Chapter 14: Radiation-Free Water Purification

Sister-in-law Shi’s face was turned toward the underside of the bridge pier. Although her eyes could not see, her curiosity was insatiable.

Could it be that this spot where the Shi family had settled was some kind of feng shui treasure land?

How else could it be that not only was the food free of radiation contamination, but even placing a basin under the bridge pier would gather a small pool of water?

Sister-in-law Shi reached out with both hands, groping along the edge of the pier.

Shi Yuebai saw this but said nothing.

After she had cleaned three glass water bottles and filled them with fresh water, she instructed Shi Yaoyao,

“Come here, auntie will wash your face.”

Obediently, Shi Yaoyao crawled over on all fours.

Shi Yuebai opened a brand-new towel from its packaging and, without any care, threw it into the remaining water in the basin.

She then stirred the towel in the water.

Hearing the sound, Sister-in-law Shi realized what Shi Yuebai was doing.

She hurried back anxiously. “Yuebai, Yuebai, you can’t use the water like that...”

Her heart was burning with worry as she groped and stumbled toward the basin.

“This is water, it’s water!”

In the past, the Shi family could receive water from the group.

But now that all the men of the Shi family were dead, who would be willing to care for the three sickly and disabled women?

If anyone in the group went to buy water, no one would think about the three of them needing to drink, too.

Sister-in-law Shi understood that from now on, their survival would likely depend on begging and groveling.

If luck was on their side, perhaps someone in the group might be kind-hearted enough to spare them a sip.

Life was truly this difficult.

So, having even that small basin of water, Sister-in-law Shi was unwilling to waste it.

“Water is meant for people to use.”

Shi Yuebai reached out and stopped Sister-in-law Shi’s hand.

Seeing her so panicked and almost in tears, Shi Yuebai simply held Sister-in-law Shi’s hand and immersed it in the basin.

[Detection: Zero radiation contamination, purified water.]

Suddenly, the radiation detector on Sister-in-law Shi’s wrist sounded.

Startled, she sat dumbfounded by the basin, unsure of how to react.

Heartache was her only emotion now.

This water was more precious than life itself—no, it was more valuable than the lives of everyone in their entire team. Zero radiation contamination purified water.

And now it was being used for washing hands and faces...

This was perhaps the most surreal experience Sister-in-law Shi had ever encountered—more shocking even than the sudden news of her husband’s death.

Yet Shi Yuebai smiled gently, drying Sister-in-law Shi’s hands with the towel.

She then washed Shi Yaoyao’s face again.

She looked at Shi Yaoyao’s now clean, pale face with satisfaction.

“Hmm, clean now. What a beautiful, lovely little girl.”

Shi Yaoyao proudly shook her big little head.

“Beautiful little girl, beautiful, little girl beautiful!”

Sister-in-law Shi had not yet recovered and lowered her head to look at her clean, white hands, her eyes welling with tears.

This reminded her suddenly of the time before the apocalypse when many jewelry companies sought her for jewelry advertisements.

It was not only because she was beautiful but also because she had exceptionally lovely hands.

Any piece of jewelry worn on her hands appeared especially elegant and exquisite.

“Pour out the water,” Shi Yuebai instructed Shi Yaoyao, pointing toward a small open patch within the dizziness field.

Last night, out of boredom, she had buried several sprouted potatoes beneath this patch.

Shi Yaoyao, unsteady, crawled on the ground pushing the basin.

The water in the basin had become blackened from washing her face and Sister-in-law Shi’s hands.

Suddenly, Sister-in-law Shi realized, “Don’t pour the water out. This water is still drinkable.”

Even though the basin water was now darker than ink from washing, it was still zero radiation contamination water.

Even selling this blackened water would fetch a good number of points.

Shi Yuebai’s tone was full of disdain.

“Water used to wash hands and faces can’t be drunk.”

“Out with the old, in with the new. There will be more.”

“Yaoyao, pour out the water!”

Sister-in-law Shi listened sorrowfully as Shi Yaoyao emptied the basin onto the ground.

She felt a little angry but dared not show it.

Shi Yuebai’s personality had grown even more resolute than before.

Deep down, Sister-in-law Shi feared this Shi Yuebai.

The three sickly and disabled women of the Shi family slung on their backpacks, took yesterday’s gear, and stepped out of their tent.

Before leaving, Shi Yuebai took a glass bottle filled with water from Shi Yaoyao’s backpack.

She looked at the strange man sitting outside their tent, repairing parts.

“Take this.”

Shi Yuebai tossed her own glass bottle to the stranger.

The man looked down at the transparent liquid inside the bottle, puzzled.

Under the sunlight, this clear liquid shimmered with an irresistible glow.

[Detection: Zero radiation contamination, purified water.]

The radiation detector on the stranger’s wrist sounded.

His expression shifted from dumbfounded and dull to shock and panic.

Finally, he was filled with disbelief.

The stranger hurriedly stood and looked toward the direction the three sickly women of the Shi family had gone.

He took two steps forward.

Then his gaze turned toward the group of survivors beneath the bridge pier.

Because the distance between the Shi family, the stranger, and the others was quite far,

no one heard the radiation detector on the stranger’s wrist.

Yet the three sickly and disabled women of the Shi family had set out again early in the morning.

Many watched in their eyes and hearts, amused.

Those three sickly women still wouldn’t give up.

True enough, they had to go scavenging. Otherwise, no matter how much food the Shi family stored, that dead fat woman Shi Yuebai would devour it all.

Realizing many eyes were secretly watching the sickly women of the Shi family,

tears brimmed in the stranger’s eyes. Clutching the glass bottle tightly, he turned and hid inside his own tent.

Along the way, Shi Yuebai ignored the scornful, doubtful, and mocking gazes.

Sister-in-law Shi, unable to see, remained calm and composed.

Carrying Shi Yaoyao on her back and pushing Shi Yuebai, they headed toward the great city.

Not long after leaving the group’s sight, a team of mercenaries approached.

They wore black combat uniforms, patched and dust-covered.

Each was burly and upright, appearing well-trained and formidable.

Shi Yuebai glanced at their leader, vaguely feeling he looked familiar.

Unexpectedly, the captain’s sharp gaze swept over Shi Yuebai.

He raised his hand in greeting to Sister-in-law Shi.

“Sister-in-law Shi.”

Sister-in-law Shi stopped, tilting her head with some confusion.

“Who are you?”

“We are the Xiangcheng Mercenary Corps.”

The captain and several mercenaries stepped forward.

“I used to serve with Shi Yi as a garrison teammate. I attended your wedding when you married Shi Er.”

“We have come specially to find you today.”