The tall man's actions were like a starting whistle, prompting the remaining players to react. They rushed toward the stall owners, grabbing durable and filling pumpkins or sweet potatoes before bolting.
The entire street’s vegetable vendors were stunned by the sudden turn of events. They didn’t even react as their goods were snatched away, their expressions almost puzzled.
Seriously? Going through all this trouble just to steal some pumpkins and sweet potatoes?
They looked downright pitiful.
Xiaojuan found the locals’ reactions strange. In a place where people would fight to the death for food, why weren’t they more upset about having their supplies stolen?
"What are you spacing out for?" A player shoved a ten-pound pumpkin into her arms and yanked her along before she could react, practically dragging her off her feet.
It was the same player who had made the first move earlier. Seeing her still standing there frozen, he had no choice but to run back and pull her away.
The group of six, aided by their items, quickly dodged the crowd and hid inside a dilapidated abandoned factory.
The factory was coated in a thick layer of dust, but at least the roof was intact. The players swiftly cleaned up two rooms and reinforced the broken doors and windows.
"This place is stuffy and boiling hot." The tall male player, Peng, wiped sweat from his forehead as he introduced himself, "I’m Peng. This dungeon’s difficulty is an unprecedented 3S-rank. Let’s work together and make it out alive."
"I’m Da Chang, and this is A Xiao." Two men emerged from the other room after finishing their cleaning. The speaker was short and wiry—ironic, given his name—while the man behind him, A Xiao, was towering and broad.
"Ugh, not you two again?" The woman who replied was lean and muscular, wearing a tank top. "I’m Huaba, but you can call me Baba."
"Still getting the better end of the name game, huh?" The woman in the corner looked to be in her early twenties, delicate as a willow, yet she snapped a steel rebar leaning against the wall with her slender arm before turning to Xiaojuan. "I’m Rou."
Xiaojuan had long heard of these five—they were infamous among players as dungeon wreckers, the system’s worst nightmares, each with a record of breaking the game’s dungeons.
"What about you?" The five turned to Xiaojuan in unison.
"I’m Xiaojuan." She touched the phone on her, glancing at the rebar in Rou’s hand before forcing a smile. "I saw some scrap materials outside earlier. Should we bring them in for tools?"
"Not yet." Huaba eyed the food on the floor, wiping sweat from her face. There wasn’t an ounce of respect in her tone as she said, "I’ve heard of you. You don’t usually do survival dungeons, right? Did you piss off the system too? This dungeon is clearly the damn thing targeting us. I was just pulled from a 2S-rank dungeon straight into this 3S nightmare."
"Same here."
"Funny, I got dragged in less than half an hour after clearing a 2S."
Comparing notes, the other four realized they had all just come from 2S-rank dungeons.
"And you?" They turned back to Xiaojuan.
"I…" Clearing her throat under their curious stares, she admitted, "I haven’t entered a dungeon in days. My last run was a failure."
It wasn’t unusual for high-level players to escape failed dungeons with rare items, but they were curious why Xiaojuan had ended up on the system’s blacklist.
"The temperature’s rising fast." Peng glanced at the blinding sunlight outside. "When we entered, it was around 35°C. Now it’s probably over 40."
"And we’re not even at peak heat yet. I’m worried about water." Da Chang pulled six bottles from his inventory, distributing them evenly. "These were the resources the system assigned me."
"Thanks." Peng took his share, then produced his own—six energy bars.
The other three players also handed out their resources: firearms, sugar, and salt.
Xiaojuan stared at the items in her hands, unused to such straightforward cooperation.
When she opened her inventory, she nearly laughed at what she found.
Six utterly ordinary baseball caps—no stat boosts, no special effects.
"Did you dig up the system’s ancestral grave or something?" Peng gave her a sympathetic look, putting on one of the caps. "Don’t worry. You might be unlucky, but we’ve got your back."
Xiaojuan noticed how well the five got along—clearly, they’d known each other long before this. Their earlier introductions had been entirely for her benefit.
A chill ran down her spine. Their starting resources were all survival essentials, while hers were useless.
More importantly, these five were already a team, leaving her as the lone outsider. In a high-difficulty survival dungeon, going solo was suicide.
The system really wanted her dead.
The room was stifling, reeking of mildew. Xiaojuan felt like a steamed bun left to rot in a damp cage.
This was bad.
Peng’s prediction was right. Two or three hours later, the heat inside was unbearable. Xiaojuan stepped outside, touching the scorching ground—it had to be over 60°C.
Surviving in these conditions would be brutal.
---
Chao Musheng and his group stepped out of the airport and were nearly knocked back by a wave of heat. The League Branch Secretary beside him couldn’t help but mutter, "It’s so hot."
The reception staff looked embarrassed, worried the experts from the capital would be displeased. "Apologies, we’ve been hit hard by the autumn heatwave lately. Our car is just ahead—it’s only a short walk."
"Wow!" Professor Zhang checked his phone’s weather app. "It’s 42°C here today?"
"Yeah." The two staff members regretted not bringing umbrellas. "The temperature’s been over 40°C for days. Even schools delayed reopening."
Spotting the car, they sighed in relief. "Please, everyone, get in. The AC’s running."
In that short walk, Chao Musheng’s shirt was already soaked. The blast of cold air when he entered the car felt like a revival.
"Hanyue County sits in a basin, so summers and early autumn are always muggy," the staff explained, handing out water. "The airport is still two hours from the county. Please rest on the way."
Chao Musheng glanced at the outdated facilities around the airport. The terminal was smaller than some bus stations—more like a shared-use airfield.
From the capital city to here, there was only one flight per day, and it departed at around 8 a.m. To avoid delays, everyone arrived at the airport by 6 a.m. After such a long and exhausting journey, they were completely worn out.
When the reception staff spoke, no one hesitated to lean back in their seats and doze off.
Chao Musheng, sitting by the window, closed his eyes for a while but was startled awake by the honk of a large truck. He opened his eyes and looked outside, seeing rows of low, shabby houses.
Tiled roofs and buildings reminiscent of 1990s architectural styles stood side by side. Most shops were closed, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the streets.
A heavy truck loaded with construction debris passed by, kicking up clouds of dust. The swirling dirt settled like a gray coat over the goods in a small grocery store. An elderly man sat in a rocking chair, indifferent to the dust.
This was a very small rural town.
Even as they drove past, Chao Musheng didn’t spot a single young person.
Though Hanyue County was poor and remote, its road infrastructure was decent. However, Chao Musheng noticed many sections of the road lined with stone tablets bearing the names of donors.
"Everyone, we’re now approaching Kunlun Road," the receptionist announced, seeing that the group had woken up. "Two years ago, Hanyue County suffered a devastating flood. The Kunlun Group donated substantial funds to help us rebuild. That’s why the locals named this stretch of road outside the resettlement area 'Kunlun Road' in their honor."
As the bus entered Kunlun Road, the houses on either side looked much nicer, and there were noticeably more people than in the previous town.
"Hanyue County is a labor-exporting region. Thirty years ago, our registered population was five to six hundred thousand, but now…" The receptionist smiled bitterly. "The county is too poor to keep young people here. Many families only reunite a few times a year."
"A few years ago, Kunlun set up an agricultural products processing plant here." The receptionist’s tone brimmed with pride. "Many young locals now work at the plant."
The mention of the Kunlun processing plant sent the receptionist into an excited monologue, praising it for a solid five or six minutes. "This support project also received significant sponsorship from Kunlun."
The League Branch Secretary, aware that Chao Musheng was a technical consultant for Kunlun, whispered, "If they knew you were Kunlun’s corporate advisor…"
"Shh." Chao Musheng shook his head. "It hasn’t been easy for this place to develop."
With its winding mountain roads, severe aging population, and outdated infrastructure, progress was hard-won.
Yet, it hadn’t been abandoned. The detailed support plans were proof of new hope.
"Up ahead is where you’ll all be staying," the receptionist said, pointing to a five- or six-story hotel. "The area is well-maintained and conveniently located. If you need anything, feel free to contact our staff anytime."
The bus stopped in front of the hotel, where a welcome banner hung and a group of people waited to present flowers and shake hands with Professor Zhang. Their enthusiasm was palpable, their eyes filled with anticipation for the future.
Perhaps they weren’t just welcoming the visitors—they were welcoming the promise of better days.
"Please, there’s no need for such formalities. We’re here to serve the community," Professor Zhang said, holding the flowers. He introduced the student team accompanying him and specifically pulled Chao Musheng to his side. "Actually, Chao here has a special connection to Hanyue County."
The receptionists looked intrigued.
"Not only is he a specially assigned aid student from our university, but he’s also a technical consultant at Kunlun’s headquarters." Professor Zhang clapped Chao Musheng’s shoulder and laughed. "Since the Kunlun processing plant is part of the Kunlun Group, technically, he’s their advisor too! Chao and the other students are all very approachable, so don’t hesitate to ask them for help."
A Kunlun consultant?!
The receptionists’ eyes lit up. In that instant, Chao Musheng’s status in their eyes surpassed even Professor Zhang’s.
The League Branch Secretary stifled a laugh from the back—she’d expected this reaction.
After the welcome ceremony, Chao Musheng was immediately surrounded by local staff, some even asking for photos with him.
"Alright, everyone, give him some space!" A receptionist pushed through the crowd. "Advisor Chao has had a long journey. Let him rest in his room first. You can ask your questions tomorrow."
"Right, right!" The group nodded eagerly, ushering Chao Musheng to his hotel room. They helped him with his belongings, adjusted the air conditioning to a comfortable temperature, and finally left in a flurry.
Once the door closed, Chao Musheng exhaled in relief. Their enthusiasm had been overwhelming.
He picked up the canvas bag on the table, which contained items prepared by the hosts—a notebook, a thermos, a sun hat, a work pass, brochures about Hanyue County, heatstroke medication, and other essentials.
Sweat clung uncomfortably to his skin, so he took a quick shower. Then he grabbed his phone and tapped on Su Chenzhu’s chat.
[Mr. Su, have you set off yet?]
Su Chenzhu was signing documents when the message popped up. He finished signing, handed the file to his secretary, and said, "For this business trip, Secretary Liu and Assistant Yang will accompany me. No need to arrange additional staff."
"Understood, sir." The secretary took the files and left the room, sighing inwardly. Though he disliked traveling, lately, the boss only ever brought Secretary Liu along. The rest of them seemed to have fallen out of favor.
"What’s with the sigh?" Assistant Yang approached, carrying a briefcase. "Did the boss reject your documents?"
"Hah." The secretary sighed again. "You wouldn’t understand."
Those basking in the boss’s favor could never grasp the sorrow of those left in the cold.
"Huh?" Assistant Yang looked puzzled. What was that expression for? Had he offended him somehow?
He knocked and entered the office. "Sir, the important documents for Hanyue County have been packed."
"Good." Su Chenzhu tapped on his phone screen without looking up.
[Chenzhu: Leaving in an hour. You’ve arrived already?]
[Morning and Evening: Yes. Hanyue County is scorching—make sure you and your team take precautions against the heat.]
Chao Musheng lay on the bed and sent a quick selfie after reading Su Chenzhu’s reply.
[Morning and Evening: I was drenched in sweat. Only after a shower did I feel better.]
In the photo, Chao Musheng’s cheeks were faintly flushed, his hair slightly tousled yet effortlessly stylish. The open collar of his shirt revealed a glimpse of his collarbone.
"Sir?"
"What?" Su Chenzhu swiftly locked his phone, hiding the screen as he looked up.
"Secretary Liu is waiting in the parking lot. He asked me to escort you down." Assistant Yang noticed the boss’s guarded posture and tactfully took a step back.
"Got it." Su Chenzhu stood and retrieved a soft yellow suitcase from the adjacent lounge.
Soft… yellow?
Assistant Yang kept his expression under control. The boss occasionally reverting to childhood tastes—like a fondness for bright yellow—was probably fine, right?
After sending the photo to Su Chenzhu, Chao Musheng set his phone aside and flipped through the internal support materials for Hanyue County. Likely to prevent premature leaks of project details, Professor Zhang had only sent them the documents after they arrived at the airport. It was a massive undertaking, expected to take one or two years, with their team responsible for just a small fraction of it.
By the time he finished reviewing the materials, Su Chenzhu still hadn’t replied. Chao Musheng chuckled softly, burrowed under the covers to sleep, and once again encountered the virus sphere in his dreams.
The virus sphere looked listless, its many tendrils noticeably reduced, leaving it somewhat bald. Whether it had been beaten up or dried out by the sun, its wrinkled skin made it even uglier.
It lay sprawled on a patch of sandy ground, its countless eyes spinning wildly. The moment it spotted Chao Musheng, its remaining tendrils shot upright like symmetrical centipede legs, hoisting its shriveled body in a desperate attempt to flee.
"Running away?" Chao Musheng stepped on the rearmost tendril, sending the virus sphere tumbling into the sand, where its moisture quickly soaked the grains beneath it.
Was it crying… or had it wet itself?
Before Chao Musheng could react, it snapped off the trapped tendril and vanished into the sand like a panicked rodent.
Ew.
Disgusting.
Chao Musheng lifted his foot, rubbing the sole against the sand to clean it. He glanced around—where was this place?
After walking for a while, he spotted a familiar giant hourglass filled with glass marbles. He had seen this hourglass in a dream before, he was sure of it. Slowly approaching, he examined the dull, lifeless marbles inside and gave the hourglass a shake.
Crack.
The hourglass shattered abruptly, its marbles spilling out before dissolving into streaks of light that vanished into the sky.
Chao Musheng picked up a shard, realizing it wasn’t glass but something more like ice. The moment it touched his palm, it melted away, leaving only a faint chill behind.
A strange, illogical dream.
Sitting up in bed, Chao Musheng opened his hand, as if he could still feel that lingering coolness.
A group notification reminded everyone to head downstairs for dinner. After changing clothes and freshening up in the bathroom, he opened his door to find a slightly plump, bespectacled woman waiting outside.
"Consultant Chao!" The woman brightened, eagerly shaking his hand before presenting her work credentials. "Hello, hello! I’m the factory manager of the Kunlun Hanyue Agricultural Products Processing Plant. It’s such an honor to meet you."
"Hello." Chao Musheng hadn’t expected the factory manager to be waiting outside his room. "My apologies—I didn’t realize you were here."
"I just arrived." Factory Manager Chen took a large bag of products from her assistant and handed it to Chao Musheng. "These are our factory’s specialties. Please give them a try."
"Thank you, Factory Manager Chen." He noticed her face was flushed and slick with sweat from the heat.
Not wanting to reject her enthusiastic gesture, he accepted the gift and set it inside his room. "My visit to Hanyue is as a student from Jinghua University, here to participate in the county’s support project. If there’s anything work-related I can assist with, my capacity might be limited, but please don’t hesitate to ask if there’s anything I can do for the factory or its staff."
"Consultant Chao, you must be incredibly busy. I wouldn’t dare trouble you with trivial matters." Factory Manager Chen didn’t dare take his words at face value. The moment she’d learned a Kunlun technical consultant was among the expert delegation, she’d rushed over from the factory.
Now, seeing Chao Musheng in person, she was struck by how much younger—and more handsome—he was than she’d imagined.
"Our factory’s anniversary celebration is in a week. I hope you’ll grace us with your presence." She handed him an invitation. "I’m a native of Hanyue County. If you need anything during your stay, just let me know. I’d love the chance to introduce you to more of our local culture and scenery."
She knew full well that in a small place like Hanyue, opportunities to meet high-ranking corporate figures like Consultant Chao were rare. If she could secure even a little more benefit for the local workers or boost sales for their products, she’d gladly be at his beck and call—or even sleep on the hotel floor as his servant.
If she let such a golden opportunity slip, how could she ever face her fellow townspeople again?
"Xiao Chao." A classmate from the same floor stepped out of his room and noticed Chao Musheng speaking with a stranger. "Who’s this?"
"This is Factory Manager Chen, the head of the Kunlun Hanyue Processing Plant." Chao Musheng introduced her warmly. "She’s a local and knows Hanyue County inside out."
"Hello, esteemed experts and professors!" Factory Manager Chen smiled warmly. Spotting the other Jinghua students, she signaled to her employee waiting around the corner, who promptly brought out pre-packaged local specialties. "These are Hanyue’s signature products. Please try them and share your feedback!"
Suddenly handed such large bundles, the students hesitated, instinctively looking to Chao Musheng for guidance.
"Then I’ll accept these on behalf of my classmates. Thank you, Factory Manager Chen." Chao Musheng smiled. "Shall we head downstairs to chat over dinner?"
"Oh no, no—we’ve already eaten." Factory Manager Chen knew the experts’ meals were prearranged by the reception team and didn’t want to intrude. "Mr. Chao, Hanyue’s night scenery is quite lovely. If you’re lucky, you might even spot fireflies. After dinner, perhaps you and your classmates would like to join me for a stroll?"
"Thank you." Faced with her hopeful gaze, Chao Musheng couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
"It’s getting dark." Peng leaned against a mildew-streaked wall, his T-shirt soaked with sweat. "With the situation outside unclear, I want to scout our immediate surroundings while the temperature drops."
"We can split into teams," Rou suggested. "Peng, you’ll pair with Xiaojuan. Since you’re not the sharpest, listen to her."
Xiaojuan: "…"
So blunt?
"Got it." Peng peeled off his damp shirt, wrung it out, and pulled it back on. "I won’t wander off."
After stewing in the sweltering room all day, all six of them reeked of sweat—but in a survival scenario like this, no player cared about personal hygiene.
Having only gnawed on a raw sweet potato for dinner, Xiaojuan found herself missing the days of feasting with Brother Chao.
Outside the abandoned factory, there was no one in sight—not even streetlights. A plump rat scurried past Xiaojuan’s feet, so brazen it barely acknowledged her.
In a survival game… how did the rats get this fat?
Peng lunged, snagging the rodent to keep as emergency rations.
"Do you hear running water?" Xiaojuan led Peng to the source—a narrow, stinking ditch, its surface hazy with heat and reeking of decay.
Strewn along the banks were bits of trash. Where there was trash, there had to be people living nearby.
Xiaojuan picked up a few large plastic bottles from the garbage pile, tied them together with a rope, and prepared to use them as water containers.
"Let's keep going further," she said, the sense of strangeness growing stronger. Carrying the string of plastic bottles, Xiaojuan continued forward and soon arrived at a small river.
Mosquitoes and insects swarmed along the riverbank, and stone railings had been built on both sides.
A survival wasteland with infrastructure?
Though Xiaojuan rarely entered survival scenarios, something felt off—this didn’t seem like any survival setting she knew.
"Watch out!" Peng noticed a flickering emerald-green glow in the grass. He pulled Xiaojuan back quickly and took out a defensive tool.
It was common knowledge that any creature in a survival scenario could be venomous, and the brighter the glow, the deadlier the poison.
A willow branch, scorched by the sun all day, swayed in the warm breeze drifting over the river and brushed against Xiaojuan’s shoulder. She felt an itch and scratched her neck, the plastic bottles clattering noisily in her hand.
Not far away, a woman’s voice spoke up: "This is Hanyue County’s famous firefly habitat. When the weather isn’t so hot, people even travel here just to take photos."
"People taking selfies in a survival scenario?" Peng exclaimed. "Romanticizing life till the very end, huh?"
Were the NPCs in this scenario just too absurd?
