After Lu Yunping finished speaking, Chen Feng took over:
"That's the situation. Whether you want to join us is entirely up to you. We have complete freedom of movement here—no coercion."
Han Ning pondered for a moment.
He wasn't lacking food at the moment, but other resources—information, energy, practical tools, crop seeds—were all things he urgently needed.
"Alright, I'll join," Han Ning made his decision.
Chen Feng didn't seem surprised by this answer. He fished out a uniquely textured black card from his pocket and handed it over:
"Welcome to the Azure Cloud Awakened Association. This is a room key for Azure Cloud Resort, and also your membership credential."
"With this, you can stay in that room and freely participate in all association activities."
"Our association currently has 57 Awakened and over 100 ordinary people. The numbers keep changing as people die and new members join."
"There's a marketplace open around the clock for resource exchange. When you get to the resort, just register some basic information—nothing too detailed, just a rough outline of your Awakened abilities."
"57? That many?! Do you know how ordinary people become Awakened?"
Han Ning took the cold black key card—similar to those in five-star hotels—etched with simple cloud patterns and a room number.
Chen Feng shook his head:
"Hah, we've recruited almost all the Awakened in the eastern resort area—that's why there are so many."
"As for how ordinary people become Awakened, that's still unknown. We only know that when someone experiences intense emotional fluctuations, there's a higher chance they'll Awaken."
"Consuming the flesh of local monsters also has a small chance of triggering mutation—though most are malignant mutations."
"Eating monster flesh can cause Awakening?"
"Right! But the success rate is very low."
Chen Feng's expression turned serious,
"Different people react differently to different monster flesh. It's still in the experimental stage—I don't know much about it."
Then, as if just remembering, he asked: "By the way, what's your name, brother?"
Chen Feng seemed unwilling to elaborate further.
Han Ning decided not to press the issue and answered:
"Han Ning... the 'Ning' as in 'tranquility.' Why are you two here?"
Chen Feng replied:
"We usually operate in this area, recruiting new members or hunting monsters."
"Our partner—a mental perception-type Awakened—couldn't make it today, so we had to scout the outskirts of the Mist Zone, hoping to hunt a few stray Crocodile Lizards. Didn't expect to run into you."
At this point, he forced a smile,
"To be honest, recommending capable newcomers to join the association earns us referrers some internal rewards."
"If you meet suitable candidates in the future, you can recommend them too—same rewards apply."
Han Ning suddenly understood—no wonder these two were so enthusiastic; they must be getting commissions.
It made sense as an incentive mechanism to strengthen the organization.
"Got it," Han Ning nodded, tucking the room card away before asking, "Would it be possible to take me to the market now? I'd like to familiarize myself with the surroundings."
"Of course," Chen Feng agreed readily.
"Perfect timing—I need to get my wounds treated anyway. Let's go. The resort isn't far, closer to the city center."
...
Azure Cloud Resort was nestled within a relatively intact cluster of buildings, a fair distance from the edge of the white mist.
The main structure was a luxurious high-rise hotel over a dozen stories tall, surrounded by villas and recreational facilities. Some areas had been converted into defensive fortifications, with patrols keeping watch.
Entering the hotel lobby, Han Ning found it repurposed as a makeshift association front desk.
The interior was dimly lit, relying solely on faint natural light.
After a brief registration process,
Chen Feng said to Han Ning, "All set. Yunping and I need to head to the medical bay to get patched up. Feel free to look around on your own."
"The banquet hall on the second floor is the market. If you need anything, just ask anyone here—they all know the rules."
"Trade freely—set up a stall or negotiate directly. You can return to your room or leave the resort anytime. No restrictions."
"Got it. Thanks to both of you," Han Ning acknowledged with a nod.
Chen Feng and Lu Yunping turned and left.
Following the signs, Han Ning headed toward the second-floor banquet hall.
As he reached the stairwell, the muffled buzz of chatter drifted down—a stark contrast to the quiet atmosphere of the first floor.
Pushing open the heavy banquet hall doors, a wave of mixed odors—sweat, mildew, and food—hit him.
The hall was spacious, its neatly arranged tables and chairs pushed to the sides. The center was filled with dozens of mismatched tables.
Some displayed goods, their owners seated behind them.
Most had crude cardboard signs propped or taped nearby, scrawled with crooked handwriting listing items and trade conditions.
The place was far livelier than Han Ning had expected, with at least several dozen people milling about.
Some stood or sat, murmuring in conversation.
Others haggled, while a few simply sat blankly behind their stalls, lost in thought.
The dim lighting came mostly from candles on the stalls, giving the place an eerie, black-market vibe.
"So many people?" Han Ning guessed most were likely family members of Awakened.
Ordinary people could be abandoned, but family was harder to leave behind.
With Snowflake in tow, he stepped inside and began slowly browsing the aisles.
The crowd flinched at the sight of Snowflake's hulking, fearsome form—
then relaxed when they noticed the beast trailing obediently behind the stranger like a pet.
Ignoring their tension, Han Ning focused on the goods spread across the tables.
The items for sale fell into a few broad categories—
1.
Food and water—the most common.
There were compressed biscuits, canned goods, vacuum-sealed rice and flour, bottled or barrel water, somewhat wilted vegetables and fruits, along with dried meat strips and fish. So far, Han Ning hadn't spotted any seeds for sale.
2.
Daily necessities: toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, scented soap, towels, toilet paper, lighters, matches, batteries, candles, sewing kits, tape, ropes, plastic bags...
3.
Tools and weapons: fire axes, crowbars, steel pipes, sharpened rebar, kitchen knives, daggers, wrenches, hammers, screwdriver sets...
Han Ning even spotted two well-maintained compound bows and a small bundle of arrows at one stall, priced exorbitantly high.
Some vendors were selling homemade Molotov cocktails.
4.
Medicine—a scarce resource. Stalls were few, offering a jumble of items.
Common cold medicine, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, gauze, bandages, iodine, alcohol...
5.
Energy sources: Cassette Stove gas canisters, gasoline, diesel, solid alcohol blocks, batteries.
6.
Clothing and protective gear: raincoats, windbreakers, sturdy work pants, durable boots, work gloves, motorcycle helmets...
7.
Other oddities: books, cigarettes, electronics.
8.
Information.
9.
People and other animals...
"Quite a variety," Han Ning mused.
As he moved toward a relatively secluded corner, an incongruous sight caught his eye.
Behind a small table sat a young woman.
Her face was delicate, free of makeup, and she wore a loose shirt.
On the cardboard in front of her, scrawled in red marker:
"Overnight: 2 cans or equivalent food, points."
The woman kept her head down, fingers nervously twisting the hem of her shirt, only occasionally darting quick glances at passersby—her eyes tinged with shame.
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