Volume 1, Chapter 23: Shall I Burn Some Paper Money for You?

Lin Feng watched the harmonious scene, let out a hearty laugh, and turned to leave.

Wang Tao, infuriated, let out muffled cries, his eyes glaring viciously at the backs of the departing group. Overcome with rage, he soon lost consciousness. The balcony returned to a deathly silence, save for the faint rustling of ivy as it climbed the walls.

"Make sure the balcony door is locked tight," Lin Feng commanded without looking back.

"Yes!" Zhang Xueqi nodded quickly and immediately shut the door firmly. Even if Lin Feng hadn’t said it, she would have done so anyway. After all, no one wanted to wake up the next morning to find themselves nothing more than an empty husk.

The next morning, Lin Feng began more strenuous exercises to maintain his physical vitality. Since his "Dominator" ability reached level 2, his strength had become significantly greater. He took out the solid crowbar he had once used to discipline the dog and pressed his fingertips into it with slight force. The hard surface immediately dented, leaving deep indentations. He could easily bend it if he wished.

Lin Feng took a handful of superpower-granting fruits from his super warehouse and walked toward the balcony. He swept a cold, stern gaze over Wang Tao’s corpse. The man's facial features had already been eroded by slender ivy vines, which crept out from his mouth, nostrils, and ears. Lin Feng could sense that Wang Tao’s body was already densely packed with the creeping vines. These ivy plants radiated a faint hostility, as if mocking the fragility of humans.

He frowned, took a pair of gloves from his pocket, and pulled them on with practiced efficiency. Then, he grabbed Wang Tao by the collar and, as if handling a piece of discarded trash, lifted the hollowed-out skin and tossed it off the balcony. The body traced an arc through the air before slamming heavily into the white mist below without making a sound.

After an entire night, no mutant animals had approached Wang Tao, save for these silent ivy vines. This convinced Lin Feng that the 30th floor was temporarily safe. He took a deep breath and turned toward the door. The husky was still guarding the entrance, as loyal as a devoted sentry.

Just as Lin Feng cracked the door open, the white tiger rushed in impatiently. Its three-meter-long frame moved nimbly around the furniture, its tail wagging like a small windmill. It lowered its head to nuzzle against Lin Feng’s legs, its eyes filled with fawning affection and dependence. Lin Feng could clearly sense the goodwill emanating from the white tiger; it was evident that the mutant dog had completely recognized him as its master.

He chuckled, crouched down, and reached out to stroke the white tiger’s head. This time, he retrieved fifty roasted chickens from his super warehouse and laid them out neatly on the floor. The white tiger’s eyes lit up. It opened its blood-red maw and devoured them one by one, crunching the bones as if they were nothing, eating with immense relish.

Watching it wolf down the food, Lin Feng pondered. In a day or two, he might consider letting it inside the apartment. The only prerequisite was that this beast shouldn't tear the place apart; otherwise, given its size, the entire house would be in utter chaos. In this apocalypse, he couldn't help but reflect on how a mutant dog had become more reliable than a human.

After playing with the dog, Lin Feng habitually pulled out his phone to scroll through the news. There was still no good news on the screen; the authorities had issued an announcement, but it was nothing more than hollow rhetoric encouraging the public to save themselves.

Then, a video caught his attention. A large formation of armed helicopters roared across the sky, perhaps on their way to some urgent mission. But what drew the most attention was still the discussion surrounding superpowers. More and more people were awakening various abilities, yet there was no information to be found regarding the plum-like superpower fruits.

Meanwhile, more people were taking risks, venturing into the white mist in search of food and starting outdoor livestreams. Creatures once ignored—rats, cockroaches, even ants and spiders—had now become deadly predators. To ordinary people, each one was a fatal threat. The ground had long since fallen, becoming a paradise for mutant flora and fauna. Unless superpowered individuals banded together, ordinary people would soon be torn to shreds by mutant animals drawn by the scent.

Lin Feng noticed that the internet speed was particularly poor today, with even a short video taking minutes to load. He wasn't surprised; as time passed, resources like tap water, electricity, signals, and the internet would gradually vanish. The human situation would only worsen. While the authorities advocated for self-rescue, they kept the truth about the mutant fruits strictly hidden.

Lin Feng sneered and turned his gaze toward the building across the way, Building B. The exterior walls were covered in green ivy, and the entire structure was shrouded in green, save for the windows. If one didn't observe carefully from inside, it would be impossible to detect the presence of these vines. More and more branches reached out from the white mist. High above the roof, gigantic birds with astonishing wingspans circled, though it was unclear whether they were mutated eagles or sparrows.

Lin Feng’s expression darkened. He knew he couldn't stay in this apartment for long. Unless he could fight an endless stream of mutant animals and plants, but a war of attrition was ultimately unrealistic. "If I could become stronger, or if the teammates around me also mastered superpowers, perhaps there would be a chance."

However, humans are not dogs; they cannot maintain eternal loyalty. At least for now, he could not trust Zhang Xueqi and Li Bing. Another way to become stronger was to unlock more supplies. If he could obtain firearms or explosives, he would have a greater advantage against mutant animals.

Lin Feng clenched his fists, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes. In this apocalypse, only power was the sole guarantee of survival. He decided to take it one step at a time; he would first post his advertisement for trading gourmet food for beautiful women, and later, he would post another one to acquire superpower fruits.

"Eat and Drink Well": [@Everyone Recruiting a roommate. Room and board included. Must be attractive and have a good figure. Send a full-body photo without filters when adding me as a friend! [Image]]

Perhaps because everyone hadn't woken up yet, there were only a few people in the group begging for food.

Building A, #2304, Chen Hao: [Give me three roasted chickens every day, and I'll keep you safe and sound, and I won't beat you up either. [Image]]

It was Chen Hao again. Every time Lin Feng posted an ad, he had to show off his powers.

Building A, #806, Mrs. Xu: [Young man, you can't be this heartless. My grandson and I are starving. Have you forgotten the traditional virtues of respecting the elderly and caring for the young?]

Lin Feng knew this Mrs. Xu; she was a notoriously sharp-tongued, mean-spirited old woman in the complex. Back when he worked as a delivery driver, even though he always delivered on time, she would constantly berate him and make him carry her trash downstairs. Lin Feng hadn't bothered to argue over such trivial matters.

That was until one time when Mrs. Xu’s grandson, Xiaohu, took advantage of him delivering food upstairs to pry open his delivery box, attempting to steal the food. Though the theft failed, the box was damaged. When Lin Feng confronted Mrs. Xu with security footage, she threw a tantrum and refused to pay a single cent. Facing such a hooligan, he had been helpless. If he had laid a finger on her, she would have been on the ground in a second, trying to extort a hundred thousand out of him.

But now, things were different. The advantage was his!

"Eat and Drink Well": [Old hag, even if you and your grandson starve to death, what does that have to do with me? Do you want me to burn some spirit money for you?]