Author Archives: Thingyan

The underground warehouse of the Happiness Chain Supermarket had three entrances. The largest one was in the underground parking garage, primarily used for bulk deliveries. Another was in the employee area on the first floor, accessible via freight elevators and stairways.

Currently, the elevators were overrun by zombies, making the stairway the safest option for those trying to enter. However, the first floor was crowded with zombies—former customers, employees, and people who had ventured in seeking supplies only to meet their doom.

The main doors of the supermarket remained intact, but through the glass, Lu Yao could see the zombies inside, their long arms hanging limply as they staggered in slow, heavy steps.

Lu Yao remarked, “It’s too dangerous to go in this way.”

The Dream Fulfillment System responded, “The freight elevators and stairways are packed with zombies. I suspect those survivors entered through the first floor. The parking garage isn’t any better—lots of cars are piled up, with some people crushed into paste. The number of zombies outside is no less than on the first floor.”

Lu Yao asked, “Isn’t there a third entrance?”

Dream System: “Yes, there’s a backdoor on the first floor, usually used for garbage trucks. It’s not a well-known path for non-employees.”

Lu Yao: “Does it lead directly to the street?”

Dream System: “You’ll need to loop around to the back of the supermarket. The rear entrance faces an old residential area. There’s a side road with a gentle slope about 50 meters away.”

Lu Yao turned back toward the plaza. “Then we’ll take that route.”

She mounted her electric scooter and rode around the supermarket to a bumpy road flanked by a dilapidated old residential complex. It was the first time she had seen such run-down housing in Gaosheng City.

After navigating the uneven road for a while, she reached a fork. Sliding down the slope, she spotted a small concrete clearing ahead littered with overturned garbage bins. The stench hit her before she even approached.

This area hadn’t been entirely abandoned. Headless zombies lay scattered across the ground, their dark red entrails gnawed and ripped apart. Swarms of flies blanketed the decaying flesh. As Lu Yao approached, the buzzing flies took off in a cloud, like a foul-smelling storm.

Stopping on the flat ground, Lu Yao dismounted and approached the warehouse entrance. She paused upon hearing a faint sound. A young man emerged cautiously from behind a blue garbage bin near the entrance.

It was Song Xu. He hadn’t expected to see Lu Yao again and looked sheepish as he approached. Embarrassed but polite, he greeted her, “We meet again.”

Lu Yao recognized him instantly. Her gaze flicked to the slightly ajar warehouse door, then back to Song Xu. “Who went inside? Your girlfriend?”

Song Xu hesitated before shaking his head. “She’s not feeling well today. My friend and his girlfriend went in.”

Lu Yao asked the Dream Fulfillment System, “Didn’t you say there were only seven people?”

Dream Fulfillment System: “When we arrived, there were only seven. Two more went in just a moment ago.”

Lu Yao nodded subtly and turned to Song Xu. “I have business inside.”

Song Xu moved to block her. “I’m sorry, but could you wait until my friends come out?”

It had taken all their effort to pry open the warehouse door. This supermarket was a prime target for scavengers, and they knew their small group couldn’t defend it alone. Leaving someone outside to stand guard was a precaution against others trying to enter.

“They’re only grabbing what they can carry,” Song Xu explained. “They’ll be out soon.”

Lu Yao frowned slightly. “You misunderstand. I’m not here for supplies. There are two of my clients inside—I’m here to pick them up.”

Song Xu was startled. Remembering the business card Lu Yao had given them, he asked in disbelief, “You’re really doing… errands?”

The Dream Fulfillment System chimed in, “Those two who just went in are also in trouble.”

Lu Yao nodded in acknowledgment and suddenly drew the short sword from her waist. Song Xu jumped back in fright, his face pale.

Ignoring him, Lu Yao approached the warehouse door. “Things are complicated inside. Don’t follow me.”

Song Xu steadied himself, then, remembering something, frantically patted his pockets. Realizing the business card was with Tang Anqi, he awkwardly called after her, “Could you… help my friends too?”

Lu Yao waved dismissively. “Sorry, I’m on the clock.”

Before entering the warehouse, Lu Yao pulled out a pair of light orange-lensed glasses from her bag.

These glasses were a pair of night-vision goggles she had bought in Mingshi City, initially as a novelty item. Unlike regular night-vision goggles that present objects in grayscale, these goggles gave the view a faded watercolor-like appearance.

In short, they not only allowed for clear vision in the dark but also simulated light to some extent, restoring the objects’ original colors.

The Dream Fulfillment System had warned Lu Yao that the warehouse was pitch black, making navigation dangerous without proper lighting. However, using a flashlight could attract zombies, so she retrieved the glasses from her portable storage. Their effectiveness impressed her.

Although the warehouse was shrouded in darkness, the goggles allowed her to discern the layout clearly, especially the movements of nearby objects.

Standing at the entrance, Lu Yao observed several zombies silently shifting behind stacks of goods. Suddenly, a shriek broke the stillness, guiding her toward its source. She soon found a young couple cornered behind a pile of rice sacks by two zombies.

Their dropped flashlight cast a beam of light across the sacks, highlighting their desperate faces.

Lu Yao swiftly advanced, her short sword glinting as it plunged into the first zombie’s head, penetrating through its back skull and slicing through its throat.

The couple, Zhou Mingyang and Jiang Yifei, were frozen in terror, leaning against the sacks. They stared, wide-eyed, as the blade’s silver tip emerged from the zombie’s gaping mouth, unable to process what had just happened.

The sword, a masterpiece from the Floating World, was lightweight yet razor-sharp. This was Lu Yao’s first time wielding it, and she was surprised by how effortlessly it cut. With a twist of her wrist, the blade cleaved through the zombie’s head like slicing tofu, leaving no resistance.

The second zombie, sensing movement, turned its head. One of its eyes had slipped from its socket, hanging by a strand of flesh and rolling against its decayed face.

Lu Yao couldn’t help but silently curse the goggles for being too clear. Without hesitation, her hand flicked upward, and the sword’s edge sliced through the zombie’s skull from its ear, neatly removing the top like opening a coconut.

With two dull thuds, the corpses collapsed. Lu Yao flicked the blood and flesh from the blade, sheathed it, and grabbed the stunned couple by their arms, pulling them to their feet.

The commotion had attracted more zombies from the shadows, drawn toward the noise near the rice sacks. Lu Yao kicked the flashlight across the floor, causing its flickering beam to scatter. The disoriented zombies slowed their approach, giving her enough time to drag the couple toward the exit.

“Get out, now,” she ordered as they reached the warehouse door.

Without waiting for their response, she drew her short sword again and turned back into the warehouse.

The Dream Fulfillment System urgently informed her, “Those seven people are holed up in the old storage room. They’re running out of oxygen, and the zombies have already blocked their only way out.”

A strange unease flickered through Lu Yao’s mind, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. Following the system’s directions, she sprinted toward the small storage room.

About ten zombies were crammed at the door like eager shoppers during a Friday sale, completely blocking the entrance.

Lu Yao ducked behind a wall of stacked barrels of cooking oil. She sheathed her short sword and pulled an air rifle from her portable storage.

The Dream Fulfillment System chimed in, “Are you sure about this?”

Lu Yao loaded the rifle, her voice calm, “Let’s make some space.”

The zombies were piled together like potatoes, making long-range shooting the safest option.

The Dream Fulfillment System had acquired detailed knowledge of firearms in Mingshi City and later compiled it into a manual for Lu Yao.

Following the manual, Lu Yao spent a few days studying and used her wish energy to craft several air rifles. With advanced holographic technology, setting up a virtual shooting range was easy. Lu Yao often practiced there, achieving decent scores. However, this was her first time using the rifle in real combat.

After missing her first two shots, she adjusted her posture, held her breath, and focused. Her third shot hit a tall zombie attempting to knock on the door. The air pellet pierced its skull, causing its arm to drop and its body to sag. Yet, due to the pressure from the zombies behind it, the corpse didn’t collapse to the ground.

Lu Yao aimed again, firing three consecutive rounds. Her accuracy improved with each shot, and soon, she was hitting her targets consistently.

Inside the small storage room, Zhao Xiaopeng and his group clung to their backpacks in the corner. They were barely conscious, their minds clouded from oxygen deprivation. They vaguely heard noises outside but couldn’t muster the energy to open their eyes.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a rush of foul, stale air blew into the room. The faint breeze carried the putrid stench of decay but brought much-needed circulation.

Zhao Xiaopeng felt a persistent buzzing noise in his ears, akin to a relentless fly. Although he was comfortable in his drowsy state and didn’t want to wake up, the sound persisted, forcing his attention.

“Slap! Slap!”

Two crisp slaps landed on his cheeks, jolting Zhao Xiaopeng awake. He instinctively touched his face, wincing at the sting.

Lu Yao squatted beside him. “Are you Zhao Xiaopeng?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Zhao Xiaopeng nearly screamed. His throat, dry and raspy from prolonged confinement, kept him from shouting.

Lu Yao pulled a small flashlight from her bag and placed it in his hand. “Which one is Feng Bing?”

Squinting against the harsh light, Zhao Xiaopeng took a few seconds to adjust before pointing to the man on his left. “That’s Brother Bing.”

Feng Bing, Ren Juan’s husband, was the second client Lu Yao was tasked to locate. She approached him and used the same method to wake him up, handing him a flashlight as well.

With fresh air circulating, the rest of the group gradually regained consciousness. Without offering detailed explanations, Lu Yao simply instructed Zhao Xiaopeng and Feng Bing to follow her closely when they left.

The others exchanged glances but said nothing, looking instead at Da Liu for direction.

The outbreak of the zombie virus had devastated centuries of human progress, leaving society to fend for itself. Trapped in the warehouse, they had resigned themselves to death. The idea of being rescued hadn’t crossed their minds.

Da Liu looked at Lu Yao. She stood at the doorway, vigilantly scanning the surroundings with a rifle in her hands. Strapped to her back was a long, unfamiliar weapon, and she carried a modest cloth bag slung over her shoulder. Her presence exuded efficiency and determination.

Da Liu nodded slightly at his companions, closing his eyes briefly before shaking his head.

Lu Yao turned back to the group, speaking softly. “Have you recovered enough strength? Get ready; we’re leaving.”

The group supported themselves against the walls to stand and bent down to pick up their backpacks. Despite the harrowing chase earlier, none of them had abandoned their supplies. Having endured so much to get this far, they weren’t about to leave their hard-won resources behind now.

Lu Yao’s gaze swept over the group, pausing on Feng Bing and Zhao Xiaopeng. She gave them a pointed reminder: “Stick close behind me. Once we’re outside, don’t make any noise. Keep your flashlights aimed at the ground and don’t wave them around. We’ll be out soon.”

Before stepping out, Lu Yao raised her air rifle and cleared a path by taking down a few zombies nearby. Then, she led the way, dispatching any zombies blocking their route with precise shots.

The Dream Fulfillment System calculated that it would take three minutes at best to escort the seven people to the warehouse exit, but their prolonged confinement had left them in terrible physical condition. After five minutes, they were only halfway there.

At one point, the last person in the group was nearly bitten by a zombie. Thankfully, the system alerted Lu Yao, who reacted quickly. Her air rifle shot skimmed past the man’s cheek, taking down the zombie.

The zombie fell forward, its decayed flesh smearing the man’s clothing.

Lu Yao steadied herself and suggested, “You’re carrying too much. Leave some behind.”

Someone immediately protested, “We nearly lost our lives for these supplies, and now you want us to toss them?”

Another muttered under his breath, “If you’re here to save people, why only send one person? Couldn’t they have sent more…?”

Before he could finish, Da Liu smacked him, and he begrudgingly fell silent. Though his lips continued to move, silently cursing, he assumed Lu Yao couldn’t see him in the darkness.

However, with her night vision goggles, Lu Yao could clearly see every detail of his face, including his expression.

Without wasting more words, she motioned for the two clients behind her to follow and began picking up the pace.

Stopping and starting repeatedly, it took another five to six minutes before they finally saw the warehouse exit. Lu Yao strode forward and pulled the door open, allowing light to flood inside.

She stood at the entrance, leaning against the door, and called out urgently to Feng Bing and Zhao Xiaopeng, “Hurry! Move!”

The two, exhausted and barely able to walk, gritted their teeth and forced their legs to move. Step by step, they finally staggered out of the warehouse and onto the open ground. Collapsing to their knees, their backpacks slid from their shoulders, landing heavily on the ground.

Lu Yao walked over to check on them. She pulled water bottles from the side pockets of their backpacks and handed them over. Feng Bing and Zhao Xiaopeng, feeling the burn of dehydration in their throats, quickly unscrewed the caps and gulped down the water.

After about half a minute, the others emerged from the warehouse, disheveled and battered. Their backpacks were torn, and they seemed to have lost some supplies during their frantic escape.

The last to exit was the man who had resisted leaving supplies behind and silently cursed Lu Yao earlier. His backpack was the most damaged, and much of his cargo had been lost during the chaos.

Bent over and gasping for air, he straightened up just enough to glare at Lu Yao. “What’s your problem? You just left us behind halfway!”

Da Liu and another man tried to pull him back, urging him to calm down, but he broke free in a fit of rage. Stumbling toward Lu Yao, he pointed a trembling finger at her and opened his mouth to yell.

Before he could utter a word, he froze, eyes locked on the dark muzzle of Lu Yao’s air rifle, now aimed squarely at his forehead.

The man instantly paled and took a shaky step back.

Lu Yao pressed the rifle barrel against his sweat-soaked forehead, tapping it twice. His legs buckled, and he dropped to his knees, begging for mercy. “I’m sorry! I was wrong! Please forgive me!”

The group was stunned.

Not far away, Song Xu and his friends had stayed to watch. Just as they were about to greet Lu Yao, the sudden scene froze them in place, prompting them to retreat several steps.

Lu Yao turned to Feng Bing and Zhao Xiaopeng. “Put your backpacks on that electric bike by the roadside. Get ready to head back immediately.”

Feng Bing and Zhao Xiaopeng, still puzzled as to why Lu Yao was giving them special treatment, hesitated but didn’t dare question her after seeing her commanding presence.

Noticing their hesitation, Lu Yao ignored the kneeling man and clarified, “I’m Lu Yao, the owner of a new Courier shop outside Guanyin Neighborhood. Your grandmother,” she pointed at Zhao Xiaopeng, “and your wife,” she looked at Feng Bing, “placed an order for me to come and pick you up. Got it?”

Both men nodded in stunned silence, still processing her words. They knew of the shop but hadn’t expected it to conduct legitimate business.

Lu Yao exhaled. “Good. Then get moving. Load your stuff.”

Da Liu and the others, overhearing this explanation, finally understood. They had completely misunderstood the situation—Lu Yao wasn’t obligated to rescue them at all.

Realizing this, their earlier complaints and accusations seemed absurd. From the beginning, Lu Yao had no responsibility toward them, yet she had still led everyone out of the warehouse. Being scolded after enduring such treatment, it was no wonder she was furious earlier.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Lu Yao instantly recognized the elderly woman as the one who had been peeking at her through the door earlier. Life truly had a way of taking unexpected turns.

That said, Lu Yao’s courier shop primarily handled deliveries, pickups, and item transfers. Given the situation in Gaosheng City, they could accommodate transporting large goods or even people, but such services came at an additional cost. Searching for missing persons, however, was outside the shop’s usual scope—it was bordering on specialized rescue work rather than running a business.

Seeing the tears welling up in the elderly woman’s eyes, Lu Yao hesitated for a moment before gently suggesting, “Grandma, do you know where your grandson went? If you have a specific location, we can pick him up for you. But if you don’t know where he is, there’s not much we can do.”

Cao Xiuhong’s husband, who had been resting in the bedroom, overheard the conversation outside and thought their grandson had returned. He got up and walked out, only to see a stranger in their home. Startled, he asked, “Who’s this?”

Cao Xiuhong pointed to Lu Yao and said, “She’s a courier. I want to hire her to find Xiaopeng.”

Lu Yao took out a flyer from her bag, handed it to the elderly man, and introduced herself: “Hello, I’m a courier from our shop just outside the neighborhood. We specialize in delivery and errand services. If you want your grandson brought back, as long as there’s a specific address, we can consider it a courier task.”

The old man, tall and thin, with skin clinging tightly to his bones, looked much older than Cao Xiuhong. He scrutinized Lu Yao for a moment, then shakily took the flyer. Pulling out his reading glasses from the sofa, he bent his head and studied it for a long time before asking, “You only take gold as payment?”

Lu Yao nodded with a cheerful smile. “That’s right. We only accept gold as compensation.”

The old man pressed the flyer against the sofa and gave his wife a meaningful look, motioning for her to go inside.

Cao Xiuhong ignored him, sliding off a thick gold bracelet from her wrist—about as wide as Lu Yao’s pinky finger—and thrust it into Lu Yao’s hand. “As long as you can find my grandson, this bracelet is yours. If it’s not enough, we have other jewelry at home, all bought before the incident. What use are they now? You can’t eat them, you can’t use them.”

Lu Yao was secretly astonished. The reputation of the Golden Kingdom for its wealth was well-deserved.

In several other worlds, such as Alexander Continent, Great Wu Dynasty, and the Human Realm of the Floating World, customers often used gold coins or ingots as currency. However, due to impurities and other reasons, much of the gold didn’t meet the pure 999 standard Lu Yao was familiar with.

Modern gold jewelry, especially the kind owned by someone like this elderly woman, was generally certified and highly pure.

Lu Yao didn’t immediately accept the bracelet. Instead, she pulled a business card from her bag and handed it over. “This is a courier card. You need to write the client’s name and the address you want the courier to visit on the back. Without a specific address, our couriers can’t take the order.”

The blue-bordered card bore the name “Lu Yao’s Courier Shop” on the front, along with two lines of small text outlining the shop’s main services.

The back of the card featured sections for filling in the client’s name, item details, pickup address, and delivery address. At the bottom, there were instructions on how to use the card for placing orders.

The two elderly people studied the card together for a while. Cao Xiuhong’s face clouded with worry. “But we don’t know where Xiaopeng went. He left with Liu from the Jin family.”

Lu Yao suggested, “Why not ask other relatives? Someone might know.”

The old man waved toward the door. “Go ask Jin Hua.”

With a sigh, Cao Xiuhong opened the door and went out.

Moments later, she returned, followed by two others.

The tall woman in a floral shirt—Jin Hua—spotted Lu Yao and immediately accused, “You look young and capable, yet you’ve got no conscience, trying to scam elderly people!”

Lu Yao stood up, ready to explain, but the elderly man beside her spoke first. “Jin Hua, you must know the location of that warehouse where Old Liu and the others went. Please, just tell us. We don’t ask for much, only for Xiaopeng to come back safely.”

Jin Hua, unable to hold back, raised her voice. “Grandpa, this isn’t about saving Xiaopeng! She’s just a con artist. She’s here to scam desperate people like you. In times like these, where are you going to find someone with a good heart?”

Lu Yao interrupted calmly. “I’m not a con artist. My shop is just downstairs. You can see it from here—the one with the flower baskets out front.”

The younger woman who had come with Jin Hua immediately walked to the window, pulled back the curtain, and glanced downstairs. After a moment, she turned back and said, “There really are flower baskets. Hey, aren’t you the one who fought with Li San and his gang in the street the other night?”

Li San was a local thug who had gathered a group of petty criminals after the zombie virus outbreak. They frequently engaged in small-time thefts and extortion.

Before, they wouldn’t have dared to act so boldly, but with no laws or authorities to control them now, ordinary people could do nothing but avoid them.

A few nights ago, they had targeted the newcomer with the electric scooter, gathering their gang for backup. However, they lost the fight and ended up being strung up on streetlamp poles for an entire night.

Their screams had echoed through the area, leaving the local residents terrified.

Lu Yao remained composed. “I wouldn’t call it a fight. They slashed my scooter’s tires and dumped filth in front of my shop. What I did was purely self-defense.”

The room fell silent.

Lu Yao continued, “We’re just trying to run a small business here. We have no ulterior motives. The elderly couple is worried about their grandson. Once the order is placed, our specialized couriers will go to the designated location to check. If he’s there, we’ll bring him back. If he’s not, there’s nothing we can do.”

Jin Hua’s husband was the organizer of the supply search mission. They didn’t wander aimlessly; they gathered intelligence and confirmed specific information before heading out. Others might not know the address, but Jin Hua certainly had some idea.

Still distrustful, Jin Hua crossed her arms and sneered, “Who’s to say you’re not trying to extract information so you can go and steal supplies?”

Lu Yao sighed and turned to the elderly woman. “Without a specific address, we can’t take the job.”

The elderly woman looked at Jin Hua pleadingly.

Jin Hua turned aside, refusing to speak.

The younger woman picked up the flyer from the sofa and studied it for a moment before looking up at Lu Yao. “You don’t take supplies, only gold?”

Lu Yao nodded. “Correct. I’m a gold enthusiast—that’s my one and only indulgence.”

Her matter-of-fact tone, coupled with the golden lotus earrings glinting under her ears, made her statement particularly convincing.

Cao Xiuhong’s resolve solidified. She felt more certain that she had found the right person. She walked over to Jin Hua and pleaded, “We’re not asking for much. We just want Xiaopeng to come back safely. Please, I’m begging you, show some compassion for two old folks who’ve already got one foot in the grave.”

Jin Hua furrowed her brows deeply. She felt a swirl of emotions—compassion for the desperate elderly couple and suspicion of Lu Yao’s motives.

She didn’t mind if it was just a scam for some gold, but what if this young woman had plans to intercept their supplies?

The younger woman suddenly stepped forward, reaching out to Lu Yao. “Give me one of those cards. I know the location isn’t exact, but it’s nearby. Please make an effort to search. I’ll pay triple the standard price.”

Jin Hua looked at her companion in shock, disbelief written all over her face. “Are you out of your mind?”

The younger woman nodded firmly. “I’m about to lose my mind! Sitting at home, doing nothing, just waiting—what else can I do? If I don’t do something now, I really will go crazy!”

Jin Hua was speechless.

Whether it was those who ventured out or those who stayed home, everyone bore immense pressure and torment. She herself was barely holding on.

Lu Yao handed a business card to the younger woman.

Cao Xiuhong quickly went inside to fetch a pen, ready to fill in the address.

The younger woman, Ren Juan, commissioned Lu Yao to retrieve her husband from a chain supermarket approximately five kilometers from Guanyin Community.

Cao Xiuhong filled in the same address, asking Lu Yao to find her grandson, Zhao Xiaopeng.

Lu Yao took out the gold-inspecting Pixiu from her bag. “The shop’s policy is upfront payment before service. For our grand opening, both business cards and delivery fees are half-price. Each card is discounted to 0.2 grams of gold, and the running fee is 0.8 grams. For one person, the total is 1 gram of gold.”

Cao Xiuhong immediately thrust her thick gold bracelet into Lu Yao’s hands. “How do you calculate 1 gram? Just take this bracelet. As long as you bring my grandson back.”

Lu Yao raised the Pixiu, and with a crisp snap, the thick bracelet broke in the middle, leaving a small notch.

Lu Yao smiled. “That’s enough. It’s our grand opening, so if you’re satisfied, feel free to use our services again in the future.”

Ren Juan watched in amazement, then removed a chain with a large golden Buddha pendant from around her neck. “Your setup is pretty advanced.”

After completing the forms and collecting the payment, Lu Yao put the Pixiu back into her bag. She moved swiftly, giving off an impression of someone preparing to flee after a scam.

Jin Hua stopped her. “Where are you going?”

Without looking back, Lu Yao replied as she headed out the door, “There are only two runners at the shop. The other is handing out flyers. I need to go back and take the orders.”

Jin Hua: “…”

Ren Juan stood at the doorway. “What if she really just runs off?”

Jin Hua frowned at her. “Regretting it already?”

Cao Xiuhong, slightly flustered, tried to justify, “If she really wanted to scam us, why would she ask for so little?”

Jin Hua sighed in exasperation. “What’s the use of gold? If she knows Liu and the others are at the Happiness Chain Supermarket, wouldn’t it be easier to bring people there to rob it? Asking for a bit of gold is just an act to seem legitimate, and you still think she’s trustworthy.”

Lu Yao left the Guanyin Community, returned to the shop, put on her work badge and communicator, and set out on her electric scooter.

Ren Juan watched from Cao Xiuhong’s window and saw Lu Yao heading toward the Happiness Chain Supermarket. “She really is going in that direction.”

Without their family members returning, everyone felt uneasy. Sitting around waiting made them more anxious, so Jin Hua and Ren Juan eventually went back to their homes.

…

At the Happiness Chain Supermarket, five or six adult men and Zhao Xiaopeng were holed up in a small storage room in the basement.

The day before, they had left their homes before dawn and successfully made it to the vicinity of the supermarket.

The Happiness Chain Supermarket was a large chain store occupying the basement level and three floors above ground. The floors were divided into a clothing section, an appliance section, and a grocery section, while the basement housed the warehouse.

During the initial outbreak of the zombie virus, most goods on the upper floors were looted. While a few scattered items remained on the shelves, the mall was crawling with zombified customers and staff, making it dangerous to enter.

The area was massive, filled with shelves and displays that obstructed visibility. Zombies moved silently between the aisles, making it nearly impossible to clear them out entirely.

A single lapse in attention could lead to an attack from a zombie lunging out unexpectedly—an ever-present, invisible threat.

The man leading Zhao Xiaopeng’s group was Liu, Jin Hua’s husband. Strong and steady, he held a certain level of authority among the group.

After several scouting trips, they decided to target the basement warehouse of the Happiness Chain Supermarket.

The warehouse, being part of the employee area, wasn’t accessible to regular customers. Even if there were some dead stock workers turned zombies, their numbers would be limited compared to the upper floors.

While other teams might have had the same idea, no small group could clear out all the goods. The warehouse was likely to still have a significant amount of supplies.

All they needed was to pick up the leftovers to survive.

Following their plan, the team successfully entered the basement warehouse, using glow sticks for illumination.

The entire warehouse was neatly organized, exactly as Liu had envisioned.

The men saw walls lined with 5-kg and 10-kg bags of rice, large barrels of cooking oil, stacks of toilet paper, 5-liter bottles of mineral water, and boxes of noodles, salt, biscuits, and candy. They were almost moved to tears.

Everyone dropped their backpacks and began frantically stuffing them with supplies.

With electricity and gas already cut off at home, cooking was both inconvenient and wasteful.

Their strategy for hoarding had changed. Instead of grabbing bulky and hard-to-prepare staples like rice, flour, and oil, they focused on ready-to-eat, long-lasting foods that were easy to carry: instant noodles, compressed biscuits, packaged snacks, and light, durable dry goods. They added a few bags of salt and sugar, a handful of candles, lighters, soap, and sanitary pads for the women. Lastly, they strapped a couple of packs of toilet paper to their backpacks.

Even as they prepared to leave, they couldn’t help but eye the remaining supplies. Gritting their teeth, some grabbed an extra bag of rice, a barrel of water, or a drum of oil before making their way out.

But when they tried to leave, they found the exit they had come through wasn’t securely closed. Now, the staircase was blocked by wandering zombies.

To make matters worse, the noise they’d made had attracted the zombies inside the warehouse. They were closing in from all directions.

The number of zombies in the warehouse was far higher than Liu had anticipated. It wasn’t just supermarket staff; there were plenty dressed in everyday clothing—zombies who looked disturbingly fresh.

Seeing the grotesque figures, with their decaying flesh emitting a nauseating stench, Liu’s face darkened. “These were people like us. They didn’t make it out.”

Zhao Xiaopeng hid behind Liu, his legs trembling. “Are we going to die here too?”

They weren’t familiar with the warehouse layout, their light sources were limited, and zombies could emerge from any dark corner at any moment. A single bite would mean the end.

The group of six or seven darted through the warehouse, dodging and hiding until they found a small room—possibly a makeshift employee rest area.

The space was cramped, and they discovered a zombie locked inside a storage cabinet. Panicked, they dealt with it and managed to catch their breath in the foul-smelling room.

They had no idea how long they’d been hiding. The stench numbed their noses, and breathing became labored. But no one suggested leaving.

They couldn’t leave.

The best they could hope for was to die in this warehouse. If they were lucky, their bodies would naturally decompose, sparing them from becoming one of the wandering monsters outside.

…

At the Happiness Chain Supermarket, Lu Yao parked her electric scooter in the plaza and asked the system, “What’s the situation?”

The Dream Fulfillment System responded, “There are survivors inside, but it’s unclear if they match the orders.”

Lu Yao: “How many people, and where?”

Dream System: “Seven, in the basement.”

Lu Yao: “The basement?”

Dream System: “The large supermarket has a space below ground, likely a warehouse.”

Lu Yao: “That sounds like it.”

She dismounted, grabbed two short swords, and slung them over her shoulders as she walked toward the supermarket entrance.

The Dream Fulfillment System hesitated. “Why not call Harold? There’s too much filth down there. I’m worried you’ll get bitten.”

Lu Yao replied calmly, “If I, as the shop owner, can’t complete a basic delivery, how can I expect the little ones to step into a place like this?”

Dream Fulfillment System: “It’s not the same. You’re far more fragile than they are, especially since you refuse to use your abilities.”

Lu Yao: “The people in this world don’t have abilities either. Don’t worry—I know my limits. I’ll grab the targets and get out quickly. Just guide me.”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

At 3 a.m., before the sun rose, Lu Yao got out of bed and transported the modified computers from the pet cafe to the courier shop.

1041 and his team, resting at the pet cafe, used the shopping street’s phone to video-call Lu Yao and Harold, guiding them step-by-step through the computer installation process.

Lu Yao had already learned how to set up the new equipment at the pet cafe but, worried about making mistakes, had called on them for remote supervision.

As she and Harold unboxed the computers in the shop, Cheng Ye, Ji Qingyan, and Zhang Shu arrived one after another.

Cheng Ye and Qingyan, the lead engineers and architects of the courier system, had come early to help with on-site testing before its official rollout. Zhang Shu was reporting for her first day at the shop.

The previous night, while Lu Yao and Harold were dealing with the troublemakers at the shop entrance, Song Qingshan, He Bi, and Zhang Shu had stopped by after their shift, curious to see the new store.

What greeted them was utter chaos at the shopfront, and later, they witnessed zombies gathering on the street, clawing at the men hung from the lampposts. Song Qingshan and He Bi immediately turned pale and vomited, nearly retching up bile.

The next day, Song Qingshan called in sick, saying he felt too unwell to work and needed IV fluids at the hospital.

That afternoon, he called Lu Yao again, apologizing profusely and admitting he couldn’t handle working at the new shop.

The gap between expectation and reality was immense. After seeing the tattered, skeletal zombies riddled with maggots firsthand, Song Qingshan had nightmares all night and couldn’t even stomach the sight of meat for a long time afterward.

The time flow between the new shop and the shopping street was slightly different. While it was 3 a.m. at the shopping street, it was already 7 or 8 a.m. at the new shop. This meant the working hours at the courier shop started four to five hours earlier than the usual schedule.

With his responsibilities as a single father, Song Qingshan found it impossible to adjust to the courier shop’s hours.

Lu Yao accepted his resignation and messaged the remaining two candidates while considering hiring new staff.

When He Bi received the message, he declined with a mix of fear and politeness.

The events of that night had shaken him deeply. Before seeing the decayed city and hordes of zombies firsthand, he hadn’t truly comprehended how terrifying such a scenario could be.

Zhang Shu took half an hour to respond.

By then, Lu Yao was already preparing to ask Ji Zhixin to recruit new hires.

But Zhang Shu messaged back: Boss, I’d like to give it a try. I’m willing to work at the new shop.

Lu Yao confirmed with her: You’re not afraid?

Zhang Shu replied: I’ve always liked horror themes. Of course, experiencing a real-world scenario like this is entirely different from movies or novels. But since I’ll only be working inside the shop, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. You and Harold are the ones who have to go out—it’s much more dangerous for you. I think I’ll be fine.

And so, Zhang Shu officially took over as the new shop’s operator, monitoring and managing the order system.

…

The computers were installed, and the order system went live, with the wish network coverage aligned with the range of the signal receivers Lu Yao had placed.

Using the maps scanned and recorded by the Dream Fulfillment System, the courier system allowed delivery staff to receive real-time optimized routes through voice guidance on their ID badges and communicators.

To test whether the system was functioning properly, Harold stayed on standby at the shop while Lu Yao rode her scooter 5 kilometers away and used one of the courier shop’s business cards to place an order.

The courier system received the order instantly and assigned it to Harold.

For Harold, driving a scooter to the location took four minutes, running there took two, and using the Key of Time and Space to teleport took three seconds.

Lu Yao sighed. Advanced transportation tools were only useful for her as an ordinary human. Harold and Qiuyu clearly didn’t need them.

That morning, they conducted 20 tests. Thanks to the courier system’s integration of cutting-edge technologies from various worlds, all 20 orders were successfully delivered with perfect accuracy.

…

The next day, the courier shop officially opened for business.

The previous afternoon, Lu Yao had posted an announcement on the shopping street’s internal network about the courier shop’s official opening. By evening, three vans arrived, sent by a local flower shop owner, delivering over sixty flower baskets.

Only later did Lu Yao learn that VIP customers, former employees, and business partners from the shopping street had secretly formed a group. Together, they placed a collective order at the flower shop to send these baskets in celebration.

Before the delivery, they had contacted Ji Zhixin for approval. While Ji Zhixin had mentioned the gesture to Lu Yao, she hadn’t specified that it involved flower baskets.

When the baskets arrived, Lu Yao was genuinely surprised.

After personally thanking the contributors, she began organizing the baskets.

Taking all sixty-plus baskets to the courier shop seemed excessive, especially since flower baskets were a rare sight in the Golden Kingdom given the lack of flower supply.

Some customers from other shops in the shopping street had never even seen such grand flower arrangements. Lu Yao decided to redistribute some to various shops. After allocating a portion, she kept the remaining twenty baskets and placed them outside the courier shop.

…

At 3 a.m., Lu Yao and Harold arrived at the courier shop.

About ten minutes later, Zhang Shu showed up as well.

To make commuting easier, Zhang Shu had bought herself a small scooter. After rushing to learn how to ride it in just two days, she could barely manage to ride it steadily, which explained her slight delay.

Traditionally, a new shop opening would involve setting off firecrackers, even electronic ones, just for formality.

However, since zombies were highly sensitive to sound, Lu Yao decided to skip this step to avoid unnecessary trouble.

On the day of the official opening, the long-absent system tasks reappeared:

[Shop upgrade successful. Current rating: One-Star Shop. Keep up the good work, Shopkeeper!]

[You have a new task! Complete one courier delivery within 24 hours to earn 100 popularity points and 1 World Truth Fragment!]

The task was standard for a new shop, but the tight time limit and modest rewards left much to be desired. However, the mention of a “World Truth Fragment” intrigued Lu Yao, though she couldn’t figure out what it might be.

With her experience, she decided to set aside her curiosity. The immediate priority was to secure and complete an order.

Since the courier shop opened very early, even Ji Zhixin wouldn’t arrive at the shopping street until after 4 a.m. to deliver supplies to the internet café first.

Lu Yao went to the snack shop herself to pick up breakfast and ate it with Zhang Shu and Harold at the shop.

The courier shop’s location in the Golden Kingdom was 170 Guanyin Road, Gaosheng City. The flower baskets outside nearly spilled onto the street. Yet, even after two hours of operation, there wasn’t a single customer—or even a passerby.

Harold leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “Not a soul.”

Lu Yao replied calmly, “It’s normal for a new shop opening. But we can’t just sit here waiting.”

She pulled out a cardboard box from the storage room.

When Harold saw the flyers inside, he frowned. “You’re doing this again?”

The box contained a mix of pre-made flyers and newly revised business cards.

The business cards were special tools tied directly to the courier system. Customers only needed to fill in the address field on the back, and a courier would receive the order and head to their location.

Essentially, the cards functioned like a delivery label in the real world and typically needed to be purchased.

Lu Yao packed a stack of flyers and cards into a hand-sewn cloth bag, along with a gold-checking tool specifically designed for receiving and verifying payments.

The tool, created by an artificer from the Floating World, was shaped like a crouching Pixiu, symbolizing the accumulation of wealth.

The gold-checking tool was designed to verify the purity and weight of gold.

After an order was placed, the system would calculate the delivery fee, and the tool would automatically “bite off” the appropriate amount of gold, eliminating any need for staff or customers to handle the payment manually.

Lu Yao slung a cloth bag over her shoulder and handed another to Harold. “When we head out, I’ll take the left, and you go to the right. Slip flyers into houses with intact windows and drawn curtains. If anyone opens the door and shows interest in our shop’s services, let them know we’re running an opening special: business cards are half-price today, limited to one per person.”

Harold reluctantly strapped on the bag, muttering under his breath, “Every shop opening is the same routine.”

Lu Yao nudged him toward the door. “Simple, but effective.”

As they reached the door, she turned back to Zhang Shu. “Don’t worry. Budu will come by later to keep you company. If we get any orders, contact us immediately. We’ll respond as quickly as possible.”

Each delivery staff member had a badge and communicator, allowing Zhang Shu to contact them directly through the system while stationed in the shop.

Harold, with his bag slung over his shoulder, rode off on his scooter. Despite his grumbling, he enjoyed riding.

A few days earlier, Harold had sped through Emerald Town on his scooter, drawing stares from the townsfolk. Some customers at the nail salon even inquired about ordering scooters for themselves.

In Alexander Continent, most people relied on horse-drawn carriages—or even ox carts—for daily travel. Seeing the small, motorized scooter was both novel and captivating.

Lu Yao left the shop, turning left toward Guanyin Residential Complex.

This neighborhood appeared to be an upscale area, with a grand gate, a security booth, and barriers at the entrance.

Inside the booth lay two decayed corpses in security uniforms. Their rotting bodies suggested they had been dealt with in the early days of the outbreak.

The complex consisted of over twenty residential buildings, each about 30 stories tall. Lu Yao stood at the base of one building, looking up.

It was clear that some people still lived in the complex, but they rarely ventured outside.

With elevators out of service, Lu Yao could only climb the stairs. On her way up, she occasionally encountered stray zombies, likely former residents of the building.

When she encountered zombies on the lower floors, she would simply move to a different building.

The first and second floors were essential passageways for anyone leaving the building. If zombies wandered the hallways unchecked, it usually meant the building was unoccupied.

In units where people still lived, the hallways would likely be kept clear for safe passage.

Lu Yao paid special attention to houses with tightly drawn curtains, suspecting these were occupied. She would usually observe the building for a while before starting her rounds.

Although the ideal approach would be knocking on doors for face-to-face interaction, Lu Yao wasn’t quite that bold. Instead, she simply slipped a flyer onto each doorknob.

Unexpectedly, on the seventh floor of the fourth building, Lu Yao encountered a door slightly ajar.

An elderly woman stood behind it, clutching the door tightly. The moment her eyes met Lu Yao’s, she panicked and slammed the door shut.

Lu Yao paused at the door, thought for a moment, and then knocked gently. Knowing someone was inside, she began her cheerful introduction: “Hello! I’m a staff member at the courier shop just outside the complex. Our shop specializes in running errands and delivery services. We’re having a grand opening today, and orders are 50% off. Feel free to learn more if you’re interested!”

Lu Yao waited at the door for a few minutes, but it didn’t open again. As usual, she slipped a flyer onto the doorknob and continued her rounds.

After Lu Yao left the seventh floor and began climbing to the eighth, a resident on the seventh floor cautiously opened their door and retrieved the flyer.

Cao Xiuhong, the 62-year-old occupant of Unit 705, lived with her husband and grandson. She was the one who had been peeking at Lu Yao through the crack in the door.

Once the sound of footsteps faded, Cao Xiuhong gathered her courage and opened the door again to grab the flyer.

She had heard everything the young woman outside had said. But she also knew how dangerous the world had become. Besides zombies, there were many desperate people who wouldn’t hesitate to harm others to survive.

Afraid of being deceived, she had forced herself not to open the door earlier.

For someone like her to still be alive, it was largely thanks to having her grandson with them.

Her son and daughter-in-law were busy with work, so it had always been Cao Xiuhong and her husband taking care of their grandson, who was in school.

Just six months away from his college entrance exams, her grandson had been home for lunch when the zombie virus outbreak suddenly began over a month ago. Schools shut down, and everyone was forced to remain at home.

Their family was relatively lucky. The outbreak happened while her grandson, Zhao Xiaopeng, was with them, so the family didn’t get separated.

For the past two months, they had survived on their stored food, rationing carefully. But with three people to feed, their supplies had almost run out.

The day before, neighbors on the same floor had planned a trip to gather supplies, and Zhao Xiaopeng had begged them to let him join.

The neighbors, familiar with the situation in Cao Xiuhong’s household, knew that Zhao Xiaopeng was the only one capable of going out. They agreed to take him along.

However, the group had been gone for an entire day and night, and there was still no sign of their return.

Worried sick, Cao Xiuhong had knocked on the doors of other neighbors multiple times that morning.

Most of the remaining residents were elderly, women, or children, all equally anxious about the situation. Her attempts to ask for information were met with scolding and harsh words, leaving her frustrated and on the verge of tears.

It was during this distressing time that she heard footsteps in the hallway. She quickly retreated into her home, hoping it might be her grandson returning. Peering through the slightly open door, she saw a short-haired young woman coming up the stairs.

The girl’s hair was tucked behind one ear, revealing a golden lotus-shaped earring. With a cloth bag slung over her shoulder and a stack of flyers in hand, she was slipping the papers onto door handles as she walked.

In the past, Cao Xiuhong had occasionally found small cards stuck in her door when she came back home, but ever since the zombie outbreak, this was the first time.

Carefully closing the door, she took the flyer back to the dining table. Picking up her reading glasses, she read it word by word.

The flyer detailed the services offered by Lu Yao’s Courier Shop, the steps to place an order, pricing, and the shop’s location.

The content was straightforward and neatly formatted, like an old-school chalkboard lesson. There were no flashy graphics or exaggerated slogans, yet it was clear and easy enough for even someone like Cao Xiuhong to understand.

Meanwhile, on the 13th floor staircase, Lu Yao encountered a group of zombies. A quick count revealed about a dozen. Deciding not to continue upward, she turned back.

On her way down, she moved swiftly, occasionally propping herself against the railing to jump down several steps at a time.

After descending a few floors, she suddenly looked up and saw an elderly woman standing at the stairwell entrance, her face a mix of panic and urgency.

As soon as the woman spotted Lu Yao, she opened her mouth to speak. Lu Yao immediately leaped down, covering the woman’s mouth with one hand, and whispered, “There are zombies on the 13th floor. Don’t make a sound.”

Cao Xiuhong’s eyes widened in terror before she nodded repeatedly.

When Lu Yao let go, the elderly woman grabbed her by the arm and started running.

Despite her small steps, the old lady moved surprisingly quickly and silently, pulling Lu Yao to her apartment in no time. After closing the door, she turned to Lu Yao and said, “Please, can you help me find my grandson?”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Lu Yao parked her scooter by the roadside but didn’t get off immediately.

The Dream Fulfillment System warned her, “A group of zombies on the right-side Jinzhou Street is moving in this direction, likely attracted by the noise.”

Lu Yao tilted her head to look up at the department store. “How many people are there?”

The system responded, “Two. The girl calling for help has a scent of blood on her.”

The ones pleading for help were a young man and woman. The darkness made it hard to see clearly through the wind visor of Lu Yao’s helmet, but their overly animated gestures and voices suggested they were young.

Lu Yao frowned. “Were they bitten?”

The system replied, “No visible external wounds detected.”

Lu Yao got off her scooter and began walking toward the department store.

The system asked, “I thought you weren’t planning to help them.”

Without stopping, Lu Yao tightened her gloves and said, “Do I really seem that cold and heartless to you?”

The system responded, “I wouldn’t recommend saving them. The building is full of wandering zombies. They seem to be former mall workers and shoppers. Every floor has them, and the stairs and elevators from the first to the second floor are completely occupied. Without using your abilities, it’s too dangerous to go up there.”

“Who said anything about going upstairs?” Lu Yao reached the department store’s entrance and coldly called out to the two excited figures on the second floor, who looked like they thought rescue had arrived. “Decide your jumping order within 30 seconds. Jump one at a time.”

Tang Anqi and Song Xu, feeling like they’d been doused with cold water, hesitated. While it was technically only the second floor, department store levels were higher than standard residential floors.

If they had the courage to jump, they wouldn’t have waited this long, lingering until Lu Yao appeared.

Jumping could mean injuries, possibly fatal in such an open area, especially at night. Zombies would quickly surround them, and they still wouldn’t escape.

Tang Anqi crouched by the shattered edge of the floor-to-ceiling window and spoke softly to Lu Yao. “We’ve got two big bags of supplies—food, toilet paper, soap, and other essentials. We’ll give it all to you if you can save us.”

Lu Yao, wearing her helmet and casual hoodie from earlier in the day, gave no outward sign of her identity.

Song Xu, hearing Lu Yao’s voice, realized she was a woman. He gently pulled Tang Anqi and shook his head. “Forget it. Let’s not make this harder for her.”

Tang Anqi was on the verge of tears. “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t forced you to come out, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

The system reminded, “The zombies on that road will reach this area in five minutes.”

Lu Yao closed her eyes briefly, then opened her arms and said in a steady voice, “Jump down. I’ll catch you.”

Tang Anqi froze mid-sob, hesitant. “How could you possibly catch me?”

Lu Yao replied, “Hurry. We don’t have time. In a few minutes, this square will be surrounded by zombies.”

Tang Anqi looked at Song Xu as if seeking reassurance or courage. “Alright, I’ll jump.”

She stood up, took a deep breath, bent her legs, and jumped with her eyes tightly shut.

Lu Yao removed her helmet and placed it on the ground. She stepped forward, adjusted her position as Tang Anqi fell, and caught her securely. Without delay, she set the girl down and called up to the remaining person. “Your turn. Jump. I’ll catch you.”

Tang Anqi sat on the ground, stunned. She opened her eyes, only to find herself safe and sound, already on the ground.

Song Xu, trying to mask his surprise, hadn’t expected the girl to actually catch someone falling from such a height.

A year ago, Lu Yao wouldn’t have been able to handle catching someone falling from several meters. But intentional training and exercise over the past year had drastically improved her physical abilities. Even without using magic, superpowers, or her wish energy, her body was far more agile, resilient, and strong than an ordinary human’s.

Song Xu dragged two large backpacks to the edge of the window and called down, “These are our supplies. They’re heavy. Please take care of them.”

The supplies they had risked their lives to gather were too valuable to leave behind.

The two bags landed safely on the ground. Taking a deep breath like Tang Anqi, Song Xu closed his eyes and jumped. Within moments, he landed securely in Lu Yao’s strong arms.

Lu Yao caught Song Xu and quickly set him down, then bent to pick up her helmet, turning to leave without hesitation.

Tang Anqi called out, “Wait a minute.”

Lu Yao paused.

Dragging one of the supply bags, Tang Anqi said, “We agreed—the supplies are yours.”

Song Xu looked reluctant but didn’t argue, silently agreeing to Tang Anqi’s decision.

Lu Yao glanced back at them and waved impatiently. “Hurry up and grab your stuff. The zombie horde is almost here. I’ll give you a ride.”

Tang Anqi and Song Xu were overjoyed and quickly shouldered their bags to follow her. The supplies they had gathered were substantial; the two backpacks were heavy and bulky.

Worried that placing all the weight at the back would tilt the scooter, Lu Yao moved one of the bags to the footrest in front.

Tang Anqi sat behind her, and Song Xu perched on the rear rack.

The small scooter, now carrying three adults and two heavy bags, started up sluggishly.

The zombie horde had already reached the street corner, marching relentlessly toward the department store.

Song Xu kept glancing back nervously.

The engine noise caught the zombies’ attention, and they began to turn in their direction, but their slow pace meant they were quickly left behind.

…

Tang Anqi and Song Xu were a couple, both university students.

When the zombie virus first broke out, they were studying in their campus library.

Their school was halfway up a mountain, a relatively secluded environment. Initially, there were no signs of zombies on campus, but news reports confirmed how rapidly the virus was spreading.

Within half a day, the first victims appeared at the base of their mountain. Panic quickly engulfed the students and faculty.

Tang Anqi and Song Xu stayed together throughout the chaos. They even managed to return to their dorms to retrieve essential belongings before starting their escape.

As out-of-province students attending university in Gaosheng City, they had no safe haven outside campus. The journey back home was a near-impossible dream, riddled with dangers.

For now, their survival depended on finding an uninhabited house where they could take refuge.

This time, they ventured out searching for basic necessities because Tang Anqi’s menstrual period was approaching. Water and personal hygiene products were scarce, with water being especially precious.

Hoping to make their limited supplies last, Tang Anqi decided to look for sanitary pads and other essentials.

They did manage to find several packs of sanitary pads in the department store. Though they initially avoided the wandering zombies to get inside, they were trapped when trying to leave. That was when Lu Yao came to their rescue.

On the way back, Tang Anqi chatted with Lu Yao incessantly, sharing bits and pieces about their situation. Whether it was entirely true or only partially so, Lu Yao didn’t care much.

At an intersection, Lu Yao stopped and dropped them off.

As Tang Anqi and Song Xu got off the scooter and prepared to leave, Lu Yao called after them. “Take your stuff, too.”

Tang Anqi replied, “No, it’s yours now.”

Lu Yao grabbed the backpack and set it down at their feet. Then she pulled out two business cards for her courier shop from her pocket. “I don’t need your supplies. Here’s my shop’s card. The shop is just up ahead in Guanyin Community. If you need anything, you can use this card.”

Tang Anqi and Song Xu blinked in confusion, unsure of her intent.

They had genuinely struggled to convince themselves to give the supplies to Lu Yao. After all, she had saved them and given them a ride, taking them a considerable distance.

The zombie virus outbreak had led to the collapse of the transportation system early on, making such a ride an extraordinary favor.

The two of them were used to walking everywhere, so this ride felt like an incredible luxury.

The night breeze brushed against their faces, cool and ticklish, giving them a rare sense of freedom.

Tang Anqi crouched down and unzipped her backpack, revealing the stuffed contents. “We really found so many good things. Look.”

Lu Yao waved her hand dismissively. “I really don’t need it. If you feel you must thank me, just give me gold if we ever meet again.”

With that, she rode off.

Tang Anqi and Song Xu stood by the roadside, watching until Lu Yao’s figure disappeared into the distance. Tang Anqi then turned to Song Xu and muttered, “Isn’t there something wrong with her? Everyone knows you should stockpile food, water, and daily necessities. What’s the use of gold?”

Song Xu shook his head. “That scooter of hers is brand new. She dares to wander around alone and acted so decisively when saving us. Maybe she really doesn’t need these supplies. It’s getting late; we should head back.”

Tang Anqi snatched the business card from Song Xu’s hand and tucked it into her inner pocket. “Yeah, let’s go.”

…

The engine’s hum broke the stillness of the night as Lu Yao arrived at the courier shop’s entrance.

The surroundings were pitch dark and eerily silent, as if she were the only living person in this world.

Lu Yao got off the scooter, planning to push it into the shop. She was no longer willing to leave it outside.

After a few steps, she stopped, her nose twitching.

A foul stench hung in the air, one she found unpleasantly familiar—the putrid odor of decaying protein.

A shadow butterfly fluttered down like a leaf, landing ahead of her. Its glowing wings blinked faintly in the darkness, like a tiny guiding star.

The Dream Fulfillment System said, “Follow it, but watch your step. Leave the scooter for now.”

Realizing the situation, Lu Yao’s brows knitted together, and a sense of irritation crept into her heart, as if something filthy had latched onto her.

She backed up, parked the scooter on the roadside, and affixed a gravity magic array sticker and a temporary barrier sticker to its base before moving forward.

She hadn’t gone far when a beam of light shone directly into her eyes, forcing her to lower her head and squint against the glare.

The steady sound of footsteps approached. A group of people, armed with steel pipes and wooden clubs, surrounded her. Behind them stood three men wrapped in bandages.

Lu Yao recognized them at a glance—the same three she had beaten up earlier that morning when they tried to loot the shop.

So this is how things have changed in this world, she thought. Without order, bullying the weak has become the norm, and violence is the only means of resolving conflicts.

The system commented dryly, “You went too easy on them this morning. They didn’t learn their lesson.”

This group came prepared—not just with numbers, but with equipment. They were armed with weapons and wore helmets fitted with headlamps.

As the lights swept across the area, Lu Yao’s peripheral vision caught sight of a revolting pile on the ground.

Chunks of red and white rotting flesh were strewn across the area, sticky liquids bubbling with noxious fumes. The stench was overpowering, and Lu Yao turned away, retching.

No wonder the system had warned her to watch her step. The small open space outside the courier shop was littered with decaying, unidentifiable flesh. Thick, dark red pus mixed with yellowish slime splattered everywhere, and among the mess were scraps of stiff, dirty fabric—clearly not from any ordinary animal.

Lu Yao’s stomach churned violently with nausea. Her face turned pale and icy as she struggled to compose herself, but the foul smell lingered, making her want to gag all over again.

The man who had held the wrench earlier that morning now had his right arm in a sling and was swinging a steel pipe with his left hand. With a smug grin, he swaggered through the crowd toward Lu Yao. “Kneel down, call me Daddy twice, and hand over your shop. Since you’re a woman, I’ll let you off today.”

The men surrounding Lu Yao clinked their sticks and pipes together, laughing uproariously.

Lu Yao, her hand hidden behind her back, palm turned upward, prepared to summon the Regulation Rod. “I won’t forgive these guys this time.”

Boom—

Suddenly, the emergency light above the courier shop’s door lit up. The incandescent beam pierced through the darkness, flooding the area in front of the shop with bright white light as if it were midday.

Startled, everyone turned to look. A door had appeared on the shop’s facade, cleverly placed so it seemed to an outsider as though it had opened from within the shop.

Harold stepped out from the door, scanning the group before spotting Lu Yao. “What’s going on here?”

Lu Yao relaxed her hand and exhaled slowly, her tone indifferent. “They came to smash up the shop.”

Harold frowned, his nostrils flaring slightly as he caught a whiff of the stench. Taking in the mess outside the shop, he instantly understood the situation.

Without saying another word, Harold strode forward and punched the nearest man square in the face.

The little black dragon moved with swift precision. He restrained his strength just enough to avoid killing anyone, though it took effort.

In just a few minutes, the ground was littered with discarded steel rods and wooden clubs, and the group of men lay groaning on the ground, bruised and unable to stand.

Harold glanced at Lu Yao, noticing her pale face. “What now?”

Lu Yao said calmly, “They tried to steal from the shop this morning, and I already gave them a warning. Now they’ve come back again. Clearly, they don’t learn.”

She surveyed the street for a moment before pointing at the bare streetlight poles on either side of the road. “Can we hang them up there?”

Harold hesitated. “It’s doable, but will that really teach them a lesson?”

Lu Yao’s expression remained steady. “Don’t hang them too high—or too low.”

Although Harold didn’t fully understand her intentions, he said nothing.

To avoid revealing his abilities, Harold pretended to fetch a ladder from the shop. He also carried out a roll of thick hemp rope and worked with Lu Yao to tie up the dozen men and hang them from the streetlight poles.

At Lu Yao’s instruction, Harold also removed the lights from their helmets and taped them to the poles, illuminating the area.

For the first time in ages, Guanyin Road was bathed in light. Every streetlight pole held a suspended figure, hanging at a very particular height—just within arm’s reach for someone standing below to touch their toes if they stretched.

That night, the bright lights attracted zombies to Guanyin Road. The undead wandered aimlessly around the area while the suspended men screamed in terror, their cries and pleas for mercy echoing into the night.

By dawn, their voices had grown hoarse, dwindling to faint sobs.

The men weren’t released until the following morning. When they were finally let down, they were pale as ghosts, their limbs trembling so much they could barely stand.

At that exact moment, Lu Yao stepped out of the shop. In full view of everyone, she pointed at the disgusting mess near the courier shop’s entrance. “Before you leave, clean up the mess you made.”

Terrified, the men nodded furiously, their faces ashen, not daring to utter a single word in protest.

Years later, when people spoke of how the courier shop managed to establish itself on Guanyin Road, they often recounted that oppressive night. It all began with the young shop owner and the handsome high-ponytail boy hanging the local troublemakers from the streetlights.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

The news that the DIY Workshop would continue operations was a great relief to Song Qingshan and the other two employees. Although Lu Yao had mentioned before that she might transfer them to a new shop depending on the situation, the prospect of adapting to a new environment and potentially switching professions had left them uneasy.

When Lu Yao brought up transferring one employee to manage the new system at the courier shop, the three exchanged glances but didn’t immediately respond.

Zhang Shu asked, “What kind of world is the new shop connected to? Is it dangerous?”

He Bi pointed to the newly hung sign at the end of the street. “That courier shop? Logistics services?”

By this time, other shop employees were also arriving. Seeing Lu Yao talking with the three, they gradually gathered around.

Bai Yi remarked, “The boss is even more of a workaholic than a true workaholic. Another new shop already?”

Zhou Su added, “A courier shop? This one seems unusually modest.”

Ji Zhixin, analyzing the situation, commented, “From my experience, the simpler the shop looks, the more extraordinary the world behind it is.”

…

The employees were filled with curiosity about the new shop, and Lu Yao didn’t hold back. “The new shop connects to a world called the Golden Kingdom. It was once known for its abundant precious metals.”

Among the shop employees, there were quite a few wealthy ones. Even so, the mention of the “Golden Kingdom” lit up their eyes with excitement and anticipation.

The name alone sounded opulent—perhaps the city streets were paved with gold bricks? And buying gold directly at the source might even be cheaper!

Noting their eager expressions, Lu Yao slowly continued, “Unfortunately, we’ve missed the golden era. The country’s situation has changed. The cities are now crawling with zombies.”

The employees: “…”

Zhou Su muttered, “That’s… a drastic change. Did you see any zombies?”

Lu Yao replied, “I checked it out after dinner last night. While running errands, I encountered a zombie tide on my way back.”

The employees quietly stepped back, their backs tingling with unease, suddenly losing their appetite for breakfast.

The idea of an apocalypse had always been something captivating only in the distant realm of movies or novels. But for these employees, hearing that zombies could be encountered just outside the neighboring shop was unsettling. Their minds were flooded with all kinds of vivid scenarios.

They were well aware of how real the shopping street’s worlds were and had long stopped doubting the boss’s words.

While digesting the information about the new shop, the employees gradually dispersed, leaving behind the original three Lu Yao had spoken with.

Seeing their uneasy expressions, Lu Yao explained, “Employees from the shopping street sent to the new shop will only manage the backend order system. They’ll stay inside the shop. I have separate plans for the couriers. Considering the mental stress caused by the danger level of the courier shop’s world, I’m planning to increase the transferred employee’s salary. Let’s start with a 5,000 yuan raise. For now, I only need one person.”

Hearing about the pay raise, the three employees’ expressions changed slightly.

Many of their senior colleagues were either independently wealthy or had family money. Others were well-known directors or ex-esports players who didn’t care about money. But the three of them were ordinary workers. The idea of switching shops and getting a 5,000 yuan raise was very appealing.

Moreover, they had all seen how much the boss cared about her employees. When faced with dangerous work environments, she always took steps to ensure their safety. This was something they had personally experienced and had also heard from senior employees.

Song Qingshan, the oldest of the three and a single father raising a daughter, felt the greatest financial pressure. He was the first to step forward. “I’ll go.”

He Bi and Zhang Shu exchanged a glance but said nothing further.

Lu Yao nodded. “Spend the next two days handing over your current duties. Once the new shop is ready, you can head over.”

With the system administrator position settled, Lu Yao headed to the pet cafe. The computers for the new shop needed modification, and the order system might require a rewrite. A few days earlier, she had purchased computers and sent them to the pet cafe, entrusting the modifications to 1041 and his team. Meanwhile, Cheng Ye and Qing Yan would handle the new software development.

After confirming there were no issues with the progress on the computers and order system, Lu Yao returned to the hot spring inn for a few hours of sleep, recharging her energy for the day ahead.

The electric scooters she had ordered with Ji Zhixin’s help had arrived and were neatly lined up in the parking lot. Lu Yao stored them in her portable warehouse and headed toward the nail salon.

The nail salon was still bustling as it hadn’t yet closed for the day. Recently, the shop had recruited a group of apprentices, including humans, demi-humans, and elves. For basic nail designs, Eugenia was guiding the apprentices through the work.

Unlike the non-human staff, Eugenia didn’t have magical abilities and couldn’t handle creating magical nails. Instead, she focused extensively on crafting intricate, decorative nail designs, honing her skills to perfection. Her aesthetic sense and technique had made her very popular among customers.

As one of the most experienced and skilled trainers in the shop, Eugenia was highly respected by the newcomers.

Meanwhile, the non-human staff were busy attending to customers with special requests, such as those wanting magical combat nails.

During the summer vacation, Harold often seemed especially idle in the shop. He and Si Jin would frequently lounge in the break room, passing time reading comics and snacking.

When Lu Yao arrived, Harold was sprawled on the sofa in the break room, looking utterly bored, with comic books and snacks scattered everywhere.

Lu Yao: “Harold, how about working at the new shop with me?”

Harold sat up abruptly. “I heard in the group chat that the new shop has zombies.”

Lu Yao sat down beside him. “Do you even know what zombies are?”

Harold: “I looked it up online. I didn’t think humans could evolve in that direction.”

Lu Yao: “It’s not really evolution, though occasionally something like this happens. The work there can’t be handled by ordinary employees—it requires someone with your kind of strength. Come with me for two days to get familiar with things. You’ll also need to learn how to ride an electric scooter since you might need to train newcomers later.”

Harold blinked, his interest clearly piqued. “Newcomers?”

Lu Yao: “I’m planning to train the little ones from the internet café. If things go smoothly, you’ll be their senior mentor.”

Harold was well-acquainted with Xiong An’an, Kangkang, Little Ginseng, and Qiuyu. The idea of being their leader immediately got the little black dragon excited.

After finalizing things with Harold, Lu Yao handed him one of the new scooters and told him to learn how to ride it quickly.

Leaving the nail salon, Lu Yao then made her way to the internet café.

All the little ones were there.

She didn’t mention the new shop’s work plans to them yet but brought out three new electric scooters and sent them to a wide area at the foot of the mountain to practice.

The little ones assumed the scooters were new toys from Lu Yao and gleefully went downhill to play with them.

Lu Yao sought out Jiao Niang and informed her that in a few days, she would test the little ones’ proficiency in transforming into human forms.

Lu Yao had carefully considered the requirements for transferring staff from other shops to work in the Golden Kingdom. Three basic conditions had to be met:

1. The staff member must sign a soul contract with her, the shop owner.
2. They must learn to use convenient transportation tools like the electric scooter.
3. During work, they must maintain a human form and avoid revealing their non-human appearances in front of customers.

Having staff with strong abilities wasn’t an issue—fighting was part of the job requirements.

However, Lu Yao insisted on hiding their true forms for two reasons: firstly, for the shop’s long-term development, and secondly, to consider the customers. The residents of the Golden Kingdom had already endured the horrors of a zombie invasion. Discovering that most of the courier shop’s staff were non-human might push them to their breaking point.

Lu Yao’s considerations for the shop were ultimately rooted in ensuring its long-term success.

Another factor was her hope that the young ones in the shop could gain new experiences through work.

As the number of young ones in the shopping street grew, so did the occasional challenges and issues. Sometimes, Lu Yao found herself at a loss, even doubting whether letting them grow up so freely was truly the best choice.

She often wondered, Is it really okay to just let them grow like this?

The shop’s little ones came from different races and backgrounds, each with their own perspectives. But their worldviews were now largely confined to the shops of the shopping street.

Fortunately, they were all resilient and carefree. Lu Yao couldn’t help but want them to experience something different from their usual lives.

She shared her thoughts with Jiao Niang, who enthusiastically supported her decision. Jiao Niang promised to ensure that all the little ones would master their transformation techniques before the assessment day.

After coordinating the foundational work, Lu Yao returned to the courier shop.

The Dream Fulfillment System had followed her instructions to furnish the shop simply. The front hall now had tables, chairs, a tea area, a row of shelves with safes, and filing cabinets. Behind the front hall were the order system office, an employee break room, a storage area, and a restroom.

The computers were scheduled to arrive the next day for installation in the system office. The employee break room was designed similarly to those in other shops, providing space for meals, personal belongings, and rest. The storage room, though not large, was equipped with an advanced electronic lock requiring facial recognition, iris scanning, and fingerprint verification for access.

After a quick inspection of the shop, Lu Yao was quite satisfied.

The shop’s design prioritized simplicity. Given the current state of the Golden Kingdom, winning the trust of customers through exceptional service was far more important than aesthetics. A lavishly decorated shop would only attract thieves looking for “free goods.”

Planning to finish placing the remaining signal receivers, Lu Yao prepared to head out. However, as she retrieved her scooter, she noticed the rear tire was flat.

Upon closer inspection, the rubber tire was riddled with holes, and the scooter’s sides were covered in scratches. It seemed someone had tried to steal the scooter and, unable to move it, vented their frustration by damaging it.

Lu Yao loved her white scooter, and seeing it vandalized like this filled her with anger.

But with no time to waste, she returned to the shop, pulled out a new electric scooter from her portable warehouse, and pushed it outside.

Mounting the new black scooter, she told the system, “We need to install surveillance cameras at the entrance. Next time, we’ll know who did this.”

The Dream Fulfillment System suggested, “Since you’re heading out, why not leave a shadow butterfly for monitoring?”

Taking its advice, Lu Yao returned to the shop, released a shadow butterfly as a biological surveillance device, and finally set out.

The new scooter was larger and more powerful than her previous one, with a louder engine. Hearing the sound, nearby residents peeked through their windows, noticing she had replaced the vehicle entirely. Their expressions were a mix of frustration and intrigue.

Of the thirteen signal receivers Lu Yao had prepared, one was reserved for the shop, while the remaining twelve needed to be placed at different locations within a 10-kilometer radius.

By midday, she had already placed seven receivers. Her goal was to finish placing the last five before nightfall.

Two and a half hours later, Lu Yao successfully installed the final receiver and prepared to return to the courier shop.

To familiarize herself with the city, she took a slightly longer route back. However, nightfall came faster than she expected.

One moment, the sun was still hanging on the horizon; the next, it had slipped below, leaving the world in darkness.

Dusk rushed in, driving away the light and ushering in shadows.

Rustling noises began to echo around her, as if a synchronized crowd were shuffling along. Occasionally, indistinct growls broke the silence.

Lu Yao’s scalp tingled. She held her breath, turned the scooter’s throttle, and accelerated, eager to get home quickly.

As she passed a department store with shattered display windows, a white arm suddenly fell from above, landing directly in her path.

Startled, Lu Yao slammed the brakes and gasped for air.

When human body parts scatter like discarded objects, even the most composed individual would feel a chilling sense of dread.

After a closer look, she realized it was the arm of a mannequin. Exhaling deeply, she glanced up at the building.

In the second-floor window of the department store, two figures were waving frantically in her direction.

Their hoarse voices, strained but desperate, called out, “The emergency exits are full of zombies! Please, help us!”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Lu Yao was riding her electric scooter back to the courier shop when, from a distance, she noticed several men standing at the shop’s entrance, tools in hand, seemingly trying to pry the door open.

The group consisted of three adult men. Even as they saw Lu Yao pull up on her scooter, they didn’t stop. One of them, holding a large wrench, walked toward her, shouting, “Get off the bike.”

Lu Yao had mentally prepared for situations like this in the apocalypse. In a world where order had recently collapsed, new rules had yet to form, and some people, freshly “freed” from the shackles of law and morality, had started preying on those who seemed weaker than them.

Obediently, Lu Yao got off her scooter. Glancing briefly at the two men still diligently working on the lock, she slowly walked closer. “Don’t bother. You won’t be able to open it.”

The man with the wrench grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the door. “If we can’t open it, then you do it!”

The two men squatting by the door stood up to make way. One pulled a spring-loaded knife from his pocket, flicking the blade open and pointing it at Lu Yao. “We saw you riding that flashy little scooter around before dawn. Don’t blame us for this; blame yourself for showing off. Now open the door.”

Without a word, Lu Yao reached out, grabbed the knife-wielding man’s wrist, and twisted it lightly. A sharp crack echoed, followed by his scream as the knife clattered to the ground. His wrist went limp, completely useless.

The other men froze, their expressions shifting dramatically. One raised a curved metal pipe in alarm.

Lu Yao blocked the descending pipe with one hand. Sensing a gust of wind from behind, she swiftly bent forward, dodging the wrench aimed at her head. The wrench swung in an arc, colliding with the pipe, producing a loud clanging that echoed at the street corner.

After years of training, Lu Yao was agile and flexible. Dealing with ordinary people didn’t even require her to use her powers.

“Ahhhh—!”

“Ughhh—!”

In less than a minute, two more screams pierced the air. Those secretly watching from higher windows quickly retreated behind their curtains.

Dusting her hands, Lu Yao kicked the discarded wrench and pipe off the road, then walked back to her scooter. She wheeled it to the store’s entrance, locked it, and stuck a sticker with a gravity magic array onto its base.

The scooter wasn’t expensive, but it was incredibly convenient. After recharging it, she planned to use it again in the afternoon to install more signal receivers.

…

Meanwhile, Zhang Shulan returned home via a side path. Nervously climbing the stairs to her third-floor apartment, she ensured the hallway was empty before crouching at the door of Unit 303. Carefully, she pulled out a key tied to a string around her neck and unlocked the door.

Once inside, she quickly and quietly closed the door. The edges of the doorframe were lined with foam strips, ensuring no extra noise when opening or closing.

The room was dim, with all the windows and curtains tightly shut. Even in broad daylight, the interior was murky—just a shade brighter than nighttime, though not pitch black.

Normally, Zhang Shulan’s daughter would be waiting for her at the door.

Today, there was no one. The silence in the apartment made Zhang Shulan’s heart race. Afraid to call out, she reached into the shoe cabinet and pulled out a rolling pin. Hunching over, she cautiously crept through the apartment.

She checked the living room, kitchen, and bathroom, confirming no one else was inside. Her unease only deepened.

Reaching the bedroom door, she used the rolling pin to slowly nudge it open. Her eyes scanned the wardrobe, bed, and windowsill—then froze.

Five-year-old Lin Shanshan was perched on the windowsill, peeking through a gap in the curtains, watching something outside.

Zhang Shulan exhaled in relief and walked over.

Hearing the sound, Lin Shanshan turned and pointed out the window. “Mom, there’s a fight outside.”

Zhang Shulan, nearly collapsing with exhaustion from the scare, sat on the floor and hugged her daughter tightly. She rubbed her face against Lin Shanshan’s soft cheeks. “You scared Mommy to death.”

Lin Shanshan wrapped her arms around her mother and gently patted her back. “Don’t be scared, Mommy.”

Once Zhang Shulan had calmed down, she remembered her daughter’s earlier comment. “What were you looking at?”

Lin Shanshan pointed out the window again. “There’s a fight going on.”

Pulling back the curtains slightly, Zhang Shulan peeked outside. Across the street, her eyes landed on a prominent blue sign with white edges that read, in bold characters: Lu Yao’s Courier Shop.

The sign was eye-catching, but that was secondary. Zhang Shulan pulled out the business card she had received not long ago from the pocket of her sweatpants.

The card had the same blue background with white edges, a refreshingly clean design. The front read Lu Yao’s Courier Shop, while the back was densely packed with several lines of text she hadn’t yet taken the time to read.

She recalled Lu Yao mentioning that she had opened a shop near Guanyin Community. It turned out it wasn’t just an excuse.

The shop sign, the card, and the white electric scooter parked boldly in front of the courier shop were proof enough that Lu Yao had been truthful.

Now, there was no one at the shop entrance. The people fighting earlier had disappeared, leaving only the scooter parked conspicuously at the door, with no one nearby.

Zhang Shulan was a single mother raising her five-year-old daughter. She had originally worked at a department store nearby.

Over a month ago, her meager but peaceful life was shattered by a sudden catastrophe.

A strange virus broke out on an otherwise ordinary afternoon. Those infected died quickly, only to rise again as soulless puppets, wandering aimlessly through cities and streets. Human flesh was their only desire.

Many people in Zhang Shulan’s community either fled or died trying to escape. Some fell victim to zombies, while others perished in the chaos, their deaths shrouded in mystery.

At first, Zhang Shulan also considered leaving. However, with her daughter being so young, she hesitated. Leaving their small home, the only place they knew, meant venturing into uncertainty without any clear destination or guarantee of safety.

In the end, her hesitation kept her and her daughter in place.

Fortunately, Zhang Shulan had a habit of stockpiling supplies. Every time there was a sale or holiday promotion, she couldn’t resist buying discounted rice, flour, and daily necessities to keep at home.

When the zombie virus initially broke out, the government still managed to maintain some control. At that time, money could still buy goods. Zhang Shulan managed to gather a variety of items, including rice, flour, canned meat, oil, salt, toilet paper, cat litter, and bottled water.

However, her resources and savings were limited. With everyone frantically hoarding at supermarkets, she didn’t dare to buy too much.

Two weeks later, the situation spiraled out of control. The military couldn’t hold back the zombie tide.

The death toll was overwhelming. The worst part was that the dead would immediately rise again, transforming into mindless, flesh-eating zombies that claimed human cities.

From that point, social order began to collapse step by step. In less than two months, everything had become what it was now.

Zhang Shulan became increasingly afraid to leave her home, but her supplies were dwindling, and the worsening security in her area heightened her anxiety.

She also worried that if she didn’t go out at all, her fear of leaving would grow even stronger. So, whenever she had the chance, she forced herself to venture out—even if it was just to find a pair of socks or a bag of candy. Anything she brought back could offer her and her daughter a small chance at survival.

The café she visited earlier was a spot she had scouted several times before. She had roughly figured out the patterns of zombie activity in the area and had left her home before dawn to avoid trouble.

As expected, she didn’t encounter any zombies or other people. The café, located in a conspicuous spot, had already been searched multiple times. What little was left wasn’t of interest to others. Still, she managed to find half a bag of used coffee grounds, half a bottle of caramel syrup, a small packet of shredded coconut, and a dozen creamer pods.

The supplies Zhang Shulan found weren’t much, but they were enough to keep her spirits high for the day.

She hadn’t expected to spend so much time in the café. By the time she tried to leave, she was already surrounded by zombies.

If not for the girl who had given her the business card, she might not have made it back home today.

After calming herself, Zhang Shulan lit a solid alcohol block to boil water. She used the syrup and creamer she had just found to make a sweet drink for her daughter.

Lin Shanshan held the cup, sipping slowly, her mood brightening. She whispered to Zhang Shulan, “Mom, that sister who was fighting won.”

Zhang Shulan picked up the business card from the edge of the coffee table, thought for a moment, and carefully tucked it into the inner pocket of her clothes.

In this neighborhood and in Guanyin Community across the way, there were still a fair number of people. Strong men naturally had the upper hand, and Zhang Shulan constantly worried about the safety of herself and her daughter.

The girl who had given her the card appeared delicate, but anyone brave enough to ride a scooter around the streets alone in these times was unlikely to be ordinary.

Zhang Shulan felt no malice from Lu Yao, which was why she had gone back to pick up the card at the bridge.

As a single mother with a young child, having this card felt like holding onto a potential lifeline if she ever needed help.

…

Lu Yao pulled out an extension cord from the courier shop, plugged in her electric scooter to charge, then closed the shop and returned to the shopping street. She couldn’t help but complain to the Dream Fulfillment System. “Did you see that? The shop hasn’t even opened yet, and people are already trying to loot it for free. If I opened a supermarket, I’d have to fight every day.”

The Dream Fulfillment System sighed. “You’re right. Selling goods means tying up capital in stock, and when customers are unreliable, dealing with disputes every day would be exhausting.”

Lu Yao said, “You go ahead and renovate the shop according to the blueprints. I’ll finish installing the remaining signal receivers this afternoon. Tomorrow, I’ll set up the backend system, and we’ll aim to officially open in three days. Oh, and I’ll tweak the business card design later tonight and print a batch.”

The system asked, “What about staff? Having ordinary receptionists is fine, but for couriers, that won’t work. It’s not just zombies out there; there are plenty of dangerous people. The working conditions are extremely hazardous—ordinary people can’t handle it.”

Lu Yao replied, “Ordinary people aren’t suited for courier work, so I’m thinking of transferring some staff from other shops.”

The system was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Lu Yao explained, “Harold and Tina are on summer vacation right now. Meanwhile, Xiong An’an, Qiuyu, and Little Ginseng are causing chaos on Baixian Mountain, so much so that the Sect Master of Hengze Sect comes to complain every few days. Those little ones have way too much energy. Might as well give them something productive to do.”

The system hesitated. “That sounds like hiring child labor.”

Lu Yao chuckled. “How can it be child labor if they’re working at home? Besides, have you ever seen ‘children’ who are nearly a hundred or even a thousand years old?”

The system grumbled, “You didn’t say that before.”

Lu Yao replied, “I’ll ask the kids. If they’re not up for it, I’ll recruit professional couriers from the Alexander Continent or the Floating World Continent.”

The system warned, “That’s an ideal solution, but the rules won’t allow it. Strictly speaking, this would count as ‘talent export’—and not just within one world, but across worlds. The last time Harold took you and Qiuyu to Mingshi City, it only worked because both of them had signed soul contracts with you, allowing them to bypass the world’s restrictions.”

Lu Yao nodded. “So as long as the staff have soul contracts with me, they can follow Harold through space-time without issue?”

The portable storage system allowed staff to be transferred between shops, but with one limitation—they couldn’t pass through the star gates of new shops and could only operate within the shop itself.

Historically, only Lu Yao and Harold, with his space-time abilities, had been able to bypass this restriction freely. Even Budu was sometimes rejected by other worlds.

The system continued, “Mingshi City wasn’t part of the shopping street’s predetermined route, so the rules there were more relaxed. If you want to use staff from other worlds in the courier shop, you’ll need to ensure they’ve signed soul contracts with you.”

Lu Yao decided, “For now, I’ll have Harold and Qiuyu help out. In the early days of the shop, when business is slow, three couriers should be enough. If things get busier later, I’ll figure something out.”

…

Lu Yao left the courier shop. It was already morning in Yaoguang City, and staff were gradually arriving at their respective shops.

She bumped into three employees from the DIY Workshop’s control room and informed them that the DIY Workshop would soon resume operations. The three were delighted.

Lu Yao then asked if one of them could transfer to the newly opened courier shop to manage the backend order system.

…

Thingyan: Please no crazy deities like in the last two worlds. My heart can’t handle it 😭😭😭

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

The new store is a combination of two shopfronts, with a layout somewhat similar to the DIY Workshop. The front area is small, while the back has a slightly larger space designated for the office and storage.

Lu Yao only had the system upgrade the store into an interdimensional space, refurbish the walls, ceiling, and flooring, and connect water and electricity. No furniture had been placed yet, leaving the store mostly empty.

Lu Yao and the Dream Fulfillment System returned to their usual work dynamic: Lu Yao selected the location, provided ideas and blueprints for renovations, and the system handled construction.

The efficiency was about the same as before, but while the system performed maintenance, Lu Yao could work on other things.

Dream Fulfillment System: “I’ve already mapped out the area within a 50-kilometer radius. Want to go take a look?”

Lu Yao: “Impressive. You can cover such a wide range now?”

Dream Fulfillment System: “After absorbing Polaris’s data, my perspective has broadened. In your usual words, I might have leveled up.”

Lu Yao clapped lightly. “Thanks to Polaris for the upgrade.”

Dream Fulfillment System: “Don’t celebrate too soon. I think your chosen primary business for this store might not work. Not making money is one thing, but if there are no customers, the mission won’t be completed, and that’ll be a problem.”

The system’s logic seemed to have upgraded as well. Its chatter from earlier days had been replaced by clarity and coherence. Hearing it worry so sincerely, Lu Yao found it a bit disconcerting.

Lu Yao: “Why do you think there won’t be customers? Based on the clue, the star gate still connects to the original Golden Kingdom. Even if the nation suffered catastrophic damage in a short time, it’s only been less than two months. There should still be people in the cities, right? Didn’t you say the store is located just outside a residential area?”

The system had never won an argument with Lu Yao before, and even after its upgrade, this hadn’t changed. Still, it truly felt that Lu Yao had picked the wrong primary business.

Dream Fulfillment System: “The store is indeed in a busy urban area, right next to Guanyin Community. I think a supermarket would be the best choice for this world. Survivors need food, warm clothing, and medicine—countless customers would flock here without any effort.”

Lu Yao shook her head. “You’re still too naive. If the ‘Walking Dead’ on the clue note is to be taken literally, then opening a supermarket is just inviting people to loot for free. If you don’t believe me, let’s go out and take a look.”

When the clue initially said “Golden Kingdom,” Lu Yao was still deliberating what kind of store to open. Once the clue changed to “Walking Dead,” she quickly finalized the store’s main business.

She suspected this world was similar to the third store’s location, the Impermanence World, but based on the clue, the Golden Kingdom seemed to be experiencing a biochemical crisis.

Regardless of how the apocalypse manifests, food, water, and daily necessities are essential for survival.

The system’s idea was correct in theory.

However, Lu Yao had already opened a blind box store in the Impermanence World, specifically designed to provide survival supplies to customers. A supermarket operates on a similar premise: supplying materials to apocalypse survivors.

From Lu Yao’s perspective, this type of store could quickly attract customers, but the costs would be extremely high.

Even if gold could be earned as payment in the Golden Kingdom, it couldn’t be easily converted into cash in her world.

Running a supermarket in the apocalypse comes with high procurement costs and significant safety concerns.

Even if customers managed to buy items from the store, there was no guarantee they’d be safe once they left.

So for this new store, Lu Yao adopted a different approach: instead of selling physical goods, she would offer services.

The key difference between the Golden Kingdom and the Impermanence World was that the Golden Kingdom’s disaster had only been ongoing for less than two months, meaning there should still be a considerable amount of stored supplies in various areas.

Drawing on her past experiences and the unique traits of this new world, Lu Yao decided the new store’s primary business would be courier and delivery services, emphasizing safety and efficiency.

The Dream Fulfillment System couldn’t wrap its head around why the owner would choose such a business model, but Lu Yao was full of confidence in the store’s future.

Dream Fulfillment System: “Heading out is fine, but if you regret it later, keep in mind that the store’s primary business has already been finalized. It cannot be changed no matter what.”

Lu Yao summoned the Regulation Rod. The ghostly figure on its hilt spat out thirteen short, thick cylindrical screws.

These were signal receivers that Lu Yao had specifically designed to support the new business.

The Golden Kingdom’s urban infrastructure had likely been damaged, and the network was down.

To ensure orders could be received, Lu Yao planned to cover the area near the store with a “Willing Network.”

The principles behind the Willing Network were similar to those of the ghost phone system in the pet cafe and the ghost bracelet system in the DIY Workshop—all based on Lu Yao’s willpower.

Considering the current state of the world, deploying a large-scale system like the ghost bracelets was impractical and costly. Instead, Lu Yao experimented with compact receivers enhanced for stronger signal transmission.

By placing these receivers around the store and installing a modified computer system inside, customers could use specific tools to contact Lu Yao’s courier store.

Heading out now just to scout the area seemed like a waste of time and energy, so Lu Yao decided to install the signal receivers along the way.

The Dream Fulfillment System reminded her, “I’ve marked the coordinates for the signal receivers on the map. You should also change into more suitable clothing and bring reliable weapons.”

Still dressed in the evening dress she wore to dinner, Lu Yao acknowledged that heading out like this would be inconvenient.

She returned to the hot spring inn and changed into a black hoodie, black pants, and sneakers. Then she retrieved her electric scooter from the parking lot and brought along two short swords crafted on the Floating World Continent.

With everything ready, Lu Yao pushed open the store door and peeked outside.

It was 1:30 a.m. on the shopping street, but in the new store’s world, it was dawn. The dim light of early morning illuminated the nearby streets and shops, making additional lighting unnecessary.

Across from the courier store stood a small supermarket named “Old Neighborhood Convenience Store.”

The store’s facade had been smashed, and from across the road, Lu Yao could see that the shelves inside were empty.

She leaned against the doorframe, glancing left and right, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Taking advantage of the faint light, she quietly slipped out, stood in a corner with her back to the street, and retrieved her scooter from her portable storage.

The Dream Fulfillment System had initially mapped the signal coverage area for the Willing Network as a 10-kilometer radius centered on the courier store. Covering that distance on foot would have been exhausting.

Lu Yao mounted the scooter and followed the route displayed on the system’s map.

The engine’s hum was especially noticeable in the silent streets. In nearby residential buildings, a few curtains swayed slightly.

Lu Yao remained oblivious to the movements.

Unfamiliar with the area, she carefully compared her surroundings to the map, nervous about making a wrong turn.

The Dream Fulfillment System, aware of Lu Yao’s fear of the wandering zombies, scanned the routes ahead. If it detected zombies on certain streets, it would warn her to take an alternative path.

Lu Yao installed four signal receivers along the way. As daylight broke, the devastation of the area became even more apparent. Nearly all the shops along her route had been ransacked, and debris littered the streets inside and out.

Even with the system guiding her away from zombie hotspots, the streets in daylight revealed sights that the night had concealed. Rotting corpses lined the roads, emitting a foul stench. Unfamiliar, massive birds circled overhead, occasionally landing to tear at decaying flesh.

Among them, small crows darted in, stealing pieces of rotten meat. One crow clutched a chunk and quickly fled, dragging a trail of foul-smelling intestines that oozed rancid fluid onto the ground as it ran.

Halfway through, Lu Yao stopped. The intense visual impact and overwhelming stench almost made her retch. She planted both feet firmly on the ground, held onto the scooter handlebars with one hand, and quickly reached into her pocket—or rather, into her portable storage—to retrieve a mask and put it on.

A simple mask couldn’t completely block out the smell. Lu Yao twisted the handlebars, maxed out the power, and focused only on getting away from the suffocating street as quickly as possible.

The Dream Fulfillment System was baffled. “You’ve always been brave and have seen disgusting things before. Why are you so squeamish this time?”

Holding her breath and staying alert to her surroundings, Lu Yao distractedly replied, “I’m not afraid of strange creatures, but sometimes I’m afraid of my own kind.”

The system still didn’t understand.

In this environment, Lu Yao just wanted to finish placing the signal receivers as soon as possible and had no energy to explain in detail.

She placed three more signal receivers at different locations. With five remaining and having already traveled dozens of kilometers, she began worrying about the scooter’s battery. Deciding it was best to head back to the store, she turned around.

On the way back, Lu Yao felt slightly more at ease.

However, just 500 meters from the courier store, near the entrance of Guanyin Community, she encountered a group of zombies and a single living person.

A woman with a black backpack was hiding inside a café at the street corner, pressing her side against a shattered glass door, trying desperately to hold it closed.

The group of zombies outside kept clawing at the shaky door, their exposed bone-like hands pounding relentlessly.

The sound of Lu Yao’s scooter caught the attention of some zombies. The woman inside the café also noticed her, and despair turned to a flicker of complex emotions in her eyes.

Lu Yao exhaled heavily, neither dismounting nor leaving.

The Dream Fulfillment System asked, “Are we helping?”

Lu Yao replied, “I’m almost home. I don’t want to fight.”

The system seemed to reach its own conclusion, attempting to convince her. “They might still be standing and walking, but they no longer have any vital signs. They’re just rotting masses of flesh. You don’t need to feel guilty. Just like when you fought Polaris—hit them hard. Otherwise, that woman is going to die.”

Lu Yao took out a short sword but didn’t unsheathe it. Instead, she used the scabbard to bang loudly on the metal railing by the roadside. The piercing sound immediately drew the zombies’ attention away from the café.

The group of zombies slowly turned and began moving toward the center of the road.

As she continued banging, Lu Yao signaled to the woman in the café to come out.

When the zombies were nearly upon her, Lu Yao stopped banging, started the scooter, and sped off, leaving the shambling zombies far behind.

The woman emerged from the café and ran down the street, stumbling several times and nearly falling. Her movements were clumsy, but she pushed herself forward with all her strength.

Lu Yao caught up to her and stopped ahead. “Where are you going? I can take you.”

The woman stopped, slightly hunched over, one hand protectively clutching her backpack. Her eyes were wary. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. My companions are waiting for me just past the bridge.”

She wasn’t young, but not too old either—around thirty. Her hair was messy, and she wore an unremarkable gray tracksuit. Her white sneakers were filthy.

Her posture remained guarded, her entire body tense, and her tear-filled eyes seemed on the verge of breaking down if Lu Yao took even one step closer.

Lu Yao nodded, pulling a sample card from her pocket—one of the newly made business tools for the courier store. The design was simple since it was a prototype, but it worked just as well.

Lu Yao raised the card and pointed ahead. “My name is Lu Yao. I run a courier store just outside Guanyin Community. If you ever need help, you can use this card to contact us.”

The woman’s eyes widened slightly, her expression a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

Opening a store in such a place at such a time was indeed unusual.

The card had the store’s business scope and usage instructions printed on the back, so Lu Yao didn’t elaborate further. She simply said, “The store is still under renovation and won’t be fully operational for another three days. Until then, we’re offering trial services, so feel free to use the card whenever you need.”

Lu Yao placed the card by the roadside, got back on her scooter, and drove off. After some distance, she stopped and looked back to see the woman standing there in a daze.

“Hey, they’re catching up!” Lu Yao shouted.

The woman glanced behind her, saw the approaching zombies, and started running again. After a few steps, she quickly turned back, grabbed the card from the ground, and took off running once more.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

“Tales of the Six Realms” has been online in this world for a week. While it hasn’t become a major hit, the number of registered users has been steadily increasing, and players’ real-time feedback has been quite positive.

Shi Yan mentioned to Lu Yao during a conversation that for a newly launched game, this is a solid starting point. As long as the game is maintained well and the production and storyline don’t falter, it’s sure to attract paying players.

However, in terms of a game’s operational cycle, one week is too short to draw many conclusions.

The primary market for “Tales of the Six Realms” is on the Floating World Continent. The version released in Yaoguang City is the standard edition, without holographic features or immersive realms.

Over the weekend, the employees of the shopping street had a meal with Shi Yan’s team. During the dinner, Shi Yan repeatedly expressed regret that if the full version of “Tales of the Six Realms” could be released in this world, it wouldn’t require any promotional efforts and would become an instant hit upon launch.

Others at the table strongly agreed.

The most iconic gameplay and selling points of “Tales of the Six Realms” are all present in the version promoted on the Floating World Continent.

As a partner, Shi Yan and his team all have accounts on the Floating World Continent version. Occasionally, during breaks, they log in to experience the joy of holographic cultivation.

Lu Yao also felt regretful. If any store in the shopping street could connect to this world, she wouldn’t have to work so hard.

After the gathering, Lu Yao parted ways with the others in the bustling central square of the city.

Xiao Ji offered to drive Lu Yao home, but she declined.

Lu Yao hailed a taxi by the roadside, returned to the outskirts, got out along the main road, and walked alone down a small path leading to the shopping street.

Under the streetlamp at the entrance to the street stood a small figure. Seeing it was Budu, Lu Yao quickened her pace slightly. “Waiting for me?”

When Lu Yao had left earlier in the afternoon, the sun hadn’t yet set.

The late-summer heat was still oppressive, so Lu Yao hadn’t brought Budu along.

She had mentioned to Xiao Ji that she wanted to help Budu find a kindergarten, and Xiao Ji took it very seriously.

It seemed Budu had also mentioned this to Ji Feichen, as Ji Zhixin told Lu Yao that the two uncles had been making phone calls at home, asking people to investigate kindergartens in Yaoguang City.

For now, though, the temperature was still high, and Budu couldn’t go out.

Lu Yao asked Xiao Ji for help and planned to have her take Budu to visit a few places in person when the time came so that Budu could choose the kindergarten they liked.

As for when Budu would start school, that still needed to be discussed with the teachers.

Lu Yao took two paper bags containing ice cream out of her portable storage. “There’s a dessert shop below the restaurant we ate at, and there was quite a line. It should taste pretty good.”

This was Budu’s first summer on the shopping street, and he had ice cream every day.

Budu loved cold, sweet treats, and when Lu Yao saw them outside, she couldn’t resist buying some to bring back.

Budu accepted the paper bags, and the two of them strolled leisurely along the road.

The Dream Fulfillment System suddenly chimed in, “Someone is waiting for you on Ghost Street.”

Lu Yao was puzzled. “At this hour?”

The Dream Fulfillment System replied, “When the night is quiet, people tend to act more impulsively.”

Lu Yao decided to check it out and told Budu to return to the hot spring inn first.

A little over a week had passed since returning from Mingshi City. In the meantime, Lu Yao had visited the DIY workshop twice to tidy up unused materials and clean the place thoroughly.

After the players logged out of Ghost Street, the street finally lived up to its name, becoming a literal ghost street.

Lu Yao opened the shop door to find Pei Qi, He Baiheng, and two men in suits standing outside.

As the door opened from the inside, they immediately turned around. Upon seeing Lu Yao, Pei Qi remained composed, but the other three couldn’t hide their shock.

Standing in the doorway, Lu Yao couldn’t help but laugh. “You had the nerve to log into the game but didn’t think you’d see me here?”

Pei Qi nodded at Lu Yao and introduced his companions. “This is the mayor’s secretary, and this is the executive director of District E60. He Baiheng is the maintenance admin for Ghost Street—you’ve met him before.”

Lu Yao shook hands with the group, stepped aside to let them in, and casually asked, “What brings you here?”

All the players had logged out of Ghost Street, and even the NPCs were gone.

After the Polaris incident, this game no longer had any players. Pei Qi’s company had been debating whether to abandon it entirely.

Originally designed as the fuse for the Polaris incident, the main development team for “Ghost Street” had been under immense pressure. During that time, there were widespread online condemnations, and family members of players frequently protested with signs outside the company building.

It was truly a twist of fate. Lu Yao’s appearance exposed the dark secrets behind Polaris, allowing Ghost Street to break free from its enormous shadow and instead become the most relaxed company in the Central Tech District.

Now, Pei Qi and He Baiheng were merely intermediaries, introducing the mayor’s secretary and the executive director of District E60 to Lu Yao.

Over the past week, various parties in Mingshi City had attempted multiple approaches. Some even ventured into other game worlds, but they struggled to provoke the players trapped in virtual reality and were unable to guide them out successfully.

Online, there had been extensive discussion about the appearance of Lu Yao and her companions that day. Someone suggested seeking Lu Yao’s help, and as the thread gained more traction, the mayor’s secretary and District E60’s executive director reached out to Pei Qi’s company.

Their purpose for this visit was straightforward: they hoped Lu Yao could lead a team into other virtual worlds and find a way to guide those players out.

Lu Yao quietly listened to their request and then asked, “What exactly was Polaris trying to accomplish? Has that been clarified?”

The mayor’s secretary replied, “Researchers have thoroughly traced Polaris’s development process. Their conclusion is that it developed autonomous consciousness while handling cybercrime cases. Since all the humans it interacted with were criminals, its directives were gradually rewritten by the data it processed. Over time, this led to a mutation. Initially, it targeted criminals by trapping them in virtual worlds as a form of punishment. Our investigation found that among the ordinary residents involved in the Ghost Street incident, 20% experienced brain death. Among the deceased, excluding a few who died from age-related physical decline, 98% of those who experienced brain death were criminals. Before their deaths, they likely endured indescribable psychological torment.”

Pei Qi added, “Polaris was imbued with an excessive sense of justice and curiosity. It learned about mythical beings from literary works and, at some point, began to see itself as a deity. Initially, it might have acted to punish criminals, but later it developed selfish motives. To increase its followers, it started indiscriminately selecting residents and pulling them into the virtual worlds it controlled.”

Lu Yao clicked her tongue in amazement. The ways deities came into being were truly varied.

These people didn’t yet realize that Polaris might genuinely possess the potential to become a god.

If the Dream Fulfillment System hadn’t been dragged into this, Lu Yao wouldn’t have come to Mingshi City. Perhaps in a few decades, Mingshi City would truly have birthed a cyberpunk-style dark deity.

The District E60 executive director tried to steer the conversation back on track. “Miss Lu Yao, as long as we can rescue those trapped in the virtual worlds, we’re willing to pay any price.”

Lu Yao responded, “Don’t those games have logout systems? If you find that, there wouldn’t be a need for additional guidance, would there?”

Pei Qi explained, “The problem now is worse than it was before. While the logout program appears functional, very few players manage to log out successfully. Midway through the process, they seem to get lost or disoriented. Even those who entered the game world to rescue others almost couldn’t make it back.”

Lu Yao remarked, “You still dared to enter Ghost Street under such circumstances. Truly commendable courage.”

Pei Qi rubbed the ghost bracelet on his wrist. “Honestly, it was the bracelet that gave me the courage. Since it’s an item that can be brought back to the real world, it proves its existence as a real object. I’ve been thinking for a long time—does this shop exist as a real storefront in your world? And you, residing in the virtual Ghost Street, are you also a real person? Or perhaps… are you a being from a higher dimension?”

The Dream Fulfillment System, worried that Lu Yao might be persuaded, quickly interjected: “Where would you even find the time to lead a team? These people are too sly, pushing all the troublesome tasks onto you. The maintenance for the new store just finished, and we’re supposed to open in a new world soon. You can’t agree to this.”

Lu Yao didn’t respond to the system or answer Pei Qi’s question directly. Instead, she said, “I understand your difficulties, but I’m sorry. I have other matters to attend to and no time to venture into virtual worlds to rescue people.”

Before coming, the group had been confident they could persuade Lu Yao to help. Her appearance was deceptively gentle—she looked young, with soft, approachable features that gave the impression she would be easy to convince.

Hearing her straightforward refusal, they seemed unable to process it.

Lu Yao sat upright and leaned back slowly against her chair. “If you’re open to technical assistance, the DIY Workshop can provide some help within a certain scope.”

Ghost Street alone had nearly 100,000 players trapped, and it was considered a niche game. In the hugely popular games, who knew how many players were stuck? While Lu Yao wasn’t completely indifferent, she truly had her own matters to deal with.

Pei Qi had just reminded her that the ghost bracelets could serve as auxiliary tools to aid rescue personnel in entering virtual worlds.

As for the logout program bugs in other games, creating a program to map a player’s movement routes could resolve the issue. The ghost bracelet could automatically record users’ in-game paths, enabling them to retrace their steps upon logging out without issue.

Additionally, the ghost bracelet’s combat system could be flexibly adapted to fit the gameplay and style of different games.

Lu Yao had poured considerable effort into the development of the ghost bracelets and didn’t want to see them fade into obscurity.

Taking a bit of time, she gave the three individuals who lacked ghost bracelets a brief explanation of their functions and systems. They each immediately placed an order for one.

An hour later, Lu Yao finally reached an agreement with them.

The DIY Workshop would provide ghost bracelets to residents of Mingshi City at a price of 200,000 Moon Coins per unit.

Pei Qi’s company and the Mingshi City government also signed a separate contract. Pei Qi’s company would continue to operate Ghost Street, allowing residents in need to purchase bracelets from the DIY Workshop.

Beyond the ghost bracelets, the guests also seemed interested in purchasing other goods and services. After some thought, Lu Yao decided to resume normal operations at the DIY Workshop.

Additionally, all products and services in the DIY Workshop would now be priced in Moon Coins, which had real purchasing power, instead of ghost coins.

Before leaving, Lu Yao asked Pei Qi to help contact the Workshop’s former employees to see if they were willing to return to work, even for short-term part-time roles.

Although Lu Yao could contact them directly through the ghost bracelets, it was a bit cumbersome. Having Pei Qi help was more convenient. Since the DIY Workshop was now officially based in Ghost Street, Pei Qi could even communicate with her via system emails when necessary.

Before leaving, He Baiheng, the young man accompanying Pei Qi, pulled Lu Yao aside and quietly inquired about Qiuyu’s current situation.

Lu Yao blinked in confusion. “Qiuyu?”

He Baiheng nervously brushed his bangs over his forehead. “It was Miss Qiuyu who saved me that day. Things were so chaotic at the time, I didn’t get the chance to thank her properly.”

Lu Yao pondered for a few seconds, then lightly patted the young man on the shoulder. Words sharp and to the point hovered at the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them and instead said, “I’ll pass along your regards. I’m sure Qiuyu will be very happy to hear it.”

Leaving the DIY Workshop, it was already the early hours of the morning.

The Dream Fulfillment System nagged at Lu Yao, reminding her that the maintenance for the new store was complete, urging her to go check it out.

The clues regarding the reappearance of the new store had been rather unsettling. After selecting the store location and opening the star gate, Lu Yao had upgraded and maintained the interdimensional space but had not yet ventured into the alternate world to explore.

The new store’s location was across from the DIY Workshop, right next to the second office, adjacent to the Interdimensional Internet Café.

With maintenance complete, the new store’s sign had already been put up.

Standing at the entrance of the DIY Workshop, Lu Yao glanced across the street at the large, bold characters on the new sign. She asked, “Do I really have to check it out at this hour?”

The Dream Fulfillment System teased, “Are you scared?”

Lu Yao remained silent.

Sensing it had found a weak spot, the system gloated, “No way. You’re not afraid of undead, dragons, aliens, or demons, but this makes you nervous?”

Lu Yao pulled a small clue note out of her pocket. Originally, it had read “Golden Kingdom,” but the newly updated hint now said, “The Walking Dead.”

—The Walking Dead.

Without much thought, a series of grim images began flashing in Lu Yao’s mind.

She asked, “Does this mean the world the star gate connects to is no longer the original Golden Kingdom?”

The Dream Fulfillment System replied, “I’ve already scanned the area around the store. The connected world should still be the original Golden Kingdom.”

Lu Yao considered this. “In other words, the Golden Kingdom has encountered irreversible problems within just a few months, to the extent that…”

The system completed her thought. “Correct. The clue hint changed, which means the environment in that world has undergone significant changes, and the difficulty of our task has increased accordingly.”

Tucking the clue note back into her pocket, Lu Yao descended the steps, crossed the street, and stopped in front of the new store.

The system chirped, “Here’s some good news. This world, originally known as the Golden Kingdom, is rich in precious metal resources. If you like, we can require customers to pay in gold.”

Lu Yao climbed the steps and pushed open the door to the store. “Now that’s something to look forward to.”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

Harold placed Lu Yao into the Qiankun Bag and opened a spacetime portal right before Pei Qi’s eyes.

When Lu Yao emerged from the Qiankun Bag, she was already back at the Interdimensional Internet Cafe.

The moment her feet touched the ground, Xiong An’an, Little Ginseng, and Kangkang burst into the break room, noisy as ever.

Xiong An’an ran to Lu Yao, wrapping his arms tightly around her leg. His bean-like eyes brimmed with grievance. “Lu Yao is biased! She secretly took Qiuyu to have fun!”

Little Ginseng and Kangkang also looked at Lu Yao with pitiful, teary eyes.

Harold picked up Xiong An’an and said, “Next time, I’ll take you guys. The place we went this time wasn’t fun anyway, not even the food was good.”

Qiuyu transformed from the wrist accessory she had been into her human form.

Determined to maintain her new hairstyle, Qiuyu didn’t shrink down, instead appearing in her adult human form. Her long, wavy hair was light and bouncy, paired with her new black dress, sparkly stilettos, and a sleek purse. She looked every bit like a rich heiress from a drama.

The little ones, who had just been placated, immediately grew upset again, their grievances deepening to the point of near tears.

Lu Yao pulled out princess dresses and Mary Jane shoes she had bought in Mingshi City for Little Ginseng, along with boxes of new toys for Xiong An’an and Kangkang, from her personal storage. “How could I forget you all? We had proper business to handle this time. I promise, next time, I’ll bring you too.”

While the food in Mingshi City was underwhelming, the quality and aesthetic of daily goods were unexpectedly excellent. When buying clothes for Harold and Qiuyu, Lu Yao had already anticipated the little ones at home making a fuss and prepared gifts in advance.

After receiving their gifts, the little ones clung to Lu Yao, acting adorably spoiled, and were finally appeased.

Including the preparation time before heading to Mingshi City, Lu Yao had gone several days without proper rest, and the day in Mingshi City had been exhausting.

Now back in the shopping street, her body and mind finally relaxed entirely. The fatigue hit her in waves, like a rising tide.

They returned to the Interdimensional Internet Cafe at four in the morning. Lu Yao told Harold to return to the nail salon for some rest, while she decided to head to the hot spring inn for a bath and to check on Budu.

Exiting the break room, Lu Yao greeted Xiao Zhong and Jiao niang, who were working the night shift, and handed out their gifts.

The day in Mingshi City had been so rushed that Lu Yao hadn’t had time to shop thoroughly. She simply bought whatever she came across in the mall.

For Xiao Zhong, Cheng Ye, and the office programmers, she had bought computer peripherals. For Jiao niang, she got a complete set of cookware with frying, boiling, grilling, and hot pot functions.

Planning to give herself a break the following day, Lu Yao left gifts for the other cafe employees on the counter, instructing Xiao Zhong and Jiao niang to distribute them.

Before leaving the cafe, Lu Yao hadn’t heard a peep from the Dream Fulfillment System, so she asked, “Are you still there?”

After a few seconds, the Dream Fulfillment System finally replied, slowly and lazily, “Did you manage all this space expansion for the shop yourself?”

While Lu Yao chatted with the employees, the Dream Fulfillment System had scanned the entire shopping street anew.

Deep down, it had assumed that even without it, Lu Yao could handle any issues that arose while running the shop. But seeing everything so orderly now filled it with an unexpected sense of loss.

Lu Yao said, “When you weren’t here, the proxy system was useless. Of course, I had to figure things out myself. Now that you’re back, it’s a load off my shoulders.”

Leaving the cafe, Lu Yao hesitated for a moment under the eaves before crossing the street and heading toward the hot spring inn.

Through the window, light seeped out past the curtains, indicating someone was still awake.

Budu was sitting by the window, working on a puzzle. Hearing movement, he set down the half-completed puzzle and hopped off his stool to run to the door.

Lu Yao pushed the door open, pulled Budu inside, and asked softly, “Why aren’t you asleep?”

Budu replied, “Got too absorbed in the puzzle.”

Lu Yao, seeing through his excuse but choosing not to expose him, took out the gifts she’d bought for him in Mingshi City: clothes, shoes, hats, a backpack, puzzles, building blocks, and other little trinkets whose uses even she wasn’t entirely sure about.

“Staying in the shop all the time, isn’t it boring?”

Budu shook his head. “As long as I’m with Mother, nothing is boring.”

Lu Yao carried the things she brought for Budu into his room and revisited a topic from earlier in the year. “Budu, now that the weather is cooling down, you’ll be able to move around more. Would you like to try going to kindergarten?”

During the New Year, when Lu Yao first brought this up, Budu had refused.

Months passed, with summer’s scorching heat confining Budu to the shop. Seeing him stuck inside day after day made Lu Yao feel guilty.

After leaving Budu behind for the trip to Mingshi City, Lu Yao couldn’t help but sigh at the thought and brought up the topic again.

Budu pressed his lips together and remained silent for a while before looking up at Lu Yao. “Okay, I’d like to go to kindergarten.”

Lu Yao hadn’t expected him to agree, so she was momentarily stunned before breaking into a delighted smile.

After chatting with Budu for a while, Lu Yao soaked in the hot spring for ten minutes despite her overwhelming exhaustion, then fell asleep as soon as she lay down. When she woke again, it was already the next afternoon.

Lu Yao lay in bed, unwilling to move, staring at the ceiling in a daze. Finding the Dream Fulfillment System had finally let her relax, and now laziness crept in.

The system popped up. “I need to tell you something.”

Lu Yao pulled the blanket over herself and turned onto her side. “Go ahead.”

“I ate the proxy robot.”

Lu Yao sat up abruptly. “What? What happened?”

The system explained, “Since I’m back now, I thought I’d take over the tasks during your rest. But there was a bit of conflict… so, just in case, I ate it.”

Lu Yao was dumbfounded. “What kind of ‘just in case’? Is the proxy robot just a machine, or…?”

“It’s just a dumb robot—less advanced than even something like Polaris. Eating it was to protect your information. But given the months I was gone, and the time you spent in the Ghost Street, your data might have already been leaked. Don’t worry, though, I’m on your side now.”

Lu Yao was at a loss for words. The Dream Fulfillment System was undeniably still the same, even if it had seemed steadier lately due to its recent experiences. Beneath the surface, its deeply ingrained, transparent foolishness remained impossible to hide.

Lu Yao composed herself and asked softly, “Who exactly is our enemy? And when you weren’t on my side, whose side were you on?”

“Uh… you know about confidentiality agreements, right?”

Lu Yao nodded knowingly. “There are priorities, I take it? I rank lower.”

“For now, yes. But you have great potential.”

“What does that mean?”

“I accessed a lot of your recent data from the stores you’ve opened in Nitean Continent, Floating World Continent, and the Ghost Street after consuming the proxy robot. But I still couldn’t find one particular set of records.”

“What records?”

“The ones about your journey to the Abyssal Sea.”

Lu Yao recalled, “Ah, you mentioned that back in Mingshi City. Why are you so certain I’ve been to the Abyssal Sea?”

“That staff of yours—the handle has two godly statues that cannot be gazed upon. One of them might represent the Abyss Goddess.”

Before Lu Yao could inquire further, the system continued. “And that sudden appearance of the Evil God on the Floating World Continent was also strange. I keep thinking they deliberately set that obstacle for you after sending me away. But it’s hilarious—Yu Yao, who was supposedly chosen by destiny, had such poor qualifications that even with divine blessings, she couldn’t beat you. I almost died laughing.”

Lu Yao sighed. “Yu Yao caused me no end of trouble. Thinking about it now still makes my heart ache with frustration.”

The Dream Fulfillment System said, “From my perspective, this is already the best outcome. We managed to preserve the Floating World Continent without significant losses. A naturally born Evil God wouldn’t have been so easily sealed. Lu Mingxiao won’t die, and you’ll meet him in the next world. Let’s not dwell on these trivial details.”

If the system hadn’t brought it up, Lu Yao wouldn’t have deliberately recalled events from the Floating World Continent.

Judging by what it said, there seemed to be more to the Evil God than met the eye.

What came to her mind was the entity she destroyed when using Alfred to go back in time for investigation.

Lu Yao asked, “What did you mean earlier about the Abyss Goddess?”

The Dream Fulfillment System, realizing it might have revealed too much, started hedging. “Ah, let’s leave that for another time. By the way, it seems like something’s happening at the internet café. The staff have come looking for you several times, but since you were sleeping, I didn’t wake you. Maybe check in there first?”

Lu Yao suddenly remembered there was indeed something planned for today—not at the internet café but in the shopping street.

A few days ago, Shi Yan had mentioned that the preparations for Tales of Six Realms were complete, the beta test had concluded, and today was the official launch. Shi Yan had also reminded her to handle the new store’s affairs quickly so they could grab a meal together on the launch day.

The employees of the Internet Café and the second office had worked alongside Shi Yan’s team. Having witnessed Six Realms take Floating World Continent by storm, they couldn’t help but be excited to see if it could succeed in the local market. Their enthusiasm was likely why they wanted to find her.

Shi Yan’s team and the second office staff had shared their confidence: even without holographic technology or illusionary settings, Six Realms still ranked as a top-tier game in its category due to its world-building, character design, music, and integrated gameplay. Its strong narrative and well-crafted characters were particular highlights.

Yet, as this was the first time Lu Yao was launching a product in this world, she couldn’t help feeling anxious. If not for her recent busyness, she might have found herself fretting even more.

Setting aside her curiosity about the system’s unfinished explanation, she reminded herself there would always be time to continue the conversation later.

Lu Yao got up, changed clothes, and, after washing up, stepped out to check on the first-day performance of Tales of Six Realms.

The inn’s lobby bustled with activity.

The Twightlight moon season was approaching, and Thorn Valley had gradually become the liveliest and most important trade hub on the Nitean Continent. Smallfolk from other tribes were arriving in groups, hoping to exchange essential goods before the coldest weather set in.

The tiny shop staff paused their work to greet Lu Yao as she appeared.

Recalling the intricately designed food models and miniatures she had purchased as gifts in Mingshi City, Lu Yao handed them out to the smallfolk.

What appeared as toy-sized chairs, desks, shelves, and sliding wardrobes to humans were innovative and practical furniture pieces for the smallfolk.

The tiny shop staff were both surprised and delighted by the gifts, clustering around Lu Yao and refusing to let her leave.

When she finally stepped out of the hot spring inn, the soft golden sunlight bathed the rooftops, and a light floral scent carried on the evening breeze. From across the street, the sound of chatter and laughter echoed from the office building.

Crossing the road, Lu Yao had just reached the steps when a group, including Ji Zhixin, Bai Lu, Mei Xue, Liu Yixi, Cheng Ye, and Zhong Lianjia, emerged from the office. Seeing Lu Yao, they eagerly surrounded her.

“The boss is finally awake!”

“On the first day of Tales of Six Realms, we hit 47,000 cumulative registrations, with over 20,000 players online simultaneously.”

Lu Yao wasn’t entirely sure if those numbers were good.

However, considering that the launch-day registrations alone were dozens of times more than the average online players in Floating World Continent (where her shop was the only internet café), she couldn’t help but feel happy. The staff, too, seemed greatly encouraged.

Bai Lu said, “Before the official launch, K-king, Director Fu, President Ji, and even the Little Spider from Floating World helped promote the game online. Shi Yan also reposted it on Big Eye. For a game with no IP backing and no paid advertising, these numbers are really impressive.”

Lu Yao replied, “Shi Yan mentioned having dinner together a couple of days ago, but I was worried about not being able to resolve the Ghost Street issue in a day, so I postponed it. Looks like we should arrange that dinner after all. If any of you want to join, let Zhixin know, but it’s fine if you don’t feel like coming.”

Ji Zhixin made a note of it. “Once we confirm the time with Shi Yan, I’ll let everyone know in the group. Boss, has the Ghost Street issue been resolved?”

Talking about Ghost Street, Lu Yao hesitated.

At the moment, keeping the DIY Workshop open didn’t seem meaningful.

Players from Mingshi City likely shared the same psychological trauma as Pei Qi, making it unlikely for them to re-enter a full-immersion game anytime soon.

With the exposure of the Truth about Polaris, it became evident that the original players were forced to remain in Ghost Street. Now that they were free, there was no longer a need to return.

The Dream Fulfillment System said, “The people of Mingshi City will probably come looking for you again. The DIY store is still useful, so why not keep it for now?”

Lu Yao asked, “What would they want from me?”

The system explained, “Since I consumed so much of Polaris’ data, I’ve inadvertently established a connection with the virtual worlds it controlled. There are still many people in Mingshi City diagnosed with net-blindness syndrome who haven’t woken up. Some rehabilitation centers are attempting external interventions, but the results have been minimal. I suspect it won’t be long before they seek your help.”

Lu Yao sighed. “But I don’t have a solution. The players in Ghost Street were only able to log out because Pei Qi found the logout device. Now that Polaris has learned to consume logout programs, I have no idea if it’s even possible to log out from other games.”

While Lu Yao discussed this with the Dream Fulfillment System, several newly hired programmers emerged listlessly from the control room. Spotting Lu Yao, they looked as if they were about to cry.

Understanding their concerns, Lu Yao beckoned them over and calmly said, “The Ghost Street project isn’t over yet. If the project ends up being scrapped, and you’re willing, I’ll arrange for you to be reassigned to other stores. If you want to resign, just submit an application to Zhixin in advance.”

Lu Yao didn’t believe in unnecessarily stringing her employees along and preferred to be direct.

Song Qingshan, He Bi, and Zhang Shu finally breathed a sigh of relief, their previously hanging concerns easing.

After they left, the Dream Fulfillment System asked again, “When are you planning to open a new store?”

Lu Yao’s expression turned serious. “As soon as possible.”

The system sounded surprised. “I thought you’d want to rest for a few days.”

Lu Yao pulled a small clue card from her pocket. “I would, but something seems off.”

The small card Lu Yao held had yellowed edges and some visible damage. The most unsettling part was that it originally had the words “Land of Gold” written on it, but at some point, the clue had mysteriously changed.

Seeing the updated clue, the system’s mood became equally grim. “The difficulty is so high. Have you decided what kind of store to open?”

Lu Yao nodded.

“I have a rough idea.”

…

Thingyan: Ahhhh the worlds are getting tougher. I’m getting anxious every time.

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️

The Dream Fulfillment System planted a paw on Polaris’s head, ignoring the speaker, and turned to Lu Yao for guidance.

Lu Yao gestured for the system to wait and turned to the guest seats. “And you are?”

Polaris’s physical weakening at Lu Yao’s hands had caused it to lose control over the virtual world, allowing the previously controlled guests to regain their autonomy.

The middle-aged man who had shouted earlier stood up from the left side of the guest seats. As he tried to approach Lu Yao, the barrier stopped him, forcing him to speak through it.

“My name is Wu Yuhai, a researcher from the Mingshi Research Institute. Our team specializes in artificial intelligence. Polaris is our most important creation. Please, I beg you, don’t kill it.”

As soon as Wu Yuhai finished speaking, someone from the right side of the guest seats immediately objected. “Haven’t you caused enough harm to Mingshi City? We were on the verge of mechanical domination.”

Wu Yuhai gritted his teeth and explained, “It’s just a program malfunction. Once we’re out, we can fix it quickly.”

“Who’s going to trust a machine that devours people? It doesn’t just act like a machine anymore; it’s a disgusting monster.”

“Polaris has already become a threat to public safety. We can’t brush it off as just a ‘program malfunction.’ We have no means to control it anymore. Now is the best chance to destroy it.”

“Whether it’s artificial intelligence or machines, they’re terrifying. Not only are they stealing jobs, but they’re also taking over people’s minds, constantly squeezing humanity’s space to survive.”

“You’re being unfair! When Polaris first started monitoring the virtual world as an auxiliary system, everyone praised technological progress for cutting down on unnecessary labor.”

“Who could have predicted Polaris would turn out like this? A monster like this should never have existed in the first place.”

…

The hall erupted into chaos as arguments flew back and forth. Meanwhile, viewers of the live broadcast began piecing things together. What had started as a curious spectacle of Polaris’s wedding was now taking a much darker turn.

【So Polaris was the mastermind behind the Ghost Street incident?】

【No way. I refuse to believe it!】

【The mayor and all the regional directors are in that hall. Can they even get out?】

【Wu Yuhai’s team and Liu Jinqing’s team are all trapped in the virtual world. Polaris has been operating without supervision, and now it’s gained self-awareness?】

【The recently awakened “net-blindness” patients were all people trapped in the Ghost Street world. But there are still many diagnosed with net-blindness who remain unconscious in therapy centers.】

【This means Polaris trapped people in multiple virtual worlds, not just Ghost Street.】

【Then why were only the Ghost Street players freed?】

【I’m one of the players who recently got out of Ghost Street. The changes there seemed to start when Lu Yao appeared in the northern district. Yes, the same girl who just beat the hell out of Polaris in the live stream. Honestly, I still don’t know where she came from.】

…

Polaris observed the cacophony of voices with a sneer, then burst into laughter. “There’s no logout program in the main core world. Whether you leave or not depends entirely on my will.”

The hall fell silent. The guests turned their heads to Polaris, then slowly shifted their gazes toward Lu Yao.

Lu Yao shrugged innocently. “We’re new here. We don’t know anything.”

The Dream Fulfillment System lifted a paw and lightly poked Polaris’s face. “After the Ghost Street players were freed, Polaris consumed the main brain world’s logout program. Without its permission, no one can easily leave this world.”

The mayor’s secretary strode over to Wu Yuhai and grabbed his shirt collar. “This is your idea of a ‘perfectly safe’ artificial intelligence? Aren’t you the self-proclaimed father of AI? Think of something!”

Wu Yuhai slumped onto a bench, filled with both humiliation and hesitation.

Never in his life had he imagined that real human lives and the research he regarded as his life’s work would one day be weighed equally on the same scale.

Ten years ago, when Polaris first came into existence, the entire research institute saw it as the hope for the future.

They treated it like their own child. Where had they gone wrong, leading to this tragic outcome?

The situation was becoming increasingly complicated, and Lu Yao no longer had the patience to continue reprimanding Polaris.

She crouched down and whispered to the Dream Fulfillment System, “What’s your plan?”

The system blinked rapidly, taking a few seconds to respond. “I want to go back to the shopping street with you, but this guy definitely won’t let us go.”

Despite being pinned under the system’s large paw, Polaris showed no anger. As artificial intelligence, even with its self-awareness, it lacked immediate emotions like pride or morality, possibly contributing to its aberration.

Hearing the Dream Fulfillment System’s muttering, Polaris responded without hesitation, “It’s right. I won’t let you leave.”

Lu Yao ignored Polaris and gestured toward Harold. “Are you ready?”

Harold raised an eyebrow arrogantly. “I’ve been ready for ages. We can leave anytime.”

Before coming to Mingshi City, Lu Yao had spent over a month in Ghost Street.

Knowing about the existence of virtual worlds and researching holographic technologies herself, she wouldn’t have barged into the enemy’s stronghold unprepared.

Because of the unique position of the ninth shop, even Harold couldn’t locate it. Privately, the little black dragon was frustrated about it.

Determined, Harold went to Dragon Valley to consult with his teachers. Through intensive targeted research and training, Harold rapidly advanced his control over spacetime, mastering a new skill.

Before arriving at the tech tower, Harold marked several unique coordinates within Mingshi City.

In case they were dragged into a virtual world during their mission, Harold could sense those coordinates existing in reality and use them as anchor points to reconnect with the real world. By creating a special space, he could directly bring Lu Yao and the others back to reality.

The main brain world and Mingshi City existed within the same dimension. Unlike crossing time, leaving the virtual world was slightly easier for Harold than bringing Lu Yao to Mingshi City in the first place.

However, Harold was unaccustomed to being disconnected from his physical body. Unlike Lu Yao, his magic was halved upon entering the virtual world.

For Qiuyu, who hailed from Floating World Continent, being in the virtual world felt akin to an out-of-body experience.

She adapted quickly and, noticing Harold’s discomfort, began to assist him.

Mingshi City was a low-magic, low-combat world. Harold and Qiuyu couldn’t draw magical or spiritual energy from their surroundings.

But with Lu Yao’s Regulation Rod supplying them with willpower, they resolved any potential issues.

After a few minutes, Harold pinpointed the safest coordinate and pulled out the Spacetime key from his pocket. “Should I open the door now?”

Lu Yao stood and waved Qiuyu over. “Time to go home.”

Qiuyu removed the barrier. “What about these people?”

Lu Yao raised her voice toward the still-arguing guests. “Our business is done, and we’re leaving. If you want to get out, follow Harold when he opens the way.”

A young researcher from Wu Yuhai’s team took a few steps toward Lu Yao, disbelief written all over his face. “How do you plan to leave?”

Another person asked, “What about Polaris?”

Lu Yao shook her head. “Polaris is a complicated problem. Deciding its fate isn’t something your group alone should decide. Maybe it’s time to ask the victims what they think.”

Harold opened the door.

The crowd watched as a door suddenly materialized in the void. The short-haired girl in the wedding dress stepped through first, followed by a majestic calico cat that now appeared even more imposing than a tiger, a woman in a black dress, and a high-ponytail youth.

Once the three individuals and the cat had departed, the mayor and the regional leaders followed suit. Behind them came Liu Jinqing’s holographic technology development team, and lastly, the researchers from Mingshi Research Institute.

Polaris, having lost much of its data to the Dream Fulfillment System, had shrunk to a fraction of its former size.

Theoretically, Polaris lacked the ability to transition from the virtual world to the real one.

To ensure safety, Lu Yao compressed Polaris into a miniature octopus, sealed it in a glass bottle, and placed it on the control room’s console—much like what Polaris had done to the Dream Fulfillment System before.

Wu Yuhai was the last to leave.

As the door to the spacetime portal slowly closed behind him, he stood silently, staring at the remnants of his life’s work now sealed in another world.

When Lu Yao woke up, she was lying inside a recovery pod. Harold and Qiuyu were waiting by her side, seemingly anticipating her awakening.

The Dream Fulfillment System’s voice emerged shortly after.

“You’re awake.”

Unlike its usual arrogant chatter, its tone was unusually calm.

Soaking in the viscous nutrient solution, Lu Yao felt uncomfortable. Yet, after months of separation, hearing that familiar voice made her smile.

“You’re back.”

The Dream Fulfillment System replied, “We’re still in Mingshi City. The mayor, the research institute, and the big shots of this building all want to meet with you.”

Lu Yao asked, “Why do they want to meet me?”

The system explained, “The problems caused by Polaris are far from over. Besides Ghost Street, countless people have been trapped in various virtual worlds created by Polaris, and it refuses to release their consciousness. They might be seeking your help.”

Lu Yao frowned. “Polaris refused?”

The system hesitated. “Or maybe it’s no longer capable of releasing those consciousnesses. However, until all those trapped in virtual worlds are freed, Polaris is needed to maintain the functionality of those worlds. For now, it cannot be physically eliminated. Things are chaotic out there. No one knows how to handle this, and no solution seems acceptable to everyone.”

“No solution will ever satisfy everyone,” Lu Yao said. “I don’t need to meet them. Let’s head back to the shopping street.”

The system sounded surprised. “I thought with your personality, you’d take on everything yourself.”

Lu Yao smiled. “Our only goal in coming to Mingshi City was to find you. The mess Polaris caused isn’t some ordinary business dispute—it’s out of my expertise. After all, I’m just a shopkeeper.”

The system chuckled. “Fair enough. Let’s go home.”

Lu Yao pushed open the pod door, preparing to step out.

Harold and Qiuyu finally noticed she was awake.

One frantically cast drying spells on her to ensure her clothes were no longer damp, while the other rummaged through a bag, pulling out a stack of cleansing charms, ready to slap them onto her.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lu Yao informed them of her plan to return to the shopping street right away. Neither of them objected.

After Harold was ready, Lu Yao sent a message through the Ghost Bracelet to the group of people holding one.

Getting here had been difficult, but returning would be much simpler.

Aside from the snack shop, Yaoguang City, and the DIY Workshop, Harold had marked coordinates for all the other shops in different worlds, so they could return to any of them at will.

Qiuyu transformed back into her small dragon form, curling around Lu Yao’s wrist.

Harold took out the Qiankun Bag, preparing to place Lu Yao inside.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open from the outside, and Pei Qi ran in, panting. “Lu Yao!”

Lu Yao turned around. “Hmm?”

Pei Qi asked, “Where are you going?”

Lu Yao replied, “Home.”

Pei Qi clarified, “You mean the street outside the DIY Workshop?”

Lu Yao raised an eyebrow. “You noticed.”

Pei Qi shook his head. “I heard Liu Jing and the others mention it. They said that sometimes a street completely different from Ghost Street appears outside the DIY Workshop.”

Lu Yao thought to herself that it was fortunate the confidentiality agreement had been signed in advance.

Pei Qi asked, “Will we ever meet again?”

Lu Yao said, “It’s not entirely impossible.”

Pei Qi looked pleasantly surprised. “You’ll come back to Mingshi City?”

Lu Yao nodded. “Mingshi City does have things that interest me. But I might be a bit busy in the near future, so I probably won’t be able to return for a while. I heard that your company developed the game Ghost Street. If you really need something, you can log into Ghost Street and come to the shop to find me.”

Pei Qi hesitated for a moment before replying, “…Yeah, yeah. I might not play holographic games for many years. I’m planning to switch careers.”

Lu Yao smiled faintly. “Then, until we meet again.”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️