Lee Hongxi had a suspicion and chose not to pursue it. He explained, "ID cards are now a must-have for every citizen. They link each person's identity and assets, sort of an all-in-one card. However, many survivors from shelters might not have received the news in time. Old-world ID is also acceptable. Even if one has neither, the identity system has stored each citizen's fingerprint and DNA data."

Zhou You thanked him, inquiring about their destination. Upon learning it was Yang City, he was unsure where that was.

Seeing his confusion, Lee Hongxi smiled, "The current Yang City was established after the great disaster. It's located roughly where Wuhan used to be. It's the nearest major city to us, with several million inhabitants."

"And other places..." Even though Zhou You braced himself, when Lee Hongxi lamented that the current human population was less than a hundred million, he was deeply moved.

"Let Yunxi explain it all to you in detail. But be discreet. Don't let others know you're such a newbie." Otherwise, this naive person might get taken advantage of and not even realize it.

Li Yunxi patted Zhou You on the shoulder. Standing at around 1.8 meters, she was roughly his height, making him look even more slender beside her. "Don't worry. I'll look after this newbie. If anyone dares to bully him, I'll knock them out!"

Lee Hongxi shook his head, reminding her to return promptly after eating and not let others know of their relationship.

Over there, the head chef was ready. A gas cylinder was brought down from the vehicle, and a large pot was set up. The meat was cooked simply: bone-in pieces were stewed, and chunks were salted and roasted over a fire. It wasn't necessarily tastier than what Zhou You could make.

Still, the aroma of the meat drew many ordinary people out of their vehicles, standing at a distance, looking their way.

Wu Yong carried over a large, plucked chicken, announcing loudly, "This mutant beast was hunted by the captain for you all. A special meal! Hurry up and eat; we still have a journey ahead!"

The crowd erupted with gratitude. Many thanked "Captain Lee," some even knelt in thanks, and several men collaborated to drag away the huge chicken.

"You haven't told me what a mutant beast is," Zhou You remarked.

Inside the armored vehicle, Li Yunxi, drooling over the pot, replied impatiently, "Those animals you see that look different from before are mutant beasts. They've grown in size, and other changes include some birds developing sharp teeth and transforming their wings and claws into weapons. Some reptiles have grown scales that are nearly bulletproof."

"There are countless changes. It's hard to explain in a few words. Once you reach Yang City, you can access the electronic database. It was set up by the Central Research Institute and constantly updates information on mutant beasts."

"If you capture a new type of mutant beast, you can sell it to the government for good credit points. Oh, credit points are the current currency. Let me tell you a secret: I'm quite wealthy in credits."

The meat was soon ready. Li Yunxi received a big rabbit leg, "This is my ration for the whole day. But I can't finish it all. I'll share some with you."

She sliced off a piece, about two pounds, and handed it to Zhou You, "Don't think it's too little. Those over there can only have meat-flavored porridge."

Upon smelling the grilled meat, Zhou You didn't feel much appetite. However, the sound of meat porridge made him drool. He asked, "Can I go over there to have some porridge?"

"Are you kidding? You'd choose porridge over meat? Do you know that consuming the flesh of mutated beasts can enhance one's physique? Only when one reaches a certain physical standard can they become a warrior."

"Warrior? Are you one as well?"

"Absolutely. I'm a mid-tier Warrior. The National Martial Arts Association categorizes martial ranks into five levels: Warrior, Martial Artist, Martial Mentor, Martial General, and Martial Marshal. Each rank is further divided into beginner, mid-tier, and advanced levels. I'm a mid-tier Warrior, while my elder brother is an advanced Martial Artist – the strongest in our group."

Zhou You glanced at his palm. After ten years in seclusion, his skin was pale and delicate, not showing signs of hardship.

"How does one determine their rank?"

"The Martial Arts Association has branches in every large base, offering free evaluations, primarily testing strength and speed. Our ancestors always said: 'The essence of martial arts is speed.' While the testing criteria seem basic, they are pretty accurate; it's rare to see someone successfully challenging someone of a higher rank."

Seeing Zhou You deep in thought, Li Yunxi consoled him, "You're still young and have opportunities to grow stronger. Once you become a Warrior, the Association grants you a digital certificate, allowing you to undertake higher-level tasks, earn more credits, and more importantly, elevate your social status."

"You must have felt it; ordinary people are looked down upon here. Unless you possess a strong specialized skill, you'll be a burden. Hence, ordinary folks in the bases are encouraged to acquire new skills. Experts in any field are revered."

Zhou You asked out of curiosity, "How old do you think I am?"

"Twenty? Maybe eighteen? People these days seem older, life being harder and all. Anyway, you look younger than me. From now on, call me Sister Yun."

A twitch appeared at the corner of Zhou You's mouth, "Actually... I'm thirty. How old are you?"

"Thirty? Hahaha... Stop joking! You can't possibly..." A glance at his ID card proved she was wrong. "Unbelievable."

"Regardless, I insist on being your elder sister. Call me Sister Yun, and I'll have your back. It's a good deal."

Chapter 008: "You cheeky brat, are you seeking trouble?"

Zhou You was famished; two pounds of grilled meat barely satisfied him. He took a large bowl to the back to get some meat porridge.