Halfway through the night, the rain grew heavier again.
Through the thick safety door of the safe house, Mu Shan could still hear the howling wind carrying the pelting rain.
Because the escape exit led directly outdoors without a sunroom as a buffer, the noise was particularly loud. Toward the latter half of the night, besides the sound of wind and rain, there seemed to be some animal quickly running across the roof, but she could not discern it.
At 6:30 in the morning, Mu Shan got up on time.
The soybeans that had soaked in water for the past few days successfully sprouted bean sprouts, crisp and tender, looking particularly appealing. Now that she had plenty of fresh vegetables on hand, to improve storage efficiency, she gritted her teeth and bought a small fridge from the system mall, costing her 200 gold.
The fridges in ordinary households and the freezers in shops were all too bulky to fit into the virtual backpack. Mu Shan did not know where to find a car fridge, so she could only choose the system-produced one.
The small fridge was about 1.5 meters tall. The upper section was the refrigeration area, maintaining 2-8 degrees Celsius. The lower freezer section was smaller, keeping temperatures at -15 degrees Celsius.
Mu Shan put all the bean sprouts and leafy greens into the refrigeration area. To avoid wasting electricity with an empty fridge, she also added some bottled water.
Outside, it was still drizzling today, but sunlight peeked through the clouds slightly, so it was not too overcast.
Mu Shan made two trips back and forth, taking out the bedding, pillows, and several thick jackets to air in the sun.
She beat the bedding vigorously with a clothes hanger, hoping the cotton would absorb sunlight and warmth.
At 7:00 in the morning, it was breakfast time.
Mu Shan’s makeshift kitchen was now packed full. The narrow cabinets could no longer hold all the supplies, so she had moved a small table nearby to serve as a counter.
She set the flat-bottomed pan on the stove, brushed a thin layer of oil in it, then laid out the raw dough pancake.
With a “sizzle,” the cold and heat collided, producing a crisp sound.
The flour came from the villa kitchen yesterday, a 10kg bag that could last quite a while if she ate sparingly as a single person.
The wisdom of her people allowed for a variety of noodle dishes: she could roll out noodles, make stuffed pancakes, wrap dumplings, or boil dumplings… everything except steamed buns or mantou without yeast.
She flipped the pancake twice. As it met the high heat, it gradually puffed up.
The originally pale dough skin turned golden brown, covered in oily patterns, while emitting the distinctive aroma of wheat, as if undergoing some kind of transformation.
Mu Shan picked up the first finished pancake, casually rolled some pickled vegetables inside, blew on it “huff huff” twice, then eagerly took a big bite.
It was fragrant and soft. Her cheeks puffed up as she nodded approvingly.
Carbs are power!
With ample ingredients and cookware, Mu Shan’s quality of life had clearly leaped forward. Barrel instant noodles became her last-resort emergency supplies, which she rarely touched.
Today, she made 30 pancakes at once. The batter only had a bit of salt and five-spice powder. Whether dipped in soybean paste, rolled with shredded potatoes or ham sausage, they made excellent staples and travel rations.
In the future, when in a rush, she could just nibble one for quick energy. They were easier to carry and store than biscuits.
The 30 thick pancakes stacked together looked impressive. Mu Shan packed most of them into clean bags and stored them in the freezer for longer preservation. She left a few in the fridge for the next few days.
The only regret was no fresh eggs; otherwise, egg pancakes would be truly balanced nutrition…
Mu Shan searched the system mall and found eggs for sale.
A box of 12 free-range eggs cost 25 gold—more rip-off than unscrupulous vendors… Forget it.
While eating, she opened the card album. With no [environment card] slots left, today’s refresh yielded two item cards.
[Item Card: A box of bloodstained gold jewelry, a chainsaw]
[Character Card: An ordinary zombie]
She materialized the gold jewelry card, and a small leather jewelry box instantly appeared on the table. The surface was entirely red, the leather soaked with bloodstains.
Opening it revealed gold rings, gold bracelets, gold necklaces, and more—worth at least hundreds of thousands in the past.
Mu Shan closed the box again, hoping it would come in handy someday.
Full and satisfied, she gathered the bedding and drove off to the appointment.
The location sent by the fortune teller was about three blocks past the park. She drove through, crushing puddles, sending “splash splash” dirty water flying onto zombies on both sides, knocking them down.
Though only a day had passed, she felt the road water levels had risen a bit more. To avoid water entering the exhaust pipe, Mu Shan drove illegally on the sidewalk.
Passing some supermarkets and convenience stores—resource points—she even noticed more scavengers out today than before.
Worried about extreme weather, players hustled to find food. They carried huge bags; some even dragged bathtubs behind to float goods on the water.
Her speeding car stood out, drawing stares. Some glared vigilantly, as if fearing a drive-by robbery.
Mu Shan kept her eyes straight ahead, exuding the dominance of a seasoned player.
Shu Yongzhi’s marked spot was in the middle of an old residential area. Upon arrival, she discovered he had chosen right at his safe house door for the trade.
Between two dilapidated residential buildings was a small fitness plaza. In the center stood a cement-colored sunroom, ripples forming as floodwater lapped at the stacked stone steps.
Mu Shan parked on higher ground and walked over in rain boots.
The fortune teller’s sunroom had been expanded and upgraded, with an outer ring of embankments topped by iron spikes stained with dried black-red blood mixed with rust.
Additionally, his sunroom had a small high window, sealed outside with dense wire mesh and curtained inside.
Overall, it no longer resembled a public toilet but more like a barred cell…
As she approached, Shu Yongzhi seemed alerted somehow and quickly came out. In the moment he opened the door, Mu Shan glimpsed lush greenery inside his sunroom.
“You arrived pretty fast, miss.” The fortune teller’s face was still somewhat pale, his long hair tied in a messy topknot.
He walked over without much small talk and pulled three cinnabar yellow talismans from his backpack, scribbled with brushstrokes like ghostly symbols.
“One for strength, one for speed, and an extra Immovable Vajra Talisman for defense. All three last 30 minutes.”
They had agreed on five gold each beforehand. Mu Shan traded him 15 gold coins promptly.
The fortune teller waved it off with a sigh. “If I could ever write permanent stat-boost talismans one day, it wouldn’t just be for this pittance.”
Mu Shan gave a thumbs-up. “Wish you get filthy rich.”
They parted quickly. Back in the car, she examined the three time-limited talismans.
【Taoist Cinnabar Talisman (Consumable)
Quality: Ordinary
Description: Product of player [Re-employment Fortune Teller] skill
Use: Tear to increase speed by 10 points
Note: Boost lasts 30 minutes】
Though time-limited, they were valuable aids in emergencies.
Mu Shan carefully examined the crisp talisman paper. She had thought it bore profound incantations, but the defense one read [Innate Turtle Sacred Body];
The speed one [Liu Xiang Bolt Lend Me Leg Power];
The strength one [Weightlifting World Guinness Record Holder].
Mu Shan: …Fits the re-employment fortune teller persona perfectly.
Driving away from the old residential area, Mu Shan circled nearby. Today, she planned to get an air conditioner and water heater. Temperatures hovered around 5-15 degrees Celsius now—already cold. If it kept dropping, she could not burn charcoal in the sealed basement.
Household appliances were worn; dismantling and moving them was a hassle. She had pliers and wrenches, but no guarantee of not damaging them.
After a few loops, Mu Shan spotted her target.
An appliance store in the ground-floor shops of a new residential complex.
Such stores opened near new developments to lure buyers with convenient furniture and appliances.
Due to days of rain, deep floodwater surrounded the store. The new complex behind had not yet reached peak occupancy before becoming a ghost town.
Mu Shan parked at the entrance and went in gripping the peashooter.
A few zombies wandered nearby; she headshot them one by one. Her aim had improved markedly, allowing zombie kills while conserving peas.
After so much close combat, she appreciated ranged weapons.
The appliance shop flanked a design firm and an empty rental unit.
Mu Shan scouted both sides, confirming no hidden zombies would jump out. She pried open the door lock with a crowbar and strolled in casually.
No players had been here yet; most were still focused on food.
The store was thick with dust; her shoes left dirty footprints.
Mu Shan saw a dazzling array of appliances at various prices. She did not need TVs; no room for a washing machine in the bathroom.
Air conditioners came wall-mounted or hanging. Considering future safe house space, she still chose hanging.
She took a major brand display unit from the wall into her virtual backpack, not forgetting the outdoor unit.
Water heaters were electric or gas. Though gas ones heated instantly and took less space without tanks, Mu Shan chose electric.
The new water heater exceeded backpack limits. She half-dragged, half-hugged it, exerting tremendous effort to finally load the heavy thing onto the car backseat.
Mu Shan wiped sweat and rain from her forehead, noticing a few people peeking from behind a utility pole nearby.
They wore colorful disposable plastic raincoats, seemingly armed, and ducked when they felt her gaze.
Without thinking, Mu Shan dashed to the driver’s seat, opened the door, sat, turned the key, released the handbrake—in one fluid motion.
But in those few seconds, they emerged from the pole and ran toward her.
Mu Shan glanced in the rearview mirror, then floored the accelerator. The SUV engine roared, spraying water as it sped off.
She saw them standing there, facing her direction. Seconds later, they entered the appliance shop she had just looted.
Truth be told, she was a bit tense but not terribly afraid. From their looks, they did not match powerful players—likely newbies.
Whether they wanted help, to scam, or rob, Mu Shan had no interest.
Perhaps echoing the Rogue’s words: “Fear comes from insufficient firepower.”
She thought self-deprecatingly: Worst case, summon the “Blood Holy Mother” array and go down together.
Racing back to the park against traffic, Mu Shan parked at the slope base. Grasping the insulated tank with both hands, bending and gritting her teeth, she spent over five minutes dragging the water heater into the safe house.
Exhausted, she sat on the ground panting, too drained to remove her raincoat.
She was truly wiped out this time.
But the loot’s allure was too strong. Mu Shan struggled back up.
First, she dragged the water heater into the cramped bathroom and bought 【Installation Service】 from the system mall.
After deducting 5 gold, minutes of “clang clang” hammering followed. Re-entering, she found the tank securely mounted above the toilet, showing 20 degrees current temperature.
She set it to 60 degrees; soon, the sound of heating water came from inside, filling her with immense satisfaction.
Finally, she could take a proper hot shower!
Next was the air conditioner installation, but Mu Shan hit a snag while moving it.
Where to put the outdoor unit… Where to place the drain outlet…?
The outdoor unit could not go in the escape passage—that was 【public area】, and floods would submerge it.
Nor in the sunroom, or the orange tree and crops would freeze.
She tentatively tossed this conundrum to the system, opting to purchase the 【Installation Service】.
But soon, she received a prompt: 【Purchase failed. Installation conditions for this appliance are missing】.
Mu Shan: ……Shocked face! Had she worked for nothing?!
Not long after, a system prompt appeared before her eyes.
【Player demand detected. Spend 400 gold coins to upgrade the indoor climate control system (cooling + heating)?
Air conditioning components can be traded in for: 3 gold coins】
Mu Shan: As expected of you.
An invisible, intangible climate control system—once upgraded, it merely added a switch on the wall.
The heating could adjust temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees; the cooling between 18 and 27 degrees.
A device rougher than the cheapest air conditioner, yet priced even higher than the safe house door!
But Mu Shan trusted that the system never fought a battle it wasn’t confident in. Items players needed more in the mall cost more—like “fashion magazines” or “comics,” which went for basically 1 gold coin per stack.
So in some future instance, they would surely face extreme temperature swings, ones that might even exceed the limits of the human body.