Chapter 157: A-grade Quest

Chen Mo had originally thought that the Crimson Poison Mist was something unique to the Land of Exile. He never expected such a frightening thing to be used by the Sea Clan, humanity’s enemy. Just what was the relationship between the Human Race and the Sea Clan?

As Sesshylow shielded them from the Crimson Poison Mist, Xue Ye Hua let out a sigh of relief. Now she too grew curious about the connection between the Sea Clan and humans.

“Either the Human Race or the Sea Clan must’ve possessed the Crimson Poison Mist first. I wonder who stole it from whom?” Xue Ye Hua murmured thoughtfully.

“Who cares? We should get out of here first. The Crimson Poison Mist isn’t fading. Staying here any longer won’t help us. If the enemy can move within this mist, we’re dead for sure.” Chen Mo knew there was no point in discussing it further and chose not to overthink it. In its current state, Sesshylow couldn’t withstand an attack. If it was hit, the two of them would be exposed to the Crimson Poison Mist and die instantly.

Would she have to walk like this again? And this time, it might take even longer than the last two times combined!

Xue Ye Hua felt like dying. Whenever she teamed up with this guy, she always ended up at a disadvantage.

But, as Chen Mo had said, this wasn’t their first time. Xue Ye Hua realized she wasn’t resisting the awkward situation nearly as much as she had during the previous encounters.

Not only that, as she recalled the strange sensations from those earlier times, a shy feeling washed over her, mixed with an unexpected hint of anticipation.

“Let’s go,” Chen Mo signaled to Xue Ye Hua, and they began moving together with synchronized steps.

Actually, Chen Mo had gradually gotten used to this peculiar posture after his two previous experiences with Xue Ye Hua. Knowing nothing could be done about it right now, he focused his thoughts on the quest. So, as they walked a considerable distance, neither caused any trouble for the other. Lower down, Chen Mo showed no reaction at all.

Xue Ye Hua had initially braced herself for that familiar awkwardness, grumbling inwardly that she was about to be taken advantage of again. But as Chen Mo remained unresponsive for a long time, a subtle mix of disappointment and irritation bubbled up inside her.

Her physical condition wasn’t bad at all, was it? In such an intimate posture, was this guy really unaffected? Did that mean she lacked charm?

This thought startled Xue Ye Hua herself.

“When we find the manhole cover exit later, how are we going to get out? That iron ladder has so little space to step. There won’t be enough room for both of us to climb, right?”

Shaking her head, Xue Ye Hua forced her attention onto practical matters.

Beneath the sewer cover, there would be a section of iron ladder. Normally, climbing up a few rungs was all it took to exit. But in their current entangled state, getting out didn’t seem like it would be so easy.

“It should be enough space, right? Worst case, I’ll just use one foot. I’ll manage to step on it somehow,” Chen Mo said, snapping back to reality and thinking for a moment before replying.

Xue Ye Hua nodded, figuring the method might work.

A short while later, Chen Mo internally groaned.

Earlier, preoccupied with other thoughts, his attention had been scattered, and he hadn’t felt much. But now, prompted by Xue Ye Hua’s question, his awareness of their intimate posture sharpened, making it incredibly hard to distract himself again.

As Xue Ye Hua’s firm, round rear brushed and rubbed against him with their movements, Chen Mo soon felt a shameful hardness developing below.

Xue Ye Hua sensed Chen Mo’s physical reaction. This guy really is a lecher, after all, she thought. But she was also pleased that her charm clearly still held power.

If Chen Mo knew what Xue Ye Hua was thinking, he would have sighed in wonder at just how strange women could be.

Enduring a mix of discomfort and arousal, they arrived directly beneath a sewer manhole cover. Below the cover hung a short, rusted iron ladder. Climbing it would lead them out.

“Just hold on a little longer. We’ll be out soon,” Xue Ye Hua murmured to herself, staring at the ladder.

“Let’s climb,” Chen Mo felt he had endured enough of this physically frustrating closeness that brought pleasure only without real satisfaction. Damn it, it was really difficult.

Chen Mo grabbed the ladder’s handrail a little higher up. Xue Ye Hua, being shorter, grabbed a rung just below his. Simultaneously, they both stepped onto the lowest rung of the iron ladder, ready to ascend.

They had barely moved when both their bodies shivered as if a jolt of electricity surged through them.

Climbing a ladder was different from walking. The movements involved much greater amplitude. As Xue Ye Hua lifted her leg, her resilient, rounded buttocks forcefully pressed against Chen Mo’s aroused state below.

Chen Mo, who had only felt superficial stimulation before, was abruptly confronted with this more intense friction. He nearly lost control on the spot.

Both their bodies froze stiffly for a moment. Xue Ye Hua distinctly felt Chen Mo’s reaction intensify further. She knew this situation was becoming very dangerous if they continued.

“Go up.” Xue Ye Hua hurriedly urged.

“Okay.” Chen Mo responded vaguely.

Climbing rung by rung, the short section of ladder required significant effort from both of them to traverse.

Emerging from the manhole, both were panting heavily.

Xue Ye Hua’s face was flushed crimson. This time, I really suffered a big loss, she thought inwardly.

“So, the entire city really is covered in the Crimson Poison Mist,” Chen Mo glanced around, seeing the whole of Eastern Sea City enveloped in the crimson haze.

Eastern Sea City, however, lived up to its status as a Main City. Though vast quantities of Crimson Poison Mist filled the air, numerous buildings repelled it. A faint layer of Magic Barrier protected these structures, preventing the mist from invading.

The NPCs in the city had all retreated into these shielded buildings. Without them, the NPC population would likely have been wiped out by the poison mist.

While the NPCs had few casualties, Chen Mo could tell Eastern Sea City was in serious trouble.

The reason was simple: Players who died and returned to the city couldn’t leave the Resurrection Point. If they stepped out, the Crimson Poison Mist would kill them instantly.

If the Crimson Poison Mist didn’t dissipate, fewer and fewer players would remain outside fighting the sea beasts. When their numbers dwindled beyond a certain point, the beasts would breach the city, leading to its fall to the Sea Clan invaders.

“I’m heading to the City Lord’s Mansion. Want me to find a nearby building to set you down?” Chen Mo scanned the area; there was a structure not far off where someone could hide.

“No, I’m going to the City Lord’s Mansion too,” Xue Ye Hua gritted her teeth.

The loss is already suffered—this bit more distance won’t make it worse. I’ll just pretend what’s pressing against me from behind is a rock, nothing more.

Chen Mo shrugged. Since she put it that way, he wouldn’t go out of his way to be polite.

They moved towards the City Lord’s Mansion, their posture as awkwardly intimate as ever. Luckily, there were no other Players around. With the Crimson Poison Mist obscuring vision, others couldn’t see them anyway. Otherwise, Xue Ye Hua truly would’ve felt too embarrassed to face anyone.

After what felt like an eternity of torment, they finally reached the City Lord’s Mansion.

Naturally, the Crimson Poison Mist couldn’t penetrate the City Lord’s Mansion. They entered the Great Hall on the first floor without issue.

The hall contained many Players who had been trapped by the Crimson Poison Mist outside. When Chen Mo and Xue Ye Hua walked in, the assembled Players were visibly surprised.

“They can move inside that Crimson Poison Mist?”

“Impossible! That mist is deadly—one touch means instant death. They probably just logged in after having logged off right outside the mansion earlier.”

After a brief murmur of discussion, the surrounding Players concluded Chen Mo and Xue Ye Hua had simply logged back into the game and hadn’t moved through the mist directly, dismissing the spectacle quickly.

“Brave Adventurer! You’ve made it! This is wonderful!”

But the NPCs reacted differently. The elderly NPC who had given out the quest saw Chen Mo, his eyes lighting up instantly.

“The enemy’s plan has succeeded! Now the entire Eastern Sea City is covered in a highly toxic mist! If this continues, the Sea Clan invaders are sure to capture the city!”

“Is there any way to clear the poisonous mist from the city?” Chen Mo knew the next step of the quest had arrived and asked quickly. With Sesshylow, he could move within the mist. His chances of completing the quest seemed high. A quest to save the city? Its reward must be substantial!

“Yes!” The NPC elder answered firmly. “Long ago, we anticipated this possibility. That’s why we established a large-scale Wind Magic Array not too far west of Eastern Sea City. Once that array is activated, a powerful westerly wind will blow in, sweeping away this Crimson Poison Mist! In fact, some time ago, we already dispatched people to prepare the activation. But we received word that the Sea Clan invaders have also learned the location of the Wind Magic Array! They’ve sent a significant force intending to sabotage it.”

“My request is that you leave the city immediately and deliver this vital information to our Human Race members who have already rushed to the site. But I fear that by the time a message reaches them, it might already be too late—too much time has already been wasted. The Sea Clan invaders have likely already engaged our people. If that’s the case, please assist by eliminating those Sea Clan invaders! Protect the Wind Magic Array above all! Ensure its successful activation!”

The NPC elder spoke rapidly and urgently, outlining the task in one breath.

System Notification: You have accepted the Quest “Protect the Wind Magic Array”!

Quest: Protect the Wind Magic Array

Quest Difficulty: A-grade

Quest Objective: Proceed to the coordinates (1137, 2053) west of Eastern Sea City. Protect the large Wind Magic Array constructed by the Human Race from the Sea Clan invaders. The quest fails if the Wind Magic Array is destroyed.

Quest Time Limit: None

Quest Reward: One Wind-element Skill Book suited to your Player class.

The reward was a Wind-element Skill Book?

Just reading that, Chen Mo felt a strong surge of desire. Skill Books were undoubtedly among the rarest items in the Game. There were very few ways to acquire them. As for a Wind-element Skill Book for a Hunter? Chen Mo hadn’t just never seen one—he’d never even heard of such a thing existing.

“Take me with you!” Chen Mo looked toward Xue Ye Hua just as she turned to him. She spoke without hesitation. Clearly, she had also received the Quest and was equally drawn by the prospect of the Wind-element Skill Book.

“Let’s go.” Chen Mo didn’t waste words. Together with Xue Ye Hua, they walked to the entrance of the City Lord’s Mansion.

He summoned Sesshylow. Just like before, they assumed their awkward, intimate posture and began moving towards the city gate.

But both of them were now solely focused on the upcoming task. They walked all the way to the city gates without another noticeable reaction between them.

As they exited the main gate of Eastern Sea City, roughly west of the city at coordinates (1137, 2053)…

…two large groups of Players had already gathered near the Wind Magic Array.

“Not good,” muttered Bai Ying of the Eagle Society, his expression grim as he watched Sea Clan Players continuously appear. “We earned extra Points by having the NPCs help us kill monsters and arrived late. Now we don’t have enough time for the NPC to finish activating the Wind Magic Array.”

Just like his group, two other squads had received the same Quest simultaneously. He had assumed that if another squad arrived earlier, his group arriving slightly later wouldn’t be a problem. He hadn’t realized that activating this ancient Wind Magic Array required complicated preparations. Fewer people meant significant difficulties in the activation process. It turned out another squad had also prioritized Points and arrived late like his. The result? Sea Clan invaders were already encircling them, but the magic array showed no signs of being ready to activate.