Upgrade Time!
After yesterday's three-hour ordeal—what Qin Yu had dubbed "meditation imprisonment"—she diligently worked to improve her favor with Shenhe.
Though unable to gauge the effectiveness of her efforts through Shenhe's demeanor, her overall rating remained decent: C+.
Her accumulated points once again surpassed a thousand. While she could obtain an early-stage skill, Qin Yu chose to upgrade her weapon instead.
Weapons formed part of one's combat capability. Though the Short Firearm served its purpose, being an initial-tier weapon, its performance left much to be desired—especially its three-round magazine capacity, which proved inadequate against multiple enemies.
Upgrading to a five-round or even ten-round firearm would provide invaluable security. More audaciously, imagine a thirty-round, hundred-round, or thousand-round model... With such a machine gun in hand, how many adversaries could possibly best her? What harm could she face? Her sense of security soared!
Upgrading the Short Firearm required 2000 points, but she had precisely that amount.
Upgrade!
["Short Firearm" has been upgraded to "Revolver."]
[Revolver - A single-action revolver firing bullets. Good accuracy, strong power, holds five rounds. Requires skill to use proficiently.]
Qin Yu retrieved the revolver from the system.
The previous Short Firearm had resembled a fantastical weapon from a storybook, but this new model felt more familiar - a reliable workhorse often seen in shooting games. Its plain, unadorned metal body gleamed coldly in the sunlight...
Thanks to Firearm Proficiency 1, she instinctively understood how to operate the revolver as soon as she touched it.
A single-action revolver required manually cocking the hammer with a finger before firing... Wait, the cylinder was empty.
New bullets could be purchased or converted from existing ammunition, but Qin Yu had only obtained one-third of the original amount. She reluctantly spent her remaining points to acquire more.
This time, there was no automatic loading - everything had to be done by hand.
While Firearm Proficiency 1 allowed Qin Yu to load quickly, filling each chamber individually... would take longer than the Short Firearm unless she unlocked the "Quick Reload" skill.
Unfortunately, she didn't have enough points.
Overall, it was still better than the Short Firearm. Qin Yu tested it several times in the wilderness and was quite satisfied. The system had deliberately suppressed the gunshot sound. It was loud, but not deafening.
The only downside was that the recoil made her hands go numb.
"Looks like I'll need to start allocating more attribute points in the future."
Otherwise, even if she obtained powerful weapons, her attributes wouldn't be sufficient to use them effectively.
The upgradeable attributes were:
Strength, Constitution, Agility.
And Sensitivity.
To be honest, why did they have to include such an abnormal attribute?
What's the point of Sensitivity?! It only makes getting hit hurt more and makes illnesses feel worse!
Wait, there is one situation where Sensitivity could be a positive attribute...
But it's unnecessary. Truly unnecessary.
Though it might be useful when handling physiological desires... Ha! Don't even think about that kind of nonsense. It's completely meaningless. Qin Yu's cheeks flushed slightly. She took a deep breath and calmed down.
In short, the Sensitivity attribute serves no purpose. Just ignore it.
After testing the new weapon, Qin Yu felt safer. But remembering the numerous dangers in this world, she knew she couldn't stop there. She needed to keep getting stronger.
Though that's the case, today is a day off.
Who decided it was a day off? Naturally, she did!
Forcing herself to work nonstop throughout the year, constantly maintaining her acting mode, was impossible. Even machines need rest, let alone humans.
So today she didn't go find Shenhe, but instead took a temporary break.
However, Liyue's popular entertainments didn't really suit her tastes.
Watching plays, listening to storytellers, watching other performances...
It felt like something for old people.
Before regaining her memories, her life rhythm had basically been this: work, eat just enough, work, eat just enough... No, eating was actually her greatest source of pleasure.
In her previous life, she'd spent too much time online. Every day she'd be bombarded with all sorts of information, and there were various games. As long as she wanted entertainment, she could always find it. She'd never felt bored.
By comparison, today's popular entertainments naturally couldn't satisfy Qin Yu's needs.
Contemporary novels were supposedly "refreshing" and "innovative," but in her previous life where literature had matured, they actually seemed overly clichéd.
Of course, Qin Yu didn't deny that there must be some novels that transcended their time, ones that could be appreciated by both the refined and the common, ones that both ancients and moderns could savor endlessly, like the Four Great Classical Novels.
She couldn't find that at the moment though.
And she didn't want to waste time searching.
"Haah... Not visiting Shenhe really leaves me with nothing to do."
Putting aside her desire for a break, Qin Yu believed that even friends shouldn't spend every day together.
At least not for too long. They needed to give each other space.
She didn't want Shenhe to think she was clingy. Though being close might be nice... Her pride wouldn't allow it! Being seen as a clingy person would make her prefer jumping into the sea and starting over.
After a moment's thought, Qin Yu decided to wander the streets aimlessly.
Liyue Port, nestled between mountains and sea, carried the briny scent of the ocean on the winds as soon as she approached the docks.
To be honest... it was stifling.
In every sense of the word. She might as well go home and sleep it off.
"Hey there, miss. You look exhausted."
A young woman's voice spoke from behind her.
Qin Yu turned around: Brown hair in twin ponytails, red eyes, a petite frame with flat chest and short shorts. She looked so adorable, one might feel an urge to hug her tightly...
No, this is just description. I don't have such impulses, Qin Yu thought.
The young girl's lively eyes swept over Qin Yu, studying her briefly. Her smile remained undiminished as she said, "Good afternoon. It's a bit sudden, but have you considered a new home?"
A new home? Is she selling real estate...? Not that I'm not interested, but I can't afford it right now.
Can't you just leave me alone? This is so annoying. Qin Yu sighed inwardly, her face adopting a professional smile as she switched to acting mode.
"A new home? No, I haven't considered that."
Perhaps her attitude wasn't firm enough, for the salesgirl's enthusiasm remained undiminished. She nodded and said, "I see. But this matter is crucial - it's one of life's most important decisions. You shouldn't take it lightly. So even though you're young, you should consider becoming our client!"
"N-no need. I don't have the money," Qin Yu maintained her smile, growing increasingly impatient.
Can't you find someone else? Do I look rich to you?!
"Money? That's easy! As it happens, we're having a big sale. All new homes start at 50% off, with full-service packages and quality guarantees. We're sure you'll be satisfied!"
Qin Yu's interest was piqued. "So... how much Mora would that be?"
"This number!"
The young girl raised four fingers on her left hand.
"Four hundred thousand?"
"Correct, two hundred twenty thousand."
"Then why did you raise four fingers?"
Qin Yu forced a dry laugh. "Ah ha ha, but it doesn't look like that..."
"Can't you see it at a glance? Though perhaps I should've used both hands. But then..." The girl raised her index and middle fingers on each hand. "Doesn't it look like a crab? What if you thought our new home only cost one crab?"
Who would think that?! I'm not an idiot!
Qin Yu seethed inwardly while maintaining a polite smile. "You're right."
"Exactly!"
Right, right, right. She's got a point.
This was getting too strange. This girl wasn't normal. Best to leave now. Qin Yu resolved to escape this bizarre saleswoman.
"Isn't it cheap? Just two hundred twenty thousand!" The girl chuckled.
To be fair, it was indeed a good deal.
But Qin Yu had no intention of buying a house.
"No thanks, I don't need one. And I've got urgent business next, so I'll have to take my leave now." Qin Yu's tone grew slightly firmer, but she kept her smile and courtesy.
"Huh? Everyone needs a home, don't they?"
"I don't think so."
The young girl pondered for a moment before exclaiming, "Hiss— If that's the case, something might happen after you go down to the underworld."
"...Ha? Down to the underworld?"
"Hm?" The girl looked equally perplexed.
It felt like they were speaking completely different languages.
Could it be... Qin Yu confirmed, "What you mentioned earlier, was that about real estate?"
"No, but if you insist on putting it that way, I suppose it counts? After all, every grave is the deceased's final home."
Grave... Deceased...
So the new home she was referring to meant a coffin!
Qin Yu forced a smile. "Um, when you said 'new home,' you meant a coffin, right?"
"Correct."
Correct my foot! Who goes around selling coffins?!
Qin Yu felt a growing headache. Though she'd already sensed this girl was extraordinary, she hadn't realized how far beyond her expectations this would go.
Come to think of it, the girl seemed strangely familiar.
Had they met before?
To confirm her identity, Qin Yu asked, "If you'll forgive my boldness, who might you be?"
"Aiya, I never thought there'd be someone in Liyue Port who doesn't know this director. How rare! But then again, since we're fated to meet, I should introduce myself properly to my future guest." The girl straightened her hat. "I am Hu Tao, the seventy-seventh generation Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"