Back to square one.
Zhao Haiping didn’t imdiately restart, but simply summarized the previous battles.
"There was very little ti from the beginning of the official instance of Trial Illusion to when the Eastern Barbarian bandits invaded the city, and County Magistrate Tang had already made the best arrangents. There was almost no room for to play a role.
"Although the numbers on both sides were similar, the difference in combat power was substantial.
"On the bandits’ side, almost everyone was equipped with an Eastern Barbarian sword.
"Eastern Barbarian swords are expensive and difficult to maintain, not everyone among the Eastern Barbarians could afford them. For example, during offline events, many of the Eastern Barbarian soldiers I encountered carried spears.
"This ant that these Eastern Barbarian bandits in the instance were definitely not a motley crowd, but veterans with extrely rich combat experience.
"Moreover, there was a General, two Shadow Servants, and a Wandering Warrior.
"This Wandering Warrior’s combat power was ridiculous, almost like soone bullying newcors in a beginner’s village. If I confronted him head-on, I probably wouldn’t last long.
"Of course, the key issue was still not having good equipnt.
"If I had a suit of armor, a shield, and a long spear, I would have a better chance of winning. Going against that Wandering Warrior with just my nearly rusted broken sword was basically akin to suicide.
"I couldn’t expect much from our side’s combat power either. County Magistrate Tang and the tall and strong militiaman could still put up a fight; Households Commander Xu and Tang’s personal soldiers were also sowhat useful, but as for the ordinary soldiers and militian... they were really not up to par.
"Damn, how co this battle feels like a scripted defeat? It seems like there’s no chance of winning at all.
"I’ll try a couple more tis, and if it still doesn’t work, I’ll have to think of another thod."
Zhao Haiping chose the sa identity and talents again and restarted the trial.
This ti, he didn’t run back to the county governnt office but waited directly on the city wall because he wanted to see why these Eastern Barbarian bandits could invade the city so quickly.
He discovered it was because the city’s earthen wall hadn’t been completely finished; there was a spot that wasn’t fully repaired, and it was exactly where the defense was weak. The Eastern Barbarian bandits entered the city directly through this breach.
In fact, this gap was not conspicuous; even the city guards didn’t pay much attention to it, and it beca the breakthrough point for the bandits.
Zhao Haiping tried to defend alongside the soldiers on the city wall, but of course, he quickly started the next round.
The second ti, Zhao Haiping ran to the county governnt office at full speed, reported to County Magistrate Tang in advance, and convinced him to not waste ti gathering militian and able-bodied n but to directly take his personal soldiers to the eastern city wall’s gap to defend.
However, they hadn’t reached the eastern city wall when they encountered the bandits on the road again.
Compared to the first encounter, this clash was closer to the city wall, but they still failed to make it in ti to rescue before the bandits breached the eastern city wall. Moreover, because there were fewer people than the first ti, they lost even more disastrously.
The performances of several key characters were still about the sa: Households Commander Xu was cut down by the bandits; County Magistrate Tang fought bravely, and after his personal soldiers died, he could not withstand alone; the tall and strong man leading the militian, seeing that the situation was uncontrollable, bravely broke through the encirclent and fled, with the others scattering like birds and beasts.
As for Zhao Haiping, he deliberately engaged the Wandering Warrior again, and the outco was the sa.
Shit!
After two attempts, Zhao Haiping finally confird that this... seed like a scripted defeat.
Now, he basically couldn’t defeat the Eastern Barbarian Wandering Warrior in a one-on-one fight, let alone with so many Eastern Barbarian bandits around.
"It appears that the invasion of the city by the Eastern Barbarian bandits and the death of County Magistrate Tang seem to be inevitable outcos.
"The reason is simple: the forces County Magistrate Tang could muster were completely no match for these Eastern Barbarian bandits. And even considering as a variable, we still couldn’t win.
"In terms of timing, even if I had run to report from the beginning, it still wouldn’t have been enough ti to defend the eastern city wall.
"That ans... the key to deciphering this instance doesn’t lie in this initial part, at least not entirely. It might be one influencing factor, but certainly not the deciding factor.
"Uh, that makes sense, considering so players have the role of scholars without direct combat ability. Even if they could give buffs to the soldiers here, I guess they would still lose.
"There must be a way for players who are scholars to successfully clear the instance.
"I can’t just be reckless; it seems bulldozing through isn’t viable, so I need to think about other alternatives."
After pondering for a mont, Zhao Haiping decided to switch up the opening.
Different from before, under the identity card options, "Identity points: 76" now appeared.
"Identity points must be related to how many enemies I’ve killed," Hai Ping mused. "In these three trials, I must have killed over twenty enemies? I’ve lost count.
"Each death deducts a fixed value, and from the current situation of my identity points having both whole and fractional values, it seems that killing different enemies might yield different points. For instance, killing stronger enemies or killing enemies by myself might earn more points, while killing weaker enemies or killing enemies as part of a group might earn fewer points.
"If a scholar player was involved, it would likely be about killing enemies who are influenced by upright moral energy. Scholars too must earn points, right?
"Yet having these points is useless because I can’t actually spend them since no new identity options have been activated. I can still only choose from the three basic identities.
"The commoner’s body is just too weak, and there’s no combat mory to activate either. Controlling the body of County Magistrate Tang, Households Commander Xu, or that tall militiaman might have given a better shot. Perhaps these roles aren’t within the selectable identities? Or maybe I haven’t t so specific conditions?"
Zhao Haiping pondered for a mont, but still lacked any clue.
Thus, he reselected his identity and talent, and began the trials once more.
This ti, he chose the role of a theatrical troupe mber, casually picking up a masterful talent in opera as well.
...
The Trial Illusion started up again.
This ti, however, Zhao Haiping appeared not on the original city wall but directly inside the theater, near the back rows.
Having previously only glanced at the outside of the theater without entering, he now got a clear view of the entire theater.
Judging by modern theater standards, this one was quite small, as modern theaters can accommodate hundreds, even thousands, of people, while this theater could barely seat over a hundred.
But in this small county town, the theater was considered quite large.
Now inside, Zhao Haiping could hear everything much more clearly.
Turning toward the stage, he saw a male and a female perforr singing, their voices clear and lingering, echoing through the beams.
Without any modern sound equipnt, their voices still clearly reached the back rows and even beyond the theater, faintly audible from outside.
This was due to the special architectural structure of the theater—a roof that amplified sounds, and a hollow stage foundation containing several large jars facing the audience, which also helped amplify the sound.
Moreover, perforrs in that era had strong voices and were expected to resonate with a clear "crisp voice," lacking which, one couldn’t beco a renowned perforr. For example, soone was mocked as "Three Rows Remaining" because of ill health and inadequate vocal power.
The entrancing singing also naturally cald the audience, creating an exceptionally quiet atmosphere within the theater; the audience even covered their mouths to avoid coughing, further enhancing the performance’s impact.
Of course, Zhao Haiping knew nothing of these details. He only knew that the singing onstage was both loud and pleasant. Even soone like him, who had never listened to opera, was utterly captivated.
However, before the lyrics could finish, a shout ca from outside the theater, "Eastern Barbarian invaders! Eastern Barbarian invaders are attacking!"
After a few shouts, the entire theater plunged into chaos!
Previously engrossed in the performance, audience mbers reacted differently; those in the back panicked and fled, those in the middle tried to escape but couldn’t move quickly enough and only managed to shout in desperation, while those in the front, still unaware of what had happened, glared angrily behind them, wanting others to stop making noise and interrupting their enjoynt of the play.
Originally in the back rows, Zhao Haiping found himself pushed outside by the surging crowd.
As he stumbled around dizzily, he heard several screams from outside!
Turning his head, he saw an Eastern Barbarian invader who had sohow already reached the front of the theater, raising a bloodied Eastern Barbarian blade high, intending to hack at the crowd!
Soon, more Eastern Barbarian invaders appeared at the theater entrance.
The Eastern Barbarian General, Shadow Servants, and the sa Wandering Warrior from the Eastern Barbarian tribe who had killed Zhao Haiping twice were all there!
Evidently, at this point, County Magistrate Tang had already sacrificed himself for the country.
Seeing the Wandering Warrior, Zhao Haiping took a harder look.
Thinking he was safe having changed identities, he wasn’t expecting that the warrior seed to sense his murderous intent instinctively and began walking over!
At that mont, without any weapons in his hands, facing the Wandering Warrior ant a certain death!
However, before the Warrior’s blade could strike, a man looking like a scholar stopped him.
Speaking in ancient Eastern Barbarian language, the scholar announced, "The General has commanded, mbers of the troupe must not be killed! Have you forgotten?"
The Wandering Warrior glared dissatisfiedly at the scholar but still sheathed his blade.
He looked again at Zhao Haiping, eventually deciding against drawing his blade, and instead, walked into the theater.
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