Volume One, Chapter 4: Wishing You Success in Defeating Shen Chi Soon

“Hey, isn’t this Miss Wu?”

The woman behind the counter, wearing glasses, strained her voice and scrutinized her with a malicious gleam in her eyes.

Wu Xingxue rolled her eyes. “It’s me, the great lady. Cut the sarcastic tone and keep your snide remarks to yourself.”

“Hurry up with the appraisal, I’m in a rush.”

The woman was momentarily taken aback, faltering.

Wu Xingxue frowned. “Can you do it or not? If not, get someone else.”

The glasses-wearing woman’s face flushed, alternating between red and pale, looking quite displeased.

Another staff member pushed her aside and smiled, dimples appearing on his cheeks.

“My name’s Cheng Lan. I’m a staff member here. Just hand me the item you want appraised.”

Wu Xingxue passed the fruit to Cheng Lan.

He operated the machine right in front of her; it was simple—a half-human-high device that could detect properties through energy fluctuations.

Once the fruit was placed inside, the machine clicked.

Three seconds later, a mechanical voice announced—

[Unknown plant fruit, possesses healing properties, degree of restoration unknown]

The crowd watching suddenly fell silent.

The two staff members’ eyes widened in astonishment.

It could directly affect the human body?!

Resources were scarce now, and medicines were in high demand. Healers with rare abilities were prized treasures.

For severe injuries, even those with money might not be able to hire a healer.

One could imagine the value of this so-called fast-healing fruit.

“I offer 500 Union Coins! I want it!”

“You dare say that? I bid 700! I’m an explorer and need it more!”

Wu Xingxue scanned the crowd, spotting several with greed shining in their eyes.

Then she thought of her shattered ability core...

Healing effect? She wasn’t sure if it could repair the core.

She raised her hand and stuffed the fruit into her mouth, biting down in one gulp.

“Don’t eat it!” someone shouted hoarsely from the crowd.

The appraisal hall fell deathly silent. Everyone stared wide-eyed at Wu Xingxue, her cheeks puffed as she chewed.

She crushed the core and swallowed it, then turned and walked away calmly, leaving the onlookers dumbfounded.

Those few eager bidders glared at her departing back, their eyes filled with reluctant defeat, but no one gave chase.

“The fruit can actually be eaten directly? That’s unique in the Safe Zone! I wonder if she has more? I’d like to try the taste.” someone murmured, smacking their lips.

Another expressed astonishment, puzzled, “She’s not even injured. Wasn’t that a waste?!”

“Who said she’s not hurt? Don’t you remember? Her ability core shattered!”

“Oh, I get it now!” someone suddenly realized, “She wants to repair her ability core!”

The glasses-wearing staff member scoffed, a deep resentment flickering in her eyes. “With such a worthless fruit, she thinks she can fix her ability core? Even if it could, she doesn’t deserve it!”

“A coward who abandoned her comrades. She’s unworthy!”

“Hey, Luo Jing, don’t say that. She’s from the Wu family. Maybe she really has a trick up her sleeve!” someone teased.

Luo Jing snorted, a vague hatred gleaming in her eyes.

It seemed there was more left unsaid in her words.

After leaving the appraisal hall, Wu Xingxue breathed a sigh of relief.

---

Without her powers, even thieves dared to target her.

Ha! And she was genuinely afraid of that.

After all, her body was so weak she was out of breath after just a few steps.

If she traded on the spot, she’d be robbed of her money as soon as she left; if she didn’t, someone would snatch the fruit.

Either way, others would benefit. Better she ate it herself.

Besides, the fruit really worked!

After eating it, warmth surged within her. The once lifeless ability core seemed to flicker with newfound vitality—albeit subtly.

One fruit’s effect was slight, but what if many accumulated?

Could she repair her ability core with these fruits?

A faint hope blossomed in Wu Xingxue’s heart.

She was also increasingly curious about the other person in the space with her.

She wanted to know where they had gotten such fruit.

“Wait!” a voice called from behind.

Wu Xingxue turned to see a burly man with a shaved head, large and bear-like.

It was Meng Wei, like Shen Chi, a squad leader of an exploration team.

Interestingly, these two never got along and always clashed when they met.

Shen Chi often cursed him behind his back, dreaming of toppling Meng Wei.

It was an obsession.

Wu Xingxue asked, “Captain Meng, is there something you need?”

Meng Wei scratched his bald head with a wide hand, looking at Wu Xingxue’s thin, pale figure and lowered his voice instinctively, “Hey, little sister…”

“I just wanted to ask if you still have that fruit from earlier?”

He hurried to add, “I know if you have it, you’d give it to that dog Shen Chi first—uh, your cousin Shen Chi. I just meant, well…”

Meng Wei’s face flushed red.

Wu Xingxue replied calmly, “I’ve left the Wu family. The Wu family, including Shen Chi, has nothing to do with me.”

“Ah?”

Meng Wei opened his mouth but didn’t ask further.

His expression relaxed considerably.

“That Shen Chi kid isn’t a good guy. Do you still have any fruit? Sell it to me! I’ll pay well!”

Wu Xingxue said regretfully, “Sorry, Captain Meng. I got that fruit by chance and have none left.”

Meng Wei was briefly disappointed but quickly returned to normal.

“Eh, don’t call me captain. Just call me Brother Meng. Everyone does, and once you know me, we’re friends!”

“Next time you get something good, come to me. Our squad lives in District 4, number 231.”

He patted his chest proudly. “You can ask around about Meng Wei’s reputation. I’m no petty person! Doing business with me means you won’t get cheated!”

Meng Wei was straightforward and sincere.

Wu Xingxue nodded readily. “Alright, if I get any more, I’ll come to you first.”

She paused, then asked, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll scam you?”

Meng Wei took a moment to realize she meant her rotten reputation.

He grinned. “Eh! I haven’t seen it myself, so how could I believe the rumors?”

Wu Xingxue blinked.

---

Look at that—a man of integrity!

No wonder Shen Chi couldn’t beat him.

“I hope you’ll take down that dog Shen Chi soon!”

Wu Xingxue patted Meng Wei’s sturdy arm sincerely.

Meng Wei chuckled watching her slender back fade away. “No wonder she used to be a fifth-tier power. Even her words are so pleasant!”

Wu Xingxue wandered about, hoping to find a place to stay for the night.

As she reached the central district, a voice rang out: “You worthless sons of bitches, get the hell away from me!”

The voice was that of an old lady, somewhat familiar.

This area used to be a small shopping street, but the shops were closed and converted into housing, now fully occupied.

Nearby, a crowd gathered, staring at something, and the curses came from there.

Wu Xingxue hesitated, then walked over.

“Hey, you old hag! You’re half-buried in the ground, yet you still hog this house for what?”

“Listen, it’s the end of days now. No more respecting the elderly or cherishing the young! You have two hours to move out, or else—”

Three young men bearing yellow armbands of the management department appeared to be enforcing housing allocation.

The silver-haired old woman, holding a cane, spat fiercely, “Bullshit! Don’t think I’m senile. The lease on this house isn’t even up yet!”

“Your dead old man and son’s rent money ran out long ago! This place now belongs to the Safe Zone! Move it!”

The old woman was undaunted. “Ha! Don’t think I don’t know the truth. You’re taking bribes to kick me, a lonely old widow, out early! This is corruption!”

The men immediately grew angry and raised their fists to strike.

But suddenly, someone grabbed one of them.

“Hey! Who the hell are you? Let go!” The man’s arm was twisted behind his back, and he was helplessly forced to his knees.

The old woman exclaimed joyfully, “Xue!”

Wu Xingxue pushed forward with a cold expression, knocking the man to the ground.

She clasped her hands behind her back, her hands trembling slightly.

Turning her head, she softly asked, “Grandma Qin, are you alright? What happened?”

After filtering out the old woman’s insulting words automatically, Wu Xingxue understood the situation.

She glared coldly at the three officials. “Grandma Qin’s lease still has a week left. On what grounds are you trying to evict her now?”

This two-story building originally belonged to Grandma Qin, but under new regulations, all housing in the Safe Zone belongs collectively to the Safe Zone, regardless of pre-apocalypse ownership.

If you want to live here, you must pay rent in Union Coins, just like before the apocalypse.

Grandma Qin’s husband and son had passed away not long ago. They had used their remaining money to secure the lease, which still had a week left.

But the officials tried to repossess the property early and resorted to violence.

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