Chapter 107: Extreme Heat

The heater had stopped sometime ago, but Cheng Shuili hadn't taken off her polar thermal suit, so she didn't notice the temperature change; she only realized it when she saw the snow melting.

A few night owls on the regional channel were posting scattered messages, just idle chatter, disjointed, and none of them noticed the temperature was already rising.

The monsters stood in neat rows outside the shield, drooling at Cheng Shuili.

Cheng Shuili pursed her lips; seeing this now, there was not a ripple in her heart.

She turned her head, then when she looked back, she made a grimace at the monsters.

The grimace scared no monster, but it made Cheng Shuili laugh; she pulled the curtains shut, told Fu Fu to turn on the air‑conditioner, and after washing up she went to sleep.

At dawn the next day, the regional channel was filled with wails.

"Didn't they say it would be acid rain? Why is it hot instead of raining?"

"That's not right, that's not right! Could it really be that someone, Wanwan, got it right? Is it really extreme heat?"

"How could Guanghui Dalao's info be wrong? If I'd known this disaster would be extreme heat, I would've gone broke yesterday just to ask Wuya Dalao to custom‑make an air‑conditioner!"

"Hahaha, luckily I got Wuya Dalao to make an air‑conditioner yesterday; after turning it on it's not hot at all! So comfortable!"

"@Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji, are you still processing, boss? Boss! Boss, look at me! I really need an air‑conditioner!"

"@Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji, @Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji, please save a life, boss, I feel I'm about to get heatstroke."

"Tsk, Wu Ya never does custom work in the daytime; he missed his chance, so don't blame Wu Ya for not saving anyone."

"How long does a custom job take? It's a life at stake! It's a human life!"

"Haha, that comment upstairs really made me laugh. What, are there still few dead?"

"This cursed place certainly isn't short of lives, huh?"

"We just watch the spectacle, and here's the rule: helping you is a favor, not helping is duty, stop the moral blackmail!"

"Haven't you upgraded the workbench yet? When using the workbench you can't move; if unlucky the road merges, you just watch yourself die?"

"You even said it's 'if'. The probability is that low! What's wrong with taking a little risk to save us?"

The regional channel was noisy beyond control, but none of it really concerned Cheng Shuili.

Even though she slept late yesterday, her biological clock woke her up on time.

But her eyelids were so heavy she couldn't lift them; the blanket clung like it were alive, holding her down.

Just as Cheng Shuili was drifting back to sleep, a golden rice bowl suddenly settled in front of her, and an enticing aroma instantly filled the air.

Food!

It's already time to eat!

Startled, Cheng Shuili shook her head, carefully stood up, and only after washing up did she begin to eat.

By then the regional channel's argument had ended; occasional pleas for Wu Ya to help make an air‑conditioner were drowned in other messages, and Cheng Shuili didn't notice.

Worth noting, Guanghui issued an apology statement.

【Guanghui Shines on Blue Star】: I deeply apologize for the erroneous acid‑rain warning issued yesterday. The information came from player 【AA Kaosuan Zhou Ge】; we released it hastily without proper verification, causing many compatriots to fail to respond correctly to the extreme‑heat disaster. We apologize again to those affected. In the end times, every mistake can be fatal. Let this be a warning, and may we survive together.

"Ah, the boss was also duped."

"Is this the caliber of the boss in your 1000‑point region?"

"Upstairs, you keep @‑mentioning Wu Ya!"

"So even Guanghui Dalao's info is only for reference, not definitive?"

"Because Guanghui Dalao is also human, also a player! Not an NPC nor a system! How could he be right every time?"

"Even knowing the upstairs claim is true, I still feel so disappointed, as if something I always relied on suddenly collapsed."

"Guanghui Dalao is also a victim! I'm standing here today; I wonder who dares to scold Guanghui Dalao!"

"Hey, Kaosuan Zhou Ge! What the hell are you? You sell info, you sell it, you damn sell false info?!"

"I never swore before, but today I say, Kaosuan Zhou Ge, you're dead!"

"It's clear the upstairs never actually swore."

Turns out they were fooled by this person.

Cheng Shuili squinted, about to close the regional channel, when she saw a particularly interesting message.

"@Wanwan, how did you know it's extreme heat? What do you have that can predict it?"

"I almost forgot about this kid! What he said actually turned out true! He must have something valuable in his hand! Who makes the player duel cards? I'm going to befriend him!"

"I have one, but I don't want to sell it. @Wanwan, tell us what it is, or shall we just meet in person?"

"How can you do this?! Are you trying to kill someone?"

"Keep shouting and I'll kill you too."

Cheng Shuili was just watching the drama, but she was a bit tempted by the Driver Card in Wanwan's hand; aside from the morality of murder, the point is even if she killed someone, she might not get the Driver Card.

That's disgusting.

Cheng Shuili sighed, no longer eye‑watering, and as she got up to wash dishes, she received a private message.

【Wanwan】: I only know you! Wu Ya, the ID of the person who killed me is Ai Mi Li! Help me avenge… ah!!

His voice message was rushed, ending with a scream, clearly driven to a dead end.

Along with the voice message came a Driver Card.

Cheng Shuili clutched the card in silence for a moment; what is this…?

Did she take a mercenary contract?

She's not familiar with that line of work!

The regional channel's news moved quickly; sharp eyes immediately noticed Wanwan's avatar had turned gray.

"The person is already dead; who killed them? Can you explain how you know? Satisfy everyone's curiosity!"

"Whoa, really dead? That was a living person! You didn't even let him say a single word?"

"Wow, after you do this, who would dare predict disasters on the regional channel?"

"The murderer hid it well, right? That thing is in your hands, huh? Be careful, the next one to die could be you!"

Ai Mi Li: I killed the person. But the item isn't in my hands; before he died he sent a voice message to someone called "Wu Ya", asking Wu Ya to avenge him. He must have given the item to Wu Ya.

"???"

"Calamity Water Eastward?"

"Really? Did you actually kill the person?"

Ai Mi Li once again confirmed the killing, and the regional channel went nuts.

"Damn, a living murderer!"

"No, are you shocked? This cursed place is swarming with murderers! Weak are devoured by the strong, the fittest survive—got it?"

(End of chapter)