Chapter 8

"Newbie, go to the private group owner. You can check and exchange points and enhance yourself there. Haha, also, welcome to our big family. Our motto is: although we can't be born on the same day, we have the chance to die on the same day."

The person's font had a blood-dripping effect, and combined with his mocking tone, it made Zhao Zhu feel very uncomfortable. From a psychological perspective, this person had likely overcome the initial fear and was now on the path of self-destruction and indulgence, similar to a soldier who had been through war, transforming from being timid to fearless.

Zhao Zhu scanned the person's group nickname, which was 'Xiong Zhiqi,' and he was not an administrator.

The group had 10 administrators and one group owner, who were listed at the top. The group owner's ID was 'YY,' with a cute cat as the profile picture. The administrators' profile pictures were varied, some cute, some serious, and some scenic, mostly QQ members.

Everything looked like a regular book club, but after experiencing the horror world of "Zombies," Zhao Zhu would never think this group was just a book club. The atmosphere in this group was far beyond that of a regular group.

People were constantly chatting on the screen, but their tones and ways of speaking were hysterical and resolute, or more accurately, insane, like a group of desperados who had long since shed the pretense they wore in society.

Zhao Zhu clicked on the group owner YY's profile and sent a message through the group chat:

"Hello, group owner."

"Hello, newbie."

YY's reply was incredibly fast, almost instantaneous. For some reason, Zhao Zhu felt a sense of nervousness when chatting with YY. He was lying in bed in his pajamas, so he first loosened his collar, took a few deep breaths, and then picked up his phone to type:

"Can I check and exchange points here?"

"Zhao Zhu

— Points: 1600

— Plot Reward: None

— Special Privileges: None

— Exchange Record: No exchange record."

YY's reply was still very fast. Zhao Zhu licked his lips and continued:

"Please, how can I use these points?"

"Everyone receives corresponding side plots and points after completing a mission and returning to the real world;

Side plots are divided into eight levels: S, A, B, C, D, and E. Each higher-level side plot can be broken down into three lower-level side plots, and three lower-level side plots can be combined into one higher-level side plot. For example, a D-level side plot can be broken down into three E-level side plots!

However, breaking down a higher-level side plot into lower-level side plots is free, but combining three lower-level side plots into a higher-level side plot requires an additional 1000 points as a handling fee!

All exchanges in the group are divided into four categories: Bloodline, Secrets, Technology, and Entertainment!

Bloodline: Evolution and modification at the genetic level to become another species.

Secrets: Exchange of all cultivation methods and items.

Technology: Various weapons and equipment based on science.

Entertainment: Entertainment items (non-living) from advanced and primitive eras.

Specific... ..."

Looking at the rows of exchange and enhancement lists on the screen, Zhao Zhu felt his blood flow faster. At this moment, he couldn't help but recall Chen Hong using a certain movement and runes to fight zombies in the "Zombies" mission world. It seemed that such abilities and items were obtained through exchanges.

At this moment, Zhao Zhu received a friend request. Since he still needed to think about how to use the points, he didn't plan to reply to YY immediately. He switched out of the chat box and saw that the friend request was from a woman in Liaoning, aged 26, who was likely Chen Hong.

He accepted the request and added her as a friend, then sent a message:

"Chen Hong?"

"Yes, it's me."

"Oh, I still owe you 500 points. How can I give them to you?"

"Through YY, just tell him."

"Okay, got it."

The reason Zhao Zhu was so willing to fulfill the agreement and give Chen Hong the 500 points was not because of his personal integrity. After seeing YY's exchange and enhancement lists, he realized the importance of points. Chen Hong, a veteran who had experienced several horror worlds, was worth far more than 500 points in terms of experience and other help.

He switched back to YY's chat box and sent a message:

"Group owner, transfer 500 points to Chen Hong."

After sending the message, Zhao Zhu realized that Chen Hong's QQ name was not her real name. Just as he was about to copy her QQ name to YY, YY replied:

"Points transfer successful. You have 1100 points left."

"Uh..." Zhao Zhu was taken aback, and then Chen Hong sent another message: "Points received. Good boy."

Zhao Zhu sent a smiley face and asked:

"I have 1100 points left. Give me some advice. What should I exchange and enhance?"

"Not in a hurry. In about a month, or maybe ten days, you will enter your next horror world. The group owner will announce the name and theme of the horror world and tag the participants in the group. You only have a few points, and without a matching plot, you can't enhance any bloodline. The lowest-level bloodline requires at least a G-level plot and 1000 points, so you can only exchange some items. What items to exchange depends on the theme of your next horror world.

For example, I knew it was the 'Zombies' horror world, so I exchanged many talismans and movement techniques before entering the world."

Zhao Zhu felt lucky. If he had exchanged points for items that didn't match the next mission world, he would have been in a difficult situation, given his limited resources.

"Got it, I understand."

"Okay, I have some extra items. If you need them for your next horror world, I can lend them to you."

"Thanks."

Zhao Zhu threw his phone on the bed, went to the bathroom to wash up, and checked the time. It was almost 11. His phone rang, and he picked it up to see that it was Zhu Wanqi, a distant relative. After graduating from nursing school, Zhao Zhu had used his connections to get her a job as a nurse at the Second City Hospital.

"Hello."

"Hello, Brother Zhu, I heard you took a day off today. Is everything okay? Are you not feeling well?"

Zhu Wanqi's voice was sweet. When her mother brought her to Zhao Zhu, he had helped her get a job because she was a pretty girl. They were distant relatives, but not closely related. Otherwise, Zhu Wanqi's family would have gone directly to Zhao Zhu's parents, one of whom was a major general and the director of a military hospital, and the other was a board member of a large private hospital.

"I'm just a bit tired. I took a day off to sleep in."

While Zhao Zhu was responding, he realized that even if he entered the horror world, his social network would not think anything was wrong. Even if he died, it might go unnoticed.

"Uh... Brother Zhu, you're so cool. Haha, how about I treat you to lunch? My mom asked me to thank you properly."

Zhu Wanqi's voice was a bit coquettish. She was actually quite insecure around Zhao Zhu because he was handsome, capable, and from a good family, and he didn't lack for women.

"I'd be embarrassed if your mom keeps thanking me. Sure, are you still at work? I'll come pick you up at the Second City Hospital."

"Okay, Brother Zhu, see you then."

"See you."

After hanging up, Zhao Zhu changed into a blue shirt and light blue jeans, took his car keys, and drove out of the villa. The distance from his villa to the Second City Hospital was not far, and with good luck, he arrived at the hospital's parking lot in about fifteen minutes. Checking the time, he saw that it was about half an hour before the hospital staff would finish their shift. He got out of the car and walked into the outpatient building, where Zhu Wanqi worked as an assistant nurse in pediatrics.

It was spring, and many children had colds and fevers. The hallways were filled with parents holding their children. Zhao Zhu stood at the corner of the stairs, not wanting to crowd the patients.

At this moment, a man in his mid-twenties rushed in, carrying a child. He pushed through the crowd and shouted at the clinic door:

"Doctor, doctor, my son has a fever. Please check him quickly."

The man's voice was loud and aggressive, and the other parents who were pushed aside frowned but didn't say anything.

A nurse came out of the clinic, touched the child's forehead, and said, "Go register first, then measure the temperature next door."

Seemingly busy with other patients, the nurse turned and went back into the clinic.

However, the man saw this as a sign of disrespect and shouted, "F*ck, treat my son first!" He then kicked the nurse in the back, sending her flying a few meters and crashing onto the clinic floor.

"You can't hit people in a hospital!" A young female nurse, Zhu Wanqi, who was supposed to have lunch with Zhao Zhu, angrily rushed out and scolded the man.

"You little b*tch, you deserve it!" The man, holding his son with one hand, slapped Zhu Wanqi hard, sending her crashing into the wall. Her lip was cut, and blood trickled down.

The other parents quickly moved away with their children, and the fathers did not intervene, fearing the man's aggression and possibly his connections.

A few doctors came out of the clinic but kept their distance, trying to reason with the man. An older doctor tried to mediate:

"The child's health is important. Bring him in quickly, don't delay."

The man, satisfied, coldly snorted and walked into the clinic, ignoring Zhu Wanqi, who was bleeding from the mouth.

At that moment, a hand grabbed his left arm. The man felt a numbness in his left arm, and the child he was holding fell to the ground, crying in pain. However, the child landed on his legs, and the fall was not high, so he would only be in pain for a while and would not be seriously injured.

Zhao Zhu stood by the clinic door, looking at the man, smiled, and said with a clearly insincere apology:

"Sorry, it was an accident. I swear on my mother's chastity."