Chapter 116: Wang Ping Steps Forward

Jiang Huan trained endurance with everyone, strengthening their physical fitness, and occasionally “accidentally” discovered supplies to bring back.

At the time of the open selection that Captain Wu mentioned, Jiang Huan stood at the doorway with Xie Congzhou and the others, bidding farewell to the rest.

Jiang Xi’s eyes were brimming with tears. Although he was a boy, his nature was pure and kind-hearted, and he was deeply emotional toward his sister.

Jiang Huan held her younger brother tightly. In this post-apocalyptic world, instead of growing thin, he had become somewhat stronger.

Among those who had survived the apocalypse, many had undergone changes in physical condition, and Jiang Xi was one of them.

If he hadn’t improved like this, it would have been Jiang Huan’s fault.

Having control over such a vast space and still failing to nurture her brother properly would have been truly shameful.

“Be good. I’ll be gone for at least two days, at most twenty. I left you a calendar so you can count the days. If I’m even one day late, write it down in your little notebook and punish me however you like.”

Jiang Xi shook his head. “I won’t punish you. If you’re not back for a long time, I’ll come find you.”

Jiang Huan nodded seriously. “I understand.”

No matter how hard it got, she would come back.

The others also waved their goodbyes. Jiang Huan asked Xie Congzhou and a few others to go ahead first. Then she pulled Liu Ling aside to a corner and handed her a key.

“Don’t open my room’s chest unless you absolutely can’t survive. There are some emergency supplies hidden inside. I only gave you this key just in case, but I don’t want you to use it unless it’s truly necessary.

While I’m away, continue managing everyone’s work as before. Don’t be soft, make decisions quickly, and don’t take in outsiders. Anyone who does will have to leave with them.

I’ve told my brother that if anyone has bad intentions, he’s to kill on sight. You know my brother—he really would do that.”

Liu Ling nodded repeatedly, grasping Jiang Huan’s hand tightly, solemnly promising to follow her instructions to the letter.

Jiang Huan let go without lingering to look at her brother again. Wearing a hat made of special material, she descended the mountain.

They hadn’t gone far when they saw two trucks.

Both were covered in paint—even the tires were coated.

She exchanged glances with Xie Congzhou and the others. It was clear the paint was some new cutting-edge technology.

The port wasn’t too far, reachable on foot.

Yet Jiang Huan waved to stop the trucks.

The drivers naturally recognized Jiang Huan—she had recently made a name for herself at the official base—and jumped down from the truck in respect.

“Sister Jiang.”

Jiang Huan nodded. “Hello. We’re also here for the sea beast assault team’s open selection. Could we hitch a ride? We’ll pay, of course.”

The soldiers couldn’t decide on their own. After asking inside the cabin, one said, “Each truck can take two more passengers.”

It seemed they already knew Jiang Huan had heard about the open selection and weren’t surprised.

They were willing to do her a favor.

Jiang Huan and Uncle Kui got on one truck; Xie Congzhou and Wang Ping took the other.

Once on board, Jiang Huan noticed Captain Guan was there.

No wonder it was easy to get a ride—she had requested his permission beforehand.

Still, Jiang Huan preferred to settle matters with material goods rather than favors, so she pulled out a pack of cigarettes and two bottles of water.

“Fare for the ride.”

Captain Guan hesitated but, seeing the envious looks from everyone else, accepted it and muttered, “That’s a generous fare.”

“Only fair,” Jiang Huan replied.

Inside the truck was noticeably cooler than outside—at least fifteen or sixteen degrees cooler, despite the sweat and odor from the others.

It was still hot, but bearable.

The ride was quiet; neither Jiang Huan nor Captain Guan was talkative. They arrived at their destination without much fanfare.

As the doors opened at the port, a wave of hot air mixed with dust hit them. Jiang Huan adjusted her sun protection gear and sprayed some cooling mist on her exposed skin before stepping out.

Within moments, everyone’s sweat poured out, soaking their thin clothing to the point that it could be wrung out.

Jiang Huan met up smoothly with the two people from the other truck, making a group of four, separate from the main team.

She took in the port in surprise.

Containers that she hadn’t secured before were now covered with new materials, transformed into small individual rooms.

The previously massive office building had a sunshade added on top, making it look like a medium-sized survivor settlement.

But this was no ordinary survivor group.

When had it changed like this? Was it during the last large shipment of new materials?

She didn’t get to observe much, as upon arrival, they were immediately arranged to undergo the open selection.

Physical fitness tests, blood work, psychological evaluations—each at separate locations. After completing each, they received a stamp and had their names registered, then waited for the next day’s notification.

That night, the office building never went dark—most likely working overtime to process the selection results.

Outside, those waiting simply found a container to lean against and sleep.

Since the frozen disaster began, everyone had learned to adapt to conditions as they came.

They weren’t here as guests. After being permitted to sleep in containers, the group formed their own teams to eat or rest in place.

Jiang Huan and the others found a quieter container and sat in a circle, forming their own little group.

Dinner was casual—some canned food poured over self-heating rice, and a few slices of dried meat as protein.

After tidying up, they leaned back and closed their eyes.

The next morning, Jiang Huan sensed movement nearby and opened her eyes immediately.

Xie Congzhou and Uncle Kui were already up.

“Morning,” she said briskly, sitting up to fix her hair and don her sun protection gear before stepping out to find a spot to wash her face with wet wipes, avoiding others.

Along the way, she saw some people dealing with personal matters.

Without proper toilets, everyone resorted to nature.

Thankfully, most still habitually found a tree or wall, sparing her from unsightly sights.

She walked several hundred meters before letting her RV out and using its facilities.

On the way back, she saw everyone lined up. Spotting Xie Congzhou, she hurried over, and the four stood together in a row.

Someone with a megaphone began calling out names.

Those whose names were called stepped out of the line.

After about a dozen names, “Wang Ping!”

Wang Ping stepped out, ecstatic.

Great—he was selected.

But as they called out another twenty or so names, Jiang Huan didn’t hear the names of her companions.

Could it be that only one of them had been chosen?

When the announcer called the last name and lowered the list, Wang Ping’s expression fell, a bitter smile crossing his face.

He had been foolish to think otherwise. Even those with clearly better physical conditions weren’t selected; how could he have been the standout among the four?