Chapter 36: Recruiting Two GatekeepersCreating is not easy, please call and vote for me!

"Don't provoke me, and I won't provoke you. But cross me, and I'll end you."

This had always been Xiao Yang's philosophy. Who enjoyed killing for no reason? But in this apocalyptic world, anyone competing for resources had to die. Seeing Mu Wanqing and the others humbly accept his lesson, Xiao Yang said nothing more.

He strode into the property management building, where the remaining survivors cowered in fear, clutching makeshift weapons. Xiao Yang smirked—dispatching these weaklings would be child's play. But they were clearly coerced by the security team and hadn't joined the attack. He saw no reason to slaughter them.

"Relax. Drop your weapons. I won't kill you," Xiao Yang said, sheathing his blade to ease tensions.

The survivors, already terrified by his ruthlessness, immediately complied. Weapons clattered to the floor.

"I've cleared all zombies from this villa district. From now on, this is my territory. You can't stay here."

Xiao Yang had planned this long ago—the Purple Mountain Villas' defensible terrain and abundant housing made it an ideal base.

"Can… can we leave the mountain now?" someone ventured timidly. Many had longed to descend, hoping to scavenge food in the city. Only the horde of "monsters" (or "zombies," as Xiao Yang called them) at the gates had trapped them here.

"Go ahead. But on one condition." The crowd tensed—such bargains rarely ended well.

"Clean up every last zombie corpse before you leave."

The rotting remains disgusted Xiao Yang. Why waste his own time when free labor stood before him?

The survivors sighed in relief. Manual labor beat certain death. "Deal!" they chorused.

"But I'm not feeding you. Scrounge your own meals." Xiao Yang pointed at the villas. "Plenty of scraps left there."

The group scattered, only to regret their haste. The villas lay ransacked—only frostbitten produce remained, with instant noodles becoming luxury items. Worse, the mutilated corpses—half-skulled zombies, spilled intestines—triggered constant retching. By nightfall, their eyes held pure reverence for the man who'd singlehandedly slaughtered this nightmare horde.

"You're free to go," Xiao Yang declared, satisfied.

The crowd dispersed, leaving two women behind.

"Why stay?"

"This villa… it's my only home," said the first, a resident.

"I worked here. My hometown's too far," said the second, a former staffer. Both recognized Xiao Yang's strength as their best hope for survival.

"Any awakened abilities?" Xiao Yang inspected them—average looks, passable figures. Only useful skills could justify their stay.

"Abilities?"

"Any physical changes since the apocalypse?"

After contemplation, both shook their heads. Hunger was their only "enhancement."

Xiao Yang sighed. "I don't keep dead weight."

"Please!" the resident begged. "You need gatekeepers! Let me guard the entrance!"

"Me too! I'll do anything!" the staffer added.

Xiao Yang considered—assigning Mu Wanqing's group to sentry duty wasted their potential. "Fine. Temporary guards. Find your own bedding and food." He tossed them a walkie-talkie and lighter. "Burn wood for heat. Report issues immediately."

Lin Shishi marveled at her own privileged treatment compared to their harsh terms.

"One more thing," Xiao Yang added. "When we scavenge, one of you can tag along to find food and gain experience. Prove useless, and you're gone."

The women nodded eagerly. Harsh conditions beat certain death. They scavenged supplies, gathered firewood, and settled into the guardhouse's second floor, establishing rotating shifts.

Satisfied, Xiao Yang led his team back to their villa. Behind him, the two new recruits began their vigil—a small price for sanctuary in hell.