Natural Disasters Strikes: I stockpiled like crazy!-Chapter 256: A Quiet Night, A Dark Trade

They didn’t take the motorcycles toward Heyuan Road. Instead, they switched to one of the modified cars from Nanzhi’s space — the Rezvani Military Edition.

Fifteen minutes after passing the intersection of Heyuan Road, the two were immediately greeted by a horde of alien beasts.

"Grrr!"

The beasts were only Tier 2.

They posed no real threat and were wiped out in less than five minutes.

They continued driving until they spotted a broken drone lying on the road.

Nanzhi picked it up with her mental power.

After a closer look, Lin Weihao recognized it. "It’s Hei Qian’s." He recalled Bingwen’s earlier proposal on the bus about using drones. He noticed a hook attached to the bottom, still smeared with blood and bits of alien beast flesh.

Nanzhi already knew Hei Qian was talented with firearms, but she hadn’t known he could build drones too.

If Hei Qian made these, they must have encountered a horde earlier. That was probably what we killed just now, Lin Weihao thought.

Ten minutes later, they reached the gas station. They could see the bus and lights on inside the small roadside three-story motel beside it.

As their vehicle approached, several figures rushed out.

"Sister Nan!"

"Brother Lin!"

Feng Ran ran out first, followed by Baoyin, Bingwen, and Hei Qian.

Aside from dirt and tears in their clothes, Nanzhi and Weihao were unharmed. Everyone visibly exhaled.

"You two almost scared us to death!" Feng Ran said, half angry, half relieved. "Jumping off moving vehicles like it’s a hobby!"

Baoyin added, "We were this close to sending a search team. Then we realized the search team would probably need rescuing too."

Nanzhi laughed softly. "Everyone alright?"

"We’re fine," Feng Ran said. "Kids and everyone already ate. Madam Wang and the baby are resting." He paused, then added, "You two look like you wrestled a building."

Bingwen’s eyes scanned them. "Brother Lin, what about the giant frog—?"

Hei Qian waited for the answer too.

"It’s dead," Weihao replied.

Lin Weihao wasn’t the type to joke at a time like this, so they believed him immediately.

The four surrounded them at once, excited to hear how they defeated the monster, secretly regretting they hadn’t seen it live.

But the moment was interrupted.

Uncle Wang came out from behind them, face pale. "Xiao Nan, you’re here! You’re really here!"

After confirming they weren’t hurt, color slowly returned to his face. "I’m glad you and your boyfriend are safe. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to go on if something happened to you. Next time, if something like this happens, let me lure it away. You’re all still young. I’ve lived long enough. Even if I die, I won’t have regrets." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He held his grandchild in his arms. He truly believed what he said.

"Uncle Wang, don’t say that," Nanzhi replied. "I’m not someone eager to die. And if something happens to you, who will help your daughter-in-law? She just gave birth."

Though her expression stayed calm, the emotions in her voice were unmistakable. His worry-filled words reminded her of her parents.

The others chimed in.

"Your grandchild just came into this world. Don’t leave before he even knows your face."

"You say you’ve lived enough, but his life is just beginning. Stay and watch him grow."

Even the usually taciturn Weihao spoke. "You’d miss too much..." His voice was low. He had raised a son before. He knew how precious those years were. Sometimes he woke in the middle of the night from dreams, the longing sharp and familiar.

His gaze drifted to Nanzhi’s profile. He wished the apocalypse would end soon.

Feng Ran, Bingwen, and Hei Qian were slightly surprised by his words. They exchanged glances, but the questions died when they saw his expression.

Surrounded by the warmth of these young people, Uncle Wang could no longer speak of sacrifice.

"Alright, alright..." A tear slipped down his face. He patted their shoulders gently. "It’s cold and dangerous outside. Let’s get inside."

Inside, the children and the two uncles also gathered around Nanzhi and Weihao.

Wang Ziqing came over as well.

They had all been waiting. Seeing the two safe finally let everyone breathe.

Longmen Base

Lu Chenyu stood inside his residence, waiting by the door. Every so often, his eyes flicked toward the pond in the courtyard, fear and unease lingering on his face.

Whenever bubbles surfaced, his heart raced and his steps instinctively shifted back, as if something might crawl out and devour him.

Then, without warning, two cloaked figures appeared before him.

Their faces were hidden beneath their hoods, but their voices matched the figures Bingwen and Hei Qian had seen days ago — and the same ones who visited the Crystal Water Facility yesterday searching for the giant frog.

The one with the deep masculine voice extended a gloved hand. A small vial rested on his palm.

"Here. As promised."

Lu Chenyu’s unease vanished, replaced by naked excitement. His gaze locked onto the vial.

"Thank you, Great Benefactor."

He took it carefully, staring at the swirling black liquid inside.

The moment the vial changed hands, a faint red light flashed in the depths of the two figures’ eyes — gone as quickly as it appeared.

As they turned to leave, Lu Chenyu hurriedly spoke. "Won’t you stay for a meal?"

"We won’t stay long. We still have somewhere to go," the female-voiced figure replied calmly.

Lu Chenyu glanced nervously toward the pond. "Then... what about the pond, Great Benefactor?" His voice lowered. "I’ve been maintaining it as instructed."

"We have no immediate use for it," the man said. That big frog in the Crystal Water Facility has changed location. It will take time to find it again.

Lu Chenyu hesitated. "About the feeding—"

"Stop for now," the woman cut in. "Just keep it stable while we’re gone. We’ll need another batch when we return."

Another batch?

The two vanished before he could ask more.

Silence fell.

Lu Chenyu slowly turned toward the pond. In the dark water, he imagined countless tiny eyes staring back, blinking beneath the surface.

His face drained of color. He shut the door at once.

Far from Longmen Base, the two cloaked figures moved swiftly through the night.

The woman suddenly spoke, a light laugh in her voice.

"Come to think of it... the batch in Pearl City should be mature by now, right?"