The woman shook her head violently, refusing to meet Tang Ze's gaze. After Tang Ze emerged from the bedroom, gathering up the provisions left inside, he proceeded to the next house.
It was a night drenched in blood—a symphony of carnage that echoed through the darkness. The screams never ceased until the first pale light of dawn broke through the horizon.
In the living room, none of the three women had managed to sleep. Anxiety gnawed at them relentlessly. Last night, Tang Ze had simply said he had some errands to run, but since then, there had been no word from him. Now, with daylight streaming in, the eerie sounds of terror outside only deepened their unease: What on earth was happening? If Tang Ze were dead, they would face unimaginable torment. Even Ye Qingyi, who usually kept her distance, found herself praying for his safety.
Under this mounting pressure, Ye Qingyi began to sob quietly. Memories of recent tragedies flooded back—the brutal murders of her sister and brother-in-law—and she couldn't suppress her wails any longer.
Crying proved contagious. An Bai joined in, tears streaming down her face, while Sun Ting trembled uncontrollably. The thought of ending up like her murdered friend filled her with dread, tears pooling in her eyes.
Without Tang Ze, they were nothing. As the sound of the door creaking open reached their ears, the three women turned toward it, their faces a mixture of fear and hope.
Tang Ze stepped in with a grin, holding a large gift box, though his body was splattered with blood. "Crying so early in the morning? I'm still alive, you know."
An Bai burst into tears, genuinely terrified. If Tang Ze had died outside, she felt certain she would have thrown herself off the balcony—not out of love, but to escape the torture.
"Oh, someone comfort her," Tang Ze muttered impatiently.
Sun Ting dabbed at the corners of her eyes. "That's just how Xiao Bai is—she's always been timid."
Tang Ze shook his head and approached Ye Qingyi, placing the gift box before her. "For you. No need to thank me."
Ye Qingyi stared at the box, stunned. Even An Bai stopped crying, while Sun Ting looked on enviously. This was the first time Tang Ze had ever given anyone a gift. Inside, she guessed, might be something sweet—a cake, perhaps. But what had Ye Qingyi done to deserve such a reward? Was it because of last night's performance?
"I'm going to take a shower. Clean yourselves up. Your makeup's all smudged—you look like drowned rats. And if I catch you looking this disheveled again, I won't hesitate to kill you all."
The three women exchanged startled glances and quickly scrambled to fix their appearances. Tang Ze preferred beautiful women; ugliness repelled him.
In the bathroom, hot water cascaded over Tang Ze's muscular frame, washing away the crimson stains down the drain. Reflecting on the night's accomplishments, a dark satisfaction welled within him. His progress bar had surged to 63%—just a little more, and he'd unlock the upgrade package. Speedy results, albeit questionable quality.
Back in the living room, the three women had tidied themselves up and now sat near the mysterious gift box.
"What could it be? I'm dying to know," An Bai murmured, her wide eyes shimmering with curiosity.
Sun Ting sighed enviously. "We've been here for days without so much as a trinket, and you've barely arrived before receiving a present."
"Maybe it's because I'm… untouched," Ye Qingyi teased lightly.
Her words struck a nerve. Sun Ting and An Bai exchanged wounded glances.
Ye Qingyi chuckled softly. "Relax, I'm joking. Let's share whatever's inside."
Building rapport with these women was essential.
Upon hearing that Ye Qingyi intended to share, Sun Ting and An Bai brightened visibly, their opinion of her improving slightly.
As Ye Qingyi slowly opened the box, the smiles froze on the three women's faces.
"Ugh… ugh…" An Bai clapped a hand over her mouth, her stomach churning violently as she rushed to vomit into the trash can.
Sun Ting, who had initially felt nauseated, lost control after hearing An Bai retch and followed suit.
But Ye Qingyi remained stoic, staring at the severed head inside the box.
It belonged to the man who had murdered her sister and brother-in-law.
Mao Gang.
Pale from vomiting, Sun Ting pointed a trembling finger. "Who… who is that?"
"The man who killed my sister and brother-in-law," Ye Qingyi replied calmly. "Sister, Brother-in-law, rest in peace. Gangzi has come to apologize for his sins."
An Bai wiped her lips with a tissue, envy creeping into her voice. "Master truly favors you."
Ye Qingyi forced a strained smile. Why had Tang Ze suddenly done this? Had her beauty captivated him?
Soon, Tang Ze emerged wearing only his underwear and plopped onto the sofa. "I'm exhausted."
Sun Ting and An Bai immediately understood and began massaging him.
"Thank you," Ye Qingyi murmurred, kneeling by Tang Ze's feet.
Tang Ze closed his eyes indifferently. "I ran into him by chance. He claimed to be your brother-in-law's close friend, so I disposed of him."
"And his wife and daughter?" Ye Qingyi pressed.
"All dead," Tang Ze replied languidly, as if on the verge of sleep.
Massaging him, Sun Ting glanced at Ye Qingyi curiously. "Master, why were you out all night?"
"I dealt with a few people. From now on, you don't need to stay cooped up indoors. You're free to roam the neighborhood," Tang Ze announced with a satisfied tone.
An Bai gasped. "I wouldn't dare wander around. They'll capture me."
"There's no one else left in the entire complex—just the four of us remain."
An Bai and Sun Ting gaped at Tang Ze in disbelief.
No one else remained? Where had everyone gone? Were they all… dead?
"Alright, I'm going to bed," Tang Ze declared, patting Ye Qingyi's head. "You pleased me tonight."
Retreating to his room, Tang Ze collapsed onto the bed, leaving a pistol propped against the doorframe. Anyone foolish enough to enter would receive a bullet between the eyes.
The three women knew this rule well and avoided his bedroom entirely.
"Let's go take a look outside," Sun Ting suggested tentatively.
An Bai hesitated. "What if he's joking?"
Ye Qingyi shook her head firmly. "He wouldn't joke about our lives."
Recognizing her logic, Sun Ting and An Bai agreed. Armed with kitchen knives, the three women cautiously ventured outside.
Summoning their courage, they descended to the underground parking lot. The silence was oppressive, almost suffocating. Entering Building 4, the stench of blood assaulted their senses immediately.
Blood dripped steadily from the staircase above. Swallowing hard, the trio pressed onward—Sun Ting led the way, An Bai stayed in the middle, and Ye Qingyi brought up the rear.
Reaching the first floor, the hallway reeked of death. A man's corpse lay sprawled on the ground. Stepping inside the apartment, the three women recoiled in horror.
The sight was unbearable. Bodies were piled high, layer upon layer, forming a grotesque mountain. On the dining table lay an emaciated female corpse, her hollow eyes wide with terror, frozen in perpetual anguish.
Unable to endure the sight, the three women leaned against the wall and vomited in unison.