No shit in the belly, feeling light and free!
Qi Xu's good mood from yesterday carried over into today. Before 6 a.m., after washing up, he went for a jog to warm up, did a few sets of exercises, and practiced some basic moves with his staff.
Chinese Master Chef cooked red bean porridge in the morning and shared a bowl with everyone in the group chat.
Warwolf009: "Thanks, this porridge is amazing! Never thought I'd get to eat freshly cooked porridge in this lifetime. What supplies do you need? I’ve got a pretty good stock here."
Retired Magical Boy: "I’m so lucky to be in this group and to know you all. Bro, I don’t have much to offer right now, so I’ll owe you one..."
Retired Magical Boy felt embarrassed, but since everyone else accepted, refusing would’ve been awkward. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Chief Beauty Officer: "Holy crap, how is a simple porridge this delicious? My tongue almost melted! Master Chef, you don’t seem short on food, so can I give you some daily supplies instead?"
Chinese Master Chef: "No need. The game’s officially started—just wanted to wish everyone good luck. May fortune smile on you, and may your journey be smooth."
Some tried sending gifts, but Chinese Master Chef refused them all.
When the group kept insisting, he finally said, "Enough talk, I’m busy grilling jerky."
Silence fell over the chat.
What kind of lavish lifestyle is this? While others are stressing over their next meal, this guy’s already making jerky?
Qi Xu also thought Chinese Master Chef was being overly generous. The group was originally meant to be a convenient platform for trading and chatting.
Qi Xu couldn’t guarantee everyone in the group was trustworthy or grateful, so he privately messaged Chinese Master Chef to warn him.
Chinese Master Chef: "Don’t worry, I get it. Just this once. What do you want for lunch or dinner? I’ll cook for you!"
Qi Xu was torn between laughter and exasperation—his advice had clearly gone in one ear and out the other.
He didn’t feel Chinese Master Chef owed him anything. Sure, he’d helped upgrade his vehicle, but he’d also eaten plenty of delicious meals in return, including the gourmet dishes now stashed in his backpack—enough to live comfortably for two months.
Even if Chinese Master Chef had slightly benefited from their trades, it was still fair.
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "No more cooking for me. If I need anything, I’ll trade with you using supplies. Focus on yourself first. If you’ve got extra food, trade it in the group or global chat for supplies. The group’s just players I vibe with—not friends. I don’t know if they’re good people."
Chinese Master Chef: "Yeah, yeah, I know. Your jerky’s almost done—super fragrant! I’ll throw in some pickled cucumber slices too, perfect for cutting through the richness."
Qi Xu: "..."
He felt like he was talking to a brick wall.
In the morning, Qi Xu had a bowl of red bean porridge and a sandwich gifted by White Powder Twin-Tailed Fox, boosting his health points by two.
His health was now at 80—a safe threshold. As long as nothing went wrong, he wouldn’t have to worry about dropping below 10 and passing out.
His fatigue was only at 3. Perfect condition.
By 6 a.m., Qi Xu was more pumped than an overworked employee on payday. He hopped into his shiny pink garbage truck and hit the road!
Foot on the gas, arm casually resting on the steering wheel—just had to avoid drifting into the black fog on either side.
Way better than twisting the throttle against the wind.
He kept the anti-fatigue sunglasses on, though. No need for wind protection now, but they made everything look perfectly tinted, easing the strain on his eyes.
After about half an hour of smooth driving, he spotted a golden, glittering box by the roadside.
A gold-tier supply crate?
Qi Xu didn’t get too excited. Gold crates weren’t that easy to find—odds were it was a monster. Staff in hand, he jumped out of the truck.
He warmed up by jumping, stomping, and shouting. First battle of the official game phase! Bring it!
He flipped the lid open fast, combat stance ready—only to freeze in awkward silence. No monster. Just supplies.
Qi Xu was baffled. During the trial phase, half the crates he opened had monsters. Now, even a gold crate was empty? Felt wrong.
He leaned in for a closer look.
"Congratulations! Obtained: Universal Upgrade Card ×1."
Only one item, but its value was undeniable.
[Universal Upgrade Card: Can substitute for any one type of resource. Note: One type, not one unit.]
Qi Xu immediately stashed the card in the last slot of his backpack—saving it for later.
This thing would only get more valuable over time.
By the time he needed to upgrade his vehicle to tiers 5 or 6, key resources would cost hundreds or thousands each. This card would maximize its worth then.
Back on the road, another half hour passed before he spotted another crate—this time, a wooden one.
Qi Xu realized his mindset had shifted.
His first thought? "Is it even worth stopping for?"
He cleared his throat. This kind of thinking was dangerous—way too unlike his usual frugal, resourceful self. Gotta fix that.
He hopped out, pried the crate open, and a green snake shot out. Even unprepared, Qi Xu dodged easily and whacked its head with his staff, sending it flying into the black fog.
The crate only had one piece of fabric—but at least it was green!
The group chat pinged. Qi Xu pulled up the screen.
[Warwolf009 sent Chinese Master Chef a private gift: Python Meat ×10]
Chinese Master Chef: "Bro! You’re the best! Love you! Thanks! I’ll cook some for everyone!"
Warwolf009: "No need. Just returning the favor for the porridge. I kept 10 pieces for myself—I’ll grill them."
Chinese Master Chef: "Don’t ruin good ingredients! Send those 10 over too. I’ll cook them and give you some."
Warwolf009: "...Uh, okay."
Qi Xu chuckled. Warwolf009 had just experienced Chinese Master Chef’s enthusiasm firsthand.
He kept driving and found two more wooden crates—both empty except for monsters.
But with the morning’s haul, Qi Xu wasn’t disappointed at all.
Around noon, as he prepared to stop for lunch, a parallel highway appeared to his right.
.........
