Chapter 4: The Young Lord Tribute—A Chest Full of Gold!

Water!

Real water!

Clean, unpolluted, non-bitter, transparent water!

Everyone was overjoyed!

The icebound apocalypse had lasted for three years.

In those three years, the city’s water supply had been completely exhausted.

Even drilling a thousand meters underground yielded no groundwater.

Usually, people survived on the small amount of ice water clinging to buildings.

Occasionally, they managed to snatch some heavily polluted ice from outside, but even after thorough filtration, it still had a strong, putrid stench.

During the hardest times, they even had to save their urine—never wasting a single drop—filtering it just to have something to drink.

But now, right in front of them, was clean, refreshing mineral water!

This was nothing short of a miracle!

A-class ability user Shi Zhuang used his power again, carefully melting the freshly frozen water.

Song Lüfeng opened a barrel.

He poured the water into everyone’s bowls.

Lifting his own, he drank deeply.

Sweet, cool, pure!

It felt incredibly refreshing!

The trace minerals and elements nourished his dehydrated body like a life-giving elixir.

“This water is so sweet! It’s like divine nectar!”

An A-class water-type ability user, the intelligence officer Lü He, glowed with energy after drinking the water, as if his abilities were on the verge of a breakthrough.

He understood the value of clean water more than anyone.

If his abilities were like a withering sapling on the brink of death, then this pure water was the life-giving source that could revive it.

Even those without water-related abilities could feel the benefits of the mineral water.

“I feel so much lighter… My pollution threshold seems to have lowered!”

“Me too! It’s like I’ve been purified!”

“My mood is so much better! This water is amazing!”

The ever-present toxins from mutant beasts had been corroding their bodies and minds. Over time, their tolerance thresholds increased, and once those thresholds were exceeded, they would face both mental and physical collapse.

Beyond the toxins, there were also elemental and unknown pollutants from other dimensions that contaminated the land, harming all humans.

But now, this pure water was actually neutralizing the pollution in their bodies.

This was life-saving water!

Song Lüfeng made a decisive order.

“Deliver these two steamed buns and three bowls of water to General Cheng Di’s household.”

“Distribute this barrel of water among everyone.”

“As for the remaining steamed buns and water, divide them evenly among the warriors and residents who need them most.”

No one objected.

“Yes!”

They moved into action immediately.

By this time, it was nearly evening. Due to energy shortages, the base supplied electricity only as needed.

Most of the base was dark and silent.

But nothing could suppress the flames of hope ignited in these people.

Song Lüfeng carefully held onto an antique mobile phone.

It was the savior who had brought them this lifeline.

But how long would this lifeline last?

Would the savior see this as just an entertaining game and grow bored of it soon?

If the supplies stopped coming, would they still have a chance to survive?

“Oh great savior, can you hear my prayers?”

“If possible, we need more food and water. We’re willing to trade anything you want in return.”

“This is our tribute. Do you like it?”

His voice was almost humble.

It wasn’t that he lacked pride, but for the sake of the struggling people in his city, he was willing to bow his head.

Forget pleading—if he had to kneel, he would.

If he had to suffer a thousand cuts, he would endure it.

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Gu Man felt deeply satisfied as she sent over food and water.

It was the kind of satisfaction that came from helping others.

Seeing how happy they were over simple steamed buns and water made her heart swell with joy.

The joy of being needed.

Even if this was just a game, even if everything was virtual…

The cool crystal core in her palm constantly reminded her—maybe this wasn’t virtual at all.

If it were just a simulation, then how could this crystal core exist?

But if this was real…

Clang!

Suddenly, a heavy object landed with a loud thud.

She jumped in surprise.

Opening her eyes—whoa! She almost got blinded!

Gold!

An entire chest filled with gold! Even though she was a legitimate billionaire, the sight of a chest full of gold was still incredibly shocking!

Money was just numbers.

But gold was real.

Before receiving this chest, her beast of a father had used the excuse that he couldn’t afford to spoil her, making her life extremely difficult.

If she wanted to spend money, she had to work for it. At one point, she even juggled five jobs at once.

She hadn’t yet experienced the true luxuries of wealth.

So the impact of this chest of gold was beyond words.

She tried to lift it—nope, impossible.

She had no choice but to calculate its worth based on the weight of the gold bars.

Each gold bar weighed 500 grams.

There were 200 bars in total—100 kilograms of pure gold.

Gold was priced at 580 per gram.

That meant this chest was worth 58 million!

Almost half of a “small target”!

Tsk!

That young Lord Song sure knew how to conduct business—so generous!

She felt a little embarrassed!

She had never liked owing people, and since he was being so open-handed, she decided to use all of this money to buy more supplies to send over!

And she’d throw in another hundred million on top of that!

After all, she had more money than she could spend. Instead of letting it sit around and risk losing value, why not invest it all into this game?

At least this game brought her real emotional satisfaction.

As she marveled at the gold, the young city lord, looking slightly rejuvenated, suddenly gazed directly at the screen, as if staring at her through time and space.

“Our technology allows us to convert materials into gold. If the savior likes gold, we can continue to offer it.”

“Savior, what do you need?”

This was already the third time he had asked.

To be honest…

Gu Man still hadn’t figured out what she wanted.

Besides, she had always thought this was just a game.

But perhaps it was the sincerity in his deep, beautiful eyes that made her act on impulse—she typed out a reply.

“I don’t know what I want for now.”

“Oh, and I’m not some savior. I’m just an ordinary girl.”

The moment she sent the message, the young city lord froze.

As if realizing his own foolish fantasy.

Seeing no further response from him, she decided to wait.

But just then, she heard the sound of a door unlocking and someone entering.

Zhang Ma?

No, she wouldn’t be back so soon.

Then who—

“Brother Lin, why are you so concerned about her? She looks perfectly fine and definitely wouldn’t do anything foolish.”

A sweet yet affected voice rang out.

She knew this voice all too well.

Her stepsister, Gu Xiaoya.

“I was once engaged to her. I can’t just ignore her completely.”

“You understand me, Xiaoya.”

Oh, wonderful. Her ex-fiancé, Lin Muyu.

These adulterous scumbags actually dared to come to her home?

Gu Man covered up the gold, then strode out.

“You disgusting pair of traitors dare show up at my place? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you where you stand?”