The members of Dawn Squad had no idea that lying on a flatbed cart in the neighboring street was their captain—Xie Yuan—whom they were searching for.
When Xu San San returned to the side door of Barracks 9-006, it was already empty inside.
They must have all been taken to the crematorium.
“Huff… huff…”
Xu San San panted heavily, plopping down onto the ground.
Exhausted!
She was utterly exhausted!
If she hadn’t drunk a Nutrient Solution earlier, she wouldn’t have had the strength to perform so miraculously just now!
The 9th District really was better!
Seeing that the surroundings were silent and devoid of people, Xu San San furtively pulled out a Nutrient Solution and helped the young man on the cart drink it.
“Ah, it’s my fault for drinking your ration this morning and leaving you hungry all day. While there’s no one around, quickly replenish your strength.”
As she fed him, she remained vigilant of her surroundings.
She now fully understood—those people she saw this morning, constantly alert to their surroundings, must have had food with them!
Today had truly been an eye-opener!
Meanwhile, Xie Yuan’s heart was deeply moved.
He had taken out the Nutrient Solution this morning to pay for the favor of being taken out of the 9th District, but he never expected this young woman to be so kind—not only treating his injuries but also sharing precious food with him.
In this post-apocalyptic world, food was sometimes more valuable than life itself!
If only I could stand up again…
Xie Yuan suddenly felt a deep sorrow—sorrow that his life was nearing its end, with no chance or ability to properly repay her…
The Nutrient Solution was quickly finished, and Xu San San gave both of them some water to replenish their fluids.
Suddenly, a series of mechanical roars echoed from the distance. Four to five aircraft slowly landed about 2-3 kilometers from the Base City, kicking up a large cloud of dust.
Soon, countless people disembarked from the aircraft. Some walked empty-handed with dejected expressions, some clutched bundles while warily scanning their surroundings, and some even formed protective circles, tightly guarding those carrying heavy loads in the center…
Before long, the crowd dispersed—some running toward the Shantytown, some heading directly into the Base City, and others rushing toward the Refugee Camp!
Xu San San stared, mouth agape, somewhat shocked as the swarming crowd approached from the distance.
Just then, the young man squeezed her trembling right hand and wrote a character on her palm:
“Hide!”
Right! With so many people heading toward the Refugee Camp, the two of them—one weak and the other disabled—stood no chance. They had to hide quickly!
But where could they hide?!
The young man seemed to understand Xu San San’s anxiety and glanced to the side with his eyes.
One minute later, the two hurriedly returned to their old spot—inside Barracks 9-006.
Xu San San shielded the flatbed cart behind her, gripping the Surgical knife in her right hand as she nervously hid behind the door, occasionally peeking outside to check the situation.
Soon, she heard the sound of chaotic footsteps approaching. Not daring to look further, she turned around, held her breath, pressed against the wall, and stood silently.
It was the people from the Refugee Camp returning—they must have been the group who left on the aircraft this morning.
No wonder the uncle selling Nutrient Solutions had been in such a hurry to pack up—it was because the “main force had returned”!
Xu San San belatedly realized this, finally gaining a deeper understanding of the harshness of this world.
After about 15 minutes, the footsteps outside completely faded away. Xu San San cautiously peered through the door crack to confirm no one was there before turning back to look at the young man.
The young man signaled for her to leave quickly.
The two exited through the side door and had barely taken a few steps when they nearly collided with a corpse transport vehicle heading to Barracks 9-006. Another round of dodging and hiding ensued before they finally completely avoided this wave of returning troops.
The sky was gradually darkening. The Optical Brain displayed the time: 18:39.
Xu San San had learned that this bracelet was called an Optical Brain when paying Contribution Points for Nutrient Solution.
Sitting on the ground, she gasped for breath, breathing heavily.
“So tough! This is really too tough!”
Having experienced so much in one day, she felt her poor heart couldn’t take much more.
At that moment, the young man squeezed Xu San San’s right hand again and wrote in her palm:
156.39
274.33
“What does this mean?”
Not quite understanding, Xu San San asked directly.
Xie Yuan was also taken aback – she actually didn’t understand?
Xu San San noticed Xie Yuan’s confusion and thought:
Oh no, are these two numbers common knowledge?
Will my identity as a transmigrator be exposed?
Damn, I’m so exhausted my defenses are down!
“Ah~ hehe~”
She could only laugh awkwardly and then explain herself:
“You know, after I fell from the ruins and woke up, my memory hasn’t been quite right… hehe… hehe…”
Wow!
Xu San San, you clever little thing, you actually found such a perfect, permanent excuse!
She was quite pleased with her quick thinking.
Xie Yuan actually didn’t intend to investigate further. He had always felt this girl carried an aura incompatible with the post-apocalyptic world. Hearing she had amnesia, he only felt pity and heartache for her.
So Xie Yuan looked at her right wrist, signaling her to open the Optical Brain.
This time, Xu San San’s intelligence finally came online. She turned off the bracelet’s privacy function, opened the map, and directly input the two strings of numbers, while remembering to ask:
“Are these coordinates?”
The young man gave an affirmative look.
The map located a small square grid positioned in the middle of the Shantytown.
“Are you saying we should go here to set up our tent?”
Xu San San got excited!
The young man affirmed again.
These coordinates were actually something Xie Yuan had accidentally overheard a Scavenger mention to his companion while executing a cleanup mission in Wasteland City 505.
The Scavenger had saved enough Contribution Points to rent housing inside the Base City, and his spot in the Shantytown was in a good location, so he secretly told the coordinates to his companion, hoping he could move there from his remote location.
The Scavenger’s moving time was precisely this evening.
And the rule in the Shantytown had always been: first come, first served!
Xie Yuan thought if they hurried over now, they should still make it in time – worth a try.
“Really?! We can have a place to set up our tent?!”
Happiness came too suddenly. Xu San San danced with joy.
Xie Yuan was also infected by the joyful girl before him, the corners of his eyes crinkling, his gaze unconsciously filled with delight.
Little did he know that the scavenger’s companion had unfortunately been injured in City 505 and needed to rest at home these days, so they actually had no competitors.
After nearly an hour and a half, Xu San San finally pulled the cart to:
156.39
274.33
It was an empty plot of about 20 square meters, tightly wedged between three small houses on the left, back, and right sides.
The plot was empty, with a few nearly broken sticks crudely planted around the perimeter to mark the boundary with the neighbors.
Fortunately, the sun set late during Flame Season. It was already 20:15 in the evening, yet a faint glow still lingered on the horizon.
Time waits for no one. Xu San San skillfully unloaded the young man from the cart and immediately began assembling the metal plates.
The design of the metal plates was truly ingenious. Within minutes, she had pieced together a large 3m*4m sheet.
Using the large metal sheet as a roof, she inserted six metal pipes into the slots along its edges, then forcefully drove them into the ground. After tightening the bottom clasps to secure the foundation, she hung plastic sheets around the perimeter. Soon, a small tent of about 12 square meters was set up.
The tent was spacious, but the ceiling was too low. The metal pipes weren’t long to begin with, and with a section buried in the ground, the height became even more cramped.
But this wasn’t a problem. Xu San San sequentially released the locks at the top of the metal pipes. With a series of “whoosh—whoosh—whoosh…” sounds, the six pipes automatically extended upward by over a meter, like an umbrella’s opening mechanism.
Instantly, the small tent transformed into a spacious shelter over two meters tall!
Xu San San then laid the remaining plastic sheets on the tent floor. With that, their makeshift dwelling was complete.
The sun was soon to disappear completely beyond the distant horizon. Using the last traces of daylight, Xu San San pulled the young man on the cart, huffing and puffing, for another 200 meters or so, stopping at the entrance of a public restroom.
She had noticed the restroom’s location on her way here. Every alley in the Shantytown was equipped with a public restroom and a water-fetching point—quite considerate planning.
Fortunately, the restrooms in this world were equipped with toilets. Despite the young man’s flushed expression of “I don’t need to, I shouldn’t, I don’t want to,” Xu San San struggled to move him onto the toilet seat. She then closed the door, leaving behind the words:
“I’ll come back for you in five minutes!”
Without looking back, she went to take care of her own business.
By the time the two, feeling much relieved, returned to the tent, the sky had completely darkened.
It was already 20:40.
Xu San San noted the time and, using the faint glow from her Optical Brain screen, took out the straw mat from the bucket and laid it down. She then moved the young man from the cart onto the mat, exhaling deeply: “Whew! What an exhausting day!”
She sprawled out unceremoniously on the plastic sheets, thinking to herself,
Since it’s pitch black and I can’t even see my own hand, no one can stop me from slacking off!
Meanwhile, Xie Yuan on the straw mat wanted to quietly turn his head away but couldn’t—his neck was still immobile. He could only close his eyes in embarrassment, his mind in turmoil:
Should I tell her that my night vision hasn’t completely deteriorated yet…
But then he suddenly remembered that even going to the bathroom earlier required the girl’s assistance, and he was instantly overwhelmed with shame!
Ah, this is really… really…
Ah!
Xie Yuan had never encountered such a difficult situation before—he had no experience dealing with it!
Ah! Forget it, forget it!
He still had important matters to attend to: secretly sending messages to the squad, uncovering the traitor… Yes, he needed to plan carefully… There were still many things he needed to think through…
The tent was very quiet, apart from Xu San San’s heavy, relieved panting and the sound of Xie Yuan forcibly calming his racing heart.
The silence was broken by a sudden announcement from the Base City that popped up on the Optical Brain:
Wilderness 9
Boarding Time: 6:00 AM
Boarding Location: 2 km outside the East, West, South, and North City Gates
Wasteland City 107
Boarding Time: 9:00 AM
Boarding Location: 3 km outside the East, West, South, and North City Gates