Bai Qiqi leapt into the air, catching the spinning kitchen knife in her hand as she landed in front of the tattered little girl.
“Are you even a human?” she asked angrily, glaring at Zhang Mingjun.
The man leaned against a wall for support, his face pale and sickly. He resembled a wounded beast with his scarred body and distorted expression.
A tall, slender middle-aged woman was helping him stay upright. Half her face looked like melted asphalt. The woman wore leather armor, her hands glowing faintly with a pale green energy. The vicious, snake-like green vine was clearly under her control.
“What’s it to you?” The woman glared venomously at Bai Qiqi. “Short-lived pests, get lost and mind your own business!”
Bai Qiqi’s palm flickered with a burst of inner qi. The kitchen knife in her hand disintegrated into iron powder, scattering in the air.
“Unrepentant,” she said coldly.
Although she was usually calm, Bai Qiqi was now visibly angry. She continued, “You’re truly despicable. Even after being punished, you haven’t learned your lesson. Instead, you’re bullying such a helpless little girl... Leave now, or I’ll kill you.”
“You little wretch—” said the scar-faced woman, her fury exploded as she stepped forward.
But Zhang Mingjun stopped her.
“Let’s go.” He grabbed the woman’s arm, his voice low and hoarse. “Don’t bother with them... Treat it as if we’ve been bitten by a stray dog.”
"But... sigh." The scar-faced woman hesitated, but eventually relented. She reluctantly helped Zhang Mingjun turn around and supported him as they disappeared into the depths of the alley.
Bai Qiqi let out a breath of relief.
"Little girl, you... huh?" She turned back, only to see that the girl she had just saved was already running away without looking back.
Though she had rescued someone, Bai Qiqi didn’t feel much joy. Zhang Mingjun and the scar-faced woman were clearly Extraordinary Ones who had mastered supernatural abilities. Yet, they used their strength to oppress ordinary people. It was a typical case of how dark and vile human nature could be.
"Let’s go," Li Xiaofei said softly, gently patting Bai Qiqi’s head. "This world is already on the brink of collapse. We are merely passing through. There’s no need to overstep or steal the spotlight. Focus on growing stronger for the sake of our own Earth."
Bai Qiqi nodded firmly.
Half a day passed and eventually, night came. The night here wasn’t truly dark, just a dimming of the daylight. The sun lingered stubbornly on the horizon, refusing to set completely, like an unwelcome guest overstaying its welcome.
The twilight, reminiscent of perpetual dusk, bathed the world in a faint reddish hue under the light of the twin moons in the sky. The surface of Grandpa Lake shimmered like the scales of a crimson dragon.
Workers finished their tasks and returned to their homes to rest. In the distance, the faint roars of wild beasts could be heard.
One by one, Ye Liuying, Nan Hua, Zhang Zhihong, and the others also returned to the stone house that Song Shiyu had arranged for them.
“Heh, Brother Li, you missed quite the spectacle today. Guess what—they’re handing out wives here!” said Zhang Zhihong, approaching with a mischievous grin.
“Handing out wives?” asked Li Xiaofei who was momentarily stunned.
Zhang Zhihong explained, “The women who were sent to the camp earlier today? They were already matched with husbands by the afternoon. The second-in-command, Wang Bolun, married them off to the camp’s soldiers. And get this: this place actually allows polygamy. I think I kind of like it here.”
Ximen Piaoxue added, “It wasn’t a match-making event. It was more like allocation. Some women weren’t happy with the men they were assigned to, but they had no choice. According to some long-time residents, a woman without a husband in Grandpa Lakeside Camp would have a status lower than that of livestock.”
“Why is it ?” asked Ren Dong, visibly shocked.
“It seems that, in this era and on this Earth, a woman’s primary mission is to have as many children as possible to ensure the survival of humanity’s genetic legacy,” Li Junjie chimed in.
The group had spent the day wandering around Grandpa Lakeside Camp, gathering a detailed understanding of the grim reality. The apocalypse had destroyed the world’s order. People’s values and worldview had been completely reshaped in order to survive.
“By the way, I didn’t see that woman with the baseball cap today,” Ye Liuying suddenly said.
It was an odd, incomplete remark, but Li Xiaofei understood; it was directed at him. It seemed the Goddess shared his suspicion that the woman in the baseball cap and her sister were not as simple as they seemed.
“So, are we sure we want to stay here?” asked Nan Hua, turning to Li Xiaofei.
All eyes immediately focused on him. This was the answer everyone wanted to know. After all, they only had one year in this trial battlefield. If they wanted to quickly advance, they needed enough opportunities for combat. Staying here for the sake of a quiet life wasn’t an option.
“Of course, we can’t stay here,” Li Xiaofei said decisively. “I’ve heard the camp leader is one of the oldest Extraordinary Ones and an ancient powerhouse who has lived for centuries. Once he comes out of seclusion, we’ll have a good discussion with him, learn about the bigger picture of this world, and then decide on our next move.”
Just as he finished speaking, a sudden alarm sounded outside. The combination of drums and gongs threw the relatively peaceful camp into chaos. Shouts and cries rang out in the distance. Something was happening.
“Star beasts are climbing up!”
“It’s a horde of monkeys...”
“Hurry! Defend the farmland! The wheat is almost ready for harvest—we can’t let those damned monkeys destroy the crops!”
“Not good! There are Mutated Winged Wolves too...”
“And the alpha-tier Iron-Eating Bear is here as well!”
Shouts and cries erupted from the camp.
Li Xiaofei and the others immediately rushed out of the stone house. The dim, reddish twilight cast a glow over the surging beast tide that was coming over the distant stone hills and charging furiously toward the camp.
This time, the beast tide was led by mutated monkeys covered in crimson fur. These creatures were shockingly organized. They even wore crude armor and wielded weapons as if they were a trained army.
They were followed by dozens of mutated wolves that had translucent, hummingbird-like wings growing from their backs. These wolves spat sharp wind blades from their mouths, slicing through the air with deadly precision.
At the rear of the horde was a colossal ten meters tall figure. Is that a giant... panda?
Li Xiaofei was taken aback by the unexpected sight. Monkeys, wolves, and a panda. That was a rare combination.
This Earth’s star beasts were incredibly ferocious. It only took them four or five minutes to break through the outer gate of the camp’s walls. They surged into the inner city like a flood breaching a dam.
The crackle of gunfire echoed through the air. The camp’s warriors opened fire immediately, doing their best to hold the line. At the same time, several Extraordinary Ones joined the fray, using their abilities to desperately contain the beast tide. But the situation remained dire.
“How could this happen?”
“Didn’t they say Star Beasts couldn’t break into the Grandpa Lake area?”
“Mama, I’m scared,” cried a trembling child.
The camp’s residents were panicking, frozen with fear and confusion. The Grandpa Lakeside Camp had never experienced such a massive assault by star beasts. This was far beyond what the camp’s armed forces were capable of handling.
Song Shiyu, the third-in-command, and Wang Bolun, the second-in-command, charged to the frontlines. Both fought valiantly, using their abilities to slay star beasts and slow the advancing tide.
The two were powerful fighters, and their efforts significantly eased the burden on the camp’s defenders.
“What are you all standing around for? Go help!” Li Xiaofei commanded.
The group sprang into action. As they joined the front lines, the beast tide assault, which had threatened to destroy the camp, was finally subdued after half an hour of fierce battle.
The monkey horde scattered and the wolf pack was annihilated. The massive Iron-Eating Bear, a creature rivaling the strength of a Great Saint, was personally slain by Li Xiaofei.
The camp’s residents erupted into applause, bowing and expressing their heartfelt gratitude to Li Xiaofei and his companions. The scene was witnessed by many, and their expressions were filled with awe and admiration.
“Wonderful! Your strength is incredible. You’re truly natural-born guardians of this camp,” said Song Shiyu as he approached to thank them.
He also came bearing important news.
“The camp leader has come out of seclusion. The star beast invasion disrupted his cultivation... But upon hearing of your heroic deeds, he has expressed a desire to meet you.”
Song Shiyu wasted no time getting straight to the point. Li Xiaofei’s eyes brightened. At last, the moment had arrived.