Chapter 51

Chapter 51

The layout of post-apocalyptic compounds follows similar patterns, and South City Base proves no exception.

Designed as a fortified ring, the base divides into four concentric districts:

Central District, Inner District, Outer District, and Barren Zone.

Beyond the perimeter walls, each sector is separated by checkpoints and security barriers.

The Barren Zone—true to its name—remains undeveloped within base boundaries, serving as a buffer against zombie incursions.

New arrivals typically receive housing in the Outer District first. Only after earning enough points can they relocate to the Inner District for rentals or purchases.

Points can be acquired through various means:

Taking on missions and jobs within the compound, trading personal supplies, or receiving voluntary transfers from others.

Points serve as the primary ticket to the Inner District, initially populated by military families.

Over time, the area gradually became dominated by powerful superpowered groups.

With their exceptional abilities, empowered individuals naturally accumulate points more easily.

Central District access involves far stricter requirements unrelated to points.

First priority goes to specialists like scientists, medical staff, and their immediate families.

Second-tier eligibility extends to military leadership relatives or specially recruited personnel.

In truth, Central District admissions remain at management's discretion, with no published criteria.

The heavily guarded compound ensures safety for those following protocols.

Its well-organized systems allow residents to file grievances or request protection when needed.

...

Li Kaiyun's nephew Li Cheng, a 27-year-old non-powered individual, served as Central District security chief.

After satellite phone contact through the rescue team, Li Cheng prepared everything before their arrival.

As soon as they parked, a tall, serious-looking young man approached to greet Li Kaiyun and catch up.

Recognizing Li Cheng, Cheng Jing watched as he consoled his younger relatives upon hearing their ordeal, then thanked their group.

Cheng Jing didn't know what Li Kaiyun had told his nephew, but Li Cheng not only collected the recommendation letter but personally took them for medical checks.

He got the whole group set up in the same Central District residential building.

The housing included both single units and multi-room suites. Based on group sizes, Li Cheng assigned them two- or three-room units.

Their VIP treatment far surpassed typical arrivals' accommodations.

This reflected both the recommendation letter's influence and Li Kaiyun's connections.

But ultimately, it came down to Cheng Jing's team itself. Well before arrival, their records had probably been checked and reported upward.

As Li Kaiyun noted, any compound would prize eight combat-experienced, well-trained superpowered operatives.

After spending this time together, the quiet Xiao Ya had grown close to Li Shuhui and decided to stop cockblocking Huang Qian and Lu Ningzhou.

With the consent of both parental figures, the two girls moved in together so they could watch each other’s backs and talk freely.

Regarding Xiao Ya's situation, Cheng Jing had laid out the full story to the three members of the Li family when Li Shuhui proposed living with her. Like the others, Li Kaiyun didn’t excuse Xiao Ya’s mistakes but was willing to accept and guide her.

They also finally understood why Xiao Ya remained so silent among a lively group—guilt weighed her down, and this shame might haunt her forever.

So Cheng Jing and Jiang Nian stuck together, Huang Qian and Lu Ningzhou paired up, Zhao Lei and Liao Yu shared a place, while Jian Cheng, Tang Yi, and Zhou Rongbin formed a trio. Xiao Ya, meanwhile, stayed with Li Shuhui’s family.

The dorms came stocked with basic necessities, though power and water were tightly controlled across the entire base.

Through Li Cheng’s explanations, everyone learned:

Only the research facilities in the central zone, hospitals and clinics in each district, and other special department offices had 24-hour electricity.

Everywhere else, households were limited to four hours of power per day, with usage capped at one kilowatt.

So far, the base hadn’t allowed buying extra electricity.

Residents could choose when to use their allotment, but the daily quota didn’t carry over. When time ran out, the base’s system killed the power—no exceptions.

Electric-type Supers could use specially modified batteries to store and trade energy based on their capabilities—the base didn’t interfere.

As for water, each person could collect three liters daily from designated stations. Anything beyond that cost credits, with prices varying by water quality.

Of course, people could also trade with water-type Supers instead of buying from the stations.

The scarcity of water and electricity was why nine out of ten Supers with those powers were rolling in it after the apocalypse.

"..."

After assigning dorms and explaining the base rules, Li Cheng handed out dinner rations, saying he’d hook them up with more tomorrow.

This was straight from his private stash—not every survivor got such treatment.

After eating, Jiang Nian split the last of their truck supplies fair and square.

Cheng Jing also gave Li Kaiyun a pack of cigarettes. Nobody batted an eye.

They didn’t actually need Li Cheng’s help, but as newcomers, they needed to fly under the radar.

Besides, this was his way of settling the debt for them looking after his uncle and siblings.

They’d arrived at the base near dusk. By the time everyone moved in, showered, and got settled, they were pushing into the dead of night.

Though the journey had been smooth, they’d all been wired tight.

Now, safely in the central zone’s dorms, they finally relaxed—and the fatigue hit like a truck.

Jiang Nian and Cheng Jing got a small two-bedroom: a living-dining combo, one bedroom, a junk room, a bathroom, and a tiny kitchen. A quick cleanup made it halfway decent.

"Wiped out... Screw it, we’ll finish tomorrow. Trade some useless crap for credits..."

Lying in bed, Jiang Nian slurred out a half-formed plan to Cheng Jing before his words dissolved into snores.

Cheng Jing patted his back:

"Okay, get some sleep. It's late."

They’d be here a while, so they could make gradual improvements as needed.

First, the doors and windows had to be reinforced. The base was safe, the central district even more so, but if they wanted extra security, they’d have to do it themselves.

They’d need some more furniture too—space might be tight, but comfort mattered.

There was no such thing as a free lunch. The management of South City Base had put them in the central district, but they would surely come with conditions sooner or later.

But for now, they could sleep easy and figure it out tomorrow.