Chapter 62

The shelter was established in a thirty-story building. A large opening had been cut at the tenth floor, with an extended deck acting as the main entrance.

As Luo Sheng’s group approached in their raft, they noticed the water level here was lower than in other areas. Since the rain had nearly stopped, official teams had been working day and night to drain and pump out the water, leading to this phenomenon.

The landslides and floods triggered by the storms had claimed many lives in nearby mountain villages, and their small houses had been swept away. People from those areas made up the majority of those arriving at the shelter.

Each floor here contained forty rooms. From the tenth floor upward, the layout was identical—like a massive hotel. It could easily accommodate over a thousand people. Of course, this wasn’t the only shelter; it was just one small site among six temporary locations currently set up across the city.

From a distance, Luo Sheng saw many people guarding both sides of the deck. They wore matching uniforms and patrolled back and forth with firearms. They also wore disinfection masks that completely obscured their faces.

Before they reached the dock, Luo Sheng used a cluster of trees as cover to retrieve a standard inflatable raft from her space, having everyone switch vehicles. The materialized yacht transformed back into a golden light around her wrist.

While they were still some distance from the deck, four people on a small assault boat approached them with guns. Their expressions were stern, and their wary eyes peered out from behind gas masks.

Luo Sheng’s group immediately raised their hands to show they were unarmed—just good citizens seeking refuge before being infected by the virus.

One of the women looked them over carefully, then used a gloved hand to briefly inspect their belongings. Their few backpacks contained only a few bottles of water and some bread. After the check, she cleared them to proceed inside for registration.

Once inside, staff members provided each of them with a digital ID number. Luo Sheng saw long lines of people, with staff bailiantales.commembers systematically registering everyone who had arrived safely.

Most people looked gaunt and emaciated. Compared to them, Luo Sheng’s group looked quite spirited. As they lined up, a few people glanced their way, but no one truly cared; everyone was focused on finishing their registration.

“This place is much better than I imagined,” Nan Chu remarked, looking around as she patted her head.

Nan Shuwan nodded. “It is. Very standardized. It doesn’t look like anyone would dare cause trouble here.”

The group stayed together in line, chatting occasionally. Luo Sheng noticed that most of the walls on this floor had been knocked down to connect the rooms into a large hall. There were multiple long lines, with staff stationed in different areas to handle the intake.

Despite the large number of people, it wasn’t overly noisy—just the low hum of conversation and the rustling of movement. With armed guards patrolling the perimeter, there was a significant sense of order and deterrence.

They stood in line for nearly an hour until their legs felt numb. Finally, their numbers were called over the intercom. Su Rong stood at the front. Before entering the room, a person in a gas mask sprayed her entire body with disinfectant.

Registering their ID and phone numbers took about ten minutes. Afterward, they were taken for a basic medical checkup. This involved another long line. After an unknown amount of wait time, it was finally their turn. They had blood drawn and their bodies checked for external injuries. The entire process took several hours.

Qiao Bai was so exhausted she wanted to sit on the floor. “Why are there so many steps?!”

“For everyone’s safety, they have to be rigorous.”

Luo Sheng was actually quite satisfied. With thousands of people living together, a single infected person slipping through could be a disaster. This logic was soon confirmed as they were led by staff to the quarantine zone.

The quarantine rooms were the same size as the others but were located in a restricted area. All newcomers had to stay here initially, while those who had cleared quarantine enjoyed more freedom and could visit other units.

“Your quarantine period is one month, as testing has confirmed the virus has a maximum incubation period of thirty days,” a middle-aged woman with a bun explained patiently. “During this time, you must stay in your rooms. You cannot wander outside. Three meals a day will be delivered by designated staff. Don’t worry, each room has its own bathroom. Once you’re cleared, you can move freely through the floors.”

“Understood. Thank you.”

Accepting their keys, Luo Sheng’s group headed to their assigned rooms. About thirty others were quarantined in the same section today, with more likely to be added later.

The nine of them were split into two rooms. Luo Sheng and three others were in a standard four-person room, while the remaining five were sent to a six-person room further down the hall, where a random stranger might eventually be added to the empty bunk.

In times like these, there was no room for pickiness. They settled in. Luo Sheng’s room contained two bunk beds, a table, and a bathroom.

The environment was basic—comparable to a standard university dorm—but not unbearable. Since their belongings were in Luo Sheng’s pocket dimension, they had no luggage to carry.

The room had been cleaned well, and Luo Sheng’s [bailiantales.com]eyes lit up when she spotted several electrical outlets. They could actually charge things!

After each taking a shower in the bathroom and feeling clean, they sat on their made beds. There was no heating, only a few hot water bags provided. Luo Sheng quietly pulled an electric heater from her space and plugged it in, providing much-needed warmth.

When a staff member knocked to deliver dinner that evening, she ducked and quickly hid the heater. The secretive movement felt exactly like being a student hiding prohibited appliances from a dorm manager during an inspection.

The dinner was placed outside in sterilized bowls. After knocking and hearing a response, the staff moved on without entering. Luo Sheng checked through the peephole before opening the door to bring the trays in.

Each bowl contained stir-fried carrots, a packet of pickled vegetables, and a few pieces of meat. It wasn’t gourmet, but it was safe to eat.

However, Luo Sheng had plenty of resources in her space. She pulled out a low-wattage electric pot and stewed some beef and fish with hotpot base to supplement their meal.

Since Luo Xiaoli’s cough hadn’t fully cleared, Luo Sheng prepared some light white radish and pork rib soup specifically to boost her mother’s recovery.

Nan Chu smiled happily as she sipped a drink Luo Sheng had provided. “Ah! Following Sister Luo means there’s always meat to eat!”

Luo Sheng smiled and placed some meat in Nan Shuwan’s bowl. “It’s a pity Su Rong and the others can’t enjoy this…”

This was true, as Su Rong’s group was in a different room. The [read the original at bailiantales.com]five of them had to make do with the standard dinner. Aside from a few light complaints from Qiao Bai, they didn’t mind; as long as their stomachs were full, they were content.

For now, the five of them stayed together, with one empty upper bunk waiting for a new arrival.

After eating and washing up, the group—having lived in terror for so long—finally enjoyed a peaceful night’s sleep.

Quarantine wasn’t as difficult as Luo Sheng had imagined. They slept early and woke early, with breakfast delivered to the door. Aside from the lack of freedom to go outside, it felt very much like her old university life.

With her mother and friends nearby, she felt a long-lost sense of tranquility in the shelter. She didn’t have to worry about zombie attacks or hostile neighbors. Living their quiet life in this small room was quite leisurely.

Luo Sheng continued to spend time in her pocket dimension every day, growing vegetables and “soaking up the sun.” Of course, the best part was being able to bring Nan Shuwan inside for some private intimacy.

Their relationship was no longer ordinary. In the small room with Nan Chu and her mother, they felt a bit shy, but in the space, no one could interfere.

Several times, their kissing grew intense, eventually moving to the bed on the villa’s second floor. Surrounded by a heady floral scent and a lingering warmth, Nan Shuwan panted slightly as she pushed Luo Sheng back, her lips a vivid red. “Why has the scent on you become so… alluring?”

It was no wonder she asked. Luo Sheng’s scent used to be crisp and cool, but since their last kiss, she had entered her first true “rut.” Her pheromones now carried a hint of alcohol—an intoxicating aroma that made people lose themselves.

Luo Sheng buried her face in Nan Shuwan’s neck, thinking for a moment. “You’re the one who turned me into [stolen content]this. I can’t suppress it at all.”

Such blunt words made Nan Shuwan’s heart race. She bit her lip and tugged on Luo Sheng’s collar, whispering, “Then continue. Your kissing technique is average; you need more practice…”

Luo Sheng chuckled and obediently lost herself in another long kiss with Nan Shuwan.

On the fifteenth day of quarantine, the staff brought good news: a new wave of medical personnel had been sent by the central authorities. They would be providing treatment and checkups for the sick over the next few days. Since Nan Shuwan’s arm hadn’t fully healed, Luo Sheng was delighted and urged her to go get it treated properly.

With a professional medical team on-site, Nan Shuwan spent several days getting IV drips to reduce inflammation, and her arm was fitted with a new brace. Luo Xiaoli also went for a few IV sessions for her cold. During those days, only Luo Sheng and Nan Chu remained in the room during the daytime.

Luo Sheng finally remembered the red crystal she had taken from the giant python. Now that she had recalled it, she took it out and held it in her palm for a close inspection.

She spent time alone in her pocket dimension, trying to figure out its purpose. But when she brought the crystal to her nose to see if it had a scent, the object suddenly emitted an intense red light. It transformed into wisps of red mist that coiled around her fingertips, pinning her hand in place.

It hurts. It’s so hot.

That was Luo Sheng’s only thought, but she couldn’t react in time. The red mist entered her nasal cavity, being absorbed into her body with every breath.

Instantly, Luo Sheng felt a burning sensation in her chest, as if a fire unauthorized copywere raging within. Her vision went black, and she couldn’t speak. The tightness made the veins in her neck bulge and throb with pain.

Red light flickered within her body. As her entire frame convulsed, Luo Sheng could no longer endure the pain and collapsed inside the pocket dimension, slipping into unconsciousness.