Qiu Cai

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Qiu Cai (邱才)
Alias(es)	Absolute Gun — hunting codename 5
Species/Race	Human Mutant 11 23
Gender	Male 5
Affiliation	Crystal City; Hunting Team 404, led by Zhong Xuezhi 4 23
Occupation/Role	Hunting-team combatant; provides fire attacks and fills the team's buff-support role 6 23
Status	Alive during the Zombie Fungus crisis 50
First Appearance	Chapter 3 — first explicitly named appearance 3

Appearance

• Build: Chubby 5.
• Hair: Buzz cut 5.
• Recognizable weapon: An entirely blue Mimetic Submachine Gun that can transform into a large blue Flame Gun 4 6.

Personality

Qiu Cai is talkative, curious, and quick to join his teammates' teasing. He initially suspects that Mu Yi's collapse is an attempt to scam Zhong Xuezhi, complains when the captain takes Mu Yi flying rather than him, and enthusiastically comments on their apparent intimacy. Zhong frequently answers his interruptions with sharp remarks, elbows, or kicks 3 11 24.

His blunt curiosity sometimes crosses personal boundaries. He reacts loudly to Mu Yi's prison history and later asks whether Mu Yi's father rules a Safe Base. Mu Yi's delighted admission that his father is dead unsettles him enough to stop asking questions 14 31.

Despite his joking manner, Qiu Cai pays attention to threats and scarce resources. He notices Team 403's healer becoming unusually lifeless and argues for saving Grade A crystals against future dangers. When his suggestion to seek a divination could endanger Feng Zhengqing's grandfather, he immediately apologizes 18 23 50.

Abilities & Skills

Mimetic Weapon Transformation

Qiu Cai changes his Mimetic Submachine Gun's form by sweeping a hand over it. Its components melt, swell, and warp until the gun becomes an enormous blue Flame Gun 6.

• Switches from a submachine-gun configuration to a fire-projecting weapon during the Spine Celery battle 6.
• Responds promptly to Zhong Xuezhi's command for a fire attack 6.

Fire Attacks

Qiu Cai uses the Flame Gun to burn weaker Spine Celery, exposing the crystals within their remains 6.

• Combat use: Burns plant enemies during the team's coordinated assault 6.
• Utility use: Dries wet firewood to improve the cooking fire, though he initially protests using his “Little Flame” for chores 23.

Luck and Buff Support

Zhong identifies Qiu Cai as Team 404's answer to conventional buffs, describing him as “practically a mascot with cheat codes” whose luck is so strong that even a fall could land him on gold 23.

• Helps explain why Team 404 operates without a dedicated healer 23.
• No named luck skill, activation method, or numerical effect is specified 23.

Energy and Mental Limits

• Crystal recharging: Replenishes his Energy Slot with shard crystals. He complains that low-grade brown crystals contain too many impurities and restore energy slowly 11.
• Hallucinogen vulnerability: His Mental Value continues falling during the mushroom pursuit despite repeated doses of Hallucinogen Antidote 3.
• Resource conservation: Advocates preserving the team's Grade A crystals in case another threat appears after the warthog battle 18.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Mimetic Submachine Gun / Flame Gun — His beloved blue transforming weapon. He affectionately addresses it as “Sweetheart” and calls its fire form “Little Flame” 4 6 23.
• Shard crystals — Used to restore energy; An Beize supplies him and Du Jing with better C- and D-grade crystals after they struggle with low-grade ones 11.
• Hallucinogen Antidote — Taken repeatedly during the Hallucinogenic Mushroom hunt 3.
• Protective suit — Worn during Team 404's night watch at the Mutation Research Institute 49.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Dread Gloom Forest Expedition

• Mu Yi's discovery: Suspects the unconscious newcomer is faking his collapse, then marvels at his resistance to mushroom spores 3.
• Spine Celery hunt: Supplies the fire attack against the weaker plants while the team collects crystals 6.
• Warthog attack: Explains the team's decision to conserve high-grade crystals and questions Mu Yi's seemingly inexhaustible stamina 18.

Journey Through the Ruined City

• Confrontation with Team 403: Defiantly rejects Qi Tianhe's attempt to inspect the team's supplies before Zhong returns to intervene 21 22.
• Early warning about the healer: Reports that Team 403's healer looks increasingly stiff and lifeless. Zhong subsequently scans him, but the visible safety readings remain normal 23.
• Retreat from the Red Weasels: Celebrates Team 404's escape, pleased that Team 403 has finally been forced to cover their retreat 28.
• Return to Crystal City: Participates in the team's coordinated escape from the Ghost Spiders at the Teleportation Array 32.

Zombie Fungus Crisis

• Night-watch duty: Is alarmed when Zhong brings Mu Yi to the Mutation Research Institute, fearing the trouble his thrill-seeking behavior could cause 48.
• Proposed divination: Suggests asking “Grandpa Feng” to predict the crisis's outcome. Feng Zhengqing refuses because such a prediction could cost his grandfather his life; Qiu Cai apologizes and withdraws the suggestion 50.

Relationships

• Zhong Xuezhi — Captain and frequent bantering partner. Qiu Cai openly teases him but follows his combat orders and praises the supplies he brings back 6 11 21 24.
• Mu Yi — Initially treats him with suspicion, then becomes curious about his history and stamina. By the institute night watch, Mu Yi's appetite for excitement makes Qiu Cai visibly anxious 3 14 18 31 48.
• Wenren Jin — Fellow Team 404 member and teasing rival. When Wenren exposes Qiu Cai's disastrous first teleportation ride, Qiu Cai counters by recalling Wenren's own difficulty maintaining a shield afterward 33.
• An Beize — Teammate who provides better crystals for recharging. Qiu Cai also recalls that An Beize's first teleportation ride left his information retrieval confused 11 33.
• Du Jing — Teammate with whom he shares complaints about low-quality crystals and enthusiasm for Zhong's better supplies 11.

Notable Quotes

“Captain, I think he's trying to scam you.” 3

“Save what we can! Who knows what we'll run into after these warthogs?” 18

Trivia

• His first Teleportation Array ride made him vomit so badly that he could not walk; Zhong had to carry him to the mission 33.
• He is a restless sleeper. Zhong considers sharing a tent with the electrically dangerous Mu Yi unsafe for him 15.
• He promises his gun that they can take time off together once they return to Crystal City 4.