Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Super RV!
The first rays of morning sunlight fell across the battered roof of the bus.
At this moment, the 3 people below the bus—
Chen Tong, Wang Meng, Liu Yuqing—stood frozen like 3 statues, eyes locked onto the massive golden Light Screen in the sky.
Anyone who wasn't a complete idiot could guess who "No Words Needed" was.
And Jiang Nan…
Wore no expression at all.
Actually, before the system had announced the leaderboard, a voice had privately asked him whether he wanted to register under his real name, "Jiang Nan."
Jiang Nan hadn't even thought about it. He'd hit Reject on the spot.
Was it joking?
In this age of internet explosion, who knew how many people were named Jiang Nan.
He had no interest in being pointed at and whispered about—people saying that the No. 1 player server-wide was some simp.
As for why "No Words Needed"
Simple.
Speaking cost him his life, so whenever he could act, he kept his mouth shut.
But compared to his composure, the other 3 were a different story entirely.
Wang Meng was trembling head to toe with excitement, his lips quivering.
"It's gotta be him! It's absolutely him, no question!"
Liu Yuqing had both hands pressed over her mouth, eyes full of glittering stars of admiration.
"Server-wide No. 1… right here beside us the whole time? And he's tens of thousands of points ahead of No. 2?"
Chen Tong stared at the silent young man, and a storm surged through her chest.
‘No wonder he'd been so calm.’
‘No wonder he hadn't even glanced at those crows.’
‘He was already the man standing at the peak of this world.’
Gulp.
The 3 exchanged a glance, and in an instant reached an unspoken understanding.
In this collapsed-order apocalypse, what mattered most?
Not food, not water, not even superpowers.
It was a powerful backer.
A backer thick enough and strong enough to reach the heavens.
The next second, all 3 stepped forward simultaneously and held out their Awakening Fruits to Jiang Nan.
They desperately wanted to eat them and gain powers.
But without Jiang Nan, forget the fruits—they wouldn't even have their lives.
This was the most basic social intelligence.
It was also how smart people survived the apocalypse by leaning on someone stronger.
"Big Bro! This is for you!"
Wang Meng bent at a perfect 90-degree angle, his tone utterly sincere.
"If it weren't for you, we'd have turned into bird droppings last night."
"That's right, Jiang Nan."
Chen Tong spoke softly, her gaze steady and firm.
"You saved this teacher's life. This fruit…"
"Please take it."
Liu Yuqing said nothing—she just nodded furiously, both hands offering the fruit up.
Jiang Nan glanced at the 3 fruits in front of him, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
He didn't refuse.
Within this small group, control over resource distribution had to stay in his hands.
That meant he was the leader.
He reached out, collected all 3 fruits, and casually stuffed them into his pants pocket.
Seeing him accept them, all 3 exhaled with relief.
‘Good. He took them.’
If he took them, it meant he was willing to keep bringing them along.
However, after pocketing the fruits, Jiang Nan didn't rush to eat them, nor did he say anything.
He hopped down from the hood and walked to the battered, shot-through bus.
Eating the fruits could wait—there was something more urgent and more important to handle right now.
That was building a real safe house.
Jiang Nan turned his palm over. The device from the leaderboard reward appeared in his hand.
【Shelter Upgrade Device】
【Function: Forcefully converts any building or vehicle into a Mobile Shelter.】
‘Good stuff.’
Without any hesitation, Jiang Nan stood before the already-wrecked bus.
‘Activate.’
The instant the word formed in his mind, a blinding golden light erupted from his hand and wrapped around the entire bus in one instant!
【Conversion in progress…】
【Repairing frame… loading bulletproof armor… upgrading power system… optimizing interior space… loading living module…】
Under the wide-eyed stares of all 3, the rusted old bus began to reconstruct itself.
The blue-and-white sheet metal shifted into matte alloy armor.
The cracked windows of the cab were replaced by one-way bulletproof glass.
The chassis rose higher; the tires swelled into 6 massive off-road run-flats.
The formerly crumbling roof now bore a compact observation tower and a solar power array.
10 seconds.
That was all it took.
The bus had become an enormous black RV—sleek, apocalyptic, science-fiction in every line.
"I—what the?! Is this the reward you got, Big Bro?"
Wang Meng's jaw nearly hit the floor.
Jiang Nan offered no explanation. He waved a hand and gestured for everyone to get on.
Stepping inside, the cramped rows of seats had vanished entirely.
In their place: a spacious living area with soft carpet underfoot, leather sofas, and a climate control system blowing warm air at a steady 24 degrees.
On the left, a fully automated integrated kitchen and a double-door fridge.
On the right, a bathroom with separate wet and dry zones—and even a soaking tub.
And at the rear of the vehicle sat a luxury spring mattress bed that looked like it would swallow you the moment you lay down.
"Oh my god… this is an actual palace!"
Liu Yuqing could barely contain herself. "There's even hot water!"
Jiang Nan was quite satisfied.
He settled into the leather executive chair, pulled the 3 fruits from his pocket, and tossed them back to the 3.
【Eat up.】
He wrote on the notepad, and pulled out his own fruit at the same time.
All 3 blinked—then broke into wild joy.
"Thank you, Big Bro!"
Without a moment's hesitation, all 4 bit into their Awakening Fruits at once.
The flesh dissolved the instant it touched the tongue, flowing through the body as a warm current.
After finishing his fruit, Jiang Nan sat quietly and waited.
His body… felt nothing.
Not even a twitch.
【Notice: Awakening failed.】
【You have not obtained any superpower.】
Seeing this notification, Jiang Nan's face showed not the slightest disappointment—not even a single crease of his brow.
‘Fine. No power, then.’
For someone who had the Word Spirit System, so-called Grade F, Grade C, or even Grade S superpowers were nothing but flashy add-ons.
Word said, law followed—that was the real divine technique.
What he needed wasn't random luck. It was absolute control.
Jiang Nan casually tossed the fruit core into the motion-sensor trash bin beside him, leaned back, and crossed his legs.
Compared to the failed awakening, what interested him far more right now was…
What these 3 people could bring him.
That would determine whether Jiang Nan would keep them around—or put another way…
Whether they lived or died.
A few minutes later, Wang Meng and Liu Yuqing each lit up with a glow, clearly having awakened successfully.
‘Hmmm!’
A yellow light pulsed around Wang Meng. He stared at his hands in delighted shock.
"I awakened!【Grade B Mechanic!】 I can repair any machinery and even perform basic modifications and enhancements!"
Right after, a flash of blue crossed Liu Yuqing's eyes. She pushed her glasses up and said with excitement: "I'm a【Grade B Appraiser!】"
"I can see the detailed info of any item—I can even see the weak points of monsters!"
Two powerful support types!
Jiang Nan gave a satisfied nod. These were exactly the utility players he needed.
However,
Beside them, Chen Tong had finished her fruit and waited a long time—but nothing happened.
Only her stomach growled twice.
"I… I think I…"
Chen Tong's face drained white in an instant, her eyes filling with fear and helplessness.
Failed.
No awakening.
Looking at the excited Wang Meng and Liu Yuqing, Chen Tong suddenly felt like the most superfluous person in the room.
In the apocalypse, no value meant being abandoned.
She trembled as she turned to face Jiang Nan, eyes already red-rimmed, voice catching on the edge of tears.
"Jiang Nan… I didn't awaken… Am I useless now? Are you going to… abandon your teacher?"
She was his teacher, yes—but in front of survival, titles meant nothing.
The atmosphere inside the cabin froze solid.
Wang Meng and Liu Yuqing didn't dare speak either. After all, the decision was Jiang Nan's to make.
Jiang Nan looked at the pitiful, half-foreign beauty of a teacher before him and was silent for a moment.
Then he picked up his pen, wrote a single line on the notepad, and held it out to her.
Chen Tong took it with trembling hands, like a prisoner awaiting sentencing.
But when she read the words, she froze.
【I don't know how to cook.】
5 simple characters.
Chen Tong stared blankly for 2 seconds—then the realization hit her like a wave.
He was keeping her on as the cook. It was his roundabout way of accepting her.
"Wuwuwu… you scared me to death…"
The enormous relief and lingering terror crashed through her at once. Chen Tong could no longer hold herself together and lunged straight at Jiang Nan—throwing both arms around his head and burying it deep in her breathtaking chest.
"Thank you! Thank you, Jiang Nan!"
"Mmph!!"
Jiang Nan was instantly swallowed by an astounding softness. His nose was filled with the scent of milk; breathing became difficult.
‘Not again!’
Nearby, Liu Yuqing and Wang Meng leaned over curiously to look—then both burst out laughing when they saw what was written on the note.
"Looks like Big Bro is cold on the outside but warm on the inside," Wang Meng said with a sigh.
"Exactly—Jiang Nan is actually quite gentle," Liu Yuqing agreed, nodding.
But they were both wrong.
Jiang Nan was buried in Chen Tong's chest, face flushed red from the lack of air—but he didn't push her away.
Cold on the outside, warm on the inside?
No.
He was simply…
Pent up for way too long.
For 18 years, he'd been living like an ascetic monk—saving up money for travel, hunting for Check In points, grinding through school.
Now it was the apocalypse, and he was No. 1 server-wide. Why couldn't he enjoy himself a little?
Rewarding himself with a pretty female teacher—was that really too much to ask?
Once the emotions settled, he divided up the tasks.
The cab was at the front—a semi-enclosed space with its own single bed.
Wang Meng, with impressive social awareness, proactively grabbed his blanket and moved into the cab.
"Hey uh, Big Bro, I'll handle the rough work of driving! I'll just live in the cab, absolutely won't disturb you guys!"
He even shot Jiang Nan a I totally get it look as he pulled the dividing curtain shut.
The cabin now held only Jiang Nan and the 2 girls.
"J-Jiang Nan, I'm going over there to experiment with my power, I won't disturb your rest!"
Liu Yuqing invented an excuse and retreated to a corner, facing the wall.
Whether she was actually experimenting, no one knew.
As the vehicle slowly pulled forward, Jiang Nan half-reclined on the sofa, enjoying the climate control while checking routes through the smart control panel in front of him.
His left hand held a can of cola. His right hand, far less well-behaved, had come to rest on the thigh of Chen Tong, who was busy peeling an orange for him.
The firm, toned texture—honed by years of wearing professional attire—paired with that cascade of wine-red hair, carried a distinct flavor all its own.
‘Ah~’
Chen Tong's body went slightly rigid. A flush climbed all the way to the tips of her ears—but she didn't resist.
Instead she shifted closer to Jiang Nan's side, letting him do as he pleased.
She understood. This was the price she paid. It was also the guarantee of her survival.
At that moment, Wang Meng's voice came through the intercom up front.
"Big Bro, which direction should we head?"
Jiang Nan glanced at the smart control panel and typed back a reply.
【Are you the driver, or am I?】
【Decide yourself.】
In the cab, Wang Meng stared at those words—and blinked.
"Huh… Big Bro is that easygoing?"
He scratched his head.
But then he reconsidered. No—that didn't track.
"How could someone as calculating as Jiang Nan be easygoing?"
"He's testing me! That's what this is!"
"He's training my decision-making ability! He's grooming me as a trusted lieutenant!"
Wang Meng spiraled himself into a self-motivated frenzy, eyes glistening with moved tears:
"Wuwuwu! Big Bro treats me so well! I have to perform at my absolute best!"
Since he had to pick a route…
Wang Meng scanned the road ahead.
To the left: open wasteland. To the right: the boundary between a wheat field and a tree line.
"There are footprints over there—chaotic ones, but someone walked through, which means the path is passable!"
"If someone already blazed the trail and cleared out the dangers, it's definitely safer than wandering blind!"
With that reasoning settled, Wang Meng floored the accelerator and drove in the direction of those scattered footprints—the same way Yang Wei's group had gone.
The RV tore across the wasteland, smooth and steady as if on flat asphalt.
But they hadn't gone far when—
Screech!!
A sharp, urgent braking sound rang out.
The massive inertia sent Chen Tong pitching forward with a startled cry—straight into Jiang Nan's arms.
"What's happening?!" Chen Tong's heart was still hammering.
"B-Big Bro!"
Wang Meng's shaken voice crackled through the intercom.
"Someone's blocking the road up ahead!"
"It looks like… Yu Shishi?!"
Jiang Nan's brow furrowed slightly. He pushed Chen Tong off him and pulled up the front camera feed.
On the dirt road several dozen meters ahead—
A disheveled figure, covered in filth, stood with both arms spread wide, blocking the path.
Through all the mud caked on her face, the figure was still recognizable.
Yu Shishi.
Barefoot—her shoes gone somewhere—she looked utterly wretched.
Seeing the bus stop, Yu Shishi's eyes exploded with desperate joy. She threw herself at the vehicle without a second thought, slamming both palms against the door.
"Help! Help me!"
"Please—let me on! Please!"
In the cab, Wang Meng watched the scene, a pang of pity in his chest—but his foot stayed firmly planted on the accelerator.
"Big Bro… it really is Yu Shishi. She looks rough. Should we maybe…?"
"Want me to just run her over? Save you the trouble of getting your hands dirty?"
"Or should I grab her and bring her on board as a bedside maid? Wash her up and she'd probably still be usable."
But inside the cabin—
Jiang Nan's mouth twitched.
‘What the…?’
‘What kind of person had Wang Meng built me up to be in his head?’
‘Why does it sound like I'm some kind of monster?’
‘I'm not that ruthless.’
‘At worst, I'd just give her a quick end.’
【Let's assess the situation first.】
He typed his response, and gave no order to open the door.
Instead, he turned to look at Liu Yuqing, who had pressed herself against the window, and pointed at Yu Shishi outside.
【Use your skill.】
"Got it!"
Liu Yuqing understood immediately. She pushed her glasses up and activated 【Grade B Appraisal.】
A blue light that only she could see swept across Yu Shishi's body…