Big Camphor Tree Base.

First outer city, Greenhouse No. 2.

The door of the greenhouse was pushed open. A man holding an iron pot hurriedly ran out and used the pot to scoop up snow until it was full.

Feeling it wasn't enough, he pressed the snow heavily with his hand and then grabbed two more handfuls into the pot before standing up satisfied.

As he stood up, he looked up and saw Gao Tian and others not far away.

Those dozen or so people were completely covered by snow; they seemed to have died long ago.

He glanced over, filled with awe and fear.

Shaking his head, he carried the pot with both hands and returned to the greenhouse.

Whenever someone came out of the greenhouse to scoop snow and boil water, they could see Gao Tian and the others not far away.

Those snow-covered figures seemed to warn them about the consequences of causing trouble at the Big Camphor Tree Base.

Since Gao Tian became this typical example, there had been no major disputes or conflicts in Greenhouse No. 2.

Next to this greenhouse is Greenhouse No. 1.

Yu Ming sat on the ground, on top of a waterproof mat, watching his brothers excitedly check the food that Dapao had just sent over.

"Captain, let me apply the medicine for you!" said the short young man next to him, picking up the bruise cream that Dapao had also sent over.

Seemingly in a good mood, the short young man commented while picking up the medicine bottle, "Captain, I think Director Li from the Big Camphor Tree Base is really nice. Not only did he directly make us extra staff and issue this month's food subsidies, but he also specially sent us these medicines. He's really great!"

Yu Ming smiled and said, "Remember this, Xiao Meng: sometimes, don't act purely on impulse. If I had fought back then, would we have this result now? Let's just follow the rules honestly here."

"I understand," Xiao Meng nodded repeatedly.

"Alright, then," Yu Ming took off his coat and then his short-sleeved shirt, turning his back to the short man, Xiao Meng.

Because when Gao Tian beat him, he mainly protected his stomach and head, Gao Tian primarily kicked his back.

Now his back was covered with green and red bruises.

Seeing the injuries, Xiao Meng's smile slowly faded; these were the cost for the captain.

Pouring the bruise cream into his palm, Xiao Meng rubbed it hot before applying it to Yu Ming's bruised back.

"Hiss—" As the medicine touched the wound, the pain made him furrow his brows.

"It's okay, keep applying the medicine," Yu Ming indicated it was fine, letting the young man continue.

Xiao Meng, noticing the captain frowning, tried to be gentler while applying the medicine.

Looking at this greenhouse with almost ten times less people than the neighboring one, Yu Ming felt the space was somewhat empty and the air less oppressive.

He wore a faint smile, filled with a beautiful hope for the future.

......

Li Yu was sleepless, without warning.

That night, he suddenly found himself unable to sleep.

Lying in bed for nearly an hour, his eyes shut tight, yet terrifying images kept appearing in his mind.

Corpses lay everywhere; the world seemed bathed in blood, with many people standing behind him, but before him was a mountain of zombie corpses. The sky was red, and the ground black.

The intense colors assaulted his brain with strong stimuli.

Suddenly, a face appeared; seeing this face in his mind, Li Yu's eyes flew open.

His gaze was filled with a killing intent, hatred.

His eyes, like those of a demon god, were filled with a bloodthirsty aura.

"Guan! Chong! Jin!" Li Yu murmured each word through gritted teeth.

In the previous life, he had thought that the only person he could trust, his life-and-death friend,

unexpectedly betrayed him, leaving Li Yu to be devoured by countless zombies.

Bite by bite, they dismembered his body.

He could still feel the pain of his body being torn apart, and that horrific scene tormented him.

The killing intent in his eyes seemed to become tangible.

......

Much time passed.

Whoosh—

Accompanied by a heavy breath, Li Yu stood up.

He couldn't sleep anyway, and instead of lying in bed till dawn, he decided to find something to do.

Li Yu got up, dressed, took a pack of cigarettes, a bottle of wine, and rummaged through a small storeroom to find a bag of broad beans. Checking the expiration date, he noticed it had expired half a month ago.

He tore open the package, sniffed a piece, and it seemed edible, so he stuffed it into his pants pocket.

Putting on his shoes and socks, wearing a hat, he took a crossbow and some arrows from behind the door, thought for a moment, then tucked a handgun in his waist.

Midnight.

The entire villa was quiet.

Li Yu descended to the basement, avoiding turning on the lights, using a flashlight to illuminate the gym equipment, then looked around.

He continued down to the second floor of the basement.

The room in the far corner.

This room was a meditation room Li Yu built.

The room wasn't too big or too small, about twenty square meters, with walls connected to virtual projections capable of displaying beautiful scenes.

There was only a meditation cushion in the center, with nothing else, making the space look very sparse.

Tap tap tap—

Li Yu walked in.

He then locked the door from inside, checked the room, and walked to an inconspicuous corner of the wall, pressing a spot.

Rumble—

A section of the wall suddenly moved.

Below appeared the entrance to a staircase.