223: The chaotic era at the beginning of the new era

Those words jolted him awake. Ji Yan's expression changed in an instant. "Then let's go, hurry up and follow! Luo Sen is about to fly out of sight!"

The others sprinted a hundred meters to board the Fighter Jet: "Hahaha, Boss is brilliant!"

Two days later, Luo Sen returned, followed by Ji Yan's main force.

A lavish dinner had been prepared, and everyone in the Residential Area ate together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Thinking they might never meet again, seeing Ji Yan after more than a year, Si Nan felt an even deeper sense of familiarity. "Uncle Ji, you're looking great, full of energy."

"But you, young lady, don't look so spirited. Are you sick? What's wrong? Uncle will take you to Barrier City for treatment." At the sight of Si Nan's complexion, Ji Yan wanted to give Jian Bing a beating.

He called Jian Bing right in front of everyone and started scolding him immediately: "Jian, I told you to take care of Xiao Nan. How have you been taking care of her? Her complexion is so poor!"

On the other end, Jian Bing casually tossed back a reply, "Ask Luo Sen about that. It's all his fault."

"Luo Sen? What did you do, kid? Did you abuse Xiao Nan?" Reminded by Jian Bing, Ji Yan's anger flared. He had just sat down to eat but immediately stood up again.

Si Nan knew Ji Yan had misunderstood and quickly spoke up, "Uncle Ji, calm down. Yes, it's all Luo Sen's fault. He made me give birth to seven at once."

"Oh, oh... huh? You're a mother now? And seven at once?" Ji Yan didn't grasp it at first, but once he did, he insisted on seeing the babies right away.

"Hurry, hurry, let's go see them. Seven! How incredibly rare." Ji Yan was so excited he could barely walk. He had never seen Septuplets before.

The Seven Little Ones were all sleeping at home. Before going out, Si Nan had fed them until they were full, and they were quite well-behaved, not crying or fussing. Now they were all asleep.

Ji Yan looked at one, then another, his eyes darting around, almost moved to tears. "If Instructor Si were still here, he'd be so happy he couldn't sleep---"

"Yes, no matter when, Mom and Dad would be happy for me and bless me." Mentioning her parents, the smile vanished from Si Nan's face.

Luo Sen brought over several crates of beer. Everyone celebrated freely, treating it as a Full-Month Celebration. They also presented Si Nan with the best gifts they could offer.

The gifts might be modest, but the sentiment was deep. By now in the Apocalypse, they were all trusted friends with life-and-death bonds.

"Thank you, everyone." Upon returning, Si Nan was buried in gifts, her face beaming with smiles. She stayed for a while before heading back, leaving the rest of the time for the men.

After the meal, Si Nan chatted with Ji Yan, exchanging information from The Authorities and discussing future plans.

Ji Yan held nothing back. Luo Sen's parents were in Barrier City, so there was no point hiding it. "From now on, be extra careful. You just focus on staying home and raising the kids. Leave everything else to Luo Sen."

"Okay, I understand." Si Nan agreed with a smile.

That night, a group of outsiders from another city attacked Yunshu Mountain Villa. Jian Bing didn't even need to intervene; those people were dealt with by the youths Ma Bufan and Xue Liang.

They also gained some extra supplies. After being exposed by villains following the Strong Acid Rain, Yunshu Mountain Villa became a coveted spot for the wealthy worldwide. It was simply too large, an independent private garden-style villa—there was no better survival residence.

Unfortunately, no one could seize it.

Things were very calm in the Residential Area now. Within a ten-mile radius, aside from the Residential Area, there was no sign of human life. What needed vigilance now were the large Zombie Beasts; they didn't even bother with ordinary zombies, as they couldn't get in.

And so, with constant fighting, meeting force with force, they endured eight difficult years in the Apocalypse. By the late stages of the Apocalypse, the landscape had drastically changed. Humans, zombies, and Zombie Beasts each had their own territories.

After eight years of evolution, zombies had developed extremely high intelligence. Not only could they speak, but they had also formed their own zombie armies. Humanity entered the bloodiest chaos at the dawn of a new age.

At this point, humans still lived in Barrier Cities of various sizes. Apart from the few large Barrier Cities controlled by The Authorities, the rest had become private shelters, under private forces.

Resources belonged to everyone. Whoever found them first and had the ability to take them, owned them.

But after eight years of surviving the Apocalypse, humans had also evolved rapidly. When going out in groups to search for supplies, they no longer traveled on foot or in trucks and cars, but in newly developed Off-Road Combat Vehicles.

These vehicles could traverse ruins as if on flat ground, and their interiors were spacious—each Off-Road Combat Vehicle was as large as a building with at least three floors.

They served both as combat vehicles for searching supplies and as homes for travel—mobile houses, with a hefty price tag.

In the current Apocalypse, only major forces, the wealthy or powerful, could own such a combat vehicle. Ordinary folks still used pre-Apocalypse transportation: cars, buses, trucks, vans, etc.

Of course, those with status, face, or power didn't ride in these combat vehicles. They traveled by air in planes; the slightly wealthier used modified cars, and the even wealthier used Armored Vehicles.

The more badass wealthy individuals went out with helicopters + Armored Vehicles. The ultra-rich, the most badass, traveled in—private Fighter Jets!

How did they get them? Through bloody plunder!

For example, right now, a vehicle that had just left a shelter base rammed recklessly into other cars ahead, sending them flying, with the reason: "None of you have eyes!"

The three cars that were knocked aside dared not voice their anger. If they dared to complain, they would immediately be smashed to bits, vehicle and all. This was the unchecked arrogance and malice amplified in the late Apocalypse.

Those who survived eight years were all shrewd; survival came first, everything else was secondary. Even if those people had just called them blind dogs, they felt nothing.

But there was one exception: Si Nan!

While others were desperately searching for supplies—food left over from eight years into the Apocalypse had long spoiled, so now they searched for non-perishable resources like burnable coal, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and materials for producing combat vehicles such as steel, copper, aluminum, etc.—

At this moment, Si Nan was scolding her sixth son. "Lao Liu, you're the older brother. How could you take your sister out of the Residential Area without saying a word? What if you encountered a powerful Zombie Beast?

Your father and I can't be with you every moment. If you want absolute freedom, of course I'd support it with both hands, but that's only after you have the ability to absolutely protect yourselves.

Until then, stay Be honest and straightforward at home, understood?"

She was truly angry. These two had sneaked out to play for half a day behind her back.

The youngest, Lao Liu and Lao Qi, seeing their mother really angry, immediately grinned, reaching new heights of ingratiation: "Oh, Mommy, we know we were wrong, okay? There won't be a next time, all right?

Lao Liu swears, if there's a next time, I won't eat meat for a month."

Lao Qi, seeing her brother make such a harsh vow, felt heartbroken. "No, Xiao Qi wants to eat meat, must eat meat! It's all Sixth Brother's fault, dragging me out to play."

Lao Liu: "---"

A certain little mouth twitched. Dotingly pinching his sister's pink, chubby cheek, he smoothly took the blame. "Mhm, mhm, it's all big brother's fault. I was too curious about the outside world."