Chapter 42: WARNING 1
Walking towards Mo Ying, Lin Xu took the black cloth and with a swift move wrapped it around his face, covering his mouth and nose.
Leaving only his eyes uncovered, she stared at him in silence until he yanked the cloth away, confused by her actions.
"What are you doing, Lin Xu?" He asked as Lin Xu then stood up, her eyes locked on his.
"Who the heck are you, Mo Ying?"
Standing up as well, Mo Ying said, "Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?"
"Don’t play dumb with me... y-you are the masked man who the Song family are after, aren’t you?" she said, her voice slightly loud as Mo Ying’s confused face turned into an expressionless one immediately.
He didn’t say anything but just stared at her, and that was enough to answer her questions.
"Listen, I have just been through some tough times right now. Losing my sons for just these days has maxed out all my strength. I can’t cope if anything happens to my children, Mo Ying. If you being here will endanger the life of my children then I don’t want you here."
She said as she flung the cloth on the ground and turned around, ready to leave.
"What would it take for you to trust me, Lin Xu?" Mo Ying said, his words stopping her midway.
"I promised you that nothing would happen to the kids, I would protect them and protect you... but to you, I’m just a stranger, a criminal..."
"I don’t care if you’re a good person or a bad person, Mo Ying. All I know is I won’t put my kids’ lives on the line. The Song family are after you. I don’t know how you managed to get someone else to take your blame or how you were even able to counter someone like Old Man Bai... all I know is my children’s lives will not be on the line."
And with that, she turned around and left as Mo Ying took his seat back. Turning his eyes to the table in front of him, he saw a bottle of ointment.
"You’re so stubborn, aren’t you, Fireball."
---
The next day, Lin Xu met with Old Man Yun.
"I’m so happy to know your boys are back and safe. Thank goodness."
Old Man Yun said as Lin Xu nodded. "Thank you for your help, Master Yun, it wouldn’t have been possible without your help."
"Don’t flatter me. Having a bad business day for the sake of my important business partner is nothing at all. The credit goes all the way to you. I don’t know how you did it, but how were you able to shut down the Bai family’s business in just one day?"
He said, and his words immediately took Lin Xu by surprise. "W-what? Shut down? Whose business shut down?"
"You’re not aware? As of last night, some constables with military attire came into the Bai family residence and confiscated all their belongings. They had proof of fraud and illegal shipment of salt and overdue tax. Their entire family was taken away and their business shut down."
His words sank into Lin Xu’s ears slowly as she stood there, half shocked and half scared.
Something in her knew it had something to do with Mo Ying. But how did he manage to pull that off overnight?
Who was he truly? He was able to ruin a prestigious family that had been dominant for over 40 years in just one night. Thinking about it made her shiver slightly.
"Anyway, now that that matter is done with, here is your payment for today’s delivery. Though I would like to ask you for more recipes. Soon people will start getting tired of the braised meat. If you have any other delicacy, then bring it directly to the Yun restaurant."
He said as Lin Xu nodded, took her money, and left.
Upon arriving back home, Mo Ying was nowhere to be found.
"Do you know where Mo Ying went?" she asked Yan Mei as she shook her head.
"He and Fuhan left some minutes ago," she said as Lin Xu just sighed.
Lin Xu had barely set the money pouch down on the table when Susu’s light figure flickered into view.
[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully saved your children from danger. Mission accomplished.]
Lin Xu frowned immediately. "Was it ever a mission? You stupid system, you couldn’t even provide any help. Why isn’t there a ’find missing people’ feature? And you call yourself helpful."
[ Hehe! It seems like Host isn’t too happy with Susu! Susu is nothing but a task giver and sales retriever. Host can only acquire specific features through completing missions.]
Rolling her eyes, Lin Xu said, "Whatever, just tell me why you’re here already."
[A New Mission has been unlocked, Host.]
Her brows furrowed. "Again? Can’t you give me a break?"
[This one is crucial. You are required to make use of the Weather Forecast feature. Forecasting costs 50 taels.]
Lin Xu’s heart squeezed tight at the words. Her fingers instinctively reached for the pouch she had just received from Master Yun. "Fifty taels...?" she muttered, her face stiff. That was more than half her hard-earned money.
"And if I refuse, what will happen?"
[ If the Host decides to forfeit the mission, then all rewards would be forfeited as well, and whatever outcome is gotten by the Host’s decision would be faced by yourself without any help from the system.]
Susu said as Lin Xu rolled her eyes. "Fine. I’ll do it."
[Payment deducted. Accessing Weather Forecast...]
A small golden screen appeared before her eyes, symbols shifting like flowing water until they settled into clear words.
[Result: In three days, heavy rain will begin. It will not stop for seven days. The rainfall will cause massive flooding. Crops will be ruined, homes will collapse, and the entire village will suffer heavy losses.]
Lin Xu froze, her hands tightening around the edge of the table. "Seven days of rain..." she whispered, her throat dry. "If that’s true, then—"
[Host, you are advised to prepare in advance. Stock up enough food for you and your family. Also, you are advised to go up the mountains for safety. Staying in the village would do no one any good.]
Susu informed her as Lin Xu just stood there, shocked. She had to do something quick and fast.
"Why haven’t I gotten one peaceful day... why is there always one problem after another!"
[Susu wishes the Host good luck on her new mission.]
And with that, she disappeared as Lin Xu just sighed.