“The mission should have been completed last night, so why is the reward only being issued now!”
【Um, th-that… I wanted to tell the Host when you had time.】
The System’s response carried a faint trace of guilt.
The thought of the System delaying the reward made Su Mu so angry that her teeth itched.
If it had given her the reward that morning when Chen Qing, that stinky woman, dragged her out for morning training, she might have successfully fought back.
Damn it, is this System colluding with Chen Qing!
Su Mu cursed the System viciously in her heart. The resentment radiating from her entire body was noticed by Chen Qing walking ahead.
“What’s wrong? Unhappy about holding my sword?”
Chen Qing glanced faintly at Su Mu and asked with a squinting smile.
“Willing! Very willing!”
Seeing Chen Qing’s malicious smile, Su Mu quickly denied it.
“Keep up. If you fall behind, I won’t come looking for you.”
“Got it.”
Su Mu secretly flipped off Chen Qing up ahead. Who needs you to come find me? It’d be best if she got lost.
Then she could slip away quietly, and she’d never be bullied by this wicked woman again.
However, Su Mu knew this wasn’t realistic. Chen Qing, this detestable Villain, definitely wouldn’t let her off so easily.
With that in mind, Su Mu could only sullenly trail behind Chen Qing’s rear.
【Host, don’t you want to know how that Fox Mask brought you back last night?】
Seeing how much resentment Su Mu harbored toward it, the System quickly piped up, hoping to win her favor with the information it held.
“Oh right, you should know.”
Only after the System’s reminder did Su Mu finally remember.
She still didn’t know how that Fox Mask, as loathsome as Chen Qing, had known she was staying at the Inn—and even brought her back.
She had been pondering it earlier when Chen Qing, this detestable Villain, interrupted her.
She had even been pinned to the bed and bullied harshly.
But she had fainted inexplicably last night; the System should know the truth.
She could just ask the System. How had she not thought of that before? She was such an idiot.
“Then tell me quickly—how did she find the Inn where I was staying?”
Su Mu asked expectantly.
【I can tell the Host, but you have to promise me one condition.】
“Condition? Fine, I promise.”
Su Mu hadn’t expected this Scamming System to have the gall to negotiate terms with her.
She hadn’t even settled the score with it yet for tricking her into going to the Black Market last night to complete the mission.
But Su Mu’s little mind whirred. If this dog System could deceive her, then she could deceive it too.
She’d pry the information out of its mouth first. As for the condition—well, her ears must not be working; she hadn’t heard a thing.
Seeing Su Mu agree so readily, the System grew suspicious.
Was the Host really this agreeable? Something felt off.
But recalling how Su Mu acted like a dazed fool in front of Chen Qing, the System figured she was probably just that silly.
【Host, that Fox Mask had already targeted you when you left the Inn last night. After bringing you back, she said she’d come find you in three days to collect her debt.】
This was a lie. Due to its rules, the System definitely couldn’t reveal that the Fox Mask was Chen Qing.
But fooling this airheaded Host would do just fine.
After all, the Fox Mask had said she’d come for one hundred taels in three days. The System was merely relaying the message.
If she didn’t show up, that was the Fox Mask’s problem—not the innocent messenger System’s.
【I’ve told the Host everything about the Fox Mask. My condition is that you can’t curse at me anymore from now on.】
The mere thought of Su Mu’s terrifying verbal assaults made the System shudder.
Setting everything else aside, this Host had real talent when it came to insulting Systems.
Even if it played dead, she would curse tirelessly, going through every System associated with it.
“Fine. As long as you don’t stir up trouble in the future, I won’t curse you.”
【Host, what do you mean by that?】
Su Mu’s words sent a chill through the System.
After all, what counted as “stirring up trouble” would be up to Su Mu to decide.
It was no different from letting her curse it whenever she pleased.
“The literal meaning.”
The corners of Su Mu’s mouth curved into a triumphant smile. She had finally scored a point against this dog-shit System.
A mere System had dared to scam her. From now on, the tables had turned.
【Host, you’re breaking your promise!】
“How do you know I still owe the kid next door three lollipops?”
【I…!】
The System never imagined it would one day be hoodwinked by Su Mu.
But then it remembered that it had fed her false information too, which eased its mind a bit.
With the System falling silent, Su Mu’s steps grew lighter.
First, she had counter-killed the System that had always scammed her. Next up was Chen Qing, the detestable Villain.
Su Mu stared at Chen Qing’s back. She had just obtained Second-Rate Warrior strength from the System and was itching to test it out on someone.
But she understood the wisdom of biding her time and building strength.
Picking a fight with Chen Qing now would be suicidal. She needed to accumulate power gradually.
As Su Mu trotted merrily behind Chen Qing, she suddenly spotted a Caravan approaching from the opposite direction.
Looking closely, wasn’t that Mu Qiuzi and the others?
They moved surprisingly fast—only a day slower than traveling the official road.
Seeing Mu Qiuzi’s Caravan meant Sister Shen was probably with them too.
Having just gained Second-Rate Warrior strength, Su Mu figured she should go learn some killer moves from her.
Su Mu stood on tiptoe amid the crowd, scrutinizing the group for Shen Ling’s figure.
But her eager, excited expression caused Chen Qing, walking ahead, to darken her face.
It seemed this Traitorous Shizun was still hopelessly fixated on her Sister Shen.
After a moment of searching, Su Mu finally spotted Shen Ling in the Caravan.
However, Shen Ling’s expression was grave, as if something major had happened.
Su Mu waved vigorously, hoping to catch Shen Ling and the others’ attention.
But just as her slender jade hand began to rise, Chen Qing grabbed it.
“Who told you to stop?”
“I-I was just greeting Sister Shen and the others.”
Seeing Chen Qing’s gloomy expression, Su Mu said weakly.
She had gotten too excited and forgotten about Chen Qing ahead of her.
From that look on her face, Su Mu was in for it again.
“You sure say ‘Sister Shen’ smoothly, don’t you?”
Su Mu was hopping right into Chen Qing’s minefield.
But Su Mu only noticed Chen Qing’s darkened face and failed to grasp the real source of her displeasure.
Assuming it was because she’d stopped on her own, Su Mu hurriedly explained.
“I-I thought you had a good relationship with Sister Shen and Miss Mu. Greeting them on your behalf would be polite—otherwise, we’d seem rude.”
Su Mu said it with all seriousness, but Chen Qing’s gloomy expression didn’t improve in the slightest.
