C16 Survival Handbook Second Chapter

Despite the day's battles not being particularly fierce, Lee Yuanhong found it to be a bountiful day, especially with the company of a beautiful woman, which seemed to double his efficiency. Of course, it would have been perfect if he weren't also juggling his duties as a chef.

Lying in bed (in one of the three rooms at Lee Luoxia's home, where he had the pretext of an overnight stay to protect the lady, and even the gunmen were on night duty in the living room), he pulled out the Crystal Core he had acquired that day. He summoned Yiling to assess its quality.

The effort was worthwhile. The Crystal Core was of a complete first-grade quality, capable of fully unlocking a first-grade space without any time constraints. In other words, Lee Yuanhong could now access and store items in this space whenever he wished. It was like having the ultimate cheat device from a system-based novel, and Yuanhong was starting to feel like a true protagonist.

After merging the Crystal Core with his watch, Yuanhong activated the system to inspect the space's storage status. There was a new addition of four cubic meters for food reserves, with two cubic meters to spare. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that the space was insufficient. When it came to understanding the first-grade level classification, Yiling's cryptic "You'll find out in time" left him in a state of frustration.

Yuanhong then proceeded to explore the system for any updates. To his surprise, he found a detailed profile for Lee Luoxia in the character section:

Age: 24

Skills: Beginner Lockpicking, Beginner Sabreplay, Beginner Dagger Technique

Status: Excellent

Health Points: 15

Defense: 0, Spirit: 1, Attack: 2

Strength: 2, Speed: 3

Physique: 1, Wisdom: 4

Character Introduction: A descendant of Swallow Lee San, with a solid foundation in light-body techniques and basic thievery skills. She possesses the potential to ascend to the rank of Thief Grandmaster. Kind-hearted by nature, she has a peculiar fondness for money, and once it's in her possession, it's unlikely to be relinquished.

Reading the profile, Yuanhong was at a loss for words. The basic attributes were comparable to his own, but the prospect of competing with the potential of a Thief Grandmaster was daunting.

Lee Yuanhong didn't get hung up on the details and proceeded to check the system, where he noticed the Survival Handbook had received an update.

Survival Handbook, Chapter Two: Companions

In a post-apocalyptic world, it's impractical to go it alone for long, which is why it's essential to team up with others.

When choosing companions, there are several key considerations:

First, while it's okay to exchange benefits with your companions, don't let these transactions destroy your mutual respect and affection. Disputes over benefits should be resolved by compromise when they don't involve core principles; such flexibility can yield surprising results. However, there are limits to compromise; stand firm on matters of principle.

Second, companions don't need to be the strongest, but they should have a unique skill and a resolute spirit. It's better to part ways with those who've lost their will to fight if they can't regain it quickly.

Third, companions can be flawed, but they must not be devoid of humanity. Stay clear of those who have lost their sense of humanity, regardless of their abilities.

Fourth, while you can engage in transactions or utilize those who are cunning and greedy, never trust them with your back.

Fifth, only those of unwavering loyalty deserve your complete trust. Such individuals are proven over time and through life-and-death situations.

Sixth, regarding ambitious individuals, if you have no desire to rule, you may follow them. But if you harbor aspirations of leadership, remain vigilant. Distance yourself swiftly should their ambitions grow unchecked.

Reflecting on these guidelines for selecting companions, Lee Yuanhong reminisced about his career and how often he'd seen others—and himself—get lost in the pursuit of interests and power, leading to many regrettable tales of betrayal.

With no further updates in the system, Lee Yuanhong closed his eyes, his mind actively plotting the next steps. Venturing out with a few liabilities in tow was no easy feat, especially with a baby who could erupt into tears at any moment—a ticking time bomb of sorts. The mere thought was enough to give him a headache.

At the crack of dawn the next day, Lee Yuanhong rose early, intending to prepare some food before setting out. The sooner they left, the safer they'd be. However, upon opening the electric cooker, he discovered the power was out, and the gas stove's flame was weak—survival was about to get even tougher. He quickly warmed the milk for the baby; failing to cater to her needs would spell disaster. The others made do with mineral water, bread, and ham sausage.

After breakfast, Lee Yuanhong led his group up the stairs, the power outage rendering the elevator useless. Reaching the ground floor, the youngsters' legs were already wobbling, casting doubt on their ambitious goal to cover 30 kilometers that day. It was clear they needed to find alternative transportation.

Peering through the crack of the door, they saw only a handful of zombies outside, five or six at most. With caution and a bit of trickery to lure the creatures away, they could easily handle the situation.

Once the zombies at the entrance were dispatched, Yuanhong shouldered his aunt, who was blissfully asleep, oblivious to the apocalyptic world around her. The poor protagonist found himself playing the role of a nanny as he led the group toward the southeast wall. This route not only steered them clear of the supermarket but also promised the spoils of a sizable daily necessities wholesale market. The mention of a market raid had Lee Luoxia's eyes twinkling with excitement, completely disregarding the potential dangers.

Navigating their way by scaling walls and cutting through alleys, they avoided large hordes of zombies, engaging only when necessary. Any lone zombies they encountered were simply unlucky.

Their exit was surprisingly smooth, and by 10:30 AM, they had reached an old residential complex just shy of a kilometer from the wholesale market. The tallest building was a mere six stories high. They opted for a building close to the perimeter wall, where Luoxia showcased her lock-picking talents. They infiltrated the building, selecting a room infested with zombies for the gunmen to clear out, leaving Yuanhong to clean up afterward. Once they were settled, Yuanhong, Luoxia, and the three gunmen set off for the market. Yuanhong had initially wanted Luoxia to stay behind, but one look at her eager, mischievous expression told him that simply wasn't an option.