Chapter 53: Leave—At Least You’ll Survive

“This is…”

Chen Yong’s eyes widened. He was just about to speak when Yi Zhe reacted quickly, clapping a hand over his mouth.

There was a warning in Yi Zhe’s eyes, telling Chen Yong to keep quiet.

If one or two zero-radiation-contaminated potatoes could be chalked up to luck, then the string of zero-radiation potatoes that followed, plus these three bottles of uncontaminated water, were definitely not a coincidence.

The Shi family either had a rare and extraordinary ability user among them, or there was something in this area capable of purifying radiation.

And either of those things—absolutely could not be revealed.

An ability user without the means to protect themselves would, in the end, become nothing more than a tool locked in a cage.

Not even a person anymore—just a tool.

And anything that could purify radiation would, without exception, become a coveted treasure fought over by countless factions.

In the end, because of greed and disputes over distribution, it would be torn apart, piece by piece, until nothing was left but dust.

That’s right—this is the wasteland.

A world where nothing can truly develop, sliding ever deeper into the abyss.

Chen Yong’s expression grew grave as he realized the seriousness of the situation. He gave a barely perceptible nod.

Yi Zhe lowered his hand and, expressionless, turned back to building the wall.

After a while, Chen Yong sidled over and whispered,

“Captain, what do we do with these three bottles of water?”

To Shi Yuebai, maybe it was nothing to casually toss them three bottles of water.

But for Yi Zhe and his crew, it was a huge dilemma.

The last time Yi Zhe sold two zero-radiation potatoes, it caused a stir at the very top of the city’s power structure.

If they tried to sell zero-radiation water now—three bottles at once, no less—the profit would be huge, but it would definitely attract attention. Sooner or later, someone would trace it back to the Shi family.

Yi Zhe glanced over at the Shi family’s tarp.

The tarp was tightly closed; no one had gone in or out.

Even Ah Hong and Pang Ziyuan, who’d worked for the Shi family for so long, had never set foot inside.

“Drink it,” Yi Zhe said, steeling himself. “If we want to erase all evidence, the only way is to drink it.”

Chen Yong said nothing, his lips trembling as he stared at Yi Zhe for a long time.

At midday, Yi Zhe called Chen Yong and Huo Chenggui over.

The three of them squatted behind the army tent, out of everyone’s sight.

Each had a bottle of water in front of them, their faces heavy, as if they were about to make a heroic sacrifice.

Huo Chenggui said, “I can’t believe we’re just going to drink it?”

Chen Yong muttered, “If we sold this, how many points could we get?”

Yi Zhe replied, “Enough to buy a mech’s leg.”

These were three bottles of zero-radiation water.

On this wasteland, aside from water-ability users, no one could purify water to this level anymore.

Resigned, Yi Zhe wiped his face. “Let’s drink.”

The three of them sat cross-legged, picked up their bottles, and drank with the kind of pain you’d feel if you’d just torn up a winning lottery ticket.

They unscrewed the caps and gulped down every drop.

Clutching his chest, Chen Yong stood up. “Damn, I guess today I lived in luxury for once.”

“Back to work!”

If he’d just drunk a mech’s leg, he’d better mix some extra cement for the Shi family.

Huo Chenggui closed his eyes, savoring the moment.

“I have to say, I feel like I’m bursting with energy. The clear water takes me back five years, to when I—”

Yi Zhe smacked him on the back of the head.

“Enough with the nostalgia. Get to work.”

What’s the point of reminiscing after you’ve already drunk it?

Expressionless, Yi Zhe returned to the wall, channeling his grief into labor.

By afternoon, he’d already built a ring of walls around the Shi family’s tarp.

Yi Zhe was ex-military, and his work was even better than Ah Hong’s.

Chen Yong was in charge of mixing cement.

Pang Ziyuan and Huo Chenggui worked together to clear out the rubble the Shi family’s women hauled from the tarp.

The women made trip after trip, carting out what seemed like endless loads of broken stone.

Pang Zhenggong had been worried about his wife and child.

He spent the day watching and helping Ah Hong build the wall.

Just as Yi Zhe had promised, he made sure Pang Ziyuan had enough to eat.

Whenever Chen Yong and Huo Chenggui ate, Yi Zhe made sure Pang Ziyuan got the same.

Ah Hong’s food was provided by Shi Yuebai—two steamed potatoes.

Pang Zhenggong, who was helping out for free, wasn’t given anything by Shi Yuebai.

Even so, Pang Zhenggong felt that leaving his wife and child to work for the Shi family was better than anywhere else on the wasteland.

Shi Yuebai might have a bad attitude, but she posed no threat to Ah Hong.

And the Shi family had mercenaries as backup.

That night, Pang Zhenggong carried Pang Ziyuan home, Ah Hong trailing behind, exhausted but visibly relieved.

“Pang Zhenggong, you’re finally back.”

Outside the Pang family’s tarp, a man approached, face full of anxiety.

“When are we leaving?”

This man was the friend who’d been dragging Pang Zhenggong out to scavenge for food, and who’d checked out other survivor groups with him.

The bridge team’s strength was fading. With the Shi family’s men dead, their defenses were much weaker.

People were restless; several families had already snuck away.

Pang Zhenggong hesitated, handing Pang Ziyuan to a nervous Ah Hong.

“Take our son inside.”

Ah Hong hoisted her son onto her back, shaking her head desperately. “No, I’m not leaving.”

At first, she hadn’t cared one way or another about Pang Zhenggong’s plan to leave the group.

With nothing to eat at home, staying meant death anyway.

Leaving didn’t guarantee survival.

But now, Ah Hong was determined not to go.

Leaving might not mean survival, but staying with Shi Yuebai—she was sure they’d live.

Things would get better, little by little. She didn’t want to leave.

Pang Zhenggong nodded to her.

“Alright, we’re not leaving. Take our son inside and get some rest. You’ve worked hard all day.”

“Don’t forget, you have to work again tomorrow. You need to rest.”

His words finally calmed Ah Hong’s fear.

She hurried back into the tarp with her son.

She’d have to work hard again tomorrow.

Only by working hard for Shi Yuebai would she and her son get food.

And clean water.

That was a secret—a secret no one could ever know.

Outside the Pang family’s tarp, Pang Zhenggong said seriously to his friend,

“We’re not leaving. I’ve seen the other groups out there. None of them treat women and children even a tenth as well as here.”

“Even if those groups are stronger, my wife and son wouldn’t survive in that kind of environment.”

His friend stared at him in disbelief.

“Do you even know what you’re saying? If you stay here, your whole family will starve to death.”

“Leave—at least you’ll survive.”

“They said, as long as you keep finding food for the group, they won’t touch your wife.”

(I’m starting to diet now—planning to try intermittent fasting.)"