The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire village, moving faster than fear itself as whispers turned into confirmed terror. Ordinary survivors and the two remaining sequencer convoys were completely shaken after hearing that a single man and a small flying girl had wiped out an entire gang.
People gathered in small groups, their voices trembling as they repeated the same unbelievable story again and again. "A level 2 sequencer… killed just like that?" one man muttered in disbelief, his face pale and drained.
Another added with fear in his voice, "Not just that… the entire Tiger Gang was wiped out, every last one of them." The weight of those words hung heavily in the air, making even the bravest feel uneasy.
Soon, another shocking detail spread alongside the massacre, making the situation even more intense. Li Xuan had placed a bounty on every remaining Tiger Gang member and anyone closely connected to them.
"If you give correct information, you will be rewarded with supplies," people repeated his words carefully. "But if you try to trick him… you will die." That final warning silenced many who had even thought of lying.
Some survivors, driven by greed and desperation, immediately started searching for any hidden Tiger Gang members. "Food is more important than loyalty now," one man said coldly, scanning the area like a hunter.
Meanwhile, those spies and members of the Tiger Gang who had been away from the village felt chills run down their spine when they heard the news. "We were lucky… too lucky," one of them whispered while hiding in an abandoned house.
"If we had stayed, we would have been dead by now," another replied, his voice shaking as fear took over. Without hesitation, they chose to disappear completely, hiding like rats to avoid being hunted down.
Xu Ming and the others had also received the news, and the impact hit them deeply as they understood the true extent of Li Xuan's power. Seeing how easily he had wiped out the Tiger Gang, they felt both fear and relief at the same time.
"We are fortunate… that he didn't kill us," Xu Ming said quietly, his expression serious and heavy. No one argued with him because everyone understood the truth behind those words.
One by one, they chose to submit themselves to Li Xuan without resistance, knowing that survival mattered more than pride now. It was not loyalty, but fear and logic that guided their decision.
Li Xuan had already prepared everything carefully, thinking several steps ahead before making his move. He chose specific people as hostages, not randomly, but with clear intention behind each choice.
"Xu Ling, Lin Xue, Zi Ling, and Rou Xi…" his calm voice echoed as he announced their names one by one. Each name carried weight, causing the atmosphere to become tense instantly.
Xu Ling, Xu Ming's daughter, froze in place as her face turned pale, her body trembling uncontrollably. Lin Xue, the ten-year-old granddaughter, stood silently, her eyes filled with fear but also a strange maturity beyond her age.
Zi Ling remained calm, even slightly curious, while Rou Xi stood there completely frozen, confusion written all over her face. She could not understand why she was chosen.
Zhang Xuan and Zhou Xun were left out intentionally, standing apart as they realized the deeper meaning behind Li Xuan's decision. Their expressions darkened with guilt and regret.
When Li Xuan announced himself as the new captain, the silence that followed was suffocating. "From now on, I am the leader of this convoy," he said calmly, but his tone carried absolute authority.
"Tonight, I will announce a new name and new rules," he continued, scanning everyone with a sharp gaze. "These hostages will stay with me for now, and you may meet them during dinner… only with my permission."
The reaction was immediate and intense, especially from the girls who had been chosen.
Xu Ling broke down instantly, tears streaming down her face as she cried out loudly. "Please… I didn't do anything… let me go…" her voice trembled with pure fear and desperation.
Lin Xue, despite being only ten years old, stood quietly as tears filled her eyes but did not fall easily. She understood the situation better than most adults, knowing that resistance would only make things worse.
Zi Ling, surprisingly, felt a sense of relief deep inside her heart. "At least… I won't die easily now," she thought, her lips forming a faint smile that confused others.
Rou Xi remained silent, her mind racing with questions. "Why me… what did I do…" she whispered to herself, unable to find any answer.
Zhang Xuan and Zhou Xun lowered their heads, unable to face the others as guilt consumed them. They knew everything had happened because of their earlier actions, and now others were suffering for it.
Some family members looked at them with quiet resentment, their eyes filled with blame they could not express openly. The tension within the group began to crack slowly.
This was exactly what Li Xuan wanted, as his plan unfolded perfectly.
By taking hostages, he ensured control and prevented betrayal from within. By separating key individuals, he broke their unity and weakened any chance of resistance.
After making his announcement, he gave them one hour to gather at his building and ordered Zhang Xuan and Zhou Xun to spread the news across the village.
"Invite everyone," he said coldly. "Those who want to join will stay… others can leave." His voice made it clear that this was not a request, but an order.
When Li Xuan returned to his building, the girls inside were waiting anxiously, unaware of what had truly happened outside. They had only heard chaos, screams, and movement, but did not dare step out.
The moment they saw him return safely, relief washed over their faces instantly.
Sang Zhi stepped forward first and asked cautiously, "What happened outside… why was there so much noise?" Her voice carried both worry and curiosity.
Li Xuan replied casually, as if he had done something ordinary. "The Tiger Gang provoked me, so I wiped them out," he said simply, without any emotion.
"And now… I have taken over the convoy," he added, as if it was the most natural outcome.
The girls were stunned, their minds struggling to process his words. "He… wiped out an entire gang… just like that?" one of them whispered under her breath.
Li Xuan continued without caring about their reaction. "Some people will come here soon… they are hostages," he said calmly.
"Treat them as humans," he added firmly. "They will work and eat like you."
He then instructed everyone to clean themselves and wear good clothes, as today marked the beginning of something new. "We are forming a new convoy," he said, "so we must look presentable."
Using his spatial ability, he casually took out large containers filled with water, along with soaps, shampoos, and clothes. The girls stared in shock as items appeared out of nowhere.
"So… this is his ability…" Sang Zhi whispered, her eyes filled with awe and curiosity.
Excitement replaced their fear as they hurried to clean themselves, feeling a rare sense of comfort in such a chaotic world.
Meanwhile, Li Xuan also prepared himself, removing his previous disguise and making himself look clean and presentable. He adjusted his clothes, fixed his hair, and wiped away the dirt from his face.
"If I am going to lead… I must look like a leader," he thought silently, his expression calm but determined.
Back in the convoy, emotions were running high as the selected girls prepared to leave.
Rou Xi cried silently, unable to control her fear and confusion.
Zi Ling focused on her appearance, trying to stay composed and make a good impression.
Lin Xue was comforted by her grandfather, who said softly, "Be obedient there… we will meet during dinner."
She nodded quietly, her small hands clenched tightly as she tried to stay strong.
Xu Ling, however, completely broke down, crying loudly as she refused to go. "I don't want to go… I don't want to die…" she shouted in fear.
Her parents could only comfort her helplessly, but nothing seemed to calm her down.
Soon, they all arrived at Li Xuan's place, and the moment they approached, a rich aroma of food filled the air.
"What… is that smell…" someone whispered, their stomach growling uncontrollably.
When the door opened, they were completely stunned by what they saw inside.
A young girl and a woman welcomed them warmly, and beyond the entrance was a large dining table filled with real food—rice, meat, soup, vegetables, fruits, and drinks.
"This… this is real food…" one man said in disbelief, his eyes wide open.
For a moment, everyone felt like they were dreaming, unable to believe such a scene in the middle of an apocalypse.
Li Xuan stepped forward and said calmly, "Eat to your fill… today is a good day."
No one refused as they took their seats slowly, their eyes still fixed on the food.
Xu Ling sat nervously, constantly glancing at Li Xuan as if he might kill her at any moment.
After Li Xuan began eating, the others followed quietly, focusing only on filling their stomachs.
He introduced everyone briefly and explained their situation clearly. "You are hostages… but as long as you don't betray me, you will be treated well," he said.
Rou Xi and Zi Ling ate silently, their hunger taking over.
Lin Xue ate carefully, observing everything around her with sharp eyes.
Xu Ling continued crying softly while eating, her sobs barely stopping as fear consumed her completely.
Her parents tried to comfort her again, but she could only cry quietly.
Li Xuan watched everything with a faint smile, his eyes calm and calculating as his control over the situation grew stronger.