Who's Stopping You

Thanks for the invite. I'm used to it.

Cheng Shuili continued driving, checking the Regional Channel from time to time.

No players who had exited the dungeon had spoken up yet. Perhaps they hadn't made it out, or perhaps they were just staying low-key.

It wasn't until noon that Wan Yi suddenly sent her a private message.

【Wan Yi】: Eating lunch?

【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: Yeah.

【Wan Yi】: I just saw your announcement. You were way too fast! I just got out of the dungeon myself. What do you want to eat for lunch? I still have quite a bit of pork left, but I'm running low on seasonings, and I don't have much onion, ginger, or garlic left. The food might not taste as good in a few days.

Cheng Shuili's heart stirred. Seasonings—she had those, they just hadn't refreshed yet.

She didn't say much. She would bring it up once they refreshed. Mentioning it now would only lead to disappointment if they didn't appear.

【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: I'll eat anything as long as there's rice and a side dish.

【Wan Yi】: Alright.

Cheng Shuili opened the Regional Channel again, and finally saw messages from people who had emerged from the dungeon.

【Qing Lin Bian】: I thought I was fast, but I come out to see Angry Crow finished in 3 minutes? Is she using a cheat code?

【Most Like Mutton Skewers】: I wandered around in there for three hours before I even found the path. Luckily there was no danger, or I would've died God knows where. I'm definitely not participating in something like this next time. I felt so uneasy the whole time I was inside...

【Quan Quan】: I'm afraid it won't be our choice next time.

【Jiu Pi Tu】: @Angry Crow Takes Flight, what was the reward? Don't be stingy, post it so we can all learn something!

【Meng Yue】: Damn, I'm curious too! @Angry Crow Takes Flight, show everyone!

Cheng Shuili's fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel as her eyes scanned the messages popping up in the Regional Channel.

Those exclamations and doubts were like a flock of noisy sparrows fluttering before her eyes. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly; this reaction was exactly what she had expected.

However, she had no intention of responding.

Why tell them everything? A top-tier player needs an air of mystery.

Wan Yi was very efficient and sent over today's lunch in no time.

“You have received a gift from player 【Wan Yi】: one portion of homemade Guo Bao Rou, one bowl of rice, and one cup of an unknown homemade beverage.”

Cheng Shuili wasn't actually that hungry yet, but the food wouldn't taste as good if it got cold. She pulled over to the side of the road and eagerly opened the covered container.

The moment she lifted the lid, a rich sweet and sour aroma wafted toward her. She instinctively took a deep breath, her mouth watering as a sudden wave of hunger hit her.

The golden, crispy crust of the Guo Bao Rou was glazed with a translucent sweet and sour sauce that shimmered enticingly under the sunlight. She poked it lightly; the crust gave a crisp "crunch," while the meat inside remained tender and juicy.

The sweetness of the sauce was balanced by a hint of pungency from ginger and garlic. The scent alone was enough to make anyone crave a bite.

The rice was steamed perfectly, each grain distinct and steaming hot. She took a spoonful, and the aroma of the rice melded with the sauce of the pork, dissolving into a soft, sweet fragrance in her mouth.

This was incredible.

This was the life.

After wolfing down a few bites, Cheng Shuili finally took a moment to check the unknown beverage. It was a strange deep brown color, with a few slices of lemon and mint leaves settled at the bottom.

Cheng Shuili guessed it might be cola, but after picking it up and looking at it, she didn't dare drink it immediately. Wan Yi's message arrived just in time.

【Wan Yi】: I made the drink myself. I really missed cola, but the taste is a bit weird. You probably shouldn't drink it.

Cheng Shuili didn't believe in bad luck and took a small, cautious sip. Her tongue was instantly hit by a bizarre flavor.

It was cloyingly sweet yet carried a medicinal bitterness, and as the bubbles popped in her mouth, they were accompanied by the tart astringency of lemon peel.

"Pfft."

She nearly spat it out, quickly setting the glass aside. She never supported wasting water, but this time, she felt like throwing the glass away with it.

【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: ...Did you put Banlangen in there?

【Wan Yi】: Oh, you could tell? I saw that cola ingredients include cinnamon and vanilla, so I added some spice packets I had for stewing meat. It's not actually that bad, is it?

Cheng Shuili really wanted to tell them to check their conscience before speaking.

Cheng Shuili took several large gulps of mineral water, and only after the taste in her mouth faded did she go back to enjoying the food.

Wan Yi was still trying to save face, but after seeing no reply from Cheng Shuili, they admitted defeat in a self-deprecating manner.

【Wan Yi】: Okay, fine. I'm great at cooking, but I've always been like this with drinks. Either people get diarrhea after drinking them, or they can't even swallow them.

Cheng Shuili was speechless at the message.

It was one thing to experiment normally, but was it really necessary to waste water on experiments in the apocalypse?

【Wan Yi】: This is my dream. I must independently research over a dozen delicious drinks and open my own milk tea shop.

Truly, you have to hand it to them.

【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: I wish you success.

【Wan Yi】: Thank you!

Cheng Shuili didn't reply further. She received several more mentions and opened the Regional Channel to see more newcomers curious about her rewards, with some even asking her to share how she got out.

【Those Years】: Can the big boss explain how she got out so fast? I followed the markings on the walls, but I still went in circles for a long time. How did you do it? @Angry Crow Takes Flight.

【Ze Cheng】: You looked at the markings on the walls? I got out by watching the direction the mist moved. The speed of the mist is different between the correct path and the wrong one.

【Mao Huo】: The atmosphere of that dungeon was too terrifying. My skin was crawling the moment I went in. The moss on the ground was so thick; it clearly hadn't seen people in a long time.

Cheng Shuili ignored them. She had followed the air walls, which was her biggest secret and naturally impossible to share. As for the moss...

Why should she just tell all these people for free?

There were still many people stuck in the dungeon. Although they couldn't see the Regional Channel, private messages were still functional.

Cheng Shuili watched for a bit longer. Everyone's hints seemed to be different, but every single person's dungeon had moss.

Cheng Shuili instantly realized that this was a piece of valuable information!

This information was highly time-sensitive; it would only fetch a good price today.

Cheng Shuili had originally intended to sell this info to Glory, but she gave up on that idea when she remembered how he constantly tried to lowball her.

Without wasting a moment, she sent a message directly to the Regional Channel.

【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: A piece of universal information on how to exit the dungeon, applicable to everyone. If you have friends or family stuck inside, you can private message me to buy it. Bring your own price; if it's fair, I'll initiate the trade.

【Serenity】: Seriously? You're selling this? Is a big boss like you really that stingy? What's wrong with making a contribution to everyone? You already took the rewards, why be so petty? If I were in first place, I would've shared it selflessly!

【Liang Shanbo vs. Pig】: Oh, look, Serenity is back with the moral kidnapping. Who do you think you are? Why should she let you freeload?

【Wan Yi】: Stop being so generous with other people's property. If you're so noble, why don't you buy it from Angry Crow and post it on the public channel yourself? Who's stopping you?