“Shen Xiaoxiao, Yuan Shang, Chen Gui, right?”

“Greetings to the three base members! Welcome to Huanxi Valley Resort!”

“It’s getting late. I’ll arrange rooms for your family. Please follow me.”

The area around the resort was full of dark, dense woods. A few street lamps along the road provided some light, but the surroundings still seemed dim.

None of the five noticed the black-haired woman standing in the shadow of one of the lamps ahead.

She wore a baseball cap and a long black trench coat, holding a transparent umbrella while leaning against the lamp post. Only a vague silhouette could be seen.

Her voice floated through the rainy air, calm and deep, as if drifting from another world.

Shen Xiaoxiao and the others stopped in their tracks, exchanging glances.

When had this woman appeared ahead? It was strange—she even called out their names.

When she mentioned the base and arranging accommodations, Shen Xiaoxiao, Yuan Shang, and Chen Gui’s eyes lit up, their noses tingling slightly.

“Saved… family… we finally found the organization.”

Who could understand a feeling like that?

Shen Xiaoxiao restrained the impulse to rush forward. “Yes, yes, that’s me, Shen Xiaoxiao. The other two guys are Yuan Shang and Chen Gui, and I brought my parents with me.”

The woman glanced at them and gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment.

Only then did Shen Xiaoxiao notice she wore a mask, revealing only a pair of long, jet-black eyes—sharp and striking, exuding a sense of pressure.

Yet when you met her gaze, you could feel a calm, convincing strength.

She held her umbrella and turned. “Follow me.”

“Okay.”

Shen Xiaoxiao quickly called her parents, and Yuan Shang and Chen Gui followed.

Yuan Shang nudged Chen Gui and whispered, “Do you think this is reliable? I thought the base would be in some deep mountain forest with air-raid shelters or something. Didn’t expect it to be right inside a resort. This is… kind of ordinary. Not cool at all.”

Chen Gui glanced at the woman leading them with the umbrella. “It’s fine. As long as there’s a safe place to stay.”

Yuan Shang scratched his head. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Seeing the others already walking ahead, he hurried to catch up. “Hey, wait for me!”

They walked some distance, and the street lamps behind them went out.

The woman switched on a powerful flashlight, guiding them around a grove and into a dark, deep cave.

Shen Xiaoxiao paused, quickly pulling a flashlight from her backpack and following.

Yuan Shang pulled Chen Gui aside. “Where do you think she’s taking us? Could it be a trap?”

Chen Gui glanced at him. “We’ve come this far—what else is there to doubt?”

Yuan Shang felt a twinge of being judged.

After about ten minutes inside the tunnel, just as Yuan Shang was about to complain again, he saw a light ahead.

Thinking it was the tunnel exit surrounded by forest, what he saw next shocked him.

Whoa—this was a city.

Tall buildings, orange streetlights, and sparse pedestrians made it feel strangely empty.

Yuan Shang walked in stunned. Shen Xiaoxiao and the others were equally wide-eyed.

He felt an instant sense of relief—he wasn’t the only one experiencing this. It felt like stepping into another world.

Soon, a magnetic, AI-generated female voice sounded in their ears:

“Arrivals: Shen Xiaoxiao, Yuan Shang, Chen Gui. Accompanying family: Shen Wenrui, Chen Juan.”

“Identity confirmed. Base member basic permissions activated.”

“Do you wish to choose your base identity? Intelligent AI assistant Nuwa will provide the optimal option.”

The voice came from an unknown source but was clearly audible.

The woman leading them turned and seemed to smile. “You can choose your base identity tomorrow. First, let’s get some food.”

Shops along the street were still open.

Opening a glass door, warm air mixed with soft music greeted them.

Inside, there were few people. Seeing the group dusty and drenched, they nodded kindly.

Under bright, gentle lighting, Shen Xiaoxiao noticed the guide had a youthful face, about the same age as her.

She casually leaned against the counter, scanning the group.

“Want a cup of coffee to warm up, or some food?”

“The first meal is free. You can also eat your own food—your choice.”

Shen Xiaoxiao ordered coffee and got her parents a pot of hot tea.

She also had some homemade noodles in her space to eat later.

Yuan Shang and Chen Gui brought limited food, so they ordered a hot cheese pizza and a spicy chicken burger combo.

The woman finally removed her mask and smiled. “I’m Su You, the person in charge of the Huanxi Valley entrance. Welcome to the base.”

Hearing her name, the three brightened instantly.

“You’re You-jie?”

Shen Xiaoxiao asked tentatively.

“Yes, that’s me,” Su You nodded casually. “Thanks for coming to the base, and welcome home.”

Realizing this was the group admin from their gaming chat, Shen Xiaoxiao’s heart leapt. Even with her parents nearby, tears streamed down her face.

After more than ten days of relentless rain, a life that felt like years, and constant worry over the collapse of order, having familiar friends here was overwhelming.

“You’re here! I’m so glad to see you, You-jie.”

“Are other group members here? How many of the 100 slots were filled?”

“What is this place? How can there be an underground city? Who built it?”

Yuan Shang and Chen Gui were equally excited, their questions written across their faces.

They hadn’t expected their ordinary online friends to be so capable, and the surprises along the way were thrilling.

Su You explained:

“After discussing the website’s predictions in the group, I considered the nearby high terrain and found Huanxi Valley to be the highest. Luckily, I have a friend here, so I rented a place in the resort and stocked supplies. When the base relocation point updated, I was the first to move in, so I’m temporarily responsible for this area.”

“As for the other group members, some arrived before you. Some have already gone to rest. You’ll probably meet them tomorrow.”

“Regarding the 100 slots, I don’t know how many came. This place also accepts people from other regions, so it’s still unfamiliar.”