At this moment, Hope Village.
The sky was getting darker. The teams that had gone out for gathering and hunting started coming back one after another, their faces beaming with joy. Seeing the lights shining from the territory from afar, they couldn't help but curve their lips into a smile.
This place, though simple, had unknowingly become their "home," giving them a new sense of belonging.
"You're back! How was the harvest?" Guard Team member Feng Lezhi grinned as he asked the returning group at the gate.
"Pretty decent haul today, got quite a few things." The team leader Zhong Yongnian replied with a smile, though he didn't share any specifics.
Feng Lezhi didn't press for details, just continued, "Congrats! But most importantly, you all made it back safe!"
"Yeah! Safety's what matters most! Gotta thank the territory, though—the weapons they sell hit hard, really handy for us." Zhong Yongnian said, his expression full of satisfaction with the territory.
"It'll just keep getting better." Feng Lezhi said, resolutely.
They guarded the territory, only able to patrol inside and nearby. He and Quan Ziqiang had taken a quick stroll around earlier, found nothing really. The area had been swept clean—clearly everyone was hard at work building their "new home."
"True, things are tough outside, but having a safe haven gives us the courage to face it all. What's most frightening is having no hope at all." Zhong Yongnian sighed.
The two chatted for a bit, exchanged smiles, then led their team into the territory.
As soon as they stepped in, some family members in their group rushed up to them, their steps light with relief.
And as more people returned to the territory, it suddenly became lively and bustling.
The bonfire had already been lit, and everyone gathered around, starting to cook food. The scent of various dishes began to spread throughout the territory.
Sometimes, cooking isn't just about filling their stomachs—it's about ritual, a sense of ceremony.
Like right now, so many were gathered together, chatting idly to pass the time.
"This chicken soup smells amazing! Who scored chicken meat?"
"Lucky day—ran into a Demonic Chicken, got three portions of chicken meat. That thing's tough, way bigger than chickens before the apocalypse, pecks like hell, hits hard, and it can fly! Anyway, this chicken meat is rare."
"Chicken meat, huh! Suddenly craving fried chicken!"
"Me too!"
"It's only the second day of Doomsday Game, feels like forever already."
"Who doesn't want fried chicken? Let's not get ahead of ourselves—we just finished gnawing raw meat, now dreaming of a triple jump: oil and starch and all that. Where to find 'em, though."
"Forget oil and starch, let's solve the seasoning issue first! Like salt! At least get some flavor!"
"Yesterday, when you were starving, you said as long as there's food, it's enough."
"Haha! Different priorities for different times!"
"True, gotta have something to aim for, or how do you keep going? So, are you trading those other two chicken meats?"
"Yeah! What do you have you want to swap?"
"Got crowd here—perfect chance to trade. If you really can't use something, just sell it to the territory."
"..."
Talking turned into trading, everyone started exchanging goods.
Zhou Bai and her mother Ding Qiurou were among the crowd. They were just spectating, waiting for Zhou Zhengping to return, but watching it all, Ding Qiurou couldn't help jumping in.
"You've got fruit? What do you want for it?"
"Mushrooms for rice, deal, I'll swap."
"Wild veggies, I want!"
"..."
Ding Qiurou's voice kept ringing out for a while.
Zhou Bai looked over and couldn't help but smile.
Scarcity brings value. Killing demon beasts drops all sorts of meat, so people aren't lacking in meat. On the other hand, wild veggies, mushrooms, wild fruits cost more, but compared to loot from demon beasts, the higher price is negligible. These are rare in the territory, so no wonder her mom was so shameless about it.
But it was only day two. Zhou Bai had reason to believe, as more people came to the territory and it grew stronger, the variety of resources inside would increase and diversify.
"Someone's back!" At the gate, Feng Lezhi saw figures appearing not far from the territory and called out immediately, reminding those waiting for family inside.
Zhou Bai's attention was instantly drawn, she glanced at the Lord Map and felt reassured.
"Should be my dad and the others." With that, Zhou Bai hurried to the gate.
Hearing this, Ding Qiurou stopped trading, quickly followed Zhou Bai, and others with family still out followed too.
They'd barely gone far when Zhou Bai's shout rang out.
"Everyone, give a hand! There are wounded!"
People nearby heard and quickly rushed over.
Were the Guard Team hurt? That group's weapons and gear are good, their levels higher than most, and they've got numbers. If they're getting hurt, does it mean tougher demon beasts have appeared out there?
Many started worrying, anxiety creeping up in their hearts.
But as they got closer, they realized it wasn't just the Guard Team returning—there were dozens of survivors, all sizes.
This batch of survivors was much more miserable than before—almost everyone had injuries, some wounds still bleeding, soaked through makeshift beast skin bandages, their faces pale as death. Clearly, they'd barely survived some huge disaster.
Many people sighed deeply inside, then stepped forward to help.
"Come on in to the territory!"
"We just cooked some food, you can eat first."
"Anyone here a doctor? Or learned some first aid? Please help with bandages!"
"..."
This group had been rushing day and night, worried and scared, both physically and mentally exhausted.
Seeing the territory, they were overjoyed, finally looking forward to some rest.
But then, right at the gate, they encountered such warmth. The tough facade they'd held up instantly collapsed, eyes reddened, voices choked, "Thank you, thank you…"
Everyone helped each other, guiding them all into the territory.
Once inside, when asked by the territory, everyone paid without hesitation to become Residents.
Zhou Bai estimated the crowd, then placed a stack of steamed buns for sale at the restaurant and constructed more housing.
The newcomers stared at the buildings suddenly popping up, unable to help but take several glances.
"That's probably the territory detecting new Residents and building new housing. You can buy a room for 6 Gold Coins; or rent, 100 copper coins for a day. Living inside feels safer and you won't get disturbed."
"There's also the Lord Mansion, restaurant, Blacksmith Shop, and tailor shop inside. You need to get your Identity Token from the Lord Mansion to officially become Hope Village Residents, then use your ID to buy from the shops. The restaurant serves food—right now, just steamed buns. Blacksmith Shop sells weapons, tailor shop sells clothes. It's simpler than before the apocalypse, but way better than the wilds. As more people come, it'll upgrade… Sorry, talking too much, eat something first. You can learn about the territory later."
"..."
The newcomers were led by earlier arrivals to settle around the bonfire.
Someone went to buy steamed buns and handed them out one by one.
Eating steamed buns, drinking hot soup, warmed by the bonfire, the new survivors felt almost as if they'd entered another world.
But… it's so good!