Chapter 2: Living Life to the Fullest
Walking through Reincarnation Paradise, Su Xiao headed straight for Xia’s restaurant with Bubu Wang in tow.
Previously, Su Xiao had been single-mindedly focused on revenge, but now he realized that revenge seemed to have blinded him.
Revenge could be a conviction, but it could also become a weakness.
Unconsciously, Su Xiao tightened his grip on the sword hilt at his waist. This had originally been merely a means to exact revenge, yet those enemies had already died in Reincarnation Paradise.
Now, holding the sword hilt, Su Xiao suddenly experienced a different kind of insight. Though he couldn’t quite grasp what this insight was at the moment, he had a feeling that his blade technique would improve somewhat in the near future.
Had Su Xiao lost his motivation to move forward after avenging himself? Of course not.
If Su Xiao were still an ordinary person, that might indeed be the case—the emptiness after revenge would haunt him for the rest of his life.
But he was in Reincarnation Paradise, where there was never any room for emptiness or boredom.
One high-risk derivative world after another, all kinds of human cultures and scenes, battles where blood sprayed.
What exactly was Reincarnation Paradise? What was its purpose? And what position did Su Xiao hold within it? All of this was shrouded in fog.
Until he figured these things out, Su Xiao wouldn’t lose his drive to move forward.
“Let me see just how powerful I, as a human being, can become.”
As he walked, Su Xiao suddenly laughed. The gloom of an avenger was gone from his eyes, replaced by sheer, utter coldness and killing intent.
Those who wield blades are skilled in taking lives.
Several contractors passing by Su Xiao instinctively stepped aside, casting wary glances at him.
A wave of malice spread around Su Xiao. Having his great revenge fulfilled wouldn’t change his personality—it would only make him more resolute.
Entering Xia’s restaurant, Xia was listlessly sprawled over a dining table.
“Eggplants, 0.5 Paradise coins per catty. Cucumbers, 0.3 Paradise coins per catty. Lobster, 2.3 Paradise coins per catty. Sigh, lobster is so expensive. Damn it all.”
Xia was deeply troubled. Her restaurant hadn’t had a single customer in two days.
Jingle.
Su Xiao pushed open the restaurant door, and Xia perked up immediately. A customer had arrived.
“Welcome—”
Seeing Su Xiao, Xia’s face lit up with joy, because the money god had arrived.
“Whoa, whoa, what’s with this terrifying aura? The killing intent is almost materialized.”
Xia’s body trembled slightly, like a house cat thrown into a tiger’s cage.
“Killing intent? You mean this?”
Su Xiao’s eyes slightly widened, and a terrifying pressure spread outward.
“I’ve been suppressing this all along. There’s no need for that anymore.”
Su Xiao had long forgotten how many people he had killed. If he released his full aura, all living beings would retreat.
“Looks like you’ve undergone quite a change in the last derivative world.”
Xia grabbed the menu. Having gotten past the initial shock, she was now somewhat accustomed to Su Xiao’s presence.
“I just resolved a ‘weakness.’ And set a new goal.”
“A new goal?”
“That’s right. Aren’t you curious what Reincarnation Paradise really is? How does it operate? And how does it command us to carry out missions?”
“Curious… yes.”
“If you’re curious, then explore it.”
“But… I don’t dare.”
Su Xiao didn’t reply. He simply lit a cigarette.
“I didn’t dare before either. But after learning something, there aren’t many things I fear anymore.”
“You’re not afraid of death?”
“Bullshit. Of course I’m afraid of death. But as long as I die thoroughly and exhilaratingly, what does it matter if I fall in battle? Everyone dies someday. The point is to enjoy the process from birth to death. Otherwise, living is meaningless—just walking dead.”
Su Xiao sat at the table, propping his chin on one hand, thinking about the trial three days from now.
Five hundred contractors who could complete the promotion mission’s test—no need to think twice, the trial was bound to be incredibly lively.
Bubu Wang wasn’t listening to Su Xiao and Xia’s conversation. He was intently studying the menu.
Bubu Wang gave Xia a meaningful look, and the corner of Xia’s rosy lips twitched.
Bubu Wang’s furry paw slapped down on the menu, drawing a circle on it. Question marks seemed to float above Xia’s head.
“This is…?”
Xia was bewildered. Having a “husky” order food in her restaurant was something she initially rejected, and this “husky” often looked down on her.
“Are these the dishes you want?”
Xia asked tentatively.
Bubu Wang glanced at Xia, rolled his eyes, as if to say: ‘I’m giving you a look—figure it out yourself.’
Xia was both helpless and frustrated.
“Everything in the circle he drew.”
Su Xiao tapped the menu. Bubu Wang barked once, then looked back at Xia.
‘Foolish woman, my master truly understands me.’
Xia clenched her slender fists. Counting this time, she had been looked down upon by this “husky” fifteen times.
Xia’s cooking skills were decent, but her shop’s location was terrible, and the signboard was uniquely peculiar.
“Xia’s Season”
That was the name of Xia’s restaurant. Elegant enough, but who the hell would think it was a restaurant?
Su Xiao had found this place because Xia was about to go bankrupt and had to stand at the door personally to find customers.
The first time Su Xiao passed by, Xia suddenly rushed forward and roared: “Customer, want to eat? Spend 20 Paradise coins and get 15% off!”
Her expression didn’t look like she was offering a discount—more like she was about to break Su Xiao’s bones.
……
A lavish meal was served, and Su Xiao and Bubu Wang began to feast.
After eating and drinking their fill, Su Xiao left Xia’s restaurant and returned to his exclusive room.
He needed to tally up the benefits gained from the Steel Alchemy world.
Sitting on the bed, Su Xiao pushed Bubu Wang aside a bit. This guy had been putting on weight ever since becoming a living creature. Now his fur was glossy, and his body was noticeably larger than before.
Bubu Wang ate and then slept, but he would wake up soon. If Su Xiao remembered correctly, in a few hours it would be the time when Bubu Wang was most energetic.
Flipping through Reincarnation Paradise’s records, Su Xiao checked the rewards from the Sin Judgment mission.
The Sin Judgment mission had only been completed at (6/7), which was a pity. At the time, there hadn’t been enough time to kill Pride.
Nothing in the world is perfect. Completing (6/7) was already incredibly lucky.
[Sin Judgment Mission Completed, Completion Rate (6/7). Contractor may choose one of the following options.]
A: Grip of Sloth (Set 1/7), Purple Quality. Detailed attributes viewable after selection.
B: Shadow of Pride (Set 1/7), Purple Quality. Detailed attributes viewable after selection.
C: Flame of Wrath (Set 1/7), Purple Quality. Detailed attributes viewable after selection.
D: Sin Envoy, Purple Quality. Detailed attributes viewable after selection.
E: Perfect Harmony Potion, Enhancement-type Potion. After use: Strength +2, Agility +2, Stamina +2, Intelligence +2, Charm +2.
……
Five options. Options A, B, C, and D were all equipment. The first three were parts of the Original Sin Set. Although Su Xiao had already obtained two pieces of the Original Sin Set, he didn’t plan to choose a third.
The biggest use of the Original Sin Set was to sell it. It was a mage set. Even if he collected all seven pieces, it would be useless to him—at best, he could sell it for a sky-high price.
But before selling it at a sky-high price, collecting all seven pieces would come at a considerable cost.
Option D’s [Sin Envoy] was a single purple-quality piece of equipment. Its attributes were unknown, but it wouldn’t be too bad.
As for Option E, Su Xiao chose it immediately upon seeing it.
What he needed most right now was attributes. Developing four attributes was a heavy burden, and he had to seize every opportunity to improve them.
[Perfect Harmony Potion] appeared in his hand. Su Xiao didn’t use it immediately; he planned to save it for when he was enhancing his attributes.
A boost of 10 attribute points—Su Xiao’s effort in achieving (6/7) on the Sin Judgment mission hadn’t been in vain. After all, his income from one derivative world was only 16 attribute points. This mission’s reward was already comparable to the attribute gains from most of a derivative world.