Qin Shilei and his companions swooped down on their mounts, landing directly on the city wall.
"Who are you? Are you here to help defend the wall? Do you have a registry?" an officer immediately approached and asked.
"I am Qin Shilei, just passing by to take a look. You don't need to mind us," Qin Shilei replied with a smile.
"The Lord of Junhai City?" The officer suddenly recalled a video he had seen on the chat channel a few days prior.
"That is I," Qin Shilei did not conceal his true identity.
The officer intended to invite Qin Shilei and his companion to the temporary command center below, but was refused. He then hurried down into the city.
Qin Shilei gazed into the distance and noticed that the insects here were different from any he had seen before.
He had identified two types of insects for now.
One was called a Razorclaw Beast, standing two to three meters tall, with a gray-brown body, standing on its hind legs, possessing a long tail, and sharp claws on its forelimbs.
The other was called a Grubber, five to six meters long and half a meter thick, with a fleshy body. Its mouthparts at the front were filled with dense, fine teeth.
Most of these insects were Bronze realm, with a small number being Silver realm.
Survivors on the city wall were attempting to attack the insects below.
While they could kill the insects, it was not easy.
Fortunately, the city wall of Beian City in the capital was also generated by a large Guardian Stele, fifty meters high. It would be extremely difficult for the insects to climb up.
Qin Shilei suggested, "Shall we go down and test the strength of these insects?"
An Qian drew her Heavenly Phoenix Sword and replied with a nod, "Alright."
The two immediately flew down from the city wall.
As Qin Shilei and his group were testing the insects' strength, news of their arrival in Beian City quickly spread.
The leaders of various major forces became wary of Qin Shilei's arrival, each repeatedly cautioning their subordinates not to provoke Qin Shilei and his wife.
In the Chief's Office of the Military Department in Tianan Prefecture.
Tan Anguo, seated in the main seat, asked, "What are your thoughts on Qin Shilei?"
Ji Pengcheng replied, "He is an ambitious individual. His trip to the capital likely harbors significant plans."
General Fan added, "His strength is unfathomable. It is best not to provoke him."
Leader Number One turned to a middle-aged man with his hair in a bun beside him and asked, "Daoist Master Sun, based on the intelligence we've gathered, if you were to face him, what are your chances of winning?"
Sun Shuquan replied, "Less than ten percent."
Upon hearing this, those present frowned.
Sun Hongfeng, Tan Anguo's bodyguard, was a top expert among the esoteric practitioners before the apocalypse. Although he was only Silver six-star, with his masterful swordsmanship, he had once easily slain a Silver nine-star exotic beast.
Ling Zhenguo, seated below, suggested, "Should we attempt to send someone to recruit this person in the name of righteousness?"
Leader Number One pondered for a moment and replied, "You may. This matter will be under your responsibility. However, be mindful of your approach and do not cause him to become displeased."
On the city wall, Qin Shilei and his group merely tested the insects' strength briefly before returning to the wall.
At this point, a stout middle-aged man approached them and asked with a deferential expression, "Are you two Qin Shilei, City Lord Qin, and Madam An?"
Qin Shilei replied indifferently, "Indeed. And you are?"
The middle-aged man revealed a sincere smile, "I am Jin Hongye, the head of the Cang Lei Gang. I have taken the liberty to disturb you out of admiration for City Lord Qin. I hope you will not be offended."
The other party's etiquette was impeccable and his attitude respectful.
Qin Shilei responded politely, "Sect Leader Jin, you are too kind."
Jin Hongye smiled and said, "May I ask if City Lord Qin requires a guide? I am very familiar with Beian City and hope to be of service to you."
Qin Shilei examined the man carefully and then nodded, "Alright, lead the way."
Upon hearing this, Jin Hongye's face lit up. While introducing Beian City to Qin Shilei and his companion, he led them towards the Cang Lei Gang's base.
The Cang Lei Gang was a second-rate force with nearly ten thousand evolved individuals, occupying a luxurious villa and two residential complexes as their stronghold.
Through the introductions along the way, Qin Shilei gained a general understanding of the current situation in Beian City.
Beian City had over a million survivors, with a complex web of powers and a multitude of experts.
Besides the military, the capital also had two major super-powers: the Zhenwu Society and the Tianmo Gate.
After the apocalypse, Tan Anguo had maintained firm control over the capital.
However, a month prior, a rebellion within the military led to the fragmentation of power in the capital, and the military completely lost control.
Currently, the destructive power of conventional weapons was less than one percent of that before the apocalypse, and even nuclear weapons had become almost useless without satellite navigation.
Individual strength had magnified infinitely; a single person capable of fighting an army was no longer a legend.
Due to various reasons, Tan Anguo was both willing and unable to act, only able to maintain the current complex situation in the capital.
Jin Hongye led Qin Shilei and his companions into the most luxurious villa in the villa district, "If City Lord Qin does not mind, please consider this your temporary resting place."
Qin Shilei said indifferently, "Alright."
Just then, an exceptionally beautiful woman in a qipao entered the villa from outside.
"Jin Qiaoqiao?" An Qian exclaimed with surprise.
Jin Qiaoqiao, an international superstar and the queen of the jade girls, was proficient in various arts and was the only celebrity An Qian had ever followed.
Jin Hongye smiled and said, "Jin Qiaoqiao is indeed my daughter. I believe you young people will have more to talk about. Let her attend to you two during this time."
Qin Shilei looked at the portly Jin Hongye, then at the celestial Jin Qiaoqiao, and thought to himself, "Is this Jin Qiaoqiao truly the daughter of the ordinary-looking Jin Hongye? Has this old Jin's head been dyed green?"
"Greetings to you both!"
Jin Qiaoqiao bowed respectfully, then sat down at the tea table and elegantly began to brew tea.
Qin Shilei and An Qian, having come from ordinary families, discovered for the first time that brewing tea could be so captivating.
Whether it was due to the exquisite tea leaves or Jin Qiaoqiao's superb brewing skills, Qin Shilei and An Qian felt that this tea was more fragrant and smoother than any they had tasted before.
As Jin Qiaoqiao brewed tea, she recounted the tea's origin and the brewing techniques.
An Qian looked at her former idol, who was now acting like a maid serving her tea, and felt as though she were dreaming.
The moment she first saw the woman, if she hadn't controlled herself in time, she would have rushed forward to ask for a photo and an autograph.
At this moment, An Qian felt that life was full of unexpected twists and turns!