Chapter 11: 11, Rounding up to a hundred million (Bonus Update)

Two basic-level learning maps—this thing is actually quite useful. Ren Xiaosu himself is a person hungry for knowledge, and with one learning map, he can absorb someone else's ready-made experience, which he treasures like jewels.

Though it's random skill learning, who knows what useless skill he might end up with? But having learned advanced firearms skills before, Ren Xiaosu has already tasted the sweetness of it.

What drew Ren Xiaosu to the palace wasn't these two learning maps, but the side quest mentioned at the end of the palace...

Since it's a side quest, it should be something minor or short-lived.

But at the time, Ren Xiaosu clearly heard the palace say: "Because you lack a weapon, we hereby..."

So this quest must be related to weapons, right?

Having spent years surviving in the wilderness, Ren Xiaosu understands all too well the importance of a good weapon. Before, Old Wang had acquired a steel knife and wanted to sell it to Ren Xiaosu, but even after saving half a year's worth of money, it wasn't enough.

In the end, Old Wang sold the knife to the factory overseer on the other side. Factory overseers are usually selected leaders from refugees who serve as the backbone of the shelter, so to speak, the ones who drink soup alongside the shelter's elite.

At that time, Ren Xiaosu was thinking, if only he could have a good weapon someday, then he wouldn't have to spend every day lurking in the wilderness waiting for sparrows—that thing is getting harder and harder to catch, and it's exhausting.

When the time comes, he could hunt other beasts instead, like rabbits, field mice, bamboo rats...

Now, even rabbits are considered beasts...

The rabbits in the wilderness don't attack people actively, but a rabbit as tall as a human's calf has tremendous strength. Ren Xiaosu once dug a trap, resulting in a pit over two meters deep. The rabbit did fall in, but as soon as Ren Xiaosu approached, it kicked its legs and leaped up, even delivering a kick to his forehead mid-air, nearly giving him a brain contusion...

Ren Xiaosu looked at the paper on the typewriter: "Because you lack a weapon, we hereby open a side quest: Collect 100 sincere thanks to unlock a weapon. Thanks can also be used to exchange for items."

Ren Xiaosu's expression grew strange—this side quest feels odd...

Collecting thanks? And it has to be sincere.

It's easy to collect thanks, but the problem is the requirement of sincerity makes it difficult.

Moreover, thanks can be used as currency? The key is, what can it buy?

He continued reading the paper, and noticed that some text refreshed occasionally.

"Thanks from Li Xiaoyu, +1."

It seems there's no saving a white-eyed wolf, Ren Xiaosu sighed—the palace's judgment must be accurate.

At this moment, there was still a small line on the paper: Unlock weapon: 1/100.

Ren Xiaosu felt a bit regretful—if only he could collect negative emotional values, he could easily max out the entire settlement's negative emotions!

But since the palace gives something, he'll use it. Ren Xiaosu was already looking forward to his future weapon.

Whatever this mysterious palace gives, it must be top-notch.

Suddenly, Ren Xiaosu opened his eyes and looked at Yan Sixyuan: "Sixyuan, say thank you to me."

Yan Sixyuan looked bewildered: "Brother, don't do this—I'm a little scared."

"Scared of what?" Ren Xiaosu said irritably: "Hurry up and say it."

Yan Sixyuan thought for a moment and said: "Thank you for always taking care of me."

"Thanks from Yan Sixyuan, +1."

Ren Xiaosu smiled with his eyes and brows: "Is it that easy?"

"Again, say a few more thanks," Ren Xiaosu said.

Yan Sixyuan was speechless: "Thank you..."

This time, Ren Xiaosu was disappointed—it seems it can't be farmed repeatedly. The key lies in the word "sincere." He looked up at Yan Sixyuan with dissatisfaction: "Your heart isn't sincere!"

"No, no, your emotions aren't right. Try again."

"Still not right. You need to brew your emotions first. Come on, yes, yes, yes—that's the expression."

"Try again, and this time, let your voice have some emotion..."

Yan Sixyuan was almost on the verge of collapse, his throat dry as he said: "Brother, is this your ability? This ability is a bit hard on the throat..."

That night, Ren Xiaosu experimented with Yan Sixyuan for half a night, but only managed to get one thank you.

This thank you turned into two coins, each engraved with a heart on one side and a message on the other: "Grateful heart, thank you for being here, accompanying me for life, giving me the courage to be myself. Grateful heart, thank fate, flowers bloom and fall—I will cherish them all the same."

Ren Xiaosu smacked his lips—it's quite poetic, isn't it?

At this moment, the display cases around the palace, originally shrouded in black mist, began to change. Just to the left of the typewriter, a cabinet's black fog finally dispersed, revealing... an automated vending machine.

Ren Xiaosu was stunned for a moment—he had never seen such a thing before. This kind of device doesn't exist outside these days.

But he understood the text on the vending machine: "Coin slot."

There were no options, just a coin slot. No need to think further—directly insert the coin.

With a clang, the heart-engraved coin fell into the machine. It rumbled and spun, and a small bottle no bigger than a palm rolled out.

Ren Xiaosu pulled it out and took a look. On the bottle was just one word: "Medicine."

"Not even a word about what it's for?" Ren Xiaosu froze for a moment. After opening his eyes, he willed the medicine bottle to appear in his hand, and when he willed it again, the bottle vanished.

This scene left Yan Sixyuan gaping: "Brother, are you doing magic tricks?"

Ren Xiaosu ignored him and decisively tore off the cloth he used to bandage his wounds, revealing the already infected injury.

The bruising around the wound had lasted a long time, continuously oozing tissue fluid. Ren Xiaosu knew that if he didn't apply medicine in time, fever and wound ulceration would follow inevitably.

Yan Sixyuan saw this and immediately stood up to leave. Ren Xiaosu grabbed him: "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to buy you medicine," Yan Sixyuan said stubbornly.

"No need," Ren Xiaosu picked up the medicine bottle, carefully scooped out a bit of the ointment with his index finger, and gently applied it to his wound. The bottle wasn't large, and it was quite shallow—probably only enough for three uses.

After applying it, Ren Xiaosu felt a pang of regret—this bottle only had the word "medicine" on it. What if it was poison...

But his worries were unfounded. As soon as the ointment touched the wound, the burning pain vanished instantly.

The anti-inflammatory medicine from Sister Xiaoyu was saved. Ren Xiaosu estimated roughly—if this ointment were used as anti-inflammatory medicine, it would require three consecutive days of consumption, but this ointment worked in one application. One anti-inflammatory pill costs 200, and the value of this ointment... rounding off, it's worth a billion!

Just then, Ren Xiaosu suddenly turned to Yan Sixyuan and asked firmly: "Help me think—what can quickly earn someone's sincere thanks?!"

...

Thanks to Sofia Ruobing's Silver Alliance, thanks to Garden Master Loves Tea, Yu Fuyao, Guan Xiao Miao, European Seven, Fireworks City, Er Bao Angel, Premium Cigarette Original, Silly Fairy, Youming Zhiyu, Wuzhong Shengbing, Nanhai, Jino Di 666 Tianlong Rong, Winter's Upheaval, Sansheng Yuan Ruoyan, Horizontalsweep Tianya, and the rare love becoming the new book alliance leader.

Thanks to everyone.