CHAPTER 579: CHAPTER 579: VARIETY OF CARS

Next, she saw a portable freezer. "Good. This will keep food fresh," she whispered.

She also bought a medicine grinder and a pill-making machine. Herbs from this world could be turned into powder and pills with these machines.

Finally, she spotted a solar generator. She touched it softly. "Energy... we need this most of all."

She paid quickly and watched as the workers loaded the machines into a small trailer attached to her side of the truck.

Two hours later, they all returned to the parking lot. Their trucks stood side by side, each one packed full with machines.

Su Jiyai looked at the two trucks, both filled with machines, and nodded in satisfaction. Then she turned toward the others.

"Since we have collected the machines," she said, "now we should go and look for herbs."

Xi Ping tilted her head. "What types of herbs?"

"All different kinds," Su Jiyai answered. "Doesn’t matter how useful it looks. We need to collect as many as we can."

Xi Ping gave a quick nod. Qin Feng, however, stared at Su Jiyai with a hesitant gaze. His lips moved a little, like he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

Su Jiyai instantly knew what he was worried about. Qin Feng was thinking of the fact that she could not multiply fresh things. Vegetables, fruits, or herbs, once they lost freshness, she could not copy them.

That was one of her system’s biggest disadvantages. She could almost hear his thoughts.

She gave him a calm look and slightly motioned with her eyes. Everything will be fine. Don’t worry.

Qin Feng sighed softly and finally nodded.

"Let’s split up and search," Su Jiyai said. "We’ll meet back here when the sun starts going down."

Everyone agreed. Soon the three of them walked into the huge abandoned botanical research area behind the marketplace. The place was wild, filled with plants that had grown unchecked for years.

The air smelled sharp and green. Broken glass roofs let sunlight fall in strange angles, lighting up vines and strange flowers.

Jake went down one path, Qin Feng another, and Xi Ping leaped over a fence to look on the other side.

.......

Xi Ping crouched near a bush first. "What’s this?" she muttered. The bush had tiny blue leaves and a faint glow. She plucked one leaf and rubbed it between her fingers. A cool, tingling sensation spread over her skin.

"This is weird," she said. "Feels... healing?"

"Did you find something?" Su Jiyai’s voice came from behind. She walked over, carrying a notebook.

"Yeah, look." Xi Ping held up the leaf. "When I rub it, it feels cool. Like medicine."

Su Jiyai’s eyes brightened. "That’s Iceleaf. It’s used in wounds to stop infection and cool fever. Very rare."

Xi Ping gasped. "Serious? Then we should take all of it!" She quickly started pulling the whole bush out, roots and all, and placed it inside a large basket she carried.

Su Jiyai smiled at her eagerness. She then turned away to keep searching.

........

On another side, Qin Feng bent down near a cluster of yellow flowers shaped like bells. He touched one carefully, then sniffed it. The smell was sharp, almost bitter.

"This one’s strong," he whispered.

Suddenly, a tiny spark jumped from the flower and stung his finger. "Ow!"

Su Jiyai, hearing his voice, came over. "What did you find?"

Qin Feng pointed at the flower. "This thing shocked me."

Su Jiyai bent to look closer, her eyes shining with recognition. "That’s Lightning Bell Flower. It stores electric energy in its petals. Used for making stimulants, and sometimes, weapons."

Qin Feng blinked. "So... this flower is like a little battery?"

"Exactly," Su Jiyai nodded. "It can charge small things or be ground into powder for stamina medicine."

Qin Feng’s eyes widened. "Then this is crazy useful."

He pulled the whole bunch carefully and packed it into a box.

......

Meanwhile, Jake shouted from a distance. "Hey, come here! I found something really strange!"

Both Su Jiyai and Qin Feng rushed over.

Jake was standing near a patch of dark green vines with red thorns. The vines moved slightly, even though there was no wind.

"This thing tried to wrap around my ankle," Jake said, stepping back.

Su Jiyai looked carefully, her face turning serious. "That’s Bloodthorn Vine. Dangerous. But if dried properly, it becomes a strong rope. And its juice can be used to strengthen the body."

"Strengthen the body?" Qin Feng echoed.

"Yes. It can help increase muscle recovery," Su Jiyai explained.

Jake’s eyes sparkled. "Then we definitely take it. Don’t worry, I’ll cut it down." He used her a knife and hacked at the vine until it stopped moving, then carried big bundles into his sack.

.......

For the next few hours, they kept finding herbs that shocked them.

Qin Feng discovered a tiny mushroom glowing faintly purple.

"What is this one?" he asked.

Su Jiyai examined it and almost laughed. "That’s Dreamcap Mushroom. It can put people to sleep if boiled into soup. Dangerous if misused, but in small doses, good for treating insomnia."

Xi Ping smirked. "Good to know. I’ll collect a lot. Might need it if people start talking too much."

Su Jiyai rolled her eyes at her joke but still noted it down.

Later, Xi Ping found a plant with silver leaves that reflected sunlight like a mirror.

"This one looks pretty," she said.

Su Jiyai touched it and smiled. "That’s Silverleaf Herb. It can purify water. Just one leaf can clean a whole bucket."

Qin Feng’s jaw dropped. "Then this one is priceless."

They collected as much as they could, stuffing it into bags and boxes.

........

As the sun moved lower in the sky, the three of them gathered back at the trucks. Their arms were full, and baskets overflowed with herbs of all shapes and colors.

Xi Ping dumped her load down with pride. "Look at this! We’re rich in herbs now."

Qin Feng placed his box gently. "Some of these are rare. We have to store them carefully."

Su Jiyai nodded, her thoughts drifting to the static capsule she had bought earlier.

She stared at the pile of fresh herbs. If she used the capsule, maybe she could keep them frozen in time, never rotting, never losing freshness.

She touched the capsule in her pocket and wondered, ’Will it work? If it does, I can grow them in my world.’

With that thought, Su Jiyai calmly began placing all of the herbs into the Static Capsules.

The small capsules shone faintly as each herb went inside, frozen in perfect condition.

Thanks to her system, the capsules had already been multiplied, so she had plenty to use.

Xi Ping watched curiously. "Wow... so you’re putting everything in those tiny things?"

"Yes," Su Jiyai answered, her voice calm. "This way, they won’t spoil. When the time comes, I can take them out exactly how they are now."

"That’s... scary and amazing at the same time," Qin Feng muttered.

Su Jiyai closed the last capsule and slipped them all into her Storage Ring. Then she dusted off her hands and turned toward the three of them.

"Alright," she said. "We can now go and complete the other task."

The three of them looked at each other, confused.

"Other task?" Xi Ping asked first.

"What task now?" Jake frowned.

"Yeah," Qin Feng added, "I thought food and herbs were the main thing."

Su Jiyai looked at them seriously. "In our world, other than food and herbs, I also need cars."

"Cars?" The three of them said together, looking dumbfounded.

Xi Ping tilted her head. "Why do we need cars? Isn’t one truck enough?"

Su Jiyai shook her head slowly.

"No. I want to buy a variety of cars. We need fast cars, heavy cars, and even off-road cars. Each one has a different use. That’s why we must go to different cities before we can collect different types."

The others stayed quiet for a moment.

Jake finally shrugged. "Well, if you need cars, we’ll get cars. No problem. We still have money."

Su Jiyai nodded once.

"Good. But listen. To prevent chaos, I will give each of you a walkie-talkie. Stay in contact. We will decide on a meeting place. After you buy your car, you must drive it back to the same location."

"Got it," Jake said, taking the small walkie-talkie she handed him.

The four of them drove together to the nearest car dealership. The building looked modern, even though vines crept up its walls.

Rows of cars, some dusty but in good condition, were lined neatly outside.

A man in a uniform came out quickly when he saw them. "Customers? Wow, long time since I’ve had a group like this. Come in, come in."

"We want cars," Su Jiyai said plainly. "Many cars."

The salesman blinked. "How many?"

Jake laughed. "We just need all types. Sedans, SUVs, trucks, even sports cars if you have them."

The salesman almost rubbed his hands together in joy. "Please, follow me. We have a wide selection."