Chapter 182: Martial Arts Hall

This side is settled; the remaining issue is the statistics over there.

Don't Want to Work let out a sigh of relief, although the supplies for the bulk purchase of Designated Player Duel Cards haven't all been reclaimed from last time, after all, lives are at stake…

When this idiom popped into Don't Want to Work's mind, they clearly froze for a moment; in this world, can a life really count for anything?

If a life truly counts for nothing, how long can an organization running this way keep going?

He suddenly straightened his back, his expression resolute, and lightly tapped his own face.

He's really crazy; he's just a wage worker, why bother thinking about this? For a salary?

As if they'd give a damn.

Don't Want to Work waited a while longer, finally received a message from the statistician, and immediately contacted Wu Ya.

【Don't Want to Work】: We need a total of 628, set your price.

How straightforward.

Cheng Shuili didn't rush to state her request; instead she first checked the remaining cards in her hand. The regional channel trades were nearly done, and 001 was now idle. Upon hearing Cheng Shuili's inquiry, it immediately gave a response.

【There are still 3,581 left, Lao Da! Because the Designated Player Duel Card has an irreplaceable function, this system suggests you keep a few more, Lao Da.】

Cheng Shuili furrowed her brows. Is this a new feature?

I hadn't heard 001 speak before.

Now's not the time to think about that, Cheng Shuili pondered briefly; if she could choose, what she wanted most would definitely be Vehicle Upgrade Material Fragments, followed by Vehicle Cards and blueprints.

But the last transaction, the organization had just taken out three blueprints; they might not have them now.

Vehicle Upgrade Material Fragments as well.

While she was wavering, Don't Want to Work sent another message.

【Don't Want to Work】: However, I should mention in advance that there's still plenty of Game Coin, but Vehicle Upgrade Material Fragments are truly gone, and there are no blueprints either. If you need materials, this transaction might still be pleasant.

This…

That means there's nothing to choose, right?

Either it's Game Coin, or it's materials.

Comparing the two, Cheng Shuili would definitely pick Game Coin.

After another round of useless haggling, Cheng Shuili accepted a price of 7,000 Game Coin. That works out to just over eleven Game Coin per Designated Player Duel Card; the organization is practically making a fortune, huh?

Cheng Shuili pursed her lips; now she's made enough, and next time she contracts processing she can't drive the price down again.

001 seized the moment and reported the profit from this transaction.

Cheng Shuili gave a quick glance; excluding the deal with the organization, Game Coin was only a bit over five hundred, and there were zero Vehicle Cards.

She hadn't seen any blueprints before, let alone this time.

Basically it's all materials.

Cheng Shuili shook her head, but wasn't exactly disappointed.

She was already quite satisfied with this haul.

After lunch, Cheng Shuili followed Su Rui and opened two more treasure chests.

After the shield upgrade, the monsters emerging from the supply crate were noticeably stronger.

Fortunately, as that servant vendor had said back then, Su Rui is the best; she can handle anything. So although the monsters have become stronger, they still pose little threat to her.

Cheng Shuili felt gratified.

Especially when she saw Su Rui wield a dagger with transcendent skill.

She often wondered what Su Rui had done before, but never got the chance to ask. Yet judging by the combat power she displayed, Su Rui is certainly not an amateur.

Su Rui easily dispatched a diseased wild boar, wiped the dagger's blood with her sleeve, then sheathed the blade and climbed onto the vehicle.

Her clothes are refreshed automatically by the system each day, so using them as a rag is no problem.

When Su Rui got on the vehicle, she saw Cheng Shuili staring at her curiously.

Honestly, it was a bit scary.

"What's wrong?"

She couldn't help but ask.

Cheng Shuili finally asked the question she'd been curious about for a long time: "What did you do before?"

Su Rui clearly hadn't expected Cheng Shuili to ask that; she hesitated a moment, then said, "I'm just an ordinary white‑collar; our industry is rather niche."

I see.

Cheng Shuili felt a bit disappointed, stared at Su Rui a while longer, and thought something was off—how could a white‑collar be so adept with a knife?

The last time Cheng Shuili saw someone this proficient was Qi Wan Yi; she's a chef, so it's somewhat normal… right?

Cheng Shuili shook her head; regardless of whether Qi Wan Yi is normal, Su Rui is definitely abnormal!

"What other hobbies do you have?"

Cheng Shuili asked very cautiously.

Su Rui probably understood what Cheng Shuili wanted to know; such matters aren't hidden, and she gave a very specific explanation of the source of her "kung fu".

"I grew up in a martial arts hall. My grandfather was a heir to traditional martial arts; actually I'm not great with a dagger, I just thought it looked cool as a kid and learned a bit of showy moves. Our family specializes in spear techniques, not your kind of rifle, but the red‑tassel spear type."

Cheng Shuili was genuinely surprised; her eyes lit up: "Really? Then you must be able to wield a spear, right?"

"A little."

Su Rui gave a slight nod.

That statement was definitely modest.

Cheng Shuili couldn't help but glance at her a few more times; she hadn't thought much before, but now that she knows Su Rui can handle a spear, she feels Su Rui suddenly exudes an otherworldly sage aura.

Cheng Shuili shook her head, recalling the flagship treasure in Hu Ge's weapons shop.

If before Cheng Shuili was just eye‑greedy, now she is genuinely eager to get it in her hands.

Earlier Cheng Shuili still thought that Su Rui was no longer a player, couldn't raise attribute points, so she could be said to be stagnant.

If the monsters keep getting stronger, under this give‑and‑take, someday Su Rui will be unable to defeat the monsters, and then only Cheng Shuili can open the treasure chests.

But now Cheng Shuili has discovered a new way to make Su Rui stronger: give her a better weapon.

That's right.

If you can arm to the teeth, even a dog becomes a dog that can kill!

Cheng Shuili's gaze was firm, while Su Rui always felt a chill on her back.

The sun was setting westward, Cheng Shuili stared at the view outside the window, unable to help but remark that the famine truly differed from the previous disaster.

Each time a disaster refreshes, the environment on both sides of the road changes accordingly.

In extreme cold it looks like endless white snow, while in extreme heat it becomes a steaming heat wave.

Now, as it happens, there is only a dead, stagnant withered forest, the kind whose bark has been stripped off.

Cheng Shuili thought she could gather some wood now to use as fuel the next time extreme cold returns. Unfortunately, this thing is only for players like them to see; there are air walls on both sides of the road.

Apart from walking along the road, they cannot go anywhere else.

After personally crashing into an air wall, Cheng Shuili slapped her head and finally thought of it.