Lone Wolf’s eyes widened like copper bells as he snarled, “You’re lying to us, right?! That Combat Power 6 was just a disguise, wasn’t it? You’re actually a top-tier player, aren’t you?”

Jian Xingyi sighed helplessly, “Didn’t you go to the wilderness with me? You should know my strength…”

Oh, right…

Meanwhile, the public chat briefly buzzed with excitement.

Everyone now regarded this mysterious player named Xinghe as a top-tier player.

[Huh?? What kind of top player completed this insane new quest?]

[Eh? Weird, never heard of him. Never made the TOP rankings, guild’s some random no-name guild too. He just got lucky?]

[Um… but this quest isn’t something you clear just by luck]

[@Xinghe share your guide! Quick, teach us how to find it!]

[@Grapevine Peak Guild is here to update the guide!]

Everyone was speculating about Xinghe’s true background.

Jian Xingyi seized the moment to strike while the iron was hot.

He deliberated for a while, then mustered his courage to post… an announcement.

Xinghe: [Hello, everyone, I’m Xinghe. I was gathering ingredients for food when I stumbled upon this tombstone in a remote area. I’m collecting ingredients to make delicious items for the shop—hope you’ll support me! If anyone needs food, feel free to follow me!]

[??]

[????]

[Did I see that right…? Is someone actually selling food at this critical moment? Are they crazy? So what’s this Xinghe guy’s deal!]

[Maybe it’s just him trying to curry favor…? Listing food in the store requires at least 20 units, right? Even if he sold 20 fruits, I’d think he’s impressive. But he said… he’s making delicious food? Is that even possible?]

Just then, Firelight spoke up.

Firelight: [Got the mention! I’ll check with Xinghe for details and update the Grapevine Peak guide post later!]

Firelight: [Ah… maybe it’s not a scam? I’ve actually bought snacks from Xinghe before. You guys can look forward to it a little bit, hehe^^]

[???]

[For real? Holy crap? I’m getting excited!]

[I don’t think it’s possible. If he could sell food, I’d kiss Shanhai’s ass!]

Firelight did indeed come looking for Jian Xingyi. Jian Xingyi looked at Firelight’s friend request, clicked to accept, and replied.

Xinghe: [Sorry, I’m eating dinner. Can we talk later?]

Firelight: [Whoa… Sorry to pry, but what’s for dinner?]

Xinghe: [Chicken soup and stir-fried radish]

Firelight: […]

Xinghe: [?]

Firelight: [?]

Firelight didn’t reply after that. Jian Xingyi went ahead to prepare dinner.

He could feel two pairs of eyes piercing through him from behind, like a silent urging.

But he understood—after running around all day, his own stomach was growling too.

When Jian Xingyi pulled out the still-clucking chicken, the expressions on Lone Wolf and Chacha’s faces grew even more bizarre and stunned.

So freaking awesome…

Unbelievably amazing…

How could anyone in the apocalypse catch a chicken like this to make soup?!

Regardless, the synthesizer completed the chicken soup.

Jian Xingyi placed the large bowl on the table. The two of them immediately slid over to the edge, blinking at him.

Jian Xingyi brought over bowls and plates, serving them rice and soup. “Eat up, don’t be shy!”

They immediately dove in.

Nothing matters more than eating!

Chacha ate somewhat politely, but Lone Wolf didn’t care—he slurped soup and gobbled meat, both practically trying to swallow their spoons whole.

“Mmm… So happy, so happy!” Chacha squinted, savoring the rich broth. “Wah, I wanna move into Xinghe’s house!”

Lone Wolf clutched a chicken leg and bit down hard, his cheeks bulging with food.

Jian Xingyi couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time, feeling like he was feeding cats and dogs. But… this soup really was delicious!

Jian Xingyi had only stewed half a chicken, saving the other half for later.

But the portion was more than enough for the three of them. The chicken meat was stewed until tender and falling-off-the-bone, and the broth itself was no slouch—smooth, rich, and aromatic. After the steaming hot soup went down, they felt warmth spreading through their entire bodies.

Jian Xingyi loved soaking rice in the broth, pairing it with bites of meat—pure bliss.

Jian Xingyi was utterly satisfied. After they’d nearly finished eating, he sipped his soup while recounting his day’s adventures to the others, naturally omitting much of his conversation with the Doctor.

“How strange…” Chacha wondered, “Why didn’t we see it when Lone Wolf went down?”

Lone Wolf explained, “After we entered the game, following the strategy from Grapevine Peak, the memory bubbles seem to be customized and randomized. Nobody really understands this thing. But before, someone once saw their past and future in a memory bubble. The past is certain, but the future is still unknown.”

Jian Xingyi frowned slightly.

Is that so…

Lone Wolf shrugged. “Anyway, the bottom line is you completed the three tombstone tributes. Don’t worry about the rest. The system pulled all of us in—why bother with logic?”

Jian Xingyi: “True…”

“Oh, right! You haven’t claimed your reward yet!“ Chacha clapped her hands. ”I saw on the public chat that completing the ‘Worshipper’ achievement unlocks two Combat Vouchers and a Business Voucher for redemption!”

Jian Xingyi hurriedly opened his backpack.

Earlier, he’d been frantically upgrading his fields, planting seeds, replying to the public chat, and cooking—all urgent matters that nearly made him forget this most delightful part.

Time to claim the reward!!!

Jian Xingyi carefully read the instructions.

Combat Vouchers could be exchanged for any combat-related items, such as upgrade materials, armor, and firearm components.

Jian Xingyi discovered gun accessories were actually redeemable!

A firearm requires five accessories to assemble. Previously, Lone Wolf had given him a B-grade magazine and grip, so he still needed three more.

The attachments listed for exchange were all B-grade, too, but… they were free!

Jian Xingyi was overjoyed. If he’d had to buy these attachments, he wouldn’t have known when he could ever scrape together the funds. Plus, the pistol he currently carried wasn’t just underpowered—it had an expiration date. He absolutely had to get his own rifle.

Jian Xingyi happily exchanged for a trigger and a barrel.

Now, he only needed a muzzle to assemble his very own rifle!

Next came the Business Vouchers. Jian Xingyi couldn’t believe it when he discovered… they could actually be exchanged for D-grade farmland.

No way!

He’d previously clicked the backyard expansion feature—an initial D-grade plot cost fifty thousand! And now he could actually redeem one here?!

Jian Xingyi’s grin grew so wide that both Lone Wolf and Chacha grew curious.

What was Jian Xingyi grinning at on the terminal?

Then, both of them stopped laughing.

Two new plots suddenly appeared in the backyard.

That made seven in total—three C-grade and four D-grade.

Jian Xingyi leaped up, dashed to his fields, and gestured wildly. “Look! It really works!!”

Chacha felt like crying, “I regret it so much… I should’ve picked some management skills back then…”

Lone Wolf gritted his teeth, “Who hasn’t?”

If they’d just picked one skill, even one, they wouldn’t be in such a mess!

So envious, so jealous!

But for the sake of the chicken soup, they should forgive!

Xinghe, good! System, bad!

The other two curiously gathered around Jian Xingyi, all three staring blankly at the seven plots of land.

Jian Xingyi’s expression was dreamy. “So satisfying…”

A hundred grand profit, folks!

Lone Wolf urged, “Hurry up and plant something.”

Jian Xingyi immediately planted wheat and rice, explaining to the others, “These three C-grade fields are for radishes and peppers to sell. I spent money fertilizing them all. These four D-grade fields are for daily food—no need to choose between them!”

“Are you sure this will work?” Chacha worried, “Can we really produce enough food to last?”

Jian Xingyi scratched his head. “Probably… We have to make it work, otherwise…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone understood.

Chacha lowered her gaze. Yes… If the guild disbanded, with her combat power barely over 100, no other guild would want her.

Lone Wolf frowned. “It absolutely has to work!”

Jian Xingyi smiled. “Yeah!”

Lone Wolf added, “We’ve boosted our combat power a lot these past few days—almost 10,000 now. I’m gathering materials to craft guns for sale. That could bring in tens of thousands.”

Chacha nodded encouragingly. “You’re right! We can also join guild hunts to boost our combat power! Those pay tens of thousands per run, right? Xinghe has his own connections—we’ll definitely make it!”

Before leaving, Jian Xingyi brought them some food.

Jian Xingyi’s surplus wasn’t substantial—harvests from D-grade fields were mediocre. He wanted to stockpile more grain for emergencies, but… at this moment, he was willing to share.

Before bed, Jian Xingyi also replied to Firelight, briefly describing his experiences and marking the location of the tombstones.

The tombstones for the Doctor and Commander were easy to find, but the Builder’s was a matter of luck—Jian Xingyi himself hadn’t figured out the method.

Two days later, all of Jian Xingyi’s crops had matured.

With a bountiful harvest, Jian Xingyi happily synthesized pickled vegetable jars.

Combining chili peppers, carrots, and white radishes created a jar of pickled vegetables that was a feast for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Higher-tier ingredients required longer synthesis times. With the inclusion of chili peppers—an A-grade purple legendary ingredient—each jar took 20 minutes to craft. Synthesizing 31 jars at once meant waiting half a day.

The reason for 31 jars was simple: 30 would be listed for sale, while Jian Xingyi intended to keep one for himself to sample the flavor.

Meanwhile, a week had passed since the system announced the corpse tide.

Earlier, Heiye and Baizhou had agreed that if the guild’s experience didn’t reach half within a week, they would disband and abandon the effort.

That evening, Jian Xingyi received a message from Baizhou.

Baizhou: [If the guild disbands, what are your thoughts?]

Heiye and Baizhou were likely also wrestling with this decision, hence their individual solicitation of everyone’s opinion.

Jian Xingyi froze. He pondered for a long time before slowly typing his reply, weighing each word carefully.

Xinghe: [I don’t know. I can’t decide whether to support disbanding or persisting, because either choice could mean someone dies. But if you ask my personal opinion, from a self-serving perspective, I’d definitely choose to persist. Because if the guild disbands, I’ll die, and I’m working hard to fill that 200,000 quota.]

Jian Xingyi didn’t want to die. His fields were expanding, and his gun was nearly complete.

The chicken soup was delicious. He wanted to make more tasty food—to fill his own stomach and share with others. Watching Lone Wolf and Chacha eat so happily, Jian Xingyi suddenly felt…

People really are happy when they eat!

Jian Xingyi glanced at the guild’s experience points.

1.3/100,000

0/100,000

A distant goal.

And only one week remained.

Xinghe: [I’ll finish synthesis in half an hour and can list items. Sister Baizhou, would you grant me guild trade permissions and let me try? Perhaps after listing goods, my answer will be clearer.]