57

They were truly just one step away.

Now that the survival zone was in sight yet out of reach, Youche was on the verge of tears.

If only he had known how crucial food would be—he never would have fussed about eating this or that on the road.

Thinking back on all the hotpot, instant noodles, canned food, and fruit he'd eaten along the way, he now regretted it so much he wanted to reach down his throat and claw it all back out.

Regret. Pure, burning regret.

Youche felt like slapping himself.

"Chu the Elder… what do we do now?"

He looked over at Chu Yian, knowing full well the food in her box likely wasn't enough for them both.

"How about… you try to go in first? If it's enough for one, just go. I'll figure something out myself."

Chu Yian glanced at him, then motioned for him to get in the car.

Following the road signs, they arrived at the official entrance to the survival zone.

The true survival zone was underground—hidden within the mountains.

Only one access point was open, and it was heavily guarded.

As expected, they were stopped.

"To enter, it's 100 compressed biscuits per person, or food of equal value."

Just as that old man on the road had said—it was real.

Youche opened his mouth but said nothing, quietly stepping back.

He wanted more than anything for Chu the Elder to bring him in too.

But he also knew—if she had the chance to live, she shouldn't waste it on him.

She'd already done more than enough, bringing him all the way from the previous city.

"Excuse me," Chu Yian stepped forward, addressing the soldier.

"Is there any way to enter without paying with food?"

"No."

The soldier replied coldly, "If you don't have enough food, leave immediately.

Anyone lingering outside for more than five minutes will be warned.

Over ten minutes—they'll be shot."

No wonder the place wasn't crowded.

Chu Yian sighed, turning to return to the car.

But before she could leave, she noticed the soldier's plastic badge.

She recognized the insignia on it—after all, she'd studied it thoroughly.

Hers was metal, not plastic, but it bore the same symbol.

She hesitated, then pulled the metal badge from her coat.

"Can this get me in?"

The soldier, in the middle of shooing them away, paused.

He stepped forward, took the badge, and examined it carefully.

"Where did you get this?"

"I didn't steal it or find it lying around."

Chu Yian answered vaguely, watching his expression closely.

She wanted to say it came from Teacher Lu, but worried it might get him in trouble.

Those men in black who had taken Teacher Lu had warned her not to tell anyone about the survival zone.

She wasn't sure if revealing the badge's origin counted as violating that.

The soldier didn't press.

He turned to a colleague, saying, "Watch them," and went into a small shack.

What Chu Yian didn't know was that these badges were ranked and individually coded.

Especially high-ranking badges—each one linked to a specific person.

Using the insignia and code, the soldier quickly traced it to the owner.

Inside the survival zone, in a laboratory.

The phone on Lu Qingyuan's office desk rang.

He glanced at it, put away his tools, and took off his gloves.

Then he stepped out of the lab and picked up the call.

"Hello?"

"Researcher Lu, sir, do you have a relative or family member named Chu Yian?"

"Chu Yian?"

Lu Qingyuan repeated, confused. The name didn't ring a bell.

"Yes, sir. A girl named Chu Yian has arrived at the survival zone entrance with your badge.

We'd like to confirm—did she obtain the badge through legal means?"

Lu Qingyuan didn't answer right away.

He turned to his computer and opened the gate surveillance feed.

There she was.

He stared at her face.

It instantly reminded him of the girl who had run into his arms, sobbing, trembling lips and pale cheeks, just over ten days ago.

At the time, he'd kindly given her the badge—never thinking she'd survive, let alone reach the survival zone.

But she had.

He couldn't help but smile.

Since she'd made it, he might as well finish what he started.

"Let her in. She's a… family member."

"Understood, sir. There's also a man with her. Is he a family member as well?"

Each senior researcher had two spots reserved for relatives.

Lu Qingyuan glanced at the timid-looking man next to her in the feed.

"No."

His kindness had limits.

Even though he could have saved another person—he simply didn't care to.

His benevolence stopped where his obligation ended.

Outside the survival zone.

The soldier returned and addressed Chu Yian,

"Miss Chu, you are permitted to enter. But the man beside you may not."

"W-what if I trade food for him?"

Chu Yian hadn't expected Teacher Lu's badge to actually work.

Even if it only allowed one person inside, she could still use her supplies to help Youche get in.

She rushed back to the car and pulled out her Item Box.

Then began unloading every bit of food she had:

26 compressed biscuits

17 packs of instant noodles (1:1, equal to 17 biscuits)

4 self-heating hotpots (1:2, equal to 8 biscuits)

3 self-heating rice meals (1:2, equal to 6 biscuits)

2 cans of luncheon meat (1:1, equal to 2 biscuits)

2 cans of yellow peaches (1:3, equal to 6 biscuits)

Total: 65 compressed biscuit equivalents—still 35 short.

The light in Youche's eyes faded.

"Chu the Elder… just go. I'll figure something out out here."

What else could he do?

They were 35 biscuits short of survival.

If only he had packed more or eaten less—he wouldn't be stuck now.

"It's just 35 biscuits. No need to cry over that."

They'd made it through so many dangers to get here—were they really going to lose now, over 35 biscuits?

Chu Yian didn't waste time consoling his despair.

Instead, she dug back into the Item Box, then emerged holding several boxes of medicine.

"Sir, can these vitamins and medicines count toward the total?"

"Vitamins?"

The soldier's eyes lit up.

"Unopened vitamin bottles can replace 10 compressed biscuits each."

Ten per bottle!

Chu Yian had no clue which kind to buy back then, so she'd ended up with six different types.