Chapter 25: A Visitor

Di Ping always felt a sense of urgency. Each day he did not utilize the system's functions, he felt uneasy. Since learning about the appearance of the giant mutated crocodile in Di Lake, he had sensed a fundamental change in the world. The mutation rate of various animals was accelerating, and humans, once the dominant species, seemed to have fallen behind in this evolutionary shift. Up to this point, he had neither encountered nor heard of any human mutations.

As he observed the trees in the neighborhood growing larger day by day, it became clear that the mutated wildlife in the wilderness had turned into a dangerous, primal world. If trees were evolving so rapidly, one could only imagine that animals were also mutating at an even faster pace. Mutated cats and dogs had already become a serious challenge to deal with, and today, encountering a mutated python had greatly heightened his concerns. He recognized this snake as a common rural black python, which had never grown beyond the size of a bamboo pole in the past. But today, this one had grown to a size comparable to the giant anacondas of the Amazon.

This series of changes gave him a strong sense that human survival was becoming increasingly difficult. Particularly the rapidly growing plants, which were encroaching on spaces once occupied by human activity. If humans lost the protection of city buildings, how many would be left to survive? This had become a pressing issue.

The unlocking of his potential today had filled him with excitement. It was only at this point that he developed a strong desire to activate the system. He saw hope in it—his potential had been unlocked, and it closely resembled the game mechanics he had known. The system prompted him to activate the tavern to complete a class transition, and this offered him a new world of possibilities. He was eager to understand whether this professional system was exclusive to him or if everyone could access it. He had to admit that it was only now, at this moment, that he truly valued the system. It was as if a voice in his mind urged him to activate it, for it represented humanity's final hope.

Sitting on the sofa, Di Ping remained silent, deep in thought. Li Sheng lay motionless on the couch, Fatty Cheng Chao and Old Luo were checking the items they planned to bring. After finalizing his thoughts, Di Ping set his teacup down and stood up. He took the Han sword from Yu Shujie's hands, gently drawing it from its scabbard. The once-sharp blade now showed several chips, which saddened him. This sword, which represented the pinnacle of human craftsmanship, could no longer keep up with the rapid mutations of animals. If he had had a sharper blade today, a single strike would have sufficed to slay the giant python, and he would not have nearly lost his life, nor would Li Sheng have been left immobilized.

Di Ping sighed deeply. It was clear that activating the system was an urgent matter. He desperately wanted to materialize the system and purchase a weapon, curious if the system's weapon would be as powerful as those in the game.

"Let's go!"

He set aside all distractions and signaled to the three prepared companions as they walked toward the door.

"Doo doo!"

Suddenly, two light knocks came from the door. Di Ping froze in place, and the others also looked startled. There were no other people in the building—how could anyone be knocking?

Di Ping silently cursed his earlier distraction for not noticing anyone approaching. He gestured for the others to stay still and quietly walked to the door. He peered through the peephole.

Through the peephole, Di Ping saw a young woman standing outside. She was tall, about 1.7 meters, with long, smooth black hair that reached her shoulders. Her complexion was fair, with the kind of narrow, angular face that was popular at the time. Her large eyes, with long, slender lashes, and delicate eyebrows shaped like crescent moons, made her an attractive woman—one of the more beautiful ones Di Ping had seen, likely scoring over 90 points. However, at that moment, she was sweating heavily, her expression anxious and frantic, her eyes darting around in apparent panic.

"Who are you?" Di Ping asked, assessing her as not seeming to pose a threat. He listened carefully and heard nothing except her hurried breaths from the corridor, before speaking in a low voice.

"Ah! You... hello! I... I'm from building 2... 2!"

The woman was initially startled by the voice, but then looked towards the door with a look of relief and hastily asked.

"Is there a problem?"

Di Ping continued to observe her through the peephole. He was cautious—not because he mistrusted her, but because in such an end-of-the-world scenario, anything was possible. He had to ensure that the woman wasn't attempting some sort of trick.

"Can you... let me in? I... I'm scared!"

As she spoke, her frantic eyes searched around, and when they landed on the peephole, her expression was filled with fear and desperation. Her face had turned pale, almost ghostly.

"Alright," Di Ping thought for a moment, then decided to open the door. He didn't believe she was faking it—her fear seemed genuine. If she was acting, she was an excellent actress. After speaking, Di Ping gestured for the others to stay alert. Yu Shujie cautiously stepped back, and the other three men took up their weapons, ready for any unforeseen circumstances.

"Ah! Thank you, thank you...!"

When the woman heard Di Ping's voice, she seemed overjoyed. A smile spread across her face, and the terror that had distorted her features melted away, revealing her natural beauty. Di Ping couldn't help but silently praise her: "She's truly beautiful!"

If Yu Shujie was like a blooming flower, this woman was just beginning to open—a more mature, graceful charm, with an intellectual and soft elegance that radiated warmth and a subtle thrill. Yu Shujie was youthful and fresh, like a flower touched by morning dew, evoking a feeling of excitement.

Having been so focused on Su Xiao for so long, Di Ping hadn't really noticed any other women. He had seen beautiful women over the years, but never allowed himself to truly appreciate them. Now, after awakening from his fixation on Su Xiao, his heart was freer. He began to genuinely take in the world around him, including the women in it.

He shook his head to dismiss his feelings, pushing them deep down. He had his principles. In this end-of-the-world scenario, he wouldn't allow himself to lose control. His ability to maintain self-discipline was the key to his success.

The door opened just enough to let the woman in. Di Ping didn't fully open it—he remained cautious, but confident in his ability to close the door quickly if needed.

The woman rushed inside, as if she were fleeing from some savage beast. Once inside, she collapsed against the wall, gasping for air, her hands pressed against her chest as though trying to calm her pounding heart.

She wore a loose-fitting short-sleeved top and body-hugging seven-eighths jeans, which accentuated her slender figure. She leaned against the door, her breathing labored, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to regain composure.

For a moment, Di Ping was momentarily stunned by her beauty. What he had seen through the peephole had been beautiful, but up close, she was even more striking. Yet, Di Ping was too focused on his mission to be distracted by her appearance. He had been hardened by the trials of the apocalypse.

The others reacted differently—Fatty Cheng Chao's eyes were wide, clearly admiring her, while Cheng Chao, a former soldier, kept his composure, though he appreciated her beauty. Old Luo, however, remained indifferent.

Di Ping inwardly sighed. People's personalities were shaped by their experiences, and these men showed just how different their lives had been.

Fatty was blunt, never hiding his opinions. Cheng Chao, with his military background, had excellent self-control, while Old Luo, having lived at the bottom of society, knew what he needed. Di Ping was relieved by their reactions, as none of them displayed inappropriate behavior. He couldn't tolerate anyone with lascivious thoughts in his team. If any of them had acted inappropriately, Di Ping would have kicked them out.

From the moment the woman arrived, Di Ping had been analyzing her behavior. He had opened the door to observe the men's reactions and assess their character—he was testing them, and they had passed.

"Ah!"

The woman seemed to realize how silent the room had become and suddenly looked up, startled by the three men watching her.

"Now, speak. What do you need?" Di Ping asked, holding the Han sword in his arms, looking at her calmly.

"I... I..."

The woman shrank back, clearly nervous, unable to speak coherently.

"Don't be nervous, take your time," Yu Shujie said gently, stepping forward to comfort her.

The woman, seemingly finding a source of comfort, suddenly hugged Yu Shujie and began to cry uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.

Yu Shujie glanced at Di Ping, who nodded. She gently patted the woman's back, whispering comforting words.

"It's okay! It's okay! Don't be afraid! You're safe here now."

It took a few minutes for the woman to calm down, wiping her tears as she muttered a soft "Thank you." Yu Shujie smiled warmly and led her to the couch to sit down.

The four men exchanged glances, unsure of what to do next.