“Why do you like this juice? Is it sweet?” Zhou You curiously inquired, having never seen a white tiger eat grass before.

The white tiger let out excited growls and wagged its tail. It approached the vines it had chewed on, stepping on them in disappointment when no juice emerged, and then meowed softly towards Su Ting'er and the others.

Su Ting'er, surprisingly understanding, responded resignedly, “We've searched everywhere; there’s none left. But don't worry, they’ll grow back by tomorrow. If you think it's not enough, I can assign a task for people to harvest these vines.”

Shao Qi took a photograph of a segment and uploaded it to the database. Several vines appeared, all looking very similar, yet he knew they weren't the same.

“It seems this hasn’t been documented before. Next time, take a clear picture and upload it. We can have the research institute identify it.” Su Ting'er was unfazed by the unfamiliarity; new mutant species were emerging worldwide every day.

“Are we still issuing the task?”

"Post it. The more we can gather, the better. The mutated tiger suddenly showing interest in a plant means it's probably beneficial for it," Shao Qi said, stroking the white tiger's fur, much to the envy of others. Few dared to approach such a beast these days.

"It's been days since Master Xuan showed himself. The garden will become a forest if left unattended. Let's get the tools; I'll tidy it up," Zhou You proposed.

Su Ting'er coughed awkwardly and said, "My oversight. Previously, this area was solely under Master Xuan's care. He didn't allow anyone else to touch his flowers, so I never intervened. But now, this garden belongs to you. Perhaps he has given up on it."

Zhou You took out his phone and asked, "Do you have Master Xuan's number? I'd like to inquire where he's been these days."

Shaking his head, Su Ting'er responded, "No, he doesn't use a phone. We've never been in touch."

Unable to wait any longer, Zhou You began tidying the garden with the tools at hand. The others joined in, and by dusk, they had cleaned it. However, the once-beautiful garden now looked patchy and unappealing.

"I hope Master Xuan doesn't return today. Otherwise..." Zhou You could already picture the old man's dismayed expression.

After taking a shower, Zhou You entered the gaming room and overheard Su Ting'er conversing with Shao Qi. They paused as they noticed him, prompting Zhou You to raise an eyebrow, "Discussing secrets? Should I step out?"

"No need. Earlier today, two individuals were caught taking photos outside the mansion. Su has confined them to the basement."

"Only taking photos?"

"I sent Zhuo Hao to investigate their identities. We'll decide what to do once we have the details."

Nodding, Zhou You asked if they were heading into the game. As Shao Qi pulled him along, he said, "Today, I'm determined to surpass Tang Jiu. He's a thorn between us."

"You're still a few points behind him. He's rapid at hunting mutated beasts; surpassing him won't be easy."

"A joke! I haven't been giving my best. Watch me crush him," Shao Qi declared, giving Zhou You's hand a firm squeeze.

Zhou You withdrew his hand and shot him a sidelong glance, "Keep your teeth to yourself. You're a sight."

"Me? Ugly? Can anyone possibly be more handsome than me on this earth?"

"Narcissist. So shameless."

"Of course, there are others more handsome. Some distant, some close by."

Zhou You immediately put on his gaming helmet, cutting him off. The scene shifted, and he stood in a crowded game hall.

Shao Qi joined him, guiding him to the task board, a new feature that posted a hundred tasks daily for individual or team attempts, offering points upon completion.

Shao Qi eyed the toughest task: locating a thousand-year-old ginseng.

"This thousand-year-old ginseng seems challenging to find, given its ten-point reward."

"I've heard tales. In the game, it looks like a tiny infant, capable of running and jumping. It's highly elusive, which explains the challenge."

"I haven't paid much attention to real-world precious herbs. Some exploration teams focus on gathering herbs, as it's less risky."

"But prized herbs are likely found in the deep mountains, increasing the chances of encountering mutated beasts."

"Indeed, that's why some medicines are so expensive nowadays. The cheaper ones are mostly cultivated by humans; they grow faster and have decent medicinal properties, but they can't compare to those grown in the wild."

"Ever since martial artists have improved their physical constitution, I've noticed they rarely fall ill. I haven't even had a common cold in years."

Sha Qi glanced at him, remarking, "Your constitution is rather exceptional. Even I can't claim to never get a cold. Experts say that while our bodies have developed antibodies against old viruses, the emergence of a new and highly contagious strain could spell disaster for humanity."

"I believe that as long as one's constitution is strong enough, they can overcome any virus. The national policy of encouraging regular citizens to exercise and strengthen themselves is correct. Humanity must become stronger to face constant challenges."

Zhou You and Sha Qi walked outside, preparing to join a team to head into the mountains. They couldn't continue riding their motorcycles today and would need to carpool.

"I wonder if Cheng Yuran and the others have logged out yet. Should we check with them?" Zhou You recalled seeing Cheng Yuran, Long Qian, and Li Yunxi lounging before they began their game.

"No need, they probably left the city. Waiting for them would be a waste of time. I'll just send out a team-up request."

Before Zhou You could see what Sha Qi was doing, he noticed that the name above Sha Qi's avatar had changed to an unfamiliar one.