Chapter 19 The Chaotic Downtown

After staying at the weapon workshop for nearly three hours, it was already 4 PM by the time she started her return journey.

The trip back was anything but smooth; the closer she got to the city center, the worse the traffic became.

People who had been resting in the morning were coming out in droves in the afternoon, most heading to various malls to stockpile food and drinks for a weekend indoors.

With so many people out, combined with the heavy fog and those finishing their Saturday shifts, every road was soon gridlocked.

Horns blared incessantly on the streets, occasionally accompanied by the sound of collisions. Cars frequently followed too closely, and by the time they saw the car in front stop, it was too late to brake, resulting in several consecutive rear-end accidents.

Bai Xiao gripped the steering wheel, having lost track of how many red lights she had been stuck through at this intersection.

The trip there had taken an hour and a half, but the return took three hours. She was numb from the wait. By the time she reached her apartment, it was past 7 PM. A good amount of the meals she had ordered that morning were stacked at the door, but it looked like less than half the total; the delivery drivers were likely stuck in traffic too.

Bai Xiao had no choice but to carry the arrived meals into the apartment first, placing them into the storage slots she had cleared out before leaving.

Then, leaving the door slightly ajar, she took out several empty water tanks and began filling them while waiting for the rest of the food.

After waiting about another half hour, the ordered meals arrived one after another. Bai Xiao put everything away and looked around the apartment to see if there was anything else she needed to take.

She might not return here again. After confirming there were no more essentials, she closed the door and left.

On the way home, the road conditions hadn't improved much. The main streets were still heavily congested. Coupled with a series of traffic accidents where damaged cars couldn't be moved and tow trucks were stuck in traffic themselves, the already sluggish roads were now completely blocked.

It was very late by the time she got home. After washing up, Bai Xiao lay on her bed, scrolling through information online.

[Don't Worry About Eating]: I drove to the mall tonight; it took two hours to go five kilometers. Who gets me?! By the time I arrived, the mall was almost closing. And because it was so late, most of the fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats were gone—only the leftovers were left. Who gets me?! I wanted to buy some instant products, but all the good flavors were picked over. Who gets me?!

[A Set of Combos]: Buddy, looks like you really have to worry about eating now.

[Don't Be Impatient]: You're using "Who gets me" like a comma.

[Lucky +1]: The Supermarket has been crowded since noon. What were you thinking, showing up at night?

[Don't Believe I Can't Stand Tall Today]: I'm even unluckier. I got into a rear-end collision on the way. I called the traffic police, and they told me to wait because they were too busy to come...

[Choose a Black Glass]: Excellent companies let people off early on Friday afternoon. I headed straight for the Supermarket as soon as I finished work. Look at this harvest [Image][Image].

[Cheers Later]: Jealous.

[Don't Worry About Eating]: I'm done... I'm getting up early tomorrow morning. I refuse to believe I won't be able to buy anything.

[Cheers Later]: Thanks for the reminder.

[Not at the Front but the Back]: Thanks for the reminder +1.

[A Peach]: Thanks for the reminder +1.

[see see]: Is the fog in Yunzhou City really that thick? I left for a business trip early Thursday morning. It's perfectly clear here in Xiuyang City. I was supposed to finish my trip this week, but all flights back to Yunzhou are delayed. The company said I can stay two more days. I just scored a paid day off on Monday.

[Cheers Later]: I'm tired of saying I'm jealous.

...

The internet was practically two different worlds: one side recounting unlucky experiences, and the other showing off supplies and pictures of themselves comfortably eating and drinking at home.

...

A good night's sleep.

The next day, Bai Xiao opened her eyes on time. The first thing she did every morning was check the situation outside the window; it had become a habit.

Today's weather forecast showed a temperature of 22°C with heavy fog. The meteorological bureau had already issued the highest level—a red alert for heavy fog. At this level, visibility was less than a hundred meters.

If the streets below were blurry yesterday, now only parts of the dark gray road were vaguely visible. The residential buildings opposite were hidden in the thick fog, leaving only a faint outline.

The morning news was reporting the impact of the fog: factories had stopped production, highways were closed, and flights had been completely delayed since yesterday.

It was no longer suitable to go out today. Driving out recklessly in such thick fog would not only risk accidents but also make it very easy to lose one's way.

Bai Xiao thought that, in any case, the supplies she wanted were basically in place. Only a few non-essential items hadn't been purchased yet. Originally, she had planned to order some shelves and meal boxes.

The shelves were for categorizing and storing the cooked food she bought yesterday. Without them, the dishes were stacked high on top of each other in the storage slots.

She wanted the meal boxes to turn her stockpiled ingredients into ready-made meals to be stored in the storage slots. The food she ordered from the restaurant yesterday only took up a third of the storage space; it would be a waste to leave it empty. Since it was inconvenient to go out, she definitely wouldn't be able to buy these two things now.

Bai Xiao planned to message the boss she ordered the water tanks from later to ask if he had any shelves or meal boxes, and if so, if he could deliver a batch.

Now she finally had the time and peace of mind to give herself some closed-door training.

She made a schedule for herself: wake up at 7 AM, and from then until 9 AM, train for two hours in Comprehensive Close-Quarters Combat. Rest for an hour while catching up on external information. Then, until noon, learn and download encyclopedic knowledge from the internet, such as wilderness survival, first aid and bandaging, weapon maintenance, handicrafts, and so on. There was so much she wanted to learn.

After lunch, from 1 PM to 3 PM, she would practice her accuracy with the Compound Bow and the use of daggers. After an hour's break, she would continue her Comprehensive Close-Quarters Combat course until 6 PM.

After dinner, she would work on filling the water tanks and turning the stored food into cooked meals. If she really couldn't buy meal boxes by then, she would have to use freezer bags or just wrap them in plastic wrap.

A productive day!

...

At 9 AM, she stepped out of the training room. Sounds of doors opening and closing came from outside; people were heading out.

Bai Xiao walked to the window and looked down, catching glimpses of figures either riding bicycles or walking.

The residential complex she lived in was in the city center, with a large shopping mall only two kilometers away. These people were likely heading to the Supermarket to buy things.

Sure enough, not long after, her phone vibrated with messages from the neighborhood group.

[Binhe Mansion Homeowners Group (496)]

[6#2-703]: So many people rushed in as soon as the Supermarket opened [Image][Image]

[6#2-801]: Just woke up. Good neighbor, could you help me pick up a few things? [Cute]

[6#2-703]: Er, sorry, my husband and I walked here. We can't carry too much.

[6#2-801]: Just two five-packs of instant noodles, please! [Pleading][Pleading]

[6#2-703]: Alright then...

[1#1-203]: Is everyone not driving?

[3#1-602]: Don't even mention it. I drove home from work last night and was stuck on the road for three hours. By the time I reached the Supermarket, it had long since closed. The fog is even thicker today. I suggest everyone doesn't drive; the traffic is unbearable.

[4#2-1102]: We're only two kilometers from the mall. It's so early now, it should be fine, right?

[3#1-602]: You can try...

[5#1-902]: It's only been an hour and the shelves in the fresh produce section are already empty. Terrifying [Shocked][Shocked]

[3#2-1201]: What?! I just got up. Is the Supermarket restocking today?

[1#1-902]: Don't know. There are too many people. I only managed to grab two cucumbers [Awkward]. It's entirely down to hand speed.

...

Only a few people were speaking in the group. Bai Xiao was certain many others were lurking like her. Meanwhile, sounds came from the hallway again as more and more people from downstairs joined the walking army.