Breaking Cocoon into Butterfly was actually quite satisfied with the price offered but still replied, "Not enough. Plus, you cheated me out of three iron blocks and two pieces of lumber last time. I don’t even feel like talking to you."
Sweet Donut sent over the iron blocks and lumber first.
"Don’t hold a grudge over supplies, alright? I was wrong last time, but it’s been so long—no need to nitpick now. You said the highest bidder wins, right?"
Breaking Cocoon into Butterfly rolled her eyes in frustration. If it weren’t for the fact that she had to sell to him, she’d have blocked him already. Everything he said reeked of sleaziness.
Sweet Donut continued, "My offer is already fair. You can’t just sell every supply crate you get. This longsword has great stats and even adds two points to strength. With it, you could try opening crates yourself next time. Tell you what, I’ll even promise to open one for you for free again."
Breaking Cocoon into Butterfly scoffed. Free crate-opening? Yeah, right.
Sweet Donut had once posed as a pro and tricked several people into letting him open crates for free. Every single time, all that came out were monsters—not a single useful item. At first, people fell for it once or twice, but once word got out, no one wanted him near their crates anymore.
Breaking Cocoon into Butterfly pasted a few chat logs and sent them to Sweet Donut. "I’m busy. I don’t have time to haggle bit by bit. Look at the offers others are giving me. If you can’t match them, don’t waste my time."
Sweet Donut scanned the messages, internally screaming. Two unopened crates—was it really worth this bidding war?!
Breaking Cocoon into Butterfly waited nervously, afraid she’d pushed too hard...
Finally, Sweet Donut decided to gamble.
"16 vehicle upgrade fragments—that’s all I’ve got. Take the sword and a weapon enhancement card too. Deal or walk away!"
Only then did Breaking Cocoon into Butterfly reply, satisfied, "Trade Hall it is."
Sweet Donut grumbled, "Why not just gift-exchange? So much hassle!"
Breaking Cocoon into Butterfly shot back, "Are you stupid, or do you think I am? Trying to scam me again? Trade or I’ll find someone else."
She clutched her chest, muttering to herself, "Do I really look that dumb...?"
Sweet Donut relented. "Fine. Trade Hall."
It wasn’t until she had everything in hand that Breaking Cocoon into Butterfly finally relaxed.
Sweet Donut, ever cautious, held a fluffy teddy bear—a substitute doll that could take a lethal hit for him. At worst, he’d lose an item.
He also pulled out a pistol, fully prepared before cracking open the silver supply crate.
The moment the crate opened, Sweet Donut froze. What the—?! Empty. Nothing inside!
His first thought was that Breaking Cocoon into Butterfly had set him up. But then a sharp pain shot through his thigh.
Looking down, he spotted a snake as thin as a black thread. A gun was useless here—he quickly switched to a dagger, slashing at it. But the thread snake dodged and bit his wrist.
The fluffy teddy bear in his arms shattered instantly...
But the pain in his thigh and wrist vanished.
Sweet Donut cursed, face red with fury. That substitute doll—a rare drop from a gold crate—was gone!
Since joining this survival game, he’d never felt so humiliated!
In his rage, he turned to the gold crate, desperate to recoup his losses, refusing to believe he’d come out empty-handed.
When 20 red-eared venomous insects poured out, Sweet Donut’s mind blanked. He bolted for his car like a madman.
Too late—three or four stings already burned his skin.
His health points dropped by one per second...
[Warning! Warning! Dear player, you have been poisoned. Take an antidote pill immediately, or prepare to meet your end!]
Sweet Donut hastily swallowed one, but his health kept dropping, just slower. Still poisoned, he rushed to the Trade Hall to search for more antidotes.
Earlier, he’d seen two or three sellers. Now? None.
He sprinted to the chat channel: "Buying antidotes at any price! Please, someone help! Who’s got them?!"
Player 1029: "Even if I had them, I wouldn’t sell to you. You scammed me out of so much stuff!"
Qi Xu had been watching the chat. The moment Sweet Donut posted, he sent a red packet.
Inside: 20 assorted compressed biscuits, 20 nearly expired instant noodles, and 20 bottles of purified water (leftovers from his daily water condenser).
He tossed in some snacks he didn’t like—white kidney bean black coffee solid drink, canned yellow peaches, crab roe rice crackers—until the packet hit 70 items.
The second it dropped in the group, it was gone.
The chat flooded with "Thanks, boss!" messages, burying everything else.
Sweet Donut’s desperate plea for antidotes was lost in the spam. Qi Xu barely caught it.
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "You’re welcome. Need a workbench or raincoat? Hit me up in the Trade Hall."
After sending that, Qi Xu sat down for dinner. By then, Sweet Donut’s avatar had turned gray.
Qi Xu exhaled softly. Given a second chance at life, he wasn’t about to let threats slide.
If you knew someone meant harm and did nothing? Might as well bash your own skull in.
Harsh? Maybe. But survival in this game demanded it.
Shaking his head, Qi Xu pushed Sweet Donut from his thoughts.
He’d shifted his workouts to daytime, leaving nights for relaxation.
After dinner, he tossed his laundry into the washer, played with a Rubik’s cube to digest, then dried everything before crawling into bed.
Sharp reflexes and a clear mind were the real keys to staying alive.
Half-asleep, Qi Xu heard the system announcement:
["Hey there, dear noob players! Getting used to our lovely survival game yet? Tomorrow’s a new dungeon, folks—or should I say, a few pros and a whole lot of noobs. Fight hard! Impress me!
Disappoint me too often, and well... you won’t live to regret it."]
.........
