Miss, this won't be enough to trade for food!

"Water purifier?" When Xue Feng spoke, everyone paused in surprise, exchanging bewildered glances.

"What do you want that for? Weren't you sent by the authorities to rescue us?" a greasy, bald man asked Xue Feng, frowning.

"Of course not." Xue Feng answered plainly. "I came here for the water purifier. This is the apocalypse—are you still naïve enough to think someone would come to save you unconditionally? Should I call you innocent, or simply foolish?"

Seeing the mocking expression on Xue Feng’s face, the group’s initial delight faded into shock, then panic.

"Ahem." The bald man recovered quickly, adopting a stern demeanor and stepping in front of Xue Feng with his hands behind his back. "Whether you rescue them has nothing to do with me, but I must tell you, I’m the manager of this water treatment plant. You must save me!"

No sooner had he spoken than everyone's faces changed.

A gaunt man quickly jumped in. "And me! I’m the deputy director—you must take me as well!"

"I’m the supervisor. If you save me, I can arrange a job for you at the plant!"

"Why are you all fighting over this? Have some respect for your elders! I’m nearly seventy—can’t you young people give way?"

Xue Feng glanced at the old man, whose hair was white but whose body was robust and whose voice thundered as he spoke, and was at a loss for words.

"Are you all idiots?" he said coldly. "How many days has it been, and you still haven’t figured out what the world has become?"

He looked at them with an icy gaze. "If you haven’t figured it out, let me make it clear: this is the apocalypse. Those so-called positions—manager, deputy director—mean nothing to me. In my eyes, there are only two kinds of people now: useful and useless. Whoever can tell me where the water purifier is, I’ll take them with me. If you can’t, stay here and wait for death."

At these words, everyone’s faces turned pale.

"How could you do this? We’re compatriots—how can you watch us starve to death?"

"You clearly have the power to take us away, yet you set conditions. You just want us to die!"

"You’re blinded by self-interest! If this were before the apocalypse, I’d pay to cripple you for life!"

Seeing that Xue Feng had no intention of rescuing them, the group finally showed their true faces, each one twisted with rage. If Xue Feng hadn’t displayed overwhelming strength earlier, they might have torn him apart.

Just then, the manager, furious, seemed to remember something. He stepped away from the crowd and approached a woman crouched in the corner, speaking quietly.

"Gu Xiaoqian, didn’t the plant purchase a batch of new water purifiers recently? Tell me where they are, and I’ll consider withdrawing your dismissal report."

The woman called Gu Xiaoqian ignored him, burying her head deep between her knees.

"Gu Xiaoqian, I’m talking to you—did you hear? I want you to tell me where the new water purifiers are. Don’t be ungrateful!"

When she remained unmoved, the manager, livid, raised his bulky right hand to strike her.

Yet as his hand lifted, he found he couldn’t move it. A powerful force gripped his wrist, pain contorting his face.

"Who is this?" the manager roared, turning angrily, only to meet a pair of cold, murderous eyes.

He was so frightened that he couldn’t utter a word. Xue Feng ignored him, flinging him aside with one hand, then looked down at the woman before him.

She appeared to be in her twenties, her long, sleek black hair falling naturally down her back. Hearing Xue Feng’s approach, Gu Xiaoqian raised her head, revealing a delicate, petite face.

Xue Feng’s gaze lowered. Perhaps she had been working before the apocalypse, for she still wore professional attire, though it was clearly ill-fitting. The buttons across her chest strained tightly; were it not for the blazer, they might burst open any moment. She wore a short skirt and striking black stockings, through which her pale knees could be seen.

"Do you know where the water purifier is?" Xue Feng asked calmly.

She nodded instinctively. "Yes."

"Do you want to leave?"

"...I do."

"Good." Xue Feng nodded with satisfaction. "I’ll take you out, and you’ll lead me to the water purifier."

With that, he turned to leave. Gu Xiaoqian hurried after him.

"Wait, you can’t go!" Just then, the manager, whom Xue Feng had brushed aside, blocked Gu Xiaoqian’s path. "You’re still an employee of my plant. Without my approval, you’re not allowed to—"

He hadn’t finished speaking when he felt a sudden chill at his neck. He fell silent and looked down, seeing a black blade, dripping with sticky blood, pressed firmly against the fat around his throat.

"I want to take her with me. Do you have a problem with that?"

The stench from the blade nearly made the manager retch. He didn’t dare move, trembling as he replied, "No...no...I wouldn’t dare..."

"That’s good."

Xue Feng put away the blade with a casual air, signaling Gu Xiaoqian with his eyes. "Come with me."

"Alright." Gu Xiaoqian glanced at the manager, whose face was twisted with shock and fury, then hurried after the man who was already leaving.

Stepping out of the office, she was stunned by the sight before her. The corridor was littered with headless corpses of zombies, their viscous, fetid blood splattered across the walls. Though she hadn’t eaten for days, the sight made her want to vomit.

She hurried down the stairs and out of the building before daring to breathe deeply. The air outside still reeked, but compared to the corridor, it was much cleaner.

Just then, she caught a whiff of something fragrant.

"Hmm?" Gu Xiaoqian turned to see the man who had just led her out, devouring a chicken drumstick.

"You...how do you have food?" she asked softly, swallowing her saliva.

"I always carry some with me," Xue Feng replied, glancing at Gu Xiaoqian as she gulped desperately. He held out the unfinished drumstick. "Do you want some?"

"Yes, yes." Gu Xiaoqian stared hungrily at the half-eaten drumstick. "If I lead you to the water purifier, could you give me some food?"

"No." Xue Feng refused without hesitation. "Telling me the location is only enough for me to take you out."

He waved the drumstick. "This costs extra."

"But I have nothing of value left..."

"You do." Xue Feng said, then fell silent, leisurely looking her up and down.

Gu Xiaoqian shivered under his gaze, clutching her clothes tightly. Sensing his unabashed stare, a troubling thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

She responded coldly, "If you’re thinking of taking advantage of me, I’ll kill myself right now, and you’ll never get your water purifier!"

"What are you thinking?" Xue Feng raised his brows, feigning surprise. "I simply meant, if you have no money, you can trade labor for food."

"I’ve spent the whole day slaughtering zombies and I’m tired. If you massage my shoulders, I’ll share some food with you. How about it?"