Chapter 20: Light Potion (Fake)

Player: Tang En

Age: 39

Mental Strength: A-rank

Awakened Ability: Water (A-rank)

Strength: 89

Agility: 98

Vitality: 889/1000 (Mild Hunger, Mild Dark Matter Accumulation)

Five Senses: (Vision: 10; Smell: 9; Hearing: 10; Taste: 10; Touch: 8)

Skill Cards: 0

Weapons: 0

Inventory Slots: 1/10

“Damn, Dad, how is this Earth Village so incredible? It’s even analyzed me down to the last detail!”

Tang En was so excited that his hometown accent slipped out. After following the system prompts to set his in-game name, he stared at the blue-glowing screen in front of him, feeling a mix of emotions. Was this a good thing or a bad thing?

Old Tang ignored him, his eyes glued to his own deep blue panel, a rare spark of excitement shining in his usually cloudy gaze.

Player: Old Tang (Real name: Tang Hongmao)

Age: 209

Mental Strength: A-rank (Moderate mental disorder caused by dark matter. The system sincerely recommends purchasing a Mental Stabilizer—one dose and you’ll be glowing with health, looking a hundred years younger is no dream~)

Awakened Ability: Inherited Beast Mastery (SS-rank)

Strength: 75

Agility: 67

Vitality: 36/1000 (Severe dark matter poisoning, on the verge of self-destruction. The system once again sincerely recommends purchasing a Light Potion or Holy Potion ASAP to expel the dark matter. Living another few thousand years is totally possible~)

Five Senses: (Vision: 5; Smell: 10; Hearing: 7; Taste: 10; Touch: 3)

Skill Cards: 0

Weapons: 0

Inventory Slots: 1/10

Old Tang was lost in thought. Light Potion? Holy Potion?

“Dad, Dad, why aren’t you saying anything?” Tang En grew more and more fascinated by the panel in front of him. He even took out the nutrient drink he’d drawn from his lucky starter pack and examined it closely.

Seeing the pink liquid swirling inside, just like the nutrient drinks he’d seen before, his eyes went wide.

“Wow, this thing looks just like the real deal. Wait, you can actually get free inventory slots in this game? It’s like a portable storage device—you can carry stuff around with you. Damn, that’s awesome.”

Given how sci-fi and magical Earth Village was, Tang En suppressed his excitement and, in the spirit of exploration, pulled out the wooden stopper from the nutrient drink and cautiously took a sip.

“Sweet and refreshing, with a rich strawberry flavor. This is amazing.”

His blue eyes widened in wonder. “And there’s not even a hint of that motor oil taste! This is better than the purest strawberry-flavored nutrient drinks in the entire galaxy.”

Without hesitation, Tang En tilted his head back and gulped it down.

Afterwards, he let out a satisfied sigh. “So good!”

He nudged his dad excitedly. “Dad, hurry up and drink yours! Open your lucky pack and try the nutrient drink inside. My golden tongue guarantees it—it tastes even better than the ones the elves make.”

Hearing this, Old Tang snapped out of his daze and quickly pulled out a pale golden nutrient drink from his inventory, popped the wooden stopper, and downed it in one go.

“Hey, Dad, why is your bottle so much shorter? And it’s a pale gold color. What flavor is that? I’ve never seen it before.” Tang En leaned over to peer at his dad’s empty glass bottle, blinking curiously.

Old Tang squinted, savoring the sensation of his body being cleansed and purified. He felt as if he’d been reborn, like an old tree sprouting new buds.

With a beaming smile, he shot his silly son a look that said, “Are you an idiot?” “You’re still young—are your eyes failing already? How could your lucky E-rank nutrient drink compare to mine?”

Tang En was baffled. “...”

What did he do to deserve being called blind? They were the same glass bottle, same wooden stopper—how was his not a nutrient drink?

Old Tang snorted smugly and revealed the truth with glee. “Mine is called a Light Potion (Fake). It can expel five percent of the dark matter in your body. Now do you get how valuable it is?”

Old Tang’s mood was like a roller coaster.

Earlier, he’d been tempted by Yun Qimu’s zero-dark-matter ingredients, making his long-dead heart skip a beat. But then, thinking it might be a scam, he’d tamped down his hopes. Now, after drinking this Light Potion, he could clearly feel its effects.

His body, corroded by dark matter, truly felt as if it had undergone a grand purification by light-based powers. Out in the wider world, this would be nothing short of miraculous.

If a miracle cure for dark matter existed in the galaxy, things wouldn’t be so fragmented. Elves with light abilities wouldn’t be so highly sought after for their power to expel dark elements, nor would they be able to guard Neptune so securely.

Old Tang marveled—just what kind of magical place was this Earth Village game?

If even a fake Light Potion worked this well, what would a real one be like?

Just thinking about it made Old Tang’s heart burn with hope.

Tang En was just as excited.

He stared at his dad in shock. “Really? The Light Potion actually works like that?”

Old Tang lifted his chin. “Of course.”

“Ah, then Dad, you’re not going to die after all. Guess you won’t need that prime burial spot anymore.”

Old Tang bristled. “Brat, watch your mouth! If I hadn’t insisted on finding a good spot, would we have ended up somewhere this nice?”

Relieved, Tang En couldn’t help but bicker back. “Heh, even if you found a good spot, do you have the energy credits to buy a Light Potion? Do you even know where to get one?”

Since he thought he was dying, Old Tang had been spending his energy credits like water, eating, drinking, and playing. Now his pockets were empty, and he could only mooch off his son: ...

Ouch, that stings!

Tang En gloated, “See? I told you, Dad—if you don’t leave me any inheritance, you’ll regret it! Now look at you, broke and unable to even pay the rent for the cabin. Hahaha, looks like you’ll be sleeping rough again tonight!”

Old Tang’s beard quivered as he snapped, “You ungrateful brat! I raised you with my own hands, and now you won’t even pay your old man’s rent? You want me to sleep on the streets? So heartless! Even that young lady over there is going to look down on you.”

Yun Qimu, standing off to the side: ???

What does this have to do with her?

But for Tang En, this was a fatal blow.

His handsome face flushed red as he snuck a glance at Yun Qimu, finally giving in with a defeated sigh.

Forcing a smile, he said, “Dad, I was just kidding. I’ll pay the rent. You can stay with me.”

“Hmph, as if I don’t know what you’re really like!”

Old Tang lifted his chin triumphantly.

Your dad is still your dad!

Main System: Dear player, did you get my point? (smiley face)

Old Tang: ...Buy. I’ll definitely buy. I have a son—I’ll make him buy it!"