Natural Disasters Strikes: I stockpiled like crazy!-Chapter 211: Longmen Base (2)

"If you really need something but don't want to get ripped off, go to the back alley behind the temple. Some sellers do quiet trades there, including information—but only if you've got something good to offer!"

Nanzhi listened intently. The layout of the base hadn't changed much from what she remembered.

They moved on, reaching a heavily guarded building at the center of the base. It was an old temple—older than the one used as the trade hall.

The guards saw them approaching and quickly redirected them. "What are you looking at? Be gone! This place is off-limits!"

The boy lowered his voice. "That heavily guarded temple is the armory."

Nanzhi gave it a thoughtful look, while Lin Weihao did the same, his eyes narrowing in interest.

Feng Ran, who had been observing their gazes, was startled. It's not what I think it is, right?!

"See that big courtyard? The one with the broken lions?" Tao'er continued.

Nanzhi's gaze followed his gesture—an old government building, its entrance now reinforced with metal plates and guarded by men wielding rifles.

If she remembered correctly, there had once been a small man-made lake inside, surrounded by a small bamboo forest.

"That's where the boss of Longmen stays. No one enters without an invitation." Tao'er whispered, his voice dropping in volume. "Boss, be careful around him. He's a powerful dual-power awakener. I heard he likes to snatch and kidnap women! He has a harem of beauties inside!"

Tao'er couldn't help but glance at Nanzhi and the others. This kind big sister and her friends were cleaner and prettier than most of the women he had seen. Surely, the tyrant boss would take an interest in them.

A dual-power awakener? That caught Nanzhi's attention. Lin Weihao's curiosity was piqued as well but his was different.

As far as Nanzhi knew, the previous owner of the base had been surnamed Zhou—an undoubtedly one-attribute awakener! The same Zhou who had been the father of the man close to Xiao Lizi, Zhou Enlai. He had been an ally to Lu Chenyu and had helped his business flourish before the apocalypse.

She was now curious to see who this new boss was.

"Housing here is divided into different levels," Tao'er continued, leading them past the old government building and into an open square where the former living quarters of ancient palace servants once stood.

The guard didn't let the boy in, so Tao'er could only explain from outside the walls.

"The cheapest rent is in the outer courtyards, which consist of makeshift bedding—straw mats, wooden pallets, and sleeping directly on the stone floor. Daily rent is half a kilogram of food, no privacy, and if you're unlucky, you'll have to sleep next to someone who snores louder than a mutant boar."

Though crude, it was still better than the slums.

"If you walk further inside, you can find small rooms barely big enough for two people, which cost one kilogram of food per night."

"The next option is a place called Merchant Row." Tao'er continued, "It's located in a section of the fortress that's been repaired with wooden beams and reinforced doors. Each room has a simple wooden bed, and there's a public bathroom or latrine. It's two kilograms per night."

Finally, they reached an inner courtyard with well-preserved buildings, likely reserved for guests in the past. The heavy wooden gates were guarded by armed men.

"This is the Inner Courtyard. The price here is five kilograms a night."

Feng Ran let out an exasperated sigh. He couldn't believe how this base operated!

Tao'er guided them on how to rent the house.

Behind a dark alley, the boy looked around, ensuring no one was watching before quickly covering a thick package with soiled clothes and hiding it inside his loose attire.

"Thank you, Brother and Sister!" he said, his face lighting up with gratitude. "If you want to know more about the base, you can come to me!"

Nanzhi and Lin Weihao exchanged a small, knowing smile at his cleverness.

Nanzhi suddenly remembered what she had come here for. "I do indeed have another job for you."

Tao'er's eyes brightened. "I'm at your service!"

Zhao Lin, however, decided to separate from the group after learning where they were staying. The girl was stubborn and refused to stay with them.

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In the following days, she planned to repay her debt while searching for her relatives.

Meanwhile, in the slums, people scurried away from the pungent smell of Tao'er as he passed.

Tao'er walked through the winding alleys of the slums until he reached the farthest tent near the base's walls.

When his hand stretched into the entrance of the tent, a middle-aged man popped out.

Tao'er quickly entered and said, "Uncle Meng, someone is looking for you!"