mchenry-crisis.org Is there really a hidden plot in Chapter 168?
Is there really a hidden plot in Chapter 168?
After the woman finished singing, she bowed and took her leave. A waiter from the teahouse quickly stepped forward and collected all the coins and flowers that had been scattered like raindrops.
Her sorrowful gaze swept across the room before finally falling sadly.
Seeing this, some players rushed forward eagerly, trying to trigger the quest.
Chen You saw that they talked with the woman for a while and then dispersed with either joy or indignation, clearly indicating that they had received a mission.
"Is there really no other way?" Chen You frowned slightly.
"Fine, let's just go through the normal procedures then."
He walked slowly to the front of the stage.
"Young lady, is something troubling you?"
Cai Wenjuan raised her eyes, and the moment her eyes met Chen You's, a strange fluctuation seemed to flash across them.
She gave a slight curtsy, her voice tinged with a sob.
"My name is Cai Wenjuan. I came to Qianguang City with my beloved three years ago."
He originally said he would find a job in the city lord's mansion, and then come to marry me after he achieved fame and success.
"But now, he hasn't shown up for a long time, only sending someone to deliver a letter saying... that I shouldn't wait anymore."
By the end, her voice was breaking into sobs.
Chen You thought to himself, "This script is really melodramatic."
Cai Wenjuan continued her performance, oblivious to everything else.
"This humble woman...this humble woman only wishes to ask whether that heartless man truly works in the City Lord's Mansion? This humble woman is truly unable to enter and verify this."
"Young master, could you please help me deliver this reply to the city lord's mansion and give it to that heartless man?"
[Ding! You have triggered the side quest "He Must Love You Very Much". Do you wish to accept?]
Chen You glanced at the mission information; it was simply to deliver a letter.
This task is ridiculously easy.
"I accept." Chen You nodded.
What he needs to do now is to quickly complete this so-called "opening mission" and then go grind the dungeon.
After receiving the letter from Cai Wenjuan, which even had tear stains on the seal, Chen You turned and left the teahouse.
Just as Chen You was about to summon the White Rabbit, his gaze inadvertently caught sight of a figure.
It was an NPC dressed in a gray short-sleeved shirt and wearing a headscarf, running past in a hurry.
"Hmm?" Chen You raised an eyebrow slightly.
He has an exceptional memory; while waiting for Cai Wenjuan, he had glanced at the street scene.
This NPC seems to have... run around once?
Something is wrong!
It is definitely not normal random behavior for an ordinary NPC to run in the same direction twice within the same period of time at the same pace.
There should be certain conditions that trigger it.
Could it be because another player had previously accepted the "He Must Love You" quest and triggered it once, and then you accepted the quest and triggered it again?
Chen You was startled for no apparent reason.
This side quest, from its initial melodramatic plot to the bizarre, repetitive paths taken by the NPCs, feels so out of place.
There must be something hidden here!
The players before clearly hadn't noticed this layer.
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen You transformed into a blur and caught up with the NPC who had been running past. With a sidestep, he blocked the NPC at the intersection.
"Brother, what brings you in such a hurry?" Chen You asked.
The NPC was startled when he was suddenly stopped.
There was no mission marker above his head, but a dialogue box appeared after Chen You spoke.
Old Wang (in a panic): "Oh dear! Sir, you've startled me! I'm in a hurry to find a doctor in the west of the city!"
Chen You observed the NPC's expression and found that although there was panic in his eyes, there was also a hint of fatigue and anxiety hidden deeper inside.
"Looking for a doctor? Is someone in your family suddenly ill?" Chen You asked, following up on the conversation.
Old Wang (sighing): "That's right! A couple of days ago, I saw a man at the city gate who was dressed in rags and looked haggard. He looked like he had just come from some remote mountain village and had wandered here."
"Seeing how pitiful he was, I took him home, intending to keep him for a while."
"Who knew that early this morning, he suddenly vomited blood and his face turned ashen, which frightened the little boy so much that he rushed to find a doctor."
"Sigh, what a pitiful person. I wonder if they'll make it through."
A homeless man? Spitting blood? His face was ashen?
"Where is he now?" Chen You asked in a somber tone.
Intimidated by Chen You's imposing presence, NPC Lao Wang subconsciously pointed to a slightly dark alley not far away.
"It's...it's in my house. Do you, sir, know medicine? If you can save his life, I will be eternally grateful!"
Chen You nodded and said no more.
He walked toward the alley that Old Wang had pointed out.
Seeing this, Old Wang was puzzled, but he could only hurry to catch up.
Deep in the alley, a dilapidated wooden door was half-open, and a faint smell of mildew and blood wafted out.
As Chen You stepped into the courtyard, Old Wang quickly opened the door and led Chen You into the house.
The room was small, simply furnished, and dimly lit.
On a dilapidated wooden bed lay a emaciated man.
His face was pale, a trace of dark red blood remained at the corner of his mouth, his eyes were closed, and his breathing was weak.
"My lord, it's him."
Old Wang pointed at the person on the bed, his voice filled with obvious anxiety and a hint of helplessness.
Chen You walked to the bedside and his gaze fell on the homeless man's face.
This name... Du Chedi?
Chen You's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
Not simple! Absolutely not simple!
He activated the "Seeing the Heart Through Qi" skill.
In an instant, the aura of decay surrounding Du Chedi became unmistakable to Chen You.
It was not the deathly aura of disease, but a profound, almost tangible despair and despondency.
Although his vitality was weak, it had not completely dissipated; instead, there was a kind of deathly stillness of "no will to live".
"I see," Chen You thought to himself.
This isn't an illness; it's clearly a mental one.
Moreover, this mental illness almost cost him his life.
Seeing that Chen You remained silent, Old Wang assumed he was at a loss and anxiously asked, "Sir, but... but is he beyond saving?"
Chen You withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "It's alright."
He took out a Qi-nourishing pill from his backpack.
The pure white pills emitted a faint medicinal fragrance.
Old Wang was stunned: "What...what is this?"
He had never seen such exquisite elixirs.
Chen You ignored him, pried open Du Chedi's mouth, and stuffed the Peiyuan Pill inside.
The elixir melts instantly upon entering the mouth.
Almost instantly, Du Chedi's body changed.
His pale face visibly regained its color, and his breathing became steady and strong.
Even that gloomy aura seemed to be dispelled by an invisible force, replaced by a gentle and vibrant light.
"This..." Old Wang's eyes widened, his jaw almost dropping in shock.
This isn't just treating a doctor; it's practically a miracle cure!
Du Chedi suddenly opened his eyes. He looked around in confusion, then looked at his own body.
He felt a warm current flowing through his body, as if a dried-up river had been revitalized.
Looking at Chen You again, she realized that it was this person who had saved her.
He tried to get up, but he fell back onto the bed with a painful groan.
"My lord, please forgive me for not being able to thank you with a bow."
Du's voice was hoarse, and an apologetic look appeared on his face.
"Three years ago, I suffered a terrible misfortune, and since then..."
He struggled to sit up, threw off the tattered blanket, revealing a mutilated leg.
Chen You instantly understood.
That name, those legs... could it be a car accident?