As soon as the bandages fell off, Xu Que found himself completely naked, with only a layer of sticky ointment clinging to his skin.
"You're still badly injured! The doctor said you must stay on medication for a month, so why did you remove the bandages yourself?"Outside, Xiao Rou's voice came, reproachful, but she didn't dare enter the room.
Xu Que hurriedly grabbed the tattered quilt on the bed, wrapped it around himself, cleared his throat, and said, "Xiao Rou, I'm fine, it's just some superficial wounds. It's nothing serious. Could you find me some clothes?"There was a brief silence, then Xiao Rou's voice replied, "…Wait a moment!"Afterward, Xu Que could hear her footsteps fading away.
Xu Que grinned, sitting back on the bed while waiting for Xiao Rou to bring him some clothes. However, the medicinal smell clinging to his body was unbearable, and he frowned.
Yet, after waiting for quite some time—about ten minutes—Xiao Rou still hadn't returned.Xu Que grew anxious. Could she have thought he was making a move on her and run off to get help? Damn, that would be a big misunderstanding!
Hastily wrapping the quilt around himself more securely, Xu Que jumped out of bed and sneaked to the door, cracking it open slightly.Looking outside, he realized that he was in a small, poor village. There were several similarly shabby huts across from him, and the street was covered in yellow dust, not even paved with stone, making it easy for dust to rise into the air.
Although the environment was a bit backward, it had a certain charm—close to nature and peaceful, making it a good place for retirement.But at this moment, the village was eerily quiet, and there wasn't a single person in sight.
"Strange. Just a moment ago, there were sounds. Why is it so quiet now, and where is Xiao Rou?"He furrowed his brows, preparing to open the door and investigate.Suddenly, a rapid series of footsteps approached, kicking up dust on the ground.A group of village men was seen hurrying from the fields, holding various farming tools and rushing towards him.
Xu Que's eyes widened in shock. "Damn, are they coming to fight me?""Quick, don't let that beast harm our villagers!" shouted one of the burly men.
Xu Que's mouth twitched. "Beast? Who the hell are you calling a beast?"
"Bang!"He kicked open the door, revealing his naked body wrapped in nothing but a tattered quilt, looking utterly ridiculous.
Before he could even shout in anger, the group of men froze in their tracks, staring at Xu Que with confusion."Hey, little guy, how come you're out of bed?""Yeah! Didn't the doctor say you're seriously injured? Go back and lie down, this is none of your business. We'll handle that beast ourselves.""Yeah, yeah, go back and rest. Don't catch a cold!"
Xu Que was dumbfounded, his mouth hanging open as the men gently ushered him back into the house.What the hell? They're not attacking me? Damn it, I thought they were coming for me!
But if they weren't yelling at me, then who's the beast they were talking about? Xiao Rou hasn't come back...Xu Que suddenly panicked. "Wait, what's going on? Where's Xiao Rou?"The burly men stopped in their tracks, startled. "Huh? Little guy, you don't know what happened?""A wild beast came down from the mountain just now, trying to attack the villagers. Xiao Rou saw it and asked us to help. We didn't know until Wang's daughter came to tell us, so we're headed to help.""Yeah, yeah, don't delay! Go back and rest, little guy. After we deal with that beast, we're having a feast to celebrate, a meat banquet!"
The men finished talking and enthusiastically headed to the village entrance with their tools."Wild beast?"Xu Que stood frozen for a moment, then quickly ran to a wooden cabinet, grabbed a red cloth, wrapped it around his waist, tied it tightly, and then wrapped himself in the quilt before rushing towards the village entrance.
He decided to help, though he didn't know what kind of beast it was. But judging by how many men were rushing to help, it must be a formidable creature. Plus, Xiao Rou was out there, so he had to go. If the situation allowed, he could even show off and earn some more Show-off Points.
Xu Que was fast, the quilt fluttering in the wind behind him, and the red cloth around his waist made him look like a beggar version of Superman.Whoosh!In just a few moments, Xu Que overtook the men, zipping past them in a flash and causing them to freeze in shock."Whoa! How is this kid running so fast? He doesn't look like an injured person!""Could he be a disciple from some martial sect?"
"Ding! Congratulations, host 'Xu Que,' on performing an invisible show-off. You have earned 5 Show-off Points."
Xu Que was momentarily stunned. "Wait, when did I show off?"Then he quickly realized: invisible show-off? He'd done it without even noticing! And the reward was 5 Show-off Points—way more than usual!
As the saying goes, "Invisible show-off is the most lethal!"
...After running along a small path, Xu Que saw a crowd gathered near the village entrance. Villagers of all ages were standing together, shouting and occasionally yelling at something with anger and fear.Xu Que peered through the crowd and saw a few strong men in a standoff with a massive wild beast.
The beast's size was enormous, about the size of a black cow, muscular and fierce, with the head of a tiger. When it roared, its sharp teeth gleamed menacingly, terrifying anyone who looked at them.But the men didn't retreat, standing bravely with their hoes in hand, facing the beast head-on.
Xu Que immediately shouted, "Let go of that beast!"Whoosh!In an instant, the crowd turned their attention to him.Xu Que hurriedly tightened the quilt around himself and added, "Let me handle it!"
"Ah... What are you doing here?" A surprised voice came from the crowd—it was Xiao Rou.The other villagers, seeing Xu Que, immediately turned pale and anxiously called out, "Little brother, go back! You shouldn't be out here, you might get hurt by the beast again.""Yeah! You're still injured! Go back!"
Xu Que was blocked by the villagers before he could show off, causing him to become frustrated. "Listen, folks, no time to explain! Let me take care of that beast!"But the villagers ignored him, blocking his path firmly and not letting him pass.An elderly man hobbled forward with a cane and said kindly, "Little one, we know your heart is in the right place, but you're hurt, and your body is too weak. You can't take on that beast. Listen to us, don't try to be brave. Look at how badly Big Zhuang and the others were injured."
Xu Que stared wide-eyed. "Old man, don't let my appearance fool you! I've fought hundreds of beasts alone! Just ask Xiao Rou!""Ah?"Xiao Rou was confused. "I thought you said there were dozens?"
"Boom!"Suddenly, a loud crash echoed.The ground shook as several of the men who had been standing in front of the beast were sent flying. The dust settled, revealing bloodied figures.
The villagers around Xu Que were horrified, staring at the scene with their faces changing color.Through the dissipating dust, a massive, dark beast leaped out, roaring towards them!
"Roar!"The roar of the beast was filled with an overwhelming, terrifying force that stopped everyone in their tracks.Xiao Rou's face went white, and in her pupils, a pair of menacing claws grew larger by the second.
The powerful wind pressure from the beast's leap blasted away the dust like a piercing winter gale, threatening to tear Xiao Rou's delicate body apart.
"Not good.""Xiao Rou, get out of the way!""We're doomed!"The villagers cried out in panic, foreseeing the bloody scene about to unfold.
In a split second, a figure shot out from the crowd like lightning. Xu Que, wearing his "red underwear" and his "cape" flapping in the wind, charged at Xiao Rou with heroic speed!