After driving for three hours, they finally arrived near "Mingyue Garden," where Pei Xi lived. The name originally suggested an ordinary residential community, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be a villa area. As they drove towards the main entrance, they noticed that the perimeter was lined with terraced villas.
In truth, after the apocalypse, the security posts in many residential areas had become perfunctory. So, when Yang Ning drove his car to the intersection and was stopped, everyone was quite surprised.
"Hello, who are you looking for? Do you have an appointment?" a man poked his head out from the guardhouse, which had been reinforced with iron bars.
"Hello, we're looking for the Pei family in Building 12. We don't have an appointment," Xiao Wu replied.
The man's gaze swept up and down the occupants of the driver's and passenger seats, then he craned his neck as if trying to peer into the back. Unfortunately, the rear windows were tightly shut, and the glass was heavily tinted, making it impossible to see from the outside.
"Wait a moment." The man retreated into the guardhouse and began speaking into a walkie-talkie.
After a while, he reappeared and asked, "The owner wants to know your names?"
"Just tell them we're bringing Pei Xi back," Lu Feiguang, in the passenger seat, replied.
The man went back to the guardhouse and spoke into the walkie-talkie for a while. After nodding several times, he unhooked the chain-secured boom barrier without another word, allowing the car to pass.
Xiao Wu, quick-witted, accelerated and sped through.
"I didn't expect Xiao Xi's family to be so well-off. Even at this time, the property management is still working!" An Xin commented with a sigh.
As they spoke, the car had already reached the villa where Pei Xi lived.
As soon as they stopped, two white-haired elders, looking to be in their fifties or sixties, rushed out.
"Is it Xiao Xi?" the female elder's eyes welled up with tears.
Pei Xi also saw the two elders, got out of the car, and rushed into their embrace, "Grandpa, Grandma... *sniffle*... I missed you so much!"
It was already ten minutes later by the time everyone was seated on the sofas in Pei Xi's living room.
"Xiao Xi, you mean you haven't seen your mother and father since then?" Pei Xi's grandmother couldn't help but wipe her tears again.
"Mhm. Mommy didn't keep her promise and didn't come to pick me up..." Pei Xi was still unaware of the severity of the situation.
"Your mom and dad might have gotten lost, so they can't find their way home for now... But don't worry, Xiao Xi, Grandma and Grandpa will always be with you." Pei Xi's grandfather patted his grandson's head. He already knew that his son and daughter-in-law had most likely met with misfortune; otherwise, they wouldn't have abandoned their child.
After the three embraced and cried for a while longer, Pei Xi's grandfather awkwardly addressed the guests, "Thank you for bringing our Xiao Xi back. It's so dangerous outside, and you must be tired from your journey. Please stay here tonight! We'll quickly prepare a few dishes to show our gratitude."
The members of the "Sunshine Squad" exchanged glances, and Xiao Wenqiang made the decision to accept their offer.
Pei Xi's villa had several bedrooms. However, Xiao Wenqiang and the others opted to stay in two adjacent rooms, separated by gender.
Deep into the night, the members of the "Sunshine Squad," who hadn't slept in a proper bed for a long time, let down their guard and fell into a deep slumber.
Around three in the morning, Pei Xi's grandfather quietly opened the villa's main door.
"Are all these people fast asleep?" A few robust men stood at the entrance. The leader, a man with a thick beard, asked.
"Brother Qiang, we followed instructions and put sleeping pills in their dinner. They should all be sound asleep now." Pei Xi's grandfather bowed subserviently to the bearded young man leading the group.
The man called Brother Qiang smiled with satisfaction and then gestured to the men behind him.
Soon, the men behind him filed in, carrying various tools and weapons, and headed straight for the room where the "Sunshine Squad" was staying.
"Mommy, wake up quickly, there are bad guys!" a childish voice cried out.
Xiao Wenqiang was awakened from her sleep by the cry of the mythical beast, Dan Dan.
By the time she was fully conscious, she overheard a conversation next to her. "This short-haired woman looks quite formidable. Tie her up first."
As they spoke, a man had already bound An Xin's hands and feet.
Another man stepped forward, intending to tie up Xiao Wenqiang, who was sleeping next to An Xin.
The moment the man's hand was about to touch Xiao Wenqiang, she sprang up with a flip of her body, snatched the rope from his hand, and choked him.
Xiao Wenqiang's movements were swift and precise. By the time the man beside her neck snapped and he collapsed lifelessly on the ground, the others finally reacted.
The remaining two men cursed upon seeing this and charged at Xiao Wenqiang together.
As the struggle ensued here, sounds of fighting also erupted from the boys' room next door.
With people fighting in both rooms simultaneously, by the time Xiao Wenqiang had single-handedly subdued the three men in this room, a low growl came from the doorway: "Don't move!"
Xiao Wenqiang kicked the man blocking her path away and then looked towards the entrance. She saw a man with a full beard holding a gun, its dark muzzle pointed directly at her forehead.
Before she could say anything, the other people at the doorway had already dragged Lu Feiguang and Yang Ning over.
Both of them had injuries of varying degrees. Yang Ning's right arm was even fractured, twisted at an unnatural angle.
"Who are you? Why are you capturing us?" Xiao Wenqiang, caught off guard, raised her hands in mock surrender.
Moreover, her current body, despite having awakened her strength-type ability, was still mortal flesh and blood; she dared not confront bullets head-on.
Brother Qiang, the bearded man, seeing Xiao Wenqiang's compliance, gave a sinister smile. "Young lady, from your performance just now, you must be an awakened ability user too! In that case, it's simple. If you join our team, I can spare your life."
"Pei Xi's grandparents are also with you?" Xiao Wenqiang's sharp eyes spotted Grandpa Pei hiding in the shadows by the door.
Grandpa Pei emerged awkwardly from the darkness. "Xiao Xiao, just listen to Brother Qiang."
"Grandpa Pei, is this how you treat the saviors of your grandson?" Xiao Wenqiang retorted sarcastically.
"We have no choice..." Grandpa Pei lowered his head. "Xiao Xi's parents haven't returned. In this apocalyptic world, we old folks just want to survive..."
As he spoke, An Xin and Zhu Yan also woke up. They exchanged glances and, with unspoken agreement, moved behind Xiao Wenqiang.
"If I join you, what will happen to my friends?" Xiao Wenqiang feigned being somewhat persuaded.
"They have no abilities, and keeping them would be a waste of food. If they willingly hand over all their food and property, we'll throw them out to fend for themselves!" Brother Qiang, the bearded man, declared with an air of great magnanimity.
At these words, the expressions of the two girls behind Xiao Wenqiang changed. An Xin and Zhu Yan instinctively tightened their grip on the fabric of Xiao Wenqiang's clothes but still remained silent, not interfering.