4: Chapter 4 There Should Be No Secrets Between Us

【05-05 Chen Pingan: What kind of trash starting supplies are these? There are four grown men in our compartment, and not a single one opened a weapon. The zombies are about to break down the door, what should we do?】

【14-04 Liu Bi: Has anyone opened any food? I'll trade stardust for it! The instant noodles that came with it are all moldy. My brother only took one bite, and now he's got diarrhea so bad he's unconscious...】

【10-09 Lu Fei: Sigh, the boxed meals on the dining car are the same. They rotted in the blink of an eye. Even the unopened mineral water is f***ing contaminated.】

【03-06 Chen Keqian: One piece of wood for a loaf of bread. Freshly baked wood, anyone want to trade?】

【14-04 Liu Bi: What kind of nonsense are you spouting? I can just kill two zombies and get several pieces of wood. Do you even understand the value of food?】

【03-06 Chen Keqian: Why are you being so fierce? Do you think everyone can fight like you? You shrimp-headed man!】

...The chat channel isn't as heated as before. It seems everyone is busy trying to survive and doesn't have time to chit-chat.

Speaking of the starting supply pack, Lin Xiao was too busy discussing the role of physical exercise in physiology with Jiang Wanwan and hadn't gotten around to opening his pack yet.

"Wanwan, open the starting supply pack in your backpack and see what's inside."

As he spoke, he had already torn open the seal of the supply pack.

The box disappeared, and a brand-new fire axe appeared in his backpack, along with a strange electrical appliance that looked like a coffee machine...

【Weapon: General-Purpose Fire Axe】

【Type: Melee】

【Level: 1】

【Attack: 10】

【Durability: 20 / 20】

【Made of carbon steel, it is not considered a controlled weapon, making it an essential item for home and travel!】

【Device: stardust converter (Damaged)】

【Level: 1】

【Durability: 13 / 20】

【Capacity: 0 / 100】

【Converts stardust into source essence at a ratio of 100:1. source essence can be used to craft various fantasy potions.】

Lin Xiao weighed the fire axe in his hand, then his gaze fell on the converter, and his expression immediately lit up with joy.

"This is a good thing!"

source essence is a precious raw material.

As far as he knew, there were only three ways to obtain source essence: killing BOSSes, exploring special areas, or using a special conversion device.

The first two had very high danger levels and difficulty; if you weren't strong enough, you were just throwing your life away.

And the latter...

Lin Xiao hadn't expected to have a conversion device right from the start.

Although it was a damaged machine, at least he had one.

If he could find the facility blueprint for a research bench later, he could start mass-producing fantasy potions using source essence.

Whether for personal use or for sale, it would be a huge profit.

"Hmm... in my supply pack..."

Hearing Lin Xiao's words, Jiang Wanwan responded in a soft, sweet voice.

She then reached out from under the covers and tapped lightly in mid-air.

"It's a bucket of water and a roll of bandages!"

As she spoke, a 5-liter bucket of mineral water and a roll of elastic bandages appeared on the small table next to the bed.

Good luck; in a survival game, water is an extremely important resource.

5 liters of water—in the environment of his previous life, if one was a bit frugal, it would be enough to survive the first round of the game.

But the past is the past, and now is now.

Jiang Wanwan rustled as she turned over under the covers, then snuggled up to him.

"Lin Xiao."

Her voice came through a layer of fabric, muffled yet clear.

She didn't use his nickname.

In a romantic relationship, when a girlfriend calls out your full name, it's never a good sign.

"We've known each other for so many years, and I've never lied to you, right?"

She paused for a moment, as if searching for the most concise and accurate words.

"So, between us... shouldn't there be no secrets?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Xiao's gaze sank immediately.

Could it be that his posture earlier was too practiced, and she discovered something was wrong?

Oh no, how could an old pro like him flip his car!

"What, what do you want to say?"

Perhaps because he was too nervous, Lin Xiao's tone became somewhat unnatural.

And this made Jiang Wanwan, who was beside him, lower her voice even more, even sounding a bit aggrieved: "So... there is something I feel I must tell you now!"

"Just now, when I went to the bathroom, a shining emblem flew into my body..."

"Oh, it's just an emblem, I thought it was something big."

Lin Xiao breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

But the next second, he opened his eyes wide.

"Wait, an emblem?"

"Yes... it's a silver-white star emblem!" Jiang Wanwan nodded, then began to introduce it, "The prompt also said that I had received the favor of the Memory Star God and obtained a blessing."

A silver star emblem!

One in ten thousand, that's already quite good!

Who would have thought that two star emblems would appear on this small train? I don't know if it's good luck or some other reason.

Seeing Lin Xiao silent, Jiang Wanwan poked his cheek.

"Little Lin, what is this thing?"

Lin Xiao paused slightly, then replied with a smile: "Simply put, it gives you a wonderful ability."

"Then, do you have one? Or else, should I give this star emblem to you?"

Jiang Wanwan was a complete newbie, even thinking about transferring the star emblem.

Once this item fuses with a human body, it can never be removed.

At least in his previous life, he had never heard of anyone seizing a star emblem for their own use.

"I have one too."

Lin Xiao paused, gathered his thoughts, and continued: "I can get a mysterious reward every once in a while, but..."

He leaned close to Jiang Wanwan's ear and whispered something secretly.

Jiang Wanwan's face turned red instantly, from her cheeks to her ears, and spread down to her neck.

"You mean, bedtime exercise can reduce the refresh time of the mysterious reward?"

Lin Xiao nodded: "That's right, that's exactly what I mean!"

He chose to hide the specific details about the Prism star emblem and the rules for exchanging for all things, fabricating a plausible reason instead.

"How long does it take? We can't just be sleeping all day, right?"

Jiang Wanwan tried hard to imagine that scene, showing a worried little expression.

But strangely, she also felt an inexplicable sense of anticipation in her heart.

"According to the star emblem's introduction, the amount of time spent exercising reduces the refresh time accordingly. Yes, that's how it is!" Lin Xiao said, keeping a straight face.

"That, that sounds quite tiring..." Jiang Wanwan murmured.

Lin Xiao suppressed a smile, rubbed her cheek, and continued, "Tell me, what blessing did your star emblem give you?"

"Let me see... the general idea is that I can consume a certain amount of stardust to draw three event cards, and then choose one to execute."

Jiang Wanwan pretended to be mature and gave a light cough, her slender fingers sliding and tapping in mid-air.

"The star emblem also said that the more stardust consumed, the better the events the cards bring!"

A divination-type ability?

"I understand." Lin Xiao nodded, "My blessing doesn't look as powerful as yours!"

Sensing Lin Xiao's subtle emotional change, Jiang Wanwan thought he was angry, so she immediately grabbed his arm: "I didn't mean to hide it from you. I originally wanted to tell you right away, but you blocked my mouth..."

Still not waiting for her to finish speaking, Lin Xiao replied with a kiss: "I believe you."

But this kiss carried an apology, because his secrets now could not yet be revealed.

The Prism star emblem was a gift, but also a price, one that would invite fatal disaster.

"About having the star emblem, absolutely, absolutely do not tell anyone else, do you understand?"

"I know." Jiang Wanwan patted her chest through the covers.

At the same time, a pair of bright, sparkling eyes were earnestly sizing up the man in front of her.

For some reason, Lin Xiao suddenly gave her a very strange feeling.

It was as if he had become mature and steady overnight.

Just two days ago, he was clearly a two-dimensional shut-in who was obsessed with anime and games while holding his phone, occasionally letting out "hehe" weird laughs.

While Jiang Wanwan was still pondering the changes in her boyfriend, Lin Xiao had already gotten up and dressed.

Wanwan needed stardust to use her ability, and he also needed to trade stardust for some supplies.

In that case, let's temporarily inconvenience the zombie brothers!

Having fought elite monsters and BOSSes for over ten years, it had been a long time since Lin Xiao experienced the satisfaction of clearing out small fry.

"Wanwan, you rest well first, I'll be back soon!"

After saying that, he pushed open the door.

The zombie wandering at the door turned its head instantly.

It was tall and thin, its body covered in spore sacs, and its head had been replaced by an organ resembling a flower bud that opened and closed.

The moment he saw the monster clearly, some information appeared in Lin Xiao's mind:

【Bestiary Unlocked】

【Gluttons, Level 1 Zombie】

【An experimental product parasitized by fungi, it will prey on all living creatures and use them to spread spores for reproduction】

Gluttons?

Long time no see, my old friend!