Chapter 41: Paying the Rent to Move In
Seeing the four people getting closer, Xu Zhi immediately activated her ability, [Eye of Secrets].
In an instant, the fog cleared completely, and the four figures were revealed to her with perfect clarity.
Three men and one woman—two of the men looked to be in their forties, while the remaining man and the woman seemed a bit younger, probably around twenty-five or twenty-six.
More importantly, three out of the four were ability-users. Based on the colors she saw, the woman had the [Heart] attribute, and the two men had [Blade].
The color of the extraordinary flames within them wasn’t bright, which Xu Zhi instinctively understood to mean their powers weren’t particularly strong.
She hadn’t been able to discern such things before, but now she could. It seemed that as her own ability grew stronger, the effectiveness of [Eye of Secrets] had also improved.
Three of the four were ability-users, and based on subtle interactions between them, it was likely they were very familiar with each other.
Lucky coincidence?
But their clothes weren’t particularly clean or tidy, and after entering the old residential district, they wandered around cautiously before discussing something among themselves and choosing a building to enter.
Xu Zhi frowned as she watched. “Planning to stay here temporarily?”
Judging by their appearance, they probably didn’t have a permanent place to stay. Newly awakened ability-users weren’t very powerful. At best, they had some passive abilities, which wouldn’t help them survive in this increasingly dangerous city.
Or perhaps, it was precisely because they were a team that they’d managed to survive on the run and make it to the old residential district.
Now, the more powerful mutated beasts nearby had already been cleared out. Her three familiars even did a sweep each morning to remove newly arrived threats, making this area unexpectedly safe. Only a few weak creatures, ones not even worth the familiars’ time, remained.
Xu Zhi knew Shen Jinwen often hunted these weaker mutants. All in all, this old neighborhood had become an ideal training ground for new ability-users.
But that comfort came with her approval. These four clearly hadn’t asked. So Xu Zhi figured it was time to “negotiate.”
She didn’t plan to bluntly drive them away. After what Yi experienced in the forest, Xu Zhi had an idea.
If these four wanted to stay here, sure—But they’d have to pay her in cores.
And she wouldn’t do it alone. She needed Shen Jinwen for this—let her be the “enforcer.” After all, Xu Zhi had better things to do than micromanage, and it was high time to make use of a companion.
Recalling Zhen, her fastest familiar, Xu Zhi headed to Shen Jinwen’s home.
Shen Jinwen usually went out in the mornings, returning at uncertain times. Xu Zhi radioed her through the walkie-talkie to confirm she was home before going up.
After hearing about the four newcomers, Shen Jinwen asked calmly, “What do you plan to do?”
Xu Zhi blinked. “Huh? Don’t you have a plan?”
Shen Jinwen looked at her for two seconds, then gave a helpless smile. “Just tell me what to do.”
Over time, Shen Jinwen had come to understand what kind of person Xu Zhi was. The fact that Xu Zhi came to her meant she already had a plan—and she just needed cooperation.
And that was fine. Shen Jinwen wasn’t great at overthinking things anyway. Xu Zhi was a reliable partner, and division of labor was no issue.
Besides, she wasn’t blind—she’d noticed the difference in the area since Xu Zhi arrived and silently appreciated her for it.
“Alright then.”
Seeing Shen Jinwen cooperating, Xu Zhi dropped her playful tone and got serious.
“I don’t mind people staying here, as long as they don’t cause trouble—and they pay cores as rent.”
Shen Jinwen nodded. Understood.
“How much are you charging?”
Xu Zhi was still mulling over that. Too high and they’d scare people off—not that the newcomers could afford it anyway. Too low and it wouldn’t be worth her time.
After thinking, she said, “Let’s start with one core per person per week. They pay before moving in.”
“But that’s just the initial rate. Once their level increases and they can hunt more cores, the price will go up.”
After hearing that, Shen Jinwen asked, “How do you make sure they’re willing?”
Xu Zhi shrugged with a smile. “It’s voluntary. If they don’t want to, they can leave. But the rent doesn’t just buy them a place to stay.”
“At low levels, this is the safest place around—and the best for low-tier training. You know that.”
“And once they get stronger and realize they can’t escape this city, and how dangerous it really is, they’ll understand something else: it’s not this place that’s safe—it’s because I’m here.”
It wasn’t the place that was secure, it was the area around Xu Zhi that was. And Xu Zhi herself—would one day become the strongest ability-user in this city. The one everyone wanted to befriend.
As she spoke, her voice brimmed with a confidence and arrogance that hadn’t existed before. Shen Jinwen noticed the change in her—but whether it was good or bad, she wasn’t sure. Either way, it wasn’t something she could control.
“Alright.”
Shen Jinwen nodded.
In the apocalypse, past morals no longer applied. Besides, Xu Zhi wasn’t extorting them—this was a voluntary deal. No one could fault her for that.
“So… should we go now?”
Shen Jinwen sounded slightly hesitant. After all, there were four of them, and their combat strength was unknown.
Xu Zhi nodded.“Don’t worry. My pet will come with us.”
Hearing that, Shen Jinwen relaxed.
Just as they stepped out of the building, a white blur flashed by and came to a halt near Xu Zhi before landing lightly on her shoulder.
Shen Jinwen looked surprised—she hadn’t expected Xu Zhi to have yet another pet, and such a beautiful one at that—a Saker falcon.
Hiding her admiration, Shen Jinwen glanced at its not-so-large body and asked, “Can it take on four people?”
Xu Zhi nodded. “Zhen can kill them all in under three seconds.”
“Good.”
They entered the building the four newcomers had chosen. Guided by Zhen, they arrived at a room.
Just like Xu Zhi had done before, the newcomers had picked a room with the door left open.
Xu Zhi stood aside while Shen Jinwen stepped forward and knocked.
There was silence inside for a few seconds, then a man’s wary voice called out: “Who is it?!”
The voice came from a distance inside the room.
Shen Jinwen spoke directly, “We’re residents here—and ability-users. We’d like to talk about your decision to stay here.”
