Chapter 16: Wu Yue Calmly Picks Up Trash

Chapter 16 Wu Yue Casually Gathers Scraps

Following the prompts from the Doll Wind Chime, Wu Yue led Wu Chong and the other teammates, uncharacteristically heading in the opposite direction of the dungeon's progression.

Everywhere they went, the resources had already been looted by those who came before. Wu Chong was puzzled, "Yueyue, where are you taking me? That’s basically the dungeon entrance over there."

Wu Yue replied, "We just had a conflict with Chen Yuanlang and his group at the entrance. If we continue together, it’s bound to escalate into a bigger clash."

Wu Chong scoffed, "Big deal if it escalates? Who does Chen Yuanlang think he is?"

Wu Yue, ...often troubled by her companion’s excessive enthusiasm for playing the villain.

Wu Yue explained to Wu Chong, "Actually, when we entered the dungeon, the Doll Wind Chime gave me a hint. There’s a mysterious treasure spot in the direction of the entrance."

Wu Chong’s eyes widened in excitement, "A god... mmmph..."

This time, before Wu Chong could blab loudly, Wu Yue swiftly covered his mouth. She gritted her teeth, "What’s wrong with you! Can’t you keep anything to yourself?

Do you have to announce it to the whole world before you’re satisfied?"

Wu Chong’s puppy-dog eyes full of hurt. Seeing that he understood his mistake, Wu Yue released him.

Now Wu Chong finally calmed down. Though he stopped shouting, a goofy grin stayed plastered on his face.

Wu Yue, ...this kid’s headspace is truly concerning.

"Wu Chong, what are you so happy about?"

Wu Chong grinned smugly, lifting his chin proudly, "Wu Yue, you’re not even afraid I’d hog the treasure and shared the treasure spot with me directly. You must really like me—we’re the ultimate duo!"

Wu Yue looked completely drained, "...If you say so."

As long as you’re happy!

Following the Doll Wind Chime’s guidance, Wu Yue’s group walked past the dungeon entrance and walked another hundred meters until they reached a dead end.

One of the Blaze members cautiously touched the wall, "Wu Yue, there’s no path ahead."

Wu Yue rechecked the location indicated by the Doll Wind Chime. She noticed that as they walked, the treasure marker had grown larger, and the flashing light had grown brighter.

The final treasure location was right behind this wall.

Wu Yue was certain, "Behind this wall is the treasure."

"But this wall sounds incredibly thick—I can’t hear anything from the other side."

Wu Yue stepped forward and knocked. Indeed, the wall was solid—no easy way through.

Judging by the marks on the wall, others had tried breaking through before but gave up due to insufficient firepower.

Wu Yue sighed in frustration. Were they really going to just stand there, treasure out of reach?

Wu Yue thought back to her past life, where Su Mo always stumbled into all kinds of crazy luck. Many of those opportunities required ridiculously tough conditions, yet if Su Mo wanted something, it would somehow end up in her hands through bizarre, almost unbelievable means.

Wu Yue figured this must be the protagonist’s unbeatable golden finger at work.

Wu Yue pondered seriously, "I have a lot of self-drawn Sky Thunder Talismans with me. Let me try using them to blow this wall open. If it doesn’t work, we’ll give up."

With that, she pulled out a pile of Sky Thunder Talismans she had prepared beforehand.

But unexpectedly, all they heard was the "click" of a gun being cocked.

"Give up? Are you kidding me? The word 'give up' doesn’t exist in *my* dictionary.

Especially when it’s something Yueyue wants. Even if it costs me my life today, I’ll snatch it for you!"

Hearing Wu Chong’s declaration, Wu Yue’s right eyelid started spasming.

She kept muttering to herself: *"Left eye twitch means fortune is destined, right eye twitch is just superstitious nonsense."*

*"He’s still young, kids say the darndest things!"*

"Everyone, step back!"

As soon as he finished speaking,

*RAT-TAT-TAT!!*

Wu Chong raised his Gatling and went full auto at the wall, bullets spraying like they grew on trees.

"Holy crap, Wu Chong’s Gatling is covered in Wu Clan’s incantations, specifically designed to counter ghosts and demons."

"I heard even the bullets were individually blessed by the Wu Clan’s Amus [footnote: respected elder women], each one chanted over."

"No wonder he’s the Wu Clan’s Sacred Son, truly the whole Wu Clan’s golden boy."

"Exactly, otherwise, why would Wu Chong be such a man-child?"

"Hey, look at these silver bullets—why do they have oxblood-colored engravings?"

"You don’t get it, do you? Here’s the inside scoop:

Every single one of Wu Chong’s bullets was hand-forged by the Wu Clan’s grand matriarch using a special mold.

Each one is made of 999 pure silver, engraved with Wu Clan’s incantations and totems, and those recessed totems are all infused with ritual black dog blood.

With this Gatling in hand, not a single spirit would *dream* of getting close to Wu Chong."

The Blaze members were geeking out. With Wu Chong’s overwhelming firepower upfront, they could just kick back.

However,

After yammering for a while, the four suddenly realized something was off.

"Hey? Where’s Wu Yue?"

"Wu Yue? Ever since you mentioned those bullets being 999 pure silver, she’s been squatting there collecting shell casings."

"..."

"WHAT THE— WU YUE?! What are you doing?! Get up!!"

Startled by Wu Chong’s sudden shout, Wu Yue jolted upright.

Wu Chong tilted his head. "Yueyue, what were you doing just now?" [footnote: Wu Yue's nickname]

Wu Yue, a girl who’s pinched pennies her whole life, won’t let a single scrap go to waste.

Wu Yue answered honestly, "I did the math: your bullets are specially made from 999 silver. I figured after one magazine, there’d be 500 *silver* shell casings."

"Silver is a scarce resource now. I can pick it up, refine it, and reuse it as throwing weapons."

As she said this, Wu Yue appeared calm on the surface, but inside, she was slightly anxious.

In her past life, she had lived hand-to-mouth, with nothing but a peachwood sword—no proper firepower to rely on.

She had always gotten by, picking up bullets and weapons left behind on battlefields. On rare lucky occasions, finding even a bit of pure silver would make her ecstatic.

However, Wu Yue’s behavior had long been scorned by those in the shadows—those with spiritual powers, wealth, and connections.

"Like a beggar, scrounging for scraps."

"Exactly, so disgusting. I even saw her looting the dead earlier."

"Hey, I’ve heard a saying—touch garbage once, and you’ll always be a garbage picker."

"Thank God I don’t share a dorm with her. I’d be afraid her stench would cling to me."

Wu Yue, however, believed that no act of survival was shameful.

With that thought, her earlier unease vanished. She looked at Wu Chong frankly. "Wu Chong, if you think someone like me isn’t worthy of being your friend, no hard feelings."

Calmly awaiting his reaction, she didn’t expect Wu Chong to—

Burst out crying??