After getting out of the car, Qi Xu realized the temperature was so low that even his green-haired outfit wasn’t cutting it anymore.
It was freezing...
Spit would probably turn to ice before it hit the ground. He really needed to get himself a thermoregulated suit one of these days.
"Damn, that Frostbloom is huge! I thought it’d be tiny. Let me see if I can kick it down."
Watch Me Cut You Down was about to sprint forward and deliver a flying kick when Qi Xu stopped her.
"It can’t be that easy. I’ll handle the flower—you keep the monsters off me?"
"No problem."
Faced with such a cute and pretty girl, Watch Me Cut You Down couldn’t bring herself to refuse, so she agreed immediately.
Qi Xu nodded, fired up his pink chainsaw, and crouched low, pressing the blade against the ground to slice the Frostbloom from its base.
The moment the chainsaw touched the flower, a series of eerie snickers echoed from the black mist. A snowball monster leaped out, charging straight at them—only to be met with a swift rising kick from Watch Me Cut You Down, sending it flying back into the mist...
It didn’t even get a chance to bother Qi Xu.
The faster they killed, the faster more monsters appeared. The moment one vanished, another took its place.
This one looked like a sentient block of ice, with vague features carved into its surface. Watch Me Cut You Down had experience now—she tested its movements, conserving her energy.
Even recklessness had to be worth it.
Only when Qi Xu’s chainsaw finally severed the Frostbloom did she pin the ice monster to the ground with a single slash. A hard thrust later, it shattered into tiny fragments.
[Congratulations to Team 1888 for obtaining Frostbloom ×1!]
Without wasting time, they stored the flower, jumped back into the car, and sped off.
Watch Me Cut You Down asked, "You said you wanted to practice combat. Next time, I’ll harvest the flower?"
Qi Xu nodded. "Sure! Just don’t break it—shattered Frostblooms don’t count."
Watch Me Cut You Down grinned. "Relax, my hands are steady."
About ten minutes later, they spotted a second Frostbloom.
This time, Watch Me Cut You Down took the lead, mimicking Qi Xu’s method by cutting from the base.
The first snowball monster emerged, but Qi Xu stayed calm, engaging it while keeping an eye on her progress.
"Your attacks are too frantic. No need—wait for the right moment, then finish it in one hit. Otherwise, you’ll burn out too fast!"
Watch Me Cut You Down had a sharp eye, immediately pinpointing Qi Xu’s biggest flaw.
Qi Xu feinted, spun, and drove his chainsaw straight into the snowball monster, reducing it to shards.
The second monster was another snowball creature. Qi Xu practiced his "one-hit kill" technique, but mistiming it earned him a punch to the shoulder.
It didn’t hurt much—just embarrassed him a little.
Qi Xu had always relied on the "wild flurry" approach, often exhausting himself. Now that his agility had improved, he wanted to refine his style.
Watch Me Cut You Down coached him while sawing at the Frostbloom.
After three snowball monsters, Qi Xu finally started getting the hang of it—identifying weak points the instant they attacked and striking fast.
He was making progress, just as he geared up for more...
The announcement blared.
[Frostbloom harvest failed! You ruined its leaves, you brute of a player.]
The flower shattered like it had given up, crumbling even more spectacularly than the ice monsters.
Watch Me Cut You Down stared, baffled. "I—I was careful! What kind of bullshit mechanic is this?!"
Qi Xu checked the time and the live rankings.
The top team already had three Frostblooms. He made a decision. "New plan—I’ll harvest, you kill. Once we’re sure of first place, I’ll practice more."
Watch Me Cut You Down agreed. "That last one was on me."
Qi Xu shook his head slightly. "Don’t worry about it."
From then on, their teamwork was seamless. Qi Xu even brought out a thick padded mat, kneeling on it to avoid the cold while harvesting.
After collecting 22 Frostblooms, they shot straight to first place.
Every time they finished off monsters and returned to the car, Qi Xu would press a hot water bottle to his stomach and sip warm water. His stomach hadn’t acted up once—a small victory that thrilled him.
His body... seemed stronger now, inside and out.
Just as he considered switching roles again, the black mist along the roadside suddenly parted.
Qi Xu’s pulse spiked. "Let’s go!"
In the last round, his teammate had been cautious, unwilling to risk venturing into the woods when their rank was decent.
But he knew Watch Me Cut You Down wasn’t like that—and sure enough, she was even more excited, darting ahead in three quick strides.
"I’ll clear the path!"
Qi Xu followed close behind, chainsaw in one hand, long blade in the other. The moment they stepped in, they froze at the sight before them—five Frostblooms arranged in a perfect formation.
But the second they took a step closer, four snowball monsters lunged at them.
Back-to-back, Qi Xu and Watch Me Cut You Down each took two. She dispatched hers with brutal efficiency, every strike a lethal blow.
Now that she didn’t have to match Qi Xu’s harvesting pace, her true skill shone.
When Qi Xu struggled with his two, she didn’t interfere—just called out advice.
"Be flexible. If the front’s guarded, flank it. Don’t hesitate—too slow! But damn, your weapon’s insane..."
Her tips were practical, no flashy moves—just precision and force. In her hands, the blade was like an extension of her body.
Once Qi Xu finished his monsters, they harvested the Frostblooms together.
[Congratulations to Team 1888 for obtaining Frostbloom ×5!]
Seeing the mist hadn’t thickened yet, Qi Xu wanted to push deeper. Watch Me Cut You Down was all for it.
Running endlessly on the highway was boring—this was a rare chance to explore.
Qi Xu pulled out two roasted sweet potatoes, handing one to her. The steaming, fragrant treat tasted even better in the freezing wilderness.
One potato barely filled their stomachs, but there was no time for more.
Soon, they stumbled upon another cluster of Frostblooms.
Seven this time—which meant even more monsters.
Watch Me Cut You Down held Qi Xu back. "Hang back. Let me scout first."
He didn’t argue. The moment she stepped into the harvesting zone, nine monsters materialized—snowball creatures, ice blocks, even two buried in the snow.
Watch Me Cut You Down didn’t flinch. She grinned and charged.
.........
