The Whole Story

Mu Xiao, An Rongru, and Jian Hanyao sat on the sofa as Jian Hanyao began explaining the entire story behind the drastic changes in the villa district: how many New Humans were in the security team, how many neutral New Humans there were, and how many ordinary people had survived.

"On the first day the world changed, I happened to be online and learned the news immediately. I also had partial authority over the villa district's Main System, so I found out that chaos had broken out here too. That was why I quickly took safety measures."

Jian Hanyao recounted what had happened on the first day of the apocalypse. "But on the second day, that damned beast Song Tianhu led most of the security guards around to search for survivors. Under the excuse of fighting the monsters together, he used weapons to kill most of them and put on a hypocritical show for everyone. Yet some idiots actually believed in his goodwill, allowing him to quickly gather all the normal people in the villa district. But that damned animal was actually sending most of them to their deaths, using them to clear out the powerful monsters here. He even absorbed some of the special power left behind after those monsters died. By the third day, he had become the strongest person here. Most people didn't dare defy him. He even indulged those damned security guards as they committed evil everywhere. They even killed several women, and some men who couldn't stand it were brutally murdered as well. A few shameless bitches even threw themselves at them..."

The girl seemed as if she had swallowed gunpowder. The more she spoke, the angrier she became. Her delicate, lovely face twisted into a vicious expression, as though she wanted to chop those people into mincemeat.

Very quickly, Mu Xiao and An Rongru understood why the girl harbored such deep hatred.

"Those worthless pieces of shit actually set their sights on me! If I hadn't been prepared, if I hadn't realized that the outside world had already fallen into chaos, and if I hadn't noticed that dead beast's abnormal behavior through the villa district's Main System, I might have left with him. Instead, I hid at home and prepared for the worst. At first, weapons and equipment could still be used. Those idiots' gear and weapons weren't as good as mine, so they didn't dare cause trouble. But after the third day, no machinery could be used. Those idiots tried to come after me again. Fortunately, I had taken out the antiques my father had collected as weapons long ago. Otherwise, those lowly bastards would have had the chance to take advantage of me..."

Jian Hanyao was like an enraged little tigress. Her eyes flashed as she clenched her pearly teeth, a cold glint shooting from her gaze.

"Antique weapons?" Mu Xiao understood why machinery had failed, but he did not understand what kind of "antique weapons" had remained unaffected.

Jian Hanyao disdained answering Mu Xiao. An Rongru hurriedly acted as the mediator and explained, "My husband liked collecting firearms from the previous century when he was alive. Unlike most modern weapons, which have been converted into energy weapons, Han Yao probably used the firearms in the basement to protect herself."

"Mom understands me best." Jian Hanyao affectionately hooked her arm around An Rongru's, gave Mu Xiao a provocative look, then complained to An Rongru, "But after they found out our family had those firearms as collectibles, they kept their eyes on our house. I couldn't even go out to hunt monsters..."

Mu Xiao could not be bothered to argue with a little girl. He thought to himself, I had forgotten how convenient these early firearms were. Since they had no mechanical components and were simply weapons made of metal, they gave many humans hope of evolving into New Humans. But once evolution entered its middle stage, these firearms could barely penetrate the defenses of Mutant Monsters, much less harm New Humans who had mastered abilities.

He knew that the Evolution Era was steadily moving toward the rhythm of an entirely new world. In the end, those firearms would only become truly useless antiques.

"So you stayed here alone and formed a standoff with them?" Mu Xiao asked Jian Hanyao calmly.

"Why should I tell you, you—"

Jian Hanyao pursed her lips. Just as those extremely disrespectful words were about to leave her mouth, Mu Xiao slightly raised his cold, sharp eyes. It was as though two blades had stabbed toward her. Terror ran through her body, and she swallowed every curse she had been about to utter.

"Han Yao, what happened afterward?" An Rongru eased the tension between them. She smiled bitterly to herself, knowing that her daughter had already locked horns with Mu Xiao.

"How could I possibly stand off against them? It's just that the villa district has now split into three factions. One is made up of the security team. They have the largest number, with more than thirty ability users. The second is made up of some bodyguards and staff. They have the fewest, with only around ten ability users. The final faction is made up of the villa district's owners. They have more than twenty ability users."

Jian Hanyao glared at Mu Xiao with fear and anger, unable to understand why this man was so terrifying.

"Mm." Mu Xiao fell into thought. He understood that the ability users Jian Hanyao mentioned were actually New Humans. There were fifty to sixty New Humans in the villa district altogether. Before knowing what abilities these people possessed, it truly would not be wise to act rashly.

After thinking for a while, Mu Xiao asked, "How did you learn about their situation?"

"Some of the owners are on good terms with my mother, so they told me certain things. Besides, they also want to recruit me and make me a new fighting force on their side." This time, Jian Hanyao answered Mu Xiao's question honestly.

It seemed there were quite a few smart people. All of them had the idea of turning the villa district into a base.

At that moment, Mu Xiao understood their intentions. The villa district built by An Rongru had a beautiful environment, complete facilities, and was located on the border between the city and the outskirts. Its population was neither too dense nor too sparse. It could serve as a foothold where they could slowly hunt monsters, strengthen their forces, seize territories piece by piece, and compete for dominance...

"Why didn't you join the owners' faction?" Mu Xiao said. "The fact that they could live in this high-end villa district meant they were capable, successful people with brains. Their intelligence should not be lower than those security guards'. And they have more than twenty New Humans. They can barely contend with the security faction. That is still much better than you guarding this place alone."

"Join them?" Jian Hanyao sneered. "Those owners claim they have connections with my mother, but in this world ruled by chaos and darkness, how much are connections worth? Right, money is useless trash now too! They think they can win my favor with information. In truth, they only want the firearms in the basement. They want to arm those survivors on a large scale, completely wipe out the security guards' faction, and then rule the villa district."

"Hmph, those idiots think I don't know anything. They want to win my favor, and I don't mind using them to get the information I want. I can also carve out a safe space for myself while their three factions fight each other to the death. Then, in the end, I'll wipe them all out in one stroke."

There was no sunlight on Jian Hanyao's pure and youthful face, only darkness and a faint, vicious sneer.

"Han Yao, don't let your thinking become so extreme." An Rongru loved her daughter dearly, but she was worried about the change in her personality.

"Mom, this world is different from the old one. Our status and wealth are useless now. From now on, we can only rely on our own strength. Before, every night when I thought that you might not come back, I hated myself for being powerless. Now that you're back, I have to work even harder to gain strength. I want to protect you, Mom, and keep those bastards from setting their sights on us!"

Jian Hanyao's eyes were like cold lightning, sparks shooting from them as she stared sharply at the outsider, Mu Xiao. She clearly regarded him as a hypothetical enemy.

This girl is incredible. No wonder she would become a powerhouse in the future. Mu Xiao admired Jian Hanyao's understanding of and adaptability to the drastic changes in the world. Unlike other girls, she was not filled with panicked fear and helplessness. Instead, she had an astonishing ability to accept reality. Most importantly, she possessed the determination to become strong.

"You're not the only New Human. Mom is one too. In the future, Mom can protect herself and protect you as well. I don't want you to put yourself under so much pressure or live so painfully. As long as we can survive, that's enough." An Rongru was moved by her daughter's words. Her expression softened as she pulled Jian Hanyao into her embrace by the shoulder.

"This is our home. Those bastards want to take it from us? Dream on." Jian Hanyao spoke with fierce stubbornness.

"You can't contend with them right now. If they truly go to war, the first person they will eliminate will be you, an unstable factor—especially since you possess weapons that Old Humans can use." Mu Xiao felt that her thinking was still somewhat naive. He said plainly, "Even if they don't come after you, if the survivors are incited to come here and seize your weapons, then in their helplessness and fear, once people find something that can protect their lives, they will become desperate. At that point, you will be isolated and helpless. Unless you kill everyone—but that depends on whether you have enough bullets."

Mu Xiao had no idea that the basement truly contained a large amount of firearms and ammunition, nor did he understand Jian Hanyao's ruthlessness.

"Don't worry. There are enough bullets to kill thousands of people. If they push me too far, forget those few hundred survivors—even the security guards and the owners, I'll kill them all." A bloodthirsty flush rose on Jian Hanyao's tender cheeks, making her look like a demon wearing the guise of an innocent young girl.

"Rongru, did you really give birth to this daughter?" Mu Xiao asked with utmost seriousness.

"She is like this, but as long as you treat her well, she'll treat you ten times better." An Rongru naturally understood what Mu Xiao meant. She also knew very well what her daughter liked: excitement, bloodshed, and violence. That was why she had developed such a strange personality.

"Don't expect me to treat you well. And don't call my mom so intimately." Jian Hanyao raised her delicate brows and spoke in great dissatisfaction.

An Rongru's cheeks reddened. She hurriedly held the troublesome girl in her arms more tightly.

"You raised your combat power yourself, right?" Mu Xiao stared solemnly at Jian Hanyao. "That means you've killed people before and seen bloody scenes, hasn't it?"

"Of course. On the first day, when I learned that chaos had erupted in the villa district, I went out that afternoon and killed those monster people." Jian Hanyao lifted her fair chin with immense pride, as though she had accomplished something extraordinary. But An Rongru, who was holding her, was already trembling with fear. She was simply... simply too bold, completely lawless.

This girl is truly fierce. Mu Xiao secretly broke out in a cold sweat.

She was completely unafraid that the chaos in the world might only be temporary. She had instead guessed that the world would remain chaotic for a long time and enter an apocalyptic disaster, which was why she dared to act without fear.

"Han Yao! How could you be so reckless? If the world returned to normal in a short time and those people could be healed, then you would be a murderer!" An Rongru released Jian Hanyao and glared angrily at her lawless daughter with beautiful eyes.

"I could say it was self-defense. And as long as the world returns to normal, if I killed people in self-defense, money could settle it. What's there to be afrai—"

Smack!

Jian Hanyao had only spoken halfway, completely unconcerned, when An Rongru slapped her in anger. Then she caught Jian Hanyao and hugged her again, breaking into tears first as she choked out, "I don't want my daughter to become a cruel person... This world is already terrifying... I don't want my daughter to become a terrifying stranger too..."