Author Archives: Thandar

The twenty-eighth day of the first lunar month was an auspicious day—perfect for moving into a new house, engagements, and weddings.

At the break of dawn, Wu Guixiang arrived at the door. She had enjoyed playing the role of the blessed woman at Lian Ou’s wedding so much that she had insisted on taking part when Shen Qing held his ceremony. And it made sense—Wu Guixiang was now truly the most fortunate aunt in Lantang Village.

Shen Qing had not slept well. Song Kaiji had been insistent on making this ceremony feel authentic, and his antics had escalated to the point where they had slept in separate rooms the night before. Even Quan Jie’er had been taken away to stay with Zhang Sujuan and Miao Chunlei. Left alone for the first time in ages, Shen Qing had woken up multiple times throughout the night, and there was a faint shadow of exhaustion beneath his eyes in the morning.

Wu Guixiang noticed and teased, “Even you, Qing Ge’er, are nervous on your big day?”

Shen Qing felt a little embarrassed. He was, just a bit. Even though they had been together for a long time, having such a formal ceremony felt oddly unsettling.

Lian Ou had come along with Wu Guixiang. Now a married man, he had switched to a husband’s attire and looked even more radiant than before. Clearly, his married life had been treating him well. He smiled reassuringly at Shen Qing. “I was nervous too—getting in the wedding sedan for the first time, who wouldn’t be? But trust me, you’ll be so exhausted soon that you won’t have time to feel nervous. You’re in better shape than I was, so you’ll probably handle it better.”

But Shen Qing’s nerves weren’t quite the same as Lian Ou’s. Lian Ou had been anxious about his future and the unknowns of the wedding night, while Shen Qing already had a firm grasp on both.

As they chatted, Miao Chunlei also woke up and instructed the maids to prepare breakfast. The kitchen had already prepared the dough and filling the night before, so the servants quickly started making meat pancakes.

Wu Guixiang undid Shen Qing’s hair. He had been well-fed and taken care of, and under the guidance of Qu Weiwei, Yu Le, and others, he had been using proper hair care. The new hair growing in was jet black and glossy, though the tips still carried some of the dryness from before. Even so, compared to most people in this era, his hair was already exceptional. Wu Guixiang praised it, and Lian Ou, envious, reached out to touch the silky strands at the crown of Shen Qing’s head.

Then Wu Guixiang picked up a comb and clicked her tongue in admiration. The moment she touched it, she knew it was made from high-quality wood. A closer sniff revealed a rich, natural fragrance. “Qing Ge’er’s family truly has everything refined!”

She began combing as she recited the wedding blessings:

“One stroke for a loving couple,

Two strokes for growing old together,

Three strokes for a home filled with children and prosperity…”

Hearing these blessings, Shen Qing looked at himself in the bronze mirror, a genuine smile of happiness spreading across his face.

Wu Guixiang didn’t give him an elaborate hairstyle—it wouldn’t suit him anyway. Instead, she neatly tied his hair into a simple yet elegant bun, securing it with a finely embroidered lily-patterned ribbon. Then, she inserted a heavy gold hairpin adorned with multiple precious gems and auspicious cloud motifs.

Even this felt a bit too flashy for Shen Qing, but since a wedding was a once-in-a-lifetime event, he decided to let it be.

With his hair done, it was time for his face to be cleansed and makeup applied. Before that, Miao Chunlei brought in a plate of freshly made meat pancakes, while a maid followed with a small pot of porridge. “Eat breakfast first. If we do your makeup now, your face will just get greasy later.”

Everyone was familiar with each other, so there was no need for formalities. Wu Guixiang and Lian Ou joined in, and they all sat down to eat.

Shen Qing picked up a meat pancake. It resembled a chive pocket, but instead of chives and eggs, it was filled with pork and green onions. The green onions had been finely chopped and lightly fried before mixing, then combined with a blend of lean and fatty pork. The outer crust was thin and crispy, releasing a mouthwatering aroma with every bite.

After taking a couple of bites, Shen Qing turned to the maid and asked, “Are there more of these in the kitchen?”

Miao Chunlei, knowing him all too well, immediately answered before the maid could speak. “Just eat, there’s plenty. Xiao Song is already awake—we’ve sent some to him and to your mother-in-law as well.” She gave him a knowing look. “My ger is up early, but he still wants to sleep in? If he won’t wake up, drag him out of bed!”

Wu Guixiang and Lian Ou both laughed.

Halfway through breakfast, more people arrived—Lian family, along with Miao Hexiang’s maternal relatives, as well as Miao Xing, Miao Wang, Grandmother Miao, Liu Yue’e, and Li Yanzi. Miao Chunlei quickly went out to host them, leaving Lian Rong, Xue Niang, and Qiao Niang, two of Shen Qing’s younger female cousins, to keep him company. Others were either seated at the banquet or helping Miao Chunlei with arrangements.

The young girls were thrilled, fascinated by everything they saw. They had witnessed village weddings before, but nothing compared to this. Just the gold hairpin in Shen Qing’s hair was enough to dazzle them. And when they saw the wedding robe hanging beside the bed, their heads spun.

Song Kaiji had specially commissioned a tailoring workshop in the county to make it, hiring over a dozen skilled embroiderers to rush its completion. The wedding robe was made of rich crimson silk, embroidered with a golden dragon and phoenix intertwined in exquisite detail. Despite its opulence, it didn’t appear overly feminine. When Shen Qing wore it, he resembled a young prince straight out of a historical drama—elegant and noble.

Blushing, Lian Rong shyly handed Shen Qing a pouch. It was made of red silk with gold embroidery, almost identical to the one she had given Lian Ou. Though it was a bit of a reach, she had long since regarded Shen Qing as an older brother.

Lian Ou also presented a pair of meticulously crafted lover’s knots, which Shen Qing could embellish with jade pendants. Even as an experienced hand, it had taken Lian Ou four or five days to make them.

These were their gifts to Shen Qing for his wedding dowry.

Once Shen Qing changed into his wedding robe, Wu Guixiang had nearly finished breakfast. She sent Lian Rong off to fetch a boiled egg from the kitchen, carefully washing her hands afterward to avoid getting any grease on the garment.

Lian Rong returned quickly, still chewing on half a meat pancake, and brought a message along with the egg. “I ran into Qing Ge’er’s husband. He said it’s fine to skip the face threading—he thinks Qing Ge’er looks perfect as he is.”

Wu Guixiang couldn’t help but chuckle. “Look at him, already protective before the ceremony even begins! What’s there to fuss over? Every bride and ger goes through this.” But deep down, she was envious—after all, a good marriage was all about mutual care and devotion.

As always, the warm boiled egg was rolled over his face first, followed by two threads twisting together to remove the fine hairs. But for some reason, whether it was because he had heard his husband’s words or something else, Qing Ge’er became especially delicate about it. This was someone who hadn’t even cried out when a wild boar had rammed into him, yet now he was hissing in pain at a simple face-threading. He even kept twisting his body away as if it truly hurt that much.

Just as he let out two small hisses, a nervous voice came from outside the window.

“Be gentle, be gentle!”

Wu Guixiang nearly choked in exasperation and couldn’t take it anymore. “Rong jie’er, go chase him away!”

The girls and gers inside burst into laughter. Lian Rong actually lifted the curtain and stepped outside. There was some rustling below the window, but by the time they looked, Song Kaiji had already vanished.

Shen Qing couldn’t help but chuckle. Only he knew why Song Kaiji had been so concerned. The truth was, Shen Qing was particularly sensitive when it came to his hair. Once, during an intimate moment, his hair had been pressed down, and just a small tug had made tears well up in his eyes from the pain.

Everyone has their weaknesses, after all. Shen Qing was resistant to pain in his flesh, but when it came to his hair, he was unusually sensitive. And Song Kaiji had remembered that.

After a round of laughter, they quickly finished grooming Shen Qing. Wu Guixiang didn’t apply heavy powder on his face—whatever skincare balm he had been using at home was already enough to make his skin smooth and radiant. She simply brushed his eyebrows a little and dabbed a tiny bit of rouge on his lips to brighten his complexion. It was already enough to make him look exquisite.

Once the makeup was done, Lin Ning arrived with Lin Zao’er and the Xie siblings. Seeing Shen Qing all dressed up, Lin Ning secretly admired his looks and muttered under his breath, “If Qing Ge’er were a man, he’d be the handsomest one in all of Anping County… Hiss…”

“Right? I’ve said it since I was little—Qing Ge’er is the best-looking. If Qing Ge’er were a man, I’d marry him when I grew up. Not a single boy in the village could compare.”

Surprised, Lin Ning turned his head to see Lian Rong squatting beside him, resting her chin on her hands. He was speechless.

“You are still little,” he pointed out. But then they exchanged glances and instantly recognized each other as kindred spirits.

By the time daylight fully illuminated the sky, guests had started arriving one after another, and the banquet under the ceremonial arch was in full swing. Song Kaiji had specially gathered seven or eight skilled cooks from the village, and large pots were continuously stirring up dishes. The food wasn’t extravagantly expensive, but every dish had meat in it and was full of flavor.

Eight large bowls were set on each table—sauerkraut stewed with bone marrow and blood sausage, braised pork belly with tofu and pigskin jelly, crispy radish fritters, chicken stewed with potatoes and chestnuts… All hearty, satisfying dishes. The main courses included wheat and corn steamed buns and large, fragrant scallion pancakes, all served in abundance. Anyone who came, whether familiar or not, was welcome to sit and eat freely.

Servants bustled through the courtyard, carrying dishes back and forth, working up a sweat despite the cold winter air.

Some guests, clearly struggling with hard times, discreetly took leftovers to bring home. The hosts pretended not to notice. It was just after the New Year, and villages like Lantang and Shiqu were relatively well-off—most families weren’t desperately short on food. But some had traveled dozens of miles just to share in this meal, and for them, these leftovers were precious.

No one knew who started it, but at some point, an elderly guest took half a scallion pancake wrapped in leftovers and, trembling, knelt to kowtow toward the archway.

One of the serving gers quickly stopped him. “Elder, there’s no need for that. Our master said, as long as everyone remembers him and our lord with kind words, that’s enough.”

“Such good people, such kind souls,” the elder praised, raising his thumb. “Your master and lord will surely live long and grow old together.”

…

Inside the courtyard, another banquet was set up, and the dishes here were even more refined. Song Kaiji had sought out Gold-Tooth to hire a renowned chef from a restaurant, who had brought five apprentices along. Each table was laden with exquisitely prepared dishes.

Grandmother Miao sat at the head seat, beaming with joy.

She had once thought Qing Ge’er would either marry into the household of some high-ranking steward or become a concubine for a nobleman. Who could have imagined that Qing Ge’er would be so blessed as to become a noble’s rightful fulang?

The courtyard was filled with chests and boxes—Song Kaiji had deliberately set them out for everyone to see. If Shen Qing had suddenly started spending extravagantly, he would have needed to find ways to justify his wealth. But as an outsider nobleman, Song Kaiji could present any amount of riches without raising suspicion—people would only marvel at it.

There were bolts of fine cloth by the hundreds, exquisite porcelain so delicate that no one dared to touch it, and various finely crafted household goods. And these were just the bulky, sturdy items that could be left out in the open. The gold and jewelry weren’t even displayed—they were safely stored inside. Who knew how much there was?

Qing Ge’er had truly fallen into a nest of fortune!

Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie had also arrived. By now, they no longer needed guides—they could navigate the cave passage on their own. Both had prepared wedding gifts, though neither of them, in either world, could compare to Shen Qing in terms of wealth, so they simply offered what they could.

Tang Wenjie, using his abilities, condensed an enormous silver ingot—about the size of Quan Jie’er—and carried it over in his arms, drawing plenty of stares along the way. Qu Weiwei, having learned from some skilled hairpin makers, personally crafted a beaded hairband.

Since the wedding was held in their own home, many traditional ceremonies were skipped. There was no procession, no urging the bride to hurry, no crying farewell. Shen Qing simply walked into the hall, surrounded by friends, and joined Song Kaiji in holding onto the two ends of a red silk ribbon, kneeling side by side on the prayer mats.

“First bow to heaven and earth!”

Gold-Tooth had been chosen as the officiant, and he took the role very seriously. Dressed in brand-new attire, he was beaming with joy, as if it were his own younger brother getting married.

As Shen Qing lowered his head, he glanced up slightly and saw that the hall was filled with familiar faces—Lin Ning, Lin Zao, the Xie siblings, the villagers from Lantang who had helped him since childhood, Aunt Yanzi, Brother Tieshan, Uncle Li, Second Aunt Lian’s family… even their relatives from Shiqu Village. Miao Chunlei’s clan members, Tongsheng Miao’s family…

Turning together, Shen Qing and Song Kaiji bowed toward Miao Chunlei and Zhang Sujuan.

“Second bow to the honored elders!”

Both mothers were all smiles as they reached out to help them up.

Nearby, Quan Jie’er was being held in Mother Tang’s arms, her big round eyes filled with curiosity. A child witnessing their own parents’ wedding—such an event was unheard of in the surrounding villages. But among these family and friends, no one found it strange. They simply chose to embrace the moment, their faces glowing with the purest and most sincere blessings.

Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie stood beside Mother Tang, looking around at all the loved ones present.

Everyone who mattered in their lives was here.

And most importantly, right in front of him was Song Kaiji.

“Husbands, bow to each other!”

Shen Qing bowed deeply.

The wedding was complete.

Holding onto the red silk ribbon, they would walk through mountains and rivers, hand in hand, for the rest of their lives.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Thandar: End of main story, but worry not, plenty of extra chapters coming up. They will be password locked however. Please find the passwords in TOC.

Although Tang Wenjie and Qu Weiwei had no plans to settle down in ancient times, they were determined to spend a proper New Year here. On the afternoon of the first day of the New Year, Shen Qing and Song Kaiji took a trip to their new base, gave a speech, and distributed benefits to the residents to stabilize morale. By the second day, they had returned to Lantang Village.

This time, they also brought Mother Tang along. The experience was undoubtedly a shocking, worldview-shattering moment for her. But upon seeing Zhang Sujuan, now fully immersed in ancient life and seamlessly blending into the household, Mother Tang gradually accepted the reality—her old friend had been secretly living the good life behind her back!

From the second day of the New Year all the way until the Lantern Festival, they feasted continuously. Now that the household had maids dedicated to kitchen work, and with Miao Chunlei and Mother Tang both being culinary experts, the two quickly hit it off. For them, cooking wasn’t just housework—it was a hobby. They often spent entire afternoons in the kitchen, exchanging ideas and creating new dishes.

After the Lantern Festival, once the holiday break was over, Qu Weiwei reluctantly returned to work. Meanwhile, Tang Wenjie found himself constantly traveling between two places, balancing time between his mother and his partner. Fortunately, their base had recently expanded its territory significantly. Even during the holiday season, many ability users had voluntarily worked overtime to build a defensive barrier along the new borders.

The primary effort was led by earth, metal, and wood ability users. Earth ability users constructed walls, metal ability users set up barbed wire, and wood ability users wove vine nets. This way, they could first enclose the territory, preventing new zombies from wandering in. Then, they could systematically eliminate the zombies and mutant creatures inside before sending ordinary non-ability users to construct solid walls along the barriers.

With work as an excuse, Tang Wenjie was able to sneak away from time to time to visit his mother. Initially, Mother Tang felt nervous and uneasy in this unfamiliar environment, needing her son’s company more often. But as time passed and she grew closer to her old friend Zhang Sujuan, made new like-minded friends, and regularly went on outings to the village and county, she became less concerned about how often Tang Wenjie visited.

“It’s just that there’s no internet here—it’s so inconvenient. If we could just make a phone call or video chat every day, why would we need all this trouble?” Mother Tang sighed. Everything has its imperfections. She pulled out her phone and showed Miao Chunlei her collection of cooking videos.

Miao Chunlei had seen a phone before. Before Song Kaiji was able to travel here, she had relied on recorded videos to communicate with him. Later, after Quan Jie’er was born, Shen Qing often used his phone to record moments of the child’s growth. But that was about the extent of her exposure—she had never truly used one herself.

Recently, Mother Tang and Zhang Sujuan had been teaching her how to use a phone while sharing stories about modern times. Miao Chunlei was instantly hooked. Who could resist the allure of playing with a phone?!

After the Lantern Festival, Shen Qing and Song Kaiji also had another important task—to visit Magistrate Lin’s residence and finalize the sworn brotherhood ceremony with Lin Ning. This wasn’t something Shen Qing had to worry about personally; Magistrate Lin was paving the way for Lin Ning and had already arranged everything. A grand feast was prepared, and invitations were sent to all the prominent families in the county. Whether they attended or not didn’t matter—once the invitations were sent, the news of Lin Ning and Shen Qing becoming sworn brothers was officially announced.

Magistrate Lin even consulted a fortune teller to choose an auspicious day for the event. The grand banquet attracted not only those who received invitations but also merchants who, upon hearing the news, showed up uninvited. After all, this was an excellent opportunity to curry favor with the magistrate. At the same time, no one dared to underestimate Shen Qing anymore.

Although he was just a ger, anyone seeking a favor from the magistrate now had an undeniable connection through him. After all, Magistrate Lin had only one ger child, and if Shen Qing was now his sworn brother, wasn’t that practically the same as being his son-in-law?

As a result, another wave of people flocked to Shen Qing, eager to befriend him. The only ones who were left regretting their past actions were the pawnshop owner and his backers, who had once made things difficult for Shen Qing. They were absolutely sick with remorse.

Who could have predicted such a turn of fate? The shabby village ger they had looked down upon was now someone they couldn’t even approach.

Meanwhile, Lin Ning spent the entire day feeling flustered. The first time he met Shen Qing, he had been captivated by his beauty. Yet, by a strange twist of fate, they had ended up becoming sworn brothers instead. This was far from what he had initially imagined, but family was family. Even Shen Qing’s strikingly handsome husband had somehow become his sworn cousin—what a dream for a face-lover!

At long last, Song Kaiji obtained his official household registration in this world. To him, this was a matter of utmost importance because it meant he could finally marry Shen Qing and obtain a marriage certificate!

Although the two had long been committed to each other, with a child together, Shen Qing had never cared about an official marriage document. But Song Kaiji cared—a lot.

Not caring meant that he was free in both soul and body, not bound by any piece of paper. Caring, however, meant respect, a sense of ritual, and possessiveness.

“I want everyone from ten miles around—no, the entire world to know that I belong to you! Hehehe!”

Song Kaiji had long been preparing for their wedding. Today, after witnessing the grandeur of Magistrate Lin’s banquet, he recalled how he had also observed every detail of wedding customs when Ou Ge’er got married. Now, hugging Shen Qing, he declared excitedly:

“I want to invite the entire village! No—everyone from Shiqu Village too! I want them all to come to our house for the feast. And I’ll set up a banquet under the archway that lasts three whole days and nights!”

Since he and Shen Qing were already living together, he couldn’t go through the traditional process of fetching the bride in a grand procession through the village. This alone was enough to make him feel wronged!

What was the purpose of a wedding ceremony, if not to make a grand announcement and receive everyone’s blessings? Holding a massive banquet for three days and nights was his way of making sure that happened.

After all, the villagers would at least have to say a few kind words in exchange for the feast, right?

Shen Qing couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Are you being childish?”

Song Kaiji nuzzled his ear, the ticklish sensation making Shen Qing shrink away. “Love makes people childish. It makes you want to show off. Not only will I flaunt our wedding, but when Quan Jie’er reaches one hundred days, I’ll show her off like crazy. I’ll make sure the whole world knows that my darling Qingqing gave me the cutest daughter in existence!”

Shen Qing’s toes curled in embarrassment, but he was laughing uncontrollably. In the end, he gave in to Song Kaiji.

Because, deep down, he also wanted to show off.

Ever since his early teens, people had called him ugly, saying no man would ever want him. Shen Qing had always claimed he was indifferent, dismissing their words as the nonsense of petty fools. But people had emotions. No matter how much he tried to ignore it, some part of him still felt unsettled by it.

Now, he wanted to let all those who once looked down on him see—though most of them were no longer even in the same world as him, and some wouldn’t even have the chance to speak to him now—he still wanted to show off a little. He had the best man in the world, one no one else could ever find, and he was worthy of being loved by him.

But before the wedding, there was still a village matter—one that wasn’t particularly big or small.

Now that the new year had passed, Zhao Youwei and his group were finally set to be exiled. Since most of those involved had been the primary breadwinners of their families, many households chose to sell off their properties and follow them, planning to carve out a new life together in the wilderness. As long as a family stuck together and had some silver on hand, they could survive.

Zhao Youwei’s wife was a quiet and submissive woman. After marrying into his family, she had given birth to two daughters and a son. The older daughters had already married well, while the son had just recently gotten engaged. Unfortunately, on that fateful day, he had accompanied Zhao Youwei to Shen Qing’s house and was arrested alongside him. The bride’s family had come to break off the engagement before the New Year, and since the woman had no opinion of her own, it was her two sons-in-law who helped finalize the matter.

What else could they do? Were they supposed to let their daughter follow them into exile? The fact that they hadn’t demanded compensation was already a mercy.

With both her husband and son being exiled, Zhao Youwei’s wife wanted to follow them. However, as a woman without a man at home, she didn’t dare make decisions on her own about selling the house and land. In the end, she had no choice but to go to Zhao Youdang’s house, crying and pleading for help.

According to Wu Guixiang, she had always been like this—whatever her husband said was final, never once arguing back. However, she was an excellent housekeeper, incredibly diligent and capable. Even after Zhao Youwei had broken his leg, she had cared for him meticulously without a single complaint.

“She’s quite pitiful. Now she’s all alone. Even though she has two sons-in-law, they can’t take care of her forever. Our two families haven’t had much interaction for years, but when she came begging, My husband couldn’t bear to turn her away. So he sent me to ask—could you pull some strings to let her meet with her husband before he’s exiled? They need to decide whether to sell the house and land,” Wu Guixiang explained. Her face showed some sympathy, but there was also frustration. Her husband and son are gone—who else is supposed to make decisions now? In her opinion, Li Jiaofeng was the smart one. She had cut ties with Shen Zhigao completely, shut her doors, and carried on with her life.

Shen Qing responded casually, “That’s hardly a big deal. Just tell her to go to the prison, slip the jailer twenty or thirty coins, and she’ll get to see him. I wasn’t blocking her from visiting.”

While he despised Zhao Youwei, he wouldn’t go out of his way to make things difficult for an innocent woman. But he also wasn’t going to offer any special favors—he simply pointed out the path, and it was up to her to walk it.

Wu Guixiang breathed a sigh of relief. “People in our village just don’t know these things. The moment they have to deal with an official, they freeze up and don’t even know where to go. It’s not just her—I wouldn’t have known either if you hadn’t said so.” She immediately sent her daughter-in-law, Qin Yingzi, home to inform Zhao Youdang.

On the wall, a fat orange cat—Wu Guixiang’s pet—stood up as if ready to follow Qin Yingzi. But after glancing back at its unmoving owner, it hesitated, tilted its head in thought, then sat back down. Meanwhile, in the courtyard, two dogs—Da Huang and Er Hei—sat under the wall, staring up at the cat without making a sound, their tails wagging furiously.

Quan Jie, who was cradled in Shen Qing’s arms, watched the scene intently. Then, all of a sudden, she broke into a wide, toothless grin.

“Oh my! Quan Jie’er can smile now!”

The entire room instantly forgot about the Zhao family’s troubles, their attention entirely captured by the baby. Wu Guixiang even scooped up the cat and held it close to Quan Jie, who, upon seeing it, smiled again. The atmosphere in the house grew lively, and the matter of Zhao Youwei’s exile was momentarily pushed to the back of everyone’s minds.

The next day, Zhao Youdang hitched a cart and personally escorted Zhao Youwei’s wife into the city. Say what you will about him—whether he was weak-willed or just a kind-hearted fool—but even after everything Zhao Youwei had done to him, he still extended a helping hand.

As expected, once they reached the prison and paid the jailer twenty coins, they were allowed inside. The meeting was brief, only lasting a quarter of an hour.

The moment Zhao Youwei’s wife saw him, she burst into tears.

Zhao Youwei, meanwhile, looked completely haggard. The time spent in prison had not been kind to him. The Lantang villagers had all been locked up together, and while they had once respected Zhao Youwei enough to follow his lead, now that they were facing exile, they blamed him for dragging them down. As a result, Zhao Youwei had suffered constant torment behind bars, his body wasting away, his eyes sunken deep into his face.

Seeing his wife, he looked somewhat embarrassed. But when he noticed Zhao Youdang standing behind her, his face immediately darkened. “Why are you here? Did you bring my wife just to laugh at me?!”

But while Zhao Youwei hated Zhao Youdang, the other prisoners had a different reaction. They surged forward, some dropping to their knees, wailing in desperation.

“Village Chief, we were wrong! Please save us! We never should have followed Zhao Youwei’s foolishness!”

“I don’t want to be exiled! My parents are still waiting for me at home—I’m their only son!”

“Village Chief, please talk to Qing Ge’er! I was wrong! Tell him to spare me—I’m his father! He can’t do this to me!”

This last plea came from Shen Zhigao.

Zhao Youwei let out a heavy sigh. “What can I do? The county magistrate has already passed the verdict. You think I have the power to overturn it? Some of your families have already sold their properties and are prepared to follow you. When you get there, live properly. Don’t be so easily swayed by others’ words again. Before you act, think—do you have the brain or the ability to handle the consequences?”

“If you have anything to say to your families, I can pass the message along.”

At this, several prisoners lowered their heads, sobbing. Some were filled with regret; others cried for their elderly parents, who now had to suffer exile with them. But after venting their sorrow, they slowly came to accept their fate. They began entrusting Zhao Youdang with messages for their families.

Only Shen Zhigao continued to wail, begging to see Shen Qing. Zhao Youdang ignored him entirely.

Zhao Youwei scoffed at the pathetic sight. “You think begging him will help? He’s just a dog being ordered around by his wife and a ger! He wouldn’t dare defy Shen Qing to pass along your words.”

Zhao Youdang froze. Then, he slowly turned to look at his brother, his expression dark and unreadable. After a long pause, he let out a soft chuckle.

Even the most patient of men had their limits. He had been willing to help Zhao Youwei’s wife, yet this was the thanks he got.

In a calm voice, he said, “You always thought you were better than me—that the only reason I became village chief was because Father favored me after you broke your leg. You blamed my wife’s family for your injury, and that’s why you’ve always hated me.”

Zhao Youwei gritted his teeth. “Am I wrong? If I hadn’t broken my leg, Father would never have given the position to a useless coward like you!”

Zhao Youdang simply smiled. “You say I let my wife control me, but you’re the one who never would. Just look at your wife—she doesn’t even have the authority to decide whether to sell your land.”

Zhao Youwei hadn’t had a full meal in days. His body swayed as if he could barely hold himself up. Zhao Youdang looked into his eyes and let out a cold laugh.

“Father knew you had a bad temper, so he found you a wife who would always yield to you, someone with no temper and no opinions of her own. He never planned for you to be the village chief.”

With that, Zhao Youdang no longer spared a glance at the staggering Zhao Youwei, nor at the pitifully groveling Shen Zhigao, and simply turned to leave the prison.

In the end, Zhao Youwei’s wife sold the land. This time, she didn’t go to Zhao Youdang for help but instead asked her two sons-in-law to handle it. They were the ones who negotiated with the village chief to finalize the paperwork. It was clear that Zhao Youdang’s words had struck a deep wound in both her and Zhao Youwei.

As for Wang Liuzi’s family, they ultimately didn’t sell their daughter to Song Kaiji. Instead, they arranged a marriage for her with a family in Xiaoji Village, demanding a high bride price. Apart from this hastily married-off daughter, the rest of the family packed up their belongings and joined the exile group, heading toward the bitter cold lands.

In one sweep, six or seven families left the village. As the group set off, Shen Zhigao hobbled along with a wooden cane, anxiously scanning the crowd, looking left and right.

“Where’s my family? My mother wouldn’t just abandon me! Is my father struggling to walk? Did you all leave them behind?”

Frantic, he grabbed every Lantang villager he could find, questioning them. His desperation earned him scoldings and shoves from the impatient officers.

“Stop running around! Are you trying to escape?”

A whip cracked across his back. Though the strike wasn’t too forceful, it still stung. Shen Zhigao hunched over, gasping in pain. Most of the Lantang villagers present resented both him and Zhao Youwei and had no desire to talk to him.

Finally, an elderly man with a softer heart sighed and answered, “Your parents are gone. Your mother went first. After she passed, there was no one to care for your father, and he followed soon after.”

Shen Zhigao froze, standing in stunned silence for a long time before finally stammering, “Then… then what about Jiaofeng?”

The old man shook his head. “Never heard anything about Li Jiaofeng selling her house or land. But she did split from Shen Zhuang, kicked him out of the house. She’s raising your boy, Shen Qiang, by herself now.”

The old man glanced at Shen Zhigao, his expression unreadable—whether it was meant to comfort him or to cut deeper.

“At least you have a son. Even if you don’t survive the journey, your bloodline won’t be cut off. Wasn’t that what you wanted most in life? You should be satisfied.”

A long silence followed.

Then, from the depths of the exile procession, a wretched, heartbroken wail rang out.

But the march did not stop.

Aside from a few brief glances, no one paid it any mind.

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

NOTICE: EXTRA CHAPTERS WILL BE PASSWORD LOCKED. Pw info in TOC

Leaving the Red City base, Chen Jiaxi led several hundred mid-to-high-level ability users back to their small base first. Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve, and today’s operation was a complete success. They had collected a lot of valuable supplies, so naturally, they had to distribute some rewards to those who participated. Good meals also needed to be arranged for the upcoming New Year celebrations.

There were no casualties on Shen Qing’s side during this mission, but among the hundreds of ability users, more than twenty were injured and needed immediate medical attention.

Meanwhile, Shen Qing and Song Kaiji drove around their newly acquired territory with Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie. The main reason for securing such a large area was to include the cave within their perimeter. Upon closer inspection, they found many unexpected resources within their new domain. South of the airport, there were a few budget hotels and a convenience store. Further west, large farmlands concealed several small villages, a tiny gas station, and a small-scale farm. Before the apocalypse, it seemed to have primarily raised fish, ducks, geese, and other aquatic products, with several fish ponds on the premises.

However, the ponds were now filled with either dead fish or mutated creatures. As Shen Qing and the others stood by, discussing what could be done with the ponds in the future, a nearly one-meter-long mutant fish suddenly leaped out. It had rows of densely packed shark-like teeth and tiny, lizard-like limbs, almost biting Shen Qing’s calf.

Song Kaiji immediately sent out a wind blade, slicing off half of the mutant fish’s head. A foul, rancid smell emanated from the exposed flesh as the fish fell back into the pond. Yet, the other creatures in the water showed no hesitation—after a brief splash, the nearly one-meter-long fish was quickly devoured, leaving the surface calm once again.

“Good grief,” Qu Weiwei grimaced, feeling nauseous as she quickly pulled the others back. “No one comes here often. Who knows what kind of monsters are breeding in this pond? Let’s just go. Even if we fish them out, we can’t eat them anyway.”

Shen Qing, however, was considering another possibility. If he gathered more ability users to clear the pond and had water-type ability users purify the water, then brought in fish and ducklings from Lantang Village to raise, would they mutate as well? The fish in the pond had likely mutated due to the X1 virus infection from the heavy rain at the start of the apocalypse, but the fish and ducks he brought in wouldn’t have that contamination.

If it worked, their small base could gradually become self-sufficient, and they could finally eat fresh meat again.

As this thought took shape, Shen Qing glanced at Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie. After going through the power struggle at the Red City base together, their bond had undoubtedly grown closer and stronger. In the future, while developing their base, Shen Qing would inevitably need to obtain things from Anping County that weren’t available here—such as unmutated fish, ducklings, or even piglets. His origins were just an open secret among those familiar with him.

Thinking about the blood samples Song Kaiji had extracted in the space, Shen Qing decided to reveal the truth about the other world to Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie. He trusted them. Though he wasn’t entirely certain about Qi Zhan, he believed Tang Wenjie would have his own judgment on whether to tell Qi Zhan and whether Qi Zhan was trustworthy.

After circling around, they found themselves back beneath the artificial mountain at the amusement park.

“Wait, why are we back near the Red City base?” Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie followed Shen Qing and Song Kaiji up the rocky slope, growing more curious.

The next second, Shen Qing and Song Kaiji stepped into a cave—and vanished before their eyes.

Both of them widened their eyes in shock. Song Kaiji poured their blood onto a large stone, and in an instant, the mountain wall disappeared, revealing the cave entrance. Inside, Shen Qing and Song Kaiji stood waiting.

“You… you guys…” Qu Weiwei was so stunned she couldn’t speak. After a long pause, she shuddered, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then yanked Tang Wenjie into the cave. “You really dare to share such a big secret with just the two of us?!”

They had long known that the Red City base’s research lab suspected Shen Qing came from another dimension. In fact, they had also somewhat believed this theory based on his behavior. But for Shen Qing to lay it all out so directly, it was both shocking and exhilarating—it meant they were truly trusted.

After the initial excitement came curiosity. Tang Wenjie and Qu Weiwei peered deeper into the cave, wondering what kind of world Shen Qing came from. A peaceful world without zombies?

Shen Qing pulled out two sets of clothes from his storage space and handed them over. Fortunately, he had stored a few outfits meant for Miao Chunlei, though they looked a bit old-fashioned on Qu Weiwei. But there was no choice—she had to make do. Looking at the garments, the two quickly realized the truth.

“Oh, so it’s an ancient world.”

Shen Qing and Song Kaiji first took them to visit the East Mountain Manor. The estate was grand, luxurious, and opulent. A quick thought later, they understood—no wonder Shen Qing was so obsessed with collecting gold and silver. In the apocalypse, he traded food for gold and silver, then brought it here to spend. That was an incredibly lucrative deal.

Tang Wenjie, however, froze as a sudden realization struck him. He remembered when he first met Shen Qing, the man had asked him to refine silver ingots. He had always assumed it was some kind of special training by a clever boss. But now… had Shen Qing really just wanted the silver ingots??

The estate was filled with servants, all bowing respectfully to Shen Qing and Song Kaiji. They addressed Song Kaiji as “Master” and Shen Qing as “Young Master.” The two newcomers wandered around in amazement—and to their astonishment, they even ran into Zhang Sujuan.

They had suspected that Zhang Sujuan had been taken somewhere safe, but they never expected it to be a completely different world!

But what shocked them even more was—

“A baby?! You two had a baby?!”

So that was why their boss had disappeared for months—he was having a child? They had even worried about Song Kaiji being dumped, only to find out Shen Qing had been on paternity leave.

Wait. Was there some kind of male pregnancy magic in this world?

Zhang Sujuan was delighted to see Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie. When she noticed their utterly dumbfounded expressions, she was even happier—see? It wasn’t just her who was shocked. Anyone who heard about this would have their jaws drop!

After learning more about this unusual world, Tang Wenjie was deeply amazed, while Qu Weiwei accepted it rather quickly. She was well-read—what was so strange about the concept of gers?

But after the shock came curiosity. They urged Song Kaiji and Shen Qing to take them on a tour. So, they hitched a carriage and took a short ride around the village before heading to Anping County.

Upon arriving, however, they were slightly disappointed.

The county town was nothing like the elegant, picturesque cities depicted in historical dramas. The streets weren’t filled with people in flowing, ethereal hanfu but rather a small, somewhat worn-down, and not particularly clean settlement.

“Of course,” Shen Qing chuckled. “This is just a small county town. The prefectural city is much better.”

He had watched plenty of historical dramas. The intricately carved palaces and mansions in those shows were either imperial residences or the homes of high-ranking officials in the capital. Anping County couldn’t compare. Even the most luxurious establishments he had seen in the prefectural city, such as the brothels and entertainment houses, still fell short of the elaborate sets in television dramas.

“But this place is safe,” he added. “There are no zombies, no political scheming like in the Red City base. I’ve bought several houses and shops in the county, as well as a good amount of land and a few workshops in the village. The reason I brought you here is to offer you a choice—do you want to live here?”

To Shen Qing’s surprise, both Tang Wenjie and Qu Weiwei declined.

If it had been when they first met Shen Qing, they might have jumped at the opportunity to escape the apocalypse and settle in a safe place. But after everything they had been through, they were no longer weak, powerless survivors at the mercy of others. They had powerful abilities and a new base they were helping to build.

After a moment’s hesitation, Tang Wenjie spoke up. “Can I send my mom here instead? She and Aunt Zhang are quite close. Ever since Aunt Zhang left, my mom keeps mentioning her.”

There was another reason as well. Tang Wenjie’s mother and Qi Zhan didn’t get along. She had been strongly opposed to Tang Wenjie dating Qi Zhan, and though she had relented after their breakup and reconciliation, she still wasn’t happy about it. If they saw each other less, it might improve their relationship—or at least, the distance might make the heart grow fonder.

Shen Qing had been unsure about what to do regarding Qi Zhan, but seeing that Tang Wenjie had no intention of telling him about this world, he decided not to bring it up either. As for Mother Tang, he had no objections and immediately agreed.

Meanwhile, Qu Weiwei wiped her mouth. They were currently at Shen Qing’s northern residence in the county, having ordered a few sweet dishes from a nearby shop.

“My predecessors fought for gender equality for centuries, shedding blood, sweat, and tears for it. Now that I have such strong abilities and can survive on my own, I refuse to go back to a patriarchal feudal society.”

She placed a hand on a nearby pomegranate tree. Instantly, it bloomed and bore fruit, the branches now laden with large, ripe pomegranates.

Even if Shen Qing’s household treated her well, just knowing she might face discrimination outside, or that she would have to kneel before officials, was unbearable. Song Kaiji and Tang Wenjie could take the imperial exams and earn status, but as a woman, she had no such path.

“But!” she grinned. “I’d love to visit now and then!”

While ancient cuisine lacked modern seasonings, it had its own charm. Even before the apocalypse, few places spent so much time and effort preparing food. The rare few that did were far beyond Qu Weiwei’s pre-apocalypse budget.

Like this red bean double-skin milk in front of her—she had never tasted anything so rich and creamy. The milk was pure, not watered down, and the red bean paste was incredibly smooth. No modern instant bean paste could compare!

“Thank you, Boss, for treating me as one of your own and allowing me to experience the wonders of another world,” Qu Weiwei said with a bright smile. Tang Wenjie also grinned in agreement.

But the post-apocalyptic world was still the one where they were born and raised. Now that they had their own base and no longer faced threats to their lives or survival, their connection and sense of belonging to that world remained strong.

Shen Qing fell into thought and later, when he was alone with Song Kaiji, he quietly asked, “Do you still feel a stronger sense of belonging to that world? Living here for my sake, does it make you feel out of place?”

Putting himself in Song Kaiji’s shoes, Shen Qing understood this feeling well. Even though he had built great power and wealth in the apocalypse, in his heart, Lantang Village was still his true home. Developing his business in Lantang Village was his top priority. Before fully committing to his relationship with Song Kaiji, he had even prepared himself to run away at any moment.

Song Kaiji cupped his face and rubbed it gently. “It’s not like I can never go back, right? I can stay there whenever I want. And don’t be fooled by what Xiao Tang said—once he sends his mom here, do you really think he won’t come stay for at least a week or so every month?” After all, back in university, Tang Wenjie went home every weekend without fail.

“Baby, you’re overthinking it.” Song Kaiji hugged Shen Qing from behind, pressing a kiss to his ear. “As long as you’re here, as long as Quan Jie’er is here, and now that my mom is here too—wherever you all are, that’s where I belong.”

…

After spending some time exploring the county town, Tang Wenjie and Qu Weiwei prepared to leave. The next two days marked New Year’s Eve and the New Year itself—the first New Year since their base was established. They considered it an important milestone and even forced Shen Qing, as the city lord, to make a short speech on New Year’s Day to boost morale.

As they exited through the front gate of Shen Qing’s northern residence, they happened to run into a small group of gers strolling toward the Cuihua Shop. Among them, one stood out—dressed in simple, plain clothing, yet with an ethereal beauty. His features were delicate and refined, his skin flawless, and a striking red mark between his brows added a touch of brilliance, enhancing his natural charm. His appearance was pure and effortless, more breathtaking than even Xie Miyun, the beauty officially recognized by Gold-Tooth.

Qu Weiwei’s gaze immediately locked onto him, trailing after him for quite some time. Fortunately, she was a woman, so no one found her staring inappropriate. Still, the ger in question seemed a bit uncomfortable under her intense scrutiny and shyly raised a silk handkerchief to partially cover his face.

Qu Weiwei only looked away when he disappeared into the shop, then turned to glance at the red mark between Shen Qing’s brows. She had learned by now that this was the mark of those who could bear children in this world. Under her breath, she muttered, “…If women could marry such stunning gers and have them bear children, I’d be willing to settle down here too. A free beautiful wife and a child—who wouldn’t want that?”

Shen Qing, who overheard her by accident: ???

What?? Was his hearing playing tricks on him???

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

In the apocalypse, a contract was nothing more than a gentleman’s agreement, laying out the details of an understanding—did anyone really think it held legal weight? On the contrary, if Suo Binhai were truly dead, Shao Nan would likely lose his mind and refuse to cooperate with them.

Shen Qing grew anxious and quickly stepped forward. “What did you do to him?”

He was starting to regret not bringing Qi Zhan along for this mission. Would they still have time to find a healing ability user at Red City Hospital to check on Suo Binhai?

Chen Jiaxi hurriedly explained, “He’s not dead! It’s just… my ability lost control for a moment.”

Ever since she absorbed Feng Hao’s crystal core, Chen Jiaxi hadn’t felt any major abnormalities in her body. At most, her emotions sometimes became inexplicably irritable, but it was nowhere near an uncontrollable level—certainly much less severe than what Ge Bingbing had suffered.

Chen Jiaxi had speculated that the effects might be related to the nature of the crystal core’s original owner. No matter how despicable Feng Hao had been, his deeds were merely underhanded scheming and backstabbing. Compared to Yang Sen, the second-in-command of that cannibal outpost, Feng Hao was practically a decent person. Meanwhile, the crystal core Ge Bingbing had absorbed had likely been condensed from countless human victims.

Moreover, Ge Bingbing’s in-laws were an ongoing source of stress, constantly pushing her to the edge. In Chen Jiaxi’s opinion, with the things Ge Bingbing’s brother-in-law had done, she would have gone insane even without consuming human crystal cores. By comparison, Chen Jiaxi’s home life was much more stable—her husband was supportive, and her children were obedient and sensible, with no complicated relatives interfering. This contrast seemed to have minimized the side effects she experienced.

Yet after absorbing Feng Hao’s crystal core, despite her ability leveling up twice, Chen Jiaxi hadn’t felt a noticeable improvement in its practical use. Earlier, she had wanted to peek into Suo Binhai’s memories. They had suspected that he intended to take action against their small base after securing power in Red City, but it was just a theory. She had tried using her ability to scan his mind, hoping to see what exactly he had planned.

However, Chen Jiaxi’s power could only access “memories”—and since Suo Binhai’s plans were still in the “thinking” stage rather than something he had acted upon, retrieving them was difficult. In her frustration, she had attempted to probe deeper into his consciousness. But in doing so, her ability spiraled out of control…

Shao Nan rushed forward to check on Suo Binhai. He was indeed alive and in decent condition, though his breathing was rapid, and beads of sweat covered his forehead as if he were in pain.

Chen Jiaxi raised her hand, revealing a small, chestnut-sized orb of light at her fingertips, its surface swirling with a shifting, iridescent glow.

“…I think I accidentally extracted his memory.”

Shao Nan’s eyes widened in shock.

In the end, they had to rush Suo Binhai to Red City Hospital to find a couple of healing ability users. The smarter ones had hidden themselves away at the first sign of chaos, but these two had been working overtime at the hospital and hadn’t had the chance to escape. When the incident broke out, they had locked themselves in an office, unable to flee.

After a quick assessment of Suo Binhai’s condition and a hushed exchange, the healers hesitated before saying, “His body is fine. The reason he hasn’t woken up is likely due to the sudden extraction of his memory. The brain couldn’t handle the shock, so it entered a self-protective sleep state. We’ve helped smooth things out a little—he should wake up soon. But we can’t guarantee… whether his mind will be intact.”

“There’s a chance he’ll wake up only missing the memories that were extracted. But if the shock to his brain was too severe… other complications could arise.”

The healers’ words were tactful, but in simpler terms, there was a possibility he could wake up as a complete idiot.

Shao Nan’s glare immediately burned into Chen Jiaxi.

Chen Jiaxi: “…” I didn’t mean to! QAQ

She glanced down at the glowing orb in her fingertips. If she could extract memories, could she put them back in?

Fortunately, at that moment, Suo Binhai finally woke up.

He struggled to open his eyes, his head throbbing as if needles were stabbing into his brain. Large chunks of darkness loomed in his mind. As he looked around at the unfamiliar faces surrounding him, his gaze finally landed on Shao Nan, who seemed somewhat recognizable.

“You’re… the company commander of the Third Company, Xiao Shao?”

He tried to sit up but immediately winced, clutching his head. The pain was unbearable. “What… what happened? Where am I?”

Shao Nan and the healers immediately looked relieved. No matter what, at least he wasn’t completely brain-dead—he could still recognize people!

The two healers hurried forward, their fingertips glowing with white light as they attempted to ease his pain. But the moment Suo Binhai saw them approaching, his eyes widened in terror. He flinched away despite the stabbing pain in his head, scrambling backward.

“What is this?!”

After much effort, they finally pieced things together—Suo Binhai had lost his memory and could only recall events up to before the apocalypse. Everything that had happened in the past year or more was completely gone.

“What? The Commander… Old Wang, Old Zhang… they’re all…?” His eyes widened in disbelief. He rushed to the window and looked outside, only to see the chaos engulfing Red City Base. There was not a single trace of the peaceful world he remembered.

But his reaction was completely different from when Song Kaiji had forced him to look down earlier. This time, his expression was filled with shock, sorrow, and grief for his fallen comrades. A wave of complicated emotions surged through him—his lips trembled, and his sharp eyes even glistened with unshed tears.

For a moment, Shen Qing and the others fell silent, unsure of how to handle the situation.

Chen Jiaxi stared at the glowing orb in her fingers for a long time before suddenly crushing it.

The light fragmented into countless tiny specks, dissipating into the air before they could even touch the ground.

She had originally considered keeping it for research. But now, she felt that whether or not Suo Binhai had planned to eliminate their small base after consolidating power no longer mattered.

With his memory gone, he had also lost his political rivals. He was now the undisputed ruler of Red City Base.

Perhaps, without the weight of past grudges and schemes, he could lead Red City toward a new beginning—a new future.

Shen Qing and Song Kaiji shared the same thoughts. Song Kaiji held up the contract—though it had no legal effect, at this moment, it was proving useful. He turned to Suo Binhai and said, “Now that things have come to this point, you need to pull yourself together. We collaborated on some things before… Anyway, take a look at this contract. It has your signature. Moving forward, we will provide Red City Base with regular supplies of salt, sugar, medicinal herbs, and other strategic resources. We also hope that Red City Base will honor its commitments and fulfill the terms outlined in the contract.”

He pressed two fingers together, a faint breeze swirling around his fingertips as he carefully observed Suo Binhai’s expression. “This is Commander Shao Nan. He has followed you since the apocalypse began and is one of your most trusted subordinates. If you have any questions, you can ask him.”

Song Kaiji turned to Shao Nan. A struggle flickered across Shao Nan’s face, but he quickly made a decision and nodded. “Yes.”

Before Suo Binhai lost consciousness, Shao Nan had been well aware of what Shen Qing’s group wanted—to have him replace Suo Binhai as the highest leader of Red City Base. But Shao Nan had no such ambition. He simply wanted to do his duty as a soldier: protect civilians and follow orders. He also didn’t believe he had the capability. If Suo Binhai couldn’t manage everything perfectly, how could he, a low-ranking officer who had risen through the ranks during the apocalypse, possibly do better? In the end, wouldn’t he just become a puppet for Shen Qing and his people?

Moreover, if he agreed, what would Shen Qing’s group do with Suo Binhai?

The bloodstains on the office floor had yet to dry—that was the blood of the capital’s special envoys whom Suo Binhai had personally killed. Was it only the government’s people who were allowed to bleed?

But what choice did he have? Shao Nan had no doubt that Shen Qing and the others had the power to kill both him and Suo Binhai if they wanted to. They simply chose not to.

Now, however, the situation had unexpectedly resolved in the best possible way. Suo Binhai had lost his memory. Before him stood a version of himself that had never experienced the brutal factional struggles of the post-apocalyptic world. He didn’t know Feng Hao or Lu Yanghui, nor was he aware of Shen Qing’s secrets. He still had the heart of a pre-apocalypse soldier, filled with the ideals of duty and service.

And Shen Qing’s group was willing to give him another chance. All Shao Nan had to do was guide him—tell him what he needed to know, while filtering out the darkness of the past.

Suo Binhai sluggishly accepted the contract from Song Kaiji and flipped through it, his mind a jumble of confusion. Most of the agreement revolved around resource exchanges, and the values seemed fair enough. But military supplies—how could they be freely traded like this? Yet the signature on the document was undeniably his own… The sheer amount of new information was overwhelming. He couldn’t process it all at once, and his gaze anxiously drifted to the chaos below.

“We can’t just leave things like this! Separate those people immediately and restore order!”

The soldiers outside the conference room exchanged glances before hastily following the command. Order was finally being restored in the base. Shao Nan leaned in and whispered to Suo Binhai, “Zombies destroyed the city, so we established the Red City Survivor Base on the outskirts. These are refugees who just entered… As for military supplies, they are now available for sale to everyone. We support both ability users and armed civilians in hunting zombies. The crystal cores in zombies’ heads can enhance abilities…”

Shao Nan even demonstrated his own ability. “You have an ability too.”

It took Suo Binhai a long while to digest everything. He glanced at the contract in his hands again. If the entire population was arming themselves to kill zombies, then trading weapons made sense. The designated land area seemed large, but… wasn’t it normal for developers to want more land before the apocalypse?

He handed the contract back to Song Kaiji, an apologetic smile on his face. “I don’t know what’s wrong with my head… Please bear with me. Since this is my signature, I won’t go back on my word, even if I’ve lost my memory. Let’s proceed as written. I hope we’ll have a good partnership moving forward!”

Song Kaiji rubbed his nose. Just a short while ago, he had taken Suo Binhai hostage without hesitation, yet now, faced with this “naive and pure” version of Suo Binhai, he felt a bit guilty. He shook Suo Binhai’s hand.

“…Looking forward to working together.”

By the time Shen Qing’s group left Red City Base, the military had rounded up the refugees, gathering them in an open area where they were given tarps and watched as they set up tents. Some individuals, their hands shackled, crouched against the wall, their clothes stained with blood—likely those who had wounded others during the earlier chaos, now awaiting punishment.

A few residents stood outside their homes, sobbing and cursing. After a while, others came forward to comfort them and register their losses. For the original inhabitants of Red City Base, this entire event had been an unprovoked disaster.

Shen Qing’s group watched from a distance as the refugees pitched their tents. “I wonder if this was Suo Binhai’s own idea or if Shao Nan suggested it.”

The military had always wanted to provide indiscriminate aid to civilians, allowing everyone into the base. But merely giving them a plot of land for tents wasn’t enough—entry into the base also meant providing food, water, and jobs. Otherwise, what was the difference between living inside or outside the city walls?

Hopefully, this time, Suo Binhai would manage the base’s affairs more effectively.

The outcome of this situation had been unexpected. But overall, it was a good one. Qu Weiwei teased Chen Jiaxi, “Even Jiaxi jie gets flustered sometimes.”

Chen Jiaxi grimaced. “I’m planning to wear these from now on, just in case I accidentally hurt someone again.” She pulled out a pair of ability-restraining cuffs. “Didn’t we collect the research lab’s data? When we get back to our base, we should find some talented researchers to study it. Maybe they can make me a pair of bracelets—something I can take off when I actually need to use my ability.”

She stole a glance at Shen Qing. Maybe this would help him trust her a little more.

“Oh, right—the research data,” Shen Qing smacked his forehead. It was still stored in his spatial ability. They had originally planned to use it as a bargaining chip to negotiate further terms with Suo Binhai, but now…

“It doesn’t matter,” Song Kaiji said with a wink. “As far as Suo Binhai’s memory is concerned, those documents never existed in the first place. We’ll wait until Shao Nan remembers them before bringing it up again.”

The research lab hadn’t been completely useless—after all, it had created ability-sealing cuffs. They would need to sift through the collected data carefully. They could copy anything useful for themselves while erasing any information related to Shen Qing before returning it to Shao Nan.

As they reached the city gates, Shen Qing turned back to look at Red City Base and murmured, “Without the suppression of the government, and with so many refugees flooding in, it’s almost like a reset… Do you think Suo Binhai will turn out to be a good leader for Red City Base?”

Song Kaiji patted him on the shoulder and joked, “If he doesn’t, we’ll just have Jiaxi jie extract his memories again. He looks pretty decent right now—why not let him stay forever young, forever passionate?”

◦°˚(*❛‿❛)/˚°◦

Song Kaiji dragged Suo Binhai to the window.

The building they were in had been a hotel attached to an amusement park before the apocalypse, standing twelve stories high. At this moment, they were on the top floor. Looking down from the window, they could see that the city gates had been opened, and a massive flood of refugees from outside was pouring into the base.

Song Kaiji pulled Suo Binhai over to the window.

Some of the more timid refugees, upon entering the city, immediately sought out hidden corners to crouch in, fearing that the base’s people might suddenly go back on their word and drive them out again.

But most of the refugees had been living in the camp outside, enduring daily starvation and the constant threat of death. Driven by hunger and survival instinct, they seized the opportunity presented by the chaos to desperately search for food.

Some clung to the city’s original residents, pleading with them. These people, who had been living inside the base, were visibly wealthier. The refugees clutched at their pant legs, kneeling on the ground, their mouths uttering all sorts of desperate words—some reasonable, some not—but no matter what, they refused to let go.

Others had already resorted to force, breaking into the tin houses of city residents and looting whatever they could find.

The patrol squads, which would usually arrive in time to handle such situations, were nowhere to be seen—whether they had been caught in the chaos or were even still alive was unknown.

Some of the ability users, whose homes had been invaded, finally lost patience and retaliated. Sparks of electricity and flames lit up the streets as several refugees were struck down. Though injured and lying on the ground howling in pain, they still refused to let go of the food they had just stolen, cursing wildly through their agony.

Still, the display of power managed to deter some of the looters. Those who could afford the city’s entrance fee and rent—those who lived inside Red City Base—were either ability users or physically strong young men unafraid to kill zombies. The starving refugees outside had no way to compete with them. After a brief standoff, the refugees unwillingly backed away, searching for weaker targets.

An old woman and her young granddaughter pressed desperately against the flimsy door of their tin house. The pillar of their family was nowhere to be seen, and the two of them were utterly powerless against the horde of ravenous refugees. The old woman cried out for help, while the little girl sobbed in terror. But their neighbors were too busy fending for themselves to offer any assistance.

From the rooftop, Song Kaiji flicked his hand, sending a blade of wind cutting through the air. By the time it reached the ground from the twelfth floor, its force had been greatly diminished, leaving only a shallow cut on the hand of one of the looters. But it was enough to scare them. They glanced around warily, assuming that the house’s protector had returned, and cursed under their breath before slinking away.

Inside, the grandmother and granddaughter collapsed behind the door, holding each other as they wept.

“You see, your idea wasn’t as great as you thought,” Song Kaiji said, turning to Suo Binhai. “If you really wanted to do a good deed, you should have put in the effort and resources to organize it properly, rather than letting innocent people suffer. Just like how you managed our base so thoroughly—does this look any better than when the officials were in charge?”

Wanting to save as many people as possible without restrictions was a noble idea, but order had to be maintained. Rules had to be set. A city couldn’t just open its gates and let chaos unfold. Even in their own small base, Chen Jiaxi had to exhaust herself screening every newcomer, ensuring they were trustworthy. The previous government had set entry requirements based on zombie-hunting ability and economic status—it had been harsh and inflexible, but at least it had prevented such disorder.

Suo Binhai’s face turned an ugly shade, darker than pig liver. It wasn’t Song Kaiji’s ridicule that embarrassed him—it was the fact that he couldn’t deny the truth. He didn’t want to admit it, but his governance skills were worse than those of the officials he had just killed.

Yet the reality was clear—different people had different strengths. He was good at strategy, at organizing search-and-rescue operations. But when it came to managing a base…

Song Kaiji continued watching the chaos below. Opening the city gates had been planned in advance. It had been part of Shen Qing and Qu Weiwei’s strategy to enter the base. They had expected the situation to play out this way—but they had made no effort to warn or prevent it.

Because it worked in their favor.

Song Kaiji could feel his heart hardening bit by bit. But then again, should someone in Suo Binhai’s position really need others to point out the obvious?

Or had Suo Binhai already foreseen this outcome? Perhaps he simply didn’t care. As long as the coup was successful, he could clean up the mess afterward. The innocent residents and refugees who died in the chaos—he wasn’t particularly concerned about them.

Or perhaps he usually cared, but not enough to prioritize them over seizing power.

Song Kaiji sighed. He had grown up in an era of peace, where he had always trusted the government and the military. It had taken him a long time to realize that the military was the military, Suo Binhai was Suo Binhai, and Shao Nan was Shao Nan.

Now that communication networks had collapsed and the bases across the country were governing themselves without oversight, could Suo Binhai still be considered a representative of the pre-apocalypse military?

No. He was just a man, with emotions, ambitions, and selfish desires. Could every decision he made truly represent the integrity of the military?

Neither side should be putting the weight of their positions onto individuals.

“This coup… were you planning to get rid of us as well?” Song Kaiji asked softly.

They knew too much. Song Kaiji had needed to eliminate the government officials to sow chaos. Meanwhile, Shen Qing and his group had entered the city unimpeded, without any military personnel guiding or stopping them. They had effortlessly seized the grain stores, the armory, and all of the research data from the laboratories.

If Song Kaiji hadn’t taken Suo Binhai hostage, would Red City Base—regardless of who won the power struggle—really have let them leave so easily?

Even if they hadn’t looted the warehouses, would they have been allowed to leave?

Because in the end, there had never been an intention to let them go.

Suo Binhai’s pupils contracted sharply. After three or four seconds of silence, he forced an awkward smile.

“How could that be? You and Shao have such a good relationship, and you’ve helped us so much before. We’re partners—partners.”

“If it’s a partnership, then it’s only fair that we get a share of the spoils, isn’t it?” Song Kaiji said, resting his hand on Suo Binhai’s shoulder. “I’ve done a lot of work for this, and my hands are covered in blood.”

The commotion outside grew louder. Tang Wenjie waved his hand, transforming the solid metal walls into bars, keeping Shao Nan and the military officers locked out.

Outside, Shen Qing and his group had arrived. Hundreds of mid- and high-tier ability users stood in a standoff against the military. Since Suo Binhai was still in Song Kaiji’s hands, the soldiers dared not make a move. Shao Nan’s face alternated between red and white.

“Is there some kind of misunderstanding, Song Kaiji? Let go of the Vice Commander, and we can talk.”

When the apocalypse had first erupted, half the population had immediately turned into zombies. Red City’s original military commander had been among them. With subsequent deaths from infections, starvation, and casualties, the overall losses had reached seventy to eighty percent.

Several vice commanders had also perished, leaving Suo Binhai as the one to rise to the top as Red City Base’s highest military authority. With so many senior officers dead, young officers like Shao Nan had been rapidly promoted, resulting in the current military structure where Suo Binhai held absolute power.

Song Kaiji exchanged a glance with Shen Qing in the crowd. He tightened his grip on Suo Binhai’s shoulder.

“There’s no misunderstanding. Now that everything has settled, it’s time to sit down and discuss how we’ll divide the spoils, don’t you think?”

After clearing out most of the soldiers and ability users, only a small group remained inside: Shen Qing, Song Kaiji, Suo Binhai, Shao Nan, Tang Wenjie, Qu Weiwei, Chen Jiaxi, and two officers loyal to Shao Nan—just enough to maintain balance.

Shao Nan glanced at Suo Binhai and hesitated before ultimately remaining silent.

Shen Qing, however, shook his head.

“We don’t want Red City Base.”

Instead, they wanted everything outside of it—from the amusement park to the airport—to establish their own base, the Twin Cities of Red City.

Of course, if they didn’t want to trade, that was fine too. Shen Qing’s base, thanks to his ability to bring food and essential supplies from another world, had no need to venture far in search of resources. The people in his base only needed to focus on infrastructure and self-sufficiency. Clearing zombies could be done using abilities and crossbows—having guns and ammunition was a bonus, but lacking them wouldn’t render them helpless.

Suo Binhai remained silent, hesitating. The main issue was that Red City Airport was too important. He also didn’t want to see Shen Qing grow too powerful, securing such a vast territory to build a new base. In his plans, after this coup, Shen Qing’s small base was supposed to come under Red City’s control as well…

But Shen Qing had no patience for his dithering and handed the negotiations over to Chen Jiaxi. Meanwhile, Shen Qing and Qu Weiwei turned to the stunned Shao Nan.

They brought Shao Nan to the window as well.

“I eventually understood why you chose the military over us,” Qu Weiwei said. “If I were in your position and had to choose between Shen Qing and you, I would choose Shen Qing without hesitation. But you need to ask yourself—did you choose the military, or did you choose Suo Binhai? And if it’s Suo Binhai, how much do you really know about him?”

They made Shao Nan look at the chaos below. The power struggle between the government, the military, and Shen Qing’s forces was reaching its conclusion. All the key figures were now gathered inside this building. Meanwhile, the streets were filled with conflict between the newly arrived refugees and the original residents—fighting over food, water, clothes, even shelter.

“Is this what your military wanted?”

Some things weren’t beyond Shao Nan’s imagination—he had simply been subconsciously avoiding them. But now, forced by Shen Qing and Qu Weiwei to confront the turmoil below, he clutched his head in pain, trying to block out the sight.

Shen Qing reached out and pulled his hands away.

“The military doesn’t belong to any one person. Before the apocalypse, Suo Binhai wasn’t even the highest-ranking officer of the Red City military district, was he?”

“For ordinary people, what matters is having a stable life. The military that earns the people’s loyalty is the one that protects them. Who holds the title of highest commander isn’t nearly as important as whether they bring stability.”

“You are also from the military—an officer with a rightful background.”

Shao Nan stood there in a daze, when suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream rang out behind them.

He turned sharply, just in time to see Suo Binhai collapse limply to the ground.

Chen Jiaxi stood there, holding a piece of paper, blinking in mild surprise before finally murmuring, “Ah… I was just testing it out. I didn’t expect this either.”

She absently waved the paper in her hand.

“…But he signed the contract.”

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