The convoy began moving once again, but this time the atmosphere inside the vehicles felt noticeably different from before.
Although fear had not completely disappeared, a fragile sense of hope had begun to take root among the survivors, slowly easing the tension that had weighed on them for days.
Inside the cars and trucks, people started whispering to each other in cautious yet hopeful tones, as if they were afraid that speaking too loudly might shatter the possibility of safety ahead.
"If the safe zone is real, then maybe we can finally rest without worrying about being attacked every minute," someone said from the back of a truck, his voice filled with restrained anticipation.
Another person replied with a tired sigh, "I don't even remember the last time I slept without fear… even a single peaceful night would be enough."
Li Xuan drove silently along with the convoy, his hands steady on the wheel while his expression remained calm and unreadable.
Unlike the others, he did not allow hope to cloud his judgment, because he understood very clearly that in this new world, hope could often become a fatal weakness.
However, he did not completely dismiss the idea either, since a stable location could still be useful if handled carefully.
After nearly twenty minutes of travel, the outline of the village finally appeared in the distance, gradually becoming clearer as the convoy approached.
At first glance, it looked no different from any other ruined settlement they had passed before, with broken houses, damaged roads, and signs of destruction scattered everywhere.
But as they got closer, something unusual caught everyone's attention.
A transparent barrier surrounded the entire village, faintly shimmering under the light like a thin veil placed over reality itself.
It was difficult to notice at first, but once seen, it was impossible to ignore.
A strange and subtle aura radiated from the barrier, creating an unsettling feeling in the air that most ordinary people could not fully understand.
However, for sequencers like Li Xuan, the sensation was much clearer and far more distinct.
It did not feel dangerous, but it was undeniably unnatural, as if it did not belong to the normal laws of the world.
Li Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly while observing the barrier from a distance, carefully analyzing every detail without revealing his thoughts.
"So this is what they call a safe zone," he thought quietly, though he remained cautious about accepting it at face value.
The convoy gradually slowed down as it approached the entrance, and no one dared to rush forward without understanding the situation first.
As they moved closer, the condition of the surrounding farmland became visible, and what they saw made many people uneasy.
The fields were completely barren, with dry, cracked soil stretching across the land, showing no signs of crops or life.
It was clear that this place had already suffered greatly before their arrival.
Near the entrance of the village, a group of people stood inside the barrier, watching the convoy with guarded expressions.
They held crude weapons such as iron rods, steel pipes, and sharpened wooden sticks, clearly prepared for confrontation if necessary.
Their posture and gaze made it obvious that they were not there to welcome newcomers.
When the convoy stopped about fifteen meters away from the entrance, the engines were turned off one after another, and a heavy silence settled over the area.
Xu Ming stepped out of the front vehicle, followed closely by the giant man whose imposing presence immediately drew attention from both sides.
Before walking forward, Xu Ming glanced back at the convoy and said in a calm but firm voice, "Stay alert and do not act recklessly; if anything feels wrong, we leave immediately."
The giant man nodded slightly and replied, "Understood, I will keep an eye on everything."
The two of them then walked toward the entrance, maintaining a steady pace without showing any hostility.
As soon as they got closer, one of the guards raised his weapon slightly and shouted, "Stop right there and do not come any closer unless you want trouble."
Xu Ming raised one hand calmly to show that he had no intention of fighting, then spoke in an even tone, "We are not here to cause problems; we only want to enter the safe zone and rest for a while."
The guards exchanged brief glances before one of them stepped forward and said coldly, "This place is no longer just a safe zone, it belongs to the Tiger Gang now."
Xu Ming's expression did not change, but his eyes sharpened slightly as he responded, "Then tell me the conditions for entering, so we can decide accordingly."
A faint smirk appeared on the guard's face as he replied, "The rules are simple, if you want to enter, you pay with supplies based on your group size."
He paused briefly before continuing in a slightly harsher tone, "You will be allowed to stay for three days, and after that, every three days you must hand over fifty percent of your remaining supplies."
The giant man frowned deeply upon hearing this and said with clear dissatisfaction, "That sounds less like a rule and more like open robbery."
The guard shrugged indifferently and replied, "You can call it whatever you want, but those are the conditions, and no one enters without following them."
Another guard added with a cold smile, "If you don't like it, you can always join the Tiger Gang and work under us instead."
A brief silence followed as Xu Ming processed the information, fully understanding that this place was no longer neutral territory.
He turned his head slightly to look back at the convoy, where hundreds of exhausted survivors waited for his decision.
After a moment of thought, he said calmly, "We will discuss this with our group and give you an answer shortly."
The guards did not stop them as they turned around and walked back.
When Xu Ming returned, the other sequencers quickly gathered around him, their expressions serious and expectant.
"What exactly are their conditions?" one of them asked directly.
Xu Ming explained everything in detail, leaving nothing out, and the atmosphere immediately became heavy.
"This is clearly exploitation, they are taking advantage of people who have nowhere else to go," one sequencer said with frustration.
Another person responded with a sigh, "Even if that is true, we cannot ignore the fact that we desperately need a place to rest."
After several minutes of discussion, Xu Ming raised his hand slightly and said in a firm tone, "We will enter, but we will avoid any unnecessary conflict at all costs."
No one objected, because deep down they all knew there was no better option available.
Soon, Xu Ming addressed the entire convoy and announced clearly, "Anyone who wants to enter must contribute one day's worth of food and water as payment."
He continued without hesitation, "If you are unwilling to give, you are free to leave the convoy and make your own choice."
The crowd immediately broke into murmurs, with people discussing among themselves in low and anxious voices.
Some agreed without hesitation, while others were clearly reluctant to give up their already limited supplies.
In the end, more than thirty people chose not to contribute anything and instead walked toward the guards, intending to join the Tiger Gang.
Xu Ming did not stop them and simply said, "Your decision will determine your future, so think carefully before you act."
After the supplies were collected, the remaining survivors were finally allowed to enter the village.
As they passed through the barrier, many of them felt a brief and strange sensation, like a cold current brushing against their bodies before quickly disappearing.
Inside the village, the atmosphere felt almost unreal compared to the outside world.
People were walking around casually, talking, resting, and even laughing as if the apocalypse had not completely destroyed their lives.
Li Xuan observed everything silently, his gaze moving across the surroundings with quiet vigilance.
"This place may look peaceful, but it is definitely not simple," he thought to himself.
Soon, they were assigned to the eastern side of the village, where several empty houses were available for them to use.
People quickly began forming small groups and choosing places to stay, trying to secure the best spots before others.
Li Xuan calmly walked through the area before stopping in front of a two-story house that seemed relatively intact.
At the same time, a group of about fifteen people also headed toward the same house, indicating that it was one of the better options available.
Without hesitation, Li Xuan followed them inside.
The interior was spacious enough, with three bedrooms upstairs, one room downstairs, and a large hall that could accommodate several people.
The groups quickly divided the rooms among themselves, leaving only the hall for those who arrived later.
Li Xuan did not mind this arrangement and quietly chose a corner in the hall for himself.
At that moment, a young woman entered the house and paused near the entrance as she observed the situation carefully.
Her appearance was deliberately unremarkable, with mud covering her face, messy hair, and loose clothing that concealed her figure.
Most people ignored her completely, but Li Xuan noticed her briefly before looking away.
With his perception, he could tell that her disguise was intentional, but he had no interest in exposing it.
He simply took out his sleeping bag and blanket, placed them neatly on the ground, and lay down without saying anything.
Seeing this, the girl hesitated for a moment before slowly relaxing and moving to the opposite side of the hall.
She quietly set up a small folding tent, maintaining a clear distance while still sharing the same space.
Her name was Ming Yue, and she had been with the convoy since the beginning of the journey.
She had seen enough of the new world to understand that survival often required more than just strength.
Looking at Li Xuan, who had already closed his eyes to rest, she thought silently, "At least for now, he doesn't seem like someone dangerous."
Meanwhile, in another part of the village, Xu Ming and the other sequencers gathered again to discuss what they had learned.
After entering the safe zone, each of them had received the same message in their minds, confirming that the barrier was created by a special artifact.
"This artifact can maintain the safe zone for twenty-five days, and there is a clone of it somewhere inside," Xu Ming explained.
One of the sequencers immediately said, "If we can find it, we might be able to control this place ourselves."
Xu Ming did not respond immediately, but his silence made it clear that he was considering the possibility.
After gathering more information, they learned that the Tiger Gang controlled the village with overwhelming strength.
"Their leader is a Level 2 sequencer, and no one here dares to challenge him directly," a local informed them cautiously.
Hearing this, Xu Ming's expression became serious, as he understood that they were currently far from being able to compete with such power.
When he returned, he addressed everyone once more and said firmly, "We will keep a low profile and avoid any conflicts, because this is not our territory."
He looked at each person before adding, "If anyone causes trouble, they will bear the consequences themselves."
No one dared to argue, because they all understood the reality of their situation.
For now, survival meant obedience.
And patience.