I Just Won't Play By The Book
chapter-20

[Option One: Approach and help the owner of the bean curd stall. Reward for completion: Breathing Technique of Five Cycles (Black Grade Middle Tier)]

[Option Two: Ask the other stall owners nearby about the reason behind the incident. Reward for completion: Soul Stealing Finger (Yellow Grade Middle Tier)]

[Option Three: Stay away from this place. Reward for completion: Random basic skill point +1]

After so many years of practice and experience, Jiang Beiran knew one thing well, and that was to never underestimate anyone. Even if the other party was an insignificant person with a cultivation level far lower than him. When someone really grew to hate you, it was possible for them to do anything, whether they administered poison, hired an assassin, set up a trap, or whatever else they could think of. In short, it would be impossible to defend oneself against such attempts.

Furthermore, even a single person could pose such a big threat, not to mention a faction. Every faction that managed to survive in a region for a long time more or less had some background or special methods. Otherwise, it would have been destroyed over and over again long ago.

Also, having confirmed that the world was absolutely targeting him, Jiang Beiran knew that the likelihood of events that would normally have a small probability of happening was now infinitely higher. For example, some people looked ordinary on the surface, but secretly had a Mystic King for a brother. These kinds of incidents were just completely unreasonable.

So, for Jiang Beiran, the options he had just encountered in front of him could be said to be commonplace. Almost every town would have a number of rampant landlords or ruthless rogues like these.

Although rogues were sometimes considered a subset of chivalrous heroes, they were actually just a group of scoundrels. Most of the time, they would be bullying the weak by relying upon their physical capabilities and exploiting the residents, but sometimes they would be sentimental and perform the occasional chivalrous act.

When he first encountered these rogues, Jiang Beiran felt that they were like the heroes of Mount Liang [1]. They were the ones helping the people fight against the terrible officials, yet they were also the ones drinking alcohol without paying. Some of the more egregious ones would even open a shop selling buns with human flesh as filling or conduct some other illegal business.

But these incidents did not prevent them from calling themselves chivalrous heroes.

As usual, he quickly chose Option Three. Jiang Beiran grabbed Fang Qiuyao, who was ready to rush forward, and said, "I've said it many times already; without my orders, you must not act rashly."

Fang Qiuyao's face was full of indignation over being held back. She turned around to glare at Jiang Beiran ferociously and then said, "Since you're still a disciple of the Sect of Returning Hearts, isn't it our duty to fight for righteousness!?"

Having expected such reaction from Fang Qiuyao, Jiang Beiran replied, "The reason why your Law Protector entrusted you all to me is that she wants me to teach you how to be chivalrous and fight for righteousness in this Land of Black Dragon."

"Hmph! I think you are just timid and cowardly!" Fang Qiuyao replied.

At that moment, Liu Zijin stepped forward, pulled Fang Qiuyao back, and said, "Qiuyao, we are new here. We are not familiar with the place, and we don't have much worldly experience, so it's better to listen to Brother Jiang first."

"I…" Fang Qiuyao took a deep breath after listening and finally snorted coldly, returning to her initial position. She stood behind Jiang Beiran again with a stern face.

‘Alas, you are still young after all,' Jiang Beiran thought to himself.

Jiang Beiran actually did not really dislike Fang Qiuyao's hotheaded yet warm-hearted nature. After all, it showed that she was very kind at heart. However, it was unfortunately really hard to survive in this chaotic world with kindness alone.

"Let's go. We should not stay long at this place of conflict," he said.

Based on Jiang Beiran's understanding of the system, since Option Three clearly stated he should stay far away from here, it meant that more troublesome things would definitely follow.

Fang Qiuyao snorted coldly again upon hearing this, but she still followed Jiang Beiran as she was forcefully dragged along by Liu Zijin.

Different from the mindsets of both Fang Qiuyao and Liu Zijin, the three Sisters of the Yu family were even more curious about Jiang Beiran at this moment.

One must know that those young talents who followed the women in the past were all eager for more good opportunities like this to show off their skills. Some of them would even direct and perform a good show of fighting for justice, which made the Sisters tremble with laughter as if they were watching a monkey show.

But this Brother Jiang in front of them really had no desire to show off at all, and they did not know whether he was really very wimpy… or was it that he hid his true personality deep down inside?

"I'm really curious!"

The three Sisters of the Yu family locked their eyes on Jiang Beiran's silhouette at the same time.

After turning around several intersections in a row, Jiang Beiran and the others finally found a relatively clean-looking inn. The system's prompt sounded at the same time.

[Chosen Quest completed. Reward: Forging +1]

"Waiter, are there any empty rooms left?"

Walking into the lobby, Jiang Beiran stopped a waiter and spoke to him.

The waiter, who was busy serving wine, was stunned. He had clearly been paying attention to the entrance of the shop at all times, but surprisingly, he completely hadn't noticed these customers coming in.

‘The boss will scold me again if he finds out,' the waiter thought to himself. He snuck a peek at the counter and was relieved to find that the boss didn't seem to be looking in his direction, so he quickly said to Jiang Beiran, "Due to my bad eyesight, I have failed to provide timely service. Please forgive me for the delay. There are still many vacant rooms. Which one would you like to stay in? In this inn, we have Rooms of Heaven Grade, Rooms of Earth Grade, Rooms of Mortal Grade, Side Rooms, Crude Rooms, and Bunkhouses. If you want, I can show you one by one."

Jiang Beiran was just about to open his mouth to reply when he saw three options pop up in front of him.

[Option One: Stay in a Room of Heaven Grade. Reward for completion: Eighteen Breaking Techniques of Cheng (Black Grade High Tier)]

[Option Two: Stay in a Room of Earth Grade. Reward for completion: Sword of Greenish Brightness (Yellow Grade High Tier)]

[Option Three: Stay in a Room of Mortal Grade. Reward for completion: Random basic attribute point +1]

‘It's true that there are always more situations to take advantage of down the mountain. It hasn't been long since we walked into the town and already the options have appeared twice,' Jiang Beiran thought.

Jiang Beiran had encountered these kinds of options several times. The reason why choosing a room could trigger a Black Grade High Tier treasure was also very cliche, and was that it was very likely they would encounter royals and nobles out traveling. Those sorts of people would insist that you give up a specific room for them.

Jiang Beiran had seen this kind of thing too many times in the inn, and these sons of b*tches were also very disgusting. Even if you readily gave the room to them, they would stop you and sneer, "You son of a b*tch. Do you think you are also worthy of staying in a Room of Heaven Grade? You've really dirtied my mood for this outing. How about this; imitate a dog and bark three times, and I will be kind enough to let you go."

And this was not the end. Even if you really gritted your teeth and accepted the humiliation, these people would still find various ways to continue to screw you over. At any rate, they just had to find fault with you, and then look at your miserable appearance and laugh so as to obtain the perverted satisfaction of being superior.

But this was also the reason why Jiang Beiran did not choose to set up a tent outside far away from the crowd but to come to this place where the good and the bad mixed. After all, the attribute points were too attractive. He did not want them to go to waste. Anyway, after so many years, he had not yet encountered a situation whereby all options provided by the system were of high difficulty when dealing with these small daily matters.

After choosing Option Three, Jiang Beiran asked once more regarding the Sisters' intended rooming arrangements and finally settled on getting three rooms. One room was for Jiang Beiran himself, one was for Liu Zijin and Fang Qiuyao, and one was for the three Yu Sisters.

Although Jiang Beiran reminded the three Sisters of the Yu family that the bed in the Room of Mortal Grade certainly could not fit three people in it, they all said they had their own way to make sure they fit, so Jiang Beiran could only agree to it. After all, they could always get another room if it was not big enough.

Led by the waiter, the six people first came to the Room of Mortal Grade for Jiang Beiran.

With a creak, the waiter pushed open the door. The room's simple bedding and the square table with missing corners immediately made the five girls frown in unison.

Without waiting for the girls to complain, Jiang Beiran looked at the waiter first and was just about to tell him to leave them when the options popped up again.

[Option One: Simply tell the waiter to leave. Reward for completion: Total Annihilation of a Thousand Troops (Yellow Grade High Tier)]

[Option Two: Tip the waiter with five coppers. Reward for completion: Random basic attribute point +1]

‘Feels good.'

Jiang Beiran, who had triggered another option, was enjoying it immensely. But at the same time, he also lamented that there were really traps everywhere down the mountain.

The option of tipping the waiter was not one that Jiang Beiran had encountered many times, but judging from his experience, the waiter in front of him was not the main reason for the Yellow Grade High Tier reward. Rather, it was because this act of not tipping him could potentially cause a series of chain reactions that would eventually lead to trouble.

Of course, it was all in Jiang Beiran's mind, after all. He had no intention of tempting death just because of curiosity.

Choosing Option Two, Jiang Beiran took out five coppers from his front pocket and said to the waiter, "Why don't you leave us first? I'll call out for you if we need anything."

The waiter's face filled with pleasant surprise. He accepted the coppers, nodded repeatedly, and said, "Hey, thank you, Mister. If there is something you need, just ring the bell to get my attention. I will be there right away."

"Alright." Jiang Beiran nodded his head.

"Then, Mister, rest well. I'll be on my way."

[1]: The group of protagonists in the famous Chinese literature, Outlaws of the Marsh.