Chapter 37 Moving into a temperature-controlled safe house, locking the door, and not caring about anyone.
"Ahhh—!"
A pig-like scream pierced the tranquility of the valley.
Zhao Xuelan clutched her face, which had been scalded into a bloody mess, and rolled frantically on the ground.
A large patch of her thick, long hair was scorched, emitting a nauseating smell of burnt flesh.
The few survivors she had incited were terrified out of their wits upon seeing this scene.
"Ghost! There's a ghost!"
"This villa is strange! Run!"
They scrambled down the mountain for their lives, terrified that they would be the next ones scalded by boiling water.
After rolling on the ground in pain a few times, Zhao Xuelan also dragged her suitcase and fled down the mountain in a pathetic state.
The farce came to an end.
In the Central Control Room.
Qian Duoduo watched, dumbfounded, and couldn't help but give Lin Xingwan a thumbs-up.
"Boss, you're awesome!"
"To deal with such a shameless old hag, you have to use this tactic of fighting magic with magic!"
Lin Xingwan expressionlessly closed the drone's surveillance feed.
She walked to the central console.
Her slender fingers gently pressed down on the giant red emergency lockdown button.
"Initiate The Fortress, full lockdown."
Her voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.
"Received, Master."
The cold electronic voice of the AI system, Friday, echoed throughout the Underground City.
"Star Fortress, full lockdown initiated."
"Hum—"
A dull sound of mechanical operation came from all directions.
The one-meter-thick titanium alloy blast door at the base's surface entrance slowly descended with a roar.
"Click, click, click."
108 hydraulic safety locks locked simultaneously, the sound like the death knell of the Grim Reaper.
All ventilation and drainage outlets hidden underground were tightly sealed by triple blast gates.
This doomsday fortress, built at a cost of tens of billions, was at this moment completely isolated from the outside world.
It became an impregnable steel island, independent from the world.
Lin Xingwan stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling glass of the Central Control Room.
Watching the world outside gradually being swallowed by darkness, she let out a long sigh of relief.
Once the door is locked, I don't care about anyone.
From now on, whether the outside world is hell or heaven, it has nothing to do with her.
She returned to her private territory on the tenth underground level.
She went to the bathroom first and took a comfortable hot bath.
The swirling steam dissipated the exhaustion of the past few days.
She changed into a light and soft silk pajama, walking barefoot on the temperature-controlled cashmere carpet.
The indoor central air conditioning was precisely maintaining the temperature at a most comfortable 26 degrees Celsius.
The air purification system ran 24 hours a day, and the breeze it blew carried the fresh scent of a forest after the rain.
She walked to the living room, where the five huge bio-mutated Tibetan Mastiffs were lying obediently on the temperature-controlled mat.
Seeing Lin Xingwan come out, they immediately wagged their tails excitedly.
"Hungry, aren't you?"
Lin Xingwan smiled and took out five huge top-grade tomahawk steaks from her space, throwing them in front of them.
The Tibetan Mastiffs immediately began to gnaw on them happily.
The "crunch" of bones being bitten apart was exceptionally clear in the quiet living room.
Lin Xingwan walked to the wine cellar and poured herself a glass of excellent vintage ice white wine.
She curled up in the soft leather sofa and turned on the home theater.
On the huge projection screen, a hilarious movie that was popular before The Apocalypse was playing.
Outside was a world of panic, on the verge of collapse.
But here, she could wear pajamas, drink fine wine, pet the dogs, and watch a movie.
No worries, no one to disturb her.
This was the ultimate, top-tier sense of security in The Apocalypse!
Lin Xingwan leaned on the sofa, drinking wine and watching the movie, and fell asleep unknowingly.
This was the most peaceful and sound sleep she had had since she was reborn.
She didn't know how much time had passed.
She was awakened by a slight vibration.
It was the alarm she had set on her phone, which was placed on the coffee table.
Lin Xingwan opened her sleepy eyes and glanced at the screen.
Midnight, exactly twelve o'clock.
She turned off the alarm, stood up, and stretched.
"What is meant to come, will come."
She carried her wine glass and walked to the huge bulletproof floor-to-ceiling window in the master bedroom.
The Fortress's soundproofing system was excellent; outside, it was deathly silent.
It was as if the whole world was holding its breath in this darkness, waiting for the arrival of the Final Judgment.
Lin Xingwan finished the last sip of the cold white wine in her glass.
She lay down on the custom-made, three-meter-wide bed, which was so soft that one could sink into it.
The quilt was a top-grade silk quilt, as soft as a cloud.
She closed her eyes and waited quietly.
The second hand ticked "tick, tick" in the silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Ten seconds.
Suddenly.
"Beep beep beep beep—!"
The industrial-grade thermometer by the bed, which was connected to the outside world in real-time, erupted with a shrill red alarm without warning!
On the screen, the number representing the outdoor temperature was skyrocketing at a terrifying speed that completely defied the laws of nature!
Lin Xingwan opened her eyes wide.
It's here.