Chapter 510: Chapter 510: Casually Harvesting a Sack of Crystal Cores

When Bai Zhengxuan came down the stairs from the upper level of the bus, he happened to see the two Uncles devouring their food like hungry tigers.

"You’re all that hungry?"

Bai Zhengxuan was taken aback.

"We didn’t eat dinner last night, of course we’re hungry. We need a good meal to make up for it!" Uncle Wang said matter-of-factly.

He and Old Liu never skimp on good food, high blood pressure or whatever doesn’t matter in the apocalypse.

After all, they have no family left.

And in the post-apocalyptic world, it matters even less. No matter how much they eat, they won’t get high blood pressure, and if they do get too full, they just go out and fight some zombies.

That’ll guarantee they’ll be hungry again in an hour.

No need to worry about health issues at all.

"Didn’t eat last night?"

Bai Zhengxuan paused and glanced at Leng Yebai.

Leng Yebai, expressionless, continued cooking. "Maybe rats ate it."

"What?"

Uncle Wang didn’t understand their conversation.

"Nothing, Xiao Fan, don’t forget to defrost the braised pork knuckle in the fridge. We’ll make it for your two uncles at lunch to nourish them!"

Bai Zhengxuan snickered secretly, not exposing the base commander who could eat thrice the portions.

"Got it!"

Bai Yifan responded and continued cooking hastily. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The two uncles had such strong appetites that even he and Brother Leng couldn’t keep up with the cooking.

"Old Bai is really generous!" Uncle Wang gave Bai Zhengxuan a thumbs up, speaking with gusto, "Once we’re full, Old Liu and I will go out to walk it off! Looking forward to that braised pork knuckle at lunch!"

They felt a bit bad eating Bai Family’s food daily. When they roamed alone, their best meal was a chicken they caught and stewed.

They’ve been freeloading at Bai Family’s place without being despised, which truly moved Uncle Wang.

So, he decided to venture out with Old Liu, gather a bag of crystal cores as meal tickets.

After all, zombies always chase them, casually harvesting some crystal cores is nothing.

Uncle Wang is just a bit lazy, lazy enough not to extract crystal cores from zombie corpses.

If he truly wanted them, he could just stand there and zombies would throw themselves at him, eager to have their crystal cores harvested.

Uncle Liu smiled as he ate, thinking the same as Uncle Wang.

Even so, they felt a bit guilty, thinking they’re freeloading.

If others knew, they’d probably rush to feed them.

After all, in the apocalypse, crystal cores are the only accepted currency, both domestically and internationally.

Breakfast was like a battle; Uncle Wang and Liu supported each other onto the bus, then off again.

The two were truly indulgent, as soon as they said they’d walk it off, they didn’t delay a minute, immediately driving the garbage truck out of the safe base.

They just wanted to quickly gather a bag of crystal cores to continue freeloading meals!

At this time, Bai Family finished breakfast too, but their portions couldn’t match those of the two uncles!

After breakfast, everyone sat on the couch to absorb crystal cores, a routine chore for Bai Family during leisure time.

Bai Yifan followed his sister’s instructions, absorbed crystal cores for a bit, completed today’s task, then pocketed them again.

Despite absorbing crystal cores daily, his superpower didn’t grow much, the only change was feeling he could withstand more.

Being often hit, he’s long familiarized himself with the levels of his dad’s beatings.

Total of levels 1 to 10.

When he failed exams, the beating was about level 2.

When he played pranks on dad, it was about level 3.

Last time he knocked dad flying, nearly costing the insurance company a fortune, the pain was around level 10.

Now the pain felt significantly less than before.

Level 3 became level 2, level 2 became level 1...

Could it be dad had a change of heart, went easy on him?

Bai Yifan couldn’t figure it out, decided not to bother, as long as he could take more hits, it’s fine!

... He felt he could endure more beatings, perform more pranks!

How nice!

Bai Yifan mused slightly, then got off the bus.

The bus parked in an open area, near the edge of the safety base’s wall, faint sounds could be heard from outside.

Some ordinary people unable to pay crystal cores to enter the safety base.

Paying to enter isn’t just for expenses, but also to keep up determination.

In adversity, one should be more resilient; even ordinary people can handle zombies by wielding an axe.

Not having enough crystal cores to enter, these people entering the base would be truly finished!

They’d completely lose fighting spirit, aimlessly survive.

Bai Yifan climbed up a tree to look outside the base.

It’s bustling, much like before the apocalypse.

Inside the base, most people, though not everyone, strive to improve, unlike the aimless people outside.

He even saw a few people lazily sleeping by a tree.

Anyway, with no zombies near the base, they don’t have to worry about attacks.

But if zombies really attacked one day, they’d be defenseless and become zombie fodder.

Bai Yifan watched for a while, then shifted position, and saw someone mistreating a dog outside the base.

An adult man, holding a sturdy stick, was beating a small dog.

The dog whimpered but couldn’t escape the stick’s blows.

Blood oozed from its mouth, matting its fur in clumps.

It looked so very pitiful.

Although Bai Yifan preferred cats over dogs, seeing the poor dog being beaten, he felt it better to intervene.

Bai Yifan swiftly climbed down the tree and ran toward the whimpering dog.

"Stop, leave that dog alone!"

Bai Yifan exclaimed with righteous indignation.

"Who are you? None of your business! Just a dog, it shouldn’t even be alive. Yesterday’s zombie dogs were its fault! Kids shouldn’t interfere; in this world, meddling can cost you your life!"

The man, with his colorful hair and nonchalant demeanor, eyed Bai Yifan with a glint of greed.

Inside the base, people had mixed feelings about dogs, many even ended their own dogs’ lives.

This little dog somehow made it back, and he planned to abuse it before having a feast.