Ten Thousand Ways To Eliminate Players
Chapter 57 - 057 Lin Bai’s strength was suppressed

Chapter 57: 057 Lin Bai’s strength was suppressed

[One good word warms three winters, and pleasant words can brighten one’s mood, facilitating interpersonal communication. Therefore, please maintain words as warm as spring for 24 hours. Reward: Palm Thunder.]

[Note: The countdown starts from the first word spoken. The timer will restart if the flow of kind words is broken or if the volume of speech falls below that of a normal person’s daily conversation.]

Ugh!

The novice task from the Great Language System plunged Lin Bai into deep thought.

What the hell?

So, this means I can only compliment people for an entire day?

A solo hype-man routine?

Lin Bai immediately grasped the core of the task.

Is this how a normal person behaves?

If I talk like this, can I even communicate properly?

Guiding people this way would probably render any normal person speechless.

And what’s the normal amount of talking for a person anyway?

Isn’t there a standard for that?

This damned System, just like the Emotional System, is so inconsiderate, restricting my abilities under the pretext of my own good.

Doesn’t the System know how eloquent I am?

It should just give me all the rewards at once and then step down to make way for someone better.

However, the reward was Palm Thunder, and it wasn’t a defective version.

It looks really tempting...

Compared to the Martial Arts rewards from the Everything Has Shortcomings System, the rewards from the Great Language System seem much more like something out of a cultivation fantasy!

Kind words, huh? It’s just about saying nice things for one day, right?

Who’s afraid of whom?

This is a perfect opportunity to improve my image a bit, especially when the whole city is feeling negative towards me, and maybe even earn some positive emotions...

For Palm Thunder!

Lin Bai rubbed his face, flexed his facial muscles, cleared his throat, and squeezed out a natural smile.

The inexplicable smile startled the young waiter serving dishes in the shop. He stood up reflexively. "Shopkeeper, is there anything you need?"

The city-wide renovation had severely impacted the shop’s business. There hadn’t been any customers all afternoon, leaving the waiter and the chef in the back with nothing to do.

"Work when there’s work, and rest when there isn’t. A temporary break allows for better work later. Your boss isn’t a demanding person," Lin Bai said with a smile. "Little Wu, you look very spirited today. Keep it up, and you’ll get a raise this month."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper." The waiter’s face flushed instantly. He grabbed a rag and began to diligently wipe the tables.

[Wu Saner is excited; +1]

Lin Bai smiled and turned to the chef in the back kitchen. "Chef Zhang, customers have been saying your cooking is getting more and more delicious. You’re almost on par with the master chefs at the Welcome Inn!"

"Hehe!" The chef chuckled good-naturedly. "I’m not that good yet. My knife skills are still lacking, but I’ll keep practicing."

"Diligent people always earn more appreciation. Everyone can see your hard work. Keep it up, Chef Zhang." Lin Bai made a fist, offering him an encouraging smile.

[Zhang Lin is touched; +1]

See?

It’s not that hard! Lin Bai’s confidence grew as he practiced his eloquence on the shop staff.

Just one day, right?

It’ll pass quickly!

Learning Palm Thunder just by saying nice things for a day? Is there an easier cultivation method than this?

Dusk fell.

Jimmy Navada and his family appeared.

Song Ling saw Lin Bai and greeted him merrily, "Brother Lin, good evening."

Lin Bai smiled at her. "Little Ling, you look much prettier today than yesterday!"

"Maybe it’s because I’ve had a good rest!" Song Ling didn’t seem pleased by Lin Bai’s praise. Instead, she said worriedly, "Brother Lin, there weren’t many customers during the daytime. Will our business suffer from now on?"

"Little Ling, the most important thing for a person is to be happy. You are a unique treasure in this world, so don’t let trivial worldly affairs pollute your pure heart. What you should do most is live happily and not waste a single brand-new evening," Lin Bai said gently, looking at Song Ling with a smile.

Treasure?

Is that how the shopkeeper thinks of me?

Song Ling sneaked a glance at Lin Bai, her face turning red, and nodded vigorously. "Yes, Brother Lin, I will."

[Song Ling is joyful; +1+1]

Jimmy Navada and Sera Wade exchanged glances, looked at Song Ling, then at Lin Bai, a hint of vague concern flashing across their faces.

After praising Song Ling, Lin Bai turned to the Navada couple. "Navada, Sera, you two are also wonderful. Actually, I’ve always admired the deep affection you share, supporting each other through thick and thin..."

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

The knocking at the door interrupted Lin Bai’s praise.

Lin Bai looked toward the door.

A Hidden Guard from the City Lord’s Mansion glanced around the room. His gaze fell on Lin Bai, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust as he said, "Shopkeeper Lin, the City Lord requests your presence."

"Oh, it’s Guard Zhao." Lin Bai’s gaze shifted naturally. "I’ve long seen that the City Lord trusts you the most. Guard Zhao, your personal visit today truly brings honor to my humble shop!"

"What are you trying to do?" Zhao Tong immediately grew alert. Zhou Jiang was still bedridden; he had to be wary of any strange behavior from Lin Bai.

What am I trying to do? I’m complimenting you, obviously!

Can’t even tell that? What a blockhead! Lin Bai grumbled internally. "Let’s go... Ahem, to be able to accompany Guard Zhao is my honor. Please, after you!"

Zhao Tong’s hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He tensed up instinctively, but Lin Bai seemed oblivious to him and walked past.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhao Tong gritted his teeth and followed. Lin Bai was acting very strangely today. If anything went wrong, he would be the one to suffer. It was better to keep a close eye on him.

「Back in the shop.」

Jimmy Navada looked strangely at Lin Bai’s retreating figure and asked, "Chef Zhang, what got into the shopkeeper today? He’s talking so oddly, don’t you think?"

The chef was still basking in the pleasant feeling from Lin Bai’s compliments. He took a potato from a nearby basket, skillfully peeled it, and said, "Who knows? Maybe something good happened to him!"

"I don’t think so." Sera Wade pondered for a moment. "The last time Shopkeeper Lin spoke like this was when Dragon Breath came. It wasn’t this bad then. This time, he’s even practicing beforehand. I reckon someone’s in for a streak of bad luck."

「Along the way.」

Zhao Tong listened to Lin Bai’s pleasantries the entire journey, his nerves on edge the whole time.

Yet, even when Lin Bai entered the City Lord’s room, nothing unexpected occurred.

So much so that he stared blankly at the City Lord’s door, feeling a profound sense of bewildered loss for a good while, unable to recover. A dreadful thought even crossed his mind: perhaps Shopkeeper Lin wasn’t as bad as he imagined. After all, Zhou Jiang had attacked him first...

「In the City Lord’s study.」

"You’re here." The City Lord was at her desk, reviewing official documents. When Lin Bai entered, she glanced up at him before her gaze returned to the papers.

"To have such a diligent and dedicated leader like the City Lord is truly a blessing for all the citizens of Jiamucheng!" After practicing all the way, Lin Bai’s kind words now flowed effortlessly.

"Wasting public funds and manpower, I’ve turned a perfectly good city into a wreck, and the common folk are already cursing me behind my back." Xu Longyun shook her head with a bitter smile. "Shopkeeper Lin, if the plan fails, I fear I will become a sinner to Jiamucheng."

"To bravely face the scorn of thousands, yet willingly serve the people like a humble ox. Confronting difficulties head-on only highlights the City Lord’s admirable courage!" Lin Bai cupped his fist. "Throughout history, it is thanks to benevolent and dedicated individuals like yourself, City Lord, that the common people can live and work in peace. Please allow me, Lin Bai, to express my utmost respect to you."

Two new verses? The City Lord finally lifted her head from her documents, hung her brush on its stand, and looked at Lin Bai with interest. "Shopkeeper, you’re speaking so sweetly today. Is there something you need to ask of me?"

"Not at all. I was simply moved by the sight of you working so diligently at your desk," Lin Bai shook his head and said sincerely. "For a woman such as yourself, City Lord, to exist in this world, it is fitting that the stars should bow and the rivers gaze up in admiration!"

Xu Longyun looked at Lin Bai strangely and shook her head. "Shopkeeper Lin, if I, Xu Longyun, have done something wrong, you can tell me directly. There’s no need for such veiled sarcasm."

You don’t understand a thing! I’m doing this for my cultivation!

Lin Bai grumbled internally, also feeling a bit anxious. Why are you even fussing over these couple of compliments? Get to the point, for heaven’s sake!

How am I supposed to discuss serious matters using only kind words?

Online, waiting!

This is urgent!

Lin Bai looked at Xu Longyun and blinked. "City Lord, you must believe in yourself. Don’t disparage your own worth. I, Lin Bai, am truly honored to know such an outstanding and decisive leader as yourself. Unfortunately, I am not skilled in poetry. Otherwise, I would surely compose ten thousand poems in your praise, City Lord."

Xu Longyun looked at Lin Bai with a smile and said teasingly, "You can write them. If you write just one, I’ll believe everything you’ve said is true."

[Xu Longyun is pleased; +1+1+1]