Chapter 32: Tong Qi the Lucky, Survivor’s Set

A single pull on the brass gacha machine costs 100 copper coins. While it can yield items worth far more than that, it is just as likely to spit out junk.

As for the silver gacha machine, not a soul was near it, as a single pull required a silver coin—an item most people had never even laid eyes on.

"Here, you play," Xu Lang said, withdrawing the silver coin and handing it to Tong Qi.

"Is this... a silver coin?" Tong Qi looked at the shining silver disc in her palm, her mouth forming an 'O' as she let out a cute, breathless exclamation.

"Yep, go ahead and give it a try," Xu Lang said with a smile.

Tong Qi’s large eyes sparkled. "Thank you, Brother Lang!"

...

"Still nothing! It’s just teasing us!"

"Oh, come on, how did it miss!"

"Brother Dahai, that’s such a shame! We didn't get those Gale Shoes again!"

"I seriously suspect this machine is rigged against you, Brother Dahai!"

"Brother Dahai, can I have the junk you don't want?"

Before the brass gacha machine, a crowd was lost in the frenzy, their expressions wild and fanatical. They didn't even notice Xu Lang and his two companions approach until the silver gacha machine erupted in a dazzling light accompanied by a melodic chime.

Zhang Dahai, holding the lever, froze. He looked to his side and spotted the trio.

"Holy crap! It’s Xu Lang!" One man stepped back in fright. The others instinctively cleared a path.

Zhang Dahai looked from the wailing, flashing silver gacha machine to Xu Lang. "Xu Lang, how did you get a silver coin?"

"Found it while killing monsters," Xu Lang replied.

"Fair enough." Zhang Dahai nodded. He had a favorable impression of Xu Lang; after all, Xu Lang had provided him with medical supplies and hadn't robbed him back at the infirmary.

"Whoa! Look at the prize showing up in the silver gacha machine!" someone suddenly shouted.

On the machine's small screen, an orange glow emanated from a strange, long blade that appeared within the frame. Even at a glance, it looked extraordinary.

[Ghost-Slaying Blade]

Items inside the gacha machine only displayed their name and appearance; detailed stats were hidden.

"Xu Lang, the machine has white, green, blue, purple, and orange tiers. Orange is the best, and it seems there's only one," Zhang Dahai said, sounding agitated.

Xu Lang stared at the machine, licking his lips. Cao Yaxuan and Tong Qi clenched their fists, watching the screen with bated breath.

The emotions of everyone nearby were fully engaged. Having survived the life-and-death struggle against zombies, the players seemed particularly drawn to this kind of high-stakes gambling.

Someone whispered, "Come on! Come on! Come on!"

If a good item actually dropped, Xu Lang might share some benefits, just as Zhang Dahai had done earlier.

As the crowd waited in suspense, the image on the gacha machine shifted abruptly, and a pair of glowing green gauntlets appeared.

"Oh, damn it!"

"Why did it change to green?"

"That’s just cruel!"

The players sighed as if they had been punched in the gut.

[Wind-Thunder Gauntlets]

Immediately after, the screen shifted again. A set of clothes radiating a purple light appeared and locked into place!

Zhang Dahai’s jaw dropped; he stood there, stunned. He had been playing for so long, and the best he’d ever pulled was a blue. Xu Lang gets a purple on his first try? And a purple from the silver gacha machine at that!

Xu Lang’s heart hammered against his ribs; he felt like he’d hit the jackpot.

[Extract item? Yes/No]

"Extract it, quick!" Xu Lang urged.

Tong Qi hurriedly clicked the button and said, "Brother Lang, it’s in my inventory now!"

"Good." Without another word, Xu Lang turned and left. Tong Qi and Cao Yaxuan followed immediately, breaking into a run. As they passed the equipment zone, Xu Lang grabbed 15 rounds of No. 6 ammunition.

Some of the onlookers instinctively started to follow.

"Where do you think you're going?!" Zhang Dahai barked.

The men froze, looking at one another. They realized they wouldn't dare try to rob him. Putting aside the fact that Xu Lang had a handgun, no one could withstand his 6 points of free attribute bonus!

...

The trio ran all the way back to Room 200.

"Hah... hah... hah..."

The two women were exhausted. As soon as they entered the entryway, they couldn't take another step, leaning on Xu Lang to catch their breath. Xu Lang produced two bottles of mineral water and handed them over.

"I’m alive again!" Cao Yaxuan tilted her graceful, swan-like neck back and gulped down the water, feeling as if her lungs were about to burst.

Xu Lang paused for a moment, struck by how beautiful she looked in that instant. Crystal-clear droplets—whether sweat or water—clung to her fair skin.

"Back home... finally," Tong Qi panted, her chest heaving.

Both women were intelligent and didn't complain. In that situation, leaving immediately had been the only correct choice.

They sat on the sofa, and Cao Yaxuan rubbed her hands together, unable to wait. "Tong, hurry and take it out so we can see what it is!"

"Okay!" Tong Qi replied. A khaki-colored trench coat set appeared in her hands.

[Survivor’s Set]
[Type: Clothing]
[Level: 3]
[Effect 1 (Reinforced): Constitution +1, Spirit +1]
[Effect 2 (Unassuming): Reduces presence. Even outside the dormitory, monsters will not specifically target you.]
[Effect 3 (Survivor): Hunger will not drop below 5.]
[Durability: 23/23]
[Disassembly yields: High-grade Fabric x10, High-grade Leather x10]
[Upgrade requirement: 400 Nightmare Coins]
[Description: I will be the one to survive until the end!]

"It’s a Level 3 gear set!" Cao Yaxuan exclaimed happily. "And it’s an anti-starvation god-tier item!"

Xu Lang smiled. "This gear is perfect for scavenging." If he’d had this during the last game, he could have just brought enough food and hidden in a shipping container. Of course, that was assuming there were no tracker-type monsters.

"Does that mean it’s not very suitable for you, Brother Lang?" Tong Qi asked, looking a bit shy. Since Room 200 had such a high level, they would surely spend their game time hunkered down at home.

Xu Lang patted her head. "It’s definitely not a loss. It’s a Level 3 set, after all. Tong Qi, you really have good luck."

"Exactly! You’re like a reincarnation of the God of Luck!" Cao Yaxuan teased.

Tong Qi blushed. "Brother Lang, hurry up and put it on so we can see!"

"Alright!" Xu Lang took off his clothes and put on the Survivor’s Set. Boots, pants, jacket... As he donned the full set, the fit adjusted perfectly to his frame.

"It’s comfortable, and I feel even stronger," Xu Lang said, clenching his fist with a faint smile.

"So handsome!" Cao Yaxuan’s eyes lit up. She looked at him with the gaze of a girlfriend, focusing entirely on his appearance. The set was unassuming at first glance, but on Xu Lang, it created a sharp, post-apocalyptic industrial aesthetic. Since no one had worn decent clothing in days, his complete set was in a league of its own.

After letting the two women admire him for a moment, Xu Lang walked to the door and had Tong Qi take out the Swift Crossbows to install them. With a flash of light, two crossbows appeared on either side of the door, half inside and half outside. The cold, gleaming bolts pointed into the hallway, ready to fire.

Xu Lang, with a hint of perfectionism, adjusted the two crossbows until they were perfectly level, then nodded in satisfaction.

"Those bolts look a bit scary," Cao Yaxuan remarked, feeling as if she were being held at gunpoint.

"It’s reassuring, too," Tong Qi added.

"We can turn these on and off from inside the room," Xu Lang said. "Once the game starts, we'll leave them on permanently."

With that, Xu Lang took a photo and posted it in the chatroom.

[200 Xu Lang: Don't come near my room from now on. (Image)]

[5 Zhu Yan: Brother Lang is a beast! You’ve already got crossbows set up!]

[181 Li Yu: Brother Lang is amazing!]

[32 Ye Fan: Waaaah! Who will buy me a Swift Crossbow? I’d even offer myself in return!]