The two ended their conversation.
Tian Xiaoyu shut off the chat window and instinctively raised her hand to smooth her once-flowing locks, which she had cut short on her very first day in this apocalyptic world—only to feel an empty space where her hair used to be.
Her fingers absently curled around the ends of her now shoulder-length strands as a soft smile spread across her face, tinged with nostalgia and relief.
Zhang Hao strode over, his expression dark and brooding. "Well?" he demanded. "Is 1945 really Chen Du?"
Tian Xiaoyu's smile faded as she nodded, pulling out a loaf of bread and handing half to him.
"Yes, it's definitely Chen Du," she confirmed. "I traded some necessities with him—enough supplies to last us for a while."
Without another word, Zhang Hao snatched the bread from her hands and began devouring it ravenously. They hadn't eaten all day, and without Chen Du's help, starvation would have been inevitable.
Once he swallowed the last bite, Zhang Hao sneered, "So, Chen Du expects us to bring supplies to trade with him? Hah! Born poor, always poor—a bumpkin through and through. A stingy fool who can't resist taking advantage of others for petty gains. Pathetic miser!"
"If Chen Du ever came to me asking for supplies," he continued smugly, "I wouldn't ask for anything in return. I'd give them to him for free!"
Tian Xiaoyu couldn't bear to listen any longer. Here he was, stuffing his face with food provided by Chen Du, yet mocking him behind his back. Classic hypocrisy at its finest. She stood abruptly, cutting him off mid-rant. "You keep eating. I'm going to scout the area for stragglers or lone zombies."
With that, she turned and stepped out of the base without waiting for a response.
As Zhang Hao watched her leave, his eyes lingered on her retreating figure. He licked his lips unconsciously, but then his gaze hardened as he recalled the genuine delight on her face after speaking with Chen Du. That radiant smile infuriated him.
"One day, Tian Xiaoyu," he muttered under his breath, clenching his fists. "Just you wait. One day, I'll make you mine and show you exactly what it means to submit."
He took another savage bite of the bread, his resolve hardening. For now, though, he dared not act—not when she carried a military-grade dagger. If things went south, he could end up dead. No, patience was key.
What Zhang Hao didn't know was that Chen Du had secretly slipped Tian Xiaoyu a crossbow and several Molotov cocktails. And she had hidden them well.
Meanwhile, oblivious to the brewing tension between Tian Xiaoyu and Zhang Hao, Chen Du scrolled through the chat channel, searching for useful information. His efforts paid off when he stumbled upon a tantalizing post.
ID 9990: "For sale: Intel on a gold-tier supply crate. Serious buyers only. PM me with your offer. Highest bidder wins. Trustworthy deal."
ID 58586: "Oh, sure. Like we haven't heard that before. How do we even know it's real? Show us proof, or better yet, take someone there. Otherwise, no one's buying."
ID 373734: "Yeah, right. A picture or something, maybe? Empty promises don't cut it anymore."
The thread buzzed with skepticism, but ID 9990 quickly countered by posting a photo. The image showed a large warehouse, its interior visible through glass windows. Inside, a golden supply crate glowed faintly amidst piles of goods. Surrounding the building, however, were hordes of zombies, layer upon layer.
ID 9990: "See? Proof enough for you? All I want is basic supplies in exchange for the coordinates (attached photo)."
ID 32532: "Wow… so it really is a gold-tier supply crate. Wonder what kind of loot it holds…"
ID 54254: "It has to be good. Remember the Fortress Wall auction? Gold-tier items at this stage are practically legendary!"
ID 75234: "Big deal. Do you even have the supplies to bid on this intel?"
ID 74567: "Let the big shots fight it out. Us common folk will just sit back and watch the show."
Chen Du felt a surge of excitement. This was exactly the kind of opportunity he thrived on. With resources to spare, he was one of the few survivors capable of making such a high-stakes trade. It suddenly struck him how Elon Musk, the maverick tech billionaire, could cheekily refer to amassing "a billion in loose change" as merely setting the baseline. To Chen Du, this intel was worth every risk.
He sent a private message to ID 9990: "Still got the intel? Supplies won't be a problem."
ID 9990 replied hesitantly: "Uh… I need quite a lot of supplies."
Chen Du raised an eyebrow. Was this guy doubting his ability to pay?
"I said, supplies aren't an issue," he reiterated firmly.
ID 9990: "Fine. I want 100 units of basic supplies—water, rice, flour, biscuits, whatever works."
The price was steep, especially considering it was just intel. Knowing the location of a gold-tier supply crate didn't guarantee ownership. Even in auctions, the highest bidder won. Buying intel only to pave the way for someone else wasn't unheard of. Still, Chen Du didn't hesitate long.
"Deal. Send me the coordinates. I'll verify them tomorrow. Once confirmed, I'll deliver the rest of the supplies. Here's 10 units as a deposit."
ID 9990 stared at the backpack notification, stunned. Ten units of basic supplies appeared in his inventory. Had he priced it too low? Perhaps Chen Du's confidence had swayed him. Either way, he forwarded the coordinates without further delay.
After reviewing the location, Chen Du replied: "Coordinates received. I'll check them tomorrow. If everything checks out, expect the remaining supplies immediately."
ID 9990: "Pleasure doing business."
Chen Du leaned back, already planning his next move. Tomorrow promised both danger and opportunity—not just because of the gold-tier supply crate but also due to the upcoming infinite supply update. What new tools might he acquire? Would they aid him in his quest for survival?
Summoning Xie Li, he briefed her on the situation. After listening intently, she frowned thoughtfully.
"Chen Du, I think this could easily be a trap. There's no need to put yourself in harm's way. What if the picture is fake or the location is different? Walking into an ambush alone is suicide."
Chen Du nodded. He had considered the same possibility. In this unforgiving world, trust was a luxury few could afford. But still, he said, "Xie Li, you're right. Whether these coordinates are genuine or not, someone targeting me is almost guaranteed. But the allure of a gold-tier supply crate… its strategic value is unmatched. It's a risk worth taking."