"No problem!"
Everyone responded crisply. Qi Xu had few concerns; the most unreliable of them, Shadowkill, was behaving unusually well, motivated by the fear of losing this opportunity. Having just learned a hard lesson, even the dullest would have wisened up.
As for Threeking, he wasn't just Qiuqiu's spy; he was War Wolf 003, The Third, a true ally.
When the conversation wound down, Amyspider brought over a few cups of tea. "Since you're all friends of Black Whirlwind, let me treat you."
"You're too kind. Cough, we have money."
"Then come back and spend it next time. This one's on me," Amyspider said before retreating.
Qi Xu still had a mountain of work to do, so he downed the tea and stood to leave. But the moment he rose, a wave of warmth surged from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, instantly filling him with boundless energy. He felt like charging out to battle monsters for three hundred rounds.
Not wanting to waste this temporary buff, Qi Xu said his goodbyes and dashed off, leaving the other four exchanging glances.
Wang Buyu, though mute, felt it impolite to leave first. Endless Longevity was still smiling, amused by Shadowkill's awkwardness. Threeking was equally intrigued by the other three, so he stayed to watch the show.
The four stared at each other, then unexpectedly burst into laughter simultaneously.
"Whatever grudges we hold, set them aside for now. When we're in the treasure map secret realm, we stand united against outsiders!" Shadowkill said, addressing Endless Longevity.
Unusually, Endless Longevity didn't argue. "Agreed. We can fight among ourselves all we want, but we don't make a fool of ourselves abroad."
"Good. I' m honored to collaborate with you all. I'll give it my all," Shadowkill added.
Wang Buyu communicated directly in their minds: "I'll do my best too!"
No one was surprised; they'd long since figured it out. Only after the four downed their tea and swallowed the leaves did they suddenly understand why Unmatched Black Whirlwind had bolted earlier...
Without a second word, they all sprang up and ran.
Amyspider was lying on the roof of Fragrant Zhai Studio, spinning a pen with her leg, watching them flee with a grin. "Those kids are such fun!"
After the figures vanished, she hopped down, ready to collect the tea set. On the table, she found 5,000 survival coins left behind.
Her smile only grew brighter.
Walking with the strong isn't about passively basking in their glory; it's about awakening the instinct to rise within their spiritual magnetic field, letting growth evolve from chance inspiration into conscious pursuit.
Qi Xu had no idea that the other four had not only reaffirmed their alliance but also paid for the tea, earning forty points of goodwill with Amyspider each.
After leaving, Qi Xu went straight to find Chinese Master Chef.
"Boss, I just perfected a few new dishes. Want to give them a try?"
Chinese Master Chef was practically vibrating with excitement. No sooner had he created new recipes than his food-loving, appreciative best friend showed up!
"Yes, I'm dying for some. Master Chef, set your stove outside the vehicle and help me lure in some monsters."
"No problem. When you kill them, just toss the fresh ingredients my way."
"Deal. From kill to table in half an hour—nothing fresher than that."
With a hundred demons running wild and monsters swarming ashore, sensitive to blood, Qi Xu started by butchering a Thunder Yak for its blood.
As monsters converged and Master Chef's wok heated up, Qi Xu kicked off this month's official monster hunt!
He punched tirelessly—one blow after another, nothing but relentless drive forward. Two hours passed with no sign of fatigue.
His three little minions, who hadn't fought alongside Qi Xu in a while, gleefully centered around him, coordinating the kills without tiring.
It helped that Cherry Blossom had been sent to Doudou for an upgrade; otherwise, this battle would have been even messier.
Master Chef's stir-fry aroma drifted for hundreds of miles, even attracting monster merchants, let alone the monsters themselves.
Killing monsters with one hand, Qi Xu warmly greeted the monster merchants: "Hey friends, sit down and eat. Don't wait for me; I'll be busy a while longer."
The green-haired, red-haired, and purple-haired monster merchants chuckled and rubbed their hands together before sitting down. Embarrassed to freeload, they'd brought gifts for both Chinese Master Chef and Unmatched Black Whirlwind.
Master Chef thanked them cheerfully. He loved cooking for others, but receiving goodwill and reciprocation always made him happier.
Qi Xu didn't want to waste Amyspider's kindness, and since he felt no burnout, he skipped lunch and kept fighting until six in the evening.
Exactly ten hours from the morning tea at eight o'clock sharp. When the timer struck zero, all Qi Xu's strength was instantly drained...
But he'd been ready, collapsing straight into the human doghouse.
Nyunkyunkyun had long retreated and was waiting for this moment, quickly sending over a supply package. Once again, Qi Xu felt pure bliss...
Amyspider's tea was truly a wonder—ten hours of empowered combat, with side effects that, while certain, were completely tolerable. At least it was far superior to the burnout Endless Longevity suffered after an eruption.
Resting a while, Qi Xu wolfed down some food, returned to his vehicle for a shower, changed into a fresh combat suit, and teleported straight back to the Invincible Realm.
With the assembly time approaching, many players were already at the service area. Laicai had even taken on a part-time security role, wielding a little red flag to direct everyone to park their vehicles neatly along the edge.
Spotting Qi Xu, Laicai waved excitedly. "Boss!"
Qi Xu jumped off his vehicle. "Hard work pays off."
The moment he said it, he felt ten years older, his expression freezing instantly.
Laicai bent over laughing but kindly changed the subject. "Maybe I should organize a group to paint a proper parking lot tomorrow? Boss, have you figured out the service area zones?"
"Rough plan. We'll delegate the details tonight!"
"Got it!"
From the moment Laicai joined the clan, he'd studied everything thoroughly, yearning for a spot as supply captain. That's why he'd arrived early and started hustling, eager to prove himself.
Ambition isn't shameful; owning up to it means knowing where you stand. Those who sit in the supply captain's chair aren't the ones who want it most, but the ones who can keep it steady.
