Fang Yuxin had predicted correctly. The next morning, after the family had a simple breakfast and went out, they noticed that the atmosphere within the community had changed considerably. As they asked around, they found the temporary office of the Safe Zone's manager and saw several notices posted on the walls.
It wasn't just that. Many residents hadn't slept all night and had worked tirelessly to repair the generators in the community. By now, the generators were up and running. The manager of the Safe Zone had also worked through the night to create new resident ID cards for identification and for daily purchases and payments.
Superpower users could collect these ID cards for free, but ordinary people were required to pay a Basic-level Crystal Core in order to receive one. Those without Crystal Cores could take the card on credit, but the debt would be recorded on the card. If it wasn't repaid within seven days, the individual would be forcibly placed into the labor team to repay the debt through work.
In addition to the ID cards, housing, water, and electricity within the Safe Zone also required payment in Crystal Cores. While the Fang Family lived in their own villa—which the Safe Zone's manager wouldn't dare forcibly requisition—other homes, if their owners were absent, were treated as Safe Zone properties. To move into those homes, individuals not only had to complete basic occupancy procedures but also pay the corresponding Crystal Cores, whether through purchase or rental agreements.
The electricity problem had been temporarily resolved, but the water remains an issue. The water main had been cut off, and the status of the purification plant was unknown. Thus, solving the water problem was the most pressing matter at hand. After the Fang Family paid the Crystal Core to obtain their ID cards, the staff member in charge of distribution noticed their generosity. Suspecting that they had previously hunted zombies, the staff suggested that they take on some missions to earn Contribution Value and credit points.
Contribution Value represented the contributions each individual made to the Safe Zone. The higher the value, the better the treatment they would receive in the Safe Zone. Credit points functioned similarly to a currency, usable for paying rent or purchasing supplies.
The Fang Family thanked the staff and proceeded to the Task Hall. Inside the hall, numerous missions were posted. At a glance, the missions could be roughly grouped into three categories: rescue missions, cleanup missions, and resource collection missions. The resources to be collected mainly consisted of food and water, though there was also a notice recruiting Water Element Superpower Users.
After reviewing the options, the cleanup missions seemed most suitable for them. Cleanup missions were divided into two types: clearing specific areas and eliminating a set number of zombies. Clearing specific areas typically involved working with other teams and was intended to clear obstacles for rescue or resource collection teams, which came with greater restrictions. Eliminating a set number of zombies was further subdivided into levels based on zombie count, with rewards differing accordingly. The more zombies cleared, the greater the reward.
These missions were a perfect fit for the Fang Family, so after discussing among themselves, they decided to take on one of these missions. The Task Hall was crowded, with many people checking out the missions. Among them were superpower users, but most were ordinary people. With superpower users being far too scarce, ordinary people had to rely on completing missions to earn rewards to survive in the Safe Zone.
Beyond the missions, the hall also featured numerous recruitment notices. The construction of the Safe Zone required a large workforce, and some ordinary people who didn't dare venture out to hunt zombies chose to take on jobs within the Safe Zone. These were typically physically demanding tasks—safer compared to outdoor missions but compensated with smaller rewards.
As the Fang Family approached the mission counter, a woman suddenly rushed up to them. She wore her hair in a ponytail, giving off a clean and refreshing vibe. This woman was none other than Lin Feiyin, the one whom Fang Yuxin and her brother had saved before, only to leave her behind afterward. Lin Feiyin stood in front of the Fang Family, sized them up, and then spoke openly, "I thought I was mistaken, but it's really you."
She seemed to have more to say, but Fang Yuxin wasn't willing to engage with her. With a cold demeanor, she replied, "We have things to do. Please step aside."
Lin Feiyin's expression twisted slightly upon hearing this, seemingly displeased with Fang Yuxin's attitude. Before she could respond, another person approached quickly and glared at Fang Yu, saying, "How can you be like this? What kind of attitude is that?" The speaker was a young girl with twin braids hanging down her chest. She didn't look very old—probably still in high school.
Fang Yuxin inwardly rolled her eyes. She had predicted that encountering Lin Feiyin would bring trouble. The girl's voice was loud enough that everyone in the hall overheard her remark, and their gazes simultaneously turned toward them.
Fang Yuxin noticed these stares and felt even more annoyed. However, she didn't argue with the girl. Instead, she looked at Lin Feiyin and said, "If you're not here for anything important, please step aside. We have things to take care of."
The young girl was about to speak again but was interrupted by Lin Feiyin, who said, "I just wanted to thank you for saving me last time. Although you left immediately afterward, I still remember this favor. You're here to take on missions, right? Coincidentally, so am I. Which mission are you planning to accept? Why not team up? I've got a squad, and working together can provide mutual support."
Hearing this, the young girl beside her grew agitated, grabbing Lin Feiyin's arm and saying, "Sister Feiyin! This won't do! Everyone in our team is top-notch—bringing along these burdens doesn't make sense!"
The mention of the word "burdens" darkened the Fang Family's expressions. Fang Yuyang immediately responded, "We have our own plans, so there's no need to trouble you. If you really wish to repay us for saving your life, don't show up in front of us again."
His words weren't polite, and even Lin Feiyin—typically known for her "gracefulness"—was left furious, her face turning red with shame and anger. The young girl beside her was even more incensed; she clenched her fist and suddenly swung it toward Fang Yuyang's abdomen. Despite her delicate appearance, the punch was accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, proving its considerable force.
The onlookers in the hall were taken aback, their expressions shifting. Some envied the young girl's superpower user status, others thought she was impulsive, and still, others felt the Fang Family's attitude was overly rude or took pleasure in their misfortune.
But right then, just as her fist seemed about to land, everyone saw a flash of green, followed by a sharp "snap." The young girl was sent flying backward. Upon closer inspection, Fang Yuxin's hand was now holding a green vine that had appeared at some point. The vine was as thick as an adult's thumb, vibrant with a fresh, verdant hue.
Everyone was momentarily stunned. Then, as realization dawned, they understood—the vine had deflected the young girl's punch, and Fang Yuxin was clearly a Wood Element Superpower User!
This revelation caused their gazes toward Fang Yuxin to shift. While powerful individuals were not uncommon before the apocalypse, Wood Element Superpower Users were legendary, existing only in mythical tales. This marked the first time they had witnessed such abilities with their own eyes!