’d like to accuse him officially, but I have no proof. Would you be willing to investigate for me?”

“Player Chen Baxian, NPC Li Pisen has issued you the study quest ‘Blue-and-White Porcelain Vase.’ Quest requirement: Confirm the vase is at Huang Batian’s residence. Quest reward: Study of The Great Learning.”

After becoming Li Pisen’s disciple, study quests were triggered. When the butler arrived just as Li Pisen was about to assign a new classic, Chen Hao guessed it would be a study quest.

After accepting, he made his way to the back gate of Huang Batian’s mansion. He listened for a while but heard nothing from the rear courtyard, so he decided not to enter. Li Pisen’s quest was to discover the vase’s whereabouts, ideally through covert investigation, so he didn’t want to alert anyone.

Chen Hao had no idea how skilled the guards at Huang Batian’s house were. With only basic Qinggong skills, sneaking in at night would likely get him caught, and if he were taken to the authorities, even Li Pisen might be unable to help. While he was frowning in thought, voices drifted from the courtyard.

“Master Huang, the flour has been milled. May we leave now?”

“Go on home! Remember to come early for work tomorrow, or you’ll be in trouble.”

Hearing this exchange, Chen Hao recalled some players he had tricked before. The game had been running for more than ten days, and these fellows were still working as laborers at Huang Batian’s mansion.