The next morning, Renault was up early. He packed up his supplies and prepared his rugged off-road vehicle, ensuring it had enough fuel and that the heater was working properly for the cold journey ahead.

Before setting out, Renault strapped a revolver at his side, carefully loading it with bullets. He didn’t expect to need it, but given the uncertainty of the times, it was better to be prepared.

Guns were scarce, and Renault had managed to get his hands on this one from a police station raid long ago. Ammunition was even rarer, and Renault hoped he wouldn’t have to waste any of it today.

He planned to make a supply run but decided to wake Wanqing Mu first. He insisted that she stay behind at the villa, where it was safer, but she stubbornly refused, insisting on accompanying him to search for her brother.

Renault reluctantly agreed, knowing she wouldn't back down. He handed her a sleek Tang sword and said, "Take this, just in case. If things get dangerous, you know what to do." He made a swift motion across his throat, a cold reminder of the risks.

Wanqing accepted the sword, nodding solemnly.

After they both geared up, they got into the vehicle and started the journey. Renault was used to driving through desolate streets, though now the roads were even more treacherous than before, filled with wrecked cars, debris, and frozen bodies.

As they drove through the abandoned villa district, Wanqing couldn’t help but stare at the frozen corpses strewn about. The city had been hit hard by the cold wave, and many had not survived.

"That... that's Wang Min, isn’t it?" Wanqing asked, her voice trembling as she pointed at a body she recognized.

Renault glanced at it but said nothing. He pressed on the gas, driving away from the grim scene. Wanqing looked back one last time, a sad sigh escaping her lips.

With each mile they traveled, the streets became eerily quiet. The once-bustling city was now silent, except for the sound of the wind and the hum of their vehicle’s engine.

Eventually, they reached the residential district where Wanqing’s brother, Mu, was supposed to be. The area was surrounded by barricades, but Renault skillfully maneuvered the vehicle through the obstacles.

They arrived at Mu’s apartment complex. The building was mostly intact, but the windows were frosted over, and the entrance was blocked by a layer of ice.

Wanqing rushed ahead, frantically knocking on the door, calling out for her brother, but there was no response. Her face filled with worry as the cold reality began to set in.

Renault grabbed a crowbar from the car and used it to pry open the door. The apartment was empty, and there was no sign of Mu.

Wanqing felt a sinking feeling in her chest, fearing the worst. Had her brother succumbed to the freezing temperatures? Was he gone like so many others?

Just as they were about to leave, a faint noise caught their attention. Renault’s ears perked up as he turned toward a closet door. Cautiously, he opened it, revealing an emaciated figure huddled inside, wrapped in layers of blankets.

The man’s voice was weak, barely a whisper. "Please… are you here to rescue me?"

Wanqing gasped, recognizing him as one of her brother’s neighbors. His face was pale, and he shivered uncontrollably.

Renault approached him, but before offering any help, he looked the man over with a cold, calculating gaze.

"You want help?" Renault asked. "That water you have left—how much is there?"

The man, shivering violently, glanced toward a half-full barrel of purified water, clearly frozen.

Wanqing’s heart ached for the man, and she instinctively moved to offer him water. But Renault blocked her.

"Not so fast," Renault said calmly. "There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If you want help, you’ll have to trade for it."

The man looked confused, his lips trembling. "Trade? What do you want? I have no money, nothing of value—"

Renault cut him off, pointing at the man’s left arm. "I want energy. Twenty days’ worth. You’ll trade me that for the water."

The man stared at Renault in shock. "You… you want to drain my life force in exchange for water? How is that even possible?"

Renault pulled a small device from his coat, a high-tech gadget designed to extract and store energy from the human body. He had modified it over the years, and now it could transfer energy from one person to another.

Wanqing watched in horror, realizing what Renault was about to do. "Renault, is this really necessary? He’s already so weak…"

Renault remained firm. "It’s the only way he survives. It’s this or he dies of thirst. His choice."

The man, desperate and knowing he had no other option, reluctantly agreed. "I’ll do it," he muttered, extending his arm.

Renault attached the device to the man’s arm, and a soft hum filled the room as the machine began to drain his energy.

The man grimaced in pain but stayed silent. After a few minutes, Renault detached the device and handed over the barrel of water. The man eagerly clutched the water as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

Renault turned to leave, Wanqing following behind, her heart heavy with the events that had just unfolded. Once they were back in the vehicle, she finally spoke up, her voice quiet but filled with concern.

"Renault, was that really necessary? Couldn’t we have helped him without taking his energy?"

Renault’s face remained emotionless. "Wanqing, in this world, nothing is free. If you want to survive, you have to be strong, and you have to understand the price of survival. We can’t afford to give away what we need to stay alive."

Wanqing stayed quiet for the rest of the ride back to the villa, pondering Renault’s words. She knew he was right, but it still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Later that evening, Renault sat by the fire, recharging his strength with the energy he had collected earlier. Wanqing sat across from him, her eyes fixed on the flames.

"Renault," she said softly, "I understand now. In this world, we all have to make sacrifices."

Renault nodded. "That’s right. And we can’t let pity cloud our judgment. Only the strong survive."

Wanqing took a deep breath, accepting the harsh reality. She knew that if she wanted to keep up with Renault, she’d have to toughen up too.

As the fire crackled, Renault stared into the distance, thinking about the uncertain future ahead. 

They had survived another day, but he knew more challenges awaited them. The cold wave was far from over, and they needed to be ready for anything.

Wanqing stood up, walking over to Renault and resting her hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for protecting me," she whispered.

Renault looked up at her, his gaze softening for a moment. "Always."