When Lin Yi said the situation might grow even more dire, it was as if everyone in the hall had been doused with cold water. They fell silent at once.
Zhou Jianjun's expression was grave. He seemed to have thought of something, but wasn't quite sure, so he asked Lin Yi:
"Xiao Yi, didn't you already scare off those Abyssal Wolves outside? They didn't dare come any closer. Are you saying they haven't given up, and only retreated for now?"
"Exactly."
Lin Yi nodded. He first turned to Chen Yu, paused, then looked at Zhou Yuxuan.
"A Yu... Never mind, class monitor, do you remember that biographical book we read about the Oroqen and Evenki people? The one on our recommended extracurricular reading list in our second year of high school?"
"I remember."
As the top student in their class, Zhou Yuxuan naturally treated every recommended book as required reading.
He furrowed his brow as he recalled the story. Soon, his expression grew serious too. "You mean those Abyssal Wolves might act like the wolves in that book during a hunt? When the pack isn't confident, it surrounds its prey without attacking, waiting until it has enough numbers before launching a full assault?"
"Right."
Lin Yi sighed. "So I'm making a bold guess: they won't just let us hide here indefinitely. If I'm wrong and they never come, then fine. But if the Abyssal Wolves do launch a full-scale attack, even if we manage to hold them off, most of the other survivors in Hongfu Tower probably won't make it."
"So we need to make the most of this new window of opportunity: strengthen our defenses and gather supplies."
Lin Yi's gaze swept across the people in the hall.
He'd keenly noticed that everyone was gradually getting used to taking orders from him.
And that was exactly the effect he wanted.
"I suggest we split into three groups."
Lin Yi cleared his throat.
"Zhou Yuxuan will lead the first group, along with A Yu, Li Jie, and a few others."
Lin Yi picked out several people who were quick on their feet. "Your group will thoroughly search the first three floors of Hongfu Tower. Check everywhere except Fujin Hall, where we're staying now: the other banquet halls, private rooms, kitchen, storerooms, and staff lounge. If it's not locked, collect everything useful you can find and bring it all here to Fujin Hall!"
He thought it over, then made a point of emphasizing, "Remember the recommendations in the official emergency manual: food and water come first! Unopened drinks, bottled water, rice, flour, cooking oil, dry goods, canned food, seasonings... Bring it all. Bring perishable food too—we'll eat that first."
"Also, weapons and tools. All kinds of kitchen knives, fire axes and hoses from the hallways, fire extinguishers, steel pipes and wrenches from the maintenance room... Don't leave anything with decent weight and strength behind."
"And medical supplies. Hotels this large usually keep first-aid kits at the front desk..."
As Lin Yi spoke, he noticed the walkie-talkies clipped to the waists of the two hotel employees they'd rescued and added, "See if you can find more walkie-talkies for the staff, too. Oh, and most important, an emergency generator! Big hotels usually have one in case the power suddenly goes out."
Zhou Yuxuan nodded. Then, as if something had occurred to him, he asked hesitantly:
"Um... None of this belongs to us. What if hotel employees hiding in the other private rooms or halls hear us and come out to stop us?"
"It's fine."
Chen Yu, who'd been listening quietly, suddenly spoke up.
"My fourth uncle owns this hotel. He's abroad and hasn't come back. I'm giving you permission—take whatever you need."
"Huh... A Yu, you never mentioned that. Is there anything else around here we can take whatever we want from...?" Lin Yi teased Chen Yu, then raised his eyebrows at Zhou Yuxuan. "You heard Boss Chen. Take whatever you need."
After joking, Lin Yi worried Zhou Yuxuan might still feel uneasy, so he reassured him.
"Don't feel bad about it. This should count as a necessary emergency measure. Once things are safe, the owner can come to us and we'll compensate him for his losses."
"Fair enough... What matters is getting through this first." Zhou Yuxuan wasn't rigid. "Don't worry. I know what's important. We'll search every last corner."
Lin Yi gave a slight nod to show he understood, then turned to the women.
"Second group."
"Let's see... Ye Qingyu will be in charge."
Lin Yi remembered that in his previous life, Ye Qingyu had spent a long time handling logistics at a shelter. She probably had some talent for it—at the very least, she'd never messed anything up.
But that was in my previous life. Right now, Ye Qingyu's still just a kid. She'll need someone to help her...
As he thought this, his gaze fell on the female office worker he'd rescued earlier.
"Um... Miss, what's your name? What do you do for work?"
"My name's Li Ling. I'm an assistant manager in the finance department at Changyang Group." The woman hurried to answer when Lin Yi asked.
Of everyone in Fujin Hall, only she and the two hotel employees were outsiders, so she felt especially uneasy.
"All right, Sister Li, work with Ye Qingyu. And... Mom, Auntie, Su Xiao—you'll be in the second group too. You'll handle sorting supplies and logistics."
"Put everything everyone brings back in the small lounge next to Fujin Hall. We'll use it as a temporary storeroom. Sort everything by category and, if possible, keep a basic inventory so it'll be easier to manage and distribute."
Li Ling immediately agreed. Ye Qingyu felt nervous, but clenched her teeth, silently steeled herself, and nodded too.
"The third task is urgent!"
Lin Yi turned toward the banquet hall entrance. "We need to block off the spiral staircase connecting the second floor to the first. It's the most direct route and the one monsters are most likely to use to break in."
He walked to the window and pointed toward the Abyssal Wolves still prowling along the edge of the plaza below, glancing warily at Hongfu Tower from time to time.
"Even though they're scared off for now and don't dare approach, that's just a guess. We don't know how long the fear will last, either. So we have to seal off this passage and leave only one entrance and exit that we can control."
"Xiao Yi, tell us what to do."
Zhou Jianjun volunteered. This was clearly physical labor, which meant it was for the remaining adult men.
"I think we should completely block the spiral staircase with heavy objects."
"The rest of you will be the third group. Pile the heaviest, sturdiest things we can find at the staircase entrance. Make it so big monsters like the ones we saw online can't break through in a short time."
"At the same time..." Lin Yi changed tack. "Leave a narrow gap on the far right, where the staircase entrance hangs over open space. We can use a few round tables to make a movable door, and leave a simple rope ladder for getting in and out."
"A rope ladder..." Zhou Jianjun's eyes lit up. "Good idea! It's just like building a makeshift fortification in the army: we can advance or retreat as needed. Leave this to me. I'll make sure it's solid."
"Good. I trust you with this, Uncle."
Then Lin Yi turned to Lin Ruiheng.
"Lastly," Lin Yi said, looking at his uncle Lin Ruiheng, "once we've finished gathering most of our supplies, I need you to take a few people and contact the survivors in the other banquet halls and private rooms in the building."
"Don't go until we've sorted out our own supplies. That way, we can avoid chaos and people fighting over things."
"Tell them the basics of our situation. You can show them the video and explain who I am. Invite them to join us, or at least establish contact, share information and supplies, and defend ourselves together."
He stressed this with a serious expression. "But there's one condition: anyone who joins us has to follow our rules, accept the unified distribution of supplies, and obey orders."
After a brief pause, Lin Yi added, "Remember, safety comes first. Be sincere, but stand firm. We're willing to help others, but we're not doormats."
Lin Ruiheng nodded solemnly. "I know what matters. Once we're settled here, I'll take some people and go. Don't worry, Xiao Yi. Your uncle knows how to handle this sort of thing."
With the tasks assigned, everyone immediately sprang into action like clockwork.
Lin Yi picked up the bag containing three Source Energy Crystals and walked to a relatively secluded corner near the second-floor spiral staircase. He sat down cross-legged.
From there, he could watch what was happening on the first floor without getting in anyone's way.
The main reason he'd chosen this spot to cultivate was to make it look as if he was standing guard against an Abyssal Beast ambush, so everyone could feel at ease.
After watching quietly for a while and making sure everyone was working in an orderly fashion, Lin Yi looked away, took out a Spirit Shine Crystal, and crushed it in his hand to begin cultivating.
Having acted it out once, he no longer needed to deliberately put on an expression of pain. Geniuses are always different from ordinary people.
Strong willpower and adaptability were also forms of talent.
Whenever Li Jie or Zhang Haotian passed by Lin Yi carrying supplies, they instinctively softened their steps and gave him a little space, stealing a glance at him that mixed awe with curiosity.
Inside Fujin Hall, Ye Qingyu and Li Ling were sorting the bottled water, canned goods, and vacuum-packed food the others had gathered. They stacked everything neatly in one corner of the lounge.
Zhou Yuxuan and Chen Yu were still searching the floors above for supplies, their footsteps echoing through the empty hallways.
Everything was busy but orderly.
However, they had no idea that a message bomb sent out by Chen Yu's Magic Sound Number was spreading at an astonishing speed through the collapsing online world, unleashing a storm far greater than they—and even Lin Yi himself—could have imagined.
Before you continue