Chapter 105: Here to Boost Reputation

The tragic plight of the old blind man evoked sympathy, yet the challenge Lu Kuan now faced was far graver. As the old blind man had said, the tortoise carrying two riders was naturally much faster than Lu Kuan himself, but it still lagged behind the fishmen swimming at full speed.

Looking back, the shoreline of the island at the lake’s center had become a dark line. A massive horde of fishmen was steadily closing in, their splashing akin to a swarm of goldfish scrambling for food—dense and noisy, their clamorous cries audible from a great distance.

At this pace, it was unlikely the tortoise would reach the opposite shore before these detestable fishmen caught up.

“What the hell? Why are they chasing us? Do they want fishmint or something?” Lu Kuan cursed irritably.

The old blind man shook his head slowly and said with a faint smile, “They’re after me. Yuda harbors a deep hatred towards me; there’s no way he’ll let me leave so easily.”

Sensing the danger, the old man glanced at the advancing fish army and gently tapped the tortoise’s shell. Weakly, he instructed, “Tortoise, head east—there’s a vast shallow swamp there. Once you arrive, run as fast as you can. The fishmen won’t be able to catch you.”

The last part was meant for Lu Kuan, who froze for a moment before a gleam of hope lit his face.

“That’s right—head east! And while we’re at it, let’s wipe out those damned fishmen!” Lu Kuan clenched his fists excitedly and immediately activated his communicator.

“Chubby, chubby, come in!”

“What’s up?” came the quick reply from Chubby. Lu Kuan promptly instructed Dai Guang to notify the three girls and add him to their team.

“Where are you now?” Lu Kuan asked as soon as he joined.

“We’re in Clearwater Village, working on an exploration quest,” Dai Guang replied, sounding upbeat. “This quest is amazing—not only does it grant reputation, it also gives plenty of experience. Haha, I checked with the quartermaster here; once your reputation reaches ‘Respected,’ you can buy blue-grade gear!”

Lu Kuan chuckled. “I’ve got a chance to grind a ton of reputation. Want in?”

The others perked up instantly. Akuai eagerly urged, “Tell us, tell us!”

“It won’t take more than ten minutes before a large group of fishmen appears in the southwestern swamp of Clearwater Village. They’re all quest monsters. Each one you kill grants 1 to 2 reputation points,” Lu Kuan said, glancing back at the relentlessly pursuing fishmen with a relaxed smile. “But there are so many of them—you’ll need to call in more people.”

…

Clearwater Village looked completely different from the day before. Every street and alley was packed with players drawn by the news to grind reputation. The place buzzed with lively chatter, resembling a popular outdoor supply hub.

“Hey, have you heard? A big group of fishmen is showing up in the swamp. Apparently, you can kill them for reputation points.”

“Yeah, right… Reputation quests are usually so tough now. Where would you find such a good deal—just killing monsters to get reputation?”

“Don’t doubt it. That news came from that four-person team! I heard them say someone triggered the quest. It’s a bonus for Clearwater players.”

“You mean the team with the three beauties and the chubby guy? That’s pretty credible… They have the fastest quest progress so far.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

…

The news spread rapidly throughout the village, soon known by all. Dai Guang and his group wielded considerable influence. Thanks to Lu Kuan’s tip, their quest progress far outpaced other players in Clearwater, and their reputation points led by a large margin. As a result, many players responded eagerly to the call.

Meanwhile, atop the lake’s surface, Lu Kuan spotted the marshy shallows not far ahead. Beneath the azure sky, vast stretches of emerald reeds swayed in the breeze, blending seamlessly with the pale blue lake waters—a breathtaking sight.

Behind, the distance between the fish army and the tortoise had shrunk to mere dozens of meters. Lu Kuan could even make out the scales on the leader fishman’s back.

He activated his Arcane Shot once more, standing atop the tortoise’s shell and unleashing a volley of arrows to the rear.

Watching a cluster of shrieking fishmen stagger and fall one after another, red damage numbers bursting across the lake’s surface, Lu Kuan exhaled deeply, a smile spreading across his face. He then leapt down from the tortoise and strode swiftly toward the marsh’s edge.

The tortoise let out a soft cry and dove beneath the surface, its massive form disappearing in an instant.

The fish army followed suit, all landing ashore. Ahead, the infuriating human ranger carried the gravely injured old blind man, desperate and reckless as he plunged into the reeds.

“Wulala!” the fishmen shouted, brandishing weapons as they charged wildly forward. Among them loomed towering figures—higher-level fishman berserkers and shamans—clearly Yuda was determined to capture the old blind man at all costs.

Hundreds of fishmen stormed the shallow marsh, their webbed feet slapping the muddy ground with a “pat-pat” sound like an oncoming thunderstorm, radiating fierce momentum.

Lu Kuan poked his head out from the reeds, almost as if worried the fishmen wouldn’t find him. Poor fishmen—they had decent combat strength but lacked any competent leadership, unwittingly stepping into the carefully laid traps set by the players.

“Attack!”

Suddenly, a voice rang out. The once-quiet reeds flashed brightly as two fiery orange fireballs were hurled, one after another, into the charging fishmen, followed by deafening explosions.

“Boom!”

“Bang!”

Mud splattered everywhere, thick smoke billowed, and the sky was filled with the fishmen’s frantic screams—what a chaotic scene.

“Haha, reputation for sure!”

“Who the hell is this? Weren’t we supposed to surround and kill them first?”

“Surround what? Everyone, charge! Reputation points mean gear upgrades!”

“Charge, charge, charge!”

Players who had been lying in ambush burst forth, weapons raised, charging straight into the disoriented fish army. The vanguard forces clashed instantly, erupting into fierce combat.

“Ouch!”

“Cut them down!”

“Who the hell shot me in the ass?!”

“Gulawala!”

…

The battle raged fiercely, neither side yielding. The fishmen held numerical superiority, with reinforcements continually flowing from the lake. The players, however, had higher levels. Still, it was only a matter of time before the fishmen were wiped out.

More and more players from Clearwater Village caught wind of the battle in the marsh and hurried toward the scene without pause.

No matter how many fishmen came, they could never satisfy the players’ appetite for this “feast of reputation.”

At this moment, Lu Kuan was already carrying the old blind man away from the marsh, running headlong toward Clearwater Village.