The King of Black Fog

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"The sand is so hot from the baking sun... Would it be better to walk on tiptoes to reduce contact with the sand surface?"

"Walking that way would be even more tiring."

The voices of two girls, one lively and comfortable like early summer; the other light and pleasant like a spring breeze.

Zheng Qing opened her eyes and found herself lying on the back of the man from before.

"You... saved me." Her voice was hoarse, but she felt relatively clear-headed.

"You're awake?" Li Qianxia twisted her head to look over.

Li Changzhou said, "Thanks to our captain, who, despite being cold and ruthless, ironically likes humanity. Oh, and remember to pay back the money for the healing items. How much was it again?"

The last question was directed at Yang Qinglan.

"30 Money."

"Okay." Zheng Qing, as if not catching the joke, said, "Not only will I pay it back, but I will also report to the government for additional rewards for you."

"Are you threatening us?" Yang Qinglan's gaze shifted to her.

"No," Zheng Qing replied, "I am inviting you. If you join the official ranks, the government can send people to protect your families. That way, even if you're exposed and make enemies with other strugglers, you won't have to worry about involving your families... at least no more than you do now."

The three of them didn't say anything, continuing to walk with heavy steps.

Zheng Qing didn't urge them on but instead began to give a reminder:

"When walking in the desert, the most important thing is to keep your head cool. You can use white cloth to make a headscarf, like the women in Saudi Arabia do."

Yang Qinglan took her advice to heart, cutting off the hem of Li Changzhou's and Li Qianxia's dress with a Dagger, giving a piece of fabric to each of them.

Li Changzhou, with Zheng Qing on his back, had his head wrapped by Li Qianxia.

"But no sniffing allowed."

"Don't worry, I'm afraid of the stink too."

Li Qianxia kicked him.

Zheng Qing's piece was simply laid over her head by Yang Qinglan.

"Actually, wetting it would be more effective, but I suppose you don't have water and wouldn't want to use urine," Zheng Qing said, a bit relieved with the covering.

"Don't breathe hot air onto my back!" Li Changzhou wasn't disgusted, as he was too hot to worry about such things.

The scarf wrapped around their heads soon got soaked with sweat.

They occasionally climbed up the sand dunes, looking for places to find shade.

Finally, in the vast desert with undulating sand dunes, they spotted a sheer rock face. The shadow it cast was as tempting as a pool of water.

Before Zheng Qing could issue a warning, Yang Qinglan said to the other two, "Be careful, where there's shade, there could be traps."

"Qing Lan, King of Black Fog, wait here for me. I'm quick, so I'll check it out first," Li Qianxia volunteered enthusiastically.

"Okay, be careful."

"I'm not the King of Black Fog; I'm Cat Head..."

Li Qianxia had already darted off, appearing not so much to be scouting as to be eager to rest in the cool shade.

"Coincidentally, my code name is 'Cat Head', and my missing team member is 'Cat Tail'." Zheng Qing said.

"...I'm not Cat Head either."

"Stay alert!" Yang Qinglan, showing some impatience, kept a vigilant eye on Li Qianxia, ready to "pull" her away at any moment.

Li Changzhou freed Zheng Qing's legs and raised his AK.

Zheng Qing fell onto the sandy ground; it was hot, but she felt no pain, thanks to the sand being loose and soft and her 10% pain immunity.

She, too, squinted, watching that patch of shade.

Li Qianxia, holding a steel gun, carefully circled inside the shade and then gestured for the others to come over.

Li Changzhou picked up Zheng Qing again.

Yang Qinglan followed behind cautiously.

"Rest for five minutes," Yang Qinglan said after sitting down in the shade, "We need to find water."

No one spoke; they were all too exhausted and began to wipe the sweat with their unraveled headscarves.

Li Changzhou had a Constitution stat of 6, but carrying someone while also holding an AK that weighed 4 to 5 kg had left him thoroughly drained.

Surprisingly, it was Zheng Qing who was the most energetic at that moment.

She observed the three of them closely.

They looked very young, probably college students, yet they worked together seamlessly, acted with caution, and were quite capable.

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She, a professionally trained warrior, wasn't a match for them, the times had really changed.

"How many times have you participated?" Zheng Qing couldn't help but ask.

"Before I answer your question, you answer ours," Yang Qinglan said, "With the government's ability, why are you a duo?"

"It's two people plus a police dog called 'Storm'." After a somewhat stubborn explanation, Zheng Qing then answered her question, "Only three bus tickets can be swiped for the same bus ride."

"Even dogs need to swipe tickets?" Li Qianxia asked curiously.

"I've answered now, it's your turn."

"Three times." Yang Qinglan was succinct, never revealing any unnecessary information.

"Three times? In one week, you participated three times?"

"Like Pinduoduo's ten billion subsidies, food delivery platforms' coupons, capital spends money, we spend lives, to gain an early market edge." Li Qianxia said with an air of self-satisfaction having come up with this comparison.

Zheng Qing looked at her in surprise.

Value Game had only started a week ago, but the state had already invested a lot of manpower and resources, and at every conference, the authorities sitting above would say:

"Comrades, the initial sacrifices are necessary, a must, everything is for the future of Daxia."

This was exactly what the girl in front of her had said.

In the early days of the nation's founding, although there was a saying that college students knew everything from astronomy to geography, Zheng Qing knew that many modern college students lived carefree lives, and a thousand-meter and eight-hundred-meter physical tests would be enough to make them go pale with anxiety.

But here were three such college students with strategic thoughts about 'using their lives to establish an early advantage.'

"Alright, I've answered you, now it's your turn, do dogs also need to swipe Identity Cards?" Li Qianxia's face was filled with curiosity.

Zheng Qing collected herself and answered, "Every player in the Value Game has an Identity Card, but animals can take the bus and can also enter by sleeping."

After saying that, she tried to draw the three people to her side.

"Besides family members being guaranteed safety, the officials have a lot of information, including whether the new bus routes are useful, the terrain of each arena, Skills and Equipment, and so on. As long as you join us, this information can be made available to you."

Li Qianxia looked at her brother and Yang Qinglan.

"What do you think?" Yang Qinglan asked Li Changzhou.

Li Changzhou pondered and said, "She has seen our faces, and we can't kill her. Things can't go on like before, but there are advantages, such as no need to hide anymore."

"You mean to join?" Yang Qinglan confirmed.

"But joining the officials doesn't fit with your 'survival first' policy, does it?" Li Changzhou said with a smile.

Officials always have to do things that normal people don't want to do, or tasks that are extremely dangerous, even to the point of certain death.

"Chief Zheng..."

"Just call me Zheng Qing." Zheng Qing had never been called chief before and felt a little scared and hesitant.

"Officer Zheng," Li Changzhou said, "we won't join, but we can collaborate."

"Collaborate?"

"Yes, collaborate. In the Value Game, we'll work with the officials as much as possible; in the real world, we won't do evil, and on this basis, we'll engage in other collaborations, such as exchanging information, buying and selling equipment, and so on."

Zheng Qing thought for a moment.

"I need to make a decision at a higher level, but I'll do my best to speak for you," she said. "But please rest assured, no matter what, the state will absolutely not force you, and I can vouch for your character."

"Thanks. You might want to convey that well for us, we are all good citizens."

"...Good citizens." Zheng Qing nodded reluctantly.

It seemed she didn't quite agree?

Li Changzhou looked at Yang Qinglan, "What do you think?"

"Hmm, I have the same thoughts," Yang Qinglan said.

"Isn't this that, that something-or-other? Heartbeat as one..."

"Great minds think alike," Yang Qinglan said with a smile, correcting him.

"...Right, great minds think alike." Li Changzhou nodded, understanding the feeling when Zheng Qing had reluctantly nodded in agreement to being 'good citizens.'

Life is truly an endless learning process.

Li Qianxia was giggling on the side.

Zheng Qing glanced at Li Changzhou, then turned her gaze to Yang Qinglan. The girl was indeed beautiful; even the sweat beads flowing on her skin shone like pearls.

"Let's go," Yang Qinglan stood up first after five minutes.

After re-wrapping the headscarf, Li Changzhou carried Zheng Qing on his back, and the group, with a reluctance in every step, walked into the heat wave.