Chapter 20 Apple Cider's Bad Mood

Apple Cider was in a foul mood. The Young Master Elite Group was correct in guessing that he had used the Wind Chasing Emblem's teleportation function to escape, but the truth was that Apple Cider hadn't acquired the Wind Chasing Emblem for very long. The fact that he hadn't lost a level despite PK-ing over 1,600 times wasn't solely due to the Wind Chasing Emblem's protection; it was more thanks to the special environment of his main city, Cloudmist City.

However, after obtaining the Wind Chasing Emblem, he realized that this teleportation function was a shortcut for escaping critical situations. So, he hung onto a completed quest for emergencies. Today's teleportation during the fight with Sword Demon was actually the first time Apple Cider had used this function to escape.

Apple Cider's bad mood stemmed from this very fact.

He enjoyed the thrill of PK-ing and killing, the intense excitement during PKs. For him, figuring out how to escape after a defeat was also a thrilling and interesting matter. Using the teleportation meant he had been forced into a situation where he had no other means of escape. For Apple Cider, this was embarrassing and shameful.

"Damn it..." Apple Cider cursed sullenly, his hand involuntarily touching his back where Sword Demon had stabbed him. Because he hadn't died but teleported, the stinging sensation still lingered on his back. His hand came back covered in blood, making Apple Cider grit his teeth again.

He glanced at the coordinates on the Wind Chasing Emblem and adjusted his direction. Han Family's Young Master hadn't guessed wrong on this point. Since he possessed the Wind Chasing Emblem, although he was reluctant to use its function, Apple Cider still kept a quest active, which reassured him. Deep down, besides the embarrassment, shame, and anger, Apple Cider felt a hint of elation and smugness for using the teleportation to escape.

"He definitely didn't expect that I didn't actually die." This was the biggest consolation Apple Cider currently had.

"Sword Demon, you just wait, I'll be back soon." After checking the coordinates displayed on the Wind Chasing Emblem, Apple Cider took out a scroll, unfolded it, and glared at Sword Demon's ID and the string of fluctuating coordinates after it.

This was exactly the trap Ye Xiaowu and the others had set when they first met Sword Demon in the forest.

Skill Scroll: Unescapable Mark.

This was a priest skill. Once cast, the target would be branded with the Unescapable Mark, and the caster could check their coordinates at any time. Ye Xiaowu and the others were using a one-time skill scroll, so the coordinates were displayed through the scroll.

This mark was persistent. To maintain it, the caster needed to continuously inject mana. During this time, neither moving nor consuming fruits to replenish mana would interrupt the skill, which was different from ordinary skills. For scrolls, it was necessary to consume new scrolls to maintain it. Theoretically, both methods could track the target permanently.

To remove this spell, the mark would be washed away if the caster voluntarily gave up, if the target, caster, or scroll user died, or if they logged off. Besides that, teleportation over extremely long distances by the mark carrier could also interrupt the tracking.

But none of these situations were likely to occur right now. Apple Cider had already decided that after completing the current wanted mission, he would immediately continue chasing after Sword Demon and fight him again.

Apple Cider hurried on his way. Since Shadowmist City was also an unfamiliar place to him, chasing the coordinates was quite troublesome, and he often strayed off course. Apple Cider patiently pursued, and after checking the coordinates again and comparing them with his own position, he confirmed that the target was not far ahead. Quickening his pace, he even saw a guy with a number above his head at the street corner.

"Finally found him!" Apple Cider breathed a sigh of relief, his dagger already in his hand. He was extremely familiar with ambushes. Even without the cover of dense fog in Shadowmist City, he could find inconspicuous angles. Apple Cider stared intently at his target, stepping forward, forward…

"So exciting!" A fiery light appeared in Apple Cider's eyes. He loved the feeling of having his prey in his grasp while the other person remained oblivious. The look of panic, fear, and disbelief in their eyes when the dagger pierced their body would give Apple Cider immense satisfaction.

"Buddy, I'm coming!" Apple Cider muttered in his heart. Suddenly, he prepared a Swift Assault to swiftly approach the man from behind, but before he could rush out of the street corner, a warrior who looked like a middle-aged uncle sunbathing suddenly attacked him from the roadside.

A Charge lunged out diagonally, and Apple Cider canceled his Swift Assault.

"He's a master!" Apple Cider judged in his heart. If he didn't cancel Swift Assault, the two would collide head-on at this speed. When a charging rogue collides with a charging warrior, the rogue only needs to think about how to spell the word 'death.'

But if he switched from Swift Assault to normal speed, the opponent's Charge would pass by faster, and he could even seize the opportunity to smack him on the back of the head. Apple Cider was already reaching for his big stick in his pocket while calculating. He didn't think too much about who this person was or why he was ambushing him. Since he was the one who enjoyed doing this kind of thing, he wouldn't consider the reasons; he would just beat them down first.

Unexpectedly, when the warrior saw Apple Cider cancel his Stealth, he also stopped his Charge. Apple Cider had the big stick in his hand but was facing the warrior head-on, unable to land a Stun.

The warrior held a sword in each hand, and they swung at Apple Cider in a crisscross pattern. Apple Cider dodged and retreated two steps, quickly activating Stealth. But before he could fully disappear, he saw the warrior wave his hand. Apple Cider didn't know what kind of attack it was, but he reflexively ducked his head to avoid it. As a result, a handful of white powder flew at his face. Apple Cider's head wasn't hit, but his entire body was covered in it.

"Fuck..." Apple Cider realized that he had already activated Stealth, but the white powder on his body didn't follow him into the Stealth mode. Stealth became meaningless, and he was completely exposed to the opponent's eyes.

If the Stealth was worse than not using it, Apple Cider hastily canceled Stealth and dodged the warrior's oncoming attack again.

Shadow Footwork!

Apple Cider, who had crawled and rolled his way through countless PKs, wouldn't panic so quickly. He continued to use his skills methodically. Once Shadow Footwork was activated, all the opponent saw was an afterimage, and Apple Cider had already flashed behind him, with a dagger in his right hand and the big stick in his left.

Backstab! Stun, then Backstab again!

Using the control time of the Stun to wait for the Backstab skill's cooldown to recover, forming a double-hit of Backstab. This was Apple Cider's usual method of ambushing. Since he didn't have the Ambidextrous skill, he couldn't use the Stun with his left hand. In the process, he needed to quickly switch his right hand with the left hand after using Backstab. Apple Cider had practiced this technique until it was extremely skilled, and the Stun-enhancing equipment extended the time the opponent was stunned, allowing him to perfectly welcome the cooldown of Backstab.

Combined with Shadow Footwork to unexpectedly flash behind the opponent, this could be said to be a perfect killing move.

However, this time Apple Cider experienced the feeling of imperfection. Just as he flashed behind his opponent and delivered the Stun, the opponent's skill was already activated!

Whirlwind Slash.

Although the warrior class had evolved to level 40 and had class changes, this level 30 skill was still the strongest attack skill for warriors. Apple Cider instantly felt the sharp blade cut into his body. Although his Backstab had perfectly hit the opponent, what did a Backstab matter to a strong warrior?

Apple Cider couldn't continue his skilled series of attacks at all. Whirlwind Slash made him unable to control his direction. Apple Cider's weak rogue body was instantly flung into the air. The Whirlwind Slash was like a home run, smashing Apple Cider directly against the wall.

Apple Cider felt like his whole body was falling apart. This Whirlwind Slash was definitely a heavy blow. What was even more infuriating was that the warrior immediately stopped the skill after succeeding, not wasting any energy, and gave Apple Cider a thumbs up, saying, "You're the first one to take my Whirlwind Slash at such close range. You're a real man, I admire you."

"Who are you..." Apple Cider was finally curious about this question because he had realized that the opponent wasn't just PK-ing for fun like him; the opponent was clearly targeting him.

Because the opponent had a complete defense against his Shadow Footwork skill. The moment Apple Cider used Shadow Footwork to switch positions, his Whirlwind Slash was already ready, clearly knowing that he would appear behind him.

Shadow Footwork wasn't a well-known skill. Yet, this warrior was fully prepared for it. Being so targeted, this warrior was obviously someone who had learned about Apple Cider's information beforehand.

Moreover, this guy was very experienced. If he had activated Whirlwind Slash the moment Apple Cider used Shadow Footwork, it was very likely that Apple Cider would have been caught in his blades before he could get behind him. Although he wouldn't have been hurt, Apple Cider might have noticed it early and canceled the skill.

So, he deliberately delayed it for a moment.

Just that moment allowed him to take Apple Cider's Backstab, but Apple Cider ate a full Whirlwind Slash. Now, one was half-dead in the corner, and the other was swaggering in the middle of the street. The victory and defeat were obvious at a glance.

"Why aren't you flying away yet? I heard you have a Wind Chasing Emblem, you can fly away with a 'Biu' sound, hurry up, fly one so I can see." The warrior continued to gloat.

"Damn it..." Apple Cider gritted his teeth. He had lost, but how could he lose to such a tasteless guy? His PK style was mainly based on ambushes, which could be said to be despicable, but winning gave him a sense of satisfaction. He would never be so arrogant. This guy was really perverted.

"But, he really knows me well..." Apple Cider looked at the perverted uncle in front of him and suddenly nodded, "Are you Zhan Wu Shang from the Young Master Elite Group?"

"Not bad, you actually know my grandpa's famous name, I must praise you again." Zhan Wu Shang nodded with satisfaction.

"The number one warrior in online games? I spit on that!" Apple Cider spat at Zhan Wu Shang.

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Once, Hu Die got drunk and felt terrible the next day. Seeing a bottle of apple cider vinegar on the table, she drank it, and then felt even worse. That day, a character named Apple Cider appeared in the novel. Apple Cider, that's how you came to be, can you blame me?