Chapter Summaries

Qiu Shuyu concealed that Song Xiaozhu had made the stone axe, leaving Tian Man and Luo Liuzi disappointed and eager to keep working with it. Meanwhile, Song Xiaozhu improved her material-synthesis method and built up her supplies.

• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi asked Qiu Shuyu where she had gotten the stone axe, hoping to buy axes like it.
• Qiu Shuyu said she had found it, and the two men gave up on finding the same kind of axe.
• Liu Mu mocked them, while Tian Man promised to buy Qiu Shuyu an iron axe after they returned; Qiu Shuyu resumed chopping with Luo Liuzi's axe.
• Song Xiaozhu realized Qiu Shuyu had hidden the axe's origins to protect her and began preparing materials to make more axes.
• Song Xiaozhu discovered that synthesis success rates improved with larger quantities of ingredients and accumulated wood, stone, and medicinal raw materials.

Song Xiaozhu found a patch of wild plants in the logging grounds and considered using fertilizer to increase its yield. Hungry, she used the Workbench to identify edible weeds and successfully made a simple meal from them.

• Song Xiaozhu accepted the “Unlucky Player” achievement as a warning to work harder and grow stronger.
• Song Xiaozhu found a large patch of foxtail grass and considered using fertilizer on it.
• Song Xiaozhu studied the patch and concluded that it had been left unplanted and untended.
• Song Xiaozhu used the Workbench to identify edible weeds and successfully crafted an edible simple meal.
• Song Xiaozhu put the meal in a plastic bottle and tasted a little.

Song Xiaozhu fertilized her wild vegetable and medicinal herb plot, unlocked the level-one Planter achievement, and gained a Quantum Coin. As evening fell, she organized her supplies and prepared to meet Qiu Shuyu later.

• Song Xiaozhu ate a simple meal, then harvested mature plants and synthesized them into medicinal materials and meals.
• Song Xiaozhu discovered that some medicinal materials synthesized into rare blue capsules that could not be stacked with the red ones.
• Song Xiaozhu spread the synthesized fertilizer over the plot and watched its packaging disappear, leaving her troubled by Shang Bao’s complete disappearance.
• Song Xiaozhu unlocked the level-one Planter achievement and received a Quantum Coin, suspecting the fertilizer had triggered it.
• At sunset, Song Xiaozhu took stock of her materials, wrapped the small medicinal items in a leaf to free storage slots, and saved food to share with Qiu Shuyu.

Song Xiaozhu returned to the logging camp with Qiu Shuyu and learned that a breach in the isolation barrier had devastated Liu Family Village. After seeing how little Qiu Shuyu earned for a day of logging, Song Xiaozhu resolved to level up her Synthesizer quickly so she could access medicine recipes.

• Song Xiaozhu met Qiu Shuyu at the logging camp and followed her to collect the logging team's pay.
• Luo Liuzi and the loggers discussed rumors that a breach in the isolation barrier had caused the destruction of half of Liu Family Village and prompted urgent timber orders.
• Song Xiaozhu worried that dangerous things had escaped through the breach and decided she needed to level up her Synthesizer as soon as possible.
• The team received 240 yuan, paid the vehicle rental fee, and divided the remainder, leaving Qiu Shuyu with 40 yuan.

Song Xiaozhu learned that a Fairness Card required buying property in Ink City, making it far beyond the community’s reach, and she reassured Qiu Shuyu that they could live well without one. After hearing how useful her stone axe had been, Song Xiaozhu decided to make Qiu Shuyu another and considered how to use her skills as a craftsman to build security and wealth.

• Qiu Shuyu received forty for the timber and left with Song Xiaozhu, while Tian Man suggested they keep working the next day.
• Song Xiaozhu asked about Fairness Cards, and Qiu Shuyu explained that even a small Fortress home cost six hundred thousand and was required to obtain one.
• Qiu Shuyu warned Song Xiaozhu that owning a Fairness Card would not spare her from being ostracized, and Song Xiaozhu said they could still live well without one.
• Qiu Shuyu described how Luo Liuzi and Tian Man had used and cracked Song Xiaozhu’s stone axe, and Song Xiaozhu offered to make her another.
• Qiu Shuyu admitted she had concealed Song Xiaozhu’s role in making the axe, and Song Xiaozhu resolved to establish herself through her unique crafting ability without revealing the Synthesizer.

Song Xiaozhu persuaded Qiu Shuyu to support her plan to reveal her crafting skills and build a secure place in the community, while secretly preparing to claim Bai Jing was connected to the Day After Tomorrow Society. They returned home and chose to eat there rather than draw attention, while Tian Man, Luo Liuzi, and Liu Mu celebrated their earnings at the tavern.

• Song Xiaozhu explained why she wanted to stop hiding and establish herself in the community, and Qiu Shuyu agreed to support her.
• Song Xiaozhu planned to prepare safeguards before revealing her crafting profession and intended to use Bai Jing's name as a powerful backer if necessary.
• Qiu Shuyu mistakenly concluded that Master Bai was a preacher for the Day After Tomorrow Society, and Song Xiaozhu decided not to correct her.
• Song Xiaozhu and Qiu Shuyu returned to the community and chose to eat Song Xiaozhu's improved wild vegetable mush at home.
• Tian Man, Luo Liuzi, and Liu Mu spent money on a ride back to the community and gathered at the tavern for food and liquor.

Song Xiaozhu learned about Tian Man, Luo Liuzi, and Liu Mu while preparing to meet Tian Man, who owed Qiu Shuyu compensation for a broken stone axe. When Tian Man and Luo Liuzi arrived with an iron axe, they spotted four little stone axes inside the shack.

• At the tavern, Luo Liuzi complained about trading away his little axe and argued with Liu Mu while Tian Man prepared to leave.
• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi left the tavern to bring Qiu Shuyu her iron axe and apologize, while Shang Dayuan arrived with his sons-in-law.
• Song Xiaozhu asked Qiu Shuyu about Tian Man, Luo Liuzi, and Liu Mu, then got ready to meet Tian Man.
• Qiu Shuyu resolved to protect Song Xiaozhu if they faced danger, and Song Xiaozhu considered escaping with her if necessary.
• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi arrived at Qiu Shuyu's shack and offered her a sharpened iron axe.
• Luo Liuzi spotted four little stone axes inside the shack and shouted in surprise.

Song Xiaozhu tested whether she could recycle damaged tools and discovered she could recover some raw materials, then prepared stone axes with varying effectiveness boosts for sale. Tian Man and Luo Liuzi arrived, saw the axes, and asked whether Qiu Shuyu would sell them.

• Song Xiaozhu synthesized ten simple axes, then confirmed that dismantling a damaged axe let her recover its wooden handle but not its stone blade.
• Song Xiaozhu made thirteen stone axes, marked their effectiveness boosts, and planned to sell the best ones.
• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi arrived and were surprised to see four stone axes displayed outside.
• Tian Man gave Qiu Shuyu an iron axe as an apology, but she accepted it casually despite saying she already had plenty of axes.
• Luo Liuzi asked Qiu Shuyu whether she would sell the stone axes so they could work together more efficiently.

Song Xiaozhu chose the friendship path for Growth Quest 3 and began selling her stone axes to Tian Man and Luo Liuzi. After comparing the axes’ quality and prices, Tian Man asked how much worse the 3-yuan axe felt to use than the 10-yuan one.

• Song Xiaozhu chose Quest B, and the system recorded progress of 1/3 after she recognized Qiu Shuyu as a friend.
• Song Xiaozhu came out of the shadows and greeted Tian Man and Luo Liuzi, who learned that the axes belonged to her.
• Song Xiaozhu explained the differences between her four stone axes and priced the second-grade axe at 10 yuan.
• Luo Liuzi eagerly offered to buy the second-grade axe, while Tian Man weighed its high cost against its short durability.
• Song Xiaozhu priced the graded-quality axe at 3 yuan, and Tian Man asked how much worse it was to use.

Song Xiaozhu sold standard-grade axes to Tian Man and Luo Liuzi while keeping the lone first-grade axe for Qiu Shuyu. Meanwhile, Shang Dayuan rushed into the community tavern with his son-in-law after waiting too long for Shang Bao.

• Song Xiaozhu explained that standard-grade axes were only slightly less effective than second-grade ones, and Tian Man and Luo Liuzi each bought two at the fixed price of 3 yuan apiece.
• Song Xiaozhu received quest progress of 3/10, with the system counting each buyer as one transaction.
• Luo Liuzi bought a second-grade axe for 10 yuan, while Tian Man asked about the first-grade axe.
• Song Xiaozhu said the first-grade axe was 80% more effective than a standard-grade one but was saving it for Qiu Shuyu.
• Shang Dayuan charged into the community tavern with his son-in-law, worried because Shang Bao had not appeared.

Shang Dayuan learned that Shang Bao had gone to Bai Jing’s shack to visit a young girl and went to look for him. Meanwhile, Song Xiaozhu sold axes to Luo Liuzi and Tian Man, gave them inferior axes to secure their friendship and reliable customers, and earned 32 yuan.

• Shang Dayuan asked Luo Tong where Shang Bao had gone, and Luo Tong said Shang Bao had likely gone to Bai Jing’s shack to see a young girl.
• Shang Dayuan angrily headed for Bai Jing’s shack after learning Shang Bao had been gone for two days.
• Song Xiaozhu reserved a first-grade axe for Qiu Shuyu and refused to sell it or the inferior axes.
• Song Xiaozhu offered inferior axes to Tian Man and Luo Liuzi in exchange for friendship and introductions to reliable buyers, advancing her quest to 2/3.
• Luo Liuzi bought one second-grade axe and two standard-grade axes, while Tian Man bought one second-grade axe and two standard-grade axes.
• Song Xiaozhu collected 32 yuan from the sales.

Song Xiaozhu revealed to Tian Man and Luo Liuzi that she was an Awakened Craftsman, explaining how she had made the axes. She defended her choice to stay on Garbage Mountain rather than return to the Fortress, leaving Tian Man and Luo Liuzi pondering why Bai Jing had stayed there as well.

• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi asked Song Xiaozhu where the axes came from, and she said she had made them.
• Song Xiaozhu revealed that she was a Craftsman, an Awakened class, and the two men reacted with shock and reverence.
• Song Xiaozhu considered how her status gave her authority on Garbage Mountain and reflected that Bai Jing might have been protecting her.
• Luo Liuzi asked why Song Xiaozhu had not returned to the Fortress, and she asked why Bai Jing had stayed on Garbage Mountain.
• Song Xiaozhu said her class was not outstanding in the Fortress and that she wanted to do something meaningful outside the city, leaving Tian Man thoughtful.

Song Xiaozhu prepared for the Shang family’s arrival while Tian Man decided to back her, imagining she could build a faction on Garbage Mountain. Shang Dayuan reached Bai Jing’s shack looking for Shang Bao, but found Tian Man and Luo Liuzi guarding the entrance instead.

• Tian Man mistook Song Xiaozhu for an ambitious faction leader and resolved to support her.
• Song Xiaozhu hid the axes and readied her weapons when footsteps approached, while Qiu Shuyu recognized that the Shang family had arrived.
• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi stood guard outside the shack, fearing the visitors might threaten Song Xiaozhu or take her axes.
• Shang Dayuan arrived with his sons-in-law, intending to find Shang Bao and angry that his son had stayed away from home.
• Shang Dayuan found Tian Man and Luo Liuzi at the entrance and accused them of trying to rob Bai Jing’s shack.

After Shang Dayuan failed to find Shang Bao at Bai Jing’s shack, Song Xiaozhu invited Tian Man and Luo Liuzi to stay for dinner. As they discussed the Shang family’s behavior, Xiaozhu cooked a large meal whose fragrance surprised them.

• Shang Dayuan and Kang Laifu questioned Song Xiaozhu and Qiu Shuyu about Shang Bao, but they said he was not at the shack.
• Shang Dayuan left with his sons-in-law to continue searching for Shang Bao, worried that something had happened to him.
• Qiu Shuyu admitted to Song Xiaozhu that the confrontation had frightened her, while Xiaozhu calmly watched the Shang family leave.
• Tian Man and Luo Liuzi stayed at the shack, and Luo Liuzi described how Shang Dayuan and his five sons-in-law bullied others in the scavenger community.
• Song Xiaozhu cooked ten portions of food with wild vegetable powder, and Tian Man and Luo Liuzi were surprised by its fresh aroma.

Song Xiaozhu served Tian Man and Luo Liuzi wild vegetable powder she had made with her Craftsman abilities, impressing them with its taste. She gained enough repair points to advance her repair quest and moved closer to becoming a level-one Synthesizer, while Qiu Shuyu felt guilty about the meal being offered on her behalf.

• Song Xiaozhu explained that her Craftsman abilities let her produce high-quality wild vegetable powder, and Tian Man and Luo Liuzi tasted it.
• Luo Liuzi and Tian Man praised the meal, while Song Xiaozhu played down its quality and served Qiu Shuyu and herself.
• Song Xiaozhu completed growth quest 3, received 5 Quantum Coins and 10 repair points, and advanced her repair quest progress to 2/3.
• Luo Liuzi asked to buy the powder, but Song Xiaozhu invited him and Tian Man to come back and eat more the next day.
• Qiu Shuyu stayed silent, feeling guilty that Song Xiaozhu had used her Force to provide the meal for free.

Song Xiaozhu reassured Qiu Shuyu that they had to conceal Shang Bao’s death and grow strong enough to deter the Shang family. They agreed to keep the secret and discussed whether Luo Liuzi and Tian Man could be trusted as allies.

• Qiu Shuyu worried that Shang Dayuan would retaliate if Shang Bao remained missing and offered to claim responsibility herself.
• Song Xiaozhu stopped Qiu Shuyu and insisted they both act as though nothing had happened.
• Song Xiaozhu urged Qiu Shuyu to build strength with her, while she made connections, improved the Synthesizer, and accumulated wealth.
• Qiu Shuyu agreed never to discuss Shang Bao’s death again, and Song Xiaozhu reminded her they had to go to the logging camp the next day.
• Song Xiaozhu described Luo Liuzi as well-meaning but impulsive and Tian Man as cautious and potentially useful, while Qiu Shuyu warned Tian Man might betray them for profit.

Song Xiaozhu went into the forest to check her planted crops and was chased by a creature burrowing underground. A young man killed it, but when he lifted her off the ground, she angrily told him to put her down.

• Song Xiaozhu told Qiu Shuyu that people and things could change, and that the person wielding a sword determined where its blade pointed.
• Qiu Shuyu brought Song Xiaozhu to the logging camp, where they met Tian Man and Luo Liuzi; Song Xiaozhu declined to join them and went to check her crops instead.
• Song Xiaozhu gathered stray wood and stones on the way, hoping to earn enough experience to complete her task and become a level-one Synthesizer.
• As Song Xiaozhu bent down to pull out thornheads, a creature surged through the soil toward her, and she swallowed honey candy to boost her speed and ran for the logging camp.
• A young man streaked past Song Xiaozhu and killed the creature with a blade and three small explosions.
• The young man lifted Song Xiaozhu off the ground, and she shouted at him to put her down.

Song Xiaozhu was brought to a logging camp by Fan Cang, where she learned he had rescued her from an Acidic Crawler and recognized his powerful affiliation. Fan Cang warned her about the danger beyond the isolation belt and left after provoking Mu Qing over his retreat from Fortress.

• Fan Cang carried Song Xiaozhu to the logging camp and she recognized his badge as belonging to the financial group behind Ink City.
• Mu Qing emerged from the camp building, and Fan Cang identified the creature on his sword as an Acidic Crawler that had nearly contaminated Song Xiaozhu into a Crawler.
• Fan Cang told Mu Qing that contaminated beasts were attacking the isolation belt, while Mu Qing said its weak point had been repaired and reinforcement would be completed in a week.
• Fan Cang asked Song Xiaozhu what would happen if the isolation belt failed, then warned that she would die horribly.
• Fan Cang mocked Mu Qing for leaving Fortress and departed, while Song Xiaozhu pretended to be frightened by his threat.

Song Xiaozhu learned that Bai Jing was safe in Liu Family Village and gained work at Mu Qing’s logging camp, but Fan Cang’s remarks about the isolation zone left her fearing worse danger beneath Garbage Mountain. After discovering she could not trigger a Growth Quest while her Repair Points were full, she focused on gathering materials to level up.

• Mu Qing reassured Song Xiaozhu that Liu Family Village had been cleared and that Bai Jing would return in a few days, then gave her ten dollars and offered her work at the logging camp.
• Song Xiaozhu asked about Bai Jing and used the conversation to learn Mu Qing’s view of him while concealing her concern about the isolation zone.
• After leaving the camp, Song Xiaozhu worried that Fan Cang’s words implied the isolation zone was gone and decided she needed to level up quickly.
• Song Xiaozhu learned that her 20 Repair Points prevented a Growth Quest from triggering, then gathered branches and stones to prepare for leveling up.

Qiu Shuyu, Tian Man, Luo Liuzi, and Liu Mu went into the forest to fell trees with their axes. Luo Liuzi sold Liu Mu one of his stone axes, and Liu Mu discovered its chopping power when he tried it.

• Tian Man found a suitable tree and paired Qiu Shuyu with himself and Luo Liuzi with Liu Mu.
• Luo Liuzi eagerly chopped with his first-grade stone axe, delighting in how smooth and effortless it felt.
• Liu Mu questioned whether the stone axe was truly special and asked Luo Liuzi to let him try one.
• Luo Liuzi refused to lend the axe but sold Liu Mu an inferior-grade one for ten yuan.
• Liu Mu swung the stone axe at the tree and cut much deeper than he was used to.