Next Time for Sure

Su Rui understood immediately. She spun the dagger in her palm and stepped lightly toward the left side.

The sick monkey's scarlet eyes tracked her movements, and a hoarse, guttural growl vibrated in its throat.

It’s this aggressive even when it’s sick?

Cheng Shuili narrowed her eyes. Now is the time!

She lunged forward, and her long blade carved a silver arc through the air.

The sick monkey sensed the danger and tried to dodge, but it was held firmly in place by the metal claws of the hunting device. The blade pierced precisely into its throat, and murky blood sprayed outward.

Cheng Shuili retreated quickly. She watched the sick monkey twitch a few times before it went still, then dissolved into points of light, leaving only a few neatly arranged pieces of meat on the ground.

This meat definitely wasn't edible. It could only be tossed by the roadside with the trash.

Su Rui had already efficiently pulled disinfectant and gloves out from the vehicle. "Let's take the hunting device down first. It needs a thorough disinfection."

A thorough disinfection was indeed necessary. The monkey's final struggle had splattered its blood everywhere. Without knowing if the sickness it carried was contagious to humans, she wouldn't be able to relax until everything was fully sanitized.

Cheng Shuili put on her gloves, picked up the spray bottle, and shook it. She sprayed the hunting device several times before finally reaching out to remove it.

She folded the hunting device, and its metal joints clicked softly. The scent of disinfectant permeated the stifling air, mingling with the fishy stench of the sick monkey's blood, which was nauseating.

She looked up at the sky. It was nearly five o'clock; the scorching sun remained high, and the sky was cloudless.

Su Rui was on the side, pumping the disinfectant. She didn't hold back, spraying every corner, big or small, before she felt at ease.

Cheng Shuili suddenly felt a flicker of doubt. Many people in the regional channel had captured prey, and that definitely added up to a significant number. With so much prey, no one had ever mentioned capturing "sick prey." Did that mean there simply hadn't been any sick prey before?

So why was there one now?

Cheng Shuili looked at the bloodstains remaining on the road and suddenly leaned in to check the information on the meat.

【Meat of a Sick Monkey】

【Description: Meat from a pitiful monkey that has fallen ill. Consumption is not recommended, but if you are truly starving to death, eating it is definitely better than starving, right?】

No useful information.

Cheng Shuili felt a bit regretful. She returned to the vehicle with Su Rui after the sanitization was complete.

The dungeon rewards had actually been issued. There were three crates in total, just like the rewards from the previous dungeon: one special supply crate, one gold supply crate, and one special equipment crate.

It seemed the dungeon rewards were just these.

The three crates were lined up neatly on Su Rui's floor mat.

Su Rui didn't seem to have any objections. She silently took a bottle of mineral water from the refrigerator, opened the driver's cab door, and went to drive.

But... hadn't she already drunk a bottle this morning?

Cheng Shuili certainly didn't mind. She wasn't like those stingy, penny-pinching bosses. If Su Rui needed it, she was more than happy to cover Su Rui's meals.

She was just a bit curious: was water different from food to Su Rui?

Cheng Shuili never took the initiative to bring up such sensitive questions. She was someone who liked to look after other people's feelings—though, of course, there were exceptions at times.

Cheng Shuili changed her clothes, sat cross-legged on Su Rui's floor mat, and bowed piously toward the special equipment crate.

Then, without hesitation, she opened the crate!

As for Liang Shanbo... Cheng Shuili sighed. She always felt that her luck was sometimes effective and sometimes not.

Better to rely on herself!

【Verifying player eligibility...】

【Identity confirmed: Cheng Shuili】

【Opening special equipment crate.】

After a blinding flash of light, Cheng Shuili leaned in slowly. With a "clatter," a rusty can rolled out of the equipment crate. The label had long since faded, and only the vague words "Shelf life: Permanent" could be barely discerned.

Cheng Shuili stared at this unimpressive can, her eyebrows twitching subtly.

"This counts as special equipment?" She poked the can. The metal shell made a dull "thud-thud" sound. It didn't sound like it was empty, nor did it sound like it contained normal food.

Did she have to open it?

Cheng Shuili frowned. She thought for a moment and decided to check the description first.

【Schrödinger's Can】

【Description: A mysterious can with a rusty exterior and an unknown production date. The label has long since faded, and only a few blurry words can barely be made out: "Contains surprises, no returns." No one knows what is inside, and even the system couldn't be bothered to give it a clear classification. It could be a life-saving meal, or it could be an elaborately designed prank. The only thing certain is that every time you open it, it is a high-stakes gamble.】

Cheng Shuili knew it was going to be trouble the moment she saw the name, and after reading the description, it was indeed something that depended on fate.

Now that it was certain she had to open it, then...

Open it?

This thing definitely didn't count as a good item. Experience is the best teacher; Cheng Shuili silently knocked on Liang Shanbo's private chat window.

Since her own luck was bad, wouldn't it be better to call someone with good luck to open it?

【Liang Shanbo vs. Pig】: Boss! I'm here! Is there something for me to do again?

Yes.

How self-aware.

Cheng Shuili curved her eyes, clicked on the gift option, and selected 【Schrödinger's Can】. The system suddenly popped up a prompt.

【This item cannot be gifted!】

Cannot be gifted?

Cheng Shuili suddenly had a bad premonition, as if she had been entangled by something. She suddenly remembered the words "no returns" in the description.

"This doesn't count as a return, anyway."

She muttered to herself.

Fine. If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain. It just so happens she has plenty of designated player duel cards right now.

Cheng Shuili directly called for Liang Shanbo to use one.

The other party was a bit coy.

The message box displayed "The other party is typing..." for a long time.

Then, she finally sent a message.

【Liang Shanbo vs. Pig】: That... Boss, I, my hair is a bit greasy right now... can we meet later? Let me wash my hair...

Cheng Shuili had just finished reading the message and hadn't even replied before she retracted it.

It was "typing" again, and after half a minute, a new message arrived.

【Liang Shanbo vs. Pig】: Why so sudden! I didn't even prepare! Wuwu, Boss, you're bullying me!

Cheng Shuili: "..."

No, she hadn't washed her hair either!

They were so familiar online, what was there to be shy about? But come to think of it, among the people in the small group, Liang Shanbo was the only one she hadn't met yet.

Since that was the case, she couldn't let her off the hook today!

【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: Hurry up.

The other party seemed to think there was some urgent matter, and not daring to delay any further, she immediately used the designated player duel card.

A brand-new vehicle instantly appeared in front of Cheng Shuili's car. Su Rui was startled and slammed on the brakes, and the inertia almost made Cheng Shuili fall.

Su Rui thought someone was coming to fight to the death again and immediately got up to tell Cheng Shuili about the situation, which made Cheng Shuili feel a bit guilty.

Next time, I'll definitely tell her in advance.

Next time for sure!