Chapter 73: Clothing, Food, Shelter, and Travel (With gratitude to Jiushan Xuanqing Xiangyou Jueze Daoren, Swift Kite in Flight, and Quantum Information)

Wang Keyue sat deep in thought, her face clouded with worry, when suddenly the system chimed in her mind: “Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have exceeded the requirements for your compulsory task, jointly healing 1,050 patients. The main program rewards you with 5,000 gold coins, an Advanced Traditional Medicine Skill Card, ten acres of premium medicinal farmland, five ancient spring wells, and a fully automated greenhouse.”

“In addition, surpassing the task by 550 patients earns you an extra 5,500 gold coins and twenty sets of basic nano-thermal protective suits.”

Wang Keyue was utterly delighted; she hadn’t expected to receive such a wealth of rewards for this mission. The five ancient spring wells, in particular, had arrived at the most critical moment, when water was desperately scarce.

“Host, the combined water capacity of these five wells is about one hundred tons—enough for a small village of over a thousand people to use for several months!” said 9538. Naturally, he was referring to daily living needs.

The nano-thermal protective suits were also a boon. It was said that these suits kept one warm in winter and cool in summer, and most importantly, they were impervious to blades and bullets.

For Wang Keyue, this meant another layer of security for her life.

If the suits were affordable, she was determined to purchase them in bulk. With the help of 9538, all she needed was a simple command, and the nano-thermal suits would materialize before her.

A basic nano-thermal protective suit cost only 200 gold coins. Wang Keyue quickly calculated her assets and purchased thirty sets, spending 6,000 coins. Although she felt a twinge of pain at the expense, the safety of her team was her top priority.

As the saying goes, food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are fundamental. Now, food, clothing, and shelter were taken care of; only transportation remained troublesome.

Wang Keyue simply asked 9538 to recommend some suitable vehicles, but as she gazed at the flying and burrowing options, her mind reeled.

These means of transportation were all a bit too advanced for her current situation.

Wang Keyue’s purchasing power was, after all, limited. She couldn’t help but recall the green electric buses from her previous life. “If only there were passenger buses,” she sighed.

“Host, the kind of passenger vehicle you mentioned is available in our system marketplace!” 9538 replied eagerly.

“Oh? Then why haven’t I seen them before?” When Wang Keyue had previously browsed the marketplace, she hadn’t noticed any ordinary vehicles for sale.

“That’s because the model you want just appeared in the second-hand section. The listings there update every hour or so, so it’s easy to miss new arrivals,” 9538 explained.

Sure enough, with a flick of the screen, Wang Keyue saw a large passenger bus, reminiscent of those from her original world.

However, this one looked slightly more compact. Upon closer inspection, it was a semi-automatic solar-powered amphibious sightseeing bus.

The description noted that the vehicle had once been in an accident, damaging the underwater circulation system and making it incapable of underwater travel. However, the land system was fully functional, with official verification provided.

Wang Keyue projected a 3D model of the bus, making it easier to scrutinize its exterior and interior.

The outside appeared about eighty percent new, with no obvious damage. The vehicle was white, but according to 9538, its color could adapt to its surroundings.

Inside, Wang Keyue could even enjoy a simulated test drive.

The driver’s cabin featured a guidance robot named Xiao Lu-1, though it seemed not particularly intelligent—rather like the Xiao Ai-1 from her previous world.

Now, as Wang Keyue sat in the driver’s seat, Xiao Lu-1 was meticulously instructing her on how to operate the vehicle.

This explained why the vehicle was described as semi-automatic—the key reason being its inability to autonomously adjust routes in complex terrain due to limited intelligence.

This didn’t concern Wang Keyue; she intended to drive herself anyway, and if possible, train a few more drivers.

From her own experience, under Xiao Lu-1’s guidance, anyone of sound mind and intellect could easily operate the bus.

She continued to inspect the interior. It was no different from the bunked sleeper buses of her old world: soft seats below, soft bunks above, with a capacity for forty-eight passengers. Of course, if need be, a dozen more could be squeezed in. After all, in this ancient world, there were no traffic officers to enforce the rules.

The price was 2,000 gold coins—well within her budget. Without hesitation, Wang Keyue instructed 9538 to purchase the vehicle.

Now that she had the means to acquire better transportation, why should she suffer on horseback, enduring the endless jolting?

“Host, you now have 13,200 gold coins remaining!” 9538 reminded her after she’d finished shopping and closed the marketplace.

“No problem. We’ll just have to work harder and earn more!” Wang Keyue encouraged. “Don’t worry, as soon as we have enough means of survival, we’ll tackle that mission in the cultivation world!” she reassured him.

“Of course, Host. 9538 will always be by your side!” The ever-attentive 9538’s tone was almost coquettish.

After dinner, Wang Keyue informed everyone of the departure time for the next day. The group busied themselves with packing, unaware that, concealed in the darkness, uninvited guests were drawing near.