"Perfect!" Su Han exclaimed, slipping the ring onto his finger before plopping down onto the wooden floor. He pulled food from his inventory, spreading it out for himself and Xiao Ling to share.
Xiao Ling watched his excitement while nibbling on melon, a look of pure confusion on her face. Su Han tried explaining the ring's significance, but her only response was a sweet, utterly clueless smile. *Not surprising,* he thought. *She's a mutant Wither Skeleton, not a gamer. This stuff means nothing to her.*
"After we clear the zombies tomorrow, we're hitting the mines. Need to make some torches first." Munching on bread, he opened his inventory and placed 3 coal and 3 sticks into the crafting grid. Twelve torches appeared. Su Han picked one up, inspecting the flame closely. *Not infinite?* The coal core was burning, albeit imperceptibly slowly. Definitely not the game's nuclear-powered version. He quickly blew it out, saving it for the mines tomorrow.
Darkness reclaimed the shelter. They sat side-by-side against the wall, listening to the zombie roars outside. Suddenly, a small, warm hand slipped into his. A shy voice whispered beside him, "The bed..."
*Thump!* He instantly placed the double bed, occupying four full blocks of space. Su Han guided Xiao Ling to sit beside him on the edge. Her hand grew noticeably warmer in his grasp. She gently pulled away, followed by the soft *rustle* of fabric.
*Unbelievable…* Su Han's mind drifted. *My first time… graduating from singlehood… with a block person…*
His thoughts spiraled until her hand found his again, jolting him back. "I... I'm ready..." Her voice was barely audible over the groans outside, thick with shyness.
Su Han took a deep breath, turning towards her in the gloom. His eyes traced her silhouette – surprisingly curvy for a block form, yet soft to the touch. *Exactly like a human…* He gave a gentle push. Xiao Ling leaned back onto the bed, her hands gripping his tightly. Just as they were about to embark on the "Breeder's Path" quest, lines of glowing text abruptly filled both their visions:
**[Global Chat: Repair Complete.]**
**[Trading Hub: Repair Complete.]**
**[Access via interface button. Note: Trading Hub involves soul projection. Ensure physical body is secure.]**
*Trading Hub?!* A wave of intense excitement washed over him. He rolled off Xiao Ling onto his back. "I need to hit the Trading Hub! Gotta sell this stuff!" he announced eagerly.
"Eh...?" Her startled gasp was the last thing he heard before tapping the button.
Consciousness flickered. When it solidified, he found himself standing on an empty, ethereal street.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* Figures materialized around him as more Collaborators projected in. Seeing the crowd swell rapidly, a sense of urgency hit him. *Gotta grab a good spot!* He sprinted towards a vacant stall at the front of the street, his hand freezing mid-reach.
*Huh?* He stared, wide-eyed, at his own five distinct fingers.
*Not blocky... Oh! Soul form. My original human body.* The explanation clicked. He reached towards his hip – a phantom inventory pouch – and pulled out the Wok Shield, Chinese Army Knife, Iron Gauntlets, Iron Chain, and Iron Apple, arranging them neatly on the stall's surface.
The Trading Hub filled swiftly. His stall quickly drew the largest crowd. The reason was simple: iron gear. Most people hadn't been lucky with their starter loot boxes, and their profession-granted weapons were basic trash. Buying something decent for the early game was crucial, yet most stalls offered only wooden junk. Here, tucked in a corner, was a stall selling the incredibly rare: iron equipment.
"Boss! Price for the Wok Shield and Iron Gauntlets?" A low, steady voice cut through the murmur. Su Han looked up. A white-haired man in priestly vestments stood before him, accompanied by a stern-looking girl with a high silver ponytail, also in religious garb.
*Priest?* Su Han assessed them. *Wants shield and gauntlets… Probably a Guardian or Brawler. Path is likely Protect or Level.* *Rewards would be items or gear…*
"One Furnace. Plus ten Coal," Su Han stated clearly.
Gasps rippled through the onlookers.
"Coal's manageable, zombies drop it okay... but a Furnace? No way zombies drop that!"
"Who'd sell a Furnace if they had one? You need it to smelt metal!"
"Yeah, but you need ore *and* a pickaxe to mine it first! Deadlock!"
"This damn blocky world is a vicious cycle!" The crowd dissolved into frustrated grumbling about the game's mechanics.
The priest studied Su Han intently, his calm expression masking surprise. *The Protect Path quest reward offers a Furnace choice. This timing… is it coincidence?* After a moment's consideration, he spoke calmly, "How about ten Coal for the Iron Gauntlets now? I can get the Furnace when I complete my quest, but I have to wait for someone else to clear the substation zombies first. Might take a few days. Can you hold the shield for me?"
"Ah..." Su Han started to agree, then froze. *Substation?*
"The... substation? East of Feiya City?" he asked cautiously.
"Yes."
*So quests interact… My substation is his blocker.* Su Han collected himself. "Understood. I'll hold it. Check the substation tomorrow." He handed over the Iron Gauntlets, accepting ten lumps of coal. The priest thanked him and turned away with the girl.
Seeing items moving at reasonable (if specific) prices, the crowd surged forward.
"Boss! Price for the Chinese Army Knife?"
"Five Pumpkins. Five Wheat Seeds."
"You— Hold on! I'll get them!" The young man vanished in a puff of pixels, returning to the blocky world. His urgency triggered a buying frenzy.
"Boss! The Iron Chain?"
"Ten Carrot Seeds."
"Boss! Iron Apple?"
"Ten Apples."
Within five minutes, Su Han's stall was bare. His gains: ten Coal, five Pumpkins, five Wheat Seeds, ten Carrot Seeds, ten Apples. He exited the Trading Hub, consciousness snapping back to the dark, cramped shelter and the groans outside. He immediately started organizing his inventory. *These are crucial for building a base later. Can't waste them.*
As he finished sorting, he glanced down. Xiao Ling was curled against him, fast asleep, her arm still looped through his. Her lips were slightly parted, pouting occasionally, as if waiting for something that hadn't arrived. Su Han watched her for a moment, then looked up at the dark ceiling. "Sleep it is," he murmured. "Clear the zombies tomorrow... get that Furnace."