At this moment, in Hope Village.
The sky was growing darker. The teams that went out for gathering and hunting today were gradually returning, and each person had a cheerful expression on their face. From a distance, they could see the light coming from the territory, and they couldn't help but smile slightly.
This place, though simple, had unknowingly become their "home," giving them a new sense of belonging.
"You're back! How was the harvest?" Feng Lezhi, a member of the guard team stationed at the gate, asked the returning team with a smile.
"Today's harvest was alright, we got quite a bit," replied Zhong Yongnian, the team leader, with a laugh, without elaborating on the details.
Feng Lezhi had no intention of pressing for private details and continued, "Congratulations then! But most importantly, you all came back safely!"
"Yeah! Safety is the most important! It's all thanks to the territory, the weapons sold by the territory have a pretty high Damage score, they're really convenient for us to use," Zhong Yongnian said, unable to hide his satisfaction with the territory.
"It will only get better," Feng Lezhi said firmly.
They guarded the territory, making rounds in the territory and its surroundings. Earlier, he and Quan Ziqiang had made a simple round, but found nothing, as the surroundings had been cleared out by people clearly striving to build their "new home."
"Yes, outside is tough, but having a safe haven can give people the courage to face challenges. The worst is having no hope at all," Zhong Yongnian remarked with a sigh.
The two chatted for a bit, exchanged smiles, and then led the team into the territory.
Just as they entered, some family members of those who returned rushed to meet them with a quickening pace.
As more people returned to the territory, it suddenly became lively.
The bonfires were lit in advance, and people gathered around to start cooking food, with the smell of various foods spreading throughout the territory.
Sometimes cooking wasn't just about filling their stomachs, but more of a ceremonial feeling.
Just like now, many people gathered around to chat, passing the time.
"The chicken soup smells so rich! Who got chicken meat?"
"We got lucky today and encountered a Demonic Chicken, dropped 3 pieces of chicken meat. That Demonic Chicken was really hard to fight, two or three times larger than pre-apocalypse chickens, it hurts when pecking, with high Damage, and it can fly! Anyway, this chicken meat is really rare."
"Chicken meat, huh! Suddenly craving fried chicken!"
"I want some too!"
"It's only the second day of the Doomsday Game, yet it feels like such a long time has passed."
"Who wouldn't want fried chicken, but let's not get too ambitious. Just finished the raw meat and blood era, and now thinking about Level 3 leaps with oil and starch, where to find that?"
"Don't even mention oil and starch, let's tackle the spice issue first! Like salt! Let's at least have some taste!"
"Yesterday when you were hungry, you said having anything to eat would be enough."
"Haha! Different times, different aspirations!"
"Indeed, you always need some aspirations, otherwise, how do you get through life. So, are you selling the other two pieces of chicken meat?"
"I am! What do you have to trade with me?"
"Now that there are so many people here, it's a great opportunity for trades, anything you can't use can be sold to the territory."
"..."
As they talked, people started trading with each other.
Zhou Bai and her mother, Ding Qiurou, were also in the crowd, originally just observing while waiting for Zhou Zhengping to return. As they watched, Ding Qiurou couldn't resist joining in.
"You have fruit, what do you want to trade for it?"
"Mushrooms for rice, sure, I'll trade."
"I want wild vegetables!"
"..."
For a moment, Ding Qiurou's voice rang out constantly.
Zhou Bai watched and couldn't help but smile.
Scarcity determines value. While everyone received various meats from defeating Demon Beasts, meat wasn't scarce. Instead, wild vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits were higher in Price, although the price difference compared to Demon Beast drops was negligible, thus rare in the territory. No wonder her mother acted without restraint.
But it was only the second day, and Zhou Bai had reason to believe that as more people came to the territory, it grew stronger, and the variety of materials in the territory would become richer.
"Someone's coming back!" At the gate, Feng Lezhi saw figures not far from the territory and spoke up immediately, kind of as a reminder to those waiting for family members inside the territory.
Zhou Bai's attention was immediately captured; checking the Lord Map, she felt assured.
"It should be my dad and them." With that said, Zhou Bai quickly headed to the territory gate.
Hearing this, Ding Qiurou stopped trading and followed in Zhou Bai's footsteps, along with others waiting for family members who hadn't returned.
They hadn't walked far when they heard Zhou Bai's shout.
"Everyone, come help! We have wounded!"
People on site heard and rushed over.
Was it the guard team injured? The Guard Team had good weapons and Equipment, higher Level than most, and had a lot in numbers; if they were injured, did it mean more dangerous Demon Beasts appeared?
Many people's minds wandered, with a touch of fear in their hearts.
Once close, they discovered not just the Guard Team returning, but also dozens of survivors of various ages.
This group of survivors seemed much worse off than them before; almost all had injuries, some still bleeding, their makeshift bandaged Beast Skins soaked through, faces pale, clearly having encountered a major disaster.
Quite a few sighed deeply in their hearts, then proactively spoke.
"Let's get inside the territory first!"
"We just cooked some food, you can have some first."
"Is there anyone here who is a doctor? Or learned first-aid? Please help with some bandaging later!"
"..."
A group of people journeyed along the way, full of anxiety and fear, both body and mind exhausted.
Seeing the territory, they were happy, thinking they could finally rest well.
Encountering such a heartwarming scene at the territory gate, their always strongly maintained resilience instantly broke down, eyes reddening, voices choking, "Thank you, thank you..."
Then everyone lent a helping hand, leading them into the territory.
As they entered, facing inquiries from the territory, everyone unhesitatingly paid to become Residents.
Zhou Bai estimated among the crowd and listed many steamed buns in the restaurant, simultaneously constructing numerous residential houses.
The newcomers couldn't help but glance more at the newly appeared Buildings.
"The territory probably detected new Residents, so new housing was built. The housing can be purchased, one for 6 Gold Coins, or rented, one day for 100 copper coins; living inside provides a better sense of security and less disturbance."
"The territory also has a Lord Mansion, restaurant, Blacksmith Shop, and tailor shop. You must get an Identity Token from the Lord Mansion to officially become Hope Village Residents. Then, buy at the stores with ID; you can eat at the restaurant, but only steamed buns for now. Buy weapons at the Blacksmith Shop or clothes at the tailor shop, simpler than before the apocalypse, but much better than in the wild; it'll likely Upgrade as more people come... Sorry, talked too much, eat something first, learn more about the territory later."
"..."
Soon, the newcomers were settled near the bonfire by the previous group.
Someone went to buy steamed buns and distributed them one by one.
Eating buns, sipping on cooked soup, and feeling the warmth from the bonfire, the new survivors felt a surreal sense.
But... it was so good!