【You can buy two maps for just ten coins, my dear~】The system's boyish bubble voice rang in my mind again.

Lin Cuiying thought for a moment before asking, "What did you say you would get as a free gift with the map purchase?"

【Buy a Cangshan Mountain map and get a Daqingshan Mountain map for free!】A cute version of a tour guide in a cheongsam appeared before my eyes, blinking, with eight clones waving a wooden sign as a free gift.

"A free map of Daqingshan?" Lin Cuiying asked again.

[That's right, host! By purchasing the Cangshan Mountain map, you can get the Daqingshan Mountain map for free!]

Lin Cuiying snorted disdainfully: "You stingy guy, you only gave me one map!"

Upon hearing this, the system's chibi-style cheongsam-clad tour guide's face showed several black lines, and all eight clones simultaneously made heartbreaking gestures, even the small wooden sign they were waving looked droopy.

The boy's voice, tinged with grievance, said: "Host, I can't give you any more~"

"Last time it only cost twenty coins to get directions and a map, but now it costs ten coins for just two maps. What kind of discount is this? You might as well just rob us!" Lin Cuiying said angrily.

"So... what does the host want?" The system's somewhat helpless voice sounded.

Lin Cuiying's eyes lit up, and she made an outrageous demand: "Give me five maps, and I'll buy them!"

[Five?! Host, this is impossible!] The system exclaimed in surprise.

Lin Cuiying wouldn't budge an inch: "If it's impossible, then forget it. Anyway, I don't care about your map."

After saying that, she turned to leave.

[Hey, host, don't go!] The system's anxious voice rang out, and it quickly called out to her.

Lin Cuiying paused, turned around, and said in a feigned indifference, "There's nothing to talk about. It's too expensive; I can't afford it!"

【No, host, shall we discuss this further?】The system's voice became somewhat obsequious.

Lin Cuiying remained unmoved and continued walking forward.

"Host, how about I give you an extra map?" the system said through gritted teeth.

Lin Cuiying adopted an attitude of "I don't care".

[Host, I can only give you two more maps at most, that's all!] the system said tearfully.

Lin Cuiying paused, and asked suspiciously, "Are you really going to send two more?"

"Of course it's true, host!" the system replied quickly.

She nodded slightly and said in a show of generosity, "Since you are so sincere, then I will reluctantly accept."

【Host, hurry up and pay!】The system urged her hastily, as if afraid she would change her mind.

"Didn't you take those five taels of silver yourself last time? Why do I have to pay for it myself this time?"

[Um... the host's money is stored in this space, and only the host can withdraw it before I, the humble servant, can receive it.]

"Haha, I didn't know that putting it in the space was so safe."

While laughing, Lin Cuiying used her consciousness to take out ten copper coins from her spatial storage.

In the blink of an eye, the ten copper coins in his hand disappeared.

[Ding! Payment successful, host. Welcome to visit again!]

Hearing the system notification sound, Lin Cuiying nodded in satisfaction: "That's more like it."

[Host, here is your map, please check it~]

As the system finished speaking, several maps appeared in Lin Cuiying's mind.

She looked closely and found that there were maps of Cangshan Mountain, Daqingshan Mountain, and then the two extra maps were of Shangdu Village and Luhua Village.

"What do you mean?"

[Host, the map was given to you randomly~]

Lin Cuiying's lips twitched violently, and she asked with a dark face, "Why are the randomly given maps in these two places?"

"Uh... it's just a coincidence, nothing more," the system stammered.

"A coincidence?" Lin Cuiying raised an eyebrow and continued, "What about Luhua Village? Don't tell me I know anyone there too?"

Shangdu Village, where the original owner's family lived; Luhua Village, where she now lives. The two villages are not large and contain the original owner's memories, so there is no need for a map.

[Well... Host, don't worry about these details. Anyway, the map has already been given to you, so why not take it?] The system chuckled.

Lin Cuiying rolled her eyes at the void, and dappled shadows of the trees fell into her furrowed brows.

"Who said I didn't want it? I've kept the map, but don't bother me again!" Lin Cuiying said irritably.

"Alright, alright, I'll do as you say, Master." the system said with a smile.

Lin Cuiying ignored it and, looking at the map in her mind, continued her search for the black bear.

With the map, Lin Cuiying didn't wander around aimlessly like a headless fly, but instead walked forward with a purpose.

After walking for about half an incense stick's time, Lin Cuiying finally saw the small black dot representing the black bear on the Cangshan Mountain map.

The small black dot is located in a wild walnut grove.

She looked up and saw the wild walnut grove in front of her.

Following the directions, we went to the cave where the black bear was hiding.

Lin Cuiying slowed her pace and cautiously approached the cave, but before she even reached it, she noticed someone in front of her.

The man, dressed in coarse gray cloth, was furtively looking around.

Lin Cuiying was startled and quickly hid behind a large tree nearby.

She cautiously peeked out and saw the gray-clad man look around the cave with shifty eyes for a while before tiptoeing off in another direction.

Looking at the man's furtive manner, Lin Cuiying secretly wondered, "This must be the one who stole the black bear, right?"

Holding her breath, she shrank back behind the tree, the damp moss brushing against her back and sending a chill through her.

The hemp rope around the gray-clad man's waist swayed with his movements, stained with dark brown dirt that resembled congealed blood.

She glanced down at the messy footprints on the ground, and could vaguely see drag marks hidden under the decaying leaves.

Lin Cuiying frowned and turned to ask the system with her mind: "Can you help me see how many people stole the black bear?"

[Host, there's a charge for this query~] The system's cheerful voice rang out.

Lin Cuiying was taken aback: "You're charging me? You're charging me?"

"Of course, host, there's no such thing as a free lunch," the system said matter-of-factly.

"You..." Lin Cuiying was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

She took a deep breath and asked through gritted teeth, "Then tell me, how much will it cost to query the number of people?"

"Not much, just five copper coins will do," the system replied crisply.

"Five copper coins isn't enough? Why don't you just rob someone?" Lin Cuiying said angrily.

【Would you like to check, host? If not, I have other things to do~】The system deliberately dragged out its voice.