Knowing they wouldn’t be able to chat as much next month, everyone was talking even more now. It was already 2 a.m., and no one wanted to sleep.
Qi Xu noticed that Chinese Master Chef hadn’t returned yet, so she sent him a message: "How’s it going? Smooth sailing? If you need help, just say the word. I’ve got some weird tricks up my sleeve."
Chinese Master Chef replied quickly, and it was clear he was having a great time.
"Everything’s going well! Thorny’s family is just as easygoing as it is. It’s the clan leader’s 1000th birthday, so they specifically asked me to help with the banquet preparations—all stuff I’m good at. There’s just a lot to set up, so it took a bit longer.
I finished everything the day before yesterday. These past few days, Thorny’s been taking me around to collect more Color Realm fragments. I’m only three red fragments away from completing the set! Once I have them, I can enter the Red Realm directly.
If I can become an Ability User, I won’t be so useless anymore. I’ll actually be able to help you guys!"
Invincible Black Tornado: "You’re not useless at all. Out of everyone in the group chat, you were the first one I got to know. All those delicious meals literally saved my life. Everyone has their own strengths—don’t overthink it. Just take it easy."
Chinese Master Chef: "Got it, boss!"
Before going to bed, Qi Xu left a message for the Little Goblin: "I’ll come find you tomorrow morning. My light armor’s shattered—see if you can fix it? I’ll pay ten times the usual fee. Oh, and I’ve also gathered a bunch of materials for weapon crafting for you."
Peerless Weapons Master: "Are you kidding me? Do I look like someone who cares about money? What kind of junk light armor is that? If it’s not my craftsmanship, you dare use it? Come over, and I’ll custom-make you a new set."
Qi Xu grinned like an idiot. "Hehehe, I’d feel bad putting you through the trouble."
"You’re paying!"
"Absolutely!"
Qi Xu also planned to visit the gas station tomorrow to see if she could build some rapport. Letting the Lord of Demon Island keep hiding wasn’t a solution. Maybe she should just switch to District 01-01 and settle the score with that enemy once and for all.
The Giant Black Snake had been chasing her for nearly two months, and she hadn’t left her vehicle in just as long. But as long as she had stockpiled supplies, she could keep hiring people to buy fuel packs for her at the gas station.
She had obtained the Magic Mirror and learned many secrets of the Survival Highway Game. Others might have similar tools. Taking the initiative was always better than passive defense. The moment she placed that order, they had become mortal enemies.
Before falling asleep, Qi Xu’s mind was a chaotic mess, filled with all the things she needed to do at this stage. Eventually, she drifted off in a daze.
Qi Xu usually slept well, but tonight, she miraculously suffered from insomnia. Her mind kept replaying unresolved issues, and an uncontrollable irritation gnawed at her.
Why, despite all her efforts, was every day still so busy and exhausting? If things stayed like this, what was the point of persevering? If she couldn’t succeed in the first round of the game, would this round really have a better outcome? Carrying the hopes of so many people weighed heavily on her.
Qi Xu buried her face in the pillow, fully aware that this was the influence of [Heart Demon’s Evasion], but she couldn’t suppress the flood of negative emotions.
Finally, she gave up and got dressed. A glance at the clock showed it was 3 a.m.
Her multi-purpose combat suit and light armor had been destroyed in the dungeon, so she put on her thermo-regulating outfit and grabbed Sakura’s Fall before stepping out of the vehicle.
The night was thick like spilled ink, devouring all light. In the distance, faint, eerie chanting drifted through the air—the source of all the negative emotions. The Heart Demon Beasts.
Qi Xu wondered if charging in, killing her way through, and telling a Heart Demon Beast, "You’re trash," would make this calamity end early.
Before she could reach a conclusion, she strode out of the protective barrier, dual blades in hand.
To an outsider, she looked like an idiot, a walking suicide, someone who’d lost the will to live, ensnared by madness.
Truthfully, the monsters around Qi Xu’s vehicle rarely howled or attacked to intimidate her at night. It was pointless—they’d only end up getting tortured in return.
But tonight seemed like a golden opportunity! A Giant Mantis Monster on "duty" raised its massive pincers and charged at her. It was already upon her, yet she didn’t move. Without hesitation, it thrust its serrated claws toward Qi Xu’s abdomen—
Just as they were about to pierce through her body, she… vanished.
By the time the monster sensed movement behind it and turned around, a mist-like force blasted it backward. Before it could react, Qi Xu’s dual blades flashed, severing both pincers in one clean motion.
As the creature shrieked in agony, Qi Xu swiftly ended its life. Then, with sharp instincts, she noticed another monster approaching from the right—a Gorilla Beast.
Another [Scarlet Assault] dash forward, relentless pursuit… She chased it toward the shore’s black mist, her eyes gradually turning blood-red, as if she’d lost all reason.
Even wounded, the Gorilla Beast refused to turn back, desperate to escape into the black mist. Qi Xu, equally stubborn, refused to let it go, staying hot on its heels.
The moment her blades pierced the Gorilla Beast’s heart from behind, she felt a powerful shove against her back. A backward [Scarlet Assault] retreat sent the ambushing monster flying into the black mist.
After the fight, sweating lightly, she finally felt a bit more at ease.
Too lazy to return to the protective barrier, Qi Xu pulled out a camping chair and plopped down right at the edge of the black mist—less than a meter away. The surrounding monsters watched eagerly, tempted…
Yet none dared approach. Something about this human felt like a trap!
Qi Xu didn’t care. She took out some skewers, barbecue seasoning, and pineapple beer.
Under the late-night breeze, she indulged in another meal.
The meat skewers were delicious, but grilled leeks, enoki mushrooms, potato slices, and eggplant were just as tasty. The only downside was the loneliness—no one to share it with.
But during a special calamity like this, loneliness was better. Qi Xu had no intention of calling someone over just to argue or even fight…
She tossed a few skewers into the black mist. "Hey, let’s have a midnight snack together."
The black mist showed no reaction for a long time. Qi Xu almost thought it had "clocked out." But just as she was about to finish and leave, the mist suddenly trembled violently.
"Oh my god, this is SO GOOD! I haven’t tasted anything like this in ages!"
..........
