【Player Qi Xu, would you like to participate in the current one-star dungeon "Send Me Home"?】
【Yes/No】
Qi Xu clicked "Yes" without hesitation.
This dungeon wasn’t difficult at all—at least not for someone like Qi Xu, who had already completed it once and meticulously studied the strategies shared by others. For him, it was practically free rewards.
Dungeons rarely repeated, so after each run, players would gather in the chat lobby to discuss and analyze their experiences. Though Qi Xu never joined these conversations, he paid close attention to every detail shared.
First, Qi Xu browsed the trading market.
【2 cans of Wangzai Milk in exchange for 1000g of staple food】
He traded for it with multigrain buns.
【Reading glasses in exchange for 1 piece of glass】
【Laptop in exchange for 2 units of wood】
【A $20,000 Rolex in exchange for any food】
【Perfume in exchange for 1 bottle of mineral water】
【Doll in exchange for 3 packs of compressed biscuits】
【Full set of Paw Patrol toy cars in exchange for 1 iron block】
Qi Xu had to scroll all the way to the bottom of the trading list to find these obscure listings. Aside from the Wangzai Milk trade, the rest were downright bizarre.
The players who posted these trades were stunned when they saw the buyer—none other than the legendary "Invincible Black Whirlwind"! Was this the eccentric taste of a top-tier player? Soon, rumors about the mysterious Black Whirlwind flooded the chat lobby.
Player 1030: "Confirmed, the boss must be over 60—already needs reading glasses."
Lucky Charm: "Nonsense! Definitely a guy in his 20s or 30s."
Loli Body, Queen Heart: "Breaking news! Invincible Black Whirlwind, our server’s top boss, is actually a girl! A fragrant, beauty-loving girl!"
Player 0209: "You’re all wrong. The boss is just a little girl who hasn’t outgrown her doll phase!"
Speculations about Qi Xu’s true identity multiplied in no time.
Qi Xu rarely bothered with the chat lobby. As he exited, he skimmed a few messages but didn’t respond. Instead, he posted in the group chat:
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "Has everyone signed up for the dungeon?"
War Wolf 009: "Signed up. Last time, I ranked first in my group and got tons of rewards—way better than opening random loot boxes."
Chinese Master Chef: "I’m skipping. My stats need to hit 60 to stand a chance, and I’m... way below that."
Chief Beauty Officer: "Still debating. Wasn’t planning to join, thinking I could just open more boxes to keep up. But apparently, no boxes spawn during the dungeon..."
Bubbly Girl Guo Degang: "I think signing up is the move. The announcement emphasized hating cowards—that’s gotta be a hint."
Retired Magical Boy: "Agreed. I signed up. Worst case, I’ll respawn in 18 years!"
Old White Dragon in the Waves: "I’m in too. Driving on this endless road is boring—might as well have some fun."
Qi Xu considered carrying the team. These were his potential future guild members, and early preparation was key, even if forming a guild was still far off. But he wasn’t about to hand out freebies.
He settled on a compromise.
"I have crucial intel about tomorrow’s dungeon. Interested? Trade me one vehicle upgrade fragment for it."
Though vehicle fragments were valuable, his tips would ensure a risk-free run with rewards far exceeding the cost.
To his surprise, six fragments arrived instantly—no questions asked. Even Chinese Master Chef, who initially opted out, changed his mind.
Seeing everyone’s enthusiasm, Qi Xu shared the details in the group:
"NPCs fall into four categories: kids, young adults, middle-aged, and elderly.
Kids are easiest. Give them toys, snacks, or cartoons, and they’ll calm right down.
For young adults, offer things they like and complain about their bosses—agree with their struggles to maximize their favorability.
Middle-aged men? Bond over family burdens. For women, empathize with their sacrifices and praise their kids.
Elders? Talk health tips. Treat them like VIPs, not NPCs.
You can take multiple requests—don’t leave early. More rides mean more rewards, just like ride-hailing. Good ratings matter."
Chinese Master Chef: "Holy crap, really? If it’s just talking, even I can do this!"
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "@Chinese Master Chef Go sign up. Stock up on age-specific items in the trading market. Maybe even bring some of your cooking."
With six new fragments, Qi Xu now had ten—but upgrading his vehicle to Tier 4 required 100, plus a rare energy crystal no one had found yet.
The group trusted Qi Xu completely. All six members signed up and raided the trading market for niche items.
Many long-dusty trades suddenly went through, leaving sellers baffled but pleased.
After thorough prep, Qi Xu rested. The next morning, he exercised as usual before the dungeon began.
Players and their vehicles vanished from the highway, reappearing in a vast clearing packed with nearly a hundred cars. With so many participants, the usual tension gave way to chatter as players rolled down windows to socialize.
Qi Xu maneuvered his vehicle from the outer edge to the front—just as the announcement blared:
"Drivers, line up at your designated spots immediately! Passengers are arriving—no more dilly-dallying! Violators will be kicked out!"
Silence fell. Players craned their necks, searching for their assigned positions.
.........
