Starting Off Survival With A Small Treehouse

Chapter 587: Chapter 403: You are... Xu Xin??

Seeing that metal broadsword, she instantly felt that her stone broadsword was nothing but a toy.

Swords really should be made of metal!

That shine, that sharpness...

It’s absolutely stunning!

”No way, I only make weapons for real companions,” Xu Xin rejected.

”Real companions? Aren’t I considered a companion?” Zeng Tao’s attention was still entirely on the broadsword, her eyes practically glued to Xu Xin’s backpack, because the broadsword she longed for was inside, ”You guys are the first people I’ve truly communicated with face-to-face, that makes you real companions!”

Goodness, just a few dozen minutes ago, she was calling him a scoundrel and coward and threatening to beat him up.

Now, upon finding out he can make metal broadswords, she’s declaring them true companions.

Isn’t this too real.

”By the way, your backpack looks a bit different from mine?” Zeng Tao blinked, eyeing his backpack, ”Is this... a purple-grade backpack? You actually have a purple-grade backpack!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Fu couldn’t help but laugh.

He patted his backpack and said to Zeng Tao, ”Haven’t you noticed, among the four of us, it seems like you’re the only one without a purple-grade backpack.”

As he spoke, he also pointed to Lou Fei’Er’s backpack.

”Huh?” Zeng Tao immediately turned to look at the two of them, then widened her eyes, ”Are you kidding me. Isn’t a purple-grade backpack supposed to be made with purple-grade beast hide? And don’t you need a purple-grade boning knife to cut purple-grade beast hide, why are you guys so wealthy...”

She felt incredibly frustrated.

Is she actually the poorest one in this group?

Well... but it seems accurate, going by the rankings, she indeed is the lowest in this group.

”I just happened to cut a few pieces by chance.” Qin Fu shrugged, then looked at Xu Xin and the others, smiling, ”Those two, they’re the truly wealthy ones, they can just casually produce a purple-grade steel broadsword.”

It didn’t surprise Xu Xin that Qin Fu could guess it was a purple-grade steel sword.

After all, he basically already figured out his identity, and Zhao Xiaochuan and those others had shown off purple-grade steel weapons on the world trading platform.

The advanced weapons he brought out were certainly also purple-grade steel weapons.

”Huh? What purple... huh?! A purple-grade steel broadsword?! Purple-grade?!” Zeng Tao showed a moment of confusion, then immediately jumped up.

The words purple-grade and steel made her breath heavy, and she immediately stared intently at Xu Xin.

Unlike the previous animosity and anger, this time, she seemed to see Xu Xin as the broadsword, her eyes practically turning green.

”That sword, is it... really that powerful?! If I could use that sword... Yan Haoming, sell me your sword! I’ll... I’ll get a loan to buy it, okay...”

As she spoke, she looked pitifully at Xu Xin.

Qin Fu: ”...”

Xu Xin: ”...”

Lou Fei’Er: ”Pfft!”

She couldn’t help but laugh.

Getting a loan to buy it, really?

And besides, with it being so obvious from what those two said, Zeng Tao still hasn’t realized it.

First of all, Xu Xin already said he only makes weapons for real companions.

This is akin to telling her he made the weapon himself.

In this area, the only ones who can make metal weapons are Xu Xin and Ji Chaoyang, but either way, they’re people.

So, Xu Xin was actually trying to come clear just now.

After all, Qin Fu already figured it out.

But Zeng Tao’s attention was entirely on the sword, and she barely took in what he said.

Qin Fu even directly told her it was a purple-grade steel sword, which pretty much tells her the person before her is Xu Xin.

After all, who else but an explorer would possess purple-grade steel weapons?

As a result, she was too shocked by the sword’s quality to notice.

What a scatterbrain...

Moreover, she’s currently in a weak state with no strength, yet she’s still acting all foolish and unguarded.

Right now, the three people around could easily scoop her up and do whatever they want.

How did she survive before, was it purely by brute strength...

And now having lost that strength, her mindset hasn’t changed.

Fortunately, the people present have no other intentions; otherwise, she’d be in trouble.

Xu Xin finally understood why, despite possessing such powerful abilities that envied both him and Qin Fu, she only ranked eighth in District 187.

This little girl, her head isn’t quite right...

She’s just too foolish.

Seeing the strange looks from those around her, Zeng Tao glanced at them in confusion: ”What’s up, why are you looking at me like that, didn’t you see my combat style? If you were me, you’d definitely want that broadsword too!”

The three people around her fell silent once more.

”Once we get through this, I’ll make you one. How about that?” Xu Xin turned his head again to look at the stone statue of the winged dragon, speaking softly.

”Really? You’re not lying to me, are you?” Zeng Tao immediately grabbed Xu Xin’s arm tightly with her small hands, as if afraid he would run away, ”If you can make me a weapon, I won’t dislike you anymore!”

Not disliking me is manageable...

”However, making a weapon for you isn’t that simple. I’ve said it before, I only make weapons for real companions.” Xu Xin glanced once more at the very calm treehouse, then spoke.

If Zeng Tao became one of us, he’d surely make her a weapon.

Though, unsure if he could make the giant sword Zeng Tao had before.

”Don’t worry, as long as you make me this weapon, I’ll be your true companion!” Zeng Tao patted her little chest, standing proudly, ”I, Zeng Tao, keep my word!”

”... Becoming my true partner isn’t that simple.” Xu Xin’s lips twitched, a vein showing on his forehead.

He still didn’t reveal his identity, but watched Zeng Tao with interest.

This little girl is really quite amusing.

He wondered how long her naivety would last.

Qin Fu couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

”Did you even hear what I just said...” Qin Fu sighed deeply.

”Huh? What did you say? Is it about the purple-grade steel sword?” Zeng Tao asked, puzzled.

”Exactly, the purple-grade steel sword.”

”Is there a problem? Sounds strong anyway.”

”...” Qin Fu covered his face with one hand, pointing at Xu Xin with the other, ”He, Yan Haoming, can make purple-grade steel swords.”

”Why do I have to ask about his secrets?” Zeng Tao replied indifferently, ”He can make special weapons, that’s his business. I just need his sword. Making special weapons isn’t rare; I can do it too, no big deal.”

”Purple-grade steel sword.” Even Lou Fei’Er couldn’t help but remind her.

”So what, it’s just purple...”

Her words suddenly halted.

Then her eyes slowly widened.

”Wait... purple-grade... steel...?”

Her mouth opened slowly, gradually turning her head to Xu Xin, her eyes widening.

The hand gripping Xu Xin’s arm gradually loosened.

”Eh...? Wait... eh? Eh?” She felt her mind become a mess.

”What do you mean...? Purple-grade steel weapon? I seem to have... heard about it somewhere...?”

Her eyes were vacant, as if trying to confirm if her memory was correct.

”... If I remember correctly, the strong explorers together listed weapons on the trading platform... were they purple-grade steel weapons?”

She stared blankly at Xu Xin: ”Then... isn’t that... aren’t you... Xu... huh? Aren’t you Yan Haoming? Why can you...”

”So, could it be possible that, I’m saying it’s possible, he’s not Yan Haoming.” Qin Fu patiently explained.

”Impossible!” Zeng Tao immediately turned to Qin Fu, ”That guy sent me private messages right in front of me!”

”Hmm... then is it possible that... the watch can be used like a phone, by other people?” This time it was Lou Fei’Er who spoke.

She had long seen that Xu Xin wanted to reveal his identity.

After all, one person was already incapacitated, and the other seemed without any resistance, so there wasn’t a need to keep pretending.

”Oh.” Qin Fu raised an eyebrow, ”So, the watch can be used by others, no restrictions?”

”No.” Xu Xin raised his left hand with Yan Haoming’s watch, ”Anyone can operate it; what you can do, others can do too, even using his name to chat with others.”

”This is not good news.” Qin Fu glanced at his watch, ”Looks like this watch absolutely mustn’t be lost. Although it’s convenient, it adds a weakness.”

”Indeed. If I hadn’t insisted on snatching back my watch, I might not be like this now.” Lou Fei’Er touched the watch on her wrist.

If not for the watch back then, she might have opted to escape into the jungle instead of staying to negotiate with Xu Xin.

If that happened, she might have avoided Xu Xin’s interrogation and death, avoided mutation, and wouldn’t be contracted by him.

But now, looking back, she felt quite lucky.

Not only did she survive, but she followed someone who’s region’s leader.

Now, presumably, all the world’s survivors envy her.

”Alright then, I’d better be careful.” Qin Fu guarded his wrist, acting as if defending his watch.

”Wait... wait! You...! Eh? What are you talking about? Eh?!” Zeng Tao glanced at the two and then at Xu Xin.

Her eyes were vacant, slowly stepping back.

Then she nearly tripped over a stone behind her, with Lou Fei’Er supporting her.

She didn’t even dodge but leaned against Lou Fei’Er, continuing to stare blankly at Xu Xin.

”You, you are...” she swallowed, struggled to say a name, ”Xu... Xin?”

”You finally realized.” Xu Xin looked at her reassuringly, as if his child finally growing up.

”Wait... no... eh? Eh?! Eh——??!!!!”