Chapter 17: A New Beginning

“Alright, let’s leave it at that for now. Today, you’ll go out as usual to scavenge supplies.”

“There are two things that need to be done first. One, allocate your people accordingly. Two, Chengming, I need you to put in a little extra work—find us a spacious, hidden spot to settle down. This tent camp isn’t a long-term solution.”

Seated inside the tent, Wang Ji gave instructions to Li Chengming and Mouse before they left. Then, he sat on the tattered bed, deep in thought.

Xiaoyin and Xiaocong, sensible as ever, went outside to help. They headed over to the tent where Xiaoliuzi and his mother lived. Xiaoliuzi’s mother was handy with a needle and thread. She often collected scraps of cloth and rubbish from around the camp, cleaned them up, and stitched them into patchwork garments. The result might not have been pretty, but there were always those in need, and she could trade them for a few daily necessities.

After Xiaoyin and Xiaocong left, Wang Ji smiled bitterly. He realized he could no longer summon the X System. He remembered the last message from the X System—it had run out of energy and needed to be recharged. He’d grown used to the cold, mechanical voice of the X System; its absence left him feeling strangely empty.

“Looks like I’ll need to quickly accumulate enough crystal cores for recharging. The only question is how many…”

Wang Ji rubbed his chin, peeling off a layer of dead skin. He thought over his immediate priorities and realized his body was filthy, the dead skin from his healing wounds itching unbearably.

He stripped off his clothes inside the tent, revealing a chiseled six-pack. Admiring himself for a moment, he then wiped himself down with a damp cloth, sloughing off the dead skin like a snake shedding its old scales.

“It seems this so-called gene lock is truly powerful,” he mused, feeling his body restored and even more robust. After tidying up, he tucked the pistol Mouse had left for him into his waistband and stepped out of the tent.

“Xiaoyin, come—let’s take a walk together.”

Seeing Wang Ji emerge dressed, Xiaoyin’s eyes lit up. She hurried over to take his hand and greeted him sweetly.

“Xiaoyin, will you come with me to buy a few things?” he asked.

She nodded happily; as long as Wang Ji was alright, she was content.

“Alright, big brother, but do you have money for shopping?”

Wang Ji gave an awkward smile. Just then, Xiaoliuzi, who had been helping nearby, hurried over. “Boss, what are you buying here in the camp? You need bullets, food, or valuable items. Let me handle it for you.”

Wang Ji thanked him, took a few bullets, and slipped them into his pocket. “It’s nothing major, just some daily supplies. You go on with your work.”

“Alright, boss, just call if you need anything.”

Wang Ji took Xiaoyin out, greeting familiar faces on the way to the camp market.

There, the air was alive with shouts and bargaining. Some sold bloody, unidentifiable meat, others displayed guns and ammunition, but most stalls offered valuables or clothing.

In the center of the market, a group of men and women stood together. Nearby, a man dressed shabbily but not without a certain neatness scanned the crowd with shrewd eyes, betraying none of the hunger or hardship common in the camp.

Noticing Wang Ji’s unusual bearing, the man did not look down on his patchwork clothes like other vendors. He approached directly.

“Hey there, brother, you don’t look like an ordinary fellow. Interested in hiring some labor?”

Wang Ji glanced at him, then at the dazed youths behind, and smiled. “I’m just a regular guy, don’t need any workers.”

But the man persisted. “No rush, just take a look. See this woman? Just ten bullets and she’s yours—she can work, and share your bed.”

The woman, held by the man, offered Wang Ji an embarrassed but hopeful smile. She, too, wished someone would buy her—at least then she wouldn’t go hungry or risk her life outside the camp.

Wang Ji gave a wry smile. “Sorry, brother, I only need some paper and pens, nothing more.”

The man forced a smile. Food was scarce, and plenty were willing to work for free just to survive. He was merely trying to fetch a good price for the young and the pretty.

“Alright, then. What’s your name, brother?”

“Just call me Wang.”

“Wang, you’ve come to the right place—Liu’s General Store has everything you need. Just name it!” The man, Liu by name, turned and rummaged through a ramshackle shack behind him.

“Paper, pens… who needs those these days? I even use leaves for toilet paper… but I’m sure I saw some yesterday.” He dug through the pile. “Ah, found them!”

He handed Wang Ji a battered notebook and a few ballpoint pens. “Lucky day! Take the lot for two bullets.”

Wang Ji was about to speak when Xiaoyin, still holding his hand, glared at Liu. “That’s not fair, boss. These aren’t even worth a bullet! Yesterday I saw Xiaolin burning a book for matches.”

Caught out, Liu flushed but replied awkwardly, “Well, these are brand new. Where else would you find them? Half price—one bullet for the lot.”

Wang Ji gently held back Xiaoyin, smiled, and accepted the notebook and pens, handing over a bullet.

“No problem. But I have a question for you, Liu.”

Liu grinned, tucking away the bullet. “Don’t call me boss, I’m just a worker. Name’s Liu Hai. You’re a straight shooter—ask away, I’ll tell you what I know.”

That was exactly what Wang Ji wanted. After putting away the notebook, he said, “Brother Liu, to be frank, a business like yours can’t operate here without support. I’d like to meet the camp’s command staff—can you arrange it?”

He wanted to know why the camp hadn’t opened the shelter.

“What?” Liu Hai looked at him in surprise, then lowered his voice. “Why do you want to see the military?”

“That’s my business. Can you arrange it or not?”

Liu Hai hesitated. “My brother-in-law works for the second company commander. I’ll see if I can set something up. Can’t guarantee anything, but what’s in it for me?”

Wang Ji raised a finger. “You set the meeting—regardless of success, ten bullets for you. If the commander shows up, another ten. Deal?”

“Deal! You’ve got yourself a deal!”

“Alright, here’s a down payment. If there’s news, find me in the tent camp.” Wang Ji left five bullets and took Xiaoyin back to the tent.

Liu Hai weighed the still-warm bullets and pondered. “Strange guy, didn’t say what he wanted. Doesn’t matter—if something good comes of this, at least I’ll get a taste.” A grin spread across his face.

Back at the tent, Wang Ji slipped inside alone.

With the X System silent and all his equipment lost or destroyed, Wang Ji had nothing—he was starting anew. Fortunately, his core team was intact, and morale was high.

He wasted no time. Spreading out the notebook, he began to organize the system knowledge from his mind, jotting down executable instructions and plans—recon team training, tactics, operational plans, even an infantry manual for Mouse’s group. As he worked, the sun dipped low in the sky.

By the time Mouse and Li Chengming returned with their spoils, dusk had fallen.

Xiaoliuzi, in charge of logistics, had prepared a large pot of meat stew. Li Chengming’s family, Mouse, Xiaoliuzi’s mother, and a handful of others—nearly ten people—gathered around the iron pot, eating amiably in the night.

Bathed in the warmth of the campfire, Wang Ji set down his bowl, satisfied. Since waking up, his appetite had grown immensely. Of the wolf leg Xiaoliuzi had stewed, he’d eaten more than half.

Seeing everyone else gladly yield the best portions to him, Wang Ji’s heart was warmed. He smiled, “Eat up, eat your fill. If it’s not enough, Xiaoliuzi, make more next time.”

After the meal, Wang Ji handed a notebook each to Mouse and Li Chengming.

The others, seeing that the adults had work to do, quietly went off to their own tasks.

“Xiaoliuzi, stay here and learn from Li—there’s work for you in the future.” Wang Ji called out to Xiaoliuzi, who was tidying up.

“That’s right, Xiaoliuzi. Logistics suits you. Come help me out,” Li Chengming called, feigning complaint.

Wang Ji chuckled. “So few people and you’re already crying tired? Let’s get down to business.”

“Alright, boss. Today we found four crystal cores and brought back 231 pounds of beast meat and bones. Most of it we traded for bullets.”

“Currently, we have thirty-four rifles—AKs you gave us earlier—and fifty-six pistols. In total, we have over 1,200 rounds of ammunition.”

“As for personnel, my recon team is full at five. With Mouse’s group of twenty and another ten or so reserves, our combat strength is forty-three. We still haven’t found a suitable new camp.”

Li Chengming gave a thorough report, and Wang Ji listened, growing more concerned.

“Boss, as for the crystal cores, I’m holding onto them. We have forty-seven, all first-grade,” Mouse added simply when Li Chengming finished.

“First-grade?” This was the first time Wang Ji had heard about crystal core grades.

“Yes, the military is buying crystal cores, so the price has shot up. They're the most valuable commodity in camp right now. By their standard, a red crystal core the size of a fingernail is first-grade. There are bigger, yellow ones—second-grade—but I’ve never seen one,” Mouse explained, handing Wang Ji a small cloth bag.

Wang Ji took the bag, weighed it in his hand, and silently tried to absorb energy from the cores. The X System remained unresponsive. He had to give up.

“Alright. From now on, you two and Xiaoliuzi will study here every night. If you don’t understand something, ask me. During the day, we’ll continue scavenging for supplies.”

Leaving the three men half-laughing, half-crying at the workload, Wang Ji turned and sat at the tent door, closing his eyes to rest.