18: slave

Listening to the commotion outside, Lin Wan couldn't help but sneer.

This was just the beginning. In the Apocalypse, the wickedness of human nature would be displayed to the fullest. In times of peace and prosperity, restrained by laws, people would have a moral bottom line.

But in the Apocalypse, when the law no longer exists, everything becomes a matter of human nature without any bottom line...

During the days of staying indoors, Lin Wan spent every day exercising. Under Shen Mo Chi's guidance, she worked on strengthening her physical fitness, practicing marksmanship, archery, and self-defense.

Although Uncle Wang taught her a lot in her previous life, this current body had never undergone any professional training.

Now was a good opportunity.

Even with her spatial ability, Lin Wan had to strengthen herself.

Under Shen Mo Chi's guidance, combined with her memories from her previous life, Lin Wan improved very quickly.

Her already beautiful figure became even more slender and shapely.

Eating, drinking, exercising, having her lover by her side, a few friends, and occasionally dealing with a few scumbags who still harbored evil intentions—such a life was quite fulfilling.

Until this day.

Early in the morning, acid rain actually started falling from the sky.

Lin Wan looked through the glass with a grave expression as the weeds on the ground were corroded by the acid rain.

"Mo Chi, this is different from my dream. Actually, I had a feeling the Apocalypse was starting earlier than expected."

Shen Mo Chi had always been somewhat puzzled by her dreams.

Because every time she spoke of them, it sounded as if she had personally experienced them.

The deep-seated, heart-wrenching hatred towards the Lin family father and son and that woman, and her sudden closeness towards him...

Shen Mo Chi didn't have any other thoughts; he just felt heartbroken for her.

If a person spoke with such an emotional state, one could imagine the suffering she had endured.

As for himself, although she hadn't said anything, Shen Mo Chi vaguely guessed,

Perhaps he had saved her in that 'dream'?

Moreover, when teaching her self-defense, he always felt she seemed very familiar with the techniques...

However, no matter what, he accepted it willingly.

Holding her hand, Shen Mo Chi said,

"It's fine. These disasters are inherently unpredictable; no one can be certain. Don't worry about it."

Lin Wan nodded.

She thought that perhaps because of her rebirth, some things had changed.

However, unlike her previous life, she was no longer alone, hiding and running.

Just then, a row of helicopters flew overhead.

A loudspeaker played on a loop,

"Attention citizens, please stay indoors and do not go out, do not go out! The acid rain contains an unknown virus. Once it touches the skin, it will rot and infect. Please do not go out! If it cannot be avoided, please wear protective suits!"

As soon as this news broke, those who were homeless became even more distraught.

The weather was cold, some people were injured from the earthquake, and on top of having no water, no electricity, and lacking clothes and food, now there was viral acid rain!

Those with weaker psychological resilience could no longer bear it. They grabbed knives and started hacking wildly, eventually dying under the corrosion of the acid rain.

Their bodies were covered in festering scars, extremely horrifying.

In an instant, looting, killing, and seizing houses occurred endlessly.

At this time, Lin Wan and the others naturally chose to stay at home.

Three days later, the intermittent acid rain finally stopped.

Every time the acid rain stopped, Lin Wan and the others' villa would have to fend off a wave of persistent people, and some people would hack at their main gate with axes out of frustration.

Finally, one was shot in the arm by Lin Wan's arrow—it was perfect practice for swordplay, a ready-made moving target!

Ten more days passed, and the sun actually came out. Although the sky was still hazy, it finally gave people a sliver of hope.

Lin Wan decided to go out for a trip to check the outside situation and, incidentally, to settle some unfinished business!

Shen Mo Chi went with her.

They put on protective suits and masks and went out.

Lin Wan took out a low-key SUV, brought her weapons, and headed down the mountain.

After seeing them leave, many people who had been watching them from the shadows were rubbing their hands in anticipation. They hadn't left their house for so many days, which meant they had plenty of supplies inside.

Moreover, this villa was so nice; moving in and occupying it would be so comfortable.

But the owners inside were too formidable, and for a time, everyone was helpless against them.

Now, watching them leave was the perfect opportunity to strike.

Just as they were discussing how to act, a lazy voice drifted over from the neighboring villa.

A clean-cut and handsome man was sitting on the high roof.

That wasn't important; what was important was that he was holding a bow in his hand.

He was grinning mischievously as he aimed at them.

"Hey, I wonder who wants to come over for a little visit? I'd be happy to entertain them!"

The crowd dispersed.

...

Shen Mo Chi was driving. The highway was severely damaged, but fortunately, there were no broken sections nearby. It was only possible to drive because of this SUV.

When they reached the city center, which had been bustling twenty days ago, it was now completely devastated.

The rainwater had just receded, leaving muddy roads everywhere. Construction teams were clearing the debris, and Lin Wan could even see rotting corpses beneath the thick layer of silt.

They had already put the car into the spatial storage and proceeded on foot.

The shops along the way showed signs of being smashed. Pedestrians on the road kept their heads down, looking wary.

Lin Ran headed directly toward the residential complex where Lin Ze and Lin Xu lived.

This complex was a high-end one, built with the best materials for earthquake resistance.

It had two units per floor, and Lin Ze and Lin Xu lived on the eleventh floor.

In her past life, they happened to be eating there when the earthquake struck.

But after the earthquake, because of a small conflict deliberately created by Lin Ran, she had unhesitatingly driven them out.

Lin Zhiyuan was dead, but whether the other three were alive or dead, she had to see it with her own eyes to be at ease.

In the apartment, Lin Ze irritably ran his hands through his hair.

"Lin Xu, let's go out and continue helping move bodies. This way, we can at least exchange them for some supplies! We have to think about Ran Ran and Aunt Xu. Besides, if any other natural disaster happens later, it will be disastrous. Let's gather more supplies now."

Lin Xu was also irritated; his stomach was growling loudly!

On the day of the earthquake, he and his older brother had been running errands outside all morning. After eating outside, they came back here to rest.

Unexpectedly, by a twist of fate, they managed to survive the earthquake using this sturdy house.

When the aftershocks completely subsided in the evening, their phones had no signal. Just as they were about to go out to check on their father and the others, Lin Ran arrived, looking utterly disheveled, leaning on Aunt Xu for support.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, I'm sorry, Father is gone... Even though Mother and I tried our best to save him, Father was pinned under a stone and couldn't hold on! It's my fault; I should have shielded Father and let that stone slab crush me instead!"

The two brothers were shocked and saddened upon hearing this—Father was gone!

Seeing her crying heartbreakingly, the two brothers couldn't focus on their own grief.

It took a long time to comfort her.

Lin Xu generously gave up his own apartment across the hall.

He let the mother and daughter move in there, while he came to live with his older brother.

Lin Ze naturally had no objections.

Previously, they had been overwhelmed by company matters, and because they were short on cash, and neither of them ever cooked, they had no stockpiled goods at home.

That day, they survived only on relief supplies distributed by The Authorities. They thought things would be fine the day after the earthquake ended.

But who would have thought that the next day would bring heavy rain and hail.

By the fourth day, they were even out of water.

Lin Ran kept crying about being hungry, coming over to sob every now and then.

Lin Xu and Lin Ze were hungry too, but the rain was too heavy, and even rescue supplies hadn't arrived for several days.

They also had to constantly guard against people coming up to smash their door to rob them. The family downstairs had all died, and their bodies were thrown out of the building...

But they had to survive; they couldn't let the two women go out in the heavy rain.

So, late at night, the two braved the storm and went to the supermarket on the fourth floor below, only to find that the areas not submerged had already been completely looted!

Finally, risking their lives, they managed to bring back a little bread and water. They only prayed for the rain to stop soon!

But the rain lasted for a full seven days before stopping.

The water downstairs had already flooded the residents on the third floor.

The entire complex reeked of the sewage mixed with mud and rocks and the corpses from after the earthquake.

One needed a rubber dinghy to get around.

But the rubber dinghy that Lin Xu had managed to find from a previous outdoor trip was eventually taken by Lin Ran downstairs to trade for a tiny bit of supplies.

Lin Xu was so angry that he yelled at Lin Ran, but seeing her pitiful appearance, he couldn't bring himself to blame her anymore...

Fortunately, the rain stopped, and the water level was gradually receding, but then, the acid rain returned!

Corrosive, unknown virus! Who dared to go out?

Most of the supplies Lin Ran traded for were kept by herself; she only left a small portion for Lin Xu and Lin Ze.

The two big men ate only a small piece of bread and drank a few sips of water every day, so hungry they were dizzy and gaunt.

They finally held on until the acid rain ended and rushed out eagerly to find supplies, only to find nothing.

All the nearby places that sold food had been looted clean.

When they returned, they saw the government calling for people to move corpses and clear roads in exchange for food. The two overcame significant psychological barriers and could only endure the hunger, disgust, and bacteria to do the work.

But after distributing some of that meager amount to Lin Ran, they had never once eaten their fill!

Just now, Lin Ran came over again saying she had no more food and that she was very hungry.

Lin Ze and Lin Xu had no choice but to go down again to move the rotting corpses.

But what choice did they have? They were her older brothers. Since their father was gone, they had to protect her.

Although now, whenever the brothers heard her pitiful and sweet voice knocking, their hearts raced and their scalps tingled.

But being good to her seemed to be etched into their bones over so many years...

Lin Ran sat on the sofa, devouring bread.

"Mom, how was it? I learned everything you taught me. The three big suckers of the Lin family are completely under our mother and daughter's thumb."

Xu Lan ate a can of preserved food and licked her lips contentedly.

"Ran Ran, you have surpassed your teacher. Mom raised you for over twenty years; from now on, it's up to you to support your mother..."

Lin Ran smiled proudly.

"They deserve to serve me like slaves. So what if it's the Apocalypse? As long as one has the means, there are plenty of people to support us. I've been putting on an act for so many years; now Lin Ze and Lin Xu are finally useful."

"Mom, let's stay here for now. When things outside get better, and these two useless guys are no longer needed, we'll find a chance to replace them!"

"Good, good. Mom listens to you. But tell me, did Lin Wan hoard any supplies? Based on what you said, that villa is so well-protected; it must have good things inside. Moreover, its high elevation makes it a good place to live in the Apocalypse. That bitch Tang Wanyun really knew how to leave things for her!"

Mentioning Lin Wan made Lin Ran grit her teeth in hatred.

"Hmph, if she has something, even better. We can just swoop in and take it when the time comes!"

She has it all because she stole our things to buy it! That villa of hers is high up; I saw it looks very safe. This place stinks to high heaven; I don't think we can live here much longer!"

"When they come back with supplies, I'll instigate them to go find Lin Wan. Then, we'll just latch onto that place and not leave, and think of a way to get rid of Lin Wan. After all, it's normal for people to die now..."

The mother and daughter exchanged vicious looks.

"Good, let's do that..."

When Lin Wan and Shen Mo Chi arrived downstairs, they happened to run into Lin Ze and Lin Xu throwing a severely decomposed corpse into the back of a vehicle.