Naturally, Lu Yunfei also saw the scene and rubbed his forehead, shaking his head.
With that kind of temperament, it would be a miracle if she didn’t starve to death in this era.
“Brother Gu, this girl… you’ve got to teach her. This is the apocalypse—kindness won’t keep you alive.”
Gu Chi’s eyes flickered slightly. After a moment, he said, “Mu Yu, take two bags of rice from the car and give them to them.”
Mu Yu obeyed and stood up to leave.
There was no rice in the car. The supplies were in her space. Gu Chi only mentioned the car to avoid exposing their supernatural abilities.
It had become tradition: every time they visited a C-level safe zone, they’d drop off two sacks of rice. It wasn’t enough to last these people long, but at least it could ease their hunger for a bit.
“Chi Ying!” Lu Yunfei called out.
Chi Ying returned to her senses and walked toward them.
Lu Yunfei shot Gu Chi a look that clearly meant, Captain, say something to her.
Learning to be “selfish” was rule number one in surviving the apocalypse.
Gu Chi’s lips pressed into a line. He glanced at Chi Ying, then looked away, remaining silent.
Seeing that, Lu Yunfei grew anxious. “Captain, aren’t you going to say something?”
Gu Chi rolled his eyes. “Say what?”
After all, she was just someone they had crossed paths with. A stranger’s life or death had nothing to do with him.
He lowered his gaze and smirked bitterly.
He didn’t have the power to save everyone. In this world, survival depended entirely on luck. He could give Chi Ying a few reminders—but they were leaving soon anyway.
Lu Yunfei paused. He rarely saw Gu Chi so cold.
He fell silent.
Chi Ying was confused. They had called her over, but now had nothing to say to her?
She stole a glance at Gu Chi.
He seemed… upset. At her?
Fortunately, Mu Yu returned just then and broke the awkward atmosphere.
Carrying a bag of rice on her shoulder, she said, “Captain Gu, I’ve got the two bags.”
“Good.”
At that moment, almost everyone in the safe zone turned their heads, their eyes fixed on the rice.
Under the pressure of their stares, Mu Yu quickly dropped the sacks on the ground.
The survivors stared hungrily, but none dared move—still wary after Lu Yunfei’s earlier show of strength.
Mu Yu leaned in beside Gu Chi. “Captain, what do we do with the rice?”
“Same as always. Leave it when we’re about to go.”
Hunger had dulled these people’s minds, but once they were fed, they’d start wondering where the rice came from. To avoid trouble, they always left the supplies right before leaving.
“Everyone, get some rest tonight.”
Knowing she intended to stay here, Chi Ying didn’t linger with Gu Chi’s team. Instead, she blended into the group of women she’d shared food with earlier.
She bowed slightly and spoke softly, “Excuse me, may I take a spot here?”
Thanks to the food she had given them, the women were welcoming. They gestured toward an empty space in a far corner.
A curly-haired woman in her thirties scooted aside to make room. The quilt she sat on was dirty and stained yellow and black from a lack of water.
Chi Ying recognized her—it was the woman with the child, the first to receive food that day.
Midway through her movement, the woman hesitated, perhaps embarrassed by the filth.
But Chi Ying had already stepped forward, smiling like a crescent moon.
“Is this for me?”
The woman froze, then nodded subconsciously.
“Thank you.” Chi Ying knelt down and sat beside her.
“…You’re welcome.”
The woman instinctively shifted away, suddenly aware of her own body odor. Water was scarce, and no one had bathed in a long time.
But the girl beside her was spotless, skin smooth and radiant, exuding warmth like a messenger from heaven.
She stared in a daze.
[“Holy Mother” value +1.]
Huh?
Chi Ying blinked.
What did I even do?
[Didn’t expect you could increase your Holy Mother value just by your appearance.]
Chi Ying tilted her head—and caught the curly-haired woman still staring.
“…Is something wrong?”
The woman snapped out of it and coughed awkwardly. A grown woman acting like this toward another girl… embarrassing.
“It’s nothing. I just wanted to ask where you’re from. The guy who fought that ‘Leopard’ earlier was amazing. You guys don’t seem like normal survivors.”
Chi Ying hesitated.
“‘Leopard’” must’ve been the man who challenged Lu Yunfei earlier.
“Oh… I’m not really with them. Someone picked me up along the way and brought me here. They’re leaving tomorrow.”
“What? You’re not going with them?” the woman asked in surprise.
“No. I’d just be a burden.”
The woman’s expression changed. She lowered her voice seriously, “You must find a way to go with them. Staying here is worse than death!”
She gestured with her eyes toward the burly men nearby.
“Back then, the Human Alliance used to send us supplies regularly—not much, but enough to survive. Then they showed up…”
Chi Ying listened quietly.
“They take almost everything, leaving scraps for the rest of us. And that’s not the worst of it…”
The woman bit her lip, clearly holding something back.
Chi Ying stared at her blankly until the system helpfully provided an explanation.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
The woman gave a bitter smile. “I have a child, same with another woman here. We were the first to arrive at this safe zone.”
“They ignore those of us with kids. We’re seen as useless. I was just… lucky.”
Chi Ying sat there stunned. This place was nothing like the humanity she remembered. People were supposed to greet each other before forming cliques, and most were friendly and cute…
After a long silence, she asked, “Are all safe zones like this?”
“C-level zones like this? There are tens of thousands, with fewer than fifty people each. Most are the same. But not all of them…”
“B-level zones are usually next to intact farmland. They’re better off—maybe hundreds of people. A-level zones are scattered near headquarters, and at least ensure basic living standards.”
“Everyone here dreams of being transferred to a B-level zone.”
Seeing Chi Ying dazed, the woman gently encouraged her. “No matter what, stay with the people who brought you here. Out there, you might have a chance. Here… it’s a living hell.”
Chi Ying didn’t respond for a while.
For the first time, she felt a deep, burning urgency to save this apocalyptic world.
[Don’t worry, Host! At your current pace, you’ll definitely collect two million Holy Mother Points within three years!]
Chi Ying shook her head.
Too slow.
Even if she earned enough to exchange for the cure, the research institute would still need time to analyze it.
Six months. She had to get that formula within six months!
Refocusing, Chi Ying reviewed what she’d learned about earning Holy Mother Points.
There were two ways:
-
Show “Holy Mother-like” kindness.
-
Appear physically like a saintly figure.
The first method was clearly more efficient. Of the 5,000 points she had, only 100 came from her appearance.
Still… that route was slow.
She frowned and opened her system mall.
At the bottom was what humans needed most in the apocalypse—food. Difficult to produce, always in short supply.
Her biggest gains had come from distributing food to survivors.
Even better—system food cost less than ten points per item. But for every single Holy Mother Point, she earned one hundred regular points!
Her eyes gleamed.
She exchanged six points for a piece of bread.
Because the curly-haired woman’s child often cried at night, she had been placed far away from the others—perfect for Chi Ying to act discreetly.
“Sister…” she whispered.
The woman was almost asleep. Hunger made people lethargic, and sleep helped conserve energy.
She rubbed her eyes. “Mm… what is it…”
Before she could finish, something soft was shoved into her arms. A rich aroma overwhelmed her senses—the smell of fresh bread.
Her eyes snapped open.
Wheat, sugar, warmth… it smelled like a miracle.
“Sister, quietly…”
The woman immediately understood. She hesitated, but resisted the urge to eat. Food was scarce, and the girl had given her something so precious…
In the darkness, Chi Ying mouthed the words:
Eat it. Now.
She gave an encouraging wink.
Under the temptation of the scent, no one could resist. The woman took a huge bite, chewing as silently as she could.
Wheat. Sweetness. Warmth.
It brought tears to her eyes.
[Holy Mother value +1. Points +100.]
Chi Ying’s eyes lit up.
It worked.
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1