Chapter 119 – The Unlucky One in the Survival World (END)

When she saw the cargo ship, Zheng Haoyun instantly snapped to attention.

She quickly stashed anything that might arouse suspicion into the cabin, changed back into her self-made fur clothing, messed up her hair into a bird's nest, and even used makeup to make her lips look cracked and dry…

Yes, Zheng Haoyun planned to pretend to be an orphan girl who had been out fishing with her older brother when they encountered a storm and she alone barely survived. That way, she could minimize the natives' wariness toward her.

Meanwhile, aboard the Leviar cargo ship, a sailor hurriedly reported the latest situation to Captain Wells.

"Captain Wells, I spotted a small boat 3 nautical miles away, about 15 degrees south-north from our location. Unknown personnel aboard. Shall I alert the crew and raise security?"

"Meidel, pass it along — all hands on Level One Alert at once."(Note: In this story, Level One Alert is the lowest level of defense on the Leviar cargo ship.)

A few minutes later, the Leviar had already forced Zheng Haoyun's little boat to halt. Meidel used a megaphone to shout from the deck:

"Whoever's inside, come out immediately! I'm a crew member of the Leviar cargo ship. If you don't cooperate, we'll be forced to take extreme measures!"

Right then, Zheng Haoyun, having just changed into her ragged fur outfit, staggered out weakly, swayed a few steps, and collapsed to the deck.

This was all part of her act — if she were truly a helpless orphan adrift for days, she certainly wouldn't be hopping around energetically. She'd look exactly as she did now: sickly, feeble, and sunburned.

The crew onboard saw a thin, frail girl lying at the bow of the boat. The young sailor Meidel was the first to be moved — she reminded him of his little sister at home.

"Captain Wells, she doesn't look like a pirate. Should we send someone to check her condition? It's still a human life, after all."

Captain Wells wasn't made of stone. After thinking for a moment, he sent three crew members with weapons to inspect Zheng Haoyun's boat.

Meanwhile, Zheng Haoyun lay on the bow, enduring the searing midday sun. It was the hottest time of day, and she could only grit her teeth and keep up the act.

When Meidel arrived, he found a woman with labored breathing and cracked, parched lips.

The other two crew members went to check the cabin and found it a complete mess — just a chunk of stale black bread and two worn-out pieces of men's clothing. No sign of any other man.

The young sailors exchanged glances and quickly guessed: the clothes likely belonged to a deceased family member, perhaps her brother who had perished at sea.

Sigh. What a tragedy. The thought of this girl slowly dying alone at sea if they hadn't arrived made their hearts ache.

After they carried Zheng Haoyun aboard the Leviar and gave her a few sips of water, she finally opened her eyes slowly, as if waking from a long coma.

Seeing she had been rescued, she tried to bow in gratitude, but her body was too weak — she could only barely sit up.

The surrounding sailors urged her to rest.

Upon hearing she had regained consciousness, Captain Wells quickly came over.

"Miss, pardon my bluntness, but I must ask — who are you, and how did you end up like this?"

Zheng Haoyun choked out a sobbing tale of her misfortune: her brother had died at sea, leaving her alone to drift and survive…

When she finished, she hugged her knees and cried bitterly.

In reality, she was talking telepathically with her little companion:

"Xiao Tian, the onion water is enough. No more! I've got plenty of tears already."

The onion water was too effective. Just a few drops near her eyes and her tears wouldn't stop flowing.

Even Captain Wells, a man seasoned by storms and hardship, couldn't help but soften at the sight of her.

Still, he was a businessman — he couldn't just take in a stranger for free.

"Miss, you may stay aboard until we reach the next port. But you must pay for a ticket. Otherwise, I'll have to ask you to disembark."

Several sailors looked conflicted, but none dared to challenge the man who held their livelihoods in his hands.

In the end, Zheng Haoyun handed over her last 500 copper coins, and offered to work aboard the ship in exchange for meals.

Ding! "Congratulations, 'Luck-Turned-for-the-Better,' for completing the final trial. You are now granted a legitimate identification.Would you like us to teleport your younger brother over now?"

"No. I don't need him."

As far as she was concerned, that half-brother born from the parents who had abandoned her could fend for himself. She had no intention of raising him.

"All game-related items will now be reclaimed. Good luck."

As the system message faded, Zheng Haoyun discovered her backpack and all supplies had vanished.

Even the small boat she'd used earlier disappeared — though strangely, none of the crew seemed to question it.

Meanwhile, back on Planet Toska, the researchers noticed:

"Huh? Some items weren't reclaimed?"

"Meh, not many. Let it go."

They brushed it off and quickly forgot about it.

But Zheng Haoyun's spatial inventory was untouched — the few things she had stashed there were still intact. Not much, but more than nothing.

From then on, she learned how to fish and trade with the locals to survive.

To others, she appeared to be a woman who lived on her own catches.

In her spare time, she focused on cultivating Refining the Spirit, slowly enhancing her soul power.

As for romance? There simply wasn't anyone in this world she found worth considering — so she didn't bother.