Chapter 99

Chapter 99: The Windfall I, Qian Qi, Want Never Shows Up Late!

Early Cloud Mountain was the “almost E-rank” dungeon the System had picked for Qian Qi.

It had a reputation too—mysterious as hell. The military had sent awakened soldiers in multiple times to explore, and every single team got wiped. Not one person came back. The outside world decided the place had to be C-rank or higher by now.

Which meant it was a steal for Qian Qi.

As for why none of the soldiers ever returned…

Because the moment you entered, you spawned in midair.

No warning. No prep. If you weren’t ready, you dropped straight into a ten-thousand-zhang gorge and died the world’s most preventable death.

To make it worse, the dungeon couldn’t even hold a wireless connection. Inside and outside were cut off completely. With no one able to report what really happened, the rumors got more cursed with every retelling.

Right now, Qian Qi was squatting in a mall, staring at a parachute while reading the instruction manual like it was a bomb.

“Can we really learn this in time?”

Her face scrunched up in misery. “I don’t think I can do it…”

“Women don’t say they can’t do it!” the System shouted, waving its cheer-stick energy like it was about to start a riot.

“But I think we have a cheaper and more convenient method…” Qian Qi peeked at it.

The System got a sudden chill. Based on its calculations, whenever Qian Qi started hesitating like that, she was about to propose something unhinged.

“Look,” Qian Qi said, lowering her voice like she was sharing an investment tip. “The money we’d spend on a parachute… wouldn’t it be better used on you eating something tasty?”

Then she grabbed the System’s panel with both hands. “And you could replace the parachute and get me down safely?”

“You look exactly like a flying carpet from a fairy tale.”

Qian Qi swung a leg up and started climbing onto the panel. “Let me ride you!”

She’d been coveting this for ages.

The moment she got on, the System thrashed like a cat forced into a sweater. “You bastard, Qian Qi—get off! Get down! This is disrespecting the System! Disrespecting the System!”

“Money,” Qian Qi coaxed. “Think about the money.”

She leaned in, eyes glittering. “A parachute costs six thousand bucks! Are you really going to let that cash fatten someone else’s wallet instead of taking it for yourself?”

The System froze.

Six thousand.

It twitched, shamefully tempted.

“Just this once,” it said stiffly, righteous as a saint granting a sacred favor.

In her head, Qian Qi snapped her fingers. Yes!

Hook, line, and sinking fund.

Out loud, she put on her best bootlicker smile. “Thank you, Lord System. Lord System, you’re so good to me.”

Honestly? Qian Qi trusted the System more than any parachute. And besides, once you did something once, it got easier the second time. Sooner or later, the System would become her personal aircraft…

Hehehehehe.

With flying-carpet approval secured, Qian Qi hit the neighborhoods around Early Cloud Mountain and started buying property in bulk.

Online real estate was ridiculously streamlined now. Face verification on both sides, and you could transfer ownership the same day. After she poured the last two million into houses, Qian Qi stared at her account—now down to a few lonely coins—and her eyebrows drooped.

“Back to square one. Two months of work, gone in a day.”

No. She needed to make it up. A windfall. Something big.

So she followed the System to Early Cloud Mountain and walked straight into the dungeon.

Behind her, Li Hai Sheng—who’d been tailing her forever and had finally caught her alone—frowned.

He knew this place. Rumor had it the dungeon was C-rank and above.

That girl, Qian Qi… walking in like that meant certain death.

Li Hai Sheng’s frown relaxed almost instantly.

Twenty million really was easy money.

He pulled out his light-brain and called Chen Tong.

“That Qian Qi you mentioned… she went into the Early Cloud Mountain dungeon.”

“What?” Chen Tong went still. He knew that dungeon. Because nobody ever came out, people in Xia City called it the Hell Dungeon.

But why would Qian Qi go in there?

She didn’t do pointless things. Chen Tong’s eyes narrowed. “Follow her.”

“What? Are you insane?” Li Hai Sheng snapped. “This is the Hell Dungeon! So many D-rank awakened soldiers died in there. You want me to go die too?”

“If she can go, you can go.”

Chen Tong’s tone was absolute. “Stick close. Pretend you’re some kind-hearted hero clearing the dungeon for the people. Maybe she’ll protect you.”

Li Hai Sheng blinked, speechless.

Was this employer brain-dead?

Didn’t he want her dead? Why was he suddenly telling him to get protected?

What the hell was he planning?

“See what she’s doing in there,” Chen Tong said, thinking fast. “I suspect she found a new beneficial plant.”

Then, casually: “Once you figure it out, kill her.”

Li Hai Sheng pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m not going into Early Cloud Mountain. Absolutely not. Don’t—”

“More money.”

Chen Tong didn’t lack cash. “Forty million when it’s done.”

Li Hai Sheng’s hand twitched. He stared at the dungeon entrance, did some very serious internal math, and said, “Ten million deposit. Now.”

Chen Tong’s brow tightened. He hated paying that much up front, but he wanted to know what Qian Qi had gotten her hands on too badly. He ground his teeth. “Fine.”

He was sure of one thing: Qian Qi wasn’t the type to walk in and die for free. If she went in, there was something worth it.

Greedy to the bone, Chen Tong wired the money and reminded him again, “Remember—don’t give her money. Act weak. Let her protect you. Come out alive!”

“Got it.”

For his own life, Li Hai Sheng decided to try Chen Tong’s method. The way Chen Tong talked about her, Qian Qi sounded terrifyingly capable.

And she really had gone in alone.

To be safe, Li Hai Sheng used part of the money Chen Tong sent to buy even better gear. Only then did he step into the Early Cloud Mountain dungeon.

Inside, Qian Qi sat cross-legged on the System’s panel like a monk entering meditation.

“As expected of Lord System,” she praised brightly. “So stable. Smooth ride.”

“…Shut up,” the System muttered.

The panel carried her down through the clouds at a slow, controlled pace. White mist brushed her ears, cool and damp. Through the translucent glow of the panel, Qian Qi looked down and saw layered black gorges stretching across the earth—jagged, overlapping mouths like the land itself was hungry.

“Are there a lot of magic beasts here?” Qian Qi asked.

“It’s fine,” the System replied. “The cliffs are brutal. Even magic beasts slip and fall and get smashed half to death, so new ones keep spawning. The level never rose.”

“I see.” Qian Qi nodded. “Then are there magic lightning lions here?”

The System hesitated, confused. “Yes. Why?”

“Hehe. Nothing.” Qian Qi tapped her light-brain and grinned. “I’m just wondering if this dungeon can get me a windfall. Those people who fell before probably got smashed to paste. Anything valuable on them probably shattered too.”

She sighed dramatically. “If only a living, rich bad guy would fall out of the sky.”

Then she clasped her hands and prayed with terrifying sincerity. “Oh heavens, please grant me a windfall!”

“Stop dreaming. What windfall? Go earn your money properly—”

The System didn’t finish.

From above came a sudden scream, ragged and desperate: “Aaaah—help—!”

Qian Qi looked up. Her face sharpened into a feral grin.

Oh?

The windfall arrived right on schedule.

Qian Qi thought, The windfall I, Qian Qi, want will never be late!