Chapter 131: General Notices

After the passion subsided, Cao Fusheng and Han Shuqing lay on the soft, comfortable bed, quietly recounting the events that had brought them to this point. The most regrettable loss was undoubtedly the death of Shen Dong.

Han Shuqing’s pale, shapely legs were wrapped around Cao Fusheng’s waist, her arms, smooth as jade, clutching him tightly as if this were the only way to find any sense of security.

"Do you think we will really be separated? According to the rules set by the Survival Code, anyone who enters the gates of the Celestial Pillar must abide by its regulations."

"Let's be clear: I absolutely cannot accept being separated from you, let alone being assigned some stranger to spend the rest of my life with. If things truly reach the point of no return, I would rather die! How is what they are doing any different from treating people like mere objects?"

Her moment of relaxation having passed, Han Shuqing’s face was once again clouded with worry. This was, without a doubt, her greatest fear. Within the Celestial Pillar, human rights were non-existent; treating people like objects was actually a relatively decent outcome compared to the outside world, where people had begun to be treated as food. To put it mildly, this place at least made an effort to maintain the order expected of a civilized society, however harsh that order might be.

"Weren’t you treated as an object when you were first sent to me?" Cao Fusheng teased, completely oblivious to any issue with his words.

Han Shuqing’s body trembled, her eyes misting over. She pulled back her arms and legs, curling her body tightly into a ball. Her voice was filled with pain. "We haven’t been together for long, but compared to the fleeting lives we led in the Era of Waste, our two months together have been more profound than two years. Do you still hold such prejudices against me!?"

"Am I really such a cheap woman to you!? Do you only care about making me die of anger? If I were dead, you could go find that woman, Ruan Luoluo! She holds a high position, is beautiful, and has a much more fiery personality—she’s far better than a second-hand good like me! Go find her, then!"

Cao Fusheng pulled her gently into his embrace and said softly, "To be honest, at the very beginning, I did think that way. But after everything we’ve been through, I have long since come to view you as a loyal comrade to whom I can entrust my back, and even my very life."

"No one can separate us, not even the Celestial Pillar. I am a man who delights in breaking rules I do not like, and I believe I have both the ability and the leverage to do so."

By the end of his sentence, Cao Fusheng’s tone had grown resolute and certain. He wiped away the tears the woman had shed from her grievances and kissed her forehead with deep affection.

"I know... it’s just that hearing you say that, I couldn't help but feel indignant for a moment... I don't dare to harbor too many extravagant hopes. Even if the law were to be restored one day, I wouldn't dare dream of marrying you or being your wife; I only ask that I never have to leave you." Han Shuqing smiled like a blooming flower, her face, polished by tears, appearing all the more enchanting. She nestled into the man’s broad arms and whispered, "I want more..."

A scene followed that was certainly not suitable for children. Perhaps caught up in the intensity of their emotions, it lasted for over an hour. Afterward, the woman, satisfied, leaned against the man’s shoulder and drifted into a deep sleep.

Cao Fusheng, meanwhile, flipped through the small booklet in his hands. On the cover were the bold characters: *General Guidelines for the Celestial Pillar*.

Inside, it contained the Survival Code, precautionary notes, information on daily living areas and administrative zones, and the definition of the "Life Formula" specifically formulated by the Medical Department. He read through it carefully for about ten minutes, grasping the gist of the contents.

Broadly speaking, the rules focused on a few core areas. The first rule of the Survival Code stated that men and women were not permitted to engage in free love; they must strictly adhere to the system’s assignments for cohabitation. Furthermore, they were not allowed to cross bloodlines—A-rank individuals could only procreate with other A-ranks. Placing this rule at the very top clearly demonstrated the importance the Celestial Pillar placed upon it.

In the early days, many had been dissatisfied with this so-called Survival Code and sought to defy the rules. Believing there was safety in numbers, groups had banded together to protest and even assault the staff. In the end, most of these people were executed, and only then did the rest settle down.

Since the founding of the Celestial Pillar, there had been two large-scale internal upheavals. The first was triggered by the ban on free love, which had destroyed countless lovers and led to civil strife. The second concerned the residential segregation based on bloodline. The overall standard of living for the "Upper Residents" was far superior to that of the "Lower Residents," which sparked resentment among the latter.

Many believed that the concept of "bloodline" was entirely fictitious—a gimmick used by the upper echelons of the Celestial Pillar to tighten their control. For instance, regarding daily supplies, each Lower Resident was allotted a fixed 1,500 contribution points per month, with no other means of earning more. The only way to acquire extra points was through manual labor, such as cleaning the hundreds of lower floors or taking part-time jobs in public areas, though the pay was pitifully low.

Therefore, the Lower Residents were the most desperate to find a partner. Whenever cohabitation assignments were made, even if they were unhappy, they rarely resisted. The reason for their unhappiness was the uncertainty—you never knew what kind of partner you would be assigned. They could be obese, ugly, lazy, prone to violence, or "damaged goods." Yet, they dared not resist, purely for the sake of survival. Contribution points were allocated per capita; if there were two people, they would receive 3,000 points a month, which at least allowed for a slightly higher quality of life.

Later, because of this policy of allocating points per head, every household began to have children. The Celestial Pillar eventually issued a new regulation: after cohabitation, each woman was allowed to give birth only once. Any further births would result in severe punishment, and no additional contribution points would be allocated. Of course, if a man were also capable of giving birth, the rule would be treated as nothing more than empty air.

In terms of the ratio of people divided by bloodline, the number of Lower Residents was many times greater than that of the Upper Residents. This was evident from the many vacant rooms in the levels where the Upper Residents lived. The residential area for Lower Residents began at the 31st floor and ended at the 350th, making it the most densely populated region within the Celestial Pillar. Even so, the lower-level housing remained packed to capacity, making it difficult to accept new survivors.

This was one of the reasons why the Celestial Pillar was so strict in screening outsiders. If an individual’s bloodline qualified and they possessed specific talents, they could be directly assigned to live in the upper sections.

Compared to the cramped life of the Lower Residents, the Upper Residents lived quite comfortably. To start with, the space was not nearly as congested. Moreover, because they worked for the Celestial Pillar, the supplies they could purchase were of much higher quality. Naturally, they received more contribution points as well—a fixed 2,500 points per month in addition to their work wages. Compared to the meager existence of the Lower Residents, their living conditions were significantly better.