Apocalypse: Resources consumed by women will be returned ten thousandfold.

--Translated by likesnovel--

As Jiang Fan approached within roughly **10 meters** of the swimming pool, the mutated frog suddenly opened its eyes.

In the next instant, it leaped out of the pool and landed directly on the ground above his position!

"Ribbit!"

"Ribbit!"

Its deep, thunderous croaks echoed through the area like an alarm signal.

Jiang Fan's expression changed immediately.

His body sank into the earth at once, diving dozens of meters underground in the blink of an eye.

---

After observing the surroundings for a while and sensing nothing unusual, the mutated frog gradually relaxed.

It hopped back into the pool and resumed resting as if nothing had happened.

Jiang Fan frowned.

"This thing's perception is that powerful?"

"That's troublesome..."

He glanced toward the Black Lychee Fruit not far away.

In the end, he could only abandon the idea for now.

Jiang Fan wasn't someone who took unnecessary risks.

Unless he was **100% certain**, he wouldn't act.

---

When he returned to his apartment, Xu Mengqian was already awake and preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

The moment she saw him, a bright smile appeared on her face.

"Brother Jiang, you're back? Breakfast is almost ready. Please wait a moment."

In Jiang Fan's eyes, the green glow surrounding her was now as pure as fine jade.

It seemed she had completely brainwashed herself.

He was extremely satisfied.

Then he took out an Enlightenment Fruit.

"This is your reward."

"The Phasing Fruit. Eat it."

It was perfect timing.

His stock of fruits that granted the ability to phase through objects was running low.

It was time to replenish it.

---

For Xu Mengqian, the happiness came so suddenly that she was caught completely off guard.

"Thank you, Brother Jiang!"

She accepted the fruit excitedly and immediately ate it.

【Ding!】

【Xu Mengqian has consumed 1 Enlightenment Fruit — Object Phasing Ability】

【Return Reward: 700 Fruits】

【Stored in Personal Space】

Jiang Fan's eyes lit up.

**700 fruits!**

Excellent luck.

---

Afterward, Jiang Fan guided Xu Mengqian through another test of her new phasing ability.

After witnessing such a miraculous power firsthand, the way she looked at him seemed almost filled with stars.

The green glow around her became even purer and brighter.

---

Jiang Fan sat down on the sofa and casually grabbed a handful of Enlightenment Fruits, eating them as usual.

Suddenly—

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Bai Yan started barking loudly.

Jiang Fan turned his head.

The mutated Husky was standing by the hole in the neighboring wall, wagging its tail enthusiastically.

After mutating, its intelligence had clearly increased significantly.

If Jiang Fan didn't give permission, it would never enter the room on its own.

At first, the women had been somewhat afraid of it.

But after realizing how obedient Bai Yan was, they gradually relaxed.

---

"Woof! Woof!"

Bai Yan stared at the Enlightenment Fruits in Jiang Fan's hand with shining eyes.

It jumped.

Spun in circles.

And shamelessly tried to curry favor.

Jiang Fan laughed.

"You want some too?"

"Woof!"

---

After a brief moment of thought, Jiang Fan waved his hand.

"Come here."

Bai Yan immediately rushed over.

It stopped in front of him and stared at the fruits so intensely that drool almost formed a puddle on the floor.

Jiang Fan was curious as well.

Could mutated animals use Enlightenment Fruits?

He took out a handful of Phasing Fruits and placed them on the ground.

"Go ahead."

---

Bai Yan immediately lowered its head.

Chomp!

Chomp!

Chomp!

Within seconds, every fruit was gone.

---

Not long afterward, it sensed something strange.

Tilting its head, it looked at Jiang Fan in confusion.

Then suddenly—

Its body sank straight through the floor!

"Whineee!"

Bai Yan nearly jumped out of its fur.

It frantically clawed at the ground before disappearing entirely through the floor.

Jiang Fan nodded in satisfaction.

"It works."

"Animals can use Enlightenment Fruits too."

Then he casually phased through the floor and descended to the **31st floor**.

---

Meanwhile, Bai Yan stood downstairs in complete confusion.

It looked at Jiang Fan.

Then at its own paws.

Afterward, it cautiously touched the concrete floor with a claw.

Its paw passed straight through.

The dog froze.

Then tried again.

And again.

Its animal instincts seemed to help it learn at an astonishing speed.

Before long, Bai Yan had figured out how the ability worked.

It charged directly into a wall—

—and emerged effortlessly from the other side.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Excited barking echoed from the neighboring room.

For several days, it had been trapped in the same apartment and nearly gone crazy from boredom.

Now it had a brand-new power.

Naturally, it began racing through walls all over the floor for fun.

---

Jiang Fan shouted a warning.

"You can play on this floor."

"But don't go downstairs."

He had no idea whether the dog actually understood.

Still, it didn't really matter.

Above the **28th floor**, there were barely any people left.

And even if someone saw it—

What could they do?

Who could possibly stop a mutated beast like this?

---

A few minutes later, Bai Yan came running back.

Its tongue hung out.

It panted heavily, nearly exhausted.

Then it collapsed in front of Jiang Fan.

The ability clearly consumed an enormous amount of energy.

Even a mutated animal couldn't sustain it for long.

Jiang Fan took out another large pile of Phasing Fruits, along with a handful of Perception Fruits, and placed them on the floor.

Bai Yan immediately began eating happily.

---

After consuming the Perception Fruits, its eyes changed at once.

The dog stared at Jiang Fan in confusion.

Because from its perspective—

Its master was glowing.

A brilliant light radiated from Jiang Fan's body.

Jiang Fan gently rubbed the dog's head.

Then he phased through the ceiling and returned to his apartment.

---

At the same time, Bai Xinjie returned home with excitement written all over her face.

Inside the bedroom, her older brother, Bai Yongxin, lay weakly on the bed.

His face was pale and completely drained of color.

The moment her mother, Zheng Hongxia, saw her enter, she exploded.

"You ran outside this early in the morning?!"

"Where have you been?!"

"Your brother is seriously sick, and you still have the mood to wander around outside?!"

Every word was filled with blame.

As though all of this were somehow Bai Xinjie's fault.

---

Bai Yongxin lay weakly on the bed, looking at his younger sister.

He was so ill that he barely had the strength to speak anymore.

Bai Xinjie bit her lip hard, her eyes turning red with grievance.

“I went out to look for food...”

**Bang!**

Zheng Hongxia slammed her hand against the bedframe.

“And you still dare to lie to me?!”

“In a situation like this, where could you possibly find food?!”

Tears welled up in Bai Xinjie’s eyes.

She clenched her red lips and thrust her bag forward.

“Then see for yourself!”

With that, she opened the bag.

A stash of food appeared inside.

“Not just food...”

“There’s medicine too!”

Zheng Hongxia froze.

“Medicine?”

Bai Xinjie nodded.

“Cephalexin. It should help my brother’s condition.”

The moment she heard that, Zheng Hongxia’s face lit up with joy.

“Quick!”

“Give it to your brother right now!”

Bai Yongxin, who had been lying weakly on the bed moments ago, suddenly seemed to regain some life.

He struggled to sit up and shouted hoarsely,

“Medicine!”

“Give me the medicine, now!”

Bai Xinjie hurried over and helped him take the pills.

Then she pulled out **1** pack of instant noodles.

Bai Yongxin’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Give it here!”

He snatched it away rudely, tore open the package, and began stuffing the dry noodles into his mouth.

He devoured them like a starving animal.

Crumbs stuck all over his face, while pieces fell onto the bed.

Zheng Hongxia watched her son with tender eyes.

“Eat more, son.”

“The more you eat, the faster you'll recover.”

Bai Xinjie felt a sharp ache in her heart.

Food was worth more than gold now.

How could they let it go to waste like this?

She carefully picked up every fallen noodle crumb from the bedsheet and placed them into a small bowl.

After eating and taking the medicine, Bai Yongxin looked noticeably better.

Leaning against his pillow, he finally asked,

“Where did you get all this?”

“What did you trade for it?”

Bai Xinjie hesitated.

“Well...”

She had already promised Jiang Fan that she wouldn't reveal anything about the Black Lychee Fruit.

Bai Yongxin frowned.

“What’s so hard to say?”

“Who gave it to you?”

Even Zheng Hongxia became suspicious.

In an age where food was more precious than anything else, who would give away supplies for free?

She grabbed Bai Xinjie’s bag and inspected the contents.

Inside were still:

* **2** packs of instant noodles

* **3** ham sausages

* **3** chocolate bars

* **2** boxes of cephalexin

Outside, people would kill for resources like these.

Bai Xinjie lowered her head, unsure how to explain.

Zheng Hongxia’s expression darkened.

“Speak!”

“Who gave them to you?!”

Bai Xinjie bit her lip.

“Mom... do you really have to ask?”

“At least we have food now...”

Bai Yongxin stared at her.

Then, all of a sudden, he sneered.

“You traded your body for it, didn't you?”

Bai Xinjie froze.

The color instantly drained from her face.

“Brother!”

“What are you saying?!”

Bai Yongxin let out a cold laugh.

“Hmph.”

“What else do you have to offer besides your body?”

“Do you even realize how valuable food and medicine are now?”

His words were like knives stabbing straight into her heart.

Bai Xinjie turned toward her mother desperately.

“Mom...”

“Did you hear what he just said?”

But Zheng Hongxia only stared at her for a long moment before speaking coldly.

“If you really sold yourself, why bother hiding it?”

“Are you ashamed?”

Bai Xinjie’s eyes widened in disbelief.

In Zheng Hongxia’s mind, what else could her daughter possibly trade for resources besides her body?

More importantly...

Her son mattered most.

Bai Yongxin was the only male heir of the Bai family.

Nothing could happen to him.

As for a daughter...

She would eventually marry into another family anyway.

If necessary, Zheng Hongxia was fully willing to sacrifice her daughter to save her son.

Bai Xinjie’s body trembled.

“Mom...”

“Is that really how you see me?”

Ever since childhood, Zheng Hongxia had always favored Bai Yongxin.

The best toys.

The best food.

Everything always went to him first.

Even so, Bai Xinjie had always believed her mother loved her.

But today...

Those words shattered that belief completely.

Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.

She clutched the bag tightly, as if it were the only thing she had left.

She had risked her life going outside with a strange man.

She had brought back food and medicine to save her family.

Yet all she received in return was suspicion and humiliation from the people closest to her.

Suddenly, Zheng Hongxia lunged forward and snatched the bag from her hands.

“Since you've already got a man taking care of you!”

“Then stop eating the food at home!”

Bai Xinjie burst into tears.

“That’s not true!”

But Zheng Hongxia didn't care in the slightest.

Pointing toward the living room, she ordered coldly,

“You’re sleeping outside tonight.”

“Don’t disturb your brother while he recovers.”

Beside her, Bai Yongxin looked at his sister with a satisfied smile.

Now that she was being kicked out, these supplies should be enough to keep him fed for another **4–5 days**.

Bai Xinjie stood there motionless.

Her heart felt as though it were being crushed.

At that moment, the coldness she felt inside was far more unbearable than the crimson mist outside the window.