Qi Xu said, "This is a bit spicy, so you can't eat it. Let me get you some big bones to chew on instead."
Little Seven happily barked a few times in response.
Chinese Master Chef replied instantly, sending over 26 large bones.
"Ever since I found out you have a dog, I've been saving these for you."
Qi Xu then sent Chinese Master Chef the fully autonomous driving module.
Chinese Master Chef: "!!!!!"
Chinese Master Chef: "Whirlwind Boss, getting this thing makes me happier than leveling up! Now I’ll have more time to cook."
Qi Xu recalled that Chinese Master Chef’s vehicle was something like a tractor... inherently slow-moving. If aligned with his profession, that tractor should’ve been upgraded into a mobile kitchen by now.
"Did you choose to upgrade your vehicle in a direction that aligns with your profession?"
Chinese Master Chef: "Nope, still a tractor. I think tractors might actually have stronger combat potential. If guilds or teams form later, there’s bound to be large-scale battles.
I can cook anywhere—my cabin is huge, with two floors. I turned the upper level into a kitchen, while the lower level has the driver’s seat and a bed."
Qi Xu couldn’t help but admire Chinese Master Chef’s foresight. Starting from level 6, vehicles could be equipped with weapons.
And once guilds formed, large-scale battles would indeed become a reality. Previously overlooked special vehicles—like trucks that required massive resources to upgrade, or slow-moving tractors, forklifts, and bulldozers—would become devastating assets in team fights.
They were the best base models for combat vehicles.
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "You’re absolutely right."
Chinese Master Chef: "ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ"
After a brief chat, Qi Xu started eating while giving Little Seven the bones to gnaw on.
The bones still had plenty of meat left—clearly, Chinese Master Chef had saved them specifically for the dog.
The spicy stir-fry pot Chinese Master Chef made was incredibly tempting. Qi Xu had never imagined being able to enjoy such a variety of dishes in a survival game.
Pork belly, oyster mushrooms, tofu puffs, potatoes, beef rolls, lotus root slices, asparagus, cured sausages, shrimp, tenderloin, enoki mushrooms, fish balls, crab sticks, tripe...
Topped with a generous sprinkle of sesame seeds and crushed peanuts—a high-calorie nightmare for anyone on a diet.
But Qi Xu loved it. In a survival game, who cared about dieting?
The flavor was amazing—not just spicy, but fragrant and addictive. Even someone like Qi Xu, who rarely ate spicy food, found it irresistible.
The duo ate with gusto, occasionally locking eyes and laughing like a pair of goofballs, enjoying the warmth and ease of the moment.
Still craving more, Qi Xu pulled out a cup of cola, instantly feeling satisfied.
After the meal, Qi Xu headed to the main group chat and posted a message:
"I have a level 5 vehicle upgrade card here—note, not fragments, but the full card. Only trading for high-value items. DM me if interested."
Then, Qi Xu sent a red envelope containing 100 portions of basic food looted from today’s encounters—things like bread rolls, bottled water, sausages, and cream-filled crackers.
Back when times were tough, these items could’ve been lifesavers. But now, spoiled by Chinese Master Chef’s cooking, Qi Xu had zero interest in them.
Once a card was synthesized, it couldn’t be used to craft a level 6 upgrade card. Since the small group already had theirs, it was better to trade it for something useful.
The red envelope was claimed quickly, with many expressing sincere thanks. But... only two people inquired about the upgrade card, politely saying "Thanks, sorry to bother," before going silent.
Qi Xu was baffled.
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "A level 5 vehicle upgrade card—made from 1,000 fragments. No one needs it?"
Breaking Cocoon into Butterfly: "Whirlwind Boss, you don’t understand us."
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "??"
Qi Xu genuinely didn’t get it. What was going on? Even leveling up wasn’t a priority anymore?
Cursed by Bad Luck: "What Butterfly means is... we’re too broke to afford it, Boss. @A Swimming & Fitness Coach Chen, you should be able to, right?"
A Swimming & Fitness Coach Chen: "Don’t even ask. Worst luck—I just spent everything I had to synthesize 1,000 fragments into a card, and then I see Boss Whirlwind selling one..."
Qi Xu chuckled, unfazed. No rush—this item would sell eventually.
Today’s incident with "Blue Little Flower" served as a reminder.
Blindly showering resources and help without principles was unnecessary, but some welfare benefits could be considered.
Especially with so many basic supplies lying around...
Qi Xu crafted 10,000 sanitary pads and listed them in the trading hall. Any female player verified by the survival system could exchange one item for 10 pads.
As for freeloaders? Not a chance.
Just as Qi Xu was about to log off, Tonsils Never Speak sent a message.
Assuming it was about the upgrade card trade, Qi Xu was surprised when...
"Have you checked the main chat? Something feels off, Whirlwind Boss. I think... your focus might be misplaced. No offense—I just really like you, okay~?"
Qi Xu froze. Was that a confession? No—the real issue was that something had happened.
Qi Xu rarely checked the main chat, mostly sticking to the small group.
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "I’ll take a look now."
The main chat was in chaos.
What started as an argument between Blue Little Flower and Cursed by Bad Luck had escalated, with more players joining in. The insults grew nastier, more extreme. Some players Qi Xu even recognized—people who’d seemed decent—were now spewing bizarre, disgusting remarks...
Only then did Qi Xu realize something was wrong. Revisiting the "Blue Little Flower" incident, those unreasonable, childish provocations seemed designed to incite rage, pissing off everyone regardless of gender.
It felt like an advanced troll move—deliberately twisting the conflict into a gender war, vilifying women’s image...
Earlier, Qi Xu had fixated on the "moral blackmail" angle. But stepping back, it was clear that was just a smokescreen. This person was baiting everyone! Damn it—Qi Xu had missed the real issue entirely!
A simple mission-related dispute had been warped into a men-vs-women debate.
And Blue Little Flower seemed prepared. When photos of the pink garbage truck appeared in the group, she was the first to question her own gender, instantly igniting the discussion.
It wasn’t until Old White Dragon stepped in that the crowd settled down.
.........
