Chapter 66 Preparing to Enter the New Dungeon

When Lin Xiangjun saw that she was the only one to clear the three-star instance with an S-rank, she had already guessed that the Special Security Bureau would use Wang Guiying as a breakthrough point to try and obtain information about her.

Fortunately, she had already taken complete protective measures. Not to mention how much money the Special Security Bureau had on hand or whether they could afford items, even if they could afford them, they wouldn't be able to investigate under the effects of the Memory-Blurring Bandage.

"Master, I heard that the benefits at the Special Security Bureau are really good. They work two days and rest five, have social insurance and housing funds, are officially employed, and have many extra subsidies!" Wang Min sighed. "It would be great if we could work there."

These terms would have been incredibly competitive even before the apocalypse.

If these conditions existed before the apocalypse, she would have been willing to study for the entrance exams for ten years.

The problem is, this is the post-apocalyptic era!

What use is your official employment status to me?

Lin Xiangjun patted Wang Min on the shoulder. She had died tragically at home before she even graduated from university, so she still carried a bit of innocence untainted by the world, and she still believed what others wanted her to believe.

"What benefit would I get from joining the Special Security Bureau? I have money, and I don't even need to work those two days. The things they can offer have no meaning to me; I don't need any official employment or social insurance."

"And being found by them would only be trouble for me."

Wang Min nodded while peeling potatoes. "That's true. It seems the Special Security Bureau doesn't have much underworld currency either. I saw them buying it online at a high price; the exchange rate between underworld currency and paper money has already reached 1:100."

Wang Min was using a peeler, and her movements weren't slow, but Gao Xiu was scraping the potato skins with a thinner spoon. In the time it took Wang Min to peel two, the potato in Gao Xiu's hand had already completed its class leap, sitting white and plump in the water.

"What's the use of that paper money?" Gao Xiu said with great disdain. "I saw it on TV a couple of days ago. Prices are skyrocketing now; a single potato costs ten or twenty yuan. A hundred yuan in paper money can only buy seven or eight potatoes. What's the point of that?"

The potato skins peeled by Wang Min and Gao Xiu didn't go to waste. Sun Changqin was nearby, chopping up the skins and mixing them with other kitchen waste, vegetable roots, rotten leaves, and a bit of bran, making perfect feed for the livestock.

She chopped on the cutting board with a loud thumping sound. "If it's just for buying food and drink, it's normal for people to exchange for paper money. Although prices have risen sharply, you can still buy things now. Look at the prices in the mall; even outside an instance, a bowl of rice costs ten yuan. What can you buy with a little underworld currency? It's better to trade it for big potatoes!"

Yang Puxin set up two drying racks in the courtyard to dry clothes. Lin Xiangjun had arranged five sets of clothes for each of them, all in similar styles: solid-colored tracksuits and sweatpants paired with short-sleeved shirts in various colors, which were good-looking, durable, and convenient for working.

However, she had the habit of washing new clothes before wearing them when she was alive, and that hadn't changed even now that she was a ghost. More than thirty sets of brown tracksuits were lined up in a long row in the courtyard. Looking at them from a distance, it was quite pretty, adding a touch of lively color to this black-and-white house.

"Yeah, even if people know that underworld currency is important, what's the use? Their own family still needs to eat, and they still have to survive."

Dong Yuhua was ironing the clothes flat and putting them away on the side. As she ironed, she chimed in, "The rent outside isn't low! I heard that for a small ninety-square-meter house in an ordinary alley, the monthly rent is four hundred and fifty!"

"That expensive!" Gao Xiu was surprised to hear this. She held a potato in her hand, skillfully tapped her spoon against the edge of the trash can beside her, and knocked the thin potato skin stuck to the spoon into the bin.

"How is the rent charged?"

"In new residential areas with good locations, it's five yuan per square meter per month; in new residential areas with poor locations and old residential areas with good locations, it's four yuan per square meter per month; old residential areas with poor locations are the cheapest, at three yuan per square meter per month."

Dong Yuhua said as she folded the clothes neatly, ironing a wash label with each person's name onto their clothes.

She lamented, "Like the employer I worked for before, the house was over a thousand square meters, in a new residential area, in a very good location. Now they have to pay over five thousand in underworld currency for rent every month, tsk tsk."

What is the concept of over five thousand underworld currency?

Fifty one-star instances!

The weird world has just begun; who could possibly afford that?

"At the time, I envied them for being rich and buying a big house—but now? Heh, whoever buys a big house is just asking for trouble!"

Lin Xiangjun listened to the group chatting while exercising in the courtyard.

She had summoned another master proficient in blade techniques for herself. She was a woman in her early forties with long hair and a sturdy build, named Bai Yunlan.

Lin Xiangjun had recently been intensifying her training according to her requirements, going to bed early and rising early every day, eating more protein, and after getting up, she would practice horse stance, run, stand in meditation, and finally review the blade techniques taught by Bai Yunlan.

Every day, besides practicing blade techniques and exercising, she would read books or browse the communication area; her life was quite regular.

The faint scent of laundry detergent filled the small courtyard. Although only one of the seven people present could breathe, it was still somewhat heartwarming.

"The people who are still alive are pitiful. Unlike us, fifty underworld currency a week—once we get it, we can live, and we don't have to worry about where to stay."

"By the way, Miss Lin, should we stock up on more toiletries and such? Although Wang Min has already bought a lot, I see that prices are rising recently, and buying them later might cost a lot of money..."

"By the way, Miss Lin, with these potatoes, I plan to make shredded potatoes with vinegar and chili, dry-pot potatoes, and sliced potatoes. There are two chickens in the kitchen, so I'll make braised chicken as well. Is there anything else you want to eat? I'll make it in the afternoon..."

Time gradually passed in such peaceful and stable days.

A month later.

Lin Xiangjun put on her tracksuit, tied her hair up neatly, and checked through all her items.

Everything was ready.

She patted the reluctant Wang Min on the shoulder. "Alright, while I'm not at home, you should learn more martial arts from Aunt Bai. Be good. When you become a martial arts master, I'll take you into an instance."

Although Wang Min was reluctant, she knew Lin Xiangjun's character of always keeping her word, so she could only nod obediently. "Come home safely, Master."

Lin Xiangjun felt a little helpless.

Except for Wang Min, Gao Xiu and the others all called Lin Xiangjun "Miss Lin." She didn't know if Wang Min had watched too many TV shows or what was going on; no matter what, she still called her "Master" every time.

Lin Xiangjun couldn't do anything about her, so she just let her be.

"Alright, if nothing unexpected happens, I'll be back soon. Tell Aunt Gao to make a steamed fish; I'm craving that."

Lin Xiangjun had also bought Wang Min a mobile phone, linked to her own bank card, so that even when she wasn't there, Wang Min could buy things for the house without any inconvenience.

Today was the first of the month, and the number of times she could enter an instance this month had refreshed.

Lin Xiangjun planned to get the job done early; she didn't want to drag it out until the end and wait for the system to arrange it.

Therefore, during this period, she had been lurking in the game's communication area, waiting for a suitable instance.