Miao Miao huffed, “Hmph, what’s so great about that? I’ll find myself a capable partner someday too.”

Yun Shuiyao shrugged. “Well, let’s see when that happens.”

Miao Miao was speechless, not wanting to continue the conversation.

He Lian touched her forehead. She was used to the constant bickering between the two of them by now.

Lan Shiru opened the door to the villa. “Tonight, we can test it out. Feel free to go in and find a room. Think about how you want to decorate it. If you need anything, just let me know. From now on, any time we can leave the villa open, we will. You can rest inside.”

“Sis, you’re like a goddess to me. This is amazing!” Miao Miao immediately perked up, running inside to find a room, eager to start decorating.

Yun Shuiyao and He Lian followed suit, excited to find their own rooms as well. Lan Shiru gave Xiang a pat on the head. “I don’t think there’s any danger for now, you can go choose a room too.”

“Woof, woof.” Xiang barked happily, waddling inside.

Lan Shiru walked around the villa, sprinkling some insect repellent around the perimeter, then closed the large door and entered the villa herself.

The villa covers an area of 200 square meters per floor, with three floors totaling 600 square meters. Each floor has a spacious living room, the ground floor has a kitchen and a storage room, and the rest are bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. There are five bedrooms on the first floor and seven on the second and third floors. Each bedroom was large and comes with a built-in wardrobe, desk, dressing table, and the bathrooms include storage compartments, bathtubs, washbasins, and pipes for water drainage—fully equipped.

After discussing, the four of them decided to stay on the third floor, with one room each. Lan Shiru handed out various toiletries to each of them, along with bed linens, duvet covers, and blankets. She told them to arrange things how they liked, and if anything was missing, to ask. The bathtubs were filled with water. “Wash up first, then meet in the living room to apply medicine.”

Everyone went about their own tasks. Lan Shiru returned to the first-floor lobby, where Jiang Xiang had chosen a spot, she then took out a luxurious single-dog villa for it and set up a shelf next to it, filled with its food and snacks. In the room, she filled a large tube with water, first giving Jiang Xiang a thorough wash before heading upstairs to clean herself up.

After the four women applied their medicine to each other, they went to the kitchen on the first floor. Lan Shiru prepared various ingredients, while Miao Miao, Yun Shuiyao, and He Lian took care of the cooking, and she attended to her little son.

The little one had just pooped, and his small face scrunched up in displeasure, giving his mother a scowl. Bad mommy, I’m not talking to you.

Lan Shiru didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Such a little temper, yet so fiery—must have gotten that from their dad. “Mommy was wrong for making Le Bao upset. How about this—I’ll punish myself by not giving you kisses, okay?”

Little Le Bao blew a bubble, cocking his head and looking at her. No, I want kisses from mommy.

As requested, Lan Shiru kissed him several times, “Le Bao is so good.”

Jiang Xiang, standing nearby, watched with longing; he wanted to kiss too, but after the first time when his little master sneezed and scared him, he dared not get too close to his little master’s face again.

Lan Shiru cleaned up little Le Bao and fed him. She then laid out a rug in the living room for him to play on, with Jiang Xiang by his side, while she went to help in the kitchen.

“He Lian, be extra cautious about the surroundings.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve been listening carefully.”

Lan Shiru nodded. “Yun Shuiyao, once your vines have fully recovered, have them wrap around the outside of the villa for cover and as a lookout.”

“Got it, it can handle that.”

“Sis, when are we going to explore the deep mountains and forests?”

“Why?”

Miao Miao chuckled, “The deep mountains and forests are full of monsters, maybe I’ll find a compatible little partner there.”

Lan Shiru smiled helplessly. “We’ll talk about it later. Let’s rest after eating. He Lian, please watch over us while we sleep. We’ll head to the southern suburbs after dawn. You can sleep in the car.”

“No problem, you all rest easy.”

After the meal, He Lian kept watch while the others—including the four of them and little Le Bao—rested. It was already 5 a.m., and they would set out in four hours.

While the others slept, He Lian prepared some food so when the group woke up at 9 a.m., they washed up, ate, and got ready to leave.

Lan Shiru brought out a George Batten luxury off-road vehicle—comfortable, stable, and durable.

“I’ve never been in such a fancy car before,” He Lian remarked, amazed. “Who would’ve thought that even in times like these, some of us could still enjoy such luxuries?”

“Isn’t your boss a rich person? Don’t they have a luxury car?” Miao Miao asked.

“Our boss is low-key. If they have one, it’s just a small sedan and they don’t drive it often. They prefer sports cars—no off-roading vehicles.”

Miao Miao sighed enviously, “Rich people get to choose what car they want, but us poor folks can only choose whether or not we can afford one. But now, I guess I’m doing better than a lot of wealthy people. So, I’ll keep holding on to my sister’s coattails.”

“Stop joking around,” Lan Shiru said. “Let He Lian rest properly. We don’t even know the situation in the southern suburbs yet. Our main goal is the seed wholesale market over there. It’d be great if they have poultry and livestock, but things like grain are probably gone.”

“Got it, Sis. Can I drive?” Miao Miao asked.

“Do you have a driver’s license?” Lan Shiru asked.

“Yeah, I got it a month before the apocalypse,” Miao Miao answered.

Lan Shiru chuckled, “You’d better sit tight. I’ll take turns driving with Shuiyao.”

Yun Shuiyao threw a flirtatious glance Miao Miao’s way. “Little girl, don’t be in the way. Just be a good, quiet doll.”

Miao Miao pouted, unwilling to respond.

The car wound its way through the outskirts toward the southern suburbs. They encountered quite a few people along the way—many of them were envious, their eyes burning with jealousy. Anyone who could afford such a luxury vehicle in the apocalypse clearly had resources and ability, and whether or not to rob them required careful consideration.

He Lian had gotten a good rest. Although the car was a bit wobbly, it wasn’t jarring at all. “Where are we now?”

“We’re about an hour away,” Lan Shiru replied. “Why don’t you listen to what they’re saying in the car behind us?”

He Lian glanced back. “Who are they?”

“I don’t know, they’ve been following us for a while. They’re probably here to rob us.”

He Lian woke up immediately, leaned in to listen intently, and her face darkened with anger. “It’s a bunch of scum behind us. They’re a gang, and the leader’s awakened with lightning abilities—he’s incredibly strong. He’s gathered a group of people to serve under him. They’ve been robbing others: the men they take back as cannon fodder, and the women as tools for their pleasure. They’ve set their sights on us, and right now they’re playing with us.”

“Did they mention where their hideout is? How many of them are there in total?”

“It sounds like there’s over a hundred of them. They didn’t say where their main base is, but from the way they talked, it seems like it’s in the southern city area. These few are out scouting. They’re toying with us and also testing the waters.”

“Let them follow us, then. We’ll find a place to rest and grab a bite.”

No one objected. They found an open spot, took out an outdoor iron stove and a pot from the car, poured in water, and added a block of hot pot base. The ingredients were already prepped, so they just threw everything in to cook.

Lan Shiru took care of Little Le Bao in the car, then got out to join the action. The food smelled not only delicious but also so inviting that it wafted for miles. The few thugs trailing behind were salivating.

“Damn it,” one of them growled, “here I am chewing dry bread while those bitches are eating hot and spicy food. Tiger, what do you say we just take them?”

Biao Hu spat on the ground, his smoke-yellowed eyes shifting as a lecherous grin spread across his face. “Those cheap women sure have it coming. Perfect timing—after a good meal and some drinks, the boys can have some fun first.”

“Tiger, you’re a genius,” one of the lackeys flattered, “those four women are all real stunners.”

A petty, shifty-eyed thug hesitated, “Tiger, these women are acting all high profile, looking clean and eating well. They’ve got strong backing. What if we wait until we get back and check with Brother Long?”

“Tch, always with Brother Long,” another thug sneered. “What’s wrong, Tiger’s word no good enough for you?” He was clearly irritated with the first thug. He had been annoyed by his smarmy attitude for a while, feeling superior just because of his little tricks.

Biao Hu, a blunt, muscle-bound brute, wasn’t quick-witted and didn’t overthink things. What made him dangerous was his cold-hearted nature, and he’d done countless terrible things, even before the apocalypse. He worked with Long Zhan, who was the cunning, scheming type—staying behind the scenes and using Biao Hu as the muscle, sending him to take all the risks. But Biao Hu couldn’t stand anyone even suggesting Long Zhan was better than him. Without thinking, he delivered a sharp kick to the petty thug, “You little bastard, if you wanna die, I’ll help you.”

The petty thug winced, trembling all over but dared not retaliate or even show any defiance. “Tiger, I’m sorry. Please don’t hold it against me!” he begged, though inside he marked down the lackey who had tried to flatter Tiger.

Tiger, enjoying the sense of power, took in the worship and basked in the attention.

“They’re about to make a move.” He Lian whispered.

The small group continued to eat and drink as if nothing was wrong. Lan Shiru casually asked, “Are there other people around?”

“Yes, plenty of them. They’re all just watching, trying to take advantage of the chaos and rob while the fire’s still burning.”

Yun Shuiyao scoffed, “A bunch of fools, do they really think my things are so easy to take?”

Miao Miao rolled her eyes, “Isn’t it because your ‘assets’ are just too eye-catching, Auntie?”

Yun Shuiyao laughed, “At least the little one knows how to talk. What can I say? I have this kind of assets, can’t help it.”

Lan Shiru rubbed her forehead. Did these two have a personal vendetta against women or something? “He Lian, do you know how to use a crossbow?”

“I’ve played around with it once, but I’m not very good.”

“As long as you can use it. Practice your hearing skills and develop your technique. Close-quarters combat may not be your strength, but you can provide cover from a distance.”

“I’ll definitely practice. I know my limits,” He Lian said, acknowledging her weaknesses. Close-quarters combat wasn’t her forte—she wasn’t strong enough, fast enough, and her resolve wasn’t brutal enough. When it came time to strike, she always hesitated.

“Alright, come with me to the car. You can get a feel for it by trying with these guys. Stay on top of the car—if anyone gets too close, it’ll be good practice.”

“Got it. I won’t disappoint anyone.”

Lan Shiru led He Lian to the car, taking out the crossbow and a box of arrows. She first showed her how to string the bow and nock an arrow.

The group of thugs was traveling in a minivan, with ten of them armed with steel pipes, exuding the one with a fierce attitude. The only thing they were truly wary of was the enormous size of Jiang Xiang.

A cold smile curled at the corners of Lan Shiru’s lips. “Stay alert, quick and decisive. Let everyone get the message.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll be a show they won’t forget.” It had been so long since they’d kept a low profile, hiding from everyone, battling only the grotesque corpses, with no real sense of achievement.

“Hey, sis, if I end up being too ruthless, you won’t dislike me, will you?”

Lan Shiru gave her a sidelong glance. “If you weren’t bragging, I wouldn’t mind.”

“Absolutely no bragging, sis, just wait and see.”

“Jiang Xiang, keep an eye on things. Don’t let anyone get away, got it?”

“Woof.” the large dog grunted. No one’s escaping with me around.

The thugs had arrived, but neither the four women nor anyone else reacted. Not only the thugs but even the onlookers couldn’t help but stir—this was a big, easy target, just waiting to be taken down.

A big, easy target? Not today. Lan Shiru exchanged a look with He Lian.

He Lian understood, turned, and jumped onto the roof of the car. She quickly nocked an arrow and shot, not bothering to target any particular thug.

Instead of exchanging words, they acted immediately. The thugs froze for a moment, surprised by the swift attack. But before they could recover, Jiang Xiang and the others sprang into action.

Jiang Xiang moved around behind them, cutting off their escape route. With a single swipe, he ripped out a thug’s beating heart. The rest of the group could see the heart still pulsating in his grasp as the man collapsed, eyes wide with disbelief.

With just that move, many of the onlookers and would-be opportunists were intimidated. Those who had been quietly thinking of striking retreated, sensing they had picked the wrong target.

Yun Shuiyao moved with elegance. The nine-section whip lashed out, catching one of the thugs. As she flashed a smile, her hand wielded a small, sharp knife, which swiftly sliced through the artery, blood gushing out in a stream, the thug dying slowly and in agony.

Miao Miao was indeed as fierce as she claimed. Two iron balls, each with a hole drilled through it, were connected by a thick iron chain, totaling more than a hundred pounds. She wielded them like a whirlwind. One ball slammed into a man’s head, crushing it with a sickening explosion of bone and brain matter—true cruelty at its finest.

Lan Shiru was relatively calmer, at least going for the “murderous” vibe. A large cleaver slashed down with precision at the neck of her victim. One clean cut, and the head was severed as effortlessly as cutting a melon—quick, direct, and efficient.

He Lian was struggling with accuracy, firing arrows blindly, unsure where they would land. Thankfully, she wasn’t aiming anywhere near her teammates.

One man tried to sneak a move toward the car. He Lian’s keen hearing caught the movement, and without hesitation, she shot an arrow. This time, she landed it straight through his eye.

The man who had been struck writhed in pain on the ground, but no one paid him any attention. Survival was the priority. These weren’t just four women; they were like four gods of death.

He Lian smirked, feeling a sense of progress. With one swift sweep, she took down several of the cowardly ones and turned her gaze toward the remaining thugs.

In the blink of an eye, five or six of the vicious-looking thugs had already fallen without having a chance to strike. The brutal Bliao Hu had taken an arrow to the arm, igniting the savage instincts deep within his veins. Roaring loudly, he swung his steel pipe at the group, intent on tearing them to pieces.

Lan Shiru squinted, recognizing that Biao Hu had undergone a power evolution. “Miao Miao, go.”

“Got it, sis.” Miao Miao’s fighting spirit flared. She had never truly tested her strength and wasn’t sure how much power she actually had. When Biao Hu swung his steel pipe at her, Miao Miao countered by throwing one of her iron balls. The resulting impact sent a deafening boom through the air, reverberating in everyone’s ears, especially for He Lian, whose superior hearing almost felt like her eardrums were going to burst. It seemed like the benefits of their powers came with a price.

The steel pipe bent from the collision, and the iron ball returned to Miao Miao’s hand. She smiled, “Is that all?”

Biao Hu roared with fury, calling them “bitches” before charging straight at her with his bare fists.

Sensing the aura of a skilled opponent, Miao Miao’s expression became serious. With lightning speed, she flung another iron ball directly at Biao Hu’s incoming punch. The two collided with a loud clang, but Biao Hu showed no sign of pain, standing his ground, unmoving.

Miao Miao frowned as she measured her own strength, realizing she couldn’t match Biao Hu. It was clear that he was stronger, a difference not just in raw power but in the inherent physical qualities of men versus women. Yet, her unwillingness to accept this remained. Women were never weaker than men, they were just a step behind but even being slightly stronger didn’t guarantee survival. Swinging the iron ball so fast it left only a blur, she wondered if this hulking brute was really as invincible as he seemed.

Yun Shuiyao also found herself up against a tough opponent—a speed-evolution power user. Despite her agile nine-section whip, the opponent could still dodge it with ease. Yun Shuiyao was infuriated, her chest heaving as if two mountains were vibrating with anger.

=^_^=