Chapter 133: This Woman is Terrifying

Su Dai paused for two seconds before explaining to Jiang Yan:

“It’s just that a small group of people have been controlled by Ma Longbiao’s gang. They’re the ones who can move around to gather information. Most of the other residents are hiding, crammed inside their apartments, too scared to come out.

Not only have all their usable supplies been taken by Ma Longbiao’s group, but even any possible weapons at home have been confiscated—apparently, they didn’t even spare eyebrow razors or nail clippers.”

Jiang Yan instantly understood.

No wonder Dao Yinping and his lot were able to act so recklessly.

No food, no water, no weapons.

These people are empty-handed, so it’s true they don’t have much fighting power.

And with kids and such at home being taken as hostages—

Aren’t they just fish on a chopping block, waiting to be slaughtered?

Ma Longbiao and his crew are truly cunning and vicious.

Speaking of hostages, Jiang Yan glanced over at Dao Yinping, who was slumped over, legs bouncing wildly as he played the sanxian.

She was about to pull him aside for questioning when she saw Sun Jingtao and the others already breaking down the door of 2901 with a loud “bang.”

“Jiang Yan—” Sun Jingtao turned to look at her, signaling for her to come in too.

Jiang Yan nodded and walked forward.

The curtains inside were all drawn, making the room pitch dark.

Ye Qing took out the rechargeable flashlight Jiang Yan had given them and shone it inside.

The place was piled high with all sorts of supplies, but no people.

Ye Qing strode in, quickly checked the place, and pulled open the blackout curtains in the living room and bedroom.

Light poured in, making everything much clearer.

All the furniture and bedding in 2901 had been cleared out, and the bedroom was stacked with supplies.

Food, water, clothes—everything.

There were also kitchen knives, hammers, wrenches, fruit knives, and so on.

It was obvious these were supplies looted from the residents.

In the living room, a few waterproof-wrapped bundles were stacked, with labels scrawled in marker: [Food—Rice], [Food—Glutinous Rice Flour], and the like.

“Where are these supplies supposed to go?” Jiang Yan turned to Dao Yinping, who was standing at the door.

“I—I don’t know. Ma Longbiao personally handles all the supply transfers. He never tells us anything.” Dao Yinping shook his head like a rattle drum, looking genuinely clueless.

“There’s not enough here to go around for so many people,” Su Dai commented from the side.

“That’s because most of it’s already been moved elsewhere. Of course it’s not enough,” Sun Jingtao said.

Looks like their real base isn’t at Qianshui Bay after all.

They’d all guessed wrong.

“In just one night, they managed to turn the 29th floor into a temporary base. Ma Longbiao’s group really can’t be underestimated,” Ye Qing, who had been silent until now, frowned deeply.

“Indeed,” Sun Jingtao agreed, feeling a chill inside.

Jiang Yan had already taken out a flashlight from her backpack and was carefully scanning every corner, not missing a spot.

Two brown bottles appeared in a corner.

Jiang Yan walked over.

They looked like chemical reagents.

She didn’t know if they were toxic.

She pulled a glove from her pocket—actually, from her space—and put it on before picking up the bottles.

“Jiang Yan, what’s that?” Su Dai came over to take a look.

Jiang Yan shone her flashlight on the label: “Ether.”

Su Dai was taken aback. “Ether? What would they use that for?”

“Anesthesia,” Jiang Yan replied flatly.

She didn’t elaborate.

Ether is a colorless, odorless liquid.

In the past, some criminals would pour it on a towel and cover someone’s nose, knocking out even a strong man without a sound.

Later, the government put strict controls on its sale, so such cases became rare.

Now, seeing two bottles here, and not yet moved out, it looked like they were meant to be used on the remaining residents.

If they’d found them earlier, Tian Jiliang’s wailing might have been much less.

Su Dai stared in shock for a second. “Ah, this…”

Jiang Yan had already put the bottles into her backpack—actually, into her space.

Her backpack was already bulging.

She didn’t need the supplies they’d found earlier in 2904, so she planned to give them to Sun Jingtao and the others later, which was why she hadn’t stored them in her space.

It would be easier to take them out from her backpack.

Sun Jingtao and Ye Qing had finished checking all the supplies with two other residents and asked for her opinion:

“Jiang Yan, what should we do with these supplies?”

Dao Yinping, over there, could clearly see that everyone was looking to Jiang Yan for direction.

But now, he no longer dared to underestimate the frail-looking Jiang Yan, nor the ruthless Ye Qing.

In just a short while, nearly twenty of his brothers had died.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Jiang Yan killed without batting an eye.

This woman—she was beautiful, yes.

But she was absolutely ruthless!

And her marksmanship was terrifying!

What kind of woman shoots with every bullet hitting the head, right on target?!

He’d had a gun before, but mostly used it to intimidate others.

If he’d really had to use it, he wouldn’t have been any good.

After all, shotgun shells are limited, and he hadn’t had enough time with the weapon to practice his aim.

And after seeing Jiang Yan kill so many people without even changing expression, he figured her mind must be pretty twisted.

After silently analyzing all this, Dao Yinping decided not to slack off anymore. He’d look for a chance to show off in front of Jiang Yan.

If he could successfully switch sides, this “big shot” was no less powerful than Ma Longbiao.

If not, at least he’d get a quick death.

“I suggest we let them decide for themselves,” Jiang Yan said, glancing at the two other residents.

The risks in all four apartments had been cleared. She had more important things to do and didn’t want to waste time here.

These supplies were originally looted from the residents anyway. Whether to return them or not, they could decide for themselves.

She didn’t want to get involved.

After speaking, Jiang Yan turned and left 2901.

Sun Jingtao had the same thought.

He gave a brief explanation to the two residents, then left with Ye Qing and the others.

The arguing and standoff in the hallway was still ongoing.

“Tao-ge, are you guys leaving?” a few people guarding the fire door asked as they saw Sun Jingtao and the others come out.

Sun Jingtao looked at Jiang Yan, seeking her opinion. “Should we head back upstairs first?”

After all, they needed to question Dao Yinping and quickly come up with a plan.

It was too noisy and chaotic down here.

Jiang Yan’s eyes turned cold as she looked at Dao Yinping. “Earlier, you mentioned a bunch of living dead on the 22nd floor. What did you mean?”

“N-nothing…” Dao Yinping shuddered, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Jiang Yan had already found her answer: “We’re going to the 22nd floor!”

With a creak, the fire door was opened from inside.

The noisy hallway fell silent for a moment.

The lighting was dim.

When the people upstairs saw Jiang Yan, their eyes were full of hope.

Most of the people downstairs looked at her with fear, resentment, and hatred.

As if they were looking at a demon, or their mortal enemy.

A few people’s expressions were unreadable, lips pressed tight, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Almost all of them were men, with a few older women among them."