Chapter 79: He is the Hope Amidst the Apocalypse

Luoluo City.

When Duan Wenxuan delivered one thousand kilograms of rice to the base, even the base’s manager was surprised by his swift speed. Duan Wenxuan had loaded the rice onto a truck and then directly opened a gate from “Love Apartment” era within their warehouse, driving the truck through it. Initially, he only wanted to give it a try, not expecting it would actually succeed.

The roaring sound of the truck echoed throughout the base, catching the attention of wandering survivors nearby. At first, they stared dumbfounded at this massive ‘living entity’, but soon realized that the tall bundles securely tied on the truck seemed to be food supplies.

Bang! Bang!

An armed squad rushed out, with its leaders firing shots into the air. This action made the hungry people cautiously retreat a few steps, although their eyes gleamed with desire like famished wolves in the wild.

“Over here, over here!”

The newcomers wore modified and patched military uniforms, appearing noticeably healthier. Clearly, these individuals were the base’s true defense force, being among the most well-provisioned in terms of food and red stones.

“Y-You must be Young Master Duan, right?” The leader, standing about five or six steps away from the large truck, looked up through the glass with a mix of shock and more prominently, eagerness to please.

Duan Wenxuan leaned out of the truck window. “I’ve brought the rice as agreed.”

“Oh, yes, I know, I know. Mrs. Hua has already given instructions, but we didn’t expect you to deliver the rice so quickly.”

Mrs. Hua was the elderly woman whose back had become severely hunched, almost touching her own thighs, and she served as the actual manager of Luoluo City’s largest survival base.

“What, do you not have space for it?”

“Yes, yes, of course we do. We’ll guide you; just follow our lead.” Despite carrying a gun, the leader displayed no hint of impatience.

It all depended on whom they were dealing with. For someone like Duan Wenxuan, who handed over a thousand kilograms of grain without batting an eyelid, they couldn’t afford anything less than utmost flattery. Apart from food, they also lacked numerous essential supplies. By establishing a connection with Duan Wenxuan, there was a chance he might bestow some benefits upon them.

Duan Wenxuan gave a thumbs-up gesture and slowly followed their lead.

After approximately seven or eight minutes, the truck came to a stop near a sports field. Not far away stood a school building, still recognizable by its exterior features. Opposite it was a smaller structure, seemingly once used as a storage facility connected to the teaching building.

As soon as the truck stopped, including the leader, everyone saw Duan Wenxuan nod and rushed towards it. They swiftly grabbed a bag of rice, slicing it open with knives. Similar to Mrs. Hua’s group, these individuals immediately scooped up small handfuls of rice, popped them into their mouths, and slowly chewed.

“Truly unpolluted rice,” one remarked, looking at the remaining rice on the truck with both enjoyment and greed etched on his face.

The leader snapped back to reality first, slapping the person next to him and commanding, “Quickly move everything into the storage area and lock it up. Since those items were seen, the starving refugees outside might cause trouble. We need to stay vigilant.”

“Whoever dares, whoever touches these treasures, this old man’s gun isn’t just for show!” The men stared fiercely at the truckload of food like the greediest of gods.

Nevertheless, they began moving the supplies with great enthusiasm.

These core members formed the backbone sustaining the base’s operations and governance. Although Mrs. Hua didn’t explicitly state it, their rations would never be lacking. After all, they were working for their own benefit; how could they not give their utmost effort?

Duan Wenxuan leaned against the truck, watching them unload.

After quite some time, the leader, drenched in sweat, approached Duan Wenxuan and cautiously pulled out a small metal box from his pocket. Inside, surprisingly, was a single cigarette.

He offered the cigarette to Duan Wenxuan.

“No thanks.”

Taken aback, the man then took the cigarette for himself, carefully sniffed it several times under his nose before placing it back, and closed the small metal box again.

“These days, cigarettes and alcohol are becoming increasingly scarce. I’ve purposely kept this one just to occasionally look at it as a reminder that our past world wasn’t like it is now, so we mustn’t forget.”

“What do you want to say?”

The man rubbed his hands nervously. “I used to be enlisted in the military, and due to my exceptional physical abilities, I later got selected into the Deep Sea Forces until the world fell victim to radiation.”

“Deep Sea” was a designation; it referred to a specialized unit formed by the Yitai Nation specifically for warfare. Though its numbers were not large, each member was meticulously chosen ‘elite soldiers’.

“You see… can I join you? However, I hope you could provide me with some anti-radiation medications. I have a son, and his health condition is currently very poor.” In this radiation-ridden post-apocalyptic world, food was akin to gold, while anti-radiation medications were considered the cream of the crop among valuable items.

“You’re not of sufficient value.”

Duan Wenxuan knew his response sounded cold, but that’s how it was in this world. He couldn’t appear too easily swayed, as there were countless tragedies here. Even this ‘Elite Soldier’ could be considered fortunate; his son was still alive, and thanks to his physical prowess and previous occupation, he had managed to avoid being among the starving masses.

The Elite Soldier looked dejected, the wrinkles on his face becoming more pronounced.

”… If you’re willing, you can initially accompany me. I welcome all capable individuals, including your former comrades-in-arms, provided they maintain combat readiness like yourself.

Initially, similar to Dr. Song and others, your compensation will be food. Later, if your performance is exceptional, I can offer rewards allowing you to choose what you desire.”

Without waiting for the Elite Soldier’s reply, Duan Wenxuan disinterestedly returned to the truck and closed the door. Unloading the rice took quite some time, and by the time Duan Wenxuan drove the large truck back, he had already dozed off briefly inside.

As he left, however, he faintly heard cheers from within the base. Madam Hua had issued orders to distribute porridge over the next two days at the base.

For the entire base with its population of around two million, one thousand pounds of rice was merely a drop in the bucket, hardly making any noticeable impact. However, Madam Hua had to give these people hope; otherwise, it would be difficult for anyone.

Duan Wenxuan pondered the matters concerning the base and swiftly returned to the hotel with Song Boxue. As for the truck, he casually left it parked by the roadside. There was no choice; the post-apocalyptic conditions were severely challenging, with hardly any passable roads remaining. Once driven out, the truck couldn’t travel far at all.

Upon arriving back at the hotel with Song Boxue, Duan Wenxuan noticed that significant progress had been made in cleaning up the premises. Fang Bai was directing operations, while the others followed him, clearing out debris and rubbish.

They had also discovered that within the hotel’s confines, the radiation levels were considerably lower compared to outside. Based on the radiation concentration inside the hotel, they could entirely forego wearing red stones, as the red stones themselves emit radiation and aren’t inherently beneficial. Moreover, some among them didn’t have red stones at all.

During the two days Duan Wenxuan was away with Song Boxue, the group realized just how enigmatic he truly was. Having witnessed his capabilities firsthand, they felt both renewed hope and a desire to gain favor with Duan Wenxuan. Consequently, they diligently worked to tidy up the hotel.