The three Beyonders exchanged heavy glances, reading the same vigilance and dread in each other’s eyes. The danger level of Longevity Village was several magnitudes higher than that of Apricot Blossom Town. And this was merely a village.

“Let’s go in. Time is running out,” Chen Ye said, his voice low as he flicked the ash from his cigarette.

Iron Lion, shouldering his massive, grotesque sack, said nothing and strode into the courtyard with heavy steps. Nana followed, her high ponytail swaying rhythmically behind her as her long legs carried her forward. Chen Ye took a deep drag, raised his Hand Crossbow, and brought up the rear.

Just as Zhou Lan prepared to enter, a slightly hunched figure darted past her and her brother with surprising speed, sticking close to Chen Ye’s heels.

“Young man, do you understand what it means to respect the elderly and cherish the young? Make way!”

Zhou Xiaoxiao looked over and saw it was the same old woman who had clashed with Chen Ye earlier. He instantly bristled, ready to curse her out. Zhou Lan reached out and stopped him, signaling with her eyes that this was not the time or place for an argument. Zhou Xiaoxiao swallowed his anger, his cheeks puffing out in frustration.

The Village Chief’s house was imposing. Even in the dim light of the spectral domain, its exterior grandeur far outstripped the other villagers’ dwellings. The interior decoration was even more luxurious.

Upon entering, they were greeted by a massive European-style genuine leather sofa, dominating the living room. In the center sat a marble coffee table, the stone’s natural grain distinct and elegant. Before the apocalypse, this set—authentic or not—would have cost a fortune. Now, it was just an obstacle in the dark.

Flashlights swept across the room, cutting through the gloom.

“Everyone, search the area. Call out if you find supplies,” Nana commanded, her light dancing over the walls. “We don’t have much time. Move fast!”

The first target was naturally the kitchen. It was spacious, nearly twenty square meters—larger than the cramped apartments many corporate drones rented in the big cities back in the old world.

They quickly turned up flour, rice, two large packs of dried noodles, and some miscellaneous ingredients. It was a harvest, certainly, but it was far from satisfying. The Eavesdropping Radio had promised that the Village Chief’s house held “sufficient supplies.” If this was it, the intelligence was woefully inaccurate.

The group continued their relentless search. Soon, some ascended to the second and third floors.

Unfortunately, the upper levels yielded nothing edible. The second floor housed a large living room centered around a billiards table, flanked by sofas and two bedrooms. The third floor contained a tea room and another bedroom.

There wasn’t a crumb of food to be found. Instead, they found closets full of clothes and designer bags. Many were luxury items that would have once sparked envy. Now, in the eyes of the survivors, a limited-edition handbag was worth less than a moldy crust of bread. It seemed the Village Chief had been quite corrupt in the old days, but his ill-gotten gains were now just trash.

Chen Ye, rummaging through a wardrobe on the third floor, found a digital electronic watch.

Before the end, these watches were a trend among the youth, favored over traditional mechanical pieces for their multifunctionality and phone syncing capabilities. This specific model would have cost at least seven or eight thousand yuan—a luxury Chen Ye would never have splurged on.

“I used to have one of those,” Nana said, her flashlight beam resting on the watch in Chen Ye’s hand. Her tone held a trace of regret. “But it’s the apocalypse. Without a charger, it’s just scrap metal.”

“Doesn’t matter. Think of it as a souvenir of human civilization,” Chen Ye shrugged, sliding the watch into his pocket.

His thoughts, however, were practical. If I can get that solar charging panel from Chu Che later, this watch might actually work. In the wasteland, a reliable way to keep time was a resource in itself.

Finding nothing else of value, they retreated downstairs. It was already 2:30 PM. Only an hour and a half remained before the deadline to leave the village.

Back on the ground floor, the group searched again, unwilling to accept the meager haul.

“Here!”

A surprised shout drew everyone’s attention.

A bespectacled youth holding a steel pipe stood by a staircase, pointing excitedly at a trapdoor in the floor. The door had been pried open, revealing a pitch-black maw.

“There’s a basement here!”

Nana flashed to the youth’s side in an instant. The others crowded around, their beams converging on the hole. The light died before it hit the bottom; it was deep and utterly dark.

“Why would a village chief have a basement?” someone whispered.

“What’s strange about that? Most villas have basements.”

” maybe he hid the real stockpile down there?”

“Possible. Should we go down and look?”

“Why don’t you go down?”

Discussion erupted, but hesitation hung heavy in the air. Basements were enclosed, dark traps. Every horror movie trope screamed that going down there was a death sentence.

Chen Ye frowned. Logic dictated there had to be something down there, but the risk was palpable.

“I’ll go,” Nana said. Without wasting a breath on debate, she vaulted into the darkness.

The beam of her flashlight danced erratically below. A moment later, her voice echoed up, filled with delight.

“Chen Ye, Iron Lion! There are potatoes down here! heaps of them!”

“So many!”

The tension broke instantly. The promise of food overrode the fear of the dark.

“I’ll go down!” the youth who found the door shouted, jumping in before anyone could stop him.

“Sis, watch from up here, I’m going in!” Zhou Xiaoxiao followed close behind.

One by one, the survivors leaped into the abyss. Even the old woman, who had claimed frailty earlier, jumped with the agility of a teenager. In this world, food was life, and for life, she was spry.

“Chen Ye, Iron Lion, stay up there to guard. I’ll pack the potatoes, you haul them up,” Nana called out.

“Got it,” Iron Lion grunted.

Soon, a backpack bulging with potatoes was thrust up to the opening. Iron Lion grabbed it with one hand, hoisting it effortlessly. Chen Ye noted silently that if he had tried to catch that weight, he might have dislocated a shoulder.

Another large bag followed, then another. Zhou Lan joined in, helping to organize the haul.

“Thank you, Brother Iron Lion!” Zhou Xiaoxiao’s voice drifted up, sweet with gratitude.

Chen Ye stood guard beside the Titan, his Hand Crossbow raised, scanning the opulent, dusty living room. The silence of the house felt heavy, pressing against his eardrums.

A drop of cold sweat slid from his temple, tracing his jawline before dripping onto the expensive marble floor.

In Chen Ye’s peripheral vision, a figure appeared.

Standing at the main entrance of the first floor was the Hunchback Thrall. The creature stood motionless, offering a grotesque, anomalous smile to the busy group.

It followed us.

“Whoosh!”

Chen Ye didn’t hesitate. He pulled the trigger.

Hearing the snap of the crossbow, Iron Lion spun around, muscles tensed, scanning the room.

“Yezi, what did you see?” Zhou Lan asked, her voice trembling as she looked around frantically.

The doorway was empty. The crossbow bolt was embedded in the doorframe, vibrating slightly.

“Nothing. Iron Lion, hurry up,” Chen Ye said, his voice tight. “I have a bad feeling. We need to leave. Now.”

Iron Lion looked left and right, scratching his head when he found nothing anomalous. “Yezi, don’t scare people like that. You’ll give me a heart attack.”

Muttering, the big oaf turned back to the cellar, speeding up his hauling.

Chen Ye remained rigid, his eyes locked on the empty doorway. His expression did not relax.

A message had flashed across his retina the moment the bolt struck empty air.

[You have inflicted damage on the Hunchback Thrall. You have obtained Slaughter Points +100.]