“As for Shuangshuang, just wait for now. Once I develop an antidote that can suppress your contamination level below 80%, and if we can free up about 15% buffer, you’ll be able to level up normally as well.”
Zhao Pingsheng’s answer was very reassuring, and Lin Shuangshuang obediently agreed.
Luo Na and the other two discussed it and decided to turn the medicine into injectable fluids.
“In this era, strength is the guarantee of safety. A bit of physical discomfort doesn’t matter!”
“Exactly!”
“If you don’t suffer now, you’ll end up letting others make you suffer later!”
The three of them gritted their teeth.
So be it—shots it is!
Huo Ling naturally also chose injections. He didn’t care about a bit of physical pain.
Besides, he had people to protect.
His teammates.
And Lin Shuangshuang.
He was extremely protective of his own people. Moreover, as the captain, how could he afford to be weak?
Zhao Pingsheng recorded everything. “Alright, then organize your core crystals and hand them over.”
He told Xiao San and Xiao Si to send them to his floor later.
Then he turned and left.
Xiao San and Xiao Si were busy every day. If their bodies weren’t mechanical, they would’ve been exhausted to death by now. After delivering the core crystals, they still had to send clothes to Lin Shuangshuang.
After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms.
Lin Shuangshuang thanked Xiao San and Xiao Si, then closed the door to look at her new clothes.
It was just Huo Ling’s clothes resized smaller—nothing special—but she still liked them very much. She had always liked wearing his clothes.
Because they carried his scent. It was pleasant, but she couldn’t quite describe what it was.
Like the cold air of a winter morning illuminated by sunlight—cool, crisp, and refreshing. It was very abstract, but that was exactly how it felt.
It probably wasn’t floral.
Maybe some kind of woody or natural scent?
Lin Shuangshuang had tried buying many things, but she could never find that smell. Even his exact same perfume, laundry detergent, and shampoo couldn’t fully replicate his scent.
She only took a T-shirt and home pants into the bathroom to shower. The rest of the clothes weren’t put away—instead, she piled them on the bed like a nest.
It felt like she would sleep more peacefully that way.
And indeed, she slept soundly through the night without dreams.
**
Fourth day of survival in the apocalypse.
Breakfast consumed: 5 jin of lean pork + 700g corn, green peas, and carrots + 3 jin of rice, paired with 5 packs of pickled vegetables, and one bottle of fresh orange juice per person.
Last night everyone didn’t sleep well. High-intensity scavenging for supplies left them exhausted. Even though awakened ability users had strong physiques, they had killed many zombies yesterday. Today, everyone was sluggish.
After all, before the apocalypse they were just ordinary people who had never done such high-intensity physical labor.
The “gossip trio” was already nodding off.
Luo Na was also not very energetic. Her porridge was almost about to spill into her nose when she turned and saw Lin Shuangshuang looking energetic and lively. She was shocked.
“Shuang’er! Aren’t you tired? You were busy all day yesterday too.”
She had also killed plenty of zombies.
Lin Shuangshuang shook her head, holding her bowl and blowing on it to cool the porridge. “Not tired. I slept really well last night.”
That level of intensity was like a countryside outing to her—nothing much.
Luo Na was genuinely impressed, admiration shining in her eyes. “You’re really strong!”
Lin Shuangshuang nodded in acknowledgment. She was strong—there was no need to be modest about it. Yesterday Zhao Pingsheng had said she couldn’t level up for now, but she wasn’t anxious at all.
Because her ability had already reached the current maximum level.
It was just that she couldn’t use it.
Her body wouldn’t allow it.
And her rationality also didn’t allow her to use it recklessly, because she didn’t want to lose control and go mad.
Gao Lei and Wu Zhe looked envious.
“As expected of a boss! Even when sick, you’re still so strong!”
“Incredible!”
Then they turned to their captain.
Huo Ling sat steadily at the main seat, as usual—no one could tell whether he was tired or not.
Luo Na and Wu Zhe immediately clicked their tongues.
“Sigh, our Captain Huo is so boring.”
“Exactly!”
Gao Lei just smiled without speaking.
Lin Shuangshuang also glanced at Huo Ling. He lazily lifted his eyelids, gave her a condescending look, then turned away again—arrogant as ever.
Alright then.
A young master temper.
Lin Shuangshuang ate quickly. After finishing a bowl of porridge, she began studying her wristband.
Because her old wristband had a built-in spatial storage, Zhang Dapeng simply integrated the system into it. This made it more convenient for her to use.
She didn’t have to switch to the team’s standard wristband. The team was quite flexible about this.
No strict rules.
Use whatever was comfortable.
Lin Shuangshuang was very concerned about supplies, so she quickly opened the warehouse to check remaining stock, focusing especially on food.
Current remaining food: 93 jin rice, 90 jin high-gluten flour, 5 boxes instant noodles (120 packs), 2 boxes beer (24 bottles, 500ml each), 2 boxes milk (48 cartons, 250ml each), orange juice reduced by 7 cartons, 65 cartons remaining (200ml each), 5 jin assorted snacks (cookies, chocolate, etc.).
Meat: 20 jin frozen beef, frozen pork reduced by 5 jin leaving 25 jin, 1 box luncheon meat (24 cans, 340g each).
Vegetables: frozen corn, peas, carrots mix remaining 300g (originally 1000g per pack), 7 onions, 18 tomatoes.
10 cans of douchi sardines (227g each), 1 unopened bottle of mushroom meat sauce (200g), 2 jars of wildflower honey (500g each), 2 packs star anise (55g each), and—no pickled vegetables.
Lin Shuangshuang looked on as the pickled vegetable icon was cleared and disappeared.
After all, they had eaten the five small packs they found yesterday at the fishing gear shop. After breakfast, they were naturally removed by Xiao Yi and Xiao Er.
Inside the castle, Xiao San and Xiao Si acted like butlers handling all logistics and inventory. However, food stocktaking was handled by Xiao Yi and Xiao Er.
After all, only the cooking robots knew exactly how much food had been consumed that day.
Very human-like.
Lin Shuangshuang studied the new wristband features and played with it happily.
The castle’s control permissions were not yet open to her. Seeing this, Luo Na said, “Shuangshuang, don’t mind this. Normally, except for Zhang-ge and Captain Huo, none of us have permissions. If we ever get them, it probably means the castle is about to fall apart!”
Lin Shuangshuang indicated she understood.
After breakfast, the five-person team set out again, fully equipped, riding their hover motorcycles out.
They continued searching the town for supplies.
Huo Ling reminded them, “Starting today, we split into teams. Luo Na and Wu Zhe look for food. Gao Lei comes with me to search for other supplies. Lin Shuangshuang is free to act on her own.”
All four immediately responded, “Yes!”
Although at home they were lazy and half-dead, once outside they became sharp and energetic. After all, a single mistake could mean death.
They had to stay alert.
As captain, Huo Ling’s arrangement was the most appropriate. Luo Na and Wu Zhe weren’t familiar with other supplies and couldn’t judge what was useful, so food search suited them best. Gao Lei had great strength, and Huo Ling himself had broad knowledge, so they could handle other materials.
As for Lin Shuangshuang—she was clever. Letting her roam freely was best. She would never disappoint; she only ever brought surprises.
Saying she was “free to act” sounded casual, but in truth, someone’s mental power was already locked onto her.
Who could it be? Who could it be? So hard to guess.