Chapter 23
Heat.
That was Lin Tu's first impression upon entering the apocalypse world—she might very well die from the heat alone in this disaster.
She took out her phone again and checked her personal info and disaster details. As a side note, her personal rating had risen quite a bit thanks to the full-body enhancement ticket, so before entering the disaster world, Lin Tu had even fantasized that her heat resistance might have increased too.
[Player: Lin Tu
Age: 26
Player Physique: Normal (assessed: all E-level except Strength, which is D-level: Speed, Agility, Reaction)
Special Items: Angry Corn; 'I love my home' Wind Chime; Zombie Nightmare;
Overall Rating: E+ level]
[Tropical Paradise
Rating: D+ level (player overall stats below standard; survival probability 25%)]
Disaster: Abnormal Plant Crisis
Description: Amidst the extreme heat following waves of wildfires, the world's moisture evaporates rapidly. First, heavy-metal hyperaccumulator plants mutate, then all plants in the world. They begin to grow crazily relying on iron elements, and all molecules containing iron come under attack, including humans... Make sure your blood doesn't get sucked dry!
Quest: Survive three months (completion grants a random reward)
Side Quest: Eliminate D+ level abnormal plants (unlock random rewards after reaching a certain kill count)]
Lin Tu pulled open the curtain and pushed open the window, feeling a wave of heat even more intense than indoors rush in. She instinctively reached out a hand to shield herself from the heatwave, but it was futile.
Outside the window, the endless stream of cars emitted overloaded groans as their air conditioners strained under the high temperature. Pedestrians walking along the roadside hurried along, their complaints and fearful voices mingling together, even the street vendors' calls sounding hot and weary.
Lin Tu, annoyed, closed the window and turned on the air conditioner.
As soon as she pulled the heavy, textured dark curtains shut, the scorching sunlight was completely blocked outside. The light spread evenly across the spacious room, and the air conditioner blew out a steady stream of cool air. Compared to a few days ago, Lin Tu's dilapidated house had changed completely.
First, the space: she had spent 600 points to purchase 6 square meters of housing space, two of which were added to the original house, and four square meters were used to create a cold storage room, allowing her to store more food.
Then Lin Tu spent 150 points on [Permanent Electricity], 150 points on [Permanent Water Supply], and 150 points on [Stable Foundation].
These three were all necessary—without air conditioning in ultra-hot weather, heatstroke would be a real problem. However, Lin Tu didn't plan to rely entirely on [Permanent Electricity]. She had installed a row of solar panels in the previous disaster and could continue using them to reduce the point cost of [Permanent Electricity].
[Permanent Water Supply] went without saying—water was the source of life. This world had scarce water that evaporated quickly, so even without it, Lin Tu would need to stockpile large amounts of water, taking up space, or even stockpile water coupons.
Finally, [Stable Foundation] ensured her house stood firmly on the ground, not toppled by any sudden... things.
After buying these items, Lin Tu had only 763 points left.
She spent 30 points on a long knife and exchanged 33 points for RMB, stocking up on quite a bit of goods in this world, all now piled up in the house.
Due to the expanded space, the layout had changed a bit.
The two extra square meters were added near the window, turning it into a protruding, fully enclosed balcony. The four shelves by the window had become six; the original four shelves remained in place, and Lin Tu bought two identical shelves, perpendicular to the originals, placed against the wall of the protruding section.
Since she had [Permanent Water Supply], the shelf that used to hold water was now repurposed to save indoor space.
The other shelves were organized by category, doubling what she had stocked before, plus adding new items she didn't have previously.
The first left shelf still held staple foods: at the bottom, four 50-jin vacuum-packed rice bags, one 30-jin buckwheat, and twelve bags of various noodles—wide, thin, spaghetti, etc. In the middle, two 50-jin flour bags, a large sack of potatoes, sweet potatoes, purple potatoes, and a box of oatmeal. At the top, two boxes of assorted instant noodles, two boxes of luosifen, two boxes of self-heating hotpot, and two boxes of self-heating rice.
The second left shelf was dedicated to canned goods. Lin Tu had scavenged quite a few cans in the previous disaster, taking up the entire bottom layer. The middle layer held assorted canned dishes she bought, and the top layer had assorted canned fruits.
The second right shelf and the first right shelf were almost unchanged. The second right cabinet held energy drinks, milk, tissues, toiletries, and other daily necessities, but the power banks on the top shelf were swapped for a box of sunscreen, plus summer items like cooling oil; the first right shelf held various snacks and medicines, but the crowbars and sledgehammers were replaced with a full row of guns and bullets, and the motorcycle raincoat became a sun-protection jacket.
Lin Tu didn't use the two extra shelves on the enclosed balcony for storage. Instead, she went to the local farmers' market and bought twenty or thirty pots of vegetables, fruits, and other crops, placing them on the shelves in flower pots. Under each shelf, she hung LED strip grow lights. Near the shelves by the windowsill, she piled five or six bags of soil and organic fertilizer, and on the windowsill she installed a small rack holding a watering can, pruning shears, a shovel, and other tools.
Among these crops were two pots each of scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers, two pots of chives, two pots of peas, six pots of lettuce, six pots of bok choy, and two pots of cherry tomatoes. Clearly, Lin Tu went to great lengths for fresh vegetables.
Of course, there was also her prop, "Angry Corn," on the floor, now grown into a tall corn seedling.
Worth mentioning: after returning to this world, to give "Angry Corn" more space in a bigger pot, Lin Tu temporarily transplanted it into the yard of the old house.
Unexpectedly, once it touched soil, its survival rate soared, and its growth rate increased significantly. It seemed to grow five days' worth in one day, cutting fifteen days off its growth cycle in just three days. At this rate, it would mature in fifteen days.
Aside from the changes on the shelves, not much else had changed. Lin Tu swapped her winter clothes for summer ones, and her bedsheets became latex cool mats. The fireplace was removed—she spent over two hundred thousand to rush-install a kitchen with cabinets, an oven, a sink, and a gas stove. The house also gained air conditioning, fans, refrigerators, and other appliances.
Seeing it all, the home looked proper now.
Of course, what satisfied Lin Tu most was the underground cold storage space she bought for 450 points. It was only four square meters, but it could store plenty of chilled food. Eating fresh meat every day was more than satisfying.
Lin Tu currently lived on the second floor of a residential building, with her cold storage on the first floor.
By the way, the reason she was in the center of a city in the southwest, rather than in her remote rural mountain valley, was due to information provided by Luo Yongzhi. Lin Tu specifically spent 150 points on [Travel Once] to place her home here.
Speak of the devil—Luo Yongzhi appeared. Leaning by the window, Lin Tu stood in the shade, peering through the gap in the curtains, and finally saw that familiar figure.
She immediately opened the door and, after adjusting to the stuffy heat for a moment, walked out of the apartment building with an umbrella.
"What a coincidence—good thing you came, or Brother Zhang said we couldn't wait any longer!" Luo Yongzhi said excitedly upon seeing Lin Tu.
"It's not that I wouldn't wait; the disaster's already started," a man called Zhang glanced at Lin Tu. "Now we need to hurry and rent a place—we have to stock up enough supplies before the plants mutate en masse."
The woman beside Zhang coyly tugged his arm. "Is she coming to stay with us too? Brother, didn't you say you'd only bring me alone..."
Zhang softened immediately: "We agreed on two men, but somehow it turned into one man and one woman. But..."
Zhang's gaze swept over Lin Tu's figure meaningfully. She was dressed simply—a sports T-shirt and sports shorts, with white sneakers underneath.
But her figure was very slender, her well-maintained skin gleamed, her hair was moist and elastic, curling in just the right arcs at the ends. Even casual sportswear made her look particularly refined.
Under the sun umbrella, the shadow of her sunglasses hid her eyes, revealing only a small chin and rosy lips.
"A woman's fine too, as long as she's sensible and doesn't hold us back..." Zhang said disdainfully, but then sighed with feigned magnanimity, as if already imagining Lin Tu begging him.
"Idiot," Lin Tu said coldly. "You were too slow. I already rented a place."
"You!" Zhang hadn't expected Lin Tu to insult him, and for a moment he was stunned.
"Sister Lin, you're so fast!" Luo Yongzhi asked in surprise. He didn't think there was anything wrong with Lin Tu cursing. In fact, he wouldn't find anything she said problematic.
"Mm," Lin Tu lifted her chin slightly.
From childhood, Lin Tu had been used to being looked up to. Although not intentional, she naturally carried an air of disdain, a hint of looking down on others. Without saying a word, she gave off the feeling she couldn't be bothered to speak with the person in front of her.
This feeling wasn't strong to ordinary people, but to Zhang, who had been insecure and only gained some reputation after entering [Infinite Disaster], it immediately reminded him of pre-apocalypse times, stirring up an irrational fury.
"How dare you curse me! Who do you think you are? You think acting all unique will get you attention? If you've got the guts, leave right now, and see if I take you along!" Zhang said angrily.
Luo Yongzhi hadn't expected the two to clash like gunpowder barrels at first sight. Zhang was usually good-tempered with people, so why today... But compared to Zhang, Luo Yongzhi knew Lin Tu had an even worse temper, though she was also kinder to him.
He quickly stood by Lin Tu's side to explain: "Sister Lin really doesn't need anyone to carry her through a game. I didn't have a suitable person around, and since Sister Lin saved me, I thought I'd give her our team leader spot."
Thinking about it, Luo Yongzhi couldn't help but regret—he had wanted to give Lin Tu more disaster information, but instead, he'd made trouble for her.
The people beside Zhang sneered at Lin Tu, waiting to see how she'd handle this.
Admittedly, Luo Yongzhi had said the person coming with him was a big shot who had ended a disaster early, but judging by Lin Tu's appearance, they didn't think she looked like a big shot at all. Besides... what big shot could Luo Yongzhi know?
"Ah!" At that moment, not far away, a girl let out a sharp scream.
Everyone turned to look. A bush on the green belt had suddenly grown to a full meter tall, its metallic branches spreading like claws. In a whoosh, it pierced through a car on the road and lifted it high into the air.
One of its branches had quietly crept close to the girl and wrapped around her waist with lightning speed.