Shelter for All: People catch ghosts and gain entries in the end times

Chapter 27: The River Flowing in the Apocalypse

This was Meng Tianyi’s business, after all, and Su Mu didn’t see any reason to interfere further. Still, since she had mentioned needing metal, he decided to ask a bit more.

[Su Mu: Miss, the handmade knife can modify metal and Energy Stones, right?].

[Su Mu: So, it can also modify without Energy Stones, correct?].

Meng Tianyi nodded, continuing their conversation on the trade forum.

[Meng Tianyi: Yes, Su Mu, you’re right.].

[Meng Tianyi: But metal isn’t easy to find in this world either.].

[Meng Tianyi: The handmade knife can process Energy Stones and turn them into various tools.].

[Meng Tianyi: As I said, two Energy Stones can make any tool no larger than a cup—one for processing and one as payment.].

Su Mu shrugged as he read her response. He wasn’t sure if Meng Tianyi was lucky or unlucky.

The handmade knife was a decent weapon, and she was fortunate enough to become a first-tier killer. But using something as basic as a handmade knife to kill monsters? That was both remarkable and absurd.

However, her ability to process other metals caught Su Mu’s attention. An idea formed in his mind as he considered some electronics in his inventory.

[Su Mu: Miss, can you process this?].

A notification chimed as Su Mu uploaded one unit of gold.

When Meng Tianyi saw the gold in the chat, she froze in shock.

“Is this… gold?” she muttered, her round eyes wide with disbelief.

[Meng Tianyi: Su Mu! What did you do?].

[Meng Tianyi: This is the Apocalypse. Where did you get gold?!].

As a girl, Meng Tianyi wasn’t particularly materialistic, but the sight of the shiny metal still captivated her.

Su Mu, of course, didn’t answer her question. His gold-plated mining pickaxe was a valuable secret, one he wasn’t willing to share.

[Su Mu: The handmade knife can process metal, so it can also process gold, right?].

[Meng Tianyi: Yes, yes, gold can be processed as well.].

[Su Mu: All right. I’ll give you some gold to use as a tool. I need you to process it into water buckets.].

Meng Tianyi’s reaction was immediate.

[Meng Tianyi: Wow, Su Mu, you’re using gold to make water buckets? That’s so extravagant!].

[Meng Tianyi: You must have been super rich before coming to this apocalyptic world.].

[Meng Tianyi: But Su Mu, I don’t work for free. Processing gold is fine, but you have to give me something else as payment.].

Su Mu didn’t hesitate. Though gold still had its uses, survival and increasing his strength took precedence.

[Su Mu: If you need Purified Bones, I can give you some.].

He had more bones than he could use, and the process of gaining strength with bone broth was relatively slow. Trading them for something he needed seemed like a fair deal.

[Meng Tianyi: Really? No problem, Su Mu.].

[Meng Tianyi: Send the materials over, and I’ll make the water buckets for you.].

Without delay, Su Mu sent her 40 units of gold along with 40 pieces of Purified Bones as payment.

When Meng Tianyi saw the sheer amount, she was utterly stunned.

[Meng Tianyi: Wow, Su Mu, you’re really rich!].

[Meng Tianyi: Don’t worry, boss. Today, I’m your worker.].

[Meng Tianyi: I’ll send you the finished water buckets soon.].

She even added an enthusiastic emoji, which made Su Mu smirk.

…

After finishing his conversation with Meng Tianyi, Su Mu turned his attention to the map of the Corrupted Wasteland.

“Go east from here,” he murmured. “There’s a river on the surface. But I need to be careful. Water sources are magnets for monsters.”

With a clear direction in mind, he moved cautiously. In this apocalyptic world, water was life. Monsters and survivors alike were drawn to it, making it a dangerous necessity.

Earlier, Su Mu had seen numerous posts on the World Forum from survivors who had suffered serious injuries—some nearly fatal—while attempting to collect water. Those who managed to return alive were considered lucky.

As he approached the river, the scene before him confirmed his concerns.

A group of Scarlet Wild Dogs was already locked in a standoff with undead creatures near the water source.

[Scarlet Wild Dog].

[Level: 5].

[Traits: Light body, quick and agile movements.].

[Description: A wild dog with little meat. To survive, Scarlet Wild Dogs are very small, but don’t underestimate them.].

Su Mu counted at least a dozen Scarlet Wild Dogs, facing off against an equally large group of undead.

“That’s a lot of creatures,” he muttered, his brow furrowing. “Dealing with them all would be too risky.”

The tension between the two groups worked in his favor. Su Mu decided to let them fight each other while he waited to reap the benefits.

He shifted his focus closer to the stream. Water in this world was beyond precious, and finding a river that still flowed was nothing short of a miracle.