Chapter 18: There Is No Room for Two Tigers on One Mountain
They already had an intelligence network set up, and they had even figured out what kind of vehicle Dragon Emerging from the Sea drove. It seemed that Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere was determined to expand his power and take over the entire zone.
[Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice]: @Jiangzhehu Inheritor, who has the workbench right now?
This simple question meant she had accepted the task. Jiangzhehu Inheritor was thrilled the moment she saw the reply.
[Jiangzhehu Inheritor]: Pillar Holding Up the Sky snatched it, but I don’t know who is holding it now. Gold Medal Salesman, Pillar Holding Up the Sky, My Charm is Unrivaled, Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere, and Snowy Mochi are all grouped together. All their supplies have been pooled into Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere.
[Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice]: Got it.
[Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere]: @Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice, what are you trying to do? We never crossed you. Isn’t it better if we just live and let live? These useless weaklings are going to die sooner or later anyway. Why stick your neck out for them? Just for a broken workbench?
[Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice]: There can only be one top rank in a zone. One mountain cannot hold two tigers. I don’t believe for a second that you could ever live peacefully alongside me.
[Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice]: These players might have had some bad luck up to now, but over the next three days, that might change.
[Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice]: @Everyone, those small piles of stones you see along the roadside are actually altars. If you run into one, make sure to leave an offering and worship there. You’ll get a big surprise! Take the gamble—a single box can change your whole life!
The real danger was about to begin, and everyone would figure out the secret of the altars eventually. Lin Huai was already far ahead of the competition. Sharing this information now would give ordinary players a fighting chance, weaken Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere’s advantage, and close the gap between him and the rest of the players. It killed several birds with one stone.
Besides, the quality of an altar’s reward depended not only on the value of the offering, but also on the danger level of the surrounding environment. In a peaceful, sunny setting, no matter how much food you offered, pulling a high-level box was impossible.
Because of this, Lin Huai was not worried at all that these players would suddenly overtake her.
Sure enough, Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere had already found an altar before. Seeing Lin Huai casually reveal the secret of this life-changing treasure, he completely lost his temper.
[Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere]: @Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice, are you completely crazy?! If they didn’t know about it, they deserved to die! Did you catch Dragon Emerging from the Sea’s savior complex? Now that you blabbed about this, my head start is gone! Do you really think you’ll stay ahead, either?
[My Charm is Unrivaled]: This is ridiculous! How did we end up against such a stupid opponent? You’re hurting yourself just to spite us—what do you even gain from this?
[Pillar Holding Up the Sky]: Screw you! If you want to die, just say the word. The five of us can take you down easily.
[Gold Medal Salesman]: I’m completely speechless. We could have sold that altar information for a fortune. Now that it’s out in the open, it’s totally worthless! You call yourself a top player, but do you even have a brain?
While Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere and his gang suffered a total meltdown, the rest of the players were overjoyed.
[Fastest Hand at SF Express]: Ahhh, Boss Bone Ash is so righteous! Thank you so much for the tip, Boss!
[Flash Delivery Yellow Knight]: A pile of stones??? I literally just drove past one! It’s less than a hundred meters behind me—I’m pulling over right now to worship!
[Starving Blue Knight]: Wait, that pile of rocks was an altar??? I was driving too fast and missed it completely!
[Jiangzhehu Inheritor]: I got my workbench from an altar, but those bullies stole it from me.
[Milk Tea Seven Parts Sugar]: Having Boss Bone Ash in Zone 444 is such a blessing! I will never turn my back on Boss Bone Ash!
[Old Wang from Building Materials]: Daily check-in: Boss Bone Ash, are you taking on any followers? If I have to serve someone, I’d rather follow Boss Bone Ash than be forced into being an errand boy for those clowns!
[Dragon Emerging from the Sea]: Same here. If Boss Bone Ash ever needs a hand, I won’t hesitate to step forward.
In an instant, the chat feed was flooded with messages as player after player lined up, eager to pledge loyalty to Lin Huai.
Lin Huai smiled wryly to herself. How could someone like Dragon Emerging from the Sea want to be her follower? Had she drawn far too much attention to herself?
Had her rebirth completely changed the balance of power in Zone 444?
[Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice]: @Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere, look at the bigger picture. Do you see what I’ve gained now?
[Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere]: Fine, you think you’re tough. If you have the guts, meet us at the crossroads!
Lin Huai snapped a screenshot of the Teleportation Talisman’s stats and posted it directly into the chat:
Teleportation Talisman: Teleports you directly to a targeted player within three seconds. Paths run side by side. Duration: 10 minutes.
[Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice]: No need to wait for random luck at a crossroad. I can pay you a visit anytime I want. Hand back the supplies you stole from everyone, and I might just pretend this never happened.
[Don’t Run a Fever Everywhere]: Come try it then, if you’re not scared. Let’s see who ends up dead first.
Lin Huai let out a cold scoff. This man was acting so bold and arrogant; he had definitely gotten his hands on some rare defensive treasure.
She glanced over at her vehicle, which was still in the middle of its upgrade. Once the new form was complete, she would gladly send him straight to Sister Hanba for a permanent cremation!
[Little Grass Don’t Float]: I don’t expect to survive much longer… I just want to die with a bit of dignity. My period just started. Is there any kind person who could spare some sanitary pads…?
[Jiangzhehu Inheritor]: I have a few. We’re all girls going through this together, so I can send you a pack. I really can’t afford to give away any more than that.
[Little Grass Don’t Float]: Thank you, thank you so much! I’m almost out of food and water, so I don’t have anything to pay you back with…
[Milk Tea Seven Parts Sugar]: I don’t have any pads either… but I have painkillers if you need them?
[Little Mess]: Ugh… now that you mention it, my period is due in a couple of days too… I don’t have any pads saved up, what am I going to do…?
[Flower Girl]: Oh no… mine is usually irregular, and I thought the stress of this game would make it stop completely… What should we do? Even if we have a few, they won’t last very long. We’re going to run out so fast.
[Milk Tea Seven Parts Sugar]: Why don’t we set up a Girls’ Support Group? We could trade supplies and share pads with each other.
Lin Huai remembered how much trouble the lack of hygiene products had caused her in her previous life, even forcing her to wash bloodstains out of car seats in the middle of nowhere.
Ever since entering this game, she had fought tooth and nail just to survive. Her cycle had become completely unpredictable, and because it had not come at all this month, she had forgotten about it entirely.
Fortunately, she had gathered plenty of pads from her high-tier chests, so she had nothing to worry about. Seeing so many girls panicking in the chat made her feel a sudden wave of sympathy.
[Bone Ashes Mixed with Rice]: I have extra sanitary pads. I just listed some in the trade hall. Whoever needs them can go buy them.
[Cute and Sparkling]: Ahhh, the Big Boss is so kind!
[Milk Tea Seven Parts Sugar]: Girls, go look! The boss is practically giving them away for free! The prices are so cheap that anyone can afford them!
[Little Mess]: Thank you so much! I just managed to buy some…
[Old Wang from Building Materials]: I actually found some sanitary pads in my crates, too. If any of you girls need them, I’ll put them in the trading hall for the exact same low price as the boss.
[Dragon Emerging from the Sea]: I don’t need mine either, so I’ve put them up in the trading hall as well. Take what you need.
