Chapter 29: Rest Assured, We Will Investigate

Morning.
The sound of rain outside had diminished, perhaps it was just lighter now.
Xia An woke up, feeling her head and body much lighter—her cold had passed.
Turning her head, she saw the bottled water and medicine left on the table by Sister Su Miao, and she was deeply moved.
But just as she was thinking this, the memory of Sister Su Miao last night, covered in blood, surged back, filling her with an inexplicable sense of fear.
How many people had Sister Su Miao killed last night?
She stepped out of the room and saw the table already laden with food, the aroma wafting through the air.
Su Miao had just finished preparing breakfast.
With all the water, electricity, and gas cut off in the villa, Su Miao hadn’t yet mastered the art of heating breakfast with small fireball spells, but at least there were no major mishaps.
As for the generator and other supplies stored in her magical space, Su Miao had no plans to bring them out for now.
The current situation wasn’t suitable for it.
"Xiao An, you’re feeling better?"
Su Miao asked.
That morning, she’d noticed new people moving into the villas ahead, and shadows even in the distant ones. Judging by their clothes, they were newcomers, just like the ones who tried to force their way in last night.
An influx of new people into the resort meant greater danger.
If something truly unpredictable were to happen, Xia An, who could move on her own, would at least be able to run for it.
"Yes, thank you, Sister Su," Xia An replied.
Though there was still a faint scent of blood in the air, Su Miao herself looked impeccably clean, which made Xia An feel safe.
Breakfast was fish congee, boiled eggs, and shredded potato pancakes—Xia An ate with relish.
Watching her eat, Su Miao smiled gently.
Just like in the cartoons, watching a cute girl enjoy her food was truly healing.
While sipping her congee, she glanced at her phone. It was September 26, 2123, the twenty-sixth day since the apocalypse began. There was still no signal, no internet.

…

"Murder! Someone’s been killed!"
At the checkpoint by the parking lot, the security team was on alert.
Chang Jieming stretched, grabbed a large pancake from the table, poured himself a cup of soy milk, and strolled out, eating as he went.
Now that there was enough food in storage, he ate his fill and slept soundly.
The only flaw was that, even with the rain pouring down, people outside were still causing such a commotion.

Come to think of it, over twenty people came demanding justice yesterday afternoon, but by this morning only seven or eight remained.
Those who didn’t show up probably thought better of it.
In these times, staying alive was already a blessing.
"What’s with all the yelling so early in the morning?"
Finishing his pancake and soy milk, Chang Jieming strode out, putting on a stern face. "Didn’t we promise to investigate today?"
Yeah, right. That last bit was only said in his heart.

"Murder! Murder!"
A middle-aged woman, her arm trembling, pointed toward the villas.
"You’re security—we paid you with food for protection. Shouldn’t you do something?"
"There’s a maniac in the villas. Last night, she killed many of our people. You took our food—you have to do something about it!"
A woman in her thirties spoke up, her hair disheveled, soaked from head to toe, clearly terrified.
Chang Jieming’s expression changed. A killer?
Was this someone new?
Or was it the same ruthless person who made Brother Long and his gang disappear?
He said, "Quiet, all of you. Someone with a clear head—calm down and tell me what happened."
Soon enough, Chang Jieming understood the situation. Apparently, these people had crossed the landslide to the villa district, found Su Miao’s villa, broke down the barricaded door, and were ambushed by the resident with a crossbow—most of them were killed.
Over twenty went; only seven or eight returned.
A true bloodbath.
He recalled that only a young girl named Su Miao had lived in those villas before.
Back when the company was still around, he’d accompanied Customer Service Xiaoyan to deliver care packages.
Who’d have thought she’d survive the landslide?
But the idea that Su Miao could kill so many people with a crossbow in such a short time was hard for Chang Jieming to believe.
Incredible.
He thought of Brother Long’s gang and their deeds in the villa district.
Any woman living there, except those who joined the restaurant early on, rarely escaped their clutches.
Yet Su Miao was still alive, still living in the villas, and Brother Long’s gang had vanished. Coupled with her crossbow and last night’s massacre, the hidden expert in the villa district was likely Su Miao herself!

Appearances can be deceiving!

"Alright, enough!"
Chang Jieming said, "We’ll look into this."
The sobbing woman grew furious. "You said you’d investigate yesterday, now you’re saying it again today—are you going to wait until we’re all dead before you do anything?!"
Chang Jieming’s face darkened.
How could she say aloud exactly what he was thinking?
He needed to set the record straight—what did she mean, wait until they were all dead? If they all died, he wouldn’t even have to bother placating them!
Who in their right mind would pick a fight with someone that ruthless?
Hadn’t she read any novels?
There’s a saying: When walking the world, beware of women, children, the elderly, and monks.
With food to eat, he had no death wish.

Chang Jieming said, "What are you saying? Didn’t I tell you to find an unoccupied house? Instead, you broke into someone’s villa! That’s illegal entry! By rights, what she did was self-defense!"
The woman grew even angrier. "Self-defense? She killed so many of us! And didn’t the company managing these villas all die? What gives her the right to claim that villa? What’s wrong with us taking shelter there?"
Chang Jieming shot her a glare. "Listen, the ones who robbed you and drove you out the first time didn’t have any right. But this time, the person you provoked—you were in the wrong."
"This person moved into the villa before the storm and paid long-term rent. If we’re being precise, security should be arresting you all and making you apologize to her!"
"I feel sorry for you, refugees who have already lost so many, so I’m letting it go this time!"
"Now get lost! Don’t let me see you here again!"
"Keep whining and I’ll have you beaten!"
"Damn it! Because of the trouble you stirred up, I have to go apologize in the middle of a rainstorm!"
Chang Jieming lost his temper, and the surrounding security, brandishing weapons, surged forward, scaring off the petitioners.
They glanced at the guards, then at the pelting rain, and left wailing.
If they stayed, the security guards really might beat them.

Watching them go, Chang Jieming paced back and forth, then made a decision. "Brother Ming, prepare two packs of noodles and five kilos of rice. We’re going to the villa district."
Brother Ming, a guard, was taken aback. "Captain, why so much food?"
Chang Jieming replied, "It’s a peace offering. We’re going to pay a visit."