Chapter 300: Water Ability User
Chapter 300: Water Ability User
Tang Jianjun only needs to manage his side of things—maintaining order in Tiesi Village and ensuring the safety of the orphans, widows, elderly, weak, women, and disabled who haven’t joined any survivor team.
"Yes, it's too difficult. I don't even know if I'll live to see the day when order is restored." A faint melancholy flickers in Tang Jianjun’s eyes, but his old face carries a relieved smile. Looking at Zhang Boxun, he says, "We cannot afford to lose talented people. Zhan Lian is a metal-type ability user, just like you. Find a way to strengthen his ties with us. If approaching him directly is difficult, then start with what he cares about most—his daughter."
Zhang Boxun lowers his gaze slightly, his handsome face showing a firm expression as he nods.
Tang Jianjun continues, "Be careful and gentle when dealing with women and children. It would be best if Zhan Lian's ex-wife and daughter could settle here wholeheartedly."
"Understood, I know how to handle it."
"Also, about that water ability user in your District 2—he’s been too conspicuous lately, openly accepting crystal cores in exchange for water. If this continues, something will happen sooner or later. Protect him before it’s too late, but do it discreetly—Tiesi Village is getting more chaotic by the day."
Tang Jianjun sighs, reflecting on the current state of affairs. Many people in this apocalypse have no awareness of their own precarious positions. Forget about his own daughter, Tang Siluo, who lacks any exceptional talent—just look at the water-based ability user in Zhang Boxun’s district.
Tang Jianjun understands why water-based and wood-based ability users act this way. They are inherently weak, unable to obtain crystal cores by fighting zombies or ability user beasts.
But if they need crystal cores, why flaunt their abilities so openly? Collecting crystal cores in exchange for water? That’s practically dangling a fat piece of meat in front of a pack of hungry wolves.
The truth is, Tang Jianjun’s control over Tiesi Village runs deeper than most realize. He secretly manages several water and wood-based ability users, not just one. This is why every person entering the village is required to hand over ten crystal cores—to sustain these critical but vulnerable ability users.
Water and wood-based ability users are naturally fragile, ill-suited for the brutality of the apocalypse. Their powers are non-combative, making them valuable only in maintaining daily life. The water and vegetables they produce are reserved for the upper echelons of the military within Tiesi Village.
And even then, there are times when even the highest-ranking officers struggle to get enough.
Because of this, most of these fragile, non-combative ability users are kept under strict control. Tang Jianjun has ordered them to hide their abilities and refrain from drawing attention.
But this particular water-based ability user in District 2 is different.
Lately, anyone who knows the right channels can buy water with crystal cores in Tiesi Village.
This fool has completely failed to grasp the danger of his situation.
Zhang Boxun’s expression tightens, but he still nods. It’s true that the water-based ability user in his district has been selling water openly—but the ones buying it are high-ranking officials like Zhan Lian and Luo Feifan.
If he puts a stop to it, those men will surely object.
But then again, Zhang Boxun reasons, Zhan Lian and Luo Feifan always have access to water anyway—it wouldn’t be a major issue.
Right now, the situation in Tiesi Village is tense. The survivors watching the water-based and wood-based ability users have eyes as sharp as a hawk’s.
Tang Jianjun’s efforts to control and conceal these ability users aren’t just about maintaining order—they’re about survival. For both the village and those ability users themselves.