7 Episode 2: Onwards to Alchemy Association (1)

Hi guys, I thought that since I have already written a chapter, I might as well post it. Then, when something unforeseen happens next week and I wouldn't be able to upload the promised 5 chapters, this one would be the compensation.

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—Episode 2 Chapter 1: Onwards to Alchemy Association

'I must accomplish this mission!'

Gwak Joon clench his palm.

To escape, one must show effort. Being reborn in Nie Li's first life was extremely hard; he doesn't have the knowledge about cultivation techniques, pill formulas, and the like. What's more, he has no strength to back him up.

If he wants to survive, he had to rely on the artificial machine. Then when he accomplished the secondary quest, he would level up. At the same time, receive a boost of strength as well as a powerful Demon Spirit.

Only when he has a demon spirit at his disposal would he be slightly capable of protecting himself outside the Glory City. Otherwise, powerless means awaiting for death.

Gwak Joon gazed at the gorillas surrounding him. Then, looked at Lu Piao. Only 2 minutes were left before the effect of the concealment rope fade away, so he had to flee now.

What's more, he feels uncomfortable with these monsters. If he remembered correctly, one of the gorillas said he could smell the scent of humans. If the effect wore off, wouldn't it be the day of their demise?

Just this thought pour sweats at the back of Gwak Joon's robe. He then forced a smile and informed, "Uncle, we're leaving."

"Go then." The gorillas nodded at the decision. "Head to the camp and be careful of demon spiritualists."

Gwak Joon thank them and grabbed Lu Piao. They began walking.

"Wait."

Just then, one of the gorillas spoke.

Gwak Joon cursed and stopped in his tracks. He turned and quaver, "Is there something wrong?"

"This won't do. I can't let you leave like this." The gorilla who stopped them shake his head.

'Huh?' Question marks hovered above Gwak Joon's head. What does this big, fat gorilla want? Our meat?

He forced a smile, "Uncle pardon me, but why you won't allow us to leave?"

The big, fat gorilla sighed, "There are many dangers around this city. Demon Spiritualist atop of that, killing you with a wave would be sufficient. I'll accompany you."

As he heard that, Gwak Joon's heart thumped, he was scared shitless. Are you kidding me? Do you want to eat my flesh that badly? Accompany us? Isn't that like leading the rabbit to the carrot, but then not actually leading a rabbit but a savage beast? Why on earth would he allow death to be his companion?!

After ranting on his thoughts, Gwak Joon was afraid that the gorilla would be seriously following them, so he patted his chest in assurance and then politely decline the offer, "Uncle, I'm very grateful for your worry, but this young one has been facing dangers all around. Sir, I and my young bro here would be alright."

The big, fat gorilla insisted, "Don't be embarrassed, brats. This fat grandpa will lead you to safety. It is our duty to guide you away from dangers."

'Please don't, I'm begging you. I don't need your ticket to afterlife. Please, leave us alone fat grandpa. Oh God, bless this poor soul away from this evil person.' Gwak Joon silently prayed on his heart. Then, tried his best to show the face of gratitude and said, "Uncle, thank you so much. But have fate on us. This is part of our training regime!

"A while ago, we were jotting notes on how to fight, etc etc. Then, we did weightlifting; despite our looks, we're, in fact, strong and fit. We're basically capable of leaving this place unscathed. On top of that, our parents happen just to be in the corner. Please don't worry too much," Gwak Joon was not yet satisfied and thought a quote from his previous life, "Such saying: You can avoid adversary once, twice or thrice, but you can't avoid them permanently. It's best to face them early so that you can be prepared whenever they appear."

The gorillas were stunned by his words. So young yet already worrying about the prosperity of the snow gorilla tribe. Their heart warmth. Then after contemplation, they finally agreed to let the impostors leave. With permission, Gwak Joon was overjoyed that he did not win the ticket to afterlife.

Following which, he saluted like a soldier-in-training and bolted away from the gorillas with Lu Piao. In the blink of an eye, they were already out from the sight of the snow-furred monsters.

————

Gwak Joon was as if a cheetah on loose. He basically ran like a madman; passing over vines, bushes, and trees. There were even times he almost tripped from the roots, collide himself from the branches, and being slapped on his cheeks by the leaves.

Lu Piao could only follow him bitterly, as they avoided running through the establishments; continue fleeing through the forest.

Lu Piao, in particular, sighed, and an immense sadness surge through his heart as they passed through the Lu Manor.

Even though they were running on the mountainside, they could actually see the landscape of the Lu Manor up here. Just that, the once harmonize and peaceful Lu Manor was shrouded with smokes, littered with corpses, and snow-furred monsters creating havoc all around.

There were even demon spiritualists fighting these monsters. However, Lu Piao knew they were not members of Lu. In fact, the late-arrival reinforcements.

Lu Piao ignored them and closed his eyes, immersing himself in the past.

This morning, his wife was watching him all the way out the gates and send him off with a smile on her face. What's more, he remembered when he was leaving, the children were playing, the farmers were jesting, and the inspired youngsters were training martial arts. Yet when he opened his eyes, only the fire and corpses were left behind. Reality was far crueler than he thought.

As he thought up here, something change within Lu Piao. His heart becomes ice-cold. But at the same time, a tiny fire spurt out within the ice, becoming bigger and bigger as each second passed. This was his flame of vengeance. When he's strong enough, this fire would erupt from his heart all the way through his body. When this fire would be activated, Lu Piao would become a savage monster with no other thoughts than revenge.

At the same time, Lu Piao almost thought of helping the reinforcement slaughter the snow-furred monsters but held himself. He knew he would only be a burden if he tried to help them. His strength was nowhere far from being able to defeat the gorillas, much less behead them. For now, he would just focus on the main objective — Escape and become strong.

[The Buff 'Concealment Rope' has ended]

[Cool down for the next use: One hour]

"Phew." Gwak Joon was panted heavily, but when he heard the notification, he almost thought the grim reaper was here to pick him up.

Then, the words of the old gorilla kept echoing through his head.

"I can smell humans. I can smell humans. You can't run away from me."

"Gwak Joon~~ I'm coming."

"I'm missing an important recipe. That's right. Gwak Joon, be my meat. I'll cook and turned you into the most delicious meal!"

"Gwak Joon honey, your ticket to afterlife is here~~"

"Ahhh... Stop thinking of such shit, Gwak Joon!' He cursed as he stopped in his tracks. 'This won't do, I definitely can't die here.'

Gwak Joon sauntered around in a circle, biting his finger. Lu Piao wanted to ask him something but did not speak when he saw the seriousness on Gwak Joon's face.

Suddenly, Gwak Joon stopped and his gaze landed on the dead snow-furred monster around the cleaved area. His eyes shone as he thought of a movie in his previous life.

"System quick, check the likelihood of gorilla smelling me with the blood of their kin." Gwak Joon told the system as he went to the corpse.

When he touched the corpse, Gwak Joon realized it was still fresh. This gorilla probably died not too long ago. As he thought up here, wasn't the explosion and fighting came from this area? Perhaps, a demon spiritualist killed this monster.

[Proccesing Command]

[Proccesing Complete!]

[With the blood around you, there is 20.23% of being noticed by the snow-furred monsters]

'Nice! Excellent!'

Gwak Joon was overjoyed. He chopped a tiny proportion of the tree near him with his hands. Following which, a small piece of wood landed on his hand. He looked at it and thought it wasn't sharp enough, so he sharpened it with his hand; the force of 29.8 strength couldn't be underestimated.

Soon after, the wood quickly transformed into a needle with a sharp tilt.

Holding it, he pierced the skin of the gorilla. Then thereafter, opened a big hole in its stomach.

Blood began to ooze out. Gwak Joon smelled it. Suddenly, a strong and nauseous scent surge through his noise.

'Yucks—No I mean, Sheesh!" Gwak Joon muttered like a silly chicken as he drenched his hands with the blood. Then, scattered them through his body.

After applying enough to hide his human scent, Gwak Joon also told Lu Piao to do the same, "Copy me and cover your body with blood. Otherwise, those monsters can smell us like a hungry fella."

Lu Piao did not say anything much and applied the blood to his body. Although he was suspicious of Nie Li, it doesn't change the fact that he trusts him.

— Episode 2 Chapter 2: Onwards to Alchemy Association

With the blood scattered around his body, Gwak Joon had no longer able to fantasize himself being cook into a delicious meal. Then, he stood up, hid in the corner, and waited for one minute for the artificial machine to notify him about incoming monsters. However, the notification never came.

Gwak Joon was overjoyed by the result. Since no notification came, that only means monsters could no longer smell him. In simple words, he was now safe as long as he did not encounter the monsters.

Following which, Gwak Joon makes sure that he did everything correctly. He asked the system to perform scanning to be safe. And only when he realized he did not make any mistakes could he calm his wits and regain his rationality. He told Lu Piao: "Before we escape, we will make a plan first. Come with me."

Since receiving the secondary quest, Gwak Joon was brainstorming how to complete it. Now that he feels not threatened anymore, he should first plan everything out, unless he was a fool not to use this opportunity to think of a better plan.

Gwak Joon began sauntering. And as such, Lu Piao could only follow him.

As they wandered, they happen to approach a thick tree. This tree had a hollowed hole enough for two men to fit inside. However, the vantage was very open. From the looks of it, the tall snow-furred monsters could easily see them here.

Even then, Gwak Joon told the system, ''Check the likelihood of monsters noticing us in that area."

[Scanning]

[Scanning Complete]

[Chances of being found out: 68.21%]

Gwak Joon frowned and continued walking. He wasn't foolish enough to risk his life with such probability. All of his life, he faced hardship, so he learned that only when he feels secured and sure there are no faults in his plan would he continue on that path.

Since the hollowed hole wasn't a safe place, why would he continue on that path? That would be contradicting his belief.

Moments later, Gwak Joon stopped in his tracks as his eyes gleamed. In front of them, there was a well-hidden cave. Covered with rattan vines, it was a perfect place to hide. What's more, without properly looking, it would be hard to notice this cave.

Seeing such a good hiding spot, Gwak Joon felt it was the one he was looking after. He immediately said, "Check the likelihood of monsters noticing us on that cave."

[Checking]

[Checking Complete]

[Chances of being found out: 20.18%]

"Excellent!" He joyfully rhymed with the report. Then, Gwak Joon sauntered to the cave.

When they entered, Gwak Joon and Lu Piao were stunned.

There was a young girl inside the cave. She appeared to be around 12-15 years old. She has red hair, but her clothes were tattered, and even blood could be seen right around her temples. How cruel, to have such a wound.

When Gwak Join observed this girl, she felt she was so familiar. Her name was on the tip of his tongue.

However, Lu Piao's words immediately enlightened him, "Nie Yu?"

The red-haired girl raised her head. As soon as she saw Gwak Joon, her face lit up and her originally sad face began to shed tears. "Cousin brother, you're finally back

"Where's Du Zi? Did you meet him?"

Gwak Joon was deeply shocked when this girl jumps at his bosom. He then remembered Lu Piao's words as the TODAG's manhua resurfaced on his head. Indeed, Nie Li had a young cousin named Nie Yu!

"But did she just say, Du Zi?" Gwak Joon was shocked. Although he had no clue what she was saying, he calmed himself and asked, "Du Zi?"

"Yes." Nie Yu replied obediently. "Du Zi left because he was worried that you can't bring Lu Piao safely. I thought that since you're back, Du Zi would be with you..."

Gwak Joon was even more stunned. It seemed that the situation was far from simple.