Chapter 43

The power outage that lasted for a day and a night made many people, who had previously complained that life was unbearable, realize that it could get even worse. As a result, the complaints grew quieter, with everyone just praying that such daytime power outages wouldn't happen again. Many people were already waiting for the cooling centers in the area to open. Those who had been hesitant before had now decided that no matter what, they would move in with their families when the time came. They could skip a meal, but the heat was truly unbearable.

Whether it was the incentive of being able to trade supplies for cash at the cooling centers or the overwhelming despair of living a life with no foreseeable future, crime in the city was on the rise. Some of the less daring people teamed up with like-minded individuals to target closed shops. Initially, they focused on restaurants, hoping to find some durable food supplies like rice, flour, or cooking oil. However, after breaking into several restaurants, they came up empty-handed. Inside, there was nothing but chairs and tables that couldn't be taken away; not even a single bottle of pepper or soy sauce was left, likely because the owners took everything they could when they left.

When they realized that there was nothing edible to be found in those places, they turned their attention to other shops, such as clothing stores, shoe stores, and general goods stores. These stores proved to be much more fruitful. Most of the inventory had been locked away in store warehouses because, as the heat intensified, everyone focused on food and water, causing prices to skyrocket. Few people were willing to spend money on clothes and shoes that cost hundreds or thousands of yuan, so the goods piled up, and now they were easy pickings for the door-breaking thieves.

Compared to others, these thieves still had some semblance of conscience, with a bit of moral restraint and humanity left. They were after money and goods, not lives. However, another group, those involved in home invasions, had completely lost their humanity. Some would scout homes and, after breaking in, steal all the food the family had painstakingly saved up and leave, at least sparing their lives. But there was a more vicious group that would target homes where people were present, robbing and then killing out of spite.

The truly wealthy, who lived in high-end communities, were still beyond the reach of these criminals, so they focused on ordinary residential areas. Their targets included homes of grassroots officials, small business owners who had some money but weren't super-rich, and even low-level supervisors or employees who still had jobs at the few state-controlled supermarkets that remained open after the shutdown of many other stores. These people became the primary targets of the ruthless thugs.

Perhaps at first, these criminals were merely after money and supplies because their targets had more resources than the average person. But as life grew more difficult, their actions became increasingly brazen, to the point where they crossed the line of basic human decency. What began as theft escalated to murder for entertainment, and these individuals even gave their gang a name: the "Apocalypse Raiders."

This was eerily similar to a news story that broke around this time in the previous life, where a group began committing crimes with impunity. They would lurk in buildings at night and break in during the day when people were asleep. The first thing they did upon entering was slit the homeowner's throat. Some victims didn't even wake up before being killed. Those who were more alert couldn't avoid a fight, but the intruders always came armed with knives, leading to either a quick death without a struggle or a slow, painful death after being repeatedly stabbed.

These fights inevitably disturbed the neighbors. With work and production halted everywhere and no one venturing outside under the blazing sun, there were no people or industrial noises, making any sound from the neighboring house stand out. Some people, out of self-preservation, wouldn't dare open their doors. They would even pile up anything they could find to barricade their doors, fearing that the robbers would come for them next. Those who did nothing to help usually stayed safe because the criminals would leave immediately after looting their target. But those who opened their doors to help often ended up either severely injured or dead.

There were too many similar stories. The term "Apocalypse Raiders" became synonymous with a shadowy killer lurking around everyone. No one knew where they would strike next or who their next target would be.

People began to complain online about the government's inaction. How could such a terrifying gang be allowed to roam freely? Did this mean there was no longer any order? Had the government given up on caring about the lives of ordinary citizens? Some even linked this situation to the way the cooling centers charged fees, claiming that the centers were just an excuse for those in power to hoard resources. The majority of the population had already been abandoned, and the government was now merely seizing whatever was left from the people to preserve the nation's elite. They argued that the government's current approach was one of survival of the fittest, where the weak and useless were being weeded out. Otherwise, in the past, such a terrifying criminal gang would have been caught long ago.

Mu Nan knew that the government wasn't neglecting them; rather, they simply couldn't spare the manpower. Government workers are just people; having "government" in their title doesn't make them omnipotent. To prevent unrest, distributing water and supplies required mobilizing a large force to secure these items. If faced with a group of radical citizens, ordinary people without professional training would panic quickly. Once one place was robbed, it would inspire similar actions elsewhere. From the start, the military and armed police controlled and distributed the supplies to prevent chaos at the source.

Most of the resources were used to ensure basic living conditions for the public. During such times, crime rates almost followed a linear upward trend. Moreover, with the street cameras in poor condition due to daily exposure to intense heat, many had already broken down, and repairs or replacements were too late. This made it very difficult to track the movements of these criminals.

But Mu Nan knew that eventually, these so-called "apocalypse raiders" would be caught. To serve as a deterrent, they would be sentenced to death, and for the first time in history, their executions would be publicly broadcasted.

The authorities took the concept of "harsh measures in chaotic times" to the extreme. After the execution of the raiders, it did indeed shock many people, and crime rates dropped significantly. The public execution also made those who were driven to crime by their harsh circumstances retreat back to moral boundaries.

In the previous life, Mu Nan was one of the onlookers of the death penalty online. Such an unprecedented event might only happen once in a lifetime. The raiders' details were released at that time, but Mu Nan hadn't paid much attention, only briefly glancing at their photos. Even if he had looked more closely then, he might not remember them now, as these were people who had no direct connection to his life.

However, in this life, he unexpectedly saw one of them in person, and even up close.

As usual, after sunset, he and Qin Huai woke up, had a light meal that served as breakfast, and played on the computer for a while. It was almost noon, and the sun now set much later, nearly nine o'clock before it disappeared completely. So they didn't linger at home for long and went to collect their supplies at the agreed time. They had been collecting supplies every three days for almost two months, and Jian Chu lamented how long this would go on.

Mu Nan silently thought that the days of living normally would indeed be coming to an end soon.

When they stepped out of the building, Mu Nan immediately noticed four men sitting on the flower bed at the entrance of their building, smoking. Two were sitting and two were standing, casually chatting as if they were just taking a break. Mu Nan instantly recognized the bald man among them as one of the apocalypse raiders.

Bald heads had become quite common; many men shaved their heads to save water and to avoid the discomfort of greasy, itchy hair. So the bald head wasn't particularly noticeable. What stood out was the scar on his neck, extending from behind his ear to his chin, resembling a centipede. His round head and friendly smile, with large earlobes, made him look like a benevolent figure, somewhat resembling Maitreya Buddha. Even without a smile, he appeared like a good person, and the contrast, along with the scar, had made Mu Nan take a closer look at his photo.

While Mu Nan hadn't deliberately memorized his appearance, he did recognize him immediately when he saw him again. There hadn't been any reports of raider attacks in their neighborhood, so he wasn't sure if it had happened or if it was in another building but wasn't reported. Mu Nan had only occasionally glanced at online news or the community WeChat group and hadn't kept up with every detail. He wasn't sure if there was a difference between this life and the previous one or if he had missed some information before.

Seeing these men loitering below their building made him wonder if they were targeting people in his building. The thought made him shiver, and his stomach tensed with anxiety. These were ruthless criminals who had killed countless people. Even with his second chance at life, he was still just a mortal, and he was understandably frightened.

Noticing Mu Nan slowing down and looking troubled, Qin Huai frowned slightly, asking, "What's wrong?"

When they stopped, the three people ahead turned to look. "What's wrong?"

If it were just Qin Huai, Mu Nan would have immediately told him, but with others around, he wasn't sure how to explain. He was afraid that hiding the truth might lead to worse consequences, as the raiders were right below their building, observing those coming and going to collect supplies. They might be choosing their next target.

Mu Nan grabbed Qin Huai's hand and hesitated before Qin Huai turned to Yu Zibai and the others, saying, "You guys go ahead. We'll catch up soon."

Seeing they seemed to have something to discuss, the three left first. Jian Chu glanced back and saw Qin Huai slightly bending over, holding Mu Nan's face with a worried expression, trying to comfort him. Qin Huai's gentle and attentive demeanor didn't quite resemble the usual brotherly concern.

Once the others had left, Mu Nan anxiously pulled Qin Huai closer, noting that no one else was around. He whispered, "I just saw one of the apocalypse raiders downstairs."

Qin Huai was taken aback, recalling and then confirming, "The ones smoking by the flower bed?"

Mu Nan's eyes widened slightly. "How did you know?"

Qin Huai replied, "The aura was different."

Although the concept of aura is somewhat vague, it can sometimes be used to judge a person. For example, soldiers, even in civilian clothes, carry a distinct aura compared to ordinary people. Those with experience, particularly those who have killed, have an aura that is hard to hide. Experienced individuals can often detect a murderous presence just by looking.

Mu Nan looked at Qin Huai nervously and asked, "What should we do? Should we go back home and lock the door? Should we tell Jian Chu and the others? What if we're unlucky enough to be targeted?"

Qin Huai gently rubbed his head and reassured him, "Don't panic."

Mu Nan frowned, "How can I not panic?" He recalled seeing in the news how these people were so brazen that if they encountered a locked door, they would just use a knife to force their way in without any hesitation, often operating in broad daylight. Even if you called the police, they wouldn't arrive in time. They weren't worried about causing a disturbance; anyone who tried to interfere would be directly attacked. They were truly a group of insane raiders, and no one dared to intervene. With such threats, even a sturdy security door might not hold up against them all day. The thought made Mu Nan even more anxious.

Mu Nan couldn't help but clutch his stomach.

Qin Huai quickly supported him, asking, "Does your stomach hurt?"

Mu Nan nodded, "Yes, it hurts. Brother, should we stay in a hotel for a night? The thought of them possibly lurking in our building and waiting to strike during the day makes me feel like everyone in the building is a lamb to the slaughter. It's really frightening."

Mu Nan hadn't even considered preemptively striking back. Those people had already killed many; even if he knew they were raiders, he wouldn't be able to handle them. He was just an ordinary person with no fighting skills, and even though Qin Huai had some abilities, he wouldn't let Qin Huai take risks. Calling the police wouldn't help much either. He couldn't think of any other solution except to find a place to hide.

Qin Huai knew Mu Nan was scared and trying to reassure him, "It's okay, Nan Nan. Look at me. Since we've identified them in advance, our safety can definitely be ensured, even if we can't deal with them. Think about it—our space has so many things. We can pile all the furniture from my room in front of the security door. Even if they break in, the door will be blocked by all those things. They won't be able to get inside. Plus, we're not without weapons. We can shoot from a distance, unlike their knives."

Hearing this, Mu Nan felt that being targeted wasn't entirely hopeless and began to calm down a bit. "So what should we do now? Should we alert Jian Chu and Dr. Xu?"

Qin Huai said, "I'll handle this. Let's go home first."

Mu Nan glanced at the direction of the supermarket, "But we haven't picked up the supplies yet."

Qin Huai frowned, "Forget about it. It's just a few bottles of water. Let's go home and take your stomach medicine first. Is it very painful?"

Mu Nan shook his head, "We should still pick up the supplies. It's only a few bottles of water. I was just startled by the sight of those people earlier. It doesn't hurt as much now."

Mu Nan insisted on picking up the supplies. After all, it was only every three days, and they would be getting six bottles of water and two large bags of noodles. It would be a shame to miss out. Also, he felt he needed a buffer; they might run into those people when they returned home. As an ordinary person who had never even been to a police station, he was understandably anxious.

When they reached the supermarket, they were nearly at the front of the line. Jian Chu waved at them, "Come over here!"

Qin Huai said, "No need. We'll stay at the back."

Jian Chu pulled them in, "It's fine. I told the people behind that we had two more people arriving and saved a spot for you. What have you been doing? Mu Nan, are you okay?"

Mu Nan shook his head. Qin Huai added, "It's nothing serious, just a sudden stomachache."

Jian Chu looked at Mu Nan with concern, "Are you alright? You look a bit pale."

Xu Ming asked, "Do you have any stomach medicine at home? If not, I have some extra."

Qin Huai smiled, "We have some at home. We'll take it after we pick up the supplies."

They soon reached the front. After Qin Huai collected the supplies, he went over to speak with the soldiers guarding the supplies. The soldiers looked at Qin Huai, seemingly assessing something. Qin Huai smiled and said a few more words, and the soldiers eventually nodded.

When Qin Huai returned, Mu Nan quickly asked, "What happened?"

Qin Huai put the water and noodles into his own bag and whispered, "It's nothing. We'll talk about it when we get home."

Considering Mu Nan's discomfort, they didn't linger and quickly returned to their neighborhood. When they reached their building, the men were still there. Qin Huai held Mu Nan close and placed a hand on the back of his head, making sure Mu Nan didn't look in that direction. He casually led Mu Nan into the building.

When they exited the elevator and went to their respective homes, Qin Huai told everyone, "Make sure to lock your doors tonight."

Qin Huai was usually not someone who concerned himself with whether others locked their doors, so this comment from him felt different. If Xu Ming had said it, they might not have thought much of it, but with Qin Huai saying it, it felt like something was wrong. However, Qin Huai didn't elaborate and just took Mu Nan home.

Back at their apartment, Qin Huai quickly got out the medicine and had Mu Nan take it before saying, "I just told the soldiers that there were some unfamiliar faces in our neighborhood and that they didn't seem right."

Mu Nan asked, "Do you think they'll believe that? It sounds too vague, just 'unfamiliar faces.' If they believed everything like that, they'd have to handle countless false alarms from subjective judgments every day."

Qin Huai said, "I told them that, while I can't guarantee everything, those people definitely have blood on their hands."

Mu Nan asked, "Didn't they ask how you knew? Isn't that risky? What if they think you're an accomplice and arrest you?"

Qin Huai smiled, "I told them I had undergone three years of specialized training at Phesly, so I have some ability to make judgments. These details can be verified, so there's no need to worry about them suspecting too much."

Mu Nan looked puzzled, "What kind of training?"

Qin Huai explained, "It's a semi-military training camp abroad. The instructors are top special forces from around the world, and there are also hired mercenaries. The training comes in two forms: official training, which brings together military talent from various countries annually for exchange and discussion, and private training, which is aimed at wealthy individuals, focusing on crisis response and self-rescue skills. After that man left, he sent me to the camp for the first year. That's where I met Lucen, the rich second-generation who later became my partner. I attended for two more years until his IVF baby was successfully born, and he stopped caring about me. That's why I haven't gone back."

Mu Nan couldn't help but poke Qin Huai's arm muscles and said, "Your useless father actually did some good after all. At least he taught you some real skills."

Qin Huai smiled and replied, "He did put in effort in the beginning. Anyway, let's not talk about him. Go take a shower and lie down for a bit."

Mu Nan said, "I'll go block the door first. I won't be able to sleep well if it's not securely blocked."

The convenience of their space was evident again. Mu Nan quickly collected the furniture from Qin Huai's room and piled it up behind the security door, effectively blocking it and making it feel much safer.

After finishing this task, Mu Nan took a shower. With his stomach still aching a bit and feeling uncomfortable, he lay on his side with a pillow and used the computer. Seeing Mu Nan so tense, Qin Huai frowned and, after the heat from his own body subsided a bit, he got into bed and gently massaged Mu Nan, saying, "You really are an emotional wreck."

Feeling more comfortable from the massage, Mu Nan didn't find it itchy this time. Hearing Qin Huai's comment, he glanced at him sideways and said, "You could just say I'm timid."

Qin Huai smiled, "Being timid is fine, at least it means you won't do reckless things."

Mu Nan huffed. Although he had just woken up, he felt sleepy again.

Seeing his eyelids growing heavy, Qin Huai gently said, "Sleep. It'll be more comfortable once you're asleep."

Mu Nan fell asleep but didn't rest peacefully. He kept dreaming about someone breaking into their home. In the dream, Qin Huai hid him under the bed and piled books around him to block him from view. After a while, a group of people found the room and said they wanted to lift the bed to check. Mu Nan was terrified and desperately thought about why his space couldn't be entered by others. Just before the bed was lifted, he heard noises outside the window and people shouting about someone running away and to hurry and chase. The scene turned into a chase with Qin Huai.

The end-of-the-world scenario suddenly turned into a police chase. When the group cornered Qin Huai in a dead-end and pulled out a gun, the sound of a gunshot jolted Mu Nan awake.

Qin Huai immediately pulled the startled Mu Nan into his arms and covered his ears, saying, "It's okay, don't be scared. I'm here, don't worry."

Mu Nan was still disoriented, but when he heard two more gunshots, he was fully awake. It seemed like the end-of-the-world dream had turned into a police drama.