Chapter 104: Evened the Score

For a moment, an eerie silence engulfed the house.

After a brief pause, Ji Linmo stared at the youth before him and spoke slowly.
"You... could think of it that way."
"We’ve had our disputes and even fought, but considering I’ve lost a hand now... I suppose we’re even."

With that, Ji Linmo approached the youth and opened his inventory, setting it to “visible to nearby people.”
"However, since I broke our agreement, you can choose any item from my inventory as compensation. How does that sound?"

The youth chuckled softly and walked over to Ji Linmo’s inventory, examining it with interest.
Eventually, his gaze settled on a particular item.

[Cross-Dressing Bunny Hat]
[Item Quality: Intermediate (Grade A)]
[Item Description: Ah~ Sometimes, I do fancy dressing up as a girl.]
[Effect: Upon wearing, transforms the user’s appearance into a female form, increasing charm by 40% (no time limit; charm boost capped at personal maximum).]

"I choose this one," the youth said with narrowed eyes, smiling.
"Using a gift like this as final compensation—quite amusing."

Ji Linmo was somewhat surprised; he hadn’t expected the youth to be so agreeable.
He had assumed the youth would reject the offer or mock him.
Yet, unexpectedly, Qin Feng’s attitude toward their breakup had shifted almost 180 degrees.
—Now, he seemed not only calm but even somewhat satisfied with the outcome.

So Ji Linmo promptly took out the item and handed it over, fearing the youth might change his mind at the last second.
"Then... is everything settled between us?"
"Of course, Mr. Ji. Rest assured, we can coexist peacefully now."

Qin Feng took the "Cross-Dressing Bunny Hat" with a good mood and nodded at Ji Linmo.
"By the way, since we’re in the same room, exchanging information is acceptable."
"But beyond that, please let's not bother each other."

Ji Linmo felt a strange, inexplicable chill down his spine at the youth’s sudden change, though he could not pinpoint why.
Thus, they both busied themselves with their own affairs, like ordinary players.

For safety’s sake, Ji Linmo fashioned a simple splint to immobilize his arm.
Losing his right hand in a dungeon was a severe blow.

But considering it hadn’t been long since he last transformed into a monster, Ji Linmo dared not revert to his original form.
Otherwise, the hunger alone would drive him to lose his reason.

“Kids, Mom and Dad are back!”

Suddenly, the front door was thrown open with a loud crash.
“Dad” and “Mom” dragged in a sack-like bundle and dropped it excitedly on the floor.
“Lucky today, we caught a gift-wrapped prey right at the doorstep.”
“You two handle it first. I’ve long disliked their family, and today I finally caught them alone.”

With that, “Dad” rushed to untie the sack.
Inside, a woman with golden-rimmed glasses and a high ponytail was curled up.
It was Liu Xiao, the woman known as Lin Bufei’s girlfriend.

Ji Linmo frowned sharply and stepped forward, placing his hand on the woman’s neck without a word.
—Pulse steady, breathing normal; she’s just unconscious.

“Dad, you’re amazing... but she looks so frail. Is she edible?”

Qin Feng stood beside “Dad,” curiosity bright on his face.
Unexpectedly, “Dad” shot him a glare.
“You little brat, what nonsense is that? Of course she’s not for eating! Are you crazy?!”

Ji Linmo glanced at “Dad” as well.
Not for eating?

Looking at the smooth, delicate skin of “Mom,” Ji Linmo whispered,
“Dad, I just got home, and I don’t understand much... What exactly are you planning to do with her?”

“Where did she come from? What nonsense are you talking about?”

The man impatiently lifted Liu Xiao’s eyelids, beckoning the others to look closely.
“See, her eyelids aren’t purple—she’s not sick yet. We need people like this as medicinal donors.”

Ji Linmo grew even more confused.
But “Mom” had already turned on the hot water in the bathroom, signaling to drag Liu Xiao inside.
“Medicinal donors are filthy and need a thorough wash...”

With a blank expression, “Mom” sprinkled star anise, pepper, scallions, and ginger into the bathtub.

Huh?

Ji Linmo frowned, watching “Mom” pull Liu Xiao into the tub.
Nearby, “Dad” was lighting a fire in the kitchen and heating oil in an iron pot.

Isn’t this just preparing to eat her?

“Why are you just standing there? You’re old enough! Aren’t you going to help?”

“Dad” suddenly burst out in anger, yelling at Ji Linmo who stood a short distance away.

Ji Linmo silently moved over, trying to assist.
But “Dad” glared fiercely at Ji Linmo’s arm and lifted his chin.
“What happened to your arm?”
“I fell by accident.”

Suspicion flickered in the man’s eyes. He looked at Ji Linmo, then at Qin Feng who was watching the pot, and finally scoffed.
“Tch, useless. I don’t think you’ll be much help anyway.”

“Dad” pulled out ten yuan from his pocket.
“Since you have nothing better to do, go to the grocery and buy a bottle of soy sauce. We’re out at home.”

[Quest Triggered]
[Help Dad Buy Soy Sauce]
[Objective: The household urgently needs a bottle of soy sauce. Can you help Dad by running to the store to get one?]
[Time Limit: 00:10:00]
[Success Reward: Obtain Soy Sauce]
[Failure Consequence: Death]

Seeing the prompt on screen, Ji Linmo glanced toward the bathroom.
At the moment his eyes met “Mom’s”—who was about to remove Liu Xiao’s clothes—she suddenly slammed the bathroom door shut.

—If I want to save Liu Xiao, this might be my chance.

“Dad, I’m going now.”

Ji Linmo took the money and quickly headed outside.
Right now, he needed to obtain soy sauce as fast as possible and create an alibi to buy time to secretly rescue Liu Xiao.
After all, Liu Xiao was his brother’s lover and pregnant; he could not stand by and watch her die.

[Quest Time: 00:09:59]

The timer started the moment Ji Linmo stepped outside, accompanied by the rustling wind as he carefully surveyed the world before him.
A gray, overcast sky, muddy roads, and a damp, musty air.
The weather here was perpetually gloomy as if about to rain, yet it never did.