My Dating Sim Just Got an Update - Chapter 69

“Actually, besides space and shooting, I only have one other ability…”

Ren Chenxi deliberated for a long while before finally speaking in a slow, measured tone. Hearing her voice, Mu Ning—whose heart had been stuck in her throat, tight with anxiety finally let out a breath of relief. She had waited so long for a response that she had begun to fear her questions had offended Ren Chenxi again; she was just about to tell her that it was fine if she didn’t want to say, when Ren Chenxi spoke up. However, Ren Chenxi’s voice was so flat and sluggish that it was impossible to gauge her mood. It was a pity Mu Ning couldn’t see her face right now.

Ren Chenxi didn’t care what Mu Ning was thinking; she simply followed her own train of thought, weaving her lies word by word.

“My last ability is the capacity to synthesize cards using crystal nuclei.”

“Synthesize cards???” Even after surviving for two years in the apocalypse and being considered well-traveled, this magical ability sounded utterly bizarre to Mu Ning.

“Yes. You know I need crystals, and it doesn’t matter what level they are any crystal works. That’s because I can take 1,000 Level 1 crystals and synthesize them into a random card. These cards include Shield cards, Invisibility cards, Acceleration cards, Explosion cards, and even Flash or Grease cards…”

“Grease cards?” At the mention of “Grease,” Mu Ning was reminded of the greasy mutant leopard and wolf she had seen before—not to mention those oil-slicked zombies. “So, back when we were clearing the corpses, that oily mess was caused by your Grease cards? And their missing crystals…”

“Ahem…” Ren Chenxi hadn’t expected Mu Ning to be so quick-witted, immediately digging up “old debts.” However, Ren Chenxi didn’t flinch and decided to stick as close to the truth as possible. “Any mutant beast or zombie I attack has its crystal automatically collected into my space, provided it’s within ten meters of me. Similarly, a monster hit by a Grease card will start oozing oil and drop a bottle of gasoline upon death, which I then collect.”

While this sounded absurd, Mu Ning—having personally experienced the effects of invisibility and speed—couldn’t help but believe in the existence of these strange cards. It made sense now. She had wondered why Ren Chenxi could sell a crystal engine to Qi Sheng without hesitation despite the fuel shortage, or how she could produce a dozen bottles of gasoline and claim she had plenty in reserve. Even the largest stockpile eventually runs dry, yet Ren Chenxi had never seemed worried. As it turned out, she had “Grease cards” to generate fuel whenever she needed it.

Fascinated by this miraculous new ability, Mu Ning became even more curious about the cards synthesized from crystals.

“So these cards are all synthesized randomly? Can’t make specific ones on demand? Those cards that did so much damage to the octopus are they particularly hard to make? Could I… borrow one to look at?”

Hey, hey! Don’t push your luck! I’ve already shared my secrets, and you’re still prying!

Ren Chenxi rolled her eyes in annoyance and bared her teeth at Mu Ning’s health bar before continuing her reluctant explanation.

“Only I can see the cards synthesized by my ability; they are invisible to everyone else. As for those high-damage Explosion cards, they are extremely, extremely difficult to synthesize! I only had a few to begin with, and I used every single one on that octopus. I don’t have a single one left now!”

Mu Ning had already witnessed the sheer lethality of those “hard-to-make” cards. Although it was her own sudden breakthrough that landed the killing blow on the Level 8 octopus, it was Ren Chenxi who had beaten it into a state of near-death. Sensing the annoyance in Ren Chenxi’s voice, Mu Ning assumed she was mourning the loss of her precious cards and offered a gentle consolation: “It’s okay. You have a Level 8 crystal now; you’ll be able to synthesize many more cards.”

At these words, Ren Chenxi’s mood brightened considerably.

It was true. Even though Mu Ning was annoying and asked too many questions, she had been the one to level up at the critical moment and snatch the last drop of the monster’s health. Without Mu Ning’s frantic vine interference and her final strike, that sliver-of-health octopus might have escaped back into the depths.

Earlier, when Ren Chenxi had planned to flee with Mu Ning, she had intended to rest, draw more cards, and synthesize more SSRs before returning. But who could guarantee the octopus wouldn’t have hidden itself away to recover? How long would that take? Moreover, the deep sea was full of unknown, powerful creatures that might have devoured a wounded octopus. If that had happened, her cards and Mu Ning’s hard work would have been for nothing.

Thinking of this, Ren Chenxi stopped resenting Mu Ning’s prying. In fact, she felt a slight pang of guilt.

Mu Ning had contributed a huge amount of effort toward getting that Level 8 crystal! She was the one who actually killed it! In online games, the player who lands the final blow on a boss usually gets bonus rewards. To kill this thing, Mu Ning was now lying paralyzed on the sand from exhaustion. It felt… wrong to just keep the Level 8 crystal all to herself.

The more Ren Chenxi thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt. Ever since arriving at the South Sea Base, she had tried to maintain fair and equal trades with Mu Ning regarding rent, water, and electricity. This octopus was clearly a joint kill, yet the Level 8 crystal was sitting in her inventory alone. She was clearly taking advantage of Mu Ning! That wouldn’t do.

“If 1,000 Level 1 crystals make a card, then a Level 8 crystal could let you synthesize 10,000 cards. Maybe you should start synthesizing right now…”

Mu Ning’s soft voice continued, and she actually sounded happy. Ren Chenxi couldn’t understand what she had to be happy about; even if she made 10,000 cards, it had nothing to do with her. Besides, Ren Chenxi didn’t want to owe her. Cutting Mu Ning off, she blurted out, “We killed the octopus together, so half of the Level 8 crystal belongs to you!”

Mu Ning had been happily calculating how many powerful cards Ren Chenxi could create, but this sudden declaration froze the joy in her heart. Does this woman have to keep things so strictly separate between us? After a sulky silence, Mu Ning said coldly, “No need. You’re the one who wanted the crystal.”

Ren Chenxi ignored the cold tone and persisted stubbornly. “Wanting it is one thing. You put in the work; giving you half is just the right thing to do!”

“Then tell me, how are we supposed to divide a Level 8 crystal? Cut it in half? I’ve heard these things can’t even be cracked by a cannon; show me how you’ll slice it!”

“Simple. You keep the Level 8 crystal, and then you find a way to get me 5 million Level 1 crystals.”

“You…”

“You what? You’re not like me! For your ability to level up, the higher the rank of the crystal, the better. For me, any crystal will do, even Level 1s!”

“But…”

“Mu Ning, can you be a bit more rational and mature? This is about your ability—something incredibly important and you’re here arguing with me? You saw it yourself; if I hadn’t thrown that shield card in time, you would have been crushed by that tentacle at the very start! If I hadn’t given you the speed card, do you think you could have dealt enough damage with your attack speed? And at the end, if you hadn’t suddenly leveled up, you would have watched it escape! If your ability level were higher, I wouldn’t have to… I… I wouldn’t even care if you lived or died!!!”

“Are you… are you worried about me?” The frozen joy in Mu Ning’s heart seemed to melt instantly under a warm, glowing sun. She remembered how, during the battle, Ren Chenxi had repeatedly ignored her own safety, dodging the octopus’s attacks to run to her side and pull her away. She knew how much Ren Chenxi wanted that crystal—she had risked coming to the sea alone for it. Yet, out of fear for Mu Ning’s safety, she had been willing to abandon the prize just to get her to leave.

Mu Ning’s empty palms were still stinging with the abrasions and rope burns from pulling the vines so hard. But she vividly recalled the feeling of Ren Chenxi’s hand grabbing hers—soft and warm.

Unable to see the faint smile playing on Mu Ning’s lips, Ren Chenxi bristled the moment she was accused of caring.

“Who’s worried about you?! Who’s worried about you?! You only came to the beach because of me! If you… if you didn’t make it back to the base with me, how would I explain it to your subordinates?!”

Hearing the frantic denial, Mu Ning’s smile only widened. Afraid that Ren Chenxi might get truly upset if she pushed further, she offered a soft, placating response: “Yes, yes, I was wrong. You weren’t worried about me at all.”

Why does she sound so punchable right now?!

Ren Chenxi fell silent. They sat there one sitting, one lying on the beach. After a while, Ren Chenxi suddenly remembered something. Mu Ning was supposed to be out hunting with Chen Gu and the others this morning! Why was she suddenly at the beach? She immediately demanded an explanation.

In the face of the interrogation, Mu Ning just chuckled softly. “You said your stomach hurt this morning, but you didn’t look like someone in pain. I thought you just didn’t want to go out, so I left you at home. But while Chen Gu and the others were hunting, I remembered how interested you were when we talked about the Level 7 octopus. I started worrying that you had made an excuse to stay behind so you could sneak off to the beach on your own.”

Ren Chenxi felt a wave of guilt. Mu Ning had guessed her little scheme perfectly. Despite her guilt, she tilted her chin up and countered, “I have plenty of protective cards! It wasn’t ‘sneaking off’! You, on the other hand—you’re the strongest in the team and their leader. You just abandoned your subordinates? Huo Keyu and the others are out there too; do you think that’s…”

“I think it’s fine.”

“Hey! You…”

“It’s the apocalypse; no one is entitled to anyone else’s protection. Chen Gu and the others aren’t weak, and they’re only hunting in Yanghu Village right outside the base. If they can’t handle trouble there, then how can they fight by my side when we encounter real danger later? If they are just baggage to be carried, I don’t need them.”

The ice queen indeed. Even after subordinates had followed her faithfully for two years, she was prepared to cut them loose if they became dead weight.

Cold as it was, the logic was undeniable. In this cruel world, no one could take another person’s protection for granted forever.

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