Chapter Forty-Eight: Eat If You Like, Leave If You Don't

"Ruler?"

Chen Ming and the others looked at him, sensing that this "ruler" was a bit off...

"It has indeed been a long time."

Cheng Luoyi leapt down from the rooftop, a rare trace of sentiment in her eyes. She hadn't expected to run into Lin Dong in this brutal apocalypse—what a coincidence.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just passing by," Lin Dong replied casually.

Sun Xiaoqiang was visibly excited, grinning from ear to ear.

"This is a five-star corpse nest! Just a moment ago, a horde of zombies appeared—it's extremely dangerous. You surviving is nothing short of remarkable!"

Lin Dong glanced at Sun Xiaoqiang, taking in those unique eyes. After all these years, he really hadn't changed a bit.

"What brings you all here?"

"Someone stole our supplies and is hiding in this area. We're here to find them!" Sun Xiaoqiang explained.

"Oh?" Lin Dong raised an eyebrow. He was aware of the supply robbery at the shelter but hadn't expected the bandits to slip into his own territory...

When did this happen?

He hadn't even known...

"I'm quite familiar with this area. Maybe I can help you search."

"Really? That's great!" Sun Xiaoqiang didn't overthink it; he just felt that running into his childhood friend and having him join the team was a stroke of luck.

But behind him, Chen Ming and the others drew sharp breaths. In their minds, Lin Dong was most likely that strange corpse king and the source of all danger. And now Sun Xiaoqiang was inviting him to join their group!

This world is mad... It feels like a mouse volunteering as a bridesmaid for a cat!

Cheng Luoyi nodded in agreement, adding, "Yes, once we find the supplies, we can take you back to the shelter. It's very safe there."

"Pfft!"

Chen Ming and the others nearly coughed up blood. Sun Xiaoqiang was ridiculous enough, but Cheng Luoyi surpassed him—she was actually thinking of bringing him back to the shelter!

They began to wonder... Maybe the safety of the shelter would soon depend on his whim.

Lin Dong considered it for a moment but didn't refuse outright.

"We'll see when the time comes."

"Alright," Cheng Luoyi agreed, then turned to the four behind her. "Come on, you all, why are you still hiding on the roof?"

"Uh... Okay."

Chen Ming and the others hesitated, worry written all over their faces, but still jumped down to the street and approached cautiously.

The closer they got to Lin Dong, the more uneasy they felt—was it just their imagination? There was a strange, inexplicable anxiety in the air.

They also noticed that Lin Dong's gaze was utterly indifferent, devoid of any emotion. When he looked at them, it was as if he were looking at cattle or sheep.

Only when he spoke to Cheng Luoyi and Sun Xiaoqiang did a spark of vitality flicker in his eyes.

"Let me introduce you," Cheng Luoyi said, "these four are awakened ones from the shelter: Chen Ming, Xu Tianhao..." She introduced them one by one.

"Mm," Lin Dong replied, not even glancing their way, as if he hadn't registered their existence at all.

Chen Ming forced a smile, though his courage was failing him. "Ah...hahaha... Hello, nice to meet you!"

The four of them were tense, but for now, it seemed he had no intention of killing them. Otherwise, that horde of zombies earlier would have been enough to take their lives.

So, they decided not to pierce the fragile facade and continued pretending Lin Dong was just an ordinary human.

But Sun Xiaoqiang, ever the fool and ever generous, beamed.

"Lin Dong, once we find the supplies, I'll treat you to a feast—good food and drink to celebrate our reunion!"

"Alright," Lin Dong agreed.

But just then, Sun Xiaoqiang's stomach rumbled loudly again. The sharp hunger made his head spin, his limbs weak; he nearly fainted.

Lin Dong took one look and saw through him—he was starving, yet still thinking of treating him to a meal?

"How about I treat you first?"

"Huh? You have food right now?" Sun Xiaoqiang's eyes lit up with intelligence.

"A bit, not much..."

With a wave of his hand, Lin Dong retrieved bread, sausages, and a packet of spicy sticks from his storage space—food suitable for humans.

He'd looted these from the warehouse last time—a fortune's worth—and had plenty more in storage, though he had little use for it himself.

Sun Xiaoqiang stared in astonishment, feeling it was magical, as if Lin Dong had conjured the food out of thin air.

Tears of gratitude welled up and trickled from the corners of his mouth—there were spicy sticks! His favorite snack!

"Thank you, then I won't hold back!"

He tore open the packaging and began stuffing his mouth.

The oily, spicy flavor exploded on his palate.

"This is delicious!"

Hunger is the best cook, and in Sun Xiaoqiang's current state, spicy sticks tasted like heaven.

Watching this, Lin Dong couldn't help but recall their childhood—back in the orphanage, Sun Xiaoqiang had always loved spicy sticks.

He'd been so afraid of other kids stealing them, he'd hide them in his bed at night. Sure enough, they ended up crushed and the bed was soaked in oil, earning him a severe scolding from the director.

"Gulp!"

Seeing Sun Xiaoqiang devouring his meal, Cheng Luoyi couldn't help but salivate, swallowing instinctively as waves of hunger gripped her stomach.

Lin Dong glanced at her but said nothing. He simply took out more bread, sausages, and spicy sticks, plus an extra bottle of nutrient drink, and handed them to her.

"I'm not hungry," Cheng Luoyi shook her head in refusal.

Lin Dong studied her—just like when she was a child, soft all over but stubborn to the core.

"It's fine. Eat."

"Oh..." She slowly accepted the food, still hesitating inside. In the apocalypse, food was far too precious.

Lin Dong had just said he didn't have much—she thought he should keep it for himself.

"What's wrong now?" Lin Dong asked, seeing her hesitate, her expression clouded, as if wrestling with some internal debate.

Cheng Luoyi stared at him blankly, holding up the bread. "It's expired."

Lin Dong was speechless. "Eat it or leave it!"

The bread label was past its expiration, but in the storage space, it was perfectly preserved and still edible.

Cheng Luoyi stopped struggling, deciding she could always repay him later.

So she opened the packaging and ate.

Behind them, the four—Chen Ming and the others—watched hungrily, their stomachs growling, desperate for a taste.

But none of them dared ask Lin Dong for food.

The way he produced it out of thin air spoke to his bizarre powers; if they weren't careful, they might end up as food themselves...

So they quickly averted their gazes.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Soon, Cheng Luoyi was full and looked much more energetic.

"I'll pay you back for this food, or exchange it for soul pellets or crystal cores," she said.

At the shelter, a single soul pellet could be traded for a pack of instant noodles; a soul crystal, for an entire box.

They were used to this bartering system, so accepting Lin Dong's food for free felt wrong.

"That's right!" Sun Xiaoqiang, mouth still oily, chimed in enthusiastically. "We’ll trade! I’m not eating for nothing!"