I Just Want Players to Save Money, They Insist on Giving Me!
Chapter 171 - 81: Mantis Lord, Sudden Cardiac Arrest! Lao Ju’s Defense Break: Who Can Really Get Through This Game?_2

Chapter 171: Chapter 81: Mantis Lord, Sudden Cardiac Arrest! Lao Ju’s Defense Break: Who Can Really Get Through This Game?_2

And it truly was so.

Whenever players entered Sly Shop, the first thing he would say was always, "Spend the goddamn Geo!"

Of course, this was not its original intention.

In the world of Hollow Knight, the language used by NPCs was completely made-up insect speech, it was just that what players heard coincidentally matched its meaning quite well.

After rescuing caterpillars sealed in glass jars and bringing them to the original Bug Elder, he would cheerfully scatter a heap of Geo to reward the player.

He was also jokingly referred to by the viewers as Grandpa Sabei.

And the cartographer, who provided players with maps, before obtaining a map of an area, caused players to wander aimlessly like headless flies, shuffling back and forth across wide landscape cuts, annoyed by not being able to find the exit of the area.

So, whenever the cartographer’s relaxed and leisurely humming was heard nearby, it meant the map for that area was within reach, and the screen would be filled with comments exclaiming, "F*ck! Dad!"

Then there was Quiero, the Sword Master who sat beside the clear, azure Lake of Ouen.

Originally, he was an insect that roamed outside the Holy Nest, drawn by its mystery, only to lose most of his memory upon stepping into the Holy Nest.

But he was not discouraged and instead maintained an optimistic and curious spirit of exploration.

He told the Knight, "I have lived so long yet remember so little, perhaps I should be grateful for that."

Also, there was the Antler Beetle, responsible for ferrying the Knight through the vast areas of the Holy Nest.

Frankly, the Antler Beetle was just a fast travel point, a mechanic that appears in many games.

But in Hollow Knight, the Antler Beetle would chat about family matters whilst ferrying the Knight.

It said it could barely remember how long it had been since it last heard a passenger ring the call bell.

It described the past prosperity of the Ruined Holy Nest, the splendor in its memory, where countless families of Antler Beetles would race through the tunnels carrying passengers, the call bells from all over the world resonating, and the Holy Nest bustling in perpetual business. The Antler Beetles exchanged stories, excitedly talking about what new and fascinating additions had been made to the great kingdom.

After the decline of the Holy Nest, it didn’t know where its kin had gone, never again saw their figures, and now in its old age, it’s difficult for its old bones to run as enthusiastically as before, but as long as there is one passenger, it would continue to fulfill its duty, taking the passenger to any corner of the Holy Nest.

It had a deep love for the land under its feet.

...

Throughout this journey.

These NPCs were merely insects and, for the most part, had very little dialogue.

Yet each of them exhibited a rich personality, and even the old Antler Beetle, serving as a mere transport point, made players sigh with emotion.

The backstory of the world gradually unfolded like unraveling a cocoon as Wang Laoju continued his exploration.

It also made players more and more curious about what had happened to the Holy Nest in the past and why it had gradually degenerated from prosperity to ruin.

In other games where it’s almost impossible to remember NPC names, viewers in Wang Laoju’s short live stream of just a few hours had a deep impression of every NPC that appeared.

Sometimes comments would pop up in the live chat like, "Go see the Stupid Old Man to collect your reward!" or "You have enough money, go buy an Amulet from Sly."

There were also comments saying:

"Who else remembers this is an action game?"

"Unlike other action games that place action absolutely at the forefront, with storylines and other non-essential details diluted, playing Hollow Knight feels like the player is personally wielding a nail to conquer the world! It is we who are adventuring, not the character!"

"Watching Chairman steadily improve his technique, you can feel what makes this game different. Baby Ke makes the character in the game grow gradually, but at the same time, it also makes the player who controls the character grow!"

"I’m craving to swing the nail! Hollow Knight, activate!"

While the viewers discussed in the comments, Wang Laoju was gradually exploring deeper, venturing into a territory called Mantis Village.

From the small clues along the way, Wang Laoju learned that this area did not belong to the Holy Nest.

On the contrary, this area was in opposition to the Holy Nest.

The insects living here took the Mantis as their model, valuing honor and strength.

Their forelimbs bore unusually sharp blades, matching their swift attacks.

At first, Wang Laoju had not adapted to the attack patterns of these creatures and died abruptly several times.

But as he adjusted his feel for the game, he fought more and more valiantly.

Moreover, defeating enemies replenished his energy, which could be used to heal.

Infinite, like a perpetual motion machine.

Soon, bypassing the maze-like map, Wang Laoju discovered something new in a corner.

Mantis Claw.

This item allowed the Knight to temporarily cling to walls, enabling wall-climbing and jumping.

Right after acquiring the item, there was an opportunity to practice on walls filled with spikes, with only small landing spots on either side.

Initially, Wang Laoju died several times before getting used to the new mechanic.

But, as he became more skilled, the Knight he controlled continued to climb, jump, and turn back on the walls with an elegant and cool visual impact.

"Playing up to now, I feel like I’m gradually understanding everything."