048 Step aside

Fang Yuxin was right in her prediction; the next morning, after having a simple breakfast and leaving their house, they discovered a different atmosphere within the neighborhood. Inquiring along the way, they located a temporary office of the Safe Zone manager and saw many notices posted on the wall.

Additionally, many people hadn't slept last night to repair the neighborhood's generator, which was now operational. The Safe Zone's manager had also pulled an all-nighter to create new ID Cards to be used for identity verification and daily shopping payments.

Such ID Cards could be obtained for free by superpower users, whereas ordinary people had to pay with a Basic-level Crystal Core. If someone didn't have a Crystal Core, they could owe it first, and this debt would be recorded on the ID Card; if the debt wasn't repaid within seven days, they would be forcibly assigned to the labor team and work off their debt.

Not only the ID Cards required Crystal Cores, but housing, water, and electricity within the Safe Zone also needed to be paid for with Crystal Cores. The Fang Family lived in their own villa, which the Safe Zone's manager couldn't forcefully requisition, but other unoccupied houses were considered the property of the Safe Zone, and anyone wishing to live there had to go through a simple procedure and pay the required number of Crystal Cores, either by renting or purchasing.

The electricity problem was somewhat resolved, but water remained an issue. The water pipes were cut off, and nobody knew the status of the water treatment plant, so the immediate challenge was to address the water issue. After the Fang Family paid the Crystal Core and obtained their ID Cards, the staff in charge of distributing Crystal Core saw their generosity and suggested they take on some tasks to earn Contribution Value and credit points.

Contribution Value showed each person's contribution to the Safe Zone, and the higher the Contribution Value, the better the treatment they could enjoy in the Safe Zone. Credit points were like currency and could be used to pay rent and buy supplies.

The Fang Family thanked him and then proceeded to the Task Hall. There were many tasks already posted in the hall, which seemed to fall into three categories: rescue missions, cleanup tasks, and resource collection. Resources mainly included food and water. Besides, there was a notice calling for Water Element Superpower Users.

After some consideration, cleanup tasks seemed most suitable for them. The cleanup tasks were divided into cleaning specific areas and clearing a certain number of zombies. Those involving specific areas generally required collaboration with other teams to clear the way for the rescue and resource collection teams, which was quite restrictive. Clearing a specified number of zombies had different levels of rewards depending on the quantity, with more rewards for clearing more zombies.

Such tasks were perfect for the Fang Family, so they discussed amongst themselves and decided to take on one of these tasks. The Task Hall was crowded with people, including other families who were also reviewing the tasks. Among them were superpower users, but ordinary people outnumbered them. With few superpower users, ordinary people looking to survive in the Safe Zone needed to earn rewards by completing tasks.

Besides various tasks, there were also many recruitment notices in the hall. The Safe Zone's construction needed a lot of labor, and ordinary people who dared not go out to hunt zombies could choose to work within the Safe Zone. However, this kind of work often involved physical labor, which was safer compared to venturing out on tasks, but it paid much less.

The Fang Family saw the task window and were just about to walk over when a woman suddenly rushed up to them. With her hair tied in a ponytail, she appeared very refreshing—it was Lin Feiyin, whom Fang Yuxin and her siblings had rescued and then abandoned.

She approached the Fang Family, sized them up, and then casually said, "I thought I was mistaken, but it really is you."

It seemed she had more to say, but Fang Yuxin wasn't interested in entangling further and coldly asked, "We have other things to deal with, please step aside."

Lin Feiyin frowned slightly at her words, seemingly dissatisfied with Fang Yuxin's attitude. But before she could say anything, another person quickly approached, glaring at Fang Yu and said, "Why are you being like this? How can you speak to people like that?" The speaker was a young girl with two braids hanging in front of her chest, looking to be still in high school.

Internally, Fang Yuxin rolled her eyes, she knew it, encountering Lin Feiyin was never good news! The girl's voice was quite loud, and as she spoke, everyone in the Task Hall heard and turned their eyes toward them.

Detecting these stares, Fang Yuxin grew even more annoyed, but she didn't argue with the young girl. Instead, she looked at Lin Feiyin and stated, "If there's nothing else, please step aside, we have things to do."

The young girl was about to speak again, but Lin Feiyin stopped her and said, "I just wanted to thank you for saving me last time. Even though you left right after, I've remembered this favor. Are you here to take on tasks as well? It just so happens that I am too. Which task are you considering? We could do it together, I have a team, and it would be good to have each other's support."

As soon as she finished speaking, the young="" girl="" by="" her="" side="" became="" anxious,="" grabbing="" her="" arm="" and="" saying,="" sister="" feiyin!="" How="" can="" you="" do="" this?="" Our="" team="" is="" full="" of="" skilled="" members.="" Why="" would="" we="" take="" on="" these="" burdens?="""

Hearing the word "burdens," the faces of the Fang Family darkened. Fang Yuyang directly said, "We have our own plans, so no need to trouble yourselves. If you want to repay us for saving your life last time, please don't appear in front of us again."

His words were harsh, and although Lin Feiyin was usually "magnanimous," she flushed with anger and shame. The young girl at her side was even more furious, clenching her fist and throwing a punch toward Fang Yuyang's abdomen! Though she appeared feeble, the punch carried a whooshing sound, indicating significant power.

The people in the hall noticed this scene, and their expressions changed—some envied the young girl's superpower user status, some thought she was too impulsive, others felt the Fang Family was too proud and dismissive, and there were those who took pleasure in the looming conflict.

However, just then, a green flash occurred, followed by a "snap"—the young girl who had just thrown the punch was suddenly flung backward. On closer inspection, Fang Yuxin was holding a green vine, unknown since when, in her hand. The vine was as thick as an adult's thumb and looked lush and pleasing.

Everyone was initially startled, then realized that it was this vine that had struck the young girl. Fang Yuxin was evidently a Wood Element Superpower User!

Realizing this, their view of Fang Yuxin shifted. People with great strength were not uncommon before the apocalypse, but Wood Element Superpower Users were the stuff of legends, and they were witnessing one for the first time!