[edited]

Since Jiang Ning didn’t want it, each of them took a handful of the items, and the rest was treated as shared property and handed over to her for safekeeping. They could exchange them for supplies later when the opportunity arose.

“What about the family downstairs?” Zheng Weili asked with irritation. “Let’s go pry open their doors later and shoo them away. They’re as annoying as flies.”

Zhang Chao pondered, “And what about the Zhong family?”

The Zhong family was manageable, but those other two families were troublesome schemers.

“We can’t meddle in other people’s affairs, as long as we guard the 18th floor.”

Dreaming of things beyond one’s reach? There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

However, today’s events did teach a lesson to the residents of the 18th floor. In the future, they must be careful when going out to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

Zheng Weili spoke up, “Life and death are fated. If they catch me one day, don’t do anything foolish to save me.”

“Me too,” Zhang Chao’s expression was resolute, “I can feed myself alone; even if I die, no one will miss me. Don’t fall into traps for the sake of my worthless life.”

Lu Yu hugged Zheng Weili, “Wife, even if I die, I want to die with you.”

“What are you doing?” Jiang Ning interrupted. “Think you’ve lived too long?”

“Yes, that’s not auspicious. We want to live until the end of time, to witness the end of disasters and the world’s return to civilization.”

After Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen left, Zheng Weili suddenly remembered something important, “What about our firewood?”

They hurried downstairs, but there was no sign of the firewood anywhere.

Zheng Weili stood with her hands on her hips, yelling at the survivors on the floor, “Who took my firewood? If you don’t want to die, you have half an hour to hand it over. I can pretend like nothing happened, but otherwise, don’t blame me for cleaning you all out one by one!”

After yelling, she returned upstairs to rest.

Lu Yu kept track of time; he went downstairs every half an hour to collect the firewood.

Believe it or not, the firewood obediently came back, although it was tossed in the hallway.

After running several trips, not a single piece of firewood was missing.

Jiang Ning couldn’t help but feel emotional; the 18th floor truly had a notorious reputation.

The firewood was a small matter; the real challenge was how to deal with these people next?

Jiang Ning knew where their lair was. If she weren’t provoked, then fine, but if she were, it would be the end of them.

These people had a gang; it seems to be called Dragon Slaying Society.

Don’t ask why Jiang Ning remembered this so clearly; in her previous life, she had witnessed them undergo a public trial, and then they all got executed. However, that was months later; it was still far from now.

In her previous life, they not only extorted protection grain but also harassed decent women and harmed public officials and committed countless atrocities.

The survivors complained so much that the police led the security team to investigate, and the result…

Later, the government mobilized armed police and special forces; they even called in the military to dismantle the Dragon Slaying Society.

Aside from those eliminated on the spot, there were as many as three to four hundred people who received public trials at the scene, with their numerous crimes taking half an hour to read out. In short, executing them a thousand times over wouldn’t be excessive.

It had been a while, and Jiang Ning repeatedly recalled the past, with many important pieces of information resurfacing in her mind.

In the evening, she deliberately changed into her worn-out clothes and didn’t forget to greet Zheng Weili, “I’m going out for a walk.”

Zheng Weili was worried, “What are you going out for?”

“We can’t just sit and wait for death. I’m going to gather some information. To win this battle, we must know our enemies.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Two people make too big of a target. I’ll go out first to scout, and if there’s no other way, then I’ll let you know.”

“Okay, be careful.”

Wrapping herself tightly, Jiang Ning headed to Lian Haoteng.

Wearing tattered clothes and carrying nothing, the pickpockets and muggers by the roadside didn’t even bat an eyelid.

For those without anything worthwhile, why waste your energy?

By the time Jiang Ning arrived at Lian Haoteng, it was almost dark.

Finding a sheltered spot, Jiang Ning took out her binoculars and observed from a distance.

There were guards at the main gate, and people coming in and out needed to show some kind of round object, and you also needed to give a password.

After such a long time, Jiang Ning couldn’t recall everything, but watching their lip movements helped her figure out the pass needed and the password.

Fortunately, these were mentioned during the public trials.

Jiang Ning watched their lips closely and quickly matched the password to the pass.

Lian Haoteng Court had four entrances, and the password rotated, with each entrance having a different pass.

Taking advantage of the darkness, Jiang Ning thoroughly checked each entrance. She watched them carry in the extorted goods and saw someone leave with flushed faces, all having profited from plundering survivors’ belongings.

Just as she was about to leave, she saw a group of men forcibly dragging several girls into the compound…

Once you step into a place like that, there’s no chance of coming out.

Feeling heavy-hearted, Jiang Ning slipped into her space in the middle of the darkness.

After spending half an hour writing a letter, she put on her night vision goggles, wore her ice skates, and sped through the cold wind.

She arrived at the new police station outpost, where it was pitch black outside.

Already short on manpower, with the disaster mode in effect, they had become targets for criminal attacks.

Daytime was dangerous enough, let alone at night. Currently, even the duty officers are absent.

There were patrol teams for public security, but as chaos ensued, crime flourished madly. Despite a shortage of manpower, the public security teams couldn’t recruit enough members.

Compared to starving, they feared losing their lives more.

Later, with strong military and political measures, many criminal elements were eradicated, and public order slowly improved.

Jiang Ning dropped the letter into the mailbox. It contains all the information she knew about the Dragon Slaying Society.

If they believed her, seizing the best opportunity to eradicate them wouldn’t only protect many survivors, but it would also reduce their own sacrifices.

A gang capable of manufacturing illegal firearms, even if they were eventually taken down by the three departments. It would have cost dozens of lives.

Now, their illegal activities should have only just begun.

Jiang Ning was only flesh and blood. Even if she lived again, she just wanted to live a little longer.

This was all she could do.

Returning to Jinrong Community, she saw a tall figure ahead.

Jiang Ning took a few quick steps forward, “Huo Yishen?”

The figure stopped, “Anning?”

Jiang Ning was somewhat surprised, “How come you’re out?”

“It’s stuffy inside; I came out for some fresh air.” Huo Yishen countered, “What about you?”

Jiang Ning nodded, “Same here.”

They smiled at each other, no further questions asked, and climbed upstairs in tacit understanding.

The bodies during the day had been left on the 16th floor for a long time. They were frozen stiff without anyone removing them. Residents grumbled that the 18th floor lacked common decency; they joined forces to toss the dirty things out the window while complaining.

Just as they turned around, they saw Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen silently standing at the stairwell.

“Ah!” Someone from the 16th floor shrieked in fright, then paled, explaining, “W-We weren’t cursing at you!”

After saying that, they all went back to their rooms as if they had seen a ghost; they closed the door and locked it.

Oh my, the 18th floor was like wandering ghosts. It was truly frightening.

They really didn’t mean any harm with their remarks, so please don’t let them come looking for trouble, Amitabha Buddha!