Although the woman was short, she had a fit build. She carried a forearm-length machete and was sizing Yu Hong up with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Do you have anything to eat?" Her gaze flicked over the Steel Nail Glowstone Rod in Yu Hong's hand.
"Want to trade? What do you need?"
She added another question.
"...Do you have any medicine?" Yu Hong studied the woman's sturdy figure and felt that she might even be stronger than him. A deep wariness rose in his heart.
He swept his surroundings with a wary sidelong glance while sizing her up. "I need Antidiarrheal Medicine and Anti-inflammatory Medicine."
"What are you trading? I only need food! Lao Yu hasn't come back for two days, and several households around us are short on food. If you have any, you can trade for anything you want." The woman spoke quickly.
Her tone was sincere, while the knife in her right hand seemed to unconsciously perform a flourish.
The forearm-length machete was straight and razor-sharp, its blade a full adult palm's width. Not just anyone could flourish such a blade.
That move instantly raised Yu Hong's wariness to its highest level.
He suddenly felt that it had been a mistake to rush out so carelessly to trade.
Anyone who could survive alone outside for so long—even a physically weaker woman—had some special skill that guaranteed her safety.
However, she could not ascertain his true strength either. As long as neither side made a move, everything remained unknown and exploratory. That made things easier.
"I have food," Yu Hong replied quickly. "But I don't have much on me. I'll have to go back and get it. Do you have any medicine?"
"I have some, but you need to figure out exactly what illness you have first. Otherwise, it'll just be wasted." The woman answered quickly.
"Diarrhea. I've had several bouts in a row, and I suspect it was caused by drinking rainwater." Yu Hong answered quickly.
"Rainwater?!" The woman's expression changed in shock. She suddenly stopped and stared at Yu Hong. "Did you drink it directly, or did you filter it first?!"
"I filtered it." Seeing her reaction, Yu Hong's heart sank. He sensed that something was wrong.
"That's good. That's good." The woman's tone relaxed. "Rainwater has to be boiled before drinking. Ever since those ghostly things began appearing two years ago, rainwater has carried toxins. Drinking it directly causes severe diarrhea, and only people with exceptionally strong constitutions can endure it."
"What should I do now?" Yu Hong asked with a frown while taking a piece of dried Lizard Meat from his bag and tossing it over.
The woman caught it in one hand, sniffed it, bit off half, and chewed slowly. When she looked at Yu Hong again, her gaze had become much gentler.
"Luckily, you drank filtered water. Didn't anyone ever tell you that rainwater couldn't be drunk?" she said speechlessly.
"...No. I have a companion. She just drinks it casually." Yu Hong recalled the days he had spent living with Little Stutterer. Little Stutterer seemed to drink rainwater often, but she had never let him drink any.
"You have a very strong companion." The woman fell silent as well.
"I guess she's like a wild bull. She could lift you up with one hand."
"It's not that exaggerated. But can you tell me how to deal with it?" Yu Hong tossed over another strip of dried meat.
The woman caught it, a trace of a smile appearing on her face.
"It's simple. There's something black with a hint of purple in the soil. Dig out a clump, eat about as much as an egg, mix it with water, and swallow it. You'll recover soon."
She straightened and looked at Yu Hong.
"Besides, this must be your first time trading with people, right? You gave away your background immediately. You were probably from the Town Bunker before?"
"..." Yu Hong said nothing, but his face clearly asked how she knew.
He was of course not from the bunker, but that did not stop him from guiding her to guess in that direction.
"You're Yu Hong, aren't you?" The woman suddenly spoke his name. "Yi Yi really is very strong. I've heard her mention you. There are very few newcomers joining within several dozen li of here. The only newcomer lately has been you."
"All right. I'm Yu Hong. And you are?" Hearing Yi Yi's name, Yu Hong knew she was an acquaintance and relaxed somewhat. Even so, he still kept hold of the rod.
"I'm Jenny. I work with leather. Yi Yi must have mentioned me. I can mend the clothes worn by everyone around here." The woman's tone softened.
"Where's Yi Yi? Why did you come to trade this time? Why didn't she come?" Jenny asked in confusion.
"She went to town." Yu Hong did not say that Yi Yi had left; he simply told a small lie.
"All right. Do you have any more food? I've told you how to treat diarrhea from drinking rainwater. If you have anything else to trade, you can exchange it for food. Do you want some clean clothes?"
Her gaze moved over Yu Hong's filthy T-shirt, and she smiled.
The short-sleeved T-shirt, originally grayish white, had turned grayish yellow. It was completely soaked with grime formed from dried sweat.
Wearing it felt greasy and cold, and it had become considerably heavier.
"Do you have any nails?" Yu Hong thought for a moment before asking. He needed nails to make things, and they were far more convenient than mortise-and-tenon joints.
"I have quite a few. What do you need them for?" Jenny froze. A moment later, she suddenly thought of something. "Could it be that you can make things yourself?"
"A little." Yu Hong nodded and took out the Water Filter Cup he had made. "This is a Water Filter Cup I made. If you need one, you can place an order with me. Medicine, clothing, unprocessed Glowstone, or help with some work can all be used for payment."
Jenny stared at the Water Filter Cup in his hand, her eyes growing brighter the longer she looked.
If its craftsmanship was truly matched by its effectiveness, everyone nearby would benefit.
"Because of Big Hide last night, all of us have gathered at Lao Zhou's Bunker. We'll come trade with you after the High Tide Period passes!" she said quickly.
"Are you trading this cup now?" She pointed at the Water Filter Cup.
"Yes." Yu Hong nodded.
He knew a craft, and his workmanship was good. This was the identity foundation he had prepared in advance.
This foundation could help guarantee him a certain degree of basic safety nearby.
After all, only if he stayed alive could he continuously make the things everyone needed.
That was his value.
"Wait for me. I'll be right back." Jenny did not even say how much she would trade. She turned and ran, darting into the forest and disappearing in a flash.
Yu Hong watched the direction she had left, then carefully found a place to hide. He no longer stood foolishly out in the open.
He desperately yearned for the cultivation method that was about to finish being enhanced. His physical abilities were too poor right now; he was afraid he could not beat anyone.
If the cultivation method succeeded, he would then be able to enhance similar wilderness survival methods, stealth and concealment methods, and all kinds of other survival techniques.
But the prerequisite was that he had to be able to use the enhanced methods.
Cultivation also requires sufficient food and rest. If only I could figure out how dried Lizard Meat is made. And mushrooms.
Yu Hong crouched in the grass, thinking as he waited.
Fortunately, it was currently the time when the sunlight was fiercest, and Ghost Shadows generally did not appear then.
For unknown reasons, there were hardly any mosquitoes in the forest, and insects were scarce as well.
Thus, crouching in the grass did not leave him covered in bites.
The rustling of leaves rose and fell with the wind. The sunlight was intense, and wave after wave of warmth rose from his body.
Yet apart from the rustling branches and leaves, there was no other movement in the forest—not a sound of life.
There were no birds and no insects. Everything was dead silent.
Yu Hong periodically swept his eyes around, making sure that no Ghost Shadow could approach him unawares.
The deathly silent forest was clearly bathed in brilliant sunlight, yet it gave him an eerie sense of terror.
There were no butterflies, no bees, and no flowers—only grass, branches, and roots.
Tender green, emerald green, ink green, yellow-green: layers upon layers of foliage intertwined into a forest that was both real and bizarre.
This forest is as if it had died. Lush and quiet in a way that feels false.
The thought flashed through Yu Hong's mind.
Several minutes later, footsteps sounded again from beside the Stone House at the Post Office.
"Yu Hong? Are you there? I'm back."
Jenny's voice rang out.
Hearing her, Yu Hong carefully peered through the grass toward the sound.
Jenny was still dressed as before. She carried a small cloth bag and stood in place, looking around.
He did not go out immediately. Instead, he continued observing her for a while, confirming that her movements were natural and not stiff, and that she walked one step at a time.
She was clearly not a Ghost Shadow.
Moreover, no one else had followed her. She was alone.
Only after confirming this did he slowly stand up.
"I'm here. Did you bring the goods?"
"I did." Jenny narrowed her eyes as she looked toward him. "Stay right there and don't move!"
She suddenly shouted.
"What did we agree to trade?"
"The Water Filter Cup and nails!" Yu Hong immediately answered.
"Good!"
Seeing that their answers matched, Jenny relaxed and approached.
"Here." She handed over the small cloth bag.
Yu Hong took it and opened it for a look. Inside was a large handful of rusted iron nails, each as long as a finger.
"There are around thirty of them. That'll be enough for a while, but this isn't enough to trade for the Water Filter Cup."
He looked up at her.
"Add this." Jenny took a backpack from behind her, opened it, and pulled out a patched long-sleeved sweatshirt.
"I guessed you needed something to change into. Otherwise, getting soaked by the rain could give you a fever."
She smiled and winked at Yu Hong.
"Deal!" Yu Hong nodded. He handed the Water Filter Cup to her and took the sweatshirt.
The sweatshirt was gray, woven from some unknown fine grass and mixed with animal fur. It looked very warm.
"This garment has wild boar hide woven into it, so it can keep out rain, but it won't do for getting soaked over a long period. Take care." Jenny reminded him. "I originally made it for my daughter. She works at the bunker in town and comes back once a month. Come to think of it, she should only be a little younger than you."
When she mentioned her daughter, a gentle smile appeared on her face involuntarily.
"You love your daughter very much." Yu Hong put away the clothing and nails.
"Mm. She's my pride and joy. She inherited the best qualities from me and her father—she's beautiful, confident, capable, and can handle everything in life." Jenny answered with a smile.
"By the way, if I want to contact you over a long distance, is there any way to do that?" Yu Hong suddenly changed the subject.
"You can use a Long-Range Communicator, but charging it is troublesome. It was useful before the Black Calamity, but it's not much use now," Jenny replied. "The Mailman has one, though. He can contact the bunker in town at any time."
"What about charging it? How do you solve that?" Yu Hong's heart stirred, and he asked quickly.
"We use a Hand-Crank Generator. We also have solar power, but because its output has declined over time, the conversion is very poor now. It can only serve as a supplement." Jenny replied. "What, do you want one?"
She had keenly guessed Yu Hong's intention.
"I have a few small appliances. Being able to charge them would help a lot. When the Mailman comes back, could you ask him for me whether he's willing to sell a Solar Power Generator?" Yu Hong asked.
Before you continue