Chapter 3: The Woman in the Nightgown

Mu Xinfei's scolding came to an abrupt halt as her eyes landed on the massive, two-meter-tall roulette wheel glowing in her spacious kitchen.

"What… what is this?"

By the standards of civilized society, Mu Xinfei could be considered a tough woman. Her confidence was evident in how she hadn't immediately fled or called the police upon seeing Ye Zhongming enter her home.

Part of that confidence came from the two months of self-defense classes she'd taken, and part from her trust in the security of the Dingsheng Haoting neighborhood. After all, there had been incidents where burglars were beaten half to death by the guards.

Of course, Ye Zhongming's unthreatening appearance also played a role in her lack of panic.

"It's an Apocalypse Roulette," Ye Zhongming replied, his hand brushing against the roulette's intricate surface.

Despite the surreal nature of his rebirth, seeing the roulette again stirred a whirlwind of emotions—relief, hope, anger, weariness, and even a strange sense of attachment. It was a complex mix he couldn't quite put into words.

The Apocalypse Roulette was the foundation of human survival in the post-apocalyptic world. Those who mastered its use early on became the first to rise to power. A decade later, some of them had become legendary figures, ruling over the ravaged Earth with absolute authority unmatched by any pre-apocalypse world leader.

These rulers owed their power to the roulettes scattered across the planet.

In his previous life, Ye Zhongming hadn't encountered his first roulette until three months after the apocalypse began. It had taken him another three months to gather enough Magic Crystals to spin it, only to find that most roulettes were already controlled by powerful factions. Spinning a roulette often meant handing over your hard-earned crystals, and even if you won something valuable, there was a good chance you'd be killed for it.

The apocalypse was far crueler than anyone could imagine.

It wasn't until a year later that Ye Zhongming joined a small group and got his first real chance to spin a roulette, setting him on the path to becoming a Six-Star Evolver. But even then, finding a safe roulette to use required immense luck and came at a high cost.

The Apocalypse Roulettes were the most valuable resource in the wasteland. Nearly every survivor settlement was built around one.

Now, reborn, Ye Zhongming's greatest advantage was his knowledge of countless roulette locations. The one in Dingsheng Haoting was the closest Level 1 Roulette to him.

As he examined the roulette and its ten evenly divided sections, a sense of relief washed over him. With this roulette, he could become one of the first to gain power, then use his experience and memories to grow stronger quickly.

At the center of the roulette was a teardrop-shaped gray gem—the mark of a Level 1 Roulette. Level 2 Roulettes had pure white gems, while black gems indicated Level 3 and above. Even a decade into the apocalypse, Level 3 Roulettes were fiercely contested.

Ye Zhongming's eyes scanned the ten rewards on the roulette, landing on one that made his heart race:

One-Star Enhancement Serum—a potion that could double or even triple a person's physical abilities.

It was arguably the best reward a Level 1 Roulette could offer.

In his previous life, Ye Zhongming's first spin had awarded him this very serum. Without it, he might have died early on.

"You know what this is, don't you?"

Mu Xinfei, still in her pink nightgown, finally snapped out of her shock and fixed Ye Zhongming with a determined gaze.

Ye Zhongming glanced at her. With her striking looks and figure, she was undeniably attractive. For a brief moment, he almost hoped she'd turn into a zombie soon. Killing her would net him a Level 1 Magic Crystal, bringing him one step closer to spinning the roulette.

But as he thought this, something caught his attention. His eyes fell on the roulette's half-meter-tall metal base, where the crystal slots were located. Typically, a Level 1 Roulette required five Level 1 Magic Crystals to spin. However, this roulette had seven grayish-white slots.

Seven!

This was unusual. The number of slots indicated the quality of the rewards. Level 1 Roulettes could require anywhere from two to twelve crystals per spin, with most needing five. Roulettes requiring fewer crystals offered inferior rewards, while those needing more provided better ones.

A Level 1 Roulette requiring seven crystals suggested rewards far superior to the average.

Ye Zhongming quickly reviewed the ten rewards:

1.One-Star Enhancement Serum

2.A Type 54 Pistol

3.A Crossbow

4.A Medical Kit

5.A pack of Assorted Canned Fruits

6.A six-pack of Bottled Water

7.A large pack of Chewing Gum

8.A pack of Tea Leaves

9.A jar of Honey

10.A Mystery Card

The last reward—a face-down card—caught Ye Zhongming's attention.

Luck Function Card—a rare reward that granted random special abilities, such as enhanced vision, heightened senses, or even a monster companion. In his previous life, Ye Zhongming's team leader had obtained a Stone Skin card from a Level 4 Roulette, which had saved his life countless times.

Now, such a card was within reach.

Ye Zhongming checked the time. In a few minutes, those without genetic resistance would mutate into zombies. It was a cruel lottery, and Ye Zhongming was fortunate to have immunity.

He glanced at Mu Xinfei, wondering if she'd be lucky or not.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, she took a few cautious steps back, then turned and ran out the door in her slippers. Ye Zhongming shook his head. If she wasn't immune, it didn't matter where she was. If she was, staying inside would at least buy her some time. Outside, the world was about to become a living hell.

But less than a minute later, Mu Xinfei came running back, her face pale. She must have seen something horrifying.

"You… you know what's happening, don't you? You've been calm this whole time. You were excited when you saw this… thing. You drove straight into the neighborhood and came to my house. You had a plan. So you must know what's going on, right?"

Her voice trembled, but even in her panicked state, she displayed remarkable observational skills. Not many people, especially women, could remain so perceptive during a crisis.

"What's your name?" Ye Zhongming asked, suddenly intrigued. If she turned into a zombie, he might just bury her and carve her name on a makeshift tombstone.

"Mu Xinfei."

Ye Zhongming choked on his own saliva, staring at her as if she were a monster.

"What did you say your name was?"