Chapter Fifteen: The Perfect Tool

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“Name: Paradise Island Couples Vacation Voucher”
“Type: Item”
“Quality: Perfect”
“Effect: Upon use, grants a 15-day paid vacation to Paradise Island, allowing one companion.”
“Note: Once you have been to Paradise Island, every other place becomes hell.”
“Can it be taken out of the dungeon? No.”

Liu Zheng stared thoughtfully at the colorful voucher in his hand.
“System, does the 15 days on Paradise Island count as survival time?” he asked.
“Yes,” the system replied succinctly.

Fifteen days equals 360 hours, five times the required clearance time. Even if the clearance evaluation is comprehensive, he should at least reach an A grade. In other words, he was already on the express train to passing the level.

A faint smile crept to Liu Zheng’s lips. But he quickly realized he was celebrating too soon.

“Paradise Island couples vacation voucher!”
The ox-horse pushed its big head closer, hot breath steaming from its nostrils.
“Damn, the clearance reward is actually this thing!” It sounded genuinely delighted.

“You really want this?” Liu Zheng probed cautiously.
“Of course! Do you know how long it’s been since I last had a vacation?” The ox-horse answered without hesitation.
“Besides, it’s a couples voucher. My wife and I haven’t seen each other in six months. Fifteen days is enough time to make a little ox-horse.” It spoke excitedly.

Hearing this, Liu Zheng’s mind flashed to a photo of the ox-horse dressed as a maid.
“Ox-horse, our deal might be off,” he said after a moment of hesitation.
“What do you mean?!” The ox-horse’s eyes widened, and the hot breath it exhaled grew even fiercer.
“I really need this vacation voucher.”
“I need it too. We had a deal—if you dare back out, I swear I’ll kill you.” The ox-horse lowered its head, aiming its sharp horns at Liu Zheng.
Its four sturdy hooves scraped the ground, muscles rippling like waves.

Liu Zheng had no doubt it could pierce him and the wall at the same time. But he showed no fear, instead locking eyes with the ox-horse without backing down.

He was gambling that the ox-horse wouldn’t just snatch his things. After all, he was immortal; if he lost, he could surrender and accept half the loss.

“I’m not trying to cheat, just seeking a fair deal,” Liu Zheng said.

Putting aside the fact that the vacation voucher could guarantee level clearance, it was also a perfect-grade item. A mere bottle of Ascension Maotai was obviously insufficient for trade.

“So, what do you want?”

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The ox-horse grunted heavily before speaking.
“You know its value and understand my situation. You decide what I need.”

Liu Zheng replied, “You really are the craftiest, boldest, and luckiest human I’ve ever met. Wait here.”

The ox-horse stared at him for a full two minutes before finally saying something. Then it charged and smashed open the door, leaving.

Half an hour later, it returned to the lounge.
“Here.”

The ox-horse placed a box in front of Liu Zheng. It looked utterly pitiful—only half of its horns remained, its nose was caved in, and its body was covered with wounds and bruises. One hind leg hung limply in the air, half the bone exposed. A silver dining knife was even lodged in its chest.

“Boss, what happened to you?” Liu Zheng asked casually.
“None of your damn business. Hurry up and inspect the goods. Oof~” The ox-horse gasped in pain.
“All right.”

He opened the package. Inside was a bottle of red wine—an ordinary glass bottle, unadorned and unlabeled, sealed not with wood but a tiny skull.

“Name: Vlad III Limited Edition”
“Type: Item”
“Quality: Perfect”
“Effect: +15 Strength and Constitution, +20 Perception. High chance to awaken vampire bloodline, small chance to awaken special bloodline ‘Descendant of Dracula.’ Drinking with other supernatural creature’s blood increases the chance.”
“Note: A fine wine brewed from the heart’s blood that flowed after the pierced prince was stabbed, made using a secret recipe. Even in the Blood Restaurant, it’s a top-tier drink.”
“Can it be taken out of the dungeon? Yes.”

With full attribute boosts and the ability to awaken a bloodline, it was truly a perfect-grade item. Liu Zheng shook the bottle, watching the liquid ripple with a ruby glow.

“Give this to that tree. It’ll sell you all its roots.” The ox-horse said proudly.
“What’s the best thing it has?” Liu Zheng asked.
“How would I know? But it’s definitely something good. That guy’s self-employed, way richer than us wage slaves.” The ox-horse said with a hint of envy.

“All right.” Liu Zheng put away the wine and handed the vacation voucher to the ox-horse.
“I thought you’d want that bottle of Ascension Maotai too.”
The ox-horse sounded surprised.
“Would you give it to me?”
“I’d sooner give your grandmother a hoof.” The ox-horse spat on the ground.
“But, since you’re playing fair, I can delay my vacation by a week.” It turned its head.
“That’s really good news.” Liu Zheng smiled.

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With the ox-horse as his novice guide NPC, Liu Zheng felt much more at ease.

The deal done, the ox-horse lay to one side, repeatedly admiring the vacation voucher.
“By the way, what exactly is Paradise Island?” Liu Zheng asked.
“It’s an artificial island built by City Hall specifically for top talents from all professions to vacation. It has the most advanced entertainment facilities, the most beautiful scenery, the richest cuisine, and the most professional staff. Best of all, it’s all free.” The ox-horse said longingly.
“Sounds exactly like heaven.”
Liu Zheng felt this spiel sounded familiar.
“Of course! Otherwise, why call it Paradise Island? Just getting there once is worth being fired the next day.” The ox-horse said excitedly.

“Uh, there’s a story. Want to hear it?” Liu Zheng decided to remind the ox-horse, since it had helped him a lot.
“Spit it out.” The ox-horse said impatiently.

“Once there was a sealed underground dungeon where people worked under surveillance every day. Life was dull. But every once in a while, a lucky one was chosen to go to the legendary Paradise Island, never having to work again, just enjoying life.”
“But actually, those people were clones. The so-called trip to Paradise Island was just being sent for dissection, their organs transplanted to their originals.”

This was the plot of *Escape from Clone Island*. Liu Zheng had found it quite shocking when he first read it.
“Interesting. Where’d you hear that?” The ox-horse asked.
“I made it up.”
“You have quite the imagination. But too bad, Paradise Island really exists. I have a relative who went there.” The ox-horse licked its nose.

“How did he get the chance?”
“He spent his whole life savings buying a scalper’s ticket. After he came back, he killed himself.” The ox-horse said.
“Why?”
“Because he knew he’d never get the chance again.” The ox-horse said calmly.

“And you, boss?”
“I’m different. He was a widower. I have a wife. Plus, I’m young and an excellent delivery worker at the Blood Restaurant.”
“Even if you don’t trade with me, I could save up for another decade or so to buy a scalper’s ticket.” The ox-horse said proudly.
“Impressive, impressive.” Liu Zheng gave a thumbs-up.
“Keep it down.”

“Just asking, boss, are you badly hurt?” Liu Zheng suddenly asked.
“Just enough breath left to kill you,” the ox-horse replied with a sarcastic smile.
“Heh.”
“Heh.”