CHAPTER 87: 087 PRIVATE COOKING LESSON

Chief Supporting Role System?

Pah! How could I, enshrouded in countless halos, be a nameless second-in-command? Elder Brother is just a puppet to farm Qi Yun for me!

Under Lin Bai’s arrangements, the left and right deputy gang leaders, the Nine-Bag Elder, and the Eight-Bag Elder all received their respective positions—some through wealth, others through martial power.

The Beggar Gang was officially on the right track.

Upon completing the task, Lin Bai received two points of Luck Value.

The next task assigned by the Chief Supporting Role System was: [Elder Brother’s Status in the Jianghu: Elder Brother now has money, manpower, and territory, but lacks the reputation matching his status. Please help Elder Brother establish a certain prestige in the Jianghu. Reward: Qi Yun 10]

He couldn’t help with this task. It had to be done by Crispy Rice himself. Otherwise, with Lin Bai around, Crispy Rice would only seem insignificant and unable to stand out.

...

After dismissing the others, Lin Bai had only Crispy Rice and Sticky Rice remain.

Looking at the despondent Crispy Rice and Sticky Rice who was glaring at him, Lin Bai gracefully descended from the tree. "Crispy Rice, do you feel my words were too harsh? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

"No, you’re right about everything," Crispy Rice said. "I lack their wealth and abilities..."

"We’re in this situation because of you!" Sticky Rice shouted angrily. "Lin Bai, you’ve gone too far! We were the first to enter the City Lord’s Mansion. If we hadn’t followed your orders to form the Beggar Gang, our cultivation levels would be the highest. Why did you humiliate my elder brother in front of so many people? We are not fools! If this continues, we’ll leave the Beggar Gang..."

Lin Bai glanced at her and casually handed over the fox in his arms. "Hold this for me."

Sticky Rice instinctively caught the Little White Fox. Then, her angry expression instantly vanished. She stroked the white fox’s fur, her eyes curving like crescent moons. "...Umm, how cute!"

[Joy from Sticky Rice; +1+1+1]

"Cute, right?" Lin Bai chuckled. "In the future, when the Beggar Gang grows larger, I’ll catch one for you too."

"Thank you, Lin, the Storekeeper!" Sticky Rice’s eyes brightened. "Really?"

"Of course. I always keep my word," Lin Bai said.

"Mm-hmm," Sticky Rice nodded vigorously. "Lin, the Storekeeper, rest assured, we’ll definitely help you build the Beggar Gang into the largest faction!"

..." Crispy Rice helplessly rolled his eyes at his younger sister and sent a private message: "Traitor."

"I like it," Sticky Rice retorted, stroking the white fox. "If you’re so capable, catch a white fox for me too. Besides, isn’t building the Beggar Gang into the top gang your dream? I’m helping you."

[Resentment from Crispy Rice; +1+1+1]

Crispy Rice was speechless. A simple promise had shattered their sibling alliance. How could there be such a cunning NPC in the game?

Settling Sticky Rice also meant settling Crispy Rice. Lin Bai smiled at him and said, "Elder Brother, do you still remember what I said when we first met? ’Heaven, when about to place a great responsibility on a man, must first exhaust his heart of concern; wear out his muscles and bones; starve his body; drain him of resources; thwart his plans so as to stimulate his mind, harden his nature, and help him in his incapacity.’"

"This..." Crispy Rice heard this full quote for the first time. He mulled it over carefully and couldn’t help but be dumbstruck.

"So, do you understand?" Lin Bai asked.

Crispy Rice took a deep breath, his gaze towards Lin Bai complex. "I understand."

"What do you mean?" Sticky Rice asked. "What riddle are you two playing at?"

"What Lin, the Storekeeper, means is that before entrusting me with more important matters, he must first make my heart suffer, tire my sinews and bones, starve my body, and ensure that the things I experience are fraught with adversity. Only by enduring these tribulations can my character become resilient and my talents grow," Crispy Rice explained. "Sticky Rice, Lin, the Storekeeper, is doing this on purpose!"

At this moment, Crispy Rice was thoroughly convinced by Lin Bai. Regardless of Lin Bai’s ultimate goal, uttering such philosophical words was enough to benefit him for a lifetime. This game was worth playing.

"Elder Brother, I didn’t mean to torture you intentionally," Lin Bai laughed. "You’re the Gang Leader I chose. If you really became a puppet, it would mean I have eyes but failed to see the pearl. I’ll start by teaching you a stance of the Dragonfall Palm. Then you can learn some basic internal skills from the three martial arts schools. As long as you use your own talents to manage the Beggar Gang smoothly and make a name for yourself in Jiamucheng, I might consider teaching you a higher level of internal cultivation. This would make the Dragonfall Palm an exclusive martial art for the Gang Leader of the Beggar Gang."

"Thank you, Lin, the Storekeeper!" After hardship came sweetness; Crispy Rice was overjoyed. "Rest assured, I’ll definitely manage the Beggar Gang well."

"Don’t get too excited yet. Whether you can learn subsequent martial arts still depends on your own capabilities," Lin Bai said, reaping Crispy Rice’s positive emotions. "If you just intend to loaf around and wait for death, I genuinely don’t mind letting them sideline you. If the Dragonfall Palm can be taught to you, it can be taught to others."

"That won’t happen," Crispy Rice asserted. "I hold the status of the Beggar Gang Leader, control the Beggar Gang’s finances, and now possess the Dragonfall Palm. With so many advantages, if I still can’t make a name for myself, I’m willing to step down and yield my position to someone more capable."

Lin Bai nodded, called him aside, and taught him "Overbearing Dragon Has Regrets" from the "Dragonfall Ten Palms."

Crispy Rice immediately tested the power of the Dragonfall Palm, only to be dismayed to find that with his current cultivation level, he could only execute a single palm strike.

But that was enough. Now, he too possessed an advanced martial art. If he could learn one palm strike, he would have the chance to learn the entire set of martial arts in the future. Sure enough, Lin Bai ultimately treated him differently from others. NPCs with emotions weren’t without their benefits; at least he was sentimental...

"Lin, the Storekeeper, can you teach me a stance of the Dragonfall Palm too?" Sticky Rice asked expectantly, enviously watching the dragon-shaped energy from Crispy Rice’s palm strike. "I’m also a founding elder of the Beggar Gang. You can’t show favoritism!"

"No Dragonfall Palm for you," Lin Bai glanced at her and said. "But I can teach you two stances from the Seven Injury Hands: Dislocate Muscles and Misplace Bones. Once you’ve made significant contributions, I can teach you the complete Seven Injury Hands."

"Thank you, Lin, the Storekeeper!" Sticky Rice nodded excitedly. Lin Bai had kept them for this special session, teaching them skills and even promising her a pet. At this moment, her heart was filled only with joy; any trace of resentment towards Lin Bai had vanished. She felt that even dedicating her life to the Beggar Gang would be worthwhile.

...

After imparting skills to the pair, Sticky Rice returned the Little White Fox to Lin Bai. Urged by Crispy Rice, she reluctantly headed back to Jiamucheng to liaise with the NPCs in the city and begin the next phase of the Beggar Gang’s expansion plan.

At the edge of the forest, only Lin Bai and the Little White Fox remained.

The effect of Morning Flight had worn off. If Lin Bai wanted to return, he could only use Curve Body Single Shadow or walk back.

After some thought, Lin Bai decided not to go back. The sweet-talk mission could take all day to grind. Besides, Xu Longyun was a night owl who stayed up all night. If she had a whim and summoned him again, he’d inevitably have to recite romantic lines to her, which would only lead to more trouble. It would be better to quietly grind missions with the Little Fox in the wilderness; no awkwardness for anyone. Having eaten the Spirit Fruit, he didn’t need to sleep. With the Belly Filling Pill, he wouldn’t get hungry either. When he finished grinding missions tomorrow morning, he could use Morning Flight to go back, which would be more convenient than returning now.

So, Lin Bai, holding the Little Fox, activated Wooden Cloud Vertical and hopped along the treetops to a quiet spot. He then firmly held the Little Fox up in front of him. "Xiao Bai, let’s begin!"

"CHIRP CHIRP!" The Little White Fox, not understanding, chirped at Lin Bai a couple of times, feigning cuteness and ignorance. Having witnessed Lin Bai’s shameless manipulation of the rankings, the Little Fox was convinced that Lin Bai was a major villain. It didn’t understand why Lin Bai wasn’t returning to the city and was instead staying in the forest, so it didn’t dare to act recklessly.