The Living Area Under the Eye of Peace

"There are so many people..."

Deng Yuxin whispered that she hadn't encountered many people in all these missions.

As soon as we got off the bus, all we saw were young faces.

This feeling is like being back on a university campus, with everyone taking a walk.

There is only one main road in front of us, leading deep into the residential area.

Along the way, many people from other teams cast their gazes at them, some simply looking them up and down, some assessing their strength, and others lingering to admire the beauty of the girls.

It wasn't just because of the women's outstanding figures and looks, but also their overall condition...

Yes, the other students who had just arrived at the living area, regardless of which of the three schools they were from, all looked quite unwell and were exhausted.

In other words, the other person looked pale and had chapped lips.

Why are these girls...so rosy-cheeked, so positive and cheerful, even brimming with positive energy?

"What's going on? A convoy of cars with so many pretty girls...?"

"Look at the one in the middle, with those long legs, he walks like he's taking a gait!"

"How come all the women on his team seem completely unaffected by the cold?"

"Probably just good talent, or maybe the mission was easy. He's damn lucky!"

Several groups of people on the roadside started discussing among themselves, looking at Chen Yu and his group who stood out from the crowd.

"What are you looking at!"

Wang Mengmeng felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, so she straightened her chest, but then took a half step closer to Chen Yu!

"Alright, Mengmeng, just watch, but don't cause any trouble."

Yang Kexin adapted very well, walking with ease with her long legs, and even glancing back at the boys who were staring at her until they awkwardly looked away.

Zhang Wanyue nodded: "Judging from their appearance, they arrived around the same time as us. They were probably freezing half an hour ago, which is why they're in such bad shape..."

"How tragic."

Li Mengyao sighed.

Compared to this, the women felt even more strongly that following Chen Yu was the right choice.

Otherwise, it's hard to imagine whether they would be better than these people.

Until they followed the crowd to the intersection and saw the stone standing in the middle of the road...

A giant metal signboard.

Almost all the people coming from this road spontaneously gathered there.

"Brother Chen Yu!!!"

Wang Mengmeng exclaimed, pointing above her head, "Look! There are words!"

This sudden outburst startled the other teams nearby, who quickly moved a couple of steps away.

Chen Yu: "..."

"I'm not blind."

After speaking, everyone looked at the information on the sign:

[Binhai City Residential Area - Basic Rules and Area Map]

[The left column contains text rules:]

1. Minimum stay: 15 days | Maximum stay: 30 days

2. Core Prohibition: The Eye of Peace hangs high, strictly forbidding any form of fighting or plundering. Violators will be warned, serious offenders will be expelled, and murderers will be annihilated by the Eye of Peace.

3. Principles for obtaining supplies: Freedom of exploration, risk borne by the individual.

[The right column is for illustrative purposes only:]

Note: The center point is the current intersection.

1. Road 1 (directly ahead): The arrow points to a square icon labeled "Central Plaza," behind which are yellow beach and ocean signs.

2. Road 2 (Left Turn): The arrow first passes through a dense grid of icons, marked [Residential Area: AG, 7 communities in total], then the road extends to the [Detached Villa Area].

3. Road 3 (turn right): The arrow points to a relatively sparse area marked "Unplanned Residential Area," with small print next to it saying "Explore with Caution."

(Don't worry if you don't understand, there's a rough chibi-style map here :)

A large crowd gathered in front of the sign, looking up at it.

A cacophony of voices rose up, mostly concerning the rules of the living area.

"30 days? Wow, that's a really long time! That's awesome!"

"Don't even think about it, bro. You have to go in 15 days. You'll freeze to death if you fall behind!"

"That's true, but these 15 days are definitely safe!"

"It's just about the safety between people, but exploring Route 3 is all about individual ability, isn't it?"

"There's also a villa area, one, two, three, four... there are only ten villas in total, there must be something good there."

Wang Mengmeng stood on tiptoe to look, her eyes shining: "Wow, there's a beach! Can you really see the sea?"

Zhang Wanyue also took a closer look at the diagram: "There's a beach, a villa area, and a plaza. It really looks like a resort area now. I just wonder if this city actually exists..."

Chen Yu said coldly, "Instead of going on vacation first, we should consider where we can find supplies."

Wang Mengmeng's excitement was interrupted, and she muttered, "Okay, let's find supplies first..."

Her muttering wasn't loud, but coupled with her aggrieved little expression, it still caught the attention of a group of boys on the side who had just finished reading the rules and were taking a break.

One of the guys, a dark-skinned man with a short buzz cut, stepped closer and said, "Hey, miss, the beach must be so much fun. Won't he take you there? Why don't you come with us?"

His eyes scanned him up and down.

It's obvious they were attracted to Wang Mengmeng's figure; her butt was practically bursting out of her tight shorts.

The boy next to him chimed in, "We're heading to the beach, can you come along?"

"Go with you? Who do you think you are?"

Wang Mengmeng snorted coldly and put her hands on her hips.

╭(￣ヘ￣)╮

"Your face is tanned like a lump of coal, and you're trying to flirt? We're the tour operator, we're on serious business, searching for supplies, don't you understand? Can't I go to the beach by myself? Do you need to take me?"

The boys were stunned; they hadn't expected this girl to be so capable.

Feeling awkward, they decided to leave.

"besides,"

Wang Mengmeng raised her chin: "Watch your eyes! If you look away again, believe me, I'll have Brother Chen Yu gouge your eyes out. I'm talking to you, you black coal ball!"

Those boys were met with a barrage of criticism from her.

"Damn, are you kidding me, beautiful?"

Black Coal Ball awkwardly touched his nose and quickly told his brothers to run away.

After driving the man away, Wang Mengmeng immediately changed her expression, turned around and approached Chen Yu, tilting her head back with bright eyes, giving him a "praise me" look.

"Let's go, let's go check out the square first."

Chen Yu gave the order directly and strode towards Road No. 1.

Wang Mengmeng was stunned. Seeing Chen Yu turn and leave, she quickly jogged to catch up.

Undeterred, she tilted her head back, eager for credit: "Brother Chen Yu! I chased those flies away! They were trying to sow discord! Wasn't I firm in my stance?"

Chen Yu didn't even turn his head, just casually waved his hand at the front: "This is what you should do."

"..."

The women's lips curled into slight smiles, but they forced themselves to hold it in for the sake of Wang Mengmeng's dignity.

But just as they took a step, a male voice reached their ears.

"Class representative!"

"Senior!"

"Wang Mengmeng!"

Chen Yu and his group stopped and turned to look.

There was a thin boy with handsome features.

He emerged from the crowd, waving vigorously in this direction.

His face was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Liu Ming?!"

Deng Yuxin was the first to recognize her, covering her mouth and exclaiming, "I ran into a classmate!"

Her shout immediately caught the attention of the others.

"It really is Liu Ming!"

"And Sun Hui! Zhang Yufeng! Liu Xiaoqian!"

Wang Mengmeng blinked and subconsciously leaned towards Chen Yu's side.

"You're all alright? That's so great!"

"Yes, seeing familiar faces in the apocalypse instantly brings a sense of peace!"

"Hey, your team looks really good!"

Several classmates gathered around, their faces beaming with joy, chattering amongst themselves.

Chen Yu quietly looked at the group.

Three men and three women.

They are:

Liu Ming, Sun Hui, Zhang Yufeng.

Liu Xiaoqian, Zuo Shi, Miao Yin.

But their appearance was in stark contrast to Chen Yu's team.

Although he had changed into summer clothes, most of them were battle-damaged. Fortunately, he was in good spirits.

They seem to be doing alright.

But then they explained why they were in a good state.

"We arrived two days ago."

Liu Ming was overjoyed: "I come to this intersection every day hoping to run into some familiar faces from our school. I never expected to run into you all today!"

"Yeah yeah!"

Liu Xiaoqian, a girl with a soft voice, said, "Class representative, Senior Shen, and Mengmeng, Mengyao, and Yuxin, it's so great that you can all get together!"

Of the three girls, Zuo Shi is probably the prettiest.

He has a somewhat aggressive, villainous face.

But she was a fairly gentle person: "By the way, we went to the beach yesterday. Although we didn't find many supplies, it was so beautiful there, it didn't feel like the apocalypse at all! Do you want to go take a look together?"

When she extended the invitation, the others chimed in:

"Yes! Let's go together! It'll be cool and refreshing at the beach!"

"It's a rare find to see a place like this; it would be a shame to miss it!"

Zhang Wanyue did not answer immediately, but turned her head slightly to look at Chen Yu.

The same goes for Shen Qingci.

The uniform direction stunned Liu Ming, Liu Xiaoqian, and the others.

They barely noticed Chen Yu just now.

After all, he was practically invisible back in school...

Sun Hui pushed up his worn-out glasses: "Chen Yu? Long time no see. We're classmates. Maybe we'll even be assigned to the same car again and go to the beach for a chat?"

"yes."

Zuo Shi, wearing a denim maxi skirt, smiled slightly: "We arrived two days early, so it's a good time to chat. This residential area is quite intriguing!"

Chen Yu looked at her and remained silent for two seconds.

"Alright."

"Let's go to the beach."

The groups merged into a larger group and headed towards the end of Route 1.

Liu Ming, Sun Hui, and several others surrounded Zhang Wanyue and Shen Qingci...

They began enthusiastically recounting what they had seen and heard over the past two days.

Zuo Shi and Miao Yin then chatted with Deng Yuxin and Li Mengyao.

Wang Mengmeng's mind immediately went into high alert.

She quickly tugged at Li Mengyao's sleeve: "Mengyao! Mengyao! Look! Brother Chen Yu! Did you see the way he looked at Zuo Shi?"

Li Mengyao was startled by her tug and followed her gaze, only to see Chen Yu and Zuo Shi walking side by side, but hardly exchanging any words.

"What kind of look is that?"

"Oh! It's that... that feeling of just watching!"

Wang Mengmeng was getting a little anxious. "This Zuo Shi, what's she doing pretending to be innocent in that tattered dress! Look at her face, it's as thin as a knife, she doesn't look like she has any good fortune at all!"

Li Mengyao: "..."

The procession crossed the edge of the central square.

The area was equally bustling, with numerous simple stalls and a lively crowd.

Anyway, with the Eye of Peace around, it's perfectly safe here, and there's no need to worry about being robbed.

"Medical gauze, iodine solution, a small amount of antibiotics! Just switch to high-energy foods!"

Homemade fishing net! Durable rattan weaving! A must-have for exploring the beach!

"A repair whiz, offering free simple repair tools, all you need is a bite to eat!"

"Take a look! The last of the compressed biscuits~~~"

People finally dared to take out their precious supplies and let them see the light of day.

The central square is also considered a holy land for offline stalls.

until...

The fishy smell in the air grew stronger.

When the azure sea came into view, "Wow—!"

All the women around Chen Yu gasped in surprise!

(⊙o⊙)Wow

"Is it really the ocean?!"

"Could this be The Truman Show?"

"Even the waves are there; it doesn't look fake. Could Binhai City really be a city?"

Everyone couldn't help but jog a few steps, stepping onto the soft sand, their eyes sparkling as they watched the waves crashing against them, feeling as if it were all unreal.

It was clear that this wasn't Liu Ming's first time here.

He led everyone to a shady spot near a rocky outcrop, a place he knew exactly where to go.

The crowd dispersed, some sitting and some standing.

"Splash splash splash~"

Enjoying what can be described as a luxury sea view in this apocalyptic world.

"Actually, we've already discussed it."

Liu Ming shook his head, somewhat helplessly: "I plan to stay here for the full thirty days, stock up on supplies, and get my health back. It's better than rushing to the next unknown destination."

He paused, looked at Chen Yu, and said in a more serious tone, "Chen Yu, you've just arrived. Have you settled on accommodations yet? The seven residential areas in this area, from A to G, are quite different."

Chen Yu turned his gaze: "What do you mean?"

Sun Hui picked up the conversation, pushing up his worn-out glasses: "Areas A and B are closest to the square and also closest to Road No. 3, making them the most convenient for searching for supplies. They've basically been taken over by the larger groups that arrived first."

"Even if you squeeze in, you won't get a good spot, and you'll easily attract attention..."

"Areas C and D are relatively folded."

Liu Ming added, "There are a lot of people, but they are a mixed bunch. Small groups live together. We were there, and there were occasional skirmishes, but no one dared to go all out. We only dared to spit at each other."

Liu Xiaoqian muttered under her breath, "Let's not even talk about the others. It's too far from Road No. 3, and the place isn't even full."

Zhang Wanyue keenly noticed that everyone seemed to value Road No. 3.

"So, Route 3 is where we search for supplies?"

"right."

Liu Ming nodded, somewhat apprehensive: "Road Three is very complex, beyond the reach of the Eye of Peace. It's said there are many troublesome monsters inside..."

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

A sea breeze blew by, bringing coolness.

Zhang Yufeng suddenly added, "Actually, it's not just Road No. 3 that can be used to search for supplies; you can do it inside the residential area too. As long as you know how to pick locks, anything is possible..."

"Besides that, the tides bring up all sorts of supplies, not just seafood!"

"By the way, I heard there's a well in the villa area where you can fish up some good stuff, but that's just a rumor. We've never been to the villa area."

Picking the lock...

Zhang Wanyue subconsciously looked at Chen Yu.

I never imagined that lock-picking skills would be so important here.

I really need to find an opportunity to have him train me.

Deng Yuxin murmured, "It's one thing for Hailang to have supplies, but a well in the villa area? What kind of combination is this..."

Li Mengyao shook her head: "What you're retrieving from the well isn't water, it's something valuable. That's too abstract!"

Zhang Yufeng shrugged: "It's just a rumor..."

Liu Xiaoqian suddenly asked, "Hey, I haven't asked about your talents yet! How's everyone's strength?"

Liu Ming chimed in, "If they're strong enough, they might be able to squeeze into District D with us, so we can look out for each other..."

Shen Qingci, acting as the assistant instructor, slowly began to speak: "Our strength is not bad. Chen Yu and I both have a certain level of combat ability, roughly... roughly S-rank."

Chen Yu nodded: "Yeah, more or less."

"what?"

Liu Xiaoqian exclaimed, "That's amazing! Does that mean we can go to Area A?!"

Zuo Shi shook her head: "There are too many people in Area A, mostly large groups like buses, double-decker buses, school buses, and shuttle buses, often numbering in the dozens..."

"Even if the two of you have S-class combat power, you probably can't fight against that many people. They'll easily throw you out of Area A..."

Liu Ming said with a hint of helplessness, "Yeah, the difference in luck is huge. Their bus had so many people, they were having a blast in the residential area, unlike us, there were only six or seven of us!"

"Hey Chen Yu, senior, what are you thinking? Joining us?"

As Liu Ming asked the question, everyone's attention turned to Chen Yu.

Chen Yu pointed to the villa area in the distance, across the coast.

"Let's go there, I want to see that well."

"?"

There was a moment of silence.

Liu Ming's smile froze for a moment, as if he hadn't heard clearly: "Where to?"

Zhang Wanyue repeated: "Chen Yu said he wanted to see what the well in the villa area was like."

Sun Hui couldn't help but interject, "Um... let's skip the villa area..."

Liu Xiaoqian was also a little confused: "That place, how should I put it, each of the three schools took three spots, and the engineering school had one extra, so all ten buildings were full..."

Zuo Shi added softly, "Over there now, even getting close will get you watched; it's very strict."

"Chen Yu,"

Liu Ming whispered a reminder: "I know you guys are pretty capable, but the villa area is beyond our reach right now. We'll be lucky if we can find what's left in the neighborhood."

They all spoke at once, their tone sincere.

Everyone felt that Chen Yu's idea was too unrealistic.

In their minds, Chen Yu was still that quiet, ordinary classmate.

It's already a miracle that I managed to get here alive with a few girls, and that we're doing alright...

As for trying to steal food from the villa area? Absolutely not!

Only Chen Yu's own team members remained silent throughout the entire process.

It seemed that once Chen Yu finalized the decision, things would proceed as planned...

This time.

Liu Ming, Sun Hui, and the others finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Really, guys?"