Chapter 17: The Doomsday Safehouse

Ye Nan looked at the lifeless body of the beautiful woman, a sense of melancholy stirring within him. He pulled a blanket from nearby to cover her, then stepped into the courtyard, using his supernatural ability to dig a deep pit and lay her to rest.

That was all he could do for her.

Leaving the villa, he quickly reunited with the three women.

They were busy using crossbows to take down zombies; the ground was littered with corpses. They had even managed to hunt a Level 1 zombie and extract its crystal core.

Seeing Ye Nan approach, Gong Wanru handed him the core, her expression full of feigned grievance. "It’s been an hour and a half. You certainly know how to take your time."

Ye Nan felt a bit awkward. "I dug a grave in the yard to bury her, so it took a while."

Li Siqi remarked with a hint of bitterness, "To be so concerned about a woman you just met—you truly are a sentimental fool."

"Who’s jealous? Why is it so sour in here?" Ye Nan teased, looking at Li Siqi.

"Hmph!" Li Siqi huffed and said no more.

Yan Ruoliu interjected, "Alright, let’s continue hunting. Let’s try to clear out the villa area and collect more Level 1 cores so Ye Nan can solidify his cultivation."

The four continued their work, systematically eliminating zombies.

In the distance, three Level 1 zombies were straining to push against a perimeter wall. They must have sensed people inside and were eager to feast. Under their relentless efforts, the wall swayed slightly, but it held firm.

Ye Nan walked over and, with three swift strikes of his sword, dispatched the zombies and claimed their cores. As a Level 2 supernatural user, dealing with Level 1 zombies was as easy as slicing through vegetables—it took no effort at all.

However, a new thought crossed Ye Nan’s mind. Living in a villa wasn't entirely safe. If a Level 2 zombie appeared, or a large swarm of Level 1s, they might actually topple the walls and break in. That would be troublesome. By comparison, living in a high-rise would be much safer; at least there, he wouldn't have to worry about zombies breaching the perimeter.

As Ye Nan pondered, the three women arrived at the same conclusion.

Yan Ruoliu said worriedly, "As the zombies evolve, they are getting stronger. Should we consider moving?"

Gong Wanru suddenly remembered something and said excitedly, "Let’s go to the high-rise district. I know a place that’s guaranteed to be safe."

"Where?" Ye Nan asked.

Gong Wanru explained, "Unit 2001 in Building 1. It belongs to a female friend of mine. I’ve been there before. She’s a total doomsday enthusiast; she bought all four apartments on that floor and knocked down the walls to merge them into a single 500-square-meter penthouse. It’s luxuriously decorated and even has a small swimming pool. If we can get in, it won't just be safe—we could actually enjoy life during the apocalypse."

Ye Nan’s eyes lit up, his interest piqued.

Gong Wanru continued, "That penthouse is essentially a doomsday fortress. The doors are made of 30cm reinforced steel—not even bombs could blow them open. She kept a massive stockpile of food there, plus she installed heating systems, water purification, and plenty of entertainment facilities: a home theater, a game room, a yoga studio, and more. I used to laugh at her for spending so much money on a 'doomsday fortress' that would never be used, but it seems I was the one who was a joke."

Yan Ruoliu said, "If it’s as you describe, it’s definitely a good spot. But the villa belongs to someone else, and with that level of security, if they don't let us in, there's nothing we can do."

"It doesn't matter," Gong Wanru said. "My friend travels abroad often. I don't know if she was home when the apocalypse broke out. If she wasn't, then it's our gain." She looked at Ye Nan. "Why don't you go check the situation first and then decide?"

Ye Nan nodded. "Alright, I'll go take a look."

Gong Wanru smiled. "Once you see the interior, you'll know what a paradise on earth looks like."

"I’m actually looking forward to it," Ye Nan replied.

"I hope everything goes smoothly," Gong Wanru said.

Ye Nan escorted the three women back to their shelter before heading toward the high-rise district.

Building 1 was in another direction. He arrived quickly to find the entrance wide open and the area swarming with zombies. He cleared them out effortlessly and took the stairs. He avoided the elevator, knowing it would be a death trap if the power cut out or other accidents occurred.

The building had twenty floors with four units per floor. 2001 was clearly on the top level. Ye Nan climbed to the roof without breaking a sweat, disposing of any zombies he encountered along the way.

In the hallway of the 20th floor, he found two zombies. They bore a striking resemblance—a mother and daughter, dressed in lace pajamas, their figures quite elegant.

Ye Nan recalled Gong Wanru saying only her friend lived on this floor. He hadn't expected the friend, and her daughter, to still be here. Looking at the bite marks on the daughter's neck, he could imagine the scene: when the outbreak began, the mother had turned into a zombie and chased her daughter. The terrified girl hadn't even had time to change her clothes, but she was caught and bitten.

Both had become zombies.

Ye Nan ended their suffering with two swift strikes.

He walked to the front door; it was, as he expected, unlocked. It was only natural—in her panic, the daughter wouldn't have had the presence of mind to lock it.

The door was indeed 30cm thick, made of reinforced blast-proof steel. Its defensive capabilities were off the charts. Ye Nan felt that even with his abilities, it would take a significant effort to force his way through. If they lived inside, their safety would be well-guaranteed.

Ye Nan stepped inside and was stunned. The interior was incredibly luxurious. Not far away was a small swimming pool, with several sexy swimsuits nearby—it seemed the mother and daughter had spent plenty of time playing there.

Crystal chandeliers, large LCD televisions, leather sofas... everything was there.

In the safe room, Ye Nan found two generators, fuel, and massive amounts of food and water. These supplies would last a long time, so staying there for an extended period would be no problem at all.

Ye Nan chuckled aloud. *Hit the jackpot.*

It had only been three days since the apocalypse, the very beginning. Most people still had food at home, and with the hallways swarming with zombies, few dared to venture out. Most of the people seen scavenging were from the villa area. Since the mother and daughter had turned into zombies and were wandering the hallway, and because it was the top floor—a place no one bothered to visit—everything remained untouched.

Ye Nan explored the penthouse, his excitement growing. As a 500-square-meter unit merged from four apartments, it was incredibly spacious—it could easily house ten people, let alone four.

He found the keys and did a thorough inspection of the safe room. Satisfied, he locked the door and left.

Back at their shelter, the three women greeted him immediately.

"How was it?" Gong Wanru asked anxiously.

"Everything went smoothly." Ye Nan smiled and recounted the situation.

The three women were ecstatic.

"Go pack your things; you can store them in my Lightning Tower later," Ye Nan said. "For now, I need to absorb the crystal cores to solidify my cultivation and then go out to collect more food. Once I return, we’ll move."

"Alright, no problem," Gong Wanru agreed.

Ye Nan warned them sternly, "After I leave, keep your guns on you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom. Don't take any chances."

"We understand."

"Then it's settled." Ye Nan went into the courtyard and began absorbing the cores.

Soon, he finished. Not only had he solidified his Level 2 status, but he had also made further progress. Feeling the surge of energy within him, he felt satisfied. He vaulted over the villa wall and headed out alone to gather more supplies.

The convenience store had been cleared out that morning, leaving nothing behind. His target now was the supermarket and shopping mall outside the residential complex. He wasn't worried about his own safety—as a Level 2 supernatural user, he wouldn't be easily harmed, especially with a gun and a crossbow on his person.

He entered a small supermarket. There were no living people, only a wandering zombie. He decapitated it with a single strike, then opened the portal to his Lightning Tower, frantically absorbing all the supplies.

*Damn, this is so much faster than carrying things manually.*

In moments, the entire supermarket was cleared, including the shelves themselves. It was like a locust swarm; nothing was left behind.

Passing by a lingerie shop, Ye Nan’s eyes lit up. He let out a sinister chuckle, eyeing the sexy, thin lace pieces. *If the three of them wore these... the charm would be... heh heh.*

He walked in, and when he came out, every piece of lingerie had been stored away.

Next, he hit a shop specializing in beverages and bottled water. In the apocalypse, water was life. He didn't hesitate; he cleared it all.

Just as he was about to leave, a man and a woman came running toward his direction, pursued by several zombies.

"Ahhh!" The man shrieked in terror, losing his mind.

Ye Nan cursed under his breath. *What an idiot. If you're running for your life, why scream so loud? Do you want to attract more zombies?*

As he complained, the pair dashed into the water shop, shouting, "Close the door!"

Ye Nan pulled the shutters down, sealing them tight.

Only then did he realize he recognized them. The woman was the one who loved wearing yoga pants and had a curvaceous figure—"Sister Peach," Su Tao. The man was her boyfriend, the bespectacled guy. They had clashed at Li Siqi’s shop before.

"It's you!" The man recognized Ye Nan, gripping a steel pipe, looking ready to fight.

Ye Nan was speechless. "I said, if you're running, run. Why scream so loud? Don't you know sound attracts zombies?"

The man looked embarrassed. He knew that, but he was a coward by nature. Ever since the day before, their water supply had run low, and with two elderly people at home, consumption was high. They had tried to scavenge earlier but found the local store empty, forcing them to venture further out.

The man hadn't wanted to come, but Su Tao had threatened to dump him if he didn't. He had spent so much effort pursuing her, and he hadn't even slept with her yet—he couldn't afford to break up. So he had followed, only to regret it the moment he saw the monsters. Now, being mocked by Ye Nan made his blood boil.

"Damn it, kid, who do you think you are? Want me to beat you to death?" the man roared.

Ye Nan replied indifferently, "A coward like you, who isn't even as brave as his own woman—do you have the right to get angry?"

The man raised his pipe. "You're asking for it!"

Su Tao quickly pulled him back. She knew Ye Nan's strength; if they fought, her boyfriend would definitely be the one to suffer.

"Sir, please don't mind him. That's just his personality," Su Tao said softly. "We're trapped here together; we should help each other instead of fighting. Internal conflict won't benefit anyone."

Su Tao was still wearing her yoga gear, her devilish figure on full display, especially her丰腴 (plump) peach-like hips—a true weapon of war.

Ye Nan couldn't help but linger his gaze for a moment. He smiled. "As long as he doesn't look for trouble, I couldn't care less about him."

Seeing Ye Nan’s eyes scanning Su Tao, the boyfriend nearly snapped. If Su Tao hadn't been holding him, he would have lunged at Ye Nan.

Su Tao whispered, "Quiet down! He’s very strong. We might need him to deal with the zombies. Let's talk once we're safe."

The man took a deep breath, barely suppressing his rage.

Su Tao looked around, frowning. "Wait, wasn't this a drink and water shop? Why is it completely empty?"