Chapter 14: Just as Planned

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Just as Planned

Two days flew by in a blur of focused Posture Stance practice, vigilant observation, and endless speculation about the world behind that door.

When the invisible countdown in his mind hit [00:00:00], Xu Mo was already standing before the glass door. A red paper strip reading "Come in and have a taste!" was taped to it. The early morning sun shone on the red paper, casting a dazzling flare of light that seemed to be an external manifestation of the surging tide of emotion within him.

His breath was a little ragged, his palms slick with sweat from a mixture of nerves and anticipation. This was it. It wasn’t just about a single haul of supplies; it was about whether he had truly found the key to actively using his ability, about whether he could seize greater control in this post-apocalyptic world.

’Open the door!’

Without hesitation, Xu Mo issued the command in his mind as he pushed the glass door open with all his might.

Light shimmered, and the scene transformed—

A familiar scent—a mixture of grease, spices, and a faint hint of cooking smoke—wafted into his nostrils. What greeted his eyes was not the ambiguously lit space with pink lights, but a clean, tidy little restaurant filled with the warm atmosphere of daily life!

The small dining area held six square tables covered with plastic tablecloths. An eye-catching menu was posted on the wall, its red background and yellow text listing: Twice-Cooked Pork, Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork, Shredded Pork with Green Peppers, Mapo Tofu, Tomato and Egg Soup... One by one, the familiar dish names now seemed to glitter with an alluring golden light in his eyes. The cash register was polished to a shine, with a calculator and a stack of order pads still resting on top.

’I did it! I really did it!’

An immense joy, like an electric current, shot through his entire body, making Xu Mo want to shout in celebration. His theory was correct; the rules had indeed responded to his "creation." He had not only verified the "door-type correspondence" but had also confirmed that the "facade information" could be mapped as well. This meant that from now on, his ability to acquire scarce resources would take a quantum leap.

’Calm down! I only have sixty seconds!’

Xu Mo forcibly suppressed the excitement that threatened to overwhelm him. This was no time to celebrate; every second was precious.

Like a leopard that had spotted its prey, his gaze instantly locked onto the entrance to the side of the counter, partially covered by a short curtain—the kitchen!

Without a shred of hesitation, Xu Mo charged in. The kitchen was cleaner than he had expected; the stove, cutting boards, and washing sinks were all in order. His eyes, like the most precise radar, immediately scanned and found the heavy, gleaming Bone-Cutting Knife next to the chopping block. The blade was thick and wide, its edge looked exceptionally sharp, and the wooden handle felt heavy and full of power in his hand.

’What a find!’ Xu Mo’s heart pounded with excitement. A good weapon was priceless in the post-apocalyptic world. Whether for hacking up zombies or preparing ingredients, this Bone-Cutting Knife was top-tier! He snatched the knife, and its cold, solid feel brought him an unprecedented sense of security.

At the same time, his peripheral vision caught a large bamboo basket on a nearby stainless steel worktable. Inside, wrapped in plastic, were ready-to-eat spiced beef, marinated pig ears, and salted peanuts. The aroma was intoxicating. It looked like the owner had bought these deli items to serve as cold appetizers.

[Fifteen seconds passed]

Gripping the Bone-Cutting Knife in one hand and hoisting the heavy basket of cooked food with the other, Xu Mo sprinted back to the doorway and quickly set both items down in the safe area outside. Weapons and ready-to-eat, high-protein food were the top priorities.

After dropping the items, he turned back and charged into the kitchen again without pause.

[Twenty seconds passed]

This time, Xu Mo had a clear target—the electric rice cooker on a corner counter, its "keep warm" light still on! He had noticed it when he first rushed in. He yanked open the lid, and the distinct, clean fragrance of rice hit him. It was a full pot of glistening, steaming hot white rice!

’This is perfect!’ Xu Mo was ecstatic. ’Staple food! This is the most reliable, long-lasting source of energy!’ He unhesitatingly unplugged the power cord, grabbed the inner pot of the rice cooker—still hot to the touch—with both hands, lifted the whole thing out, and rushed back to the doorway, carefully placing it next to the Bone-Cutting Knife and the basket of food.

[Forty seconds passed]

The two back-to-back sprints left him slightly breathless, but his movements didn’t slow a bit. His eyes swept to a corner of the kitchen where a half-full sack of rice sat, weighing about a dozen pounds. Next to it stood a water dispenser with a mostly full jug of water on top.

He shouldered the half-empty sack of rice and quickly dislodged the large water jug from the dispenser. These items were bulky and not light, but his well-recovered physique came through, allowing him to barely carry both at once. He staggered back to the doorway and added the rice and water to the small, growing pile of supplies.

[Ten seconds remaining]

The countdown in his mind warned him that time was almost up. Xu Mo took one last look around the restaurant’s dining hall, his eyes immediately drawn to a refrigerated beverage case against the wall and the liquor shelf next to it.

The cooler was stocked with all kinds of beers and soft drinks, while the shelf held various types of baijiu. He originally wanted to grab a few energy drinks, but there wasn’t enough time to rummage through the cooler and get back to the door.

In a split second, Xu Mo made a decision—forget the drinks that required opening a door and go for the easily accessible liquor shelf.

He lunged toward the shelf. With no time to look closely, he swept his arms across it, haphazardly gathering several of the sturdiest-looking, most high-end boxes of liquor and clutching them to his chest. He managed to grab four or five boxes!

The very instant he secured the liquor, that familiar, irresistible pulling sensation struck.

Everything before him began to twist. When the world came back into focus, Xu Mo found himself standing steadily outside the glass door on the apocalyptic street, still clutching the boxes of liquor. The glass door behind him had returned to its normal appearance.

The morning sun cast its light on the still, silent street. Xu Mo looked down at the boxes in his arms, printed with brand names like "Old Cellar" and "Original Brew." Then, an unrestrained, triumphant smile spread across his face.

Although he had only managed to bring out a few boxes of liquor in the end, the significance of this "door opening" was far beyond what the supplies alone could measure!

Looking at the small pile of "spoils" on the street, Xu Mo’s heart swelled with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. The Bone-Cutting Knife glinted coldly in the dawn light, the spiced beef and marinated meats gave off an alluring aroma, and there was fluffy rice, a heavy sack of uncooked grains, a nearly full jug of pure water, and the few boxes of liquor in his arms—an unexpected bonus. All of it, he had obtained by actively using the rules, relying on his own wits and courage!

After a brief moment of excitement, his caution returned. Although the town was empty, leaving these supplies exposed in the open was ultimately unsafe. Xu Mo moved quickly, like a diligent ant, and began moving the supplies in batches back to his temporary shelter a few dozen meters away.

Once all the supplies were safely inside, he immediately put the obstacles back in place, barricading the entrance. After finishing, Xu Mo leaned his back against the barricade of furniture, panting slightly, his face flushed from the exertion, and filled with an indescribable sense of relief.

His gaze fell to the corner of the room. The once-sparse collection of supplies was now quite substantial. The new additions, in particular, made his temporary shelter feel truly well-stocked.

After catching his breath, Xu Mo’s eyes finally settled on the Bone-Cutting Knife.

He walked over, picked it up, and examined it closely. The wide, thick blade, its substantial weight, and the sharp edge still seemed to shimmer with cold light in the dim room. He gave it a couple of practice swings. The sound of it cutting through the air was heavy and powerful, and it felt natural in his hand.

"Finally, a proper weapon," Xu Mo murmured to himself, his fingertips carefully tracing the cold steel of the blade as a sharp glint appeared in his eyes. In this perilous post-apocalyptic world, the sense of security from a good weapon was, in some ways, even greater than that from food. It meant he had a stronger ability to defend himself, the confidence to proactively eliminate threats.

Putting the knife down, Xu Mo looked at the spiced beef, the marinated meats, and the pot of white rice, deciding he would treat himself to a good meal today. He had grasped the rules, obtained a weapon, stockpiled supplies, and his body had mostly recovered... Everything, it seemed, was starting to move in the right direction.

The supplies piled in the corner were no longer just a guarantee of survival; they were the foundation for him to gain a foothold in this world, and perhaps even to explore the wider lands beyond. A powerful sense of confidence took root and began to sprout in his heart.