Qi Xu was just a waste recycling worker. Sorting and sweeping garbage were tasks handled by other staff members. At night, everyone was busy with the banquet, leaving nothing for a waste recycler to do.
With a sigh, Qi Xu headed back to his single room to rest.
He wondered how Little Seven was doing at home. Could the little one take care of himself for five whole days?
Once the little one reached the juvenile stage—Level 3—he could join in battles. Unless a dungeon explicitly forbade pets, they were generally allowed as part of the player's strength.
After all, a pet’s abilities counted toward one’s own power.
Then Little Seven wouldn’t have to stay home alone anymore.
Lost in thought, Qi Xu soon drifted into sleep, where his dreams felt like endless cycles of reincarnation, each ending in death.
He played survival games hundreds of times, exhausted and numb, yet no matter what, he couldn’t clear the level. In the dream, Qi Xu drove a vehicle until, emotionally shattered, he slammed the accelerator and refused to let go.
Suddenly, he saw a vast open land ahead. Rushing toward it, he realized—damn, it was just a dream.
The nightmares lasted all night, leaving Qi Xu with a throbbing headache and the fatigue of running endlessly.
After washing up and eating breakfast, he slowly recovered. Yesterday’s supplies hadn’t cost a single survival coin—Monkey Boss had simply instructed Worker Monkey to take Qi Xu to today’s work location.
"The 5th and 6th floors of the castle are a bit messy. Monkey Boss said you don’t need to clean—just collect anything you think is worth recycling. He’ll come by later to appraise the items."
Qi Xu nodded.
No explanation was needed. It was obvious a banquet had been held here last night.
Whatever happened, the scene could only be described as "utter chaos."
Even the banquet table in the middle had been stomped on, leaving four massive claw marks...
Plenty of servers must have worked these two floors last night. Maybe he could gather some intel later.
Qi Xu quickly got to work, even finding a guest’s lost backpack. Without hesitation, he handed it to Worker Monkey.
Worker Monkey’s expression turned complicated, his eyes blinking rapidly. "Are you sure they didn’t just discard it? Maybe you should—"
"I’m handing it over to you."
No doubt—this was a test!
Worker Monkey immediately relaxed, grinning. "You’re truly an honest and upright employee."
Qi Xu smiled. "Just doing my duty."
After scouring both floors, Qi Xu only managed to collect some unopened food—nothing particularly valuable. Worse, he couldn’t unlock any new areas.
But on the fifth day, just before the dungeon was about to end, Qi Xu encountered... something unusual.
He crouched under a table, debating whether to take the enormous rug beneath it. Only a small stain—likely red juice or wine—marred the otherwise pristine white wool.
The material was soft and high-quality. Cutting it into smaller pieces could make decent rugs or even wool coats.
As he examined it, a crisp voice rang out. "Hey, who are you? What are you doing?"
Qi Xu looked up to see a pink pig in a golden princess dress, a sparkling crown perched on her head.
The diamond on the crown gleamed brilliantly under the light.
Most strikingly, the pig was wearing makeup—not a comical smear, but actual human-style cosmetics that subtly enhanced her features.
She looked... almost delicate.
After a brief moment of confusion, Qi Xu quickly adopted an expression of delight and admiration.
"You’re... so adorable! Wow, that dress is absolutely stunning!"
The Pig Princess bashfully lowered her head, then twirled like a ballerina, her skirt flaring gracefully.
"Oh, really? You truly think I’m beautiful?"
"Of course! I’m just not great with words—forgive me."
Qi Xu answered with utmost sincerity, mentally reinforcing his words: I’m telling the truth. I said she’s cute and the dress is pretty.
A dainty ballet-dancing pig in a crown and gown was adorable, and the golden evening dress was exquisite—regal, even.
The craftsmanship and details were impeccable.
Though the subject was unconventional, his words weren’t false. Qi Xu swore to himself again—he hadn’t lied.
Sure enough, after a pause, the Pig Princess excitedly trotted over.
"I like you! You’re a good, honest, and utterly sincere human player—just like my lovely makeup artist, Qi Xinmeng. I adore people like you!"
The genuine warmth in her eyes told Qi Xu exactly how to respond.
"You mean Qi Xinmeng? Her username is ‘Retired Magical Boy.’"
The Pig Princess nodded. "You know Mengmeng?"
Qi Xu smiled. "Of course. We came here together—we’re best friends."
The Pig Princess beamed. "I knew I felt a connection with you! It’s so late—why aren’t you resting? Still working?"
Qi Xu shook his head slightly. "I’m a waste recycler. My hours aren’t fixed. The dungeon ends at 8 a.m. tomorrow, so I wanted to work a bit longer."
The Pig Princess’s eyes suddenly welled up.
"Are you... working this late because you’re poor?"
Qi Xu hesitated, unsure how to answer.
Finally, he nodded awkwardly. "It’s not like I enjoy suffering."
The Pig Princess pondered for a moment. "Is there anything here you’d like? I could give it to you as a gift for your kind words. If nothing catches your eye, I can offer you a Level 6 Vehicle Upgrade Card."
Qi Xu’s heart raced. A Level 6 upgrade card was rare, but he was close to earning one anyway—it wasn’t urgent.
But a high-tier Space Stone... This might be his only chance.
"Could I... have this? All the recyclables I’ve gathered are stored inside. If I can’t take them out, these past few days would’ve been for nothing."
He gazed at the Pig Princess with hopeful sincerity, thinking, Surely this kind, adorable princess will agree?
The Pig Princess took the Space Stone, running her hooves over it. "Alright. Now it’s yours."
Qi Xu accepted it with both hands, slightly embarrassed. "Really? You’re giving it to me? Thank you so much."
.........
