Ding-dong… Ding-dong…
Chen Yi sat bolt upright, listening to the incessant ringing of the doorbell. Gradually coming to his senses, he noted the sky outside was still pitch black. Could it be a neighbor?
"Brother, who's ringing the doorbell?"
Li Miao'er hugged his soft thigh, gently rubbing her sleepy eyes. She'd just been dreaming about marrying her brother and was about to enter the bridal chamber when she was jolted awake.
"No idea. Probably zombies."
Chen Yi squinted at the time on his phone—3:30 AM. Sliding into his sandals by the phone's glow, he fumbled to light a candle with a lighter.
"Brother, could it be Sister Qing'er coming back?" Li Miao'er yawned, got dressed, and walked over.
She wanted to see who was ringing the doorbell. Disturbing people's sleep this late—they really deserved a beating.
"It's possible, but unlikely. Be careful with your weapon."
Chen Yi handed the lit candle to Sister Meow—safer for each of them to carry one.
"It has to be people ringing the bell—it's so regular. Annoying."
Li Miao'er waved her machete, her small face full of displeasure.
If it's a zombie ringing the doorbell, I'll hack it to pieces.
"Who's outside—human or zombie?" Chen Yi whispered, standing by the door.
It was pitch black beyond the door. He couldn't see anything through the peephole and didn't dare open it directly.
"Little brother, we're survivors from Building D. We'd like to team up with you. Can you open the door first?"
A heavy female voice came from outside, clearly straining to speak softly.
"It's so late. Aren't you afraid zombies will follow?"
Chen Yi considered calmly. He had no intention of opening the door to strangers—something felt off.
"Zombies don't come out at night; they look for food during the day. It's totally different from the movies!" another woman explained in a low voice.
"Sisters, it's very late, and we don't know your intentions. We're worried something might go wrong. Why don't you rest on the rooftop for now, or we can talk after dawn?"
Li Miao'er pursed her pink lips and shook her head, her tone icy cold, wanting them to leave.
"What?! We risked so much coming here, and you won't even open the door?! Do you believe I'll—"
"Alright, little sister, we'll talk at dawn. Let's go rest on the rooftop."
A crisp female voice agreed—the previous woman seemed to have been cut off by someone.
"Okay. We'll wait until daytime."
Li Miao'er set the machete by the door, wrapped her arms around her brother's, and quickly retreated to the bedroom, closing the door.
"Brother, those women are trouble. They're definitely not good people."
Her expression was serious. She suspected they'd seen her brother's beauty and come to rob—or worse, claim both of them.
"Meow, there's no law now. Bad people can do whatever they want. We need to figure out their real purpose."
A faint smile touched Chen Yi's lips. It was already impressive that Sister Meow understood this much.
Hope, can you show me information about those women from just now? he asked inwardly.
[Affirmative. Surpassing their spiritual power constitutes overwhelming superiority.]
Name: Li Jin
Age: 37
Constitution: 23
Spirit: 11
Favorability: 21
Name: Li Yin
Age: 39
Constitution: 21
Spirit: 14
Favorability: 35
Name: Li Tie
Age: 38
Constitution: 19
Spirit: 16
Favorability: 31
"Meow, there's definitely something wrong with these three. Their strength isn't high. We need to find a way to subdue them first."
Seeing their stats, Chen Yi's expression shifted instantly. They're probably planning to rob us… and maybe worse.
"Brother, how do you know they're trouble?" Li Miao'er asked curiously, still holding his arm.
Could it be that brother has awakened some supernatural ability?
Why haven't I awakened anything?
Is it because brother is just too beautiful?
"Meow, I can see others' favorability and combat power toward me. The favorability of those three outside is all negative."
Chen Yi pursed his thin lips and looked at Sister Meow's inquisitive little face. It's fine to tell her.
"Brother, what's my combat power? And my favorability?"
Li Miao'er wrapped her small arms around her brother's neck, her pretty face suddenly flushing as if slightly embarrassed.
"Your combat power is 47. I can't see your favorability. The three women outside are all around 21 combat power each. You can easily handle them." Chen Yi smiled, rubbing her cheek.
"Hmph!"
Li Miao'er suddenly pushed her brother onto the bed, planting a hard kiss on his moist, alluring lips, a little upset that he'd seen through her so easily.
"Brother, I'm going to kill them right now—show them what happens when they mess with the wrong people!"
Li Miao'er licked her pink lips, stood up contentedly, and planned to take them out one by one—just like clearing mobs in a game.
Killing three scumbags is nothing. No psychological burden at all.
Especially that nasty woman who's got designs on my brother—I'll cut her down without a second thought.
"Meow, you don't need to kill them. Just knock them out. We'll interrogate them first."
Chen Yi stood up, shaking his head wryly. How did this cute little sister turn into such a little menace?
"Brother, you don't need to come. I can take all three by myself!"
Li Miao'er patted her small chest confidently. Knowing their strength and numbers, she felt utterly assured.
"Wait a moment. Let me find you a weapon before you go."
Chen Yi took the candle to the living room, retrieving a 30cm steel pipe wrench from the toolbox and handing it to Sister Meow.
With this, as long as you don't aim to kill, it shouldn't be lethal. A machete would be different—too bloody.
"Meow, aim for their arms or chin with the wrench. Just knock them out or incapacitate them. Don't get careless, understand?" Chen Yi warned seriously.
"Brother, I've got this. Don't worry."
Li Miao'er took the wrench, curling her pink lips into a smile. She used to love using hammers in games—fast attack speed, high damage, could one-shot enemies.
"Meow, make it quick. I'll come with you."
Chen Yi set the candle by the door, picked up his spear, and followed behind his sister. Though his constitution wasn't high, he could still fight.
Click… Clack…
"You think just 'cause you two brats won't open the door, we'll leave?!"
The moment Li Miao'er opened the door, the three women waiting outside rushed in, their eyes filled with malicious desire as they stared at Chen Yi, as if they wanted to devour him whole.
"Hey, big sis! I'm gonna make this pretty boy cry!"
The speaker was a stout woman with thick, unibrow-like eyebrows and several scars on her face, looking particularly menacing in the dim candlelight.
"I get him first! We sisters take turns. First, tie up that little bitch—make her watch us have our way with this hottie!"
The plump woman with a round face swallowed hard, a sinister sneer on her lips. She was even holding a small black pistol.
"AHHH—!!!"
Li Miao'er roared in fury and charged forward, swinging the wrench down hard onto the thinnest woman's head.
Thump!
The slender woman's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed on the spot.
"Fuck your ancestors! You still dare to fight back?! Today, I'll strip you alive!"
The stout woman glared at Li Miao'er, slashing at her with a machete. The plump woman beside her wore a grim expression as she raised her pistol, aiming at Li Miao'er.