I Have a Date with a Thousand-year-old Female Corpse-Chapter 1253: Got Tricked

The morning sun rose over the mountains, its radiance illuminating the earth. The Qiling Mountain Range stretched endlessly, its peaks layered and towering. Even if one stood atop the highest summit, it would still be impossible to take in the entirety of the Great Thousand World in one glance.

The slanting rays of the morning sun fell on the auspicious apricot tree of Ginkgo Village. The breeze stirred, causing the golden leaves to sway gracefully on the phoenix branch, glimmering brilliantly.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo—"

The rooster announced the dawn.

"Coming through, coming through!"

On the village road, a youth was seen carrying a bulky package, struggling as he walked.

The youth had an unremarkable face, with slightly delicate features. His brows carried a hint of youthful naïveté that had yet to fade.

Indeed, at this moment, the youth was you.

Based on the time, it’s been three days since you entered the game.

Initially, you thought that once you entered the game, you’d be wielding swords and cutting down small creatures left and right. But you quickly realized that wasn’t the case at all.

You were tricked—because you’re just an NPC!

An NPC who had to follow predefined programming to the letter, and not a particularly significant one at that.

To put it bluntly, even your current body, your movements, and every single line of dialogue you speak are pre-scripted. It dictates where you must go and what you must do at specific times, leaving you feeling not just frustrated but downright helpless.

You arrived at Old Wang the butcher’s shop and greeted him with a smile: "Uncle Wang, here’s the venison you wanted. It’s as fresh as can be. Now, don’t try to shortchange me! We agreed on 250 gold coins—no haggling!"

"Little Yun, it’s not that I’m trying to cheat you," Old Wang replied with a wry grin. "I’ve been selling meat in Ginkgo Village for over two decades. I’ve seen all sorts of venison. Look at the color of this meat—darkish red with a dull hue. A discerning eye can tell at a glance this is leftover from the night before. Overnight venison doesn’t fetch a good price. At most, I’ll give you 70 gold coins."

"What? Just 70 gold coins? I spent an entire sleepless night hiding in the bushes waiting for that stupid deer—and you think 70 is enough? Uncle Wang, my dear uncle, come on, can’t you add just a bit more?"

Putting on your most ingratiating expression, you looked at Old Wang expectantly.

Old Wang smiled and shook his head. "Alright, alright. I’ve watched you grow up, after all. I’ll go easy on you for old time’s sake. How about this—I’ll give you 100. Deal?"

Saying this, Old Wang pulled out a coin pouch that seemed to have been prepared in advance.

"100?"

"What, still not satisfied?" Old Wang teased, motioning to take the pouch back.

"No, no, 100 is fine!" You snatched the pouch from his hand and jogged away without looking back.

"This kid..." Old Wang chuckled softly as he watched your retreating figure, his smile warm like the gentle light of morning.

"Mu Yun, your breakfast is here!"

"Thanks!" You approached a snack stall and plopped yourself down on the nearby stone steps, wolfing down your meal.

Come to think of it, you hadn’t eaten in three days. Though your every action was dictated by the game’s programming, your hunger was very real—your stomach protested loudly when empty.

"Slow down! Look at the way you’re eating—any girl who sees this will never want to marry you." Little Li, the owner of the snack stall and your childhood friend, teased you good-naturedly.

One thing had to be said—you knew absolutely nothing about this NPC identity. Your mind was a blank slate. You had no idea what to do next, so all you could do was take things as they came.

"Hmph, as if I’m interested in the plain country girls from this village. Mark my words—I’m destined to become a great hero someday! My wife will definitely be the most beautiful woman in the Jianghu. She’ll have eyes more vibrant than spring water, a fairy-like face, and exceptional martial arts skills. Only someone like that would be worthy of me... Ack! Water! Water!"

Mid-sentence, you choked on your bread.

Uh-oh. This move wasn’t part of the programming.

Yet, you suddenly realized that whenever you did or said something unscripted, your body experienced an odd sensation. It was as if a puppet was gradually breaking free from its strings.

"I told you to eat slower. If no one’s around next time, you’ll probably choke to death on my bread before any monsters can kill you," Little Li scolded as he handed you a bowl of water. You gulped it down and let out a satisfied burp before grinning. "Heh, this hero’s life is strong and enduring. No petty monster can lay a finger on me! Hah!"

"Alright, alright, cut it out. You’re 16 now—don’t you think it’s time to get a proper job? Running errands for others isn’t going to save enough for you to marry anyone."

"Tch. No wonder your hair is so short."

"What does my short hair have to do with you running errands for small change?"

"It just means your horizons are even shorter," you quipped, knocking lightly on Little Li’s head. "This is called doing quests, you know? Haven’t you noticed the players? They’re always out taking on tasks to gain experience. Sure, the money might be little, but I’ve learned a lot of things that you villagers can’t even imagine. I’ve been to places you’ve never stepped foot in."

"Oh, please. Last time you went to Poisonous Canyon, you were gone for three months. I honestly thought you were dead, bitten by one of those venomous snakes. My mom and I worried about you for so long."

"Hey, but I came back safe and sound, didn’t I?" Emboldened by the mention, you perked up excitedly. "You know what? Last time in Poisonous Canyon, I saw a massive white snake. It was super thick—about this thick." You gestured with your hands to show the scale.

"There’s no way a snake could be thicker than a washbasin. Besides, I heard Poisonous Canyon only has tiger snakes and red snakes. Where would a white snake come from? Don’t tell me you’re making this up again."

"A man of honor never lies! How could I possibly deceive you?" Little Li shrugged, unconvinced.

"You don’t believe me?" You grabbed Little Li’s arm dramatically. "Fine, let’s go to Poisonous Canyon right now!"

"Hey, hey, don’t drag me into this. I have no interest in dying early. Besides, I never said I didn’t believe you. We’ve grown up together since we were kids—who else would I trust if not you?"

"That’s the spirit of true brotherhood!" Ever the optimist, you patted Little Li on the shoulder and flashed him a wide grin.

"Hey, Little Yun!"

Doctor Chen, the village’s sole healer, came out of the apothecary holding a list in hand. Bathed in the morning sunlight, he smiled at you and said, "Here, today’s request: I need ten green spider fangs, twenty fire tooth flower leaves, and one blue orchid grass."

"Doctor Chen, are you trying to get Mu Yun killed?" Before you had a chance to respond, Little Li interjected with an anxious expression.

Doctor Chen ignored him, maintaining his calm, sunny smile as he looked at you.

"Little Yun, do you dare take on this task?"