"Name: Heaven Island Double Vacation Voucher"
"Type: Item"
"Quality: Perfect"
"Effect: Upon use, you will go to Heaven Island for a 15-day paid vacation, and you can bring along one companion."
"Note: Once you've been to Heaven Island, all other places become Hell."
"Can it be taken out of the instance: No"
Liu Zheng looked at the colorful ticket in his hand, deep in thought.
"System, does the 15 days on Heaven Island count as survival time?"
he asked.
"Yes."
The system's reply was short and to the point.
15 days was 360 hours, which was five times the requirement for clearance.
Even if the clearance evaluation considered a comprehensive view, it would at least reach an A-grade or above.
In other words, he had boarded the express train to clearance.
A smile couldn't help but appear on Liu Zheng's lips.
But he quickly realized he was happy too soon.
"Heaven Island Double Vacation Voucher!"
Niu Ma's big head leaned in, exhaling hot breath from its nostrils.
"Damn, the clearance reward turned out to be this!"
There was a tone of surprise in its voice.
"Do you really want this thing?"
Liu Zheng tentatively asked.
"No shit, do you know how long it's been since I had a vacation?"
Niu Ma replied without hesitation.
"Plus, it's a double voucher. I haven't seen my wife in half a year, 15 days is enough for us to make a little Niu Ma."
It said excitedly.
Hearing its words, the image of Niu Ma in a maid outfit flashed through Liu Zheng's mind.
"Niu Ma, our deal might have to be called off."
He said after hesitating for a moment.
"What do you mean?!"
Niu Ma's eyes widened, and its breath became even hotter.
"I really need that vacation voucher."
"I need it too. We had an agreement. If you dare to back out, I swear I'll kill you."
Niu Ma lowered its head, aiming its sharp horns at Liu Zheng.
Its four sturdy hooves scraped the ground, muscles rolling across its body like waves.
Liu Zheng had no doubt it could impale both him and the wall.
But he wasn't afraid, instead staring back at Niu Ma without showing any weakness.
Liu Zheng was gambling that Niu Ma couldn't just take his things by force.
After all, he was immortal; if he lost the bet, he'd just surrender and lose half.
"I don't want to go back on our deal; I just want a fair trade."
Liu Zheng said.
Setting aside that the vacation voucher could guarantee clearance, it was a perfect item in its own right.
A mere bottle of Ascension Maotai clearly wasn't enough for a trade.
"Then what do you want?"
Niu Ma huffed heavily before speaking.
"You know its value and understand my situation. You decide what I need."
Liu Zheng said.
"You're the most cunning, boldest, luckiest human I've ever met. Wait here."
Niu Ma stared at him for a full two minutes before finally speaking.
After saying so, it burst through the door and left.
Half an hour later, it returned to the resting room.
"Take it."
Niu Ma placed the box it was carrying in front of Liu Zheng.
It looked quite pitiful: only half of its two horns remained, its nose was completely caved in.
All over its body were wounds and bruises, and one back leg dangled in the air, with half of the bone stark white and exposed.
Even its chest had a dining knife stuck in it, which looked to be made of silver.
"Big guy, what happened to you?"
Liu Zheng casually asked.
"None of your damn business, just check the goods. Hiss~"
Niu Ma winced in pain.
"Alright then."
He opened the packaging; inside the box was a bottle of red wine.
The most ordinary glass bottle, with no decorations or labels, and the cork wasn't wood but a tiny skull.
"Name: Vlad III Limited Edition"
"Type: Item"
"Quality: Perfect"
"Effect: Strength and constitution +15, perception +20, high probability of awakening the Vampire Bloodline, small probability of awakening the special bloodline 'Descendant of Dracula', drinking with the blood of other supernatural creatures may increase the probability."
"Note: The Heart Blood spilt by Pierce Duke after being pierced, brewed into a fine wine with an exclusive secret recipe. Even in the Bloody Restaurant, it's the top-tier drink."
"Can be taken out of the instance: Yes"
Total attribute enhancement, and even the possibility of bloodline awakening. It truly lives up to its perfect quality item status.
Liu Zheng swayed the wine bottle, and the liquid inside shimmered with a ruby-like luster.
"Give this to that tree, and it'll sell its roots to you."
Niu Ma said proudly.
"What's the best thing it has?"
He asked.
"How would I know, but it's definitely something good. That guy is a sole proprietor, way richer than us working stiffs."
Niu Ma said with a hint of sourness.
"Alright then."
Liu Zheng put away the red wine and handed the holiday voucher to Niu Ma.
"I thought you would want that bottle of 'Ascend to Heaven Maotai' too."
Niu Ma said somewhat surprised.
"Would you have given it to me?"
"I'd give it to your grandma's hoof."
Niu Ma spat on the ground.
"However, seeing you're catching on, I can go on vacation a week later."
It turned its head and said.
"That's actually good news."
Liu Zheng laughed.
With Niu Ma, the rookie guide NPC, he truly felt a lot more at ease.
With the trade complete, Niu Ma lay to one side, repeatedly admiring the vacation voucher.
"Speaking of which, what exactly is Heaven Island?"
Liu Zheng asked.
"That's an artificial island built by the City Hall, specifically for the vacation of outstanding talents from all walks of life. It has the most advanced entertainment facilities, the most beautiful scenery, the richest cuisines, and the most professional service staff. The most important thing is, all of these are free."
Niu Ma said longingly.
"It does sound like Heaven."
He felt he had heard this pitch before.
"No kidding, why else would they call it Heaven Island. Just getting there once is worth it even if you get fired the next day."
Niu Ma said excitedly.
"Uh, there's a story, Big Guy, you want to hear it?"
After all, Niu Ma had helped him quite a bit, so Liu Zheng decided to give it a heads up.
"Out with it quick."
Niu Ma said, not too pleasantly.
"Once upon a time, there was a secluded underground city where people lived a dull and flavorless Life under constant surveillance. However, every once in a while, one lucky person was chosen to go to the mythical Heaven Island, where they no longer had to work and could enjoy life."
"But in reality, those people were Clones. The so-called trip to Heaven Island was actually being sent for dissection, to have their organs transplanted to their originals."
This was the plot of "Escape from Clone Island," and Liu Zheng had found it quite shocking when he first watched it.
"Interesting, where did you hear that from?"
Niu Ma asked.
"Just made it up myself."
"You've got quite the imagination, but Heaven Island is real. I had a relative who went there."
Niu Ma licked its nose.
"How did he get the opportunity?"
"Spent his life's savings on a Scalped Ticket. Came back and then committed suicide."
Niu Ma said.
"Why?"
"Because he knew he'd never have the chance to go again."
Niu Ma said calmly.
"And you, Big Guy?"
"I'm not like him; he was a widower, but I have a wife. Plus, I'm young and an outstanding delivery worker for the Bloody Restaurant."
"Even if you hadn't traded with me, I could save up enough to buy a Scalped Ticket in another decade or so."
Niu Ma said proudly.
"Impressive, impressive."
Liu Zheng gave a thumbs up.
"Keep it low key, low key."
"Just curious, Big Guy, are you badly hurt?"
He suddenly asked.
"Just enough breath left to beat you to death."
Niu Ma responded with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
"Heh heh."
"Heh heh."