Looking at its shape, it would be quite suitable for smashing the heads of any zombies they encountered on the way.

Now, he was all set with the items he needed to bring.

"Shall we go?"

"Sure, let's go!" Shin Shin Woncheon and the others quickly led the way for the master.

...

In the Eastern District of Pyeongseong Safe Zone, the survivors' first task every day upon waking up was to go to the vegetable market. Only those who arrived early had the chance to grab vegetables and drinkable water with lower level mutagenic virus.

Hwa Jian was never among the first ones to wake up, nor did he ever think of competing with others for better vegetables.

It wasn't that Hwa Jian didn't prefer food with a lower level of mutagenic virus, nor was he too lazy to get up; it was just that the ingredients with slightly lower mutagenic virus content were priced several times higher!

Hwa Jian had once seen a mutated chicken feather vegetable, the toothy parts of which had already been removed by the capturers, leaving the edible leaves with a mutagenic virus content of 57%. If it dropped a bit more, it could break the 50% mark and become a Class C food.

Such a Class D chicken feather vegetable, appearing at the market, would require at least fifty crystal cores for a single leaf! If the seller were greedier, they could sell it for seventy or eighty, and people would still fight to buy it!

Hwa Jian didn't have that much money.

As usual, Hwa Jian woke up early, cleaned his room inside and out, grabbed a handful of rice, and mixed it with a pot of water, slowly simmering a pot of slightly watery porridge.

The rice was officially sold in the safe zone and was one of the rare ingredients Hwa Jian bought without worrying too much about the price. After all, rice was a staple food; it could never be lacking.

However, the rice Hwa Jian bought was of lower quality rice, mostly Class F, with a mutagenic virus content ranging between 70% to 80%.

Even so, Kim Haru didn't dare spend too much money buying extra. He couldn't even remember the last time he had a proper meal of rice at home. Every time he had porridge, most of the bowl was just water.

He lowered the heat for the porridge, moved any flammable items away, ensuring that it would be safe while he was out, and quietly grabbed his backpack before slipping out the door.

Of course, he made sure to close the door behind him.

However, even though he doesn't lock it, it doesn't matter.

Hwa Jian smiled bitterly.

Everyone around here knew he was the poorest person on the street. Describing his home as barren wouldn't be an exaggeration.

A thief wouldn't even know what to steal if they broke in.

Would they steal his few ragged clothes? Or perhaps the two sickly old people who are lying in bed?

Even if someone tried to steal the little bit of rice he had, it was probably of a lower grade than what the thief had in their own home.