Finally, the network cable connected after staring at it intently, whew... Uploaded at last, please throw me a monthly pass...

Upon entering the base city, all one could see were rows upon rows of towering structures. The streets were clean, bustling with busy people coming and going; no one had a spare moment to stop and observe Ye Chen and his group.

After arriving outside the city, Bailong regretfully set down Fan Xue from his back. The brute seemed to linger slightly, causing Yue Heng, standing nearby, to roll his eyes dramatically.

Fan Xue glanced gratefully at Bailong, then immediately looked up at Ye Chen, whose back was turned to her. Her eyes held a flicker of apprehension. She managed a strained smile for the group before turning and slinking away. With her looks and figure, finding another strong team would hardly be a challenge.

Ye Chen watched the figure wandering off into the distance, slowly withdrawing his gaze. His expression was placid. After continuing to walk through the streets for a while, he stopped in front of a hotel and went inside. After such a long period of exertion and running about, everyone felt a pang of hunger. The scent of rice and alcohol made their appetites stir restlessly.

The golden, magnificent luxury, the clean and spacious lobby—compared to the ruined, filthy buildings outside—felt immensely comfortable. Led by a pretty girl, they were escorted to a private room on the second floor.

“The menu!” the pretty girl offered, handing it over.

Ye Chen casually took it and scanned the contents. Prices ranged from low to high: Steamed Ao-beast Tail, Braised Insect Filaments, Sautéed Snake Slices, and various other dishes. However, even the highest-tier dishes were only Level Four, requiring hundreds of bowls to satisfy his stomach. He immediately put the menu down and said, “Go fetch a few sturdy fellows. I brought my own ingredients; have them come over to collect them.”

The pretty girl was momentarily stunned, then nodded obediently and retreated, not daring to disobey.

After the girl left, Ye Chen flicked his palm, opening his talisman space, and sliced off half of the still-naked Riven Leopard, pulling it out... and dropping it onto the floor nearby. Not long after, the pretty girl pushed the door open again, followed by several burly men, all odd-job workers from the kitchen.

The pretty girl stared at the suddenly appearing Riven Leopard in the room, a strange look crossing her face, but she said nothing more. Better to have fewer problems. She said to the men beside her, “This is it.”

The men looked at the half-carcass on the floor with surprise, feeling curious but daring not to ask further questions. They rushed forward, each grabbing an end to lift it up. As they lifted, they were immediately astonished. They felt that this carcass, only the size of a child’s, weighed as much as a mountain. It took all their strength, leaving them drenched in sweat just to heave it up.

As the men were about to leave, Ye Chen spoke coldly, “Tell your manager to keep an eye on this. I know exactly how heavy this piece is. If even an ounce is missing later, I will hold the entire kitchen staff responsible!”

The pretty girl flinched, and the big men beside her trembled, glancing fearfully at Ye Chen. They didn't doubt his words in the slightest. Merely being able to eat at this hotel and bringing such a precious piece of flesh was enough to signal considerable strength.

“Please, may I ask,” the pretty girl asked timidly, “Do you want it steamed, or braised?”

“Bring a portion of everything,” Ye Chen replied casually.

The pretty girl quickly noted it down, then turned and left with the strong men. Bailong withdrew his gaze from the girl and chuckled lightly, “That little girl was quite scared.”

Yue Heng poured himself a cup of tea and said flatly, “We have to do this. Although these hotels have the scale of four-star establishments, the quality of the staff is far worse. They would absolutely try to steal bites if they could.”

In peacetime, chefs in star-rated hotels wore white gloves and used plastic wrappers. But don't expect that from roadside stalls and small eateries. If the servers lack quality, they’ll taste the food themselves while serving. The prettier the dishes look in these small places, the dirtier the preparation; much of it is plated using hands that haven't washed after using the restroom.

Zhuge Fan sighed, “I never imagined I’d actually enter a place of this caliber before. Now that the apocalypse is here, I actually have the chance.”

Bailong laughed, “Who didn’t? When the apocalypse first struck, I thought my life was over, regretting fiercely that I was still a virgin. Who knew life would turn out so comfortable now? Food, drink, and beautiful women.”

This was unexpected yet logical... Where there are people, there are classes, and classes symbolize different levels of treatment. In peaceful times, some starve on the streets while others toil day and night, earning only a thousand dollars a month, while the rich spend tens of thousands on just the food, grooming, and vet bills for a single pet dog.

And Ye Chen and his group? They were the nouveau riche of the apocalypse.

As Ye Chen and the others entered the hotel, within the headquarters of the Hohhot Base City, in a clean room.

A woman sat in a spacious high-backed chair, draped in leopard skin, exuding a wild and spirited demeanor. She had a melon-seed face and bright eyes. Beneath the leopard skin, a proud pair of breasts pushed forward, and her slender waist could be held in one hand. If Ye Chen were present, he would surely recognize this young woman as the leader of the female squad he had forcefully subdued back at the temple—the Second Miss!

Currently, she occupied the Commander-in-Chief’s seat.

She had two mothers: one biological, one stepmother. Her stepmother had a daughter, the base city's Eldest Miss, named Jing... but she had gone missing with her father at Dragon Mountain a month ago.

She propped her chin in her hand, her eyes gazing blankly, lost in thought. After a long silence, she sighed softly. Without her father and older sister to keep them in check, the major senior commanders and ministers below were causing trouble, and many guilds were eyeing her position as Commander-in-Chief.

So tiring...

Having relied on her father’s protection before, she had grown restless over the past month due to the stream of bad news. She understood clearly that as a woman, it was nearly impossible for her to manage the ambitions of the warlord-level bosses beneath her in this brutal apocalypse.

“Daddy, Sister, where are you...” Her eyes showed a touch of longing. Thinking of Dragon Mountain, she couldn't help but recall the shameful retreat that day... for her, who loved conquering men, to have been forcefully subdued—it was an absolute humiliation!

Thinking of this, she gritted her teeth inwardly. “One day, I will find that fellow. I’ve been too busy reorganizing the base city recently to investigate you. Hmph, no matter if you’re a Bull Head or Serpent God, you will submit to this Young Lady!”

Just then, a girl rushed in from outside. She was also one of the women Ye Chen had forcefully subdued at the temple. She was quite pretty, with eyes that seemed to hold water, extremely alluring. But currently, that charming face which captivated countless men was filled with anxiety. She rushed in and immediately said, “Miss! That Nangong Guild is acting up again. They want to carve out a territory within the base city and proclaim themselves Lords!”

Jing Yi suppressed her thoughts. A chilling sharpness appeared on her delicate brows. “Hmph, this Nangong Guild only bullies the weak and fears the strong. If they have the nerve, they should leave the base city and establish their own territory. If he dares to proclaim his own domain, everyone else will follow suit, and my position as Commander-in-Chief will lose all authority! Go dispatch troops; you must suppress this, no matter what!” As she spoke, a trace of decisive resolution emerged, faintly echoing her father’s imposing manner.

The girl quickly nodded and asked, “The Nangong Guild has five Superhuman Warriors. The base city military still has eight Superhuman Warriors available for deployment; the rest are suppressing unrest elsewhere. Should we deploy all of them over there?”

“Yes!” Jing Yi nodded heavily.

After the girl left, the coldness in Jing Yi’s eyes slowly receded. She gazed out the window toward the distance and sighed softly...

At the hotel.

Ye Chen and his group chatted casually. Soon, the dishes arrived, all cooked by chefs of international standard. The flavor was exponentially better than their own outdoor barbecues—steamed, roasted, chilled, they had every variety.

Ye Chen and the others ate with great relish.

Suddenly—

A chorus of clamoring voices arose from outside. Immediately afterward, the private room door was pushed open, and the noise grew louder, drawing closer to Ye Chen and his party’s dining table. The pretty girl waiting by the door, ready to take orders for refills, remained still, filled with curiosity.

Ye Chen frowned and said to her, “We are dining. Don't let any extraneous people in.”

The pretty girl startled, then realized the intruders were not friends of Ye Chen’s group. She quickly walked over, bowed, and apologized, “Sir, we have guests in here. If you have business, please wait outside…”

The intruder was not one person, but three. The leader was a remarkably handsome young man who could easily pass for a cross-dresser with a little makeup. A hint of arrogance shadowed his features. Seeing the little waitress prattling on in front of him, he slapped her across the face.

Slap!

The crisp sound echoed in the private room... The laughter and conversation of Ye Chen’s group stopped instantly. They put down their chopsticks and turned to look at the young man who had barged in.

The pretty girl was dizzy from the blow, stars swimming before her eyes... She stumbled, nearly falling, and a trace of blood oozed from the corner of her mouth. She stared blankly at the young man, stunned senseless.

The youth glanced at her dismissively. “New here? I told your manager this room is my exclusive reservation. You actually dare to bring guests here? You must be tired of living.”

The pretty girl trembled, her voice laced with fear. “I, I didn't know. Please, please let me go. I won’t dare again, woo-hoo...” Tears started streaming down her face from fright.

“Scram!” The youth’s eyes showed impatience; he hated hearing women cry the most.

The pretty girl’s face flushed crimson. Although no one was looking directly at her, she felt as if everyone was watching her humiliating spectacle. This scrutiny made her feel utterly ashamed; she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into, and she quickly scurried out of the room.

The youth then turned his attention to Ye Chen’s group at the dining table and said coldly, “You have one minute to clear this table. Take your leftover bones and get out!”

There was no room for negotiation in his tone.

After speaking, the youth’s eyes drifted to Ye Zhu across the table. He saw her refined features, tinged with a hint of reserve and tenacity, like a pure lotus blooming alone in the mud. He looked her up and down with appreciation. “Little lady, not bad at all. My name is Nangong Qiao, the future heir of the Nangong Guild. You don’t need to clean the table; come over here and let me take a proper look.” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian to cast recommendation votes and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)