CHAPTER 116: THE DEAL IS STRUCK

So, it seems I’m benefiting from the nation’s glory and getting an RV in the process. Jing Shu decided to settle the matter of the RV first, then discuss other things.

"Want it? Of course, I want it! What do you want in return?"

What was the risk of the payment going down the drain compared to missing out on such an incredible RV? Who knew when the next opportunity would come? People who owned such RVs probably weren’t short on cash. In the apocalypse, they must be living quite comfortably. It would likely be difficult to get an RV like that from them.

Yang Yang was right; his price should be the least of her concerns. As for the timing... she wasn’t in a hurry, as long as she got it back before the migration.

"Before an army marches, provisions must be secured first," Yang Yang began. "For six people over two months, provide the best food you can, both raw and cooked. I’ve heard you also have black pigs; slaughter two for us and make them into smoked meat to take along.

"Though we have military rations and Compressed Biscuits, the brothers risking their lives deserve to eat better. We have insulated containers, so you don’t need to worry about spoilage.

"The United States is chaotic, with daily gunfights, so injuries are inevitable. I heard from Wang Dazhao that you have a secret homemade remedy for external injuries that saved him. I need at least enough of that medicine for ten uses, plus some common supplies for stopping bleeding, treating heatstroke, and preventing mosquito bites.

"That’s all. This mission is extremely dangerous, and I don’t know if I’ll make it back alive. But rest assured, as long as any one of us is still breathing, we’ll definitely get what you want and ship it to the border for you. I’ve already spoken with Niu; he still owes me a favor. If I die, you can go to him to collect the debt," Yang Yang said casually, kicking his military boots.

Jing Shu raised an eyebrow. It was somewhat surprising, yet it also made sense after a moment’s thought. What’s most important in the apocalypse? Food and medicine.

They surely had weapons, and beyond that, Jing Shu didn’t seem to have anything else readily available to offer.

Perhaps no one could have imagined before the apocalypse that items worth only a few thousand could be exchanged for an RV worth 13,000,000 after it. But in reality, Yang Yang and his team weren’t losing out in the deal, as very few people could actually afford to use such an expensive RV in the apocalypse.

Moreover, Yang Yang and his team were planning to steal it, essentially a no-cost business venture. Oh, of course, they might pay with their lives.

"To me, the medicine is life-saving, worth more than an RV. So, how about that? Isn’t my price the lowest of all?"

"Okay." She had indeed snagged a huge bargain. Yang Yang had asked for food merely as an additional condition; what he truly wanted must be that fast-acting Spiritual Spring. With the current hot weather, if someone got shot and the wound became infected while abroad, it was practically a death sentence. To increase their chances of survival, he wanted to barter with her.

It seemed Jing Shu’s big bluffs were about to unfold.

The fact that Yang Yang only asked for life-saving items implied his mission might not be so simple.

"What exactly are you planning to smuggle back?"

Yet Yang Yang refused to disclose what they were bringing back.

This piqued Jing Shu’s curiosity about Yang Yang’s mission. What is the United States’ most prominent feature? Grain? High-tech products? Firearms? What could possibly be worth the effort of smuggling over such a long distance?

Jing Shu’s heart itched with curiosity. Her Magic Cube Space had just leveled up and wasn’t full yet. She had a compulsion to fill it completely. Should she consider taking a trip to the United States herself? Given that all international travel was crippled, it seemed her only option was to go with Yang Yang, right?

Yang Yang felt a little self-conscious under Jing Shu’s gaze. Has this woman guessed something?

"Are you still short on heavy hitters?" Jing Shu asked, then kicked a dead, withered tree in the residential area. With a thunderous crash, a tree trunk as thick as a thigh snapped and fell to the ground.

How much strength did that take?

BURP. Wang Dazhao, who had been idly watching, let out a burp in shock.

Yang Yang quietly swallowed and almost nodded in agreement before vigorously shaking his head. It’s a joke, how could I bring a woman on such a secret mission?

He then played his trump card, "This trip will take months. Aren’t you worried about others from Zhetian raiding your home?"

Jing Shu was instantly defeated. With the Heavenly Cover Leader still at large, she really couldn’t afford to run around. What if she were attacked unexpectedly? Wu You’ai had said that Shangguan Jun would come for her again. Now that he knew the villa’s location, she had to be vigilant at all times. Moreover, with so many resources in the villa, it would be troublesome if it attracted unwanted attention.

Yang Yang pondered, "Next time, perhaps. If this haul is good, we’ll let the United States ’recover’ a bit. After they’ve ’fattened up,’ we’ll sweep through the area again. Once we’ve figured out the routes, we can make a round trip in just over ten days."

It had to be said, considering Jing Shu’s combat prowess and her ruthlessly efficient methods, Yang Yang recognized a genuine need for such a team member. He admired her for the way she had ruthlessly ambushed and killed hundreds from Zhetian, and for her cold-bloodedness, cutting flesh without batting an eye.

This was the type of person better suited for surviving in these times.

Jing Shu’s eyes twinkled for the third time. Next time, her space could be upgraded again, and then she’d have at least a few hundred cubic meters of storage available. What couldn’t she fit in there? Once this crisis passed, Huaxia should be quiet for a while, and it wouldn’t be too late to go out adventuring then.

"Alright." Jing Shu turned around. "Wang Dazhao, your life is mine now. Be careful with it. I’ll have something important for you to do when you return."

She had a plan she wanted Wang Dazhao to try. Of course, it would be even better if Wang Dazhao could get into the Armed Police system.

"I will climb a mountain of knives and dive into a sea of flames for you!"

This was great; Wang Dazhao had found a new purpose in life.

Truthfully, Jing Shu wasn’t afraid of them betraying her at all. That kick hadn’t been for nothing. Only from a position of equal strength could they truly exchange benefits. Otherwise, it would simply be a case of a wolf preying on a fattened lamb. Considering her methods, she believed they must have already gotten a hint of her capabilities. She had guns, bombs, and strength.

If they still didn’t understand, Jing Shu could make them understand more thoroughly. She was no longer the Jing Shu of her past life—naive, pouring out her heart, and easily trusting of human nature. She now only wished for the world to be well and for everyone to keep their word.

"I’ll come to collect the items within five days."

...

The black pigs in Jing Shu’s villa, and those in her Magic Cube Space, became pregnant around the same time. This gave Jing Shu just enough opportunity to slaughter the other black pigs in her space. Two were set aside to be made into smoked meat for Yang Yang, while the rest were processed into braised meat, roasted pig’s trotters, and roasted pork ribs. When the new piglets were born, she planned to give some to Mr. Jing to help with his promotion.

The pigs were slaughtered using the Second Form of the Magic Cube. Although Jing Shu’s control over the space wasn’t yet at its peak, she could still ensure a painless and rapid process, leaving no waste. She utilized the properties of the Magic Cube Space perfectly, ensuring not even a drop of pig blood was wasted.

Currently, Jing Shu’s Magic Cube Space housed eight black pigs, just enough for her consumption for half a year. Once it was upgraded and production capacity increased, she could raise more.

While preparing the items for Yang Yang over the next few days, Jing Shu also contemplated how to further modify her off-road RV. She needed to gather batteries and other parts for the modifications and was even considering stocking up on more diesel.