Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 22 No one understands the system better than me!
Deep down, someone was unwilling to accept that he was one of the reasons his teammate suffered such a serious injury. However, what he found even more unacceptable was yet to come.

Zhang Yuan, who thought that killing a small boss or at least an elite monster like the giant worm would meet the requirements for leveling up or at the very least give him a huge experience boost, opened his attribute panel and stood there dumbfounded, as if he had been hit by a mental spell. He didn't react even as saliva dripped from his open mouth.

What he saw on his attribute panel was astonishing—no change! Yes, absolutely no change; not even a single punctuation mark was added or removed.

Zhang, who had a strong obsession with leveling up and eager anticipation for the journey, had long been looking forward to his "first pot of gold." He even comforted himself that the trip wasn't too bad because he could pick up bargains along the way with the team.

In his mind, he was like the big boss of a gold-selling group, following the Flame Fist Studio to fight monsters and push forward. Gaining experience was a given, and it was not impossible to finish off enemies and steal kills. By the time he arrived in Xikai, he would have already leveled up several times and greatly improved his skills. During the subsequent escort, he would have the ability to protect himself no matter what dangers he encountered.

However, all expectations were dashed at this moment. No matter how much you calculated, the system, which did not gain experience points, was like water without a source or a tree without roots, lying stiffly on the ground like a salted fish, motionless.

Unable to accept this outcome, Zhang Yuan was both anxious and angry. His anger surged to the top of his head, and he clenched his right fist and slammed it hard against a tree trunk by the roadside.

Several teammates who noticed the commotion looked over, including Skaarl and Thaurissan.

All five blind insects had been killed, and all that was left was to treat their wounds. Just then, someone had an attack, so these two idle guys came over.

The first to arrive was the dwarf who had fought alongside Zhang Yuan. He patted Zhang Yuan on the waist (as for why he patted the waist instead of the shoulder, you can ask the dwarf brother yourself, if you're not afraid of his axe) and then walked towards Ska and the other two, vividly recounting the fierce battle between the three of them and the burrowing worm.

Despite not being as fast as the reporter, the dwarf brother was quite the storyteller. He managed to make a small battle sound dramatic, heroic, and tragic.

Of course, while the people and events described by the dwarves were exaggerated, they did not distort the facts, and the seasoned Skar was able to understand what had actually happened.

Seeing Zhang Yuan still standing there blankly, Ska knew he was upset and didn't disturb him. Before turning away, he said, "You did what you could. Münster's injury wasn't your fault."

Well, so you thought my shout earlier was out of self-reproach? Zhang Yuan's lips twitched, but he couldn't force an explanation.

He felt another pat on the waist; without even looking, he knew it was the dwarf.

"What?" Zhang Yuan asked irritably.

"Don't be sad. With the priest's healing magic, Münster won't be left with any disabilities. Let's go for a drink." The dwarf was quite an optimist.

"Drink! I'm going to drink my fill today!" someone gritted his teeth.

Even as he crawled into his tent to sleep that night, Zhang Yuan kept checking his attribute panel with a sliver of hope. Unfortunately, it was simply not there; looking at it a thousand times wouldn't make him understand it.

After being angry all day, Zhang Yuan finally got tired of it and stuffed himself into his sleeping bag and fell into a deep sleep.

In his dreams, he sometimes becomes the son of Baal, using power and magic to destroy one opponent and enemy after another, turning their lives and blood into nourishment for his growth. He becomes more and more courageous and stronger with each battle. One day, he crosses the sea of ​​blood, puts on the crown of bones, sits on the throne of slaughter, bathed in the shouts of the mountains, and all the kings and wise men prostrate themselves in worship to him.

At times, he becomes a weak commoner, even losing his existing professional rank. He spends his days doing nothing, begging for food in the dust. He has no control over his own destiny, and his dignity is discarded like worn-out shoes. After death, he is unknown, and the traces he left in the world vanish like dew at sunrise.

(P.S. This part is actually imitating a baboon, did anyone else notice?)

Zhang Yuan, tossing and turning, awoke with a start. He got up and looked outside. The quiet night sky was like a pure black velvet cloth spread across the firmament, embracing everything in its vast and gentle embrace. The constellations representing the gods and the softly glowing Moon of Suren hung low in the sky. The once unknowable and invisible realm of the gods now gave one the illusion that it was within reach.

Zhang Yuan, wearing a coat, sat alone on his sleeping bag, took out his phone from his backpack, and pointed it at the night sky.

In that instant, the dazzling stars of Faerûn and the gentle Suren were recorded for the first time by a technological creation of another world.

Zhang Yuan was looking at the photos he had just taken when he came across pictures of his parents. His nose started to sting, but his fingers kept scrolling until there were no more pictures.

I turned off my phone and went to sleep, even though tears were already streaming down my face.

The next morning, the Flame Fist Squad continued their journey. Münster, whose left foot had been severely injured the day before, was fine after treatment, but Ska still placed him in the supply wagon to facilitate his recovery.

Seeing Münster, Zhang Yuan felt a little embarrassed. After all, if he hadn't been so distracted at the beginning and missed the battle, Münster wouldn't have had to take such a risk.

He walked up to Münster and said, "How's your injury? I'm sorry about yesterday..."

Münster interrupted him directly: "You rushed up to save me yesterday without regard for the danger, you did a great job." As he spoke, he punched Zhang Yuan in the chest, and then punched his own chest: "Münster did a great job too, we took down that bug."

The optimistic and generous guy in front of him was really infectious. Even Zhang Yuan, who had just experienced great ups and downs and was feeling depressed, was made to laugh. He reached out and punched both of them in the chest.

"Hey, what are you two grown men doing touching each other's breasts for no reason?" A slick voice suddenly came from the side. It was Lawrence, a middle-aged old thief. This guy was quite skilled with his hands and was a qualified rogue.

Zhang Yuan nearly choked to death by the old scoundrel's teasing, while Münster was much more direct, clenching his fist, which was as big as a sand pot, as a threat: "I'll challenge you to a duel once my foot is healed."

Lawrence was now in a panic. How could a barbarian wielding a two-handed sword challenge a thief like me to a duel? Fearing a grudge, the old thief quickly apologized: "I was just joking. I'm so sorry for my loose tongue."

The two who received the apology didn't hold it against each other. They were teammates who would fight side by side. Besides, Lawrence was a bit of a gossip, but he wasn't a bad person. Zhang Yuan had learned a lot of information and rumors from the old thief.

However, there's one thing: no matter how the conversation starts, it will almost always end up being steered towards breasts by this guy. He's such a pervert!

Sure enough, the old pervert spoke up: "At our speed, we should be able to reach the Friendly Arm Inn today. It's a great place."

He paused, then continued, "Not only are there warm and comfortable bedrooms, fine wine and delicacies, but also hot maids. Moreover, because it's a major transportation route with many passing merchants, it attracts a large number of beautiful women looking for opportunities. Like last time I..."

Lawrence was spitting as he boasted about his romantic encounters at the Friendly Arm, vividly describing the slender figures and gentle charm of certain female technicians—lewd jokes that Zhang Yuan found unbearable to listen to.

"Make way, make way!" A listener who had just been jostled by others finally snapped out of his immersive mode and found that several gentlemen, just like him, had squeezed in to criticize Lawrence's decadent ideas.

Speechless, Zhang Yuan simply couldn't be bothered to listen any longer. "What Liu Bei haven't I seen?" he thought. "Goodbye."

(End of this chapter)