Chapter 114 - 94: House and Mission

Chapter 114: Chapter 94: House and Mission

Morning sunlight streamed into the room. Xu Mo opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them for an instant before vanishing. As usual, he began practicing the *Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Cross Training* in his room, his blood and energy slowly circulating to nourish his skin, muscles, and bones.

However, unlike the usual peace of mind that came with steady, natural progress, a lingering sense of urgency weighed on him as he trained today.

He recalled what he had seen at the Sixth Forward Base. Almost one in every five or six people carried a firearm. Pistols, hunting rifles, assault rifles—he even occasionally spotted a sniper rifle.

Those guns might not have been as high-quality as his AWM, but in the hands of someone with ill intent, a shot from the shadows could be fatal. In this apocalyptic world, people’s intentions were impossible to gauge. The carefully planned ambush he’d encountered on the road to Jiang City was a bloody lesson. Out in the wild, so-called discipline and order were often nonexistent; the law of the jungle was the only rule.

It was this urgency that had driven Xu Mo to seek a shortcut to a breakthrough the day before, using external objects like jade. Unfortunately, the results had been disappointing. Neither the smooth, lustrous jade nor the other strange stones and wood carvings had provided him with the slightest bit of energy. It seemed his only recourse was the *Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Cross Training* itself—a bitter path of cultivation that required time and perseverance.

’I have to speed things up.’ Xu Mo concluded his practice and stood, letting out a long, turbid breath. Improving his strength required resources, and in Jiang City, resources had to be bought with Contribution Points.

After checking out of his hotel room, Xu Mo headed straight for a nearby real estate agency. Staying in a hotel was too expensive. He had about a thousand Contribution Points, but after seeing prices in the Inner City’s weapon shops and consignment stores—often hundreds or even thousands of points—he knew his savings wouldn’t last. He had to be more frugal.

The agency’s glass door was plastered with countless paper slips listing rental information. Xu Mo stopped to read them:

[Peace Street, Building 3, Apt 502, single room, 120 Contribution Points/month (Private Listing)]

[Inner City, District 3, small courtyard house, private residence, 450 Contribution Points/month (Jiang City Managed)]

[Bungalow by the city wall, one room, 70 Contribution Points/month (Private, Urgent Rental)]

[School district housing, two bedrooms, one living room, 380 Contribution Points/month (Jiang City Property)]

...

Prices ranged anywhere from 100 to 500 Contribution Points per month. At a glance, the cheaper options were mostly listings posted by individuals, while those marked "Jiang City Managed" or "Jiang City Property" were generally much more expensive.

Just then, a young male employee wearing a somewhat formal button-down shirt came out and greeted him with a smile. "Hello, sir. Looking to rent? I can give you more details." As he spoke, he made a welcoming gesture.

Xu Mo followed him into the agency. It was simply furnished, with only a few tables, some chairs, and a small blackboard covered in property listings.

The employee enthusiastically poured him a glass of water and began his pitch. "Sir, we have two types of properties here. The first is managed properties. They’re secure and relatively well-equipped. During your lease, you can get any of the officially provided furniture or appliances repaired for non-accidental damage. Most importantly, security patrols are frequent, so you rarely have to worry about theft. The other type is listings from private owners. Those are cheaper, but you’ll have to work out the details of security and amenities with the landlord yourself."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Also, if you choose a long-term lease, like for six months or a year, managed properties often come with a discount. It ends up being a lot cheaper than renting short-term..."

As the agent was speaking, a burly, middle-aged man in a dirty, old combat uniform walked past the entrance. He reeked of gunpowder and blood. He happened to overhear the agent and let out a disdainful scoff. "A long-term lease? When you’re out there scavenging, you’re risking your neck every day. You don’t know if you’ll even be alive tomorrow. Who the fuck has the luxury of thinking about a long-term lease? With that many points, you’d be better off staying in a hotel for a few days and spending the rest on good ammo and a few decent meals! One of these days, you might not come back. What’s the point? Renting a house for a ghost?"

Having said his piece, the burly man didn’t spare the embarrassed agent a second glance. He shouldered a bulging backpack and strode off.

Xu Mo’s interest was piqued. ’We’re talking inside the agency,’ he thought, ’but that man heard the agent’s words just by passing the doorway. His hearing is impressive.’

The man’s attitude spoke volumes about the mindset of many who frequently went out as Scavengers. This "live for today" mentality, this lack of long-term planning, was incredibly common in the apocalyptic world.

The immense pressure of survival and the extremely high mortality rate had shattered any stable expectations for the "future." To many, long-term investment was a foolish and unnecessary risk. Seizing the day and strengthening their immediate ability to survive was the top priority for most people teetering on the brink of death. It was a twisted, yet practical, philosophy of survival forged in this extreme environment.

The agent’s face turned red with embarrassment. He looked at Xu Mo apologetically. "Sir, please don’t mind him. Some of the Scavengers can be a bit... aggressive."

"It’s nothing," Xu Mo said, waving a hand to show he understood. "Please, continue."

The agent collected himself and went on to recommend a few more properties that fit Xu Mo’s initial criteria.

After listening for a little longer, Xu Mo cut to the chase. "Why don’t you show me some places? My budget is around 150 Contribution Points per month. I’m looking for somewhere relatively quiet, and ideally, a place to park."

"Right away! Please, follow me!" The agent’s eyes lit up. He immediately grabbed a ring of keys and a binder with the listings, then led Xu Mo out the door.