◎Leading Vehicle Owner◎
Yan Lan had been physically fit since childhood. Logically speaking, her stamina shouldn’t have been only 50 points.
But presumably due to the game’s mechanics, what would be considered above-average physical strength for an ordinary person was only a small segment here.
She didn’t have time to dwell on that. She hurried along, her feet flying, while keeping her eyes fixed on everything around her.
She had seen a treasure chest before, about the size of a notebook. Because it had metal clasps, it gave off a glow, making it easy to spot even on a very wide road.
As she walked, the asphalt road was completely empty, with nothing but a few thorny branches.
Thorny branches counted as wood. Picking them up caused the game to convert them into lumber and store them in backpack slots, a discovery made by players in the regional channel.
Just as her feet were about to develop blisters, Yan Lan finally spotted a treasure chest lying not far away.
Excited, she put down the handcart. After a moment’s thought, she grabbed the iron rod from the cart and ran over to the chest.
This time it was a Bronze Treasure Chest, average luck. It yielded Glass ×2 and Metal ×2. After decomposing the chest, she got Wood ×1 and Metal ×1.
Taking stock of her resources, she currently had Metal ×10 and Glass ×7. To upgrade, she still needed 3 more Glass.
At this point, upgrading was the top priority. But without food and water, her health would decrease. Even during the novice protection period, letting her health drop too low could cost her life.
Most people only had one Novice Gift Pack, which provided few materials and even less food.
She, on the other hand, had the extra security of the check-in system, so her supplies were already greater than those of other players. Why not trade away some of her food in exchange for the upgrade materials she still needed?
With that in mind, Yan Lan listed a bottle of water and a piece of purple rice bread on the Trading Center, each asking for 2 Glass in exchange.
Upgrade materials were in high demand, but food and water were also essential. She felt the exchange was reasonable, and the game approved the transaction.
But the sour grapes in the group immediately started complaining, especially since the seller was Yan Lan.
“I’m so done with this. Yan Lan must be dreaming. Glass is so precious, and she wants two pieces for just one piece of bread?!”
“Exactly. Everyone has food, but who has Glass? She’s living in a fantasy.”
“Some people are just too naive. This is a survival game, not a pretend play, okay?”
“Does Yan Lan think she’s some kind of beauty that people would sacrifice their own interests for her?”
“Right. She deliberately used a blurry photo because she’s afraid everyone will find out she’s ugly!”
“Everyone, don’t be so harsh on Sister Yan Lan. Maybe she really does have a lot of food and is just kindly sharing it with everyone because she doesn’t need it~”
“Little sister, you’re just too kind. You wouldn’t even know if someone tricked you.”
Yan Lan, who had been quietly lurking and watching the screen: “…”
Kind? This person appeared to be defending her, but was actually subtly tearing her down, a classic [1]“white lotus” is a slang term used to describe a person who appears innocent, kind, and gentle on the surface, but is actually manipulative, hypocritical, or subtly malicious. They often … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2183769_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2183769_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });white lotus move.
She was a little speechless but didn’t say a word. She simply made a mental note of those few names. And that white lotus? It was none other than the one who had been calling everyone “brother” in the chat earlier.
After listing her items on the Trading Center, no one had come to trade with her yet. Probably everyone thought trading two pieces of Glass for one bread or one bottle of water wasn’t worth it.
She didn’t dwell on it. Staying calm, she took a sip of water and kept moving forward.
The morning weather had been pleasant, but the further she walked, the higher the temperature rose. By noon, it was nearly 30°C. After a whole morning of exertion, her health had dropped to 70 (status: hungry, thirsty, exhausted).
She hadn’t eaten breakfast before being pulled into the game, and then she had rushed non-stop all morning. Now she was so hungry she could barely see straight.
She couldn’t go on like this. Finally, she stopped, let out a heavy breath, and slumped down onto the cart.
The moment her bottom touched the cart, her body weight fully relaxed, and she felt as if she were floating, completely at ease.
She took a bottle of mineral water and a BBQ pork bun from her backpack slots.
She had already drunk most of the water during her walk. Carefully unscrewing the cap, she took a small sip.
The water was cool, refreshing, and slightly sweet. The moment it went down, it extinguished the fiery heat in her body. She let out a comfortable sigh and eagerly stuffed a big bite of the BBQ pork bun into her mouth.
The bun, just taken out of her backpack, was still steaming hot, it seemed the backpack slots also had heat-preserving and fresh-keeping functions.
The bun had a crispy outer skin and a rich, flavorful filling. Every bite was filled with an irresistible aroma. She devoured it ravenously, then took another sip of water. With something finally in her stomach, she no longer felt so miserable.
Checking her personal attributes again, her health had recovered to 80, not full, probably because she hadn’t eaten enough yet.
Staring at the soft, white buns still in her backpack slots, she swallowed hard. Then she turned away and closed the backpack interface. She didn’t have much food left; she’d better save it.
After eating, she lay down on the cart to rest, her entire body relaxed. She could feel the fatigue of the morning slowly dissipating.
As noon approached, the sun grew stronger. She turned over, facing away from the sun, rested her head on her arms, and scrolled through the regional channel.
Unsurprisingly, many people in the group were complaining.
“This cart looks light, but it’s actually really heavy.”
“Exactly. My arms are so sore, and I still haven’t seen a single treasure chest. Do they even exist?”
“I’ve already finished my entire bottle of water. What am I supposed to do now?”
“I’ve almost finished my food too. This is so hard!”
“Since the next supply chest hasn’t shown up, we need to ration our food.”
“Would any kind soul lend me a little food? Just a tiny bit. I’ll pay you back as soon as I find a treasure chest.”
As soon as he said that, the previously chatty group suddenly went silent.
“Anyone still there? Is anyone around? Could someone lend me a little food?”
“Huh? Why did everyone suddenly disappear?”
On another unknown road, a young man lay sprawled on his wooden cart, sighing at the sky with a look of utter despair.
Like most others, Shi Yuanyuan had been pulled into the game for no apparent reason. It had taken him a long time to mentally prepare himself before he finally got into the groove.
Everyone else’s Novice Gift Packs contained food and water, and some even came with a weapon. Only he was particularly unlucky, his pack contained only a few pieces of Metal and a few pieces of Glass.
Upgrading required Glass and Metal. Everyone said these were rare items. At first, Shi Yuanyuan thought he had hit the jackpot. He felt pretty pleased with himself for a while, happily dreaming about collecting a few more materials so he could upgrade.
But what followed made him regret everything.
Before entering the game, he had been a rich young man, chauffeured everywhere in luxury cars. He had never walked such a long distance in his life. Still, he gritted his teeth and pushed through.
The handcart was his starting vehicle and couldn’t be abandoned. Huffing and puffing like an ox, he pushed it all the way. It wasn’t until nearly noon that he finally spotted a Bronze Treasure Chest.
When he saw it, he was almost moved to tears. But the result hit him like a bolt of lightning, more Metal and Glass!
Adding what he got from the Novice Gift Pack, he now had Metal ×5 and Glass ×5. He was still a long way from upgrading.
He had already considered trading away his Glass, but after glancing at his health, which was still at 70, he decided he could hold on a little longer.
Maybe he would be able to upgrade by the afternoon. Once he upgraded, everything would be fine.
So Shi Yuanyuan kept moving forward on an empty stomach. But gradually, he realized that as his health dropped, his strength and speed also took a hit.
He panted heavily like a fish out of water, his steps growing weaker. At the same time, the rate at which his health was dropping doubled.
Finally, his heart began to race, and he saw stars. He had a feeling he was about to die.
Just before he passed out, he opened the Trading Center.
Upgrading was important, but what he feared more was losing his life before he could upgrade.
Yan Lan was resting with her eyes closed when she suddenly heard a message notification.
She quickly opened it and immediately broke into a smile. The sender was somewhat familiar.
The message was concise: “Hello, I’d like to trade for one bottle of water and one purple rice bread.”
Yan Lan blinked and replied, “Sure, but I’m only trading for Glass~”
Without hesitation, the other person said, “Deal!”
She had only listed one bottle of water and one piece of purple rice bread, yet he wanted to trade for both. It seemed he was really desperate!
She raised an eyebrow knowingly and confirmed the transaction.
Shi Yuanyuan received the supplies from Yan Lan and frantically stuffed them into his mouth. Only when he saw his health steadily rising as the food took effect did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, after Yan Lan received the Metal and Glass from Shi Yuanyuan, the system promptly chimed.
【Consume Glass ×10 and Metal ×10 to upgrade?】
【Yes / No】
She silently said, 【Yes】.
The white light faded, and a yellow three-wheeled motorcycle appeared before her.
At the same time, a system announcement rang out above everyone’s heads.
DING!
【Congratulations, player Yan Lan! You have successfully upgraded to the first three-wheeler in Zone H-38. You have earned the title ‘Leading Vehicle Owner’ and been rewarded with one Gold Treasure Chest.】
As soon as the announcement was made, the group chat erupted again.
“Holy crap, it’s Yan Lan again!”
“What exactly did she do? Surely no one actually traded with her, right?!”
“I went and checked. Some idiot really did trade with her. Such selflessness, truly impressive!”
“How did you trick that little brother into it? Come out and say a few words, @Yan Lan~”
“We’ve been chatting for so long and she still hasn’t shown up. Is she hiding in her shell or something?”
The same few sour grapes were still the ones who couldn’t stand to see her do well. Yan Lan let out a cold laugh and ignored them, turning her attention instead to studying her newly upgraded vehicle.
She walked around the three-wheeler. It had a yellow exterior, smooth metal finish, and a covered rear seat with plenty of space.
It exuded a cute, adorable vibe. Yan Lan couldn’t resist touching it. The moment she made contact, a description popped up.
【Current Level: Three-Wheeler LV2
Upgrade Requirements: Glass ×100, Metal ×100, Rubber ×100, Electronic Components ×10.】
The materials required for the next level had not only increased several times in quantity but also added two new types.
But there was no rush. She was already the first player in her region to upgrade. With a three-wheeler, finding treasure chests in the future would likely be much easier.
This time she had received a Gold Treasure Chest, one level higher than the last. She didn’t open it immediately but placed it in the rear compartment.
Having just finished resting, she got into the vehicle and prepared to set off.
The interior of this three-wheeler was surprisingly high-end, featuring a display screen that seemed somewhat out of place. It showed fuel level, mileage, daily indicators, and more.
At the moment, the fuel level was half full, only 30 units. The mileage read 0.
With a thought, the 30 units of gasoline in her backpack slot disappeared, and the fuel level instantly showed a full 60 units.
After finishing her inspection, she started the engine, twisted the throttle, and drove off.
She had to admit, having such a wide road was great. She could drive however she wanted without worrying about crashes. Still, she didn’t dare go too fast, afraid of speeding past any treasure chests.
If only there were a treasure chest detector, Yan Lan thought.
She shook her head, pushed aside the idle thoughts, and focused on the road. The gentle wind blowing on her face was especially refreshing. Her mood had become excellent thanks to this little three-wheeler.
She had taken care to observe, each unit of fuel allowed her to travel 10 kilometers. That meant her current gasoline would last her 600 kilometers, barely enough for two days.
So now, in addition to upgrade materials, gasoline was also essential.
With the help of the three-wheeler, she traveled over a hundred kilometers in the afternoon and obtained a total of 3 treasure chests, 2 Bronze and 1 Silver. Gold and above were rare.
Seeing that night was about to fall, she stopped and climbed into the rear compartment to open the chests.
The first Gold Treasure Chest was the most anticipated. It yielded Glass ×10, Metal ×10, Rubber ×10, Electronic Components ×2, Blueprint ×1, and Instance Card ×1.
【Toilet Paper Blueprint*Permanent | Required Material: Wood ×1】
Making toilet paper required wood and a crafting table. She had picked up plenty of thorny branches and twigs along the way, plus the wood from decomposed chests, so she had more than enough wood. However, she didn’t have a crafting table yet, so she simply put the blueprint away for now.
The Instance Card was like a key. To participate in an instance mission, she would need this card. She had thought everyone could enter.
The remaining three chests yielded: Glass ×10, Metal ×10, Rubber ×10, Mineral Water 500ML ×3, Purple Rice Bread ×3, BBQ Pork Bun ×2, Chicken Leg ×1, Ponkan (orange) ×1, Blanket ×1.
She had gotten quite a lot of items. Yan Lan carefully took stock of her supplies. All 10 backpack slots were completely full. Among them, the BBQ pork buns and the meat buns took up two separate slots.
Licking her lips, she took out one chicken leg, one BBQ pork bun, and one piece of purple rice bread.
The chicken leg was tender, smooth, and rich, with a crispy fried skin. Eating it brought a strong sense of happiness. The purple rice bread was also generously filled, every bite was packed with filling.
After eating, her stomach felt full and warm, and her health rose to 100.
Once she finished her meal, she took a walk alone on the road to help digestion. After that, she did some squatting stance training and practiced punches. This was a survival game, she needed to improve her physical fitness as quickly as possible.
Without any conditions for bathing after exercising, she simply made do, crawled into the rear compartment, and went straight to sleep.
In the middle of the night, strange, eerie sounds came from outside. The three-wheeler blocked out some of the noise, and she slept very soundly.
Other players, however, weren’t so lucky.
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