Farming Games are All About Grinding-Chapter 58: The Sorrows of the Son of Destiny

Han Qiwu didn’t immediately head for the staircase; instead, he turned around to continue exploring the fifth layer of the mine.

He distinctly remembered finding fragrant buns here last time. There’s no reason they wouldn’t show up now!

After taking a couple of turns down branching paths, Han Qiwu finally spotted a cluster of barrels piled up, just like before.

With a swing of his longsword, he smashed them, uncovering two familiar beef buns.

"I knew it. Only someone as attentive as me would notice this," Han Qiwu said smugly, pocketing the buns before heading back to the staircase to move on.

[You have arrived at the sixth layer of the mine]

As soon as he stepped onto the sixth layer, Han Qiwu heard buzzing sounds coming from above.

Looking up, he saw three hand-sized bugs flapping their wings, flying toward him. Though small, their buzzing was as loud as a fan set to its third speed.

[Mine Stink Bugs]

[Level: 3]

[Description: These stink bugs will not only sting you but also leave a horrid smell on your body.]

Upon reading the description, Han Qiwu didn’t hesitate for a second and sprinted toward a nearby mining point.

He had already thought about this back when he was at home.

If I run fast enough, the mine creatures won’t catch me!

If I smash rocks fast enough, I can get to the next layer instantly!

With his lucky streak going strong, Han Qiwu decided to make a strategic retreat.

"Clang!"

[Copper Ore]×1

"Oh, come on, don’t mess with me like this!"

"Clang!"

[Quartz]×1

"Bzzzzzz..."

Before he could swing his pickaxe for a third time, the three stink bugs had already closed in, filling the air with an unbearable stench.

"So... they can fly faster than me," Han Qiwu begrudgingly admitted to himself.

Alright, no more running. Let’s do this!

"Slash, slash!"

"Slash, slash!"

Han Qiwu swung his longsword at the stink bugs, dealing damage while knocking them back.

"Hisss!"

The stink bug on the far left suddenly raised its rear end, releasing a cloud of green mist.

"Wait, you can use magic attacks now?" Han Qiwu shouted as he spun away, taking advantage of the stink bug’s pause to successfully escape the poisonous fog.

Looking back, he noticed that the stink bug on the left was significantly slower after releasing its poison mist.

Strike while the enemy’s weak!

Han Qiwu circled around and delivered two slashes, finishing off the leftmost stink bug.

At this moment, the remaining two stink bugs also began their poison mist pre-cast animations.

Han Qiwu, unwilling to take on more poison, gave up on their drops and led them on another chase before taking them out one by one with swift slashes.

After a long ordeal, only one of the three stink bugs dropped loot.

[Rare Stink Bug Poison Sac]

[Use: Medicine Crafting]

[Value: 40 Gold]

[Note: The poison sac is extremely attractive to stink bugs.]

"Fight poison with poison, huh?" Han Qiwu instantly figured out its utility.

Tucking the poison sac away, Han Qiwu resumed mining.

[Copper Ore]×1

[You have discovered a staircase to the next layer]

Wow, so now that the monsters are gone, you decide to show up?

This is unfair!

He stepped into the staircase.

[You have arrived at the seventh layer of the mine]

"Bzzzzzz..."

Hearing the buzzing from above again, Han Qiwu didn’t dodge this time. Instead, he waited until the stink bugs flew into his attack range before swinging his sword.

Just like on the previous layer, the stink bugs staggered back after a few hits and hovered in place before raising their rear ends again.

Han Qiwu rolled his eyes and took out the [Stink Bug Poison Sac], tossing it to the side.

"Bzzzzzz..."

The three stink bugs immediately stopped their poison mist attacks and flew toward the poison sac.

"Eat this, stink bugs!"

Han Qiwu swung his sword, targeting their wings.

After several seconds, the three stink bugs disintegrated into white light and vanished.

[Bug Meat]

[Use: Fishing Bait]

[Value: 20 Gold]

[Note: The foul-smelling bait is a favorite of certain fish.]

Han Qiwu collected their drops—three pieces of bug meat.

"So bug meat is their common drop, huh?" Han Qiwu concluded, stowing the items as he mined and opened up the [Mine Collection Map].

Unfortunately, the map still didn’t show much.

"Might as well keep going. Everything’s been relatively smooth so far." Han Qiwu mined happily, smashing rocks and slaying bugs as they came.

An hour later, Han Qiwu successfully reached the tenth layer of the mine.

[You have arrived at the tenth layer of the mine]

[Cable car checkpoint recorded]

Just like on the fifth layer, stepping off the cable car brought him face-to-face with a black, circular object on the ground that looked like a ring.

[Defective Flame Ring]

[Level: 5]

[Effect: Chance to trigger flame effects with polearm attacks. Usable inside the mine.]

[Note: Congratulations on reaching the tenth layer of the mine. You now have a chance to experience the power of magic.]

"What kind of weird equipment is this?" Han Qiwu muttered, exasperated. "Triggering flame effects with polearms—what am I supposed to do, start a campfire?"

Am I about to unlock the legendary Fire Stick technique?

Equipping the Flame Ring, Han Qiwu continued exploring the tenth layer of the mine. Turning a corner, he discovered two familiar piles of barrels.

He swung his sword to break the first barrel on the left pile.

It dropped a bun, although it looked a bit different from the ones on the fifth layer. Maybe it had a different filling? ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Han Qiwu was just about to sheath his sword and pick up the bun.

Suddenly!

Flames erupted from his enhanced longsword.

The flames were so fierce they ignited the entire left pile of barrels in one go.

The bun was also caught in the blaze.

Han Qiwu froze.

What kind of nonsense is this?

My bun!

The fire spread quickly. Before Han Qiwu could grab water from his inventory, it had burned itself out.

Once the bun was reduced to ash, the fire on his enhanced longsword vanished as well.

Han Qiwu: "???"

So, that’s your sole purpose—to burn my buns?

Does the Flame Ring really have to trigger so often?

Just as he finished complaining, Han Qiwu realized something.

The extra Luck +3 was affecting flame triggers too!

Lesson learned.

Taking off the ring, Han Qiwu managed to salvage a bun from the right pile of barrels.

[Ruffled Vegetarian Bun]

[Stamina +30]

[Health +20]

[Note: A bun! A fresh, steaming bun!]

No wonder it looked different—turns out it was vegetarian.

A bun without meat is just not the same! Such a waste, with mediocre recovery stats.

Han Qiwu stashed the bun away with a look of disdain. Re-equipping the ring, he was about to head to the next layer when he remembered he had a field collection map as well.

Opening it, he found an actual marker on this layer.

Following the map, he circled about half the level before arriving at a flat patch of dirt roughly 2×5 meters in size. According to the map, the collectible was buried here.

Taking lessons from past experiences, Han Qiwu obediently pulled out his hoe and began digging into the ground.

[Clay]×1

"What’s this even good for?" Han Qiwu wondered as he examined the clay he had just dug up. It was large and blackish in color.

"Feels like it could be used as cement," Han Qiwu mused while giving it a tentative squeeze. The moment he did, he immediately regretted it.