Chapter 41: Open the Door and Submit to Inspection!

What happened at the security team's post?

A series of explosions echoed through the entire resort area, startling all the refugees. Those who had been outside searching for giant rats immediately hurried home. Those living near the parking lot quietly parted their curtains, or found hidden spots to observe what was happening near the lot.

Some of the bolder ones took the risk of approaching, but as they walked, suddenly, amid the pounding rain, there was a sharp bang, and someone collapsed. In the distance, they could vaguely hear the sound of mocking laughter. Then came more gunshots—whoever was hit, fell.

Witnessing this madness, the remaining onlookers no longer dared to come closer; they watched from afar, filled with terror.

Close to three hundred people, pushing over a hundred wheelbarrows laden with supplies, entered the parking lot and seized the territory previously occupied by the security team.

Outside Villa 36.

Chang Jieming arrived with a dozen or so of his security team brothers. Su Miao came down to the first floor, crossbow in hand, her body trembling slightly. If these security men dared to break down her door, she would not hesitate to kill.

Chang Jieming knocked politely and called out loudly, “Miss Su Miao, over three hundred people have just arrived in the resort. They’re armed with guns and explosives—ruthless killers. We’re heading into the mountains to hide for a few days. Please, be extremely careful.”

Worried she might not have heard, Chang Jieming repeated himself, then quickly led his men away.

He intended to leave a trail in this torrential rain. The trail led to a cave. If anyone tried to follow them to the end, they would come face to face with the man-eating giant spider.

But, considering these people were armed with guns and explosives, Chang Jieming rather hoped the spider would be even more formidable this time.

Su Miao put away her crossbow and returned to the second floor. According to Chang Jieming’s information, these newcomers were armed and would kill on sight—they clearly meant to occupy the entire resort. Her villa would inevitably become a target.

This time was different from previous incidents. If anyone attacked, relying on her crossbow alone would be extremely dangerous.

She was afraid—

She wished she could crawl into a cardboard box and hide.

Xia Xiao’an, watching Su Miao, grew more and more anxious. “Sister, is it going to be very dangerous? Should we run away?”

Run?

Su Miao shook her head. There was nowhere to run.

She looked at Xia Xiao’an, lost in thought. After a while, she said, “Let’s go to the third floor. No—let’s prepare on the first floor first.”

Wait!

Su Miao entered the mushroom room and stored all the growing mushrooms and vegetables into her magical space. She also packed away the beds and clean bedding—such good things would be a pity to lose in a fight.

“Sister, are we moving?” Xia Xiao’an asked worriedly, seeing Su Miao put everything away.

“I don’t know,” Su Miao replied.

She didn’t want to move. In just a month and a half, snow would fall, and the world would be plunged into deep winter. She couldn’t find another suitable shelter in such a short time. To venture out rashly would be suicide.

…

“They ran fast. The people who lived here were clever.”

A gang leader entered the parking lot storage room, surveying the rice, flour, cured meat, biscuits, and beer left behind, the smoked rat jerky in progress, and the finished jerky. He sneered.

“Seize the rice, flour, biscuits, cured meat, and beer. Distribute the smoked meat among us.”

He tasted a few pieces of the jerky—it was quite good.

“The boss is here!” someone shouted.

The subordinates straightened up, turning their attention to the person approaching under the protection of an armed guard.

It was hard to imagine that the leader of such a group would be such a young woman.

Chi Wannian.

Twenty-three years old, a master of law. She wore a simple ponytail, glasses, and a plain jacket, holding a copy of the Penal Code in her hand, looking every bit the scholarly type, as if she had just stepped off a university campus.

Chi Wannian glanced at the smoked rat jerky on the table, then at those eating it. “Did you check for poison in any of this?”

A gun-toting subordinate chuckled. “Boss, no one would poison food.”

“I would,” Chi Wannian replied evenly.

The subordinate’s face shifted as he stared at the jerky.

To their credit, the previous security team clearly knew how to live well—the jerky was salted just right, full of flavor, and after eating just a little, he felt his strength returning.

Chi Wannian didn’t pursue the matter further. “As before, all seized food is to be tested by the inspection unit. Only after it’s certified safe does it go into storage. Twelve combat teams: two stay to guard, ten deploy. By nightfall, I want the entire Panshan Tourist District under our control.”

“Understood!” the twelve team leaders responded in unison.

They had only gone a few steps when several people who had eaten the rat jerky suddenly collapsed in agony.

“Ah—there’s poison in the jerky! Help—”

“Help me—” Their lips turned black, their faces ashen, writhing in pain on the ground.

“What’s happening?” The leader who had eaten the jerky grew panicked. He’d eaten a handful on the way here, exhausted as he was... But after a while, he was fine, as were a few others.

“What kind of poison is this?”

“Call for the medical team.”

Chi Wannian pushed up her glasses and said coolly, “Those unaffected, continue your mission. As before, we do not keep the useless.”

The leaders present all shuddered—she was ruthless.

One of them asked, “Boss, there’s a group of teachers and students here—do you want them?”

Chi Wannian adjusted her glasses. “Teachers and students are quality resources. Subdue them first, screen them, then decide how to proceed.”

...

Soon, gunshots echoed through the resort.

The quick-witted, like Chang Jieming, led their people in escape. Those who couldn’t get away could only watch as the killers came for them, resigned to their fate. Some resisted desperately, but resistance was brief—before long, gunfire and explosions left the area deathly silent.

There were those who, trying to flee with more food, were blocked at their doors by submachine guns before they could even step outside.

“Don’t shoot! We heard the new boss was here, so we gathered our supplies to hand over—hoping we could join your ranks!” He Weixin, whose group was trapped at their door, shouted to the armed squad, full of sincerity.

It wasn’t long before the eastern sector of the landslide and mudflow zone was completely under the control of the various combat teams. Bodies were carried out one by one, all moved in the same direction, seemingly for centralized disposal.

Now, only eight villas in the western sector of the landslide zone remained.

One combat team crossed the rope bridge and began clearing out the villas there.

After a dozen people were killed in the villa closest to the bridge, the remaining villas, when called upon, obediently opened their doors and submitted to inspection.

Finally, two lackeys arrived at the foot of Villa 36.

“Open up! If you don’t want to die, come out and submit to inspection!”