Xie Yuan was worrying about her day’s experiences one moment, then got hit by a Nuclear Crystal the next…
Xu San San began recounting everything starting from the ant swarm…
The more Xie Yuan listened, the tighter his brows furrowed. Finally unable to contain himself, he channeled his Dawn Guard captain persona and sternly scolded:
“That was way too risky today, you know! You happened to encounter a Xeno-beast with non-lethal venom this time, but what about next time?! Will you be so lucky next time? Do you think you have too many lives? You have no Protective Armor, no Heavy Weaponry, and haven’t undergone Gene Modification – what are you going to use to fight Xeno-beasts? Is a Nuclear Crystal worth risking your life for?! Fifty penalty laps at the training field…”
Xu San San was stunned by his outburst – this was the first time she’d seen Xie Yuan lose his temper.
Xie Yuan also realized he’d overreacted and coughed into his fist:
“Sorry! I… apologize, I was treating you like… I was just, too worried…”
Xu San San scratched her head, actually feeling quite frightened in retrospect as she stared at the corner:
“You’re right to scold me. I regretted it too at the time, almost thought I wouldn’t make it back. I was indeed reckless today…”
…
The atmosphere grew somewhat heavy…
Xie Yuan glanced up and saw her still bowing her head in remorse. She should have realized the seriousness of the situation. After all, this wasn’t in the squad… Sigh… So he changed the subject at the right moment:
“How are your injuries? Besides soreness in your limbs, any other discomfort?”
Xu San San twisted her upper body and kicked her legs, shaking her head:
“Feeling pretty good, actually. It’s quite miraculous – I fell from such height but barely got injured!”
Xie Yuan had her perform several stretching and jumping movements. Seeing she was indeed fine, he pondered for a moment:
“It must be the healing energy from that egg that strengthened your bone density and physical condition.”
Xu San San nodded vigorously:
“Mhmm, that’s what I thought too!”
“But that doesn’t mean you have the ability to kill Xeno-beasts barehanded!”
Somehow he’d circled back to the topic…
Xu San San quickly nodded and swore, then remembered her important task after returning home:
“Ah, right, do you need to use the toilet?”
Xie Yuan: …
Xu San San slapped her thigh: “Ah! Miscalculation! I gave my Handcart to the Security Firm! How am I supposed to pull you there…”
Xie Yuan’s face flushed red again as he hurriedly interrupted, quite embarrassed and annoyed:
“I’ve already gone by myself…”
He didn’t know why, but it seemed like he had to experience social death countless times in front of this girl every day…
Meanwhile, after Jin Gui Feng hauled the supplies back to the Security Firm’s Warehouse near the South City Gate of the Base, he took out his professional Electro-Melting Blade and began dissecting the Mutated Bullfrog.
He removed the eyeballs and tongue, setting them aside separately – these were his personal commission.
Then he began skinning it from around the oral cavity. The Mutated Bullfrog’s skin was quite special – transparent and lightweight in texture, yet extremely tough, requiring a special Electro-Melting Blade to cut.
Next came the Oral Mucus and Toxin Gland Sac, which were collected into separate glass containers before deboning and cutting the meat…
He muttered while processing:
“Such a large Xeno-beast, yet not even a single Nuclear Crystal in its head! As a bullfrog, how can you have the nerve! Really…”
Then he glanced at the large watermelon in the corner,
Sigh! I really want to keep it all for myself!
But then she suddenly remembered the delivery coordinates he had given her—clearly the VIP-exclusive warehouse of the Black Market. She never expected her to have connections with Black Market VIPs…
Her thoughts began to drift, but reason quickly returned. To avoid provoking anyone she shouldn’t, Jin Gui Feng decided it would be best to handle this order properly and without any trouble.
Meanwhile, after taking a bath and having her Nutrient Solution dinner, Xu San San stared at the two Nuclear Crystals in the medical box, her eyes sparkling like stars. Greedily, she asked for the fifth time that day:
“Are these two really worth over 1,000 Contribution Points combined?”
1,000 points—that was at least 100 nearly expired Nutrient Solutions! If used sparingly, it could feed one person for three months!
Xie Yuan was utterly exasperated but patiently explained once again: “The exact value can only be determined after testing…”
“I saw a black device at Lao Qin’s place. He used it to test the giant egg—can it also test Nuclear Crystals?”
Xie Yuan confirmed and then asked:
“Does Lao Qin know you’re also sending him half a Mutated Giant Frog?”
Xu San San nodded, then shook her head:
“I only mentioned I had some other things and asked him to help store them for now…”
This was also the main reason why Xu San San hadn’t bargained with Lao Qin over the price of the watermelon earlier.
Xie Yuan told Xu San San to open her Optical Brain:
“Send Lao Qin a message now. Tell him that after receiving the Mutated Giant Frog, he should directly contact his trusted craftsman to make you a set of Hooded Exoskeleton Armor from the Frog Skin. Although Frog Skin isn’t as corrosion-resistant as the hides of other high-level Xeno-beasts, for you right now, it’s at least some protection…”
Xu San San quickly nodded in agreement.
…
At 19:21 in the evening, the Black Market was bustling with activity.
“Er Gou! Er Gou!”
Lao Qin called for his son, Qin Nian Nian, to watch the shop for a while. He himself needed to go to a six-story building next to the Black Market to collect a delivery.
“Coming! Coming!” Qin Nian Nian, nicknamed Qin Er Gou, rushed downstairs drenched in sweat. While panting heavily, he continued swinging his fists at an imaginary enemy in the air, throwing a flurry of punches.
Ever since Xie Yuan saved him five years ago in City 303, he had abandoned his dream of inheriting the Second-hand Store and making a living as a middleman. He believed that in this world, only combat prowess could ensure a longer life.
Thus, he devoted himself to joining the Base Guard, Patrol, Guard Team, or a Private Soldier Squad.
However, standing only 160 cm tall and deemed physically unsuitable for enhancement through Gene Reagents, he was rejected by the recruitment offices of all teams.
The reason was surprisingly consistent: too weak.
So, Qin Er Gou’s current situation was—
Main occupation: Self-training, striving to establish his own Private Soldier Squad
Side job: Helping Lao Qin manage the shop
Of course, the main occupation had to unconditionally give way to the side job.
Just like now.
Seeing his son had come down, Lao Qin gave a few more instructions, then went upstairs. He pushed his transport cart and exited the Black Market directly through the back door on the second floor.
Though called the second floor, it was actually the B2 level of the entire building, as the Black Market was on B3. Most merchants operated their shops on B3 and lived on B2.
When Lao Qin arrived at the warehouse door of the adjacent building, he saw “Si Yan” already waiting there.
He quickly jogged over, apologetic: “Sorry to keep you waiting, Xiao Tian!”
“Four-Eyes” Xiao Tian, whose real name is Tian Ji, was nicknamed “Four-Eyed” Frog.
He adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and waved his hand: “I just arrived too!”
If Xu San San were here, she would have realized that the Xiao Tian Lao Qin mentioned was actually the bespectacled male shopkeeper of the adult store she had stumbled upon by chance back then.