"It's not that simple. There's still a long way to go. Let's wait a bit more."
Level 6 is a major threshold—upgrading is extremely difficult, and the difference from Level 5 is like night and day. Vehicle attributes will undergo a complete transformation.
It's not just about the fragments for vehicle upgrade cards. All kinds of materials are hard to come by. Without months or even a year of accumulation or a major opportunity, it’s practically impossible.
"Alright, let me know if you need anything."
Luo Xinpan added, "I'm a junior Wordweaver. If you need specific supplies, just tell me the names, and I can make a wish. They’ll be in my hands within three days."
"Wow, that’s so cool!"
"Little Sister Guo, your class is amazing!"
The survival game was inherently dull, but once they started chatting, there was no end to it. They talked for a long time before finally preparing to leave.
At that moment, Qi Xu suddenly noticed a small minibus parked next to her pink garbage truck.
It instantly reminded her that she still had a Driver profession card in her possession! Since the garbage truck couldn’t carry passengers, her plan to develop a second profession had fallen through...
"Whose vehicle is this?"
The bubbly girl Guo Degang grinned and jogged over. "Mine, mine! Does anyone want to come up and take a look?"
Qi Xu nodded and stepped inside to check it out.
Guo Degang was quite the creative type—she’d placed a bed and dining table in the driver’s cabin, while the back was filled with small seats.
Some of the tiny tables were set up with calligraphy supplies, complete with dried ink brushes. Others had paint and sketch paper, while a few held books and tea sets...
She was clearly someone who knew how to enjoy life.
"You’ve really made yourself at home here!"
Guo Degang chuckled sheepishly. "The survival game is boring enough as it is. You’ve got to find things that bring you joy and excitement—something to lift your spirits and help you relax."
Qi Xu wholeheartedly agreed. A plain steamed bun could fill you up, just like a gourmet meal from Master Chef could, but the experience was worlds apart.
A good mindset was crucial for the long haul, and being able to regulate your emotions was a valuable skill.
"I have a profession card for a Driver. It’s useless to me, so you can bind it. The main task is probably picking up monsters who want a ride while driving—they’ll pay you in survival coins."
Guo Degang was over the moon. "Really?! But I don’t have anything good to offer in return. How about this—let’s sign an agreement, Boss Whirlwind. Consider it an investment. We’ll split the profits 50-50!"
"A 50-50 split isn’t necessary. How about 30..."
"No, it has to be 50-50! I’m not as thick-skinned as Old White Dragon. Otherwise, I’d feel too guilty."
Old White Dragon, who had just picked up a calligraphy brush to pose for a photo (courtesy of Magic Girl), froze at Guo Degang’s words.
"My face ain’t that thick!"
Guo Degang burst into laughter and immediately initiated the trade.
"Thanks, Boss Whirlwind! Starting today, I’m officially employed! Before the survival game, I was studying for the civil service exam. I guess this counts as achieving my goal, huh?"
Seeing her determination, Qi Xu agreed.
After lingering a bit longer, they finally said their goodbyes. Once back in her truck, Qi Xu still felt a lingering happiness. Even though unpleasant things had happened, chatting with everyone made it all seem trivial.
Having companions along the way made the future feel a little brighter.
"Qiqi, don’t ignore me..."
Hearing Qiuqiu’s pleading voice, Qi Xu stopped pretending to be mute.
Staying silent wouldn’t solve anything—it’d just leave her stewing in anger.
"Qiuqiu, I’m really hurt. I trusted you more than anyone, and I never thought you’d treat me like this!"
Qi Xu tried to squeeze out a few more tears but failed. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t cry.
Still, she kept mentally repeating, I’m so sad, I’m so sad...
So, from Qiuqiu’s perspective, all it sensed was "sadness."
After all, a system couldn’t fully grasp the complex, often hidden emotions of a human.
In the end, Qi Xu didn’t cry, but Qiuqiu nearly did. It was rare to encounter a player as generous as Qi Xu, who’d casually toss survival coins its way. The thought of never receiving those coins again made work feel joyless.
"From now on, if I ever do something like this again, I’ll warn you first. Okay?"
Qi Xu knew when to quit while she was ahead.
"Fine. Then let’s never bring this up again."
"Mm-hmm."
Qi Xu then asked something she’d been curious about. "You seem really busy. How many players do you actually serve?"
"I’m responsible for Zone 88, District 666. Each district can only assign three players for personalized service. Right now, I’ve only chosen you and Wolf Warrior. That ‘Watch Me Cut You Down’—I just can’t work with her. She refuses to bind with me, and the way she talks is infuriating...
Besides that, I handle dungeon introductions, employee management, and all sorts of other tasks..."
Qi Xu immediately understood. "So, those of us with work permits are employees, and you’re our supervisor."
"That’s right. From now on, I won’t haggle with you... Just forgive me, okay?"
Qi Xu knew better than to burn bridges with Qiuqiu. Right now, she couldn’t afford to act on whims or emotions.
"Fine, I’ll let it go this time. But in the future, discuss things with me first!"
"Mm-hmm..."
Just then, Blessed by Luck sent a message.
"Boss Whirlwind, I’m at the monster shop. Need anything? I’ll buy it for you—free of charge!"
Blessed by Luck sent over the full item list. This time, the selection was mediocre, mostly everyday supplies.
Only the Positioning Card seemed remotely useful.
But upon closer inspection, Qi Xu noticed the cards were priced at 9.9 coins each, with a limit of 100 per purchase. Instantly, her interest peaked.
To encourage players to hunt each other, the Positioning Cards had been discounted to an absurd degree. Normally, monster shop items were capped at 10 per purchase—yet here, it was 100!
This was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. Positioning Cards would come in handy often, and their usual price was around 50 coins each. This was a steal!
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "How many Positioning Cards do you plan to buy?"
Blessed by Luck: "They’re pretty cheap. I’ll grab 20 and sell or trade them later."
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "Got it. I’ll take the remaining 80. Sell yours first—I’ll hold onto mine so we don’t compete."
Blessed by Luck: "Now that’s what I call power, boss!"
Qi Xu sent Blessed by Luck 800 coins upfront, and soon after, she received the 80 Positioning Cards.
She didn’t ask for the change and even threw in a black swan cake she’d packed from the buffet.
Qi Xu didn’t care for overly sweet desserts—she’d taken it purely because it was pretty and elegant.
.........
Special thanks to reader "[Taste Buds]" for the two "Supreme Certifications" and "Blossom of Updates." Here’s an extra chapter for you—love ya!
