The man inside the room was Wang Jin.
It just so happened that he was on duty at this hour. After the apocalypse, danger could strike at any moment, and people couldn’t sleep too deeply at night. Gradually, everyone arranged shifts to take turns standing guard.
He never expected that, just as night fell, he would encounter such a tricky problem.
Seeing the door opened so easily, it was obvious that this group was powerful. Wang Jin no longer showed the fierceness he had before. The lead transformed into a timid figure, oozing obsequiousness.
“Haha, brothers, my apologies. It’s late at night, let’s understand each other.”
“Since you’re in, wait a moment. I’ll go inform someone.”
“Hmph.”
After everyone entered, Lu Jingze went over and restored the door to a lockable state.
Wang Jin hurried upstairs to a room.
“Boss, Boss.”
He knocked at the door for a while. Inside, Zhao Ximeng opened the door with a scowl.
“What is it? Don’t you know I’m sleeping?”
“Boss, there’s a group of people downstairs, around ten or so.”
“Let them come. Why the fuss?”
“Boss, they entered on their own. I didn’t open the door. There should be ability users among them.”
“Go check.”
Zhao Ximeng was big and muscular. Before the apocalypse, he had been an enforcer in the bureau.
After the apocalypse, he had awakened a strength-type supernatural ability. Along with a few of the bureau’s younger members, he had set up at this hotel, which had become their base.
Now, someone had dared to challenge him. Ignoring it wasn’t an option—he had to maintain his Boss reputation.
As he descended, Zhao Ximeng instructed Wang Jin: “Go wake Old Gu and the others. Bring a few brothers downstairs.”
“Got it, Boss.”
When Zhao Ximeng reached downstairs, he saw Ji Heng’s group sitting together. In the middle was a young man, like a wealthy young master, holding a child and feeding him.
Ji Tianyi cried out as soon as he entered the room, saying he was hungry.
Tian Le guessed that it would take a while for upstairs people to call anyone down, so he used water from a thermos to prepare milk for the little one.
Sun Ye, seeing Tian Le’s smooth handling, couldn’t help but comment, “Tian Le, you’re a super babysitter.”
“Not at all, he’s Daddy, not Dad.”
After half a meal, Ji Tianyi had enough energy to chat. Hearing Uncle Sun call Tian Le “Dad,” he immediately corrected him.
“Yes, Boss is your Dad.”
“Mhm, Uncle Sun is a bit smart after all.”
“Hahaha.”
The group, hearing the little master’s innocent words, relaxed slightly, laughing out loud.
Li Yang and the others naturally knew that Ji Heng, the team’s Boss, had a son—this Ji Tianyi.
Tian Le had not been formally introduced, but from everyone’s behavior, it was clear he was the Boss’s partner.
Tian Le, unaware, missed another chance to explain. By the time they reached B City, he would have become Ji Heng’s partner and the child’s other Dad.
Various rumors had spread wildly, but all centered on Tian Le having close ties with Ji Heng. By then, any explanation he gave would be met with teasing about the couple’s antics.
When Zhao Ximeng approached, several brothers Wang Jin had called came downstairs, and both sides eyed each other warily.
“This is my territory. You just show up uninvited?”
“What? Where does it say this is your territory?”
Sun Ye heard this and rolled his eyes. Apocalypse hadn’t even been a week, and territory lines were already drawn?
“If you want to stay here, leave some lodging fee.”
“How much?” Bai Qingyu, sensing the other side did not want conflict, asked politely.
Zhao Ximeng saw that they were clean and well-prepared, carrying supplies and with a child who could still drink milk. They must have plenty of resources.
“At least one jin of food per person. Anything edible will do.”
“Heh, you’re really not polite,” Cai Yan sneered at how matter-of-factly he spoke.
Normally, one jin of food was trivial, but in the current chaotic world, supplies were constantly consumed. Every bit counted. No one was foolish enough to waste it.
“Give them ten packs of instant noodles.”
Ji Heng picked up the now sleepy Ji Tianyi, who had eaten and was dozing off. Truly a little piglet—full and asleep.
“Jiang Lijia, go upstairs and organize the rooms, arrange the lodging.”
“Got it, Boss.”
Hearing the Boss’s orders, Luo Xun and the others quickly offered to help. Seeing Ji Heng nod, they hurried to follow Jiang Lijia.
Zhao Ximeng, embarrassed at being shown up in front of his little brothers, tried to assert himself:
“Sir, aren’t you being too arrogant? This isn’t your call…”
He wanted to continue, but when his eyes met Ji Heng’s, all words stuck in his throat.
The presence of the superior forced him to lower his head, yet he couldn’t let himself appear completely powerless.
“Our Boss is letting you off with just one jin of food. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even get lodging.”
“You’re still so arrogant on our turf.”
“Exactly, Boss, don’t waste words. Lead the way.”
The brothers behind Zhao Ximeng were displeased at Ji Heng’s audacity. He was even bolder than them. In recent days, they had been bullying and looting nearby. Zhao Boss was an ability user too—what did they have to fear?
Only Wang Jin shrank back quietly, remembering the ability user who opened the door. If a fight broke out, he needed to stay far away.
Old Gu, standing behind Zhao Ximeng, grabbed an iron rod and moved to block them at the stairs.
Pfft pfft pfft~
Several ice shards shot at his feet. Old Gu froze, unable to move, and turned toward Cai Yan, who had used his supernatural ability.
“Ability user?”
Zhao Ximeng and the others immediately became alert, grabbing their weapons, ready to fight.
Ji Heng had no interest in watching them play. He nodded at Lu Jingze, then picked up Ji Tianyi: “Tian Le, go upstairs to rest.”
“Okay.”
Tian Le had been sitting all day on a bumpy road, feeling sore and uncomfortable. Entering the hotel without food or rest left him silently resentful.
These people were no challenge for Lu Jingze and the others.
Ji Heng and Tian Le had barely climbed halfway upstairs when screams erupted below.
Zhao Ximeng and his men were rolling on the ground in pain.
“Brother, spare us! Spare us!”
At that moment, Zhao Ximeng no longer cared about saving face. He only knew he could not handle these people. He didn’t even see how he was knocked down.