Shaaa… A sandy uncle clawed his way out from the flowing sand and finally let go of the safety line.

  “Well... I’ll be damned. Ain’t that an interesting experience? Bwahaha—kek—kek!”

  “Fuu~!” Xiao Shuling wrinkled her nose and squatted down to pat the choking Jack on the back while handing him a bottle of water. “Uncle almost drowned and can still laugh like this!”

  “Yeahaha! Little missy, it’s just swimming in a little sand! I used to stay buried six feet under and still could fight ten rounds after crawling out!”

  Both the young ones rolled their eyes. Uh huh. Keep bragging.

  Gulp. “Hah~ That hits the spot!”

  A few sips lightened the redness on the dehydrated man’s face. But the strong-willed man wasn’t the type to sit still.

  Watching the scruffy uncle slowly pushing his shaky legs to stand up, Yu Zhiye couldn’t resist offering a hand and the man took it.

  “Thanks, Steve. Ya really saved my ass this time.”

  “No problem.”

  Miss Highschooler quickly jumped to their side. “What about me! What about me!”

  “Yeah, you too, little missy.”

  “Ehe!” Xiao Shuling is proud of herself.jpg!

  She puffed her little chest like she was waiting for some reward. Neither men gave her a star though.

  Instead, they finally got down to business.

  A casket thumped onto the sand and Jack generously flipped open the lid.

  “Steve, wanna pick something out from our chest? Or take the chest itself if you will. Just take it as thanks.”

  Yu Zhiye’s gaze browsed over the supplies and saw nothing he particularly needed.

  Even the chest… wood isn’t something he lacked now.

  Meh. Let’s save this favor to see if he can get something better next time, maybe a recipe or something along those lines.

  Besides, he’s feeling quite generous anyways since his infinity rod was almost full durability again.

  “Appreciate the thought, Jack. But no need. Just treat it as helping a friend.”

  “Yeah?” Jack didn’t push it. “Aight, if you say so. Just say the word if you need something. Don’t be shy.”

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  “Will do.”

  Jack packed up and dusted himself off. “Aight, shall we head back? Don’t want the sun to set on us midway.”

  “Eih! Uncle, don’t jinx it!”

  “Bwahaha! Don’t worry, little missy. I counted our steps and our exploration range is still within bounds. We’ll make it back early for dinner. Promise.”

  “Hum, hum. Ling’er will believe uncle this time.”

  Miss Highschooler rolled her clever little eyes and skipped ahead while the two men trailed behind.

  “Gonna leave marks like the other team, Jack?”

  “The little missy’s got that handled.” Jack nodded toward the girl molding a little mound in the sand and topping it off with a stone scratched with an “X”.

  “I dunno how she did it, but even without those stones, we came out pretty far with zero problems. A lady’s intuition, I suppose.”

  “Huh? Then how did you fall in so deep?”

  Jack’s face scrunched up. “Bah! Who knows why these sandpits work so strangely! It doesn’t trigger unless you arrive deep into the danger zone.”

  “By that time, it’s too late to get out. Luckily, the little missy lagged behind and waded out fine.”

  Well, that doesn’t sound like premonition of any sort. Yu Zhiye looked at the silly girl thoughtfully.

  Was it his imagination or does it look like she’s secretly burying something in the sand? The stone and sand mound’s just a cover?

  Yu Zhiye didn’t know nor did he bother digging into this mystery. What does other’s secrets gotta do with him?

  Hence, he simply watched Miss Highschooler do her thing while chattering with Jack about their adventure.

  He originally thought they were wandering aimlessly, but Jack said he scouted from the store roof and actually spotted some ruins in the far distant!

  According to their plan, they would’ve arrived today had Jack not fallen into quicksand.

  “Tomorrow, I suppose. Wanna tag along, Steve? I betcha there should be goodies waiting.”

  Yu Zhiye was very tempted but still had his priorities straight. “I’m good. I’ll stick with fishing. Just tell me if you find anything interesting.”

  “Yeah? Bwahaha. Aight, if you say so.”

  They didn’t go on about this topic any longer.

  Instead, they started sharing what they figured out about the game rules, brainstorming survival tricks...

  By the time they got back, the sun was well on its way to setting.

  Yu Zhiye sighed inside. Lots of time got lost from going back and forth.

  Today’s afternoon to night fishing session can only be skipped. What a loss!

  Hopefully the returns of this investment will be worth it.

  Perhaps he’ll know by tomorrow? Desert ruins—wonder what could be found there.

  That was anyone’s guess. But it wasn’t hard to know what’s happening to the other team right now because their quarrel reached their ears as soon as they stepped into the store...

  “...our team was the first to discover it! We should have the first pick!”

  “Instead of that, I believe it’s best we decide by contribution. What say you, my friends?”

  “Great idea! Duri and I, us two contributed the most! Scouting is done by us, safe route is provided by us—!”

  “Bullshit safe route! Don’t give me that nonsense! We’ve passed into uncharted territory since yesterday!”

  “Ohoho, Brother Tae is right. In no man’s land, everything belongs to the first man.”

  “Madaraka! Do you wanna go?!”

  “Aeuughh?!”

  Yu Zhiye checked out the loud party happening in the open.

  Nobody in the other teams were missing.

  Teams A, B, and C were now all standing around an opened chest and, obviously, arguing over loot distribution.

  Figures. Big party has its benefits and its corresponding downsides.

  “Sheesh. Looks like they won’t be done anytime soon.”

  Jack gloated while Miss Highschooler watched drama with super bright eyes as if she couldn’t wait to see them fight.

  “Whatever.” Yu Zhiye shrugged. “I’ll make a run to my secret stash. Be right back.”

  The word “secret” immediately hooked the curious baby’s attention.

  Xiao Shuling kininarimasu.jpg!

  Her feet started haunting Yu Zhiye’s footsteps like a ghost, only for a finger to poke her forehead and push her away.

  “Shoo. Shoo. Men’s business. Children stay out.”

  “I’m not a child! I’m 16!” Miss Highschooler pouted, but could only watch Yu Zhiye go with the chortling uncle besides her.