CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 427: CHALLENGE (3 UPDATES)

Xu Nanqiang came running over, shouting:

"Boss, dinner is ready, we can go down to eat now."

Now that the temperature has risen, everyone doesn’t have to hide in the subway tunnels to live anymore. Xu Nanqiang has converted a hotel in the podium of the Century Commercial Building into the current canteen, which possesses comparatively complete and comprehensive catering facilities.

Xiao Zhe also helped Xu Nanqiang find a gas station, which still had plenty of liquefied gas. They transported the gas in cylinders after filling them with liquefied gas for cooking purposes, which was simple and convenient.

Therefore, cooking now no longer required worrying about firewood.

There are more than a dozen such restaurants in Nanmu City, providing food to everyone.

Near the Century Commercial Building, there are several old residential houses, and unexpectedly, a pressurized well was found inside one of the houses, which is now the main drinking water source for the canteen.

Xu Nanqiang led Yang Xiao and others into a separate hall, where there are three large round tables, each capable of seating more than a dozen people.

Lan Xin has a total of sixteen sisters. Lan Xin, Xiao Lan, and Ju Yun sat together with Yang Xiao, while the rest of the girls sat at a separate table.

Xia Luo, Xiao Zhe, Gong Yu, Zhao Gang, Zhou Qiang, Huang Wen, Qin Yu, Deng Xiao, Feifei, and others also sat with Yang Xiao, while the remaining senior management personnel of Nanmu City occupied another table.

The food was mainly meat-based, and to the delight of Xiao Lan and others, there was rice, steamed buns, and pancakes available.

They hadn’t eaten rice or buns for half a year.

In this apocalypse, meat isn’t rare; as long as one can kill mutant beasts, a large amount of meat is available for consumption, even a single ant can provide a full meal.

The rare foods are rice and buns, and even more so, vegetables.

After a year-long winter and heavy snow coverage, no vegetables could be found.

Yet, today’s table featured something very precious: sautéed potatoes with vinegar.

Yang Xiao was taken aback and asked:

"Where did these potatoes come from?"

Xu Nanqiang replied:

"Now that the snow has melted, do you remember the dozens of acres of potatoes we found at a farm in the suburbs when we were at Kongming Academy? I had some dug up and brought here, and unexpectedly, they were well-preserved and edible."

The potatoes were in the soil, which provided insulation. Although covered by heavy snow, they weren’t frozen and damaged.

Yang Xiao picked up some potatoes with chopsticks and put them into Lan Xin’s bowl, then gave her a piece of fried cake. Lan Xin smiled faintly and quickly said thank you.

Everyone looked at Yang Xiao: "...".

Yang Xiao then picked up a piece of fried cake for both Xiao Lan and Ju Yun, saying:

"Lan Xin, today’s banquet is to welcome all of you. It’s rather simple; don’t mind it and eat up."

Lan Xin laughed:

"It’s already very plentiful. We have already caused you trouble by coming here, you don’t need to be so polite with us."

Huang Wen then said loudly:

"From now on, Lan Xin is my own little sister. All of you here have heard it clear. If anyone dares to bully her and her sisters, they are bullying me, Huang Wen, and I will not let you off."

Qin Yu and Deng Xiao also immediately said:

"Lan Xin is also our good sister. Keep your eyes open."

Everyone immediately flattered:

"Of course, we wouldn’t dare!"

Zhao Gang immediately declared loudly:

"Xiao Lan is my little sister,"

"Who gave you permission? I haven’t spoken yet."

Zhou Qiang interrupted.

Everyone laughed loudly, and Xiao Lan’s cheeks flushed red.

Xu Nanqiang had some Coca-Cola and coconut juice brought over, and with soft drinks in place of alcohol, they clinked glasses and cheered.

At that moment, Lan Xin and the others felt that Yang Xiao’s big family was wonderful. Everyone treated each other sincerely and cohabited harmoniously. Such an environment also eliminated some of the strangeness in the hearts of Lan Xin and others.

After eating, everyone walked out of the building and came to the plaza in front. Yang Xiao said:

"Lan Xin and the others are Ancient Martial Cultivators from the Shenming Mountain Sect, which is what everyone called the ’Martial Arts World’ before the apocalypse. After entering the era of Genetic Evolution, Ancient Martial Cultivation has undergone a lot of changes. I have already witnessed the power of Ancient Martial Arts. Would you all like to see it?"

Everyone immediately cheered in approval, eagerly wanting to know what skills Lan Xin and her respected counterparts possessed.

Lan Xin gave Yang Xiao a glance and said with a smile:

"Yang Xiao is exaggerating too much, it’s not as mystical as he’s making it sound, don’t let him fool you."

Huang Wen said:

"Little sister Lan Xin, stop being so modest. Yang Xiao has come back from the desert several times, and he can’t stop praising your Ancient Martial Cultivation. Last time, he even said he wanted to go to Shaolin Temple to invite someone over to teach me Ancient Martial Cultivation."

"Yeah, Yang Xiao was originally going to Shaolin Temple, but he ’accidentally’ ended up at your Shenming Mountain."

Qin Yu added teasingly.

"That was no accident, he clearly did it on purpose."

Zhao Gang chimed in provocatively.

Lan Xin and others smiled, and Yang Xiao glared at Zhao Gang, saying:

"Come on, Zhao Gang, I know you don’t buy into Ancient Martial Arts. Seeing is believing, so how about this: you spar with Lan Xin for a round, how does that sound?"

"Me? Spar with Miss Lan Xin for a round?"

Zhao Gang couldn’t believe his ears; he was at the Enhanced Gene Primary Level, with a powerful Werewolf Beast Soul, and to face an Advanced Primordial Gene girl, isn’t that a joke?

"What, you think Lan Xin is no match for you?"

Yang Xiao said with a smile.

Zhao Gang chuckled softly and said in a low voice:

"Boss, stop joking, if I hurt Miss Lan Xin, I can’t afford that responsibility!"

"Don’t worry, you won’t have to."

Yang Xiao responded.

"You really want me to spar with Miss Lan Xin?"

Seeing Yang Xiao’s serious look, Zhao Gang asked.

Yang Xiao nodded, "Do I look like I’m joking?"

Zhao Gang was taken aback, then said:

"Fine then, I’ll spar with Miss Lan Xin."

Then he turned to Lan Xin and said:

"Miss Lan Xin, I’d like to learn a few moves from you, we’ll stop at a touch, is that okay?"

What Zhao Gang meant was, I will go easy, you just give it your best shot.

After all, she was a distinguished guest invited by Yang Xiao; although Yang Xiao had not openly expressed his feelings for Lan Xin, it was clear that there was a special connection between them.

Lan Xin looked at Yang Xiao, she wasn’t one to play coy, such sparring was common in the Martial Arts World.

Yang Xiao nodded.

Just as Lan Xin was about to step up, Xiao Lan from the side said:

"Sister, why don’t I try sparring with Brother Zhao Gang first, and if I lose, then you can step in."

Xiao Lan’s thinking was simple. Lan Xin was the senior sister; if anything went awry, it wouldn’t look good for them in Nanmu City. She herself could fight first; winning would be even better, but losing wouldn’t be too embarrassing since her status wasn’t as high as her sister’s.

Zhao Gang actually became more enthusiastic, as he would feel restrained sparring with Lan Xin, but sparring with Xiao Lan made him cheerful.

"Miss Xiao Lan, that’s great, I was just looking forward to learning from you. Come on, attack all you want, don’t be afraid."

Damn, this isn’t sparring, it’s clearly just flirtatious practice.

Zhou Qiang couldn’t stand it anymore and said:

"Zhao Gang, step aside, you brute, don’t hurt little Miss Xiao Lan. I’ll take your place."

"Zhou Qiang, don’t fight with me over this, that’s the boss’s order."

Yang Xiao laughed:

"What’s there to fight over? Once Zhao Gang loses, it’s your turn to go up."

Zhao Gang looked at Yang Xiao: "..."

Yang Xiao couldn’t be bothered to explain; Xiao Lan alone could handle a Monster with Intermediate Enhanced Gene in the desert, so naturally, she would have no issues with Zhao Gang, who had just broken through to the Primary Level Enhanced Gene.

But Zhao Gang, Zhou Qiang, Gong Yu, Xia Luo, Xiao Zhe, and Huang Wen didn’t see it that way, thinking, how can Yang Xiao exaggerate so much? Isn’t he afraid of being proven wrong immediately?

(Three Chapters finished, only three today, one more will be added tomorrow for a total of five, good night! Thanks to the book friend ’Si Jiao Ye Ling’ for the reward of 500 Qidian Coins, and ’Di Diao De Du Shu’ for 100 Qidian Coins, thank you everyone for your support!)