C10 The Female Lead, Lau Siyao.

"He didn't actually get cut in half."

Zhao Dong was astounded. When he had chopped Xu Jun, the man had split in two with a single strike.

The wolf, having landed, recoiled in pain, its eyes wary and alert.

The human before it seemed frail, yet possessed a surprising might.

Particularly, the weapon in his grasp had managed to wound it.

Zhao Dong's pulse raced with excitement—this was the thrill of combat.

By all accounts, given his level and strength, he should have been the superior force.

With this in mind, Zhao Dong resolved to forgo his weapon and engage the beast with his bare hands, seeking to hone his fighting skills.

As he prepared himself, the wolf launched another attack.

This time, it took a cunning angle, circling to Zhao Dong's rear and snapping at his neck.

Zhao Dong flashed a grin and whipped his head around, seizing the wolf's skull.

A sharp twist, and the creature's head rotated 180 degrees, its vitality swiftly extinguished.

The level 1 wolf was defeated, yielding 15 energy points—half more than what he had gained from the giant rat.

Simultaneously, he spotted attributes scattered on the ground.

Speed: +3.

Zhao Dong's eyes lit up with delight. His current attributes and strength had already exceeded what was expected for his level.

That was precisely why he could subdue the wolf unarmed.

The wolf's carcass was a fine prize. Zhao Dong hauled it back, planning to craft a fur coat.

By the time he returned to the boat, the fish and meat were perfectly grilled, their aroma tantalizing.

"Smells delicious."

He tore into a hefty chunk of meat, savoring each bite.

As he ate, Zhao Dong scanned the chat panel before him.

He was on the lookout for someone. He recalled from the original novel that there were numerous formidable characters besides the protagonist.

Take the female lead, Lau Siyao, for instance.

The original owner had turned against Zhou Fann because of his pursuit of Lau Siyao.

Once a corporate heiress, Lau Siyao's life had been dire since arriving in the Slaughter World.

But fortune had favored her eventually.

Living on a small island, she stumbled upon countless treasures washed ashore and discovered numerous spiritual herbs beneath the waves.

Her luck was nothing short of miraculous.

Once Zhou Fann made contact, she bestowed upon him gifts that greatly bolstered his power.

"I need to reach out to Lau Siyao ahead of time."

Zhao Dong pondered this as he continued to eat.

As the antagonist, Lau Siyao's impression of him was far from favorable.

Yet, he knew the storyline and precisely what Lau Siyao needed at the moment.

He was confident that with his persuasive charm, he could sway Lau Siyao's opinion of him!

With that thought, Zhao Dong took a sip of water and began searching for Lau Siyao in the Exchange Channel.

This was a feature of the Exchange Area.

Even though the Exchange Area was temporarily down, any previously sent messages were still visible.

As expected, the search yielded a plethora of namesakes.

Zhao Dong sifted through the profiles until Lau Siyao's familiar face appeared.

She was strikingly attractive and statuesque.

Her request read: In need of a pot, water, and some food. Willing to exchange fruits.

Zhao Dong reviewed her profile and clicked on her picture.

Far off on a remote island, Lau Siyao and a middle-aged woman were roasting two large shells.

Just as Zhao Dong had surmised, Lau Siyao found herself on a small island. The sea stretched out before them, while a dense forest loomed behind. Earlier that day, Siyao had managed to barter for some fire seeds in the trading zone, which allowed them to have a warm meal. But night was approaching, and they had yet to find shelter.

"Mom, are you okay?" Siyao asked.

The middle-aged woman was Siyao's mother, Yang Juan. They had been together when they were thrust into Slaughter World.

"Just the usual stomach issues," her mother replied with a furrowed brow.

"It's my fault, Mom. I couldn't even find us water," Siyao lamented, her gaze sweeping the surroundings with discomfort. Surrounded by saltwater, they hadn't eaten all day.

"Don't worry about it. How could this be your fault?" Yang Juan consoled her, her kind and noble demeanor belying the harshness of their current world.

"Have you been able to reach Zhou Fann?" Yang Juan inquired. "He's a capable young man. Wasn't he a soldier?"

Siyao nodded, her expression heavy with concern. "No, I haven't heard from him—or Dad."

"Your father was a soldier too. He'll be alright," Yang Juan reassured her.

Just then, Siyao noticed a private message. It was from Zhao Dong, which left her stunned.

"What is it?" Yang Juan noticed her daughter's change in expression.

"Zhao Dong messaged me," Siyao said.

"Why would that rich second-generation be messaging you?" Yang Juan's brow creased. There was a natural disdain for Zhao Dong among the supporting characters, who saw him as a villain. Yet, despite Zhou Fann's inaction, they regarded him as a decent young man—a stark contrast.

Siyao read Zhao Dong's message: "Lau Siyao, it's me. I've seen your message. When the trading channel opens tomorrow, I'll give you some supplies."

"Why is Zhao Dong being so nice?" Siyao wondered aloud, her impression of him having been less than favorable. She debated whether to reply.

Yang Juan, learning of the situation, remarked, "I wouldn't have expected such generosity from him here."

"I just don't want to accept his offer too hastily and give him the wrong idea," Siyao replied, conflicted.

"We could suggest a trade. Offer him fruit in exchange for his supplies," Yang Juan proposed.

"That's a good idea. I'll respond to him," Siyao agreed.

"Don't worry too much. He doesn't know our location, and the fact that he's thinking of you means you're on his mind. Perhaps he genuinely cares for you, despite his previous poor approach," Yang Juan offered some motherly insight.

Nodding, Siyao replied to Zhao Dong: "I have some fruit here that we can trade for the supplies."

Upon receiving her message, Zhao Dong couldn't help but smile. His offer wasn't an act of sycophancy; he simply didn't want Zhou Fann to benefit from any good fortune that might come Siyao's way in the future. By fostering a good relationship with her now, he hoped to show her he wasn't as bad as she thought and to earn her trust.

He understood Siyao's hesitation. She was interested in his offer but didn't want to accept it without giving something in return. Hence, her proposal to trade fruit.

Zhao Dong replied, "Fruit, sure. Let's make the trade."

Initially, he didn't want to rush her.

He was careful not to give Lau Siyao the wrong impression.

Lau Siyao breathed a sigh of relief. Had Zhao Dong refused her fruit earlier, she would have been reluctant to accept an unwarranted gift.

Zhao Dong inquired, "Night's falling soon. What are your plans for resting tonight?"

Lau Siyao responded, "I'm on the beach. The temperature's decent, not too cold."

Zhao Dong advised, "The beach can get quite chilly at night. I'd recommend finding a large tree and making a bed with dry hay. It's much better."

With the message sent, Zhao Dong allowed himself a smile.

It was a promising beginning.