Ye Chuan never expected that bringing along a little tag-along would lead him to run into a gang of robbers. In his understanding, even if this was a survival world, it shouldn’t have escalated to people looting supplies by the second day.
Then again, maybe those guys were just scumbags to begin with, even before they got here, so they immediately fell back on their old ways.
Ye Chuan spoke up, addressing the group, "We haven’t even started gathering supplies yet. Shouldn’t we be helping each other out? What if there’s danger at night?"
"What the hell do we care if you die?"
"Yeah, are you stupid or something? ‘Helping each other’—pfft, hilarious!"
"Definitely an idiot. No wonder no group took him in."
The gang burst into laughter, as if they’d just heard the funniest joke. Once the small factions had formed, anyone left alone was just easy prey—a sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
After all, in this world, power was everything.
But since Ye Chuan claimed they had no supplies, the thugs switched tactics. "Take us to your dorm! And we’re searching you!"
As they spoke, a few of them leered at Tian Xiaotian, their predatory gazes lingering on her petite, cute figure. The malice in their eyes was practically dripping.
Around them, passersby remained indifferent. At a time like this, everyone was struggling just to survive. No one was foolish enough to step into trouble.
"You’re right," Ye Chuan mused, his smile taking on a dangerous edge. "What does it matter if someone dies?"
"Glad you finally get it. Hey little girl, you hiding anything? Let big bro check~" One of them reached out toward Tian Xiaotian, making her face turn ghostly pale.
The next second, the man was sent flying by Ye Chuan’s kick!
Ignoring the howling figure on the ground, Ye Chuan turned his attention to the rest of the stunned men.
"Damn, this brat’s got guts!"
"You’re dead! Let me show you the might of Liang Chaowei from A City!"
...
"B-bro, I was wrong! Please!" Half a minute later, the group was on their knees, faces battered and bruised, utterly humiliated.
"Teehee, serves you right! Shouldn’t have messed with my boss!" Tian Xiaotian stuck her tongue out at them, spinning around in glee.
"Let’s go," Ye Chuan said, motioning for her to follow.
"Okay!"
Ye Chuan had only broken their limbs—enough to leave them alive until nightfall, when the ghosts would finish them off.
Why?
Because he was merciful.
Ye Chuan figured the ghosts’ methods would be far crueler than his. This was their karma. And with broken limbs, he doubted any group would take them in now.
After wandering around with Tian Xiaotian for a while, Ye Chuan noticed the hallways had turned into battlegrounds. People fought over resources, some already collapsed, bleeding and moaning.
"Guess there’s nothing worth seeing here," Ye Chuan muttered, heading back to the dorm.
At the door, he spotted a few people loitering near his room. They scattered the moment they saw him return.
Ye Chuan paid them no mind, stepping inside.
He wasn’t worried about any tricks. Against an ordinary person, his strength was overwhelming. No scheme could stand against absolute power.
"Sit," Ye Chuan said, patting the bed beside him when he noticed Tian Xiaotian standing awkwardly. "Why stand when there’s space?"
"O-okay, Boss!" She plopped down immediately.
As Ye Chuan scrolled through his phone, she couldn’t resist asking, "Boss, how are you so strong?"
"One gold bar, and I’ll answer."
"I don’t have any..."
"Then sit quietly."
"Uuu..." Tian Xiaotian whimpered like a puppy.
Still, she quickly realized Ye Chuan wasn’t hard to get along with. By afternoon, she was sprawled on the bed, scrolling through group chats.
"Boss, the daytime only lasts six hours, huh?"
"I know." Ye Chuan glanced at the wall clock, its hands moving unnaturally fast.
That meant the safe period was short—just six hours to scavenge and survive.
But to Ye Chuan, it didn’t matter.
People feared ghosts.
Ghosts feared him.
Soon, night fell. The surroundings plunged into darkness in an instant—
[Hehehe, do your best to survive. The ghosts are much stronger on the second day.]
[Oh, and weapons to fight ghosts will randomly spawn in the hallways. Use them well.]
The broadcast crackled to life again.
Outside, eerie noises filled the corridor—chilling winds, the wails of a female ghost, the cries of an infant.
"B-B-Boss... I’m scared," Tian Xiaotian stammered, only to see Ye Chuan suddenly stand up.
"Finally! Time to farm. Let’s go—this’ll be fun!"
Tian Xiaotian: "?"
Boss, this isn’t right. Why do you sound like you’ve been waiting for this?!
"Boss, what about me?" Tian Xiaotian asked hurriedly as Ye Chuan headed for the door. "Take me with you!"
"Stay here. I don’t want you getting hurt," Ye Chuan said casually.
"Huh?"
"Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered." He snapped his fingers.
Dark mist swirled, coalescing into a massive blood-red wolf demon, its crimson eyes locking onto the petrified Tian Xiaotian.
"Wha—?!!" She fainted on the spot.
"Doggo, guard her. I’m off to grind XP," Ye Chuan said.
The wolf demon rumbled, "Understood, Master."
Ye Chuan pushed open the dorm door, stepping into the freezing, pitch-black hallway.
Pale figures flickered in the darkness.
Sensing something, he turned—
A white-robed female ghost floated beside him, her ghastly face twisted into a grotesque smile. "Giggle... do I look pretty, brother?"
But the ghost froze when she saw Ye Chuan’s utterly unimpressed expression—if anything, he looked amused.
"Pretty," Ye Chuan said, before pulverizing her with a single punch, leaving only a glowing spirit core behind.
"Pretty explosive."
The hallway erupted into chaos. Drawn by the disturbance, swarms of white-robed ghosts surged toward him.
"Easy now, no need to rush."
Ye Chuan reached into the air, summoning a peachwood sword. With a single swing, spiritual energy erupted, mowing down the entire corridor like a scythe through grass.
"Not bad. Next floor." He waved a hand, collecting all the spirit cores.