Weiyang, nestled in the western frontier of Province H in the central-western region of Huaxia, was once a modest county town. Owing to its history of birthing prominent figures and its uniquely picturesque landscapes, it had grown into a well-known tourist destination.
The Weiyang Survivors' Settlement, as the name suggests, was a haven built by the survivors of Weiyang after the advent of the new world. Located southeast of Weiyang County, the settlement stood atop a plateau, just five kilometers from the county center. The village was connected to the outside world by a narrow, three-meter-wide cement road, and its surrounding hills, cloaked in meager soil, bore nothing but wild grass.
Thanks to the natural defense provided by its elevated terrain, the settlement rarely faced attacks from zombies or mutant beasts. It was this geographical advantage that allowed the survivors to barely cling to life, eventually gaining a foothold amidst the chaos. In the early days of the apocalypse, the population was no more than a few hundred. But as time passed, more survivors from across Weiyang sought refuge, swelling the number to nearly five thousand.
Fortunately, the plateau was vast enough to accommodate this "immense" population. A naturally flowing artesian well with abundant output provided a steady water supply. Aside from the critical shortage of food, the settlement could still sustain its growing numbers.
The entire perimeter of the settlement was fortified by a five-meter-high stone wall, with only a single breach where the road from the county met the gate. This opening was sealed by two towering iron doors, sturdy and imposing. Day and night, guards kept watch along the walls and beside the gate to repel any possible intrusion by zombies or beasts.
Where there are people, there will inevitably be hierarchy—and the settlement was no exception. A select few rose to power, becoming the ruling elite.
At the helm of the settlement stood Cheng Qiyi, a third-tier Evolver and the de facto leader. Nearly forty years old, tall and imposing, Cheng had once served as the captain of the Criminal Investigation Division in Weiyang's public security bureau. In this new world where strength reigned supreme and order had crumbled, he had quickly ascended the ranks. As the only known third-tier Evolver in the settlement, it took him just half a year to consolidate his position as the most powerful figure around.
The governing body of the settlement was the Security Administration Committee, chaired naturally by Cheng Qiyi. The strongest armed force under his command was the Hunting Squad, composed exclusively of second-tier Evolvers. Their primary mission was to venture beyond the walls to scavenge for essential supplies—especially food.
Internal security and the defense of the settlement walls were managed by the Security Patrol, whose members were all first-tier Evolvers.
Hunting Squad members not only received fixed wages but also a share of whatever loot they brought back. In contrast, the Security Patrol was compensated solely with basic living necessities. Even so, being selected for the patrol was still a dream opportunity for most survivors.
After all, it is only human to fear death—not everyone was willing to face zombies and beasts outside the safety of the walls. A position on the patrol promised steady food and shelter. Who would turn that down?
By the time Luo Hou returned to the settlement, dusk had begun to fall. The two first-tier Evolvers guarding the gates greeted the returning scavengers casually, exchanging jests and killing time in boredom.
"Hey, look who's still breathing! Didn't expect you to make it back, loser. What, came back empty-handed again?"
Spotting Luo Hou approaching, one of the guards, average in height, his hair a tangled mess—shouted mockingly. Ridiculing the settlement's most notorious "deadbeat" had become something of a daily routine for some.
"Hah, I doubt it," the second guard chimed in, his skin darkened from long days in the sun. "Look at him—he's got a bit of color in his face today. I bet the loser got lucky out there. Might even have enough to keep from starving. Right, loser?"
"If he'd come back with nothing, he'd be sulking like someone who just lost his whole family. Look at him! Haha…"
The two burst into raucous laughter, nearly doubling over from the effort.
Luo Hou clenched his fists, his eyes narrowed at the jeering gatekeepers. Rage surged within him, but he forced himself to stay calm. He was no match for the two first-tier Evolvers—not yet. Starting a fight now would only earn him a beating.
"Revenge is a dish best served cold," he muttered inwardly. Though not a man of noble temperament, Luo Hou could bide his time. He wouldn't wait ten years, but he wouldn't strike prematurely either. Now that he had the Spirit Taming Ring, it wouldn't be long before he became an Evolver himself—one with a secret weapon: a Spirit Beast. When that day came, he'd make sure to repay these two fools with interest.
Expressionless, Luo Hou strode past the gate and into the settlement, heading straight for "Taste Supreme," a small eatery in the western quarter. He hadn't eaten all day and felt so faint with hunger that his chest nearly touched his back.
"Taste Supreme" was, as the name suggested, a restaurant. Though grand in title, it was merely a two-story building. The upstairs served as the owner's living quarters, while the ground floor consisted of a kitchen, a storeroom, and a modest forty-square-meter dining area with only seven or eight tables.
When Luo Hou stepped inside, only a few diners remained, their meals nearly finished. It was already past dinnertime. Behind the counter sat the proprietress, still graceful despite her years, idly trimming her nails. She barely looked up as she called out,
"Oh, Little Luo, you're back. Find yourself a seat… What'll it be today?"
"The usual. Stir-fried greens, a plate of mole rat meat, and give me extra rice—I'm starving today. And... a bottle of beer." He tossed two white crystals onto the counter.
To celebrate obtaining the Spirit Taming Ring, Luo Hou decided to splurge. In this world, a single bottle of beer costs a white crystal, the equivalent of an entire meal for most.
"Well, well, struck it rich today, did you?" The proprietress's eyes lit up. With a graceful flick of her fingers, the two white crystals vanished. Her sleight of hand was so swift that even Luo Hou, standing just a few feet away, failed to catch it.
"Heh, just got lucky. I'm still a useless nobody. Just making it back alive is good enough—hardly something to brag about. Don't tease me, Auntie."
"Don't sell yourself short, Little Luo. You've got potential—handsome and hardworking. Mark my words, your day will come."
She chuckled softly, her eyes glancing over him once more. Today, Luo Hou seemed... different. Gone was the air of listless defeat that had always clung to him. There was something subtle yet unmistakably changed in his demeanor.
"Then I'll borrow your good fortune," Luo Hou replied sincerely, meeting her gaze with gratitude.
In the entire settlement, the proprietress of "Taste Supreme" was one of the few who had never mocked him. More than once, when he'd returned empty-handed, she had even let him eat on credit.
He had once vowed to himself: if he ever rose from the ashes, he would repay her kindness tenfold. To those who offer me grace, I shall return it a hundredfold. To those who wrong me, I will repay them a thousandfold. That was Luo Hou's creed.
…
After his meal, Luo Hou packed up the remaining half plate of mole rat meat, bade the proprietress farewell, and made his way back to his lodging. During the day, amidst the chaos of the wild, he hadn't had time to reflect. Now, within the safety of the walls, he could finally begin to piece together everything that had happened.