"I'm so hungry... (๑-﹏-๑)"
After clearing two more Hilichurl camps and opening two exquisite chests and four common chests, Ying complained painfully to the sky.
"Didn't the host pick up some Sunsettias and apples?"
"Those don't fill me up... and I want something hot to eat (⇀‸↼)"
"Then why don't you go to Mondstadt?"
"But they're dealing with the Stormterror incident there. With my current combat power, I'd probably be wiped out by the aftermath ￣﹏￣"
"What about Springvale then?"
"It's even farther away from me than Mondstadt. If I go there, I'll either starve to death or get worn out to death!"
"Then you might as well starve to death."
"Don't be so heartless... Huh? There's a stray Hilichurl over there? Counting this one, I should be able to level up again. Hmph hmph ~ Suddenly I don't feel so bad anymore (⌒▽⌒)"
"Um, I suggest the host run for your life..."
"Hah! It's just a Hilichurl, watch me beat him up!"
Ying drew her silver sword and lunged forward, swinging it down at its head!
With a "ding!" sound, the expected scene of it being sent flying did not occur. Instead, her arm felt a sting, as if the sword had struck a hard stone.
"What?" Just as Ying was dazed, the Hilichurl reached out and grabbed the sword. Ying, regaining her senses, quickly tried to pull free, but found that even with all her might, she could only make its arm tremble slightly!
"What the heck is this... Ah?!" Before she could finish, Ying felt a surge of immense force. She lost her grip on the sword and was flung away with a "whoosh!" by the creature, finally landing on the ground after hitting a small tree.
Intense pain coursed through her entire body, but Ying completely ignored her injuries, gritting her teeth and using the tree to push herself up.
"Hiss... How is this Hilichurl so strong?!"
"I warned the host, but the host wouldn't listen."
"How could I know this Hilichurl was cheating!"
"According to the game, if the host is level 3, this Hilichurl must be at least level 20!"
"Are you kidding me?! So why am I encountering a level 20 monster at level 3? Even the game isn't this ridiculous!"
"That's because this isn't a game~"
"I'm gonna... Whoa, is that Hilichurl charging again?!"
Ying had no time to worry about her injuries and quickly rolled aside to dodge the attack.
With a "clang!" sound, the Hilichurl actually knocked down the tree with its head. Ying, who had just narrowly avoided the blow, watched in stunned silence (/(°∞°)\)
"!!!? I wouldn't be surprised if a Hilichurl Brute broke a tree, but it's truly absurd that you, a regular Hilichurl, can do it! Even if this tree isn't that big, it's still ridiculous!"
"Ika!"
"Huh? What 'ika'?"
The Hilichurl took out its club and attacked Ying again.
"Whoa?! I answered your question and you're still hitting me!"
Ying hastily took out a silver sword she had obtained from a chest earlier, getting into a defensive stance. However, this Hilichurl was not only strong but also surprisingly fast. The sword was swatted away the moment she drew it.
"Hiss—?!" Ying gasped and quickly dodged the subsequent attacks, using the surrounding terrain to barely hold it off for a while...
After a period of stalemate, Ying found an opportunity, feigned an opening, and successfully made the Hilichurl strike a thick tree with great force. This time, the tree did not break. The Hilichurl's club was sent flying far away.
"Aha! Now you know who's boss ٩(๑•̀w•́๑)۶"
However, just as Ying was about to celebrate, she discovered that the Hilichurl had abandoned its club and was charging at her again.
"Oh no! This Hilichurl is even more agile without its club?!"
Realizing something was wrong, Ying immediately looked for a chance to escape.
"Waa... I should have just given up from the start x﹏x"
"Big brother, please stop chasing. You should go back and find your club!"
"What the heck, why are you getting faster as I run?!"
"Why is the sea so close ahead?!"
"Whoa!?"
The Hilichurl caught up to Ying and grabbed her arm.
In an instant, Ying felt an immense force and desperately tried to break free. But the Hilichurl was like a boulder; no matter how hard she struggled, there was no response.
Seeing this, the Hilichurl threw another punch. Ying quickly used her other arm to deflect it with a clever move.
"Good thing I've seen grandpa practice Tai Chi before..."
Just as Ying was about to continue this tactic, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her abdomen. The Hilichurl had unexpectedly changed direction and punched Ying squarely in the stomach.
After taking the hit to the abdomen, Ying could barely stand and knelt on the ground.
Seeing this, the Hilichurl grabbed Ying and flung her away again.
"Waa!?" ≥﹏≤
Ying rolled several times on the ground after falling before stopping. Enduring the pain, she tried to get up when the Hilichurl approached again and swung another fist down. Ying quickly turned her head to dodge the punch and instinctively retaliated.
The result, as expected, was her arm being grabbed again.
"Ah!" The pain in her arm was unbearable. Soon, Ying, unable to endure it, wanted to break free, but her resistance only resulted in her other hand being grabbed and restrained.
"Eek?! Big brother, don't do this, it's improper for men and women to touch! (//̀Д/́/)"
"It hurts! We can talk things over. Let go of my hand, and I'll help you find your club, okay?!"
"Ouch ouch ouch! No no! I was wrong, big brother, please stop squeezing
＜(;ᯅ;)ﾉ"
"Wuu... Is my lifelong reputation going to be ruined today... x﹏x"