Li Xiaofei glanced at Ye Liuying. The situation had taken a complete turn. Moments ago, they had been shunned. Now, they were being invited to join.
Ye Liuying didn’t respond to Li Xiaofei’s questioning gaze. It was clear that this group revolved around Li Xiaofei. The men either followed him loyally or admired him unreservedly. Many of the women seemed utterly captivated by him. Ye Liuying felt her opinion didn’t matter much.
Moreover, she agreed with Li Xiaofei’s measured response and saw no need to interfere or offer advice.
The white-haired elder, Song Shiyu, noticing the hesitation, quickly interjected, “Ah, yes, yes! I nearly forgot something... Bring that fool out here!”
The crowd parted as a peculiar-looking young man, his body radiating formidable energy fluctuations, dragged someone forward at high speed. The person being dragged was none other than the previously arrogant and domineering bald Zhang Mingjun. His hands and feet were bound, and he didn’t resist. It was as if he had resigned himself to his fate.
“He’s one of the eight captains of our camp, a strength-type Extraordinary One. He’s done great service in the past, fighting against star beasts to protect the camp. People usually gave him some leeway because of that. But his arrogance has grown over time, and he started throwing his weight around, bullying others and extorting them. His behavior has caused constant chaos and complaints in the camp.”
“Our camp leader has always been soft-hearted, letting him off the hook for his contributions in protecting the camp. But today, this idiot crossed the line again and nearly drove away noble heroes. This time, we must teach him a lesson, and we ask you all to bear witness,” Song Shiyu explained with a mix of helplessness and determination.
Zhang Mingjun was quickly tied to a stone pillar. The two men who had dragged him here clearly held significant status as well. They stood on either side of the pillar. The short-haired man on the left flicked his wrist, and a fiery whip materialized in his hand, flames dancing along its length.
The whip lashed Zhang Mingjun’s body heavily, leaving a charred, bloody mark. Zhang Mingjun’s muscular frame convulsed violently. His taut muscles strained, his entire body arching like a drawn bowstring as a guttural growl escaped his throat.
At that moment, the long-haired man on the right, who had also dragged Zhang Mingjun earlier, reached into the air with one hand. A pale blue ice whip formed in his grasp, seemingly conjured out of thin air.
The whip lashed out, striking Zhang Mingjun squarely across his chest and abdomen. Ice crystals scattered into the air. A pale blue whip mark remained, etched across his skin.
Zhang Mingjun’s body convulsed once more. He gritted his teeth tightly, a feral growl rising from his throat like that of a wounded beast. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead and neck. When the sweat traced the charred whip marks, it instantly evaporated into steam. When it ran across the pale blue ice marks, it froze into tiny ice particles and fell to the ground.
The whips from both sides struck relentlessly, one after another. Zhang Mingjun howled in pain, his entire body trembling violently. Veins bulged from his muscles, and his expression grew increasingly savage and ferocious.
“That’s enough,” Li Xiaofei suddenly spoke. He added calmly, “Since he has contributed to the camp, there’s no need to punish him so harshly. Commander Song, let’s not continue this.”
The white-haired elder, Song Shiyu, nodded and ordered the punishment to stop.
“Heroes, the Grandpa Lakeside Camp warmly welcomes Extraordinary Ones with such great strength. In these apocalyptic times, humanity can only survive through unity and cooperation. Unfortunately, both our camp leader and second-in-command are currently in seclusion for cultivation and cannot personally welcome you... so this old bag of bones will do my best to host you. Please, come with me,” Song Shiyu invited graciously.
Li Xiaofei and his group followed Song Shiyu into the camp. When they stepped onto the stone-paved streets, Li Xiaofei glanced back.
In the distance, Zhang Mingjun was still tied to the punishment pillar. The brutal man’s muscles had slackened completely. His entire body seemed to collapse, his head hanging low and powerless. He gasped for air in heavy, labored breaths. The whip marks on his body remained vivid, refusing to fade.
Grandpa Lakeside Camp was constructed around Grandpa Lake. Most of the buildings were simple, one-story stone houses. No cement or reinforced steel had been used in their construction. Instead, they were built by stacking lakeside rocks and sealing the gaps with white mud. The structures were primitive and natural but had a raw simplicity to them.
What the camp lacked in sophistication, it made up for with its organized layout. The streets were straight and neatly planned. Fields and orchards had been cultivated near the lake, and were guarded by well-equipped soldiers. Ordinary people, mostly women and children, worked the land.
The streets were bustling with activity. Many vendors had set up stalls, trading goods through bartering rather than currency. Common items included plant seeds, small handcrafted trinkets, and preserved food that could last a long time.
The standard of living in the camp was evidently poor. Most people looked malnourished and pale. Their clothing was tattered and worn. However, they had safe housing and access to clean water. At the very least, they weren’t starving to death, nor were they at risk of being crushed like ants under the boots of some powerful figure.
“Everyone, our camp is low on resources, so we can only offer this simple meal. Please don’t mind,” Song Shiyu said with an embarrassed smile inside the large white stone building.
Li Xiaofei and the others exchanged glances. They had been given a modest spread, a cup of clear water, a bowl of porridge with dried meat, a small plate of pickled vegetables, and three slices of dry flatbread.
It was clear that Song Shiyu had brought out the best the camp had to offer, but it was undeniably meager. The state of this survivor camp was far worse than they had initially imagined. But something didn’t add up. Earlier, they had seen the camp spend a considerable amount of money to purchase people from the bearded driver.
If the living conditions here are so poor, why would they spend resources to buy more people?
This question surfaced in Li Xiaofei’s mind, lingering there as he stared at the simple meal before him.
Song Shiyu, the third-in-command, seemed to see through Li Xiaofei’s doubts. He let out a bitter laugh and explained, “It’s no secret, so I won’t hide it from you. Our camp is running out of people. While the magnetic field in this area prevents the Governors from entering, it doesn’t stop the star beasts or bandit gangs. We’ve lost many soldiers to protect the camp, and others have been severely injured or disabled. The population has been steadily declining. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before everyone here perishes.
“So, we had no choice but to spend a fortune hiring people like Old Four Hu to bring young women and children from the settlements. The women can marry the soldiers and help us repopulate, while the children can be trained to become future warriors... It’s a desperate measure, but we have no other options.”
Li Xiaofei and the others listened in silence, exchanging uncertain glances. They didn’t know how to respond. The so-called utopian survivor camps that they had heard about in rumors were also struggling to survive.
Even so, this camp was still a dream destination for countless wanderers and the ordinary people trapped in places like the Holy Light Settlement. It was one of the last havens of freedom in a dying world. This Earth, it seemed, was truly nearing its end.
After the brief explanation, Song Shiyu continued hosting them.
“Our camp leader will finish his seclusion in about a day. He’s the most powerful Extraordinary One in our camp and possesses forbidden abilities. He’s the guardian deity of this place and will surely want you to stay. It’s incredibly rare to find Extraordinary Ones in this age capable of killing a Governor. If you’re willing to join us, I’d even step down from my position as the third-in-command to make room for one of your people. All I ask is that you protect the ordinary residents here, help us hold on a little longer, and preserve the spark of humanity. Maybe, just maybe, we can survive until hope returns.”
At this point, the white-haired Song Shiyu stood up. He bowed deeply as he addressed the group of young men and women who weren’t even a third of his age. Everyone was stunned by the gesture. Emotion welled up in the hearts of Li Junjie, Wang Xiaofan, Bai Qiqi, and the others. They were on the verge of agreeing to join the camp right then and there.
Li Xiaofei nodded slightly and said, “Alright, we’ll stay for now. Once your camp leader finishes his seclusion, we’ll discuss this further.”
Song Shiyu’s face lit up with joy.
“That’s wonderful news!” he exclaimed. “Feel free to walk around the camp as you wish. If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to contact me.”