Chapter 21: 21, Family status

Today, one shocking piece of news followed another, leaving the settlement in a state of unease. Tonight, instead of hiding in their homes, everyone poured into the streets to discuss the matter.

The factory boiler explosion was not particularly severe—after all, such incidents were not uncommon due to years of neglect.

Yet this time was different. When had wolves ever dared to raid human factories? Nearly every factory employed thousands, and the roads outside the settlement buzzed with activity at shift changes.

Some workers returned to the settlement to live, while others resided in factory dormitories, working in three shifts without rest.

For a wolf pack to attack such a small human settlement near a refuge barrier was unthinkable.

As the mercenary accompanying the band had said, Haven 113 lay within the vast network of barriers, where safety was traditionally assured. Initially, the refuge had stationed troops at the factory, but when no beast attacks occurred, the soldiers were withdrawn, leaving only a few guns for the managers.

As night fell, the gates of Haven 113 suddenly swung open, its massive doors rumbling with a thunderous roar. Hundreds of armed soldiers emerged.

These were the private army of Haven 113—or rather, the Qing Consortium behind it.

Schoolmaster Zhang Jinglin had once casually mentioned that the consortium now controlled the havens, holding humanity’s survival and the weapons to fend off external threats. With money in one hand and arms in the other, they had firmly grasped all power.

This was the first time Ren Xiaosu and Yan Liuyuan had seen so many soldiers emerge from Haven 113. Yan Liuyuan crouched in a lean-to, secretly watching the private army march toward the settlement. He whispered, “Brother, are those the guns they’re carrying?”

The black firearms looked cold and brutal, and Ren Xiaosu was not surprised to recognize them all.

Moreover, he sensed that if he obtained these weapons, he could wield them masterfully.

The soldiers marched in disarray—some rode in armored vehicles ahead, while others trailed in a chaotic jumble. Their formation was so disordered that one soldier grumbled, “It’s just a few deaths in the factory. Why not go tomorrow morning? Why hunt wolves all night?”

“Silence,” someone snapped. “This is an order from above.”

“What’s there to fear? The lords won’t hear us—they’re still in women’s beds,” the man muttered, lighting a thin cigarette. Ren Xiaosu caught that strange scent again.

Frowning, Ren Xiaosu found himself trusting these private soldiers less and less.

The smoking soldier turned and spotted Ren and Yan eyeing his assault rifle. “What are you two brats staring at? Know what this is? Don’t bother—you wouldn’t know how to use it.”

Ren Xiaosu lowered the curtain, but he disagreed with the latter half of the soldier’s words.

For reasons unknown, he suddenly judged that the soldier’s marksmanship might be poor—the triangular area on his chest, meant to absorb recoil, showed no sign of years spent training.

What Ren Xiaosu didn’t know was that even for the havens, firearms were scarce. Officers rarely allowed these soldiers to waste ammunition. Better to spend the funds on wine or women.

Though alcohol was banned outside the haven, it flowed freely within.

Yan Liuyuan asked curiously, “Brother, why do you act like you know their guns?”

Ren Xiaosu glanced at him. “Don’t ask.”

Yan Liuyuan pouted. “Am I still a member of this household?”

“Don’t overthink it. Your place here is simply to stay alive,” Ren said casually, lost in thought.

Yan Liuyuan: “…”

When the soldiers’ footsteps faded, Ren abruptly stood. “You stay with your sister Yu tonight. I’ll return later.”

“Where are you going?” Yan blurted.

Before he finished, Ren had silently lifted the curtain and slipped out. The streets were crowded now, so no one noticed his departure.

People usually dared not venture out after dark, yet tonight they all had emerged, as if celebrating the New Year.

Ren moved through the shadows, and once beyond the settlement’s bounds, he sprinted. The moon was dim, but he had traversed these paths daily for years—he could navigate them blindfolded.

The private soldiers took the main road, while Ren chose a parallel path to avoid them.

He came here for no other reason than to seek an opportunity, though he couldn’t articulate what it might be.

Guns!

It was the guns that had drawn him here!

Having mastered advanced firearms skills, Ren understood their value in this age. The mercenary had once said: they had hot weapons, and wolves would flee at the sound of gunfire.

Having faced wolf packs, Ren knew their terror—but these terrifying creatures feared gunshots?

He didn’t know what the private soldiers would encounter, nor did he plan to seize their weapons. His target was the factory, where everyone knew the managers kept firearms.

According to escapees, the factory was already lost. Earlier, Ren had wondered: if wolves feared gunfire, why hadn’t the managers simply fired to scare them off?

Perhaps they never expected an attack, leaving no time to retrieve weapons. Perhaps the armed guards were ambushed, or some other reason—but the guns might still remain there.

Ren ran with all his might, more familiar with the terrain than the soldiers, who marched while he sprinted.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out in the darkness, followed by relentless gunfire and human screams.

Ren spun around, realizing the private soldiers had clashed with wolves—and many were wounded despite firing. Weren’t wolves supposed to fear gunfire? Wasn’t fleeing danger instinctual for beasts?

Even now, Ren held a truth: though beasts had evolved, they had never overcome their instincts. Rabbits still grazed, and wolves still fled from gunshots.

Unless… everything had changed.