Chapter 10: A Hidden Character in the New Version? Old Lu Takes an Apprentice

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NPC: Lu Yuan [Chief Constable of Wangyou County]
Level: 0 [No Grade]
Race: ?
Strength: ???
Defense: ???
HP: ???
Stamina: ???
Mana: 0

"Huh? Why is this NPC's data panel full of question marks?"
"This isn't right."
"The official website announcement says that specific data is only hidden if the level difference is greater than ten."
"What's going on here?"
"Aren't we all level zero?"
"Why can't we see the specific stats for this NPC, Lu Yuan?"

A player rubbed his eyes, staring at the data panel in front of him in disbelief. He even wondered if he had "taken off" a few too many times today. Was he hallucinating?

"No, look, his mana value is actually displayed."
"That means his data is normal—it's not a bug, and it's not hidden due to level difference."
"Maybe it's temporarily restricted from public view for some reason."
"Perhaps he's a hidden character for the next update?"

Within the crowd, a player spotted the anomaly in Lu Yuan's stats. If it were a level-based restriction, Lu Yuan's data panel wouldn't show a mana value at all. This implied that Lu Yuan, this novice village NPC, was very likely a hidden character for a future version of the game. If that were the case, then Lu Yuan was someone of great importance.

"A character for the next update?"
"Hey, buddy, isn't that a bit of a stretch?"
"The servers just opened. We're already seeing a character for the next update?"
"That seems unlikely."

A player nearby voiced his disagreement. He felt the probability was far too low because the game had only just launched. If a character from the next version appeared the moment the servers went live, it would be far too rushed. The players had only just created their characters, and the first major boss was already showing up in the starter village? That would be impossible to play.

"Brother, you're forgetting one thing."
"The freedom in this game is absolute."
"The official announcement stated clearly that the unveiling of new versions is discovered by the players themselves."
"It's just like hidden quests."
"Whether or not a new version can be triggered is entirely uncertain."
"Since it's uncertain, why all the fuss about discovering a character for the next version ahead of time?"
"Games are meant to be played with your brain."

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"Damn it, discuss the game if you want to discuss the game, but what's with the personal attack?"
"Does not having a brain mean I'm not qualified to play?"
"Hmph, you can't talk to a summer insect about ice."
"Are you cursing at me?"
...

"Clang, clang, clang..."
Lu Yuan returned home from work. Before he could even step inside, he heard the sound of hammering coming from the courtyard. He sighed, pushed the door open, and saw a stranger standing before the furnace. Lu Yuan was stunned. Who was this?

In front of the furnace, "I Love A Stick of Firewood," who was busy hammering, sensed Lu Yuan's gaze and stopped his work to look over.

"You are? The Master's son?"
"I Love A Stick of Firewood" looked him over, and suddenly, realization dawned on him.
"Are you the apprentice that Old Lu took in?"
"An 'Outworlder'?"

Lu Yuan stepped forward, subconsciously checking the stranger's data panel.

Player: I Love A Stick of Firewood [Blacksmith Apprentice]
Level: 1 [No Grade]
Race: Human
Strength: 10
Defense: 10
HP: 10
Stamina: 10
Mana: 0
Talent · Precision Forging: Passive skill. Reduces material consumption by 10% when participating in forging.
Hammering [Apprentice]: Active skill. Forging speed +1.
...

"I Love A Stick of Firewood"? A username like that could only belong to a player. Normal people wouldn't name their children such things. However, this player's data panel was peculiar. He actually possessed a talent skill.

Talent skills were innate expressions of one's natural aptitude in a specific field. They could not be acquired through later study. People possessing talent skills were extremely rare—one might even say they were one in ten thousand. It wasn't guaranteed that even one in ten thousand people would have such a talent, and this applied equally to players and locals alike.

In the twenty years Lu Yuan had lived, he had met many people, but only ten had possessed talent skills. "I Love A Stick of Firewood" was the eleventh he had encountered. It was incredibly rare.

...
"Yes, I am an Outworlder."
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"I Love A Stick of Firewood" put down his hammer and introduced himself quite earnestly. From his explanation, Lu Yuan learned what had happened. While wandering, Old Lu had happened upon "I Love A Stick of Firewood," who was looking for work. Old Lu discovered that this Outworlder had a talent for blacksmithing and took the initiative to take him on as a disciple, teaching him the craft.

"Little Yuan, you're back."
"Let me introduce someone to you."
"This is 'I Love A Stick of Firewood,' the new disciple I've taken on. Don't let his dull-witted appearance fool you; he's very talented."
"He shows promise to carry on my mantle and become the greatest blacksmith in Wangyou County."

Old Lu looked at "I Love A Stick of Firewood" with satisfaction. Although the Outworlder's name was strange, his talent for forging was truly heaven-defying. Old Lu had only demonstrated the technique once, and this Outworlder apprentice had grasped the essentials. His progress was so rapid that in just one afternoon, his technique had caught up to apprentices who had been studying for months. This Outworlder was truly a "saint of the forge."

"Hmm, he is indeed quite talented."
Lu Yuan agreed with Old Lu. Judging by his talent skill, he would undoubtedly achieve great things in the blacksmithing industry in the future.

"You don't object?"
Old Lu was a bit surprised. He had expected Lu Yuan to oppose it. After all, taking in an Outworlder of unknown origin as a disciple carried significant risks. If this apprentice committed any crimes, he, as the master, would also be implicated.

"Why would I object?"
"Taking on a disciple is your own personal freedom."
"Teaching an apprentice is still better than you lazing around all day."
"Since you have an apprentice now, stop the hammering yourself. Rest properly and let your apprentice handle the forging work."

Lu Yuan hoped that Old Lu could step away from such heavy manual labor. Teaching an apprentice was far better than him doing the smithing himself.

"Hahaha!"
"I Love A Stick of Firewood, come here. This is my son, the Chief Constable of Wangyou County. As long as you don't commit any crimes, no one in Wangyou County can bully you."
"Thank you, Master."
"Greetings, Senior Brother Lu."
"Hmm."

...
Black Mountain City.
"Good news, good news! Outworlders, come and take a look! The Luo Family Martial Arts Hall is recruiting. The first month's tuition is only one tael of silver, and the hall master will personally teach supreme martial arts. A rare opportunity indeed!"
"Don't miss out, don't miss out! Nanquan Martial Arts Hall is teaching lightness skills, fist techniques, and footwork. One tael and five coins for the first month, room and board included!"

On the streets, countless martial arts halls were putting up recruitment signs, attracting many Outworlders to pay their fees. These Outworlders were truly adept at making money. In just half a day, many had already earned their "first pot of gold" through various methods. Because of this, many martial arts halls had set their sights on the Outworlders' wallets, lowering their recruitment standards in an attempt to make a profit.

"Pah, what's the use of learning unranked martial arts?"
"Trash skills. Not learning."
...
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