Chapter 280: Life's Price

Jian Changsheng's expression changed when he saw this, and he quickly walked forward.

His fingers touched the elderly woman's nose; there was a faint breath, but her body temperature was slowly dropping. The other elderly women who witnessed this scene had numb expressions in their eyes. They stiffly moved their bodies and continued walking towards other streets.

It wasn't that they were heartless or unwilling to help; they simply had no means to. Moreover, their own conditions were no better than the woman who had collapsed; they didn't know when they might fall themselves. And at home, people were desperately waiting for them.

"Hello... hello?" Jian Changsheng tried calling out twice, but the fallen woman showed no response, remaining unconscious.

Jian Changsheng looked around, seeing no other figures. Leaving her there unattended would almost certainly lead to her death. After a long internal struggle, he gritted his teeth, hoisted the woman onto his back, and turned back towards the courtyard.

Creak—

He pushed open the courtyard gate again.

Chu Muyun and Bai Ye were both surprised to see Jian Changsheng suddenly return. Upon seeing the figure on his back, a look of confusion appeared in their eyes.

"What are you doing...?"

"She's freezing to death. Don't we have a fire here? Just let her warm up a bit." Jian Changsheng gently lowered the woman by the campfire, plumes of icy mist appearing with his words.

Chu Muyun's eyes narrowed slightly. He pressed a fingertip against the unconscious woman and slowly began to speak:

"It's hypothermia. When the human body is exposed to extreme cold for a long time, its temperature drops. People may even begin to feel hot and start actively removing their warm clothes, ultimately freezing to death."

"Can you cure her?"

"...It's not a matter of 'curing.' If her body can warm up, she'll naturally recover. But if she can't regain her warmth..." Chu Muyun trailed off. "By the way, where did you bring her from?"

"From outside the gate."

"Do you know her?"

"...No."

Jian Changsheng lowered his head slightly, seemingly feeling a little guilty. He knew that this was, after all, Chu Muyun's residence, and his actions were somewhat inappropriate.

Fortunately, Chu Muyun wasn't angry; he simply nodded calmly.

"Understood."

Bai Ye kept his head down the whole time, saying nothing.

Jian Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. Just as he was about to turn and leave, Chu Muyun's voice sounded again.

"Xiao Jian."

"...Hm?"

"You know, we can't save everyone... right?"

Jian Changsheng was silent for a long time before muttering a low "Mm" and pushing the door open to leave.

Chu Muyun watched his retreating back and let out a long sigh.

Goya Hotel.

"President, our shops are about to be overwhelmed by people buying coal!"

The squinting man followed Yan Shang, the president of the Constellation Merchant Guild, walking quickly down the brightly lit corridor and speaking in a low voice:

"Almost everyone in the city is looking for coal, and our Constellation Merchant Guild holds sixty percent of Aurora City's coal reserves. Our boiler factory is now completely swamped with coal buyers; the queues are so long people are almost fighting... What should we do next?"

"Technological regression... and at this very moment." A sharp glint appeared in Yan Shang's eyes. "It seems heaven does not intend for my Constellation Merchant Guild to perish!"

"You mean...?"

"Have the presidents of the other two merchant guilds arrived?"

"Yes, they're waiting for you in the lounge."

Yan Shang walked directly to the lounge door. Just as he was about to push it open, he suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to the squinting man, asking, "Has 'Lifu' been activated?"

"Yu Zi has already gone."

"Good."

Yan Shang pushed open the lounge door with both hands.

In the opulent room, two figures sat on a pristine white sofa, dressed only in thin shirts, seemingly deep in conversation. Upon seeing Yan Shang enter, they immediately rose to greet him with smiles:

"President Yan, your place is the warmest in all of Aurora City right now."

"Upon hearing your invitation, I immediately rushed over from the guild. Just as you said, all the coal in our warehouse is still accounted for."

Yan Shang took off his coat, sat down on the sofa opposite, and spoke unhurriedly:

"Let's not waste any time... Currently, regarding Aurora City's coal reserves, my Constellation Merchant Guild holds sixty percent, your Silver Moon and Cold Spring Merchant Guilds combined hold thirty percent, and the Enforcers hold ten percent. Gentlemen, what are your thoughts on the current situation?"

The two presidents spoke thoughtfully:

"The sudden collapse of the heating system means the coal in our hands has become Aurora City's scarcest resource. Perhaps... we could appropriately raise the price?"

"Indeed, times have changed. Business is all about opportune timing, favorable location, and harmonious human relations. This is our chance to profit. We came here precisely to discuss with President Yan how much to raise the price..."

Yan Shang spoke blandly, "Oh? How much do you think is appropriate?"

The two presidents exchanged glances, then simultaneously held up two fingers, crossing them horizontally and vertically across their chests. "...Ten times?"

"Ten times?" Yan Shang shook his head. "It seems your information isn't quite up to date..."

"What do you mean, President Yan?"

"Just a few minutes ago, news came from the Aurora Base: Aurora Monarch has gone missing..."

"What???" The two presidents were aghast.

"Aurora Monarch's disappearance means Aurora City's destruction has entered a countdown. It also means that the people currently scrambling to buy our coal will die soon." Yan Shang pointed at the two men. "But you and I are different. Our industries span several other major domains, and we've secured tickets for the last inter-domain train. We can retreat safely. Therefore, this will be the last business we conduct within the Aurora Domain."

"Then... what price do you think is appropriate?"

Yan Shang smiled faintly, slowly raising five fingers.

"Fifty times?"

"No, five hundred thousand times."

"Five hundred thousand times????" The two presidents stared with disbelief. "The current market price for coal is about one copper coin per kilogram... Five hundred thousand times would be five hundred thousand copper coins per kilogram?! That's several years' income for a middle-class family in Aurora City, even if they don't eat or drink!"

"Five hundred thousand copper coins... that's enough to buy half a house in Aurora City! Now it can only buy one kilogram of coal? This... this isn't even enough to burn for a single day!"

Even the two presidents, who considered themselves ruthless enough, were stunned by the exorbitant price Yan Shang proposed. What difference was there between this and simply taking the residents' lives?

"Coal? Do you think we're selling coal right now?"

Yan Shang scoffed,

"What we're selling... are the lives of those ordinary people."