Chapter 25

Chapter 25

[Ding! Random mission triggered!]

[Mission: Rat Granny]

[Mission Objective: Survive Rat Granny’s pursuit… actually, let’s just try to keep her alive a little longer.]

[Mission Reward 1: 0 Points]

[Mission Reward 2: 0 EXP]

[Mission Reward 3: Ghost-grade random item x1]

“Young man, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What is it? Just say the word.” Liu Ye thought to himself that this was perfect timing; it was a great chance to build a good relationship with his neighbor.

The Shadow Fiend emerged from the room at that moment. Upon hearing the old woman’s words, it began frantically gesturing to her.

Seeing the Shadow Fiend’s behavior, the Rat Hag let out a cold snort in her heart.

It seemed this kid had been targeted by the Shadow Fiend. But so what? First come, first served.

She knew the Shadow Fiend had a time limit for its kills, so she had plenty of time.

With that thought, she said to Liu Ye, “Young man, the lightbulb in my room is burnt out. Could you help me change it?”

“Of course!” Liu Ye agreed immediately.

He followed the Rat Hag into her apartment.

The Shadow Fiend was speechless. *Why are you seeking death for no reason?*

Sensing that things were about to go south, it hurried downstairs to find the driver and the Building Manager.

Meanwhile, Liu Ye followed the Rat Hag inside. The first thing he saw was a memorial shrine. Rotting fruit sat upon the altar, and in the center stood a black-and-white funeral portrait.

The person in that portrait was none other than the Rat Hag standing right next to him!

Liu Ye’s expression changed instantly upon seeing the photo.

“Gra… Granny… this photo…”

“What’s wrong with the photo?” the Rat Hag asked slowly. Behind Liu Ye’s back, the old woman’s face was suddenly covered in black fur.

“This photo… this photo…”

The Rat Hag’s hands transformed into sharp claws, slowly reaching toward Liu Ye’s neck.

“This photo is honestly shot quite poorly!”

Rat Hag: “…”

Her movements froze instantly.

Liu Ye took a few steps forward, picked up the photo, and clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Granny, where did you get this taken? Look at what they did to you-it’s so ugly! My god, you really have a good temper to even frame this. If it were me, I’d beat the crap out of the photographer!”

Rat Hag: “…”

*Is this kid a bit slow? Can’t you tell this is a funeral portrait?*

“Do you… know what this photo is for?” the Rat Hag asked uncertainly.

“I know, of course I know. It’s a commemorative photo, right? My great-grandma used to take one every year.”

Rat Hag: “…”

*Every year? Is your great-grandma even normal?*

At that moment, a look of nostalgia appeared on Liu Ye’s face. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since he’d seen his great-grandmother.

He still remembered when she came to visit him. He had personally cooked for her; it was the first meal he had ever made. His great-grandmother was so moved she cried after eating it.

She said something about it being ‘to die for’… right, it was so delicious it was ‘to die for’!

He had been so excited then. He decided right then and there that he would become a Chef when he grew up and cook for her every day!

But unfortunately, ‘the child wishes to provide but the parent is gone.’ On the very day she finished that meal, she passed away!

He remembered it clearly. His great-grandmother was such a good person; the villagers cried so hard they were practically convulsing.

Back then, they were probably afraid their grieving faces would scare him, so the entire village collectively disappeared for over a month.

Tears began to stream from Liu Ye’s eyes. He missed his great-grandmother!

Seeing Liu Ye cry, the Rat Hag sneered internally. So the kid was just faking it; she thought he really wasn’t afraid.

With that thought, the ghostly qi on her body dispersed, and rats began to gather from all directions.

“Squeak, squeak, squeak…”
An ocean of rats swarmed in, a sight so dense it made one’s skin crawl.

Rat Granny was eagerly anticipating the look on Liu Ye’s face. Liu Ye, for his part, suddenly heard a chorus of squeaking. He turned his head and found countless rats perched on the furniture, their green eyes fixed intently on him.

“Holy crap!” Liu Ye cried out in alarm.

Rat Granny was overjoyed. He was afraid! Now she could begin her feast!

Just as she was about to move, she saw Liu Ye speak with sudden excitement.

“Granny, you have so many field mice in your house! These are good stuff. Tell you what, Granny, I’m going to show off a little today. I’ll make you a famous dish from Northern Fujian-Three Squeaks!”

“Three Squeaks?”

Rat Granny had truly never heard of the term.

Seeing that Rat Granny didn’t know what Three Squeaks was, Liu Ye quickly explained.

“The so-called Three Squeaks is also known as the Three-Squeak Rat. You use red-hot iron-tipped chopsticks to grab a live baby rat, and it lets out a ‘squeak.’ Then you dip it into the sauce, and it lets out another ‘squeak.’ Finally, when you put the little rat into your mouth, it lets out a final ‘squeak.’ That’s why it’s called Three Squeaks… Hey? Granny, why are you shivering?”

Rat Granny looked at Liu Ye in horror. How could there be such a wicked, cruel person in this world!

She decided. She had to kill him! She absolutely had to kill him!!!

She let out a sharp whistle, and all the rats instantly lunged at Liu Ye like a disciplined army.

However, a spray bottle appeared in Liu Ye’s hand out of nowhere. With a gentle mist into the air, all the rats shrieked and collapsed to the floor.

“Granny, this is a great medicine I brought from my hometown. Just one spray and all the rats immediately lose their ability to move.”

Rat Granny clutched her throat, her hand trembling as she reached out behind Liu Ye.

“Sigh, I have to say, the countryside isn’t like you city folks with all your fancy things. When I was a kid, getting a bit of meat was like celebrating the New Year.”

Rat Granny had already collapsed onto the sofa, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly. *Look at me! Look at me!!!* But Liu Ye just kept on rambling.

“In our countryside, field mice are considered pretty decent meat. We didn’t have much back then, so sometimes we’d just take a wooden stick, skewer it from the rear through the mouth, and roast it over a fire. When the skin got charred and crispy, it was ready. Sprinkle a bit of salt and honey on it, take a bite… man, that was delicious. Granny…”

Liu Ye turned around and found that Rat Granny had already fallen asleep on the sofa.

“Oh boy, they aren’t kidding when they say old people sleep a lot. But Granny sure is big-hearted. I’m a stranger in her house and she dares to just nap like that. What if she ran into a bad person?”

Liu Ye shook his head. He didn’t see any blankets in the room and realized Rat Granny lived a rather frugal life. So, he pulled a thin quilt out of his bundle and draped it over Rat Granny’s body.

*Boom!*

The moment the thin quilt touched her, Rat Granny felt as if her body was being crushed by a massive mountain. Every bone in her body shattered.

Spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood, she instantly reverted to her original form-a giant rat.

It tried to open its mouth to beg Liu Ye for mercy, but Liu Ye was busy carrying the rats from the floor into the kitchen.

Its trembling hand reached out one last time before dropping in despair.

[Quest “Rat Granny” completed. Starting settlement…]

[Quest Reward 1: 0 Points earned]

[Quest Reward 2: 0 Experience points earned]

[Quest Reward 3: Pastoral Flute (Ghost)]

[Personal Performance: It didn’t hold out for very long in the end. Personal Performance: S+. Bonus Reward: Title: Fiend Slayer!]

A moment later, Shadow Fiend and the other two hurried into Rat Granny’s room.

As soon as they opened the door, they saw Liu Ye coming out of the kitchen carrying a pot.

“Oh, perfect timing. Come have a bite.”

The three Fiends: “!!!”