Chapter 103

Chapter 103

"Hahahaha..."

Xiao Liu laughed carelessly, unbothered by Liang Xiaoyan's irritation. Women after the apocalypse were much easier to placate than before.

Someone like Liang Xiaoyan would’ve been a stuck-up princess in the pre-apocalypse world—probably wouldn’t even glance at guys like them. But now? Hah!

Gotta admit, this was one thing the apocalypse did better. He loved watching those who used to look down on others fall into the mud.

Like his ex-girlfriend, who nitpicked everything about him. Before the apocalypse, she demanded an 800,000 dowry. After the apocalypse? Once he got tired of her, he sent her to beg that 800k from the zombies instead.

Let 'em call him a sicko—that's just how it is.

"..."

As Xiao Liu bantered and argued with Liang Xiaoyan, Da Jun’s mind flashed to the faces of Jiang Nian and Huang Qian. He bit down hard on the betel nut in his mouth—he wasn’t particular—men, women, whatever.

If that pretty-faced bastard could make so many people "submit," maybe he had some "special talents." With that delicate skin, one go with him and he’d probably be left in tatters.

Skreee—

The car came to a stop at the base’s exit. Liang Xiaoyan got out to handle the exit paperwork. Seizing the moment, Xiao Liu glanced around and lowered his voice to speak to Da Jun.

"Bro, Jiang Nian recognized us. You think he’ll figure anything out?"

Xiao Liu’s words snapped Da Jun out of his dirty fantasies. After a pause, he snorted coldly.

"So what if he does? In this world, there’s plenty of hired guns around. Even if the base investigates, it’s got nothing to do with us."

They hadn’t killed or burned anything—they were just working for Xia Weiwei.

That day in the prefab dormitory area, they’d only crossed paths with Jiang Nian. At most, it’d just look like coincidence if questioned.

After all, if Li Cheng looked into it, he’d find out that chick was working. Men had needs—nothing suspicious about that.

Xiao Liu scratched his head.

"True... Should we really not tell Yan'er? Yesterday she told me she was short on creds, so I gave her two thousand."

"Why tell her? She’s got too many angles. If she finds out and sells us out, it’ll be a bigger mess. If she wants points, she’d better behave. Every time, before I’m even satisfied, she’s already bitching to quit. Fucking spoiled!"

Da Jun sneered. Ever since entering the Southern City Base, Liang Xiaoyan had grown more and more dismissive of them. They were supposed to be in a mutual arrangement, yet she acted all high and mighty—playing the damn saint!

"Yeah..."

Xiao Liu frowned thoughtfully. Liang Xiaoyan kept upping her price every damn time, but her "service" wasn’t getting any better.

Xia Weiwei had approached them to collaborate because she’d noticed Liang Xiaoyan’s connection to Jiang Nian’s group. The pay was good—they just had to push Liang Xiaoyan to get closer to Li Shuhui and gather intel.

This time, they’d approached Li Shuhui to sell goods as a way to get more intel. Who’d have thought the general store Li Shuhui was hooked up with actually belonged to Jiang Nian?

Da Jun shot him a warning glance.

"Get your shit together. Don’t let her lead you around by your dick for those few seconds of fun. She can’t know about our deal with Xia Weiwei. If she wants to ditch us, she’ll have to wait until we’re done with her."

Xiao Liu gave a silent nod.

Not telling Liang Xiaoyan the truth was also Xia Weiwei's idea. In her words, she added:

"A scheming tool is easier to use the less it knows."

Besides, if Liang Xiaoyan found out, they’d have to share a generous cut with her. Once a woman got too many points, she wouldn't stay under their thumb.

Until they found a better replacement, they couldn’t let her go.

Unlike other shelters, the South City Base had strict rules due to its strong military presence. The soldiers played everything by the book.

While they recruited Superpowered from outside, they refused to grant them privileges. Forget other things—they couldn't even get laid properly:

Within the base’s jurisdiction, anything non-consensual was strictly forbidden. No matter how down-and-out she seemed, you couldn’t touch her.

He’d just witnessed it two days ago:

Two Superpowered—one with earth abilities, the other with physical enhancement abilities—got drunk and dragged a mother and daughter who were trash scavengers into a corner to assault them.

They were gunned down right there in public by fully armed patrols, their bodies dragged away like dead dogs.

Even the bystanders who cheered them on were handcuffed and forced into labor building the perimeter walls.

Many praised the patrols for their actions, but he found it ridiculous.

This was the goddamn apocalypse, and it wasn’t even a capital offense. In other bases, such cases would’ve been paid off with points at most. But here? A bullet to the head.

And they call this valuing Superpowered?

What a fucking joke!

Xia Weiwei had offered them two promises:

First, they could follow her to Base S, where she’d assign them jobs, ensuring they would have food and shelter guaranteed.

Second, she’d give them points to collect weapons and rare supplies in South City Base. Using Base S’s influence, she’d help them take control of key resources in a smaller, Superpowered-led base.

Essentially, she was secretly making those small bases and shelters into Base S’s subsidiaries, with them as the local bosses.

Given the choice, they didn’t hesitate to pick the second option.

As the saying goes, "Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven." In Base S, they’d just be small fry, taking orders from others.

But in a small base with core resources? They’d make the rules—doing as they pleased, living large, with women and riches to spare.

"..."

Before long, Liang Xiaoyan returned after completing the registration. Xiao Liu leered suggestively and whispered to Da Jun:

"She’ll definitely ask you for points in the next couple of days. When she does, get back what you missed out on, heh heh..."

"Mm."

Da Jun grunted in agreement. Wanting benefits without paying the price? In your dreams!

With the rewards Xia Weiwei had given them, they’d already rented a place in the inner district. Once they moved in together, there’d be no more playing hard to get.

"Alright, let’s go."

The car door closed, and Liang Xiaoyan confirmed the meeting location with the teammates already outside while checking her phone.

Xiao Liu started the car and drove out of the base.

...

Since he had collected a lot of floral tea, Jiang Nian spent the rest of the afternoon browsing a pre-collapse survival guide he had downloaded on another tablet whenever he had free time.

He looked up various floral tea recipes and blends.

The next day, he sorted different types of floral tea and sour plum drink mix ingredients into small paper packets, stashing most of them in his ring space for easy access.

After that, he could rotate different iced tea offerings:

With the cheaply acquired ingredients, he could recoup his costs in just a day—Score!

Meanwhile, when Cheng Jing and the others returned to HQ to head to the training ground, Zhou Li suddenly called with orders:

Cheng Jing was to see Department Head Wang's office, while the others proceeded with training as usual. Yang Kai was already waiting for them at the training ground.

Without asking further, the teammates began preparations under Zhao Lei's lead. Yang Kai's superpower was gravity, making their resistance training highly effective.

Just as Jian Cheng was rejoicing over dodging the bullet, Cheng Jing called Yang Kai right in front of him, instructing him to give Jian Cheng some "extra reps."

"C’mon, Cheng, no need for that! We go way back..."

Jian Cheng waved his hands frantically, his initially gleeful expression crumpling into despair.

Since when did Big Bro get so petty?!

Cheng Jing walked over with a smile and patted his shoulder:

"Exactly. Because we go way back, you're not already fried extra crispy right now."

Tough as nails—more reps it is!

"..."

After a brief silence, the office erupted with the teammates' gleeful heckling.

Liao Yu reminded himself silently: Goof off all you want, but try not to do it in front of Cheng.