168: This departure might mean never seeing each other again...

"Good, it's a deal." Finally, Ji Yan and Jian Bing high-fived.

Ji Yan turned to Si Nan and Luo Sen, saying the exact same thing, "You two as well. Next time we meet, I better see a bunch of kids, or you two will get a beating too."

"Does that mean you don't need to work hard yourself just because you're getting on in years?" Si Nan smiled, her lips curving upward.

"Pfft, you girl, your mouth is still so... honest. I'm off." Ji Yan boarded one of the helicopters to return to the base.

The moment the rotors began to spin, Si Nan's nose felt a bit sore. She waved vigorously at Ji Yan. This departure might be the last time they'd ever see each other--- The helicopter flew further and further away, and Si Nan's heart grew heavier, until someone called her from behind, "Sister Nan?"

"Hmm? Who's calling me?"

Si Nan turned around. Director Lin, Ge Yue, and Mao Xin were all there. She was surprised, "Why haven't you left?"

Not only them, but several other young people behind the trio hadn't left either, including two couples holding hands.

Director Lin and the other two excitedly approached Si Nan. "We're not leaving. We're following you, Sister Nan. That rescue officer just now must have been called by you, right? Otherwise, there definitely wouldn't have been a chance to save everyone."

Si Nan nodded. "Yes. Ji Yan used to be my father's right-hand man. My father was once a Special Forces soldier."

"Oh, heavens, no wonder you're so skilled, Sister Nan. I did a count; there are 26 people left from our three units, almost all of them young people, and we're all at your command," Director Lin reported loudly.

"Almost? Then who are the ones who aren't?" Si Nan's mouth twitched.

Mao Xin raised his hand. "It's Old Man Zhou from our Unit O and his Spouse. Old Man Zhou's Spouse has difficulty moving her legs, so they both agreed not to leave.

Firstly, going to a strange place might be even more inconvenient for them. Secondly, they feel that even if this terrible situation hadn't happened, they wouldn't have much longer to live anyway, so they didn't want the hassle."

Si Nan didn't react; it was only human nature, though Old Man Zhou was also a smart person.

Mao Xin suddenly added, "By the way, although Old Man Zhou's Spouse, Auntie Yang, has trouble walking, she's a very nice person. She was a primary school teacher when she was young; her leg injury was caused by a car accident."

"Really? That's great. Have them pack their things as quickly as possible; I'll send them to a more suitable place. Mao Xin, come with me. I'll give them a wheelchair; it'll be easier to push them.

Since the rest of you are staying, go find Gu Jie and follow his arrangements. From now on, as long as we guard the four main gates, we'll be the safest bunch in the whole city."

Si Nan waved her hand with her back to everyone and strode toward her home.

"Yay!" Director Lin and Ge Yue were so happy they almost jumped. They felt like the good days were just beginning as they happily led the others to find Gu Jie.

However, a single sentence from Luo Sen instantly dampened their excitement: "From today on, everyone will learn martial arts. As long as you don't die, train like your life depends on it. You're all like weaklings; if an enemy comes, can you do anything besides scream like women?"

"Ah? Help!" the crowd wailed.

The Property Management security room was repaired, reinforced, and put back into use. Gu Jie's job was the same as before—working as a security guard—but he wouldn't shy away from trouble like he used to.

Moreover, at the slightest sign of trouble, he had to be the first to step up. After all, his two daughters also lived in this Residential Area. Seeing his two daughters playing happily inside the compound was enough to satisfy him.

Meanwhile, Mao Xin looked at the beautiful electric wheelchair and began to question his life. It wasn't him pushing the wheelchair; it was him desperately running behind it to catch up.

Luckily he was young and had long legs, otherwise he really wouldn't have been able to keep up with the wheelchair, ahhh~

An hour later, the Armored Vehicle pulled up in front of Old Man Zhou and his Spouse, who were waiting downstairs. The two elderly people looked back at the tall building, appearing hesitant to speak.

Si Nan opened the car door. "Don't look back; you'll like it there."

Mao Xin and Luo Sen lifted Old Man Zhou's Spouse, Yang Yuelan, into the Armored Vehicle. They also urged, "Old Man Zhou, trust Sister Nan."

Mao Xin didn't ask any more questions, but he vaguely knew that Si Nan had another safe place besides this Residential Area; otherwise, she wouldn't be taking the Zhou couple away.

Before this, a few other families and the security lady had also been taken away. Perhaps one day, they could go there too.

"Then let's go." Old Man Zhou didn't ask anything else.

They sat in the very back, while Jian Bing sat in the row behind the driver's seat. Along the way, they listened to Si Nan and Jian Bing chatting about the thrills of the rescue, the major actions of The Authorities, and the outrageous antics of the wealthy.

Old Man Zhou and his Spouse were shocked by what they heard. Fortunately, they had chosen to stay. It turned out that even reaching the Safety Zone didn't mean living in luxury; if you didn't work, you didn't eat. The Authorities wouldn't support able-bodied idlers.

Furthermore, the Safety Zone was divided into different classes. The people who had just gone were assigned to the worst Safety Zone, where there were no houses, only makeshift communal bunks.

For people of their age, going there would practically be waiting for death. The only benefit was safety, as all the zombies were kept outside the walls.

Outside the car, zombies roared incessantly. Countless were knocked aside along the way; they would pounce and get sent flying, only for more to lunge. Seeing these mangled zombies up close made the two elderly people's hearts race with fear.

They prayed the whole way, hoping the Armored Vehicle's glass was strong enough. Even if they were to die, they didn't want to be eaten alive by zombies. Finally, the Armored Vehicle drove into Yunshu Mountain Villa.

Everything they saw was beyond belief. "We... we're going to live here from now on?"

Si Nan finally had a moment to attend to them. "Mm, yes. There are four children in here altogether. Two are three or four years old, and the other two are only a few months old. Your task, Auntie, is to teach the two older ones how to read and write.

See, I've already prepared the blackboard and chalk for you."

She pointed behind the elderly couple.

"Additionally, Old Man Zhou, your task is to use your strengths. You'll be responsible for checking the perimeter walls 365 days a year. If you find any weak spots or damage, report it immediately so we can find materials to fix it. We must ensure that zombies cannot break into Cloud Villa.

If you have any spare time, just do what you can with everyone else—feed the chickens, raise the horses, grow some vegetables, that sort of thing."

Old Man Zhou was overjoyed; it felt like he had been sent here to enjoy a life of leisure. "Good, good, good. I'll take care of the walls. I guarantee the mission will be completed."

He felt that even if he died right now, it would be worth it. He had never lived in such a luxurious mansion in his life; his eyes couldn't take it all in.

Jian Bing also stared wide-eyed, pointing at the surrounding scenery in shock. "This... isn't this the 'money-burning pit' built by that spendthrift Young Master of the Huangfu Family from A City?"

Si Nan laughed. "Hahaha, oh my, Master actually knows about it. I thought you guys didn't pay attention to anything outside of your missions."

Jian Bing's heart was in turmoil, and he shook his head wildly—