Ash drifted lazily in the wind like gray snow, settling around the RV in soft spirals. The smell of charred rot lingered, but the group was long used to it. It no longer bothered them.
They sat scattered across and around the vehicle like spoiled heirs on a countryside picnic.
Hao Yun lay on the roof, one arm hanging over the edge.
Huo Xu was half-asleep beside him.
Wei Xuming was shamelessly leaning too close to Mu Xia.
Qin Yao drank quietly.
Li Qiao typed lazily on his laptop, though there was no internet.
And Gu Mian sat at the center, straw between her lips, eyes half-closed.
Then—
Engines.
Not one.
Multiple.
The low rumble grew louder.
Everyone's eyes shifted slightly, but no one moved.
A convoy of seven vehicles rolled down the road and slowed.
They stopped directly in front of the RV.
Dust settled.
Silence.
Inside the middle SUV, Boss Xu leaned forward in his seat, eyes narrowing.
"Boss," one of his men muttered. "They look… clean."
Boss Xu squinted harder.
Clean was an understatement.
Their clothes were spotless.
Their skin radiant.
Not a scratch.
Not a stain.
Not a trace of exhaustion.
They were lounging.
Lounging.
In the apocalypse.
His lips curved.
"They must have backing," one man whispered.
"Or supplies," another added greedily.
Boss Xu's gaze slid over Gu Mian.
Then Mu Xia.
Then Luo Yuhua.
His pupils darkened.
"Open the door."
He stepped out slowly, adjusting his leather jacket like a tyrant stepping onto his court stage.
His men followed.
Thirty of them.
Armed.
Arrogant.
Overconfident.
Boss Xu cleared his throat loudly.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen."
No one responded.
Qin Yao didn't even look at him.
Boss Xu's smile twitched.
"I am Boss Xu," he declared grandly. "A lightning ability user. An esteemed Level Two powerhouse."
Hao Yun yawned.
Boss Xu's eye twitched.
"I would be glad," he continued, spreading his arms theatrically, "if you would bring yourselves to join our humble group."
Qin Yao finally turned his head slightly.
"Not interested."
And went back to sipping his juice.
One of the convoy men snorted.
Another whispered, "They've got guts."
Boss Xu's face darkened.
When had he ever been ignored?
Since the apocalypse began, he had built himself a kingdom.
He looted villages.
He claimed women.
He executed dissenters.
He styled himself as "Lord Xu."
And these children—these glowing, smug children—were ignoring him?
His eyes narrowed again at the three women.
Too beautiful.
Too clean.
Perfect additions.
His voice hardened.
"You three ladies are mine."
The group finally paused their sipping.
The convoy men began whistling.
"Boss has good taste!"
"Hail the boss!"
"Boss, can I pick second?"
Laughter erupted.
Wei Xuming looked at Mu Xia slowly.
Mu Xia raised an eyebrow.
"Did he just…?" she asked lazily.
"Yeah," Wei Xuming replied. "I think he did."
Boss Xu pointed at the men.
"The rest of you are good looking too. You can choose among my men who to serve."
The convoy roared with laughter again.
Behind the RV, Li Qiao finally closed his laptop.
Hao Yun sat up.
Huo Xu opened one eye.
Qin Yao lowered his bottle slowly.
Gu Mian tilted her head slightly.
For a long second, they all just stared.
Boss Xu mistook it for fear.
He smirked.
"See? Smart decision. You'll live comfortably under this father's protection."
Qin Yao finally stood up.
"Please leave," he said calmly. "Thank you for your invitation. We are not interested."
The dismissal was polite.
Cold.
Absolute.
Boss Xu's face twisted.
"You punks," he snarled.
He snapped his fingers.
Thirty guns were raised in unison.
Metal clicked.
Boss Xu's lightning crackled faintly around his hand for dramatic effect.
"You wouldn't take a toast until you drink a forfeit," he spat. "This father already gave you life-saving grace. How dare you reject it?"
He pointed at Gu Mian.
"I'll kill the men first. Then we'll talk."
Silence.
Then—
Ming Baixu stretched lazily.
"Ah," he sighed. "I was hoping lunch would last longer."
Bu Tong stood up casually.
"Two seconds?" he asked.
"Two seconds," Qin Yao replied.
The girls stood up.
Boss Xu's eyes gleamed.
"See? They know their place—"
The three women walked straight into the RV.
Boss Xu burst into laughter.
"Smart girls! Protecting yourselves!"
His men laughed with him.
Then—
In less than two seconds—
Ming Baixu and Bu Tong had materialized a number of guns.
High-caliber rifles.
Silencers already attached.
Distributed with surgical efficiency.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Boss Xu blinked.
"Wha—"
Gunfire erupted.
Controlled.
Precise.
No wasted bullets.
No panic.
Thirty armed men didn't even finish lifting their guns properly before blood sprayed the asphalt.
One man tried to shout.
His skull snapped back.
Another attempted to fire.
Bullet through the throat.
Three fell simultaneously.
Five dropped in a line.
One ran—
Hao Yun flicked a small blade of condensed darkness.
The man collapsed mid-step.
Eight seconds.
It was over.
Thirty bodies lay bleeding across the road.
Boss Xu stood frozen.
His lightning flickered weakly.
His mind couldn't process what he'd just seen.
They hadn't used abilities.
They hadn't panicked.
They hadn't shouted.
They had executed his men like swatting flies.
He dropped to his knees.
"I—I didn't mean—"
Mu Xia stepped out of the RV.
She cracked her knuckles.
"Oh no," she said pleasantly. "You absolutely meant it."
Boss Xu began trembling.
"I was joking! Just joking! You're all strong! I can join you! I'll serve you!"
Wei Xuming laughed.
"Serve us? With what? Your lightning sparkler?"
Boss Xu crawled backward.
"I'm Level Two! I'm valuable!"
Ming Baixu crouched in front of him.
"So are zombie dogs."
Boss Xu's breathing turned ragged.
He finally understood.
These weren't vacationing heirs.
They were monsters.
"Please," he whispered. "Let me go."
Gu Mian finally stood.
She walked forward slowly.
Calm.
Elegant.
Boss Xu looked up at her—and froze.
There was no anger in her eyes.
Just mild curiosity.
"Tell me," she said softly, "when you call yourself emperor… do you actually believe it?"
He swallowed.
"I—I built a base—"
"You kidnap women."
He flinched.
She tilted her head.
"You pointed guns at my people."
"I—"
"You announced ownership."
Her voice remained gentle.
That frightened him more.
Mu Xia grabbed him by the collar.
"Boss," she said cheerfully, "permission to test endurance?"
Gu Mian smiled faintly.
"Don't kill him."
Boss Xu's eyes widened.
Mu Xia punched him.
Hard.
Ribs cracked.
He screamed.
Wei Xuming winced.
"Oof. That's going to bruise."
"Oh no," Mu Xia corrected sweetly. "It's going to break."
For the next several minutes, they dismantled him piece by piece.
Not chaotic.
Not savage.
Methodical.
Break.
Pause.
Heal.
Throw.
Break again.
Xu Qian stepped forward.
Light flowed from his palm.
Bones reset.
Organs stabilized.
Skin sealed—mostly.
Boss Xu sobbed.
"Why?!"
Hao Yun shrugged.
"You wanted a harem."
Ming Baixu leaned closer.
"Congratulations. You're the entertainment now."
They tossed him aside again.
Gu Mian finally approached.
She crouched.
"Live," she said softly. "Remember this feeling."
She stood.
Xu Qian healed him again—just enough.
They dragged him to the roadside.
Threw him into the dirt.
Alive.
Humiliated.
Breathing.
Burning with resentment.
His eyes filled with hatred.
He would remember.
Good.
Gu Mian glanced back once.
Satisfied.
"Let's go," she said.
They reloaded calmly.
Disposed of bodies efficiently.
Within minutes, the road looked almost clean again.
The team climbed back onto the RV.
Wei Xuming sighed dramatically.
"Well. That ruined the vibe."
Mu Xia sat down.
"Next time, we shoot before lunch."
Ming Baixu nodded seriously.
"Yes. Rule number one: No idiots during juice time."
Hao Yun leaned back.
"At least it was quick."
"One-dimensional arrogance."
Engine started.
Gu Mian took her seat.
"Exactly," she said. "That mentality will be common. Power without evolution. Strength without thought."
Mu Xia crossed her arms.
"They're the most dangerous kind."
"No," Gu Mian corrected softly. "They're the easiest kind."
The RV rolled forward.
Behind them, Boss Xu lay in the dirt.
Alive.
Broken.
Seething.
He would survive.
He would rebuild.
He would grow stronger.
And one day—
He would remember the moment he mistook lions for ornaments.
Inside the RV, Ming Baixu stretched.
"So… lunch part two?"
Everyone nodded.
And the apocalypse continued.