Chapter Two: The Gale Hunting Blade

“What exactly is that thing?” Fang Tang blinked and asked.

[A filthy, ugly mongrel. The worst part is its teeth are highly corrosive—if you get bitten, you won’t soon forget it. It’s not particularly fast, so you’d do well to take advantage of that... Wait, you’re not thinking of dealing with it using that shabby pickaxe, are you? I advise against it. Because of the rules, that broken pickaxe can’t harm the creatures of the Undercrypt. You need a weapon. The first blueprint can help you.]

For once, the Eye offered a wealth of information.

Fang Tang discovered another rule of this game: each craft has its specialty. Only weapons can harm the creatures of the Undercrypt.

“Alas!” Fang Tang sighed regretfully, then continued, “The two Undercrypts are in opposite directions. How am I supposed to get back?”

He had considered taking a detour, but the crucial issue was he didn’t know if the crypt positions here were random. If they didn’t connect, wouldn’t he miss out on a good blueprint for nothing?

In the short time they’d interacted, he’d already gotten a sense of the Eye’s temperament: arrogant, conceited, scornful of all...

If even the Eye thought highly of that blueprint, it must be something truly special.

[As I thought, I still overestimated you. You can’t even manage a simple detour? If it’s possible to switch hosts, I’d like to apply for one—a beautiful young lady with long legs and a kind heart, preferably with big wavy hair...]

Fang Tang’s eye twitched, but he didn’t bother responding.

A beautiful lady with long legs? Well! If only...

Since the Eye said he could take a detour, he had no more reason to hesitate.

Still, before digging, he glanced up and down.

Previously, he’d trusted the Eye too much and neglected to check the other directions. Now, he worried he might have missed something valuable.

But as soon as he looked up, the Eye reacted again.

[Are you doubting the all-knowing, almighty Eye? This is your only warning. Don’t let it happen again! If you’re looking for death, you could try climbing up and let a swarm of disgusting bats drain every drop of your blood. Then I might finally get that lady host.]

Oh? So the Eye had indeed given him the optimal choice.

“My mistake!” Fang Tang shouted, apologizing to the Eye without dignity.

After all, it was his own Eye—he could only indulge it.

He hefted the pickaxe and, after ten solid swings, broke open a hole in the wall.

The same black mist crept out, but Fang Tang was no longer curious.

This new chamber held a table, and atop the table lay a blueprint, with a wooden chest resting quietly beside it.

[Congratulations on finding your first blueprint—the Hunting Knife. With this, you’re finally qualified to challenge that mongrel.]

Fang Tang picked up the blueprint. It depicted the hunting knife but didn’t specify the crafting requirements.

“Do I have to file it into the newspaper to see the full details?” Fang Tang mused. He pressed the blueprint onto the second page of the newspaper, watching as it slowly dissolved and the dagger icon on the page lit up.

Longwind Hunting Knife: Iron Ingot x2.

“Two iron ingots—looks like I’ll need to keep searching, though... I could also trade for them.”

He spoke to himself, his eyes gleaming with calculation.

His current supplies were: three bottles of water, two packs of toast, plus two bananas and two packs of cigarettes from the wooden chest.

“The game’s just begun, so everyone’s likely scrambling for supplies. Unlike me, they can’t see information about their neighbors, so they’ll be cautious and progress more slowly.”

“In other words, not many will have found food and water, though some might have stumbled upon other resources when digging their first crypt. For now, my bread and water are rare commodities—perfect for trade.”

Fang Tang opened the newspaper’s trading section and entered his offer.

Desired Item: 20 Iron Ingots

Offered Item: 1 Pack of Toast

Contact: Fang Tang

Note: Negotiable if you don’t have enough iron ingots.

With that done, Fang Tang carried on.

Unbeknownst to him, the chat area was exploding.

“Wow, a real pro! Trading bread for iron ingots—what a business genius. But everyone’s probably starving, so someone’s bound to make the trade!”

“Bread! I want bread! Please, sir, have mercy—my child will starve!”

“Looks like he’s already started digging. Sir, could you share some tips on how to play this game? Is it dangerous?”

“Fang Tang, I only have one copper ingot. Will you trade it for bread?”

...

Fang Tang ignored the chat.

He set to work on his detour.

If he happened to find iron ingots along the way, all the better.

He collected the resources from the third crypt and checked to the right and ahead.

The crypt to the right was adjacent to his starting point—exactly as the Eye had said, it was empty.

The crypt ahead, however, came with a hint from the Eye: there were supplies.

Again, it was bread and water, no danger.

After some thought, Fang Tang decided he didn’t want to miss out on any resources, so he kept digging forward.

As for the left crypt, he’d get to it eventually; for now, whatever lay inside could wait.

Upon entering the fourth crypt, Fang Tang discovered something interesting.

The Eye could actually create a route map!

Not in the traditional sense, of course, but it did provide him with his bearings.

Even so, this was a great convenience.

“You’re the best, Eye!” he praised simply.

Proud as ever, the Eye didn’t reply, but it did offer more information.

[The all-knowing and almighty Eye must remind its servant: someone has left a message regarding your trade.]

“Oh?” Fang Tang quickly opened the newspaper.

A message popped up: “Sir, I only have three iron ingots. Could I trade for half a pack of bread?”

Without hesitation, Fang Tang replied, “No. Three iron ingots will get you three-twentieths of a pack of bread.”

At that moment, he felt like a real miser.

A pack of toast contained only thirty slices.

Split into twenty portions, each iron ingot would get you one and a half slices.

Three iron ingots was just enough for a modest meal.

But, as this was the early game, food was more precious than goods. If he didn’t set a high price now, there’d be no chance later.

“All right, let’s trade for the whole portion then!”

Seeing the reply, Fang Tang smiled.

He listed five slices of toast and sent the link to the buyer.

The trade was completed quickly. Holding the three heavy iron ingots, Fang Tang grinned with satisfaction.

Being a miser had its perks! Capitalism at its finest.

With enough iron ingots, he could finally craft the Longwind Hunting Knife.

Delightful!

The Longwind Hunting Knife was as long as his forearm, pleasantly weighty in his grip. Its blade gleamed coldly; above the tip, a small hatchet edge could be used to hack through tough objects.

“A fine piece indeed!”

Fang Tang tested it on a wooden chest—under the edge of the hunting knife, the wood crumbled like paper, filling him with excitement.

Now armed, he felt a surge of confidence.

Head held high, he strode into the fifth crypt.