Chapter 26
by GideonChapter 26: Ancient City of Weiqu (2)
“Are you sure you don’t want to buy a Monthly Pass?”
Though the Paper Crane looked small and delicate, gliding with a deceptively leisurely pace, Jiang Qibai had to walk briskly just to keep up.
She trekked across the desolate Gobi Desert, the identical, barren landscape stretching endlessly in all directions. The more she walked, the more confused she became about where the Paper Crane was leading her.
Suddenly, the Paper Crane slowed down and came to a halt.
Jiang Qibai gripped the Fishbone Sword in her hand and walked toward it.
An entrance to an underground structure appeared before her.
It was clearly a man-made fortification. To protect it from wind and sand erosion, low walls had been built around the entrance, and even some shrubs had been planted nearby.
The Paper Crane and this underground entrance could very well be a trap set by someone. But finding the Player Camp was more important to Jiang Qibai—this was a risk worth taking.
She pulled out her flashlight and slowly descended the stone steps into the underground passage. The tunnel wasn’t as dark as she had imagined. Many irregularly shaped, glowing stones were embedded in the walls; their light was dim, but enough to illuminate the path ahead.
Judging by the traces in the passage, Jiang Qibai confirmed this was a man-made secret conduit built long ago. The underground river that once flowed here had long since run dry, yet the conduit remained inexplicably sturdy despite the lack of maintenance.
The idea of a Player Camp being established here felt absurd at first, but upon reflection, it made perfect sense.
Jiang Qibai had summoned her Shadow Ghost Employee before entering the conduit, sending it ahead to scout the way. After walking a short distance, she suddenly received a notification that the Shadow Ghost Employee was being attacked.
She immediately hurried forward, rounding a corner in the passage to find a white-haired old man facing off against her Shadow Ghost Employee.
As Jiang Qibai appeared, the old man seemed to realize the connection between her and the Shadow Ghost Employee. He lowered the bamboo-tube-shaped launcher in his hand and said something to her, but Jiang Qibai only saw his lips move and heard nothing.
Seeing this, the old man pointed to a sign beside him.
It read: Player Camp No. 1, Entrance Fee: 5 Points/Day.
Jiang Qibai transferred 5 Points to the old man and walked two steps forward.
[ You have entered the range of Player [Jianbing Guozi with Two Eggs]’s Skill [It’s a Barrier, Not Big Sister]. ]
In an instant, a cacophony of chatter, raucous laughter, and the familiar crackle of burning firewood flooded her ears. The sudden surge in volume made her recoil slightly, her eardrums—long accustomed to silence—straining against the abrupt assault. Then a gust of wind swept past, carrying a bold, savory aroma—the scent of roasted meat mingled with the spicy fragrance of cumin and chili.
Even before she reached the camp’s center, she could already feel its lively atmosphere.
The old man repeated his earlier words, pointing at the Shadow Ghost. “Girl, you can come in. But this guy of yours can’t. He’ll scare the other players.”
This camp was surprisingly large—it even had a gatekeeper responsible for maintaining order and collecting fees.
So Jiang Qibai stowed her Shadow Ghost Employee back into her Employee Badge, then glanced at the nameplate above the old man’s head.
His name wasn’t [Jianbing Guozi with Two Eggs].
The old man noticed her gaze and remarked casually, “I’m no manager. Just the guy at the gate collecting tickets.”
Jiang Qibai nodded and asked, “Old Uncle, this is Player Camp No. 1. Do you know how many other camps there are?”
The old man had already settled back into his chair, speaking in a slow drawl. “I think there are two others. One’s way out on the edge of the Ancient City—a hell of a hike. The other… well, not many people know about it. They say it’s somewhere inside the city, but some also say it was torn down long ago and everyone’s already fled.”
From this, Jiang Qibai gleaned two pieces of information. First, Player Safehouses had indeed been deployed into the Ancient City, and those players had gathered to establish camps that facilitated communication and trade. Second, the city was far from safe. There were threats capable of taking down even a player-run camp.
She tried to pry for more information, but the old man refused to answer. Even when she offered payment, he remained unmoved. He explained that as the camp’s gatekeeper, he heard all sorts of rumors but had never verified any of them. He had no idea what was true and what was false. Therefore, he refused to sell information; spreading false news would not only harm others but also invite retaliation. Other players could just run away, but he had to work here.
The old man is a practical one, Jiang Qibai thought.
With no other choice, she walked past him and headed toward the center of the camp.
The space inside was slightly more open, with air circulating freely and much brighter than the tunnel. A large fire crackled in the center, with a split whole lamb roasting on a spit above it. Someone was slowly turning the spit, and the fat dripping into the flames caused a loud sizzle.
Many people sat on smoothed-out wooden stumps or stone blocks, chatting and laughing with those around them. They looked as if they had been here for a long time. Others simply hurried inside, quickly forming teams with fellow players searching for companions before leaving the camp.
Among those chatting and laughing, a few glanced at Jiang Qibai. Most quickly looked away, avoiding any provocation that might bring unnecessary trouble. Every player had learned the hard way that it was better to mind their own business.
Jiang Qibai also glanced back. Her brief sweep of the crowd revealed that several people had the status “Cursed” floating above their heads.
Though most people were avoiding her, a few more sociable players still struck up a conversation. A player sitting not far from her said cheerfully, “You’re a new face. Just entered this dungeon, right? Lucky you, arriving just in time for roast lamb!”
Jiang Qibai seized the opportunity to join the conversation. “How much for the lamb?”
The man pointed to a plump woman wearing a headscarf. “Sister Qing’s lamb. Just ask her.”
[ Player: Caomu Qing Status: Cooking ]
The woman held a sharp cleaver, her wrist moving with steady precision as she sliced through the roasted lamb. The blade carved off a piece of meat, which was caught by the plate in her other hand. The entire sequence was seamless and efficient. After a few swift motions, the plate was filled with roasted lamb and handed to the waiting customer.
As the man took the plate, he murmured something low. Caomu Qing shot back a playful scolding and made a feigned kick, shooing him away.
Jiang Qibai walked over. Before she could even speak, the woman quoted the price with practiced ease. “30 Points for a plate of lamb. The shoulder and leg cost extra, and extra seasoning will cost you more.”
The price was quite reasonable. For the same 30 Points, this was a much better deal than the burger and fried chicken combo she’d had in the Leisure Area. Then again, the Leisure Area was all about the ambiance and atmosphere, so Jiang Qibai still felt it was worth it.
But Jiang Qibai hadn’t come for the mutton. She lowered her voice. “I’ll skip the meat for now. I want to ask you something.”
A bottle of drink materialized in her hand.
Caomu Qing’s eyes lit up. In the Ancient City of Weiqu dungeon, what was the most valuable resource? Water, obviously. Drinks with high sugar content provided more energy and were even more coveted than bottled water.
Just then, a few more customers arrived. Caomu Qing discreetly tucked the drink Jiang Qibai had offered away, then gave her a meaningful glance, signaling her to wait.
Jiang Qibai stood aside and watched as Caomu Qing sliced two more plates of mutton. She used a nearby cloth to wipe her curved blade until it gleamed, then adjusted the fire before taking a step toward Jiang Qibai.
She held up three fingers. “I’ll answer three of your questions. Whether I can answer them or not, it’s still three. Any more than that, and you’re wasting your breath—I won’t answer.”
It sounded a bit unreasonable, but it was also a warning to Jiang Qibai not to waste her opportunities on questions she couldn’t answer. For example, asking where to find water—whether Caomu Qing knew or not, she wouldn’t answer.
Jiang Qibai had already decided on her first question. “What kind of monster is a Yu?”
Caomu Qing explained in detail, “If you want to fight that kind of monster, you have to head toward the desert. Yu hide under the sand and launch surprise attacks. Some say they’re immortal—that they can resurrect from the desert. But don’t worry, their attributes are pretty average, and they won’t leave the desert easily unless—”
“Unless what?”
“Unless a black sandstorm kicks up in the desert. When that happens, the Yu’s strength is greatly enhanced, and they can go anywhere.” A flicker of lingering fear crossed Caomu Qing’s face as if she had just recalled a terrifying memory.
“Why is everyone so afraid to make a sound? Does noise attract monsters?” Jiang Qibai asked her second question. When she noticed that not only the nearby villagers were desperately trying to stay quiet, but the Player Camp was also shrouded in a sound-blocking Barrier, her suspicion that sound would lead to some terrible outcome became more certain.
Caomu Qing nodded. “That’s right. Sound attracts monsters. Not the Yu—they aren’t worth this much caution. The monsters that come are much stronger, and you never know if you’ll attract just one or a whole swarm.”
“Sister Qing, two plates of mutton, please!” someone shouted.
Caomu Qing nodded. She turned to Jiang Qibai. “One last question.”
“What’s the Ancient City like?” Jiang Qibai hesitated before asking the question she most wanted to know.
“I don’t know much about what’s inside. Getting in is extremely difficult,” Caomu Qing replied, unable to answer directly. “The walls of the Ancient City of Weiqu are unique—they’re almost immune to all Item effects.”
However, she pointed someone out to Jiang Qibai. “See that guy over there? His name is Erdaohe. He’s been putting together a team to scout the city. If you’re really curious, go ask him.”
Jiang Qibai followed her gaze and spotted a man in the corner. The Player named Erdaohe looked to be in his forties, with a square face, a broad forehead, and thick eyebrows. Even sitting down, his tall, sturdy build was evident, and his stern expression gave off an aura of unwavering righteousness.
Jiang Qibai walked over and took an empty seat near him.
A cotton cloth and a small bottle of brown liquid rested beside Erdaohe’s hand. Before him lay a pile of gun parts, which he was meticulously oiling one by one. As he lifted his hand, a cylindrical part rolled off the uneven stone tabletop. Jiang Qibai caught it before it could fall.
“Here.”
“Thanks.” Erdaohe took the part. With a deft movement of his hand, the components snapped back into place. A final, crisp click echoed as the magazine slid home, and the gun was fully reassembled in his grip.
“I heard you have information about the city.” Players didn’t bother with pleasantries or small talk. Getting straight to the point was the most efficient way to do business. Without realizing it, Jiang Qibai had also grown accustomed to this style of communication.
“You want to ask about the city?” Erdaohe stowed the gun and straightened his back, fixing Jiang Qibai with a steady gaze.
He wasn’t surprised by her visit. Half the camp knew he was preparing to enter the Ancient City. When people wanted to dig up miscellaneous information, they sought out players with more connections and a more approachable demeanor, like Caomu Qing. Only when it came to the Ancient City did they seek him out.
“There’s nothing worth going for in the city. So many people rush straight there the moment they enter the dungeon, as if they’ve wasted their trip if they don’t get in. But look,” he swept his gaze around the camp, “almost no one here has ever set foot in the Ancient City, yet they’re all doing just fine.”
Erdaohe’s tone carried a hint of earnest warning. He didn’t seem like the man Caomu Qing had described—someone trying to organize a team to enter the Ancient City of Weiqu. Instead, he seemed to be doing his utmost to discourage anyone from going.
“The Players who were dropped into the city by the Safehouse have the highest death rate.”
“Then why are you going?” Jiang Qibai couldn’t understand Erdaohe’s reasoning. If he were eager to assemble a team for the city’s exploration, he only needed to assess the strength of the visitors. Saying all this would only make other Players more hesitant. If he wasn’t in a hurry to form a team, he didn’t need to sit here all day just to prepare for this one mission.
“I have reasons I must go,” Erdaohe’s voice dropped, and he said no more.
Jiang Qibai rose and left.
She could tell that Erdaohe indeed had a wealth of information about the Ancient City of Weiqu—perhaps even the most knowledgeable person in the entire camp—but he would only share his intel with his own teammates.
In his eyes, Jiang Qibai was likely just an ordinary Player who had newly entered the Dungeon and was curious about all the unfamiliar areas.
Erdaohe didn’t want the information he possessed to pique the interest of outsiders in the Ancient City, making them arrogant enough to think they could enter and leave at will, only to lose their lives.
Although not every question had been answered, this trip was still a significant gain. Now that she knew the exact location of the Player Camp, it meant that a steady stream of information would gather there as Players continued to explore the Dungeon. Sooner or later, she would find out what she wanted to know.
Jiang Qibai retraced her steps, exiting the Player Camp through the same entrance she’d used to enter. As she left, the old man guarding the gate tried to sell her a “Camp Monthly Pass.”
“Eighty Points for a month,” he pitched. “You can come to the camp every day.”
She’d noticed that many of the people laughing and chatting loudly inside the camp had bought the pass, coming here daily just to shoot the breeze.
“Don’t they have to do their daily quests?” she asked.
The old man shook his head. “They knock out the easy ones, but they skip the hard ones. This dungeon is dirt poor—the more you struggle, the less you find.”
His words weren’t without merit. When there was no guarantee of a reward, running around aimlessly would only drain resources. It was better to just find a spot and lie flat.
But Jiang Qibai was the kind of person who couldn’t stand still. Besides, she’d just finished a dungeon, and her meager funds couldn’t support a “lie flat” lifestyle anyway.
Still, no matter what kind of player they were, none were as shrewd as the old man. He’d secured himself a steady income, guaranteed regardless of the circumstances.
After leaving the Player Camp, Jiang Qibai didn’t head toward the desert to find today’s quest target, the Yu. For one, it was already late. For another, Caomu Qing had mentioned that the Yu’s attributes were mediocre, so skipping the quest wouldn’t cost her many Points.
She returned to the Safehouse and headed straight for the bathroom, but stopped before turning on the faucet. Clearly, with the need to conserve water, now wasn’t the time to wash her hands—at least not until she’d finished all the tasks that would get them dirty.
Turning away, Jiang Qibai went up to the second-floor greenhouse. Using the gardening tools she’d bought from the System, she tilled a small patch of earth. She started by planting the stunted scallions from their pots, then spent 50 Points on seeds for lettuce, tomatoes, and bok choy, sowing them into the freshly turned soil.
Though she’d planted a variety of crops, the seeds sold by the System came in tiny packets. Only about a quarter of the ten-square-meter greenhouse was now occupied by plants. The tomatoes, in particular, were planted sparsely to leave room for the trellises they would eventually need.
By the time she finished, the sky had already darkened. Jiang Qibai washed her hands and carefully poured the collected wastewater over the newly planted crops.
This Dungeon was severely lacking in water sources, so she shouldn’t have rushed into building a greenhouse. But her supply of canned vegetables was running low, and she couldn’t ignore the health risks of a long-term unbalanced diet. She had to plan ahead to ensure these vegetables would be ready for harvest by the time her canned goods ran out.
After all, her vegetable patch was only this tiny. She could start by watering it with recycled graywater.
Returning to the first floor, Jiang Qibai took a package of her homemade “pre-made meal”—braised pork ribs with potatoes—out of the small freezer. She then retrieved a square, rock-hard block of frozen rice from another small compartment. To minimize the number of dishes and thus reduce the water used for washing, she put both the rice and the stew on a single plate and popped it into the pot to heat.
After a hearty meal, Jiang Qibai wasn’t ready to sleep just yet. She found a piece of paper and began sketching a map. With her Safehouse as the reference point, the coordinates for the desert, the Player Camp, the native village, and the Ancient City of Weiqu appeared one by one on the map.
What would it take for the villagers to be willing to talk to her? Jiang Qibai’s pen paused over the village’s coordinates.
Would visiting the village every day show them she meant no harm, or would it backfire and make them resent her even more? Would offering some supplies as an incentive pry a villager’s lips open? She observed that their lives were very difficult; the chocolate cookies she could casually produce would already be an incomparable delicacy to them.
Several ideas drifted through Jiang Qibai’s mind in a chaotic swirl.
Waking up to the sun’s glare felt strange. Jiang Qibai realized she’d forgotten to draw the blackout curtains last night.
[ Daily Quest: Collect Medicinal Herbs. Rock Crevice Lichen (0/5) Sand Scorpion Tail (0/10) Thorn Tree Bark (0/5) Quest Duration: 2 Days ]
This new quest type caught Jiang Qibai off guard. She’d expected the usual monster-slaying missions.
The quest didn’t even provide pictures. The unfamiliar names hinted that these were local specialties, not the herbs she knew from the real world. Since she had no idea what they even looked like, she’d have to head back to the Player Camp.
While there yesterday, she’d seen plenty of players recruiting teammates to venture out. Since their daily quests weren’t all that different, someone must have already taken a herb-related mission. They might have some information—or even the herbs themselves.
After a quick breakfast, she rushed back to the Player Camp.
As she entered, the old man guarding the gate recognized her. “Still not getting that Monthly Pass, are you?” he asked.
She’d arrived early today, and the camp was already teeming with players forming parties—far more than when she’d visited yesterday.
She easily found a party that was short on members and had low requirements for their teammates. However, when she mentioned her Quest was to collect medicinal herbs, someone in the group immediately proposed a deal: Jiang Qibai could keep any herbs they found along the way, but in exchange, she would have to compensate them with some extra Points. After all, they’d be the ones helping her find the herbs.
The request itself wasn’t unreasonable, but they couldn’t agree on the amount of compensation. Jiang Qibai thought their asking price was too high, while the other party insisted the herbs were worth it. Some players had Skills that could brew medicinal herbs into healing tonics, and others were too lazy to do the collection Quests themselves, choosing instead to buy the herbs directly from other players. There was always a steady demand.
Noticing the shifty eyes of one of the party members, Jiang Qibai sensed something fishy and ultimately decided not to join them.
The group quickly filled their remaining slots and left.
The Player Camp was bustling with activity. People were trading supplies and selling Items.
A particular stall drew a constant stream of customers. Intrigued, Jiang Qibai walked over to see what kind of hot-selling item had everyone scrambling to buy.
The vendor sold only one type of Item—a small firecracker. It was produced in large quantities, with dozens sold in a short span of time.
【Soundproof Firecracker Quality: D-rank
Description: Single-use Item. When thrown on the ground, it automatically deploys an Area Barrier that blocks all sound for 5 minutes.
Note: Don’t be afraid, it’s a dud.
This Item’s function was practically tailor-made for the Ancient City of Weiqu, perfect for situations where you need to make some noise but worry about attracting Monsters.
The vendor set the price at one bottle of mineral water per Item, or 50 Points each.
The Mall had cut off the Safehouse’s water supply and taken all drinks and mineral water off the shelves at the same time. Otherwise, 50 Points could have bought five bottles of water.
Jiang Qibai stepped forward and bargained, “Five bottles of mineral water for ten Items.”
The vendor was taken aback by the offer. “Who bargains like this? You’re cutting my throat! Look, if you really want ten, I’ll give them to you for seven bottles. How’s that? Generous enough?”
Jiang Qibai didn’t budge an inch, refusing to take out even one more bottle of mineral water.
“I’ve already made a concession. Why can’t you meet me halfway?” The vendor looked impatient. “You see for yourself, my Items are selling like hotcakes. I don’t need your business. If you’re going to be this stingy, forget it.”
“Oh, I see,” Jiang Qibai said, her expression unchanged. “I see everyone else choosing to pay with Points. Because water is just that precious.”
The vendor choked on his words.
The vendor hesitated, his words dying in his throat. Finally, he deflated like a punctured balloon and relented. “Fine, fine. Five bottles of mineral water for ten items.”
Jiang Qibai wasn’t entirely sure why she’d suddenly decided to splurge on ten items. Well, items don’t expire, she reasoned. If I don’t use them all in this dungeon, I can save them for later.
Just then, a woman stepped beside her and asked softly, “Do you have the quest to collect medicinal herbs?”
Jiang Qibai turned to look at her.
[ Player: Ziyuan Status: Sick ]
The woman appeared to be in her late thirties, with an elegant, scholarly air and a gentle voice. Judging by her complexion, she didn’t look frail or ill.
It wasn’t surprising that she’d overheard; Jiang Qibai had just been arguing with several other players about medicinal herbs.
“I do,” Jiang Qibai confirmed.
Ziyuan continued, “I know several areas rich in medicinal herbs. I can lead you to them.”
“And what do you want in return?” Jiang Qibai asked bluntly. Between players, directness was the rule. Excessive pleasantries were just a waste of time.
Jiang Qibai expected Ziyuan’s request to be related to her sick status—perhaps she needed medicine or a cure. Instead, Ziyuan turned and tugged on a young boy’s arm. “I want him to join our team.”
The boy looked young and naive. Though he had the build of an adult, his face betrayed his underage status. His ID was Ami Tofu. Suddenly exposed to Jiang Qibai’s scrutiny, he grew so nervous he didn’t know what to do with his hands, eventually forcing a stiff smile.
Jiang Qibai hadn’t noticed it when she was a newbie herself, but now that she had experience, she could tell at a glance that Ami Tofu was a Dungeon newcomer.
Seeing that Jiang Qibai didn’t immediately agree, the player named Ziyuan knew what she was worried about. “My status won’t have any impact. I don’t need special care, and I definitely won’t hold the team back.”
That way, Ami Tofu would be the only dead weight on the team, not two.
Most of the medicinal herbs were located within the desert. The main monsters in the desert were Yu. According to the information Caomu Qing had given her, Jiang Qibai believed the Yu’s combat power was roughly equivalent to a regular Shadow Ghost, posing little threat to her. If she recognized the herbs, she would have gone to find them herself.
Bringing Ami Tofu along was fine, but she needed to be certain that Ziyuan truly knew the distribution locations of the herbs.
She asked a few questions about the medicinal plants, and Ziyuan answered them all fluently. Jiang Qibai also took the opportunity to ask about their market price, receiving a quote that was only half of what the previous team had quoted.
Sure enough, the moment she revealed her ignorance about the herbs, someone immediately seized the opportunity to rip her off. If she hadn’t felt something was off, she would have been duped out of a massive amount of Points by now.
Ziyuan offered to guide Jiang Qibai to an area where herbs were easier to find, and all the herbs they found would belong to Jiang Qibai. The catch? Jiang Qibai had to help Ami Tofu complete his daily quest, which required killing twenty Yu.
Small monsters gave few Points, but the point-sharing system for parties was always generous: those who dealt damage got half, and the one who landed the final blow got the full amount.
Take Shadow Ghosts, for example. An ordinary Shadow Ghost was worth 2 Points. A solo kill would grant 2 Points. But if a player teamed up and their partner dealt damage to the Shadow Ghost, the partner would still receive 1 Point upon settlement, without affecting the killer’s full 2 Points.
This was why many players, even those capable of soloing monsters, still preferred to party up. It was one of the few ways to exploit the System for extra Points.
Jiang Qibai only needed to weaken the monsters to near-death, then let Ami Tofu swoop in for the kill to complete his daily quest.
Although Ziyuan claimed her status was fine, Jiang Qibai could see she was only capable of defending herself and was powerless to help Ami Tofu. That was why she had approached her.
Ziyuan had likely made a deal with Ami Tofu, a newcomer, but the conditions were too difficult for her to meet in her current state. So, she’d found a way to outsource the job.
Jiang Qibai’s involvement filled the gap in this transaction, and all three of them got what they wanted.
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