Chapter 116: Bronze Tripod
To spend more time researching the bronze cauldron with Milk Tea, Lin Huai immediately used a heavy steel winch to tether their two vehicles together after teleporting to the girl’s highway. That way, even when the Teleportation Talisman expired, their vehicles would remain locked to the same stretch of road.
Leaving the hearse on autonomous towing mode, Lin Huai climbed aboard Milk Tea’s ambulance.
The ambulance had recently been upgraded to Level 4. Its original white exterior was gone, replaced by a thick, matte gray composite armor designed to deflect incoming attacks. The vehicle had also grown noticeably taller. Even though it remained a single-decker, the generous ceiling height created plenty of room for creative floor planning.
The most spacious section was the emergency medical bay, which took up the entire rear third of the vehicle by the back doors. Closer to the driver’s cab sat a cozy, beautifully arranged living space with a dining table and a small bedroom.
This was Lin Huai’s first time stepping inside another player’s vehicle. Milk Tea Seven Parts Sugar was thrilled, enthusiastically showing her around each part of the interior.
After more than two months surviving on the road, the young girl’s ear-length bob had grown past her shoulders, now tied into two neat pigtails behind her head. She looked even younger and more spirited than when they had first met.
“Sister Bone Ash, do you want to see my new sonic dispersal defense system?” Milk Tea asked eagerly. “I picked it up yesterday when I ran into a roadside repair shop. The moment I mentioned your name, the owner gave me a huge discount and even installed it for free!”
She grinned proudly. “You’re truly incredible, Sister! Even the rest of us get to enjoy the perks of your fame.”
Lin Huai smiled, waving her hand gently. “There’s no need to show off the sonic cannon right now. I came over today for something far more important.”
With a flick of her wrist, she pulled the bronze tripod cauldron from her inventory. The vessel possessed magical shape-shifting properties; right now, it rested in the palm of her hand, no larger than an apple.
Walking into the spacious medical bay, Lin Huai placed the miniature cauldron on the metal floor. The moment it touched the ground, the ancient bronze vessel expanded like a balloon in the wind.
“I already tested it out,” Lin Huai explained. “For now, it can only grow to the size of a large soup pot.”
Milk Tea squatted down beside the cauldron in confusion, reaching out to tap the weathered metal. “What does it do? Did you need my help to brew something, Sister Bone Ash?”
Lin Huai shook her head, gesturing toward the artifact. “I brought this cauldron to give to you.”
Milk Tea froze in shock. She jumped to her feet, waving her hands frantically. “No, no, no! Sister Bone Ash, you’ve already done far too much for me! Aside from crafting basic medical supplies, I can’t do anything useful. I have to rely on everyone else for protection during fights. I’m already holding the team back…”
Her eyes welled with anxious tears. “Sister, you treat me so well that it honestly gives me a lot of pressure. You gave me that little ghost incubator last time, and I still haven’t figured out how to repay you. If you give me another treasure, I’ll never be able to make it up to you…”
She sniffled, looking down at the bronze vessel. “Even if I don’t know what this cauldron is, it’s obviously a rare, special item. Treasures like this are priceless! You should keep it for yourself, Sister. I really can’t take any more gifts from you…”
Lin Huai smiled warmly. Stepping forward, she pulled the weeping girl into a comforting embrace.
“Milk Tea, you don’t need to carry that kind of weight,” Lin Huai said softly. “Whenever I hand you something, it’s only because I genuinely can’t make use of it myself. If I could use it, I would have kept it.”
She gently patted the girl’s back. “Besides, who told you that you’re useless? Just because you aren’t fighting on the front lines right now doesn’t mean you won’t become a powerhouse later. More importantly, knowing you have our backs gives everyone the confidence that they won’t die. That peace of mind lets them fight without fear. That is your true value to this squad.”
Milk Tea wiped her red, swollen eyes, her voice trembling. “Really? Does everyone truly need me that much? You aren’t just saying that to cheer me up, are you?”
Lin Huai released her, stepping back with an affectionate chuckle. “Let me tell you a little secret: Dragon Emerging from the Sea doesn’t have the skills to produce high-grade medicine. The person who needs you most in this entire team is Brother Long. Only with you keeping watch does he feel safe charging into battle.”
She continued, “That makes both of you completely irreplaceable. Anyone who plays games knows that a skilled healer is the heart of any raid party. Why would you ever think you’re useless?”
Milk Tea lowered her head, still sounding a bit downcast. “But all I can do right now is craft basic bandages and pills. I don’t have true healing spells yet. I can’t even apply bandages as neatly as the Young Miss does…”
Lin Huai glanced around the medical bay, noticing the worn mannequins, piles of practiced gauze, and training splints scattered across the room. Touched by her dedication, she reached out and gently ruffled Milk Tea’s hair.
“Look around—you’re already practicing harder than anyone else. I know our little Sweetie will grow into the finest healer on the entire server.”
Lin Huai gave her an encouraging smile. “So you need to grow strong, quickly!”
Milk Tea Seven Parts Sugar gave a firm, determined nod. “Mm! Sister Bone Ash, I promise I will work ten times harder! I will definitely become the greatest healer our team could ever ask for!”
She patted her chest with a fierce look. “Even if it costs my own life, I will protect everyone!”
Lin Huai pointed back at the cauldron on the floor. “Then to protect everyone’s lives—and to make sure nobody has to sacrifice anything—you must accept this cauldron.”
Milk Tea blinked, still puzzled. “Is this bronze pot actually a medical item? Why does it have to be mine?”
Lin Huai crouched down, running her fingers along the ornate carvings on the bronze lid. “I tried equipping it to my hearse earlier. This cauldron is currently a Level 2 bronze artifact, and the system prompt clearly stated that it must be installed onto a vehicle to function.”
She looked up at the girl. “However, when I clicked ‘equip,’ the system rejected it, saying my hearse was incompatible. That got me thinking. This three-legged vessel looks remarkably like an ancient alchemy furnace. If an alchemy furnace belongs on a vehicle, what kind of ride fits it better than a medical ambulance?”
Hearing that reasoning, Milk Tea looked at the ancient cauldron with fresh eyes. She opened her interface, scanning the object to read its hidden stats.
“Sister Bone Ash… I see an ‘Equip’ prompt on my screen! Should I press it?”
Lin Huai nodded with certainty. “Go ahead. If it successfully binds, it proves this treasure was meant for you. If it fails, I’ll find another teammate to test it.”
Taking a steadying breath, Milk Tea reached out and tapped the confirmation button.
[Vehicle compatibility verified. Commencing assembly.]
Milk Tea’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief. She snapped her head toward Lin Huai, gasping, “Sister Bone Ash! It… it worked! The vehicle matched!”
Lin Huai beamed. “It seems my theory was right. You’ve met the hidden trigger condition.”
Before the words fully left her mouth, the heavy bronze cauldron lifted smoothly into the air. It dissolved into a bright cloud of greenish-blue spiritual light, floating gently toward the ceiling. A second later, the glowing mist burst outward, raining down millions of shimmering light motes that soaked directly into the ambulance’s reinforced chassis.
Right afterward, an unexpected reaction erupted across the core of the medical bay—centered right over the multi-functional operating table!
