The Nine Monsters Enter the Building

On the third night of the apocalypse, a fierce wind suddenly arose, and heavy rain poured down.

Rong Xianxian switched on the small bedside lamp she had prepared. It was rechargeable, not plugged in, and could last over twenty hours on a single charge. She glanced at her peacefully sleeping child. The power had gone out, and this rainstorm was not going to cease for three continuous days, with dark clouds covering the sky day and night.

Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared. Dense raindrops pounded against the glass with a steady thudding sound. Water cascaded down the windowpane like a torrent. The wild wind bent the fig tree on the balcony this way and that. These days were harsh for the old neighborhood’s low-rise buildings. Even monsters needed shelter from the rain. Except for a few creatures attuned to lightning or water elements, most monsters launched attacks on human residential areas. Human buildings were their refuge from the storm, and the people inside were their prey.

“Ah!” A sharp scream pierced the air, followed by several more cries and monstrous roars—residents from the building under attack. It was unclear which household was being targeted.

The monsters likely entered from the underground parking garage. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. She grabbed a flashlight and asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Sister Rong. Did you hear those sounds just now?” It was Wang Lin’s voice.

Rong Xianxian opened the door. “I did. There must be monsters inside the building. What’s going on? Is something wrong?”

“I’m on night watch tonight. Don’t worry, you all get some rest. If anything happens, I’ll call for you,” Wang Lin said with a serious expression.

“You must be the one who’s scared,” Rong Xianxian smiled brightly. Perhaps her radiant smile stunned Wang Lin for a moment.

“What are you spacing out for? Here.” She handed him a small booklet.

“What’s this, Sister Rong?” Wang Lin took it, puzzled.

“This is a skill manual I got from fighting monsters—‘Lightness Technique.’ It can’t be printed, so I copied it by hand. I’ve marked all the pressure points and included a diagram. Don’t tell anyone else for now. If your own strength is strong, you won’t be afraid. If you don’t understand something, just ask me. I’ve already started practicing.” Rong Xianxian had copied the skill book dropped by a giant bird long ago, planning this in advance.

“No, Sister Rong. I honestly don’t feel worthy of it. I just told a few others to lend you that book, but I think Ren Tian probably has some reservations. How about we finish copying that book together first?” Wang Lin was already displeased with Ren Tian’s reaction.

Now, seeing Rong Xianxian treat him like this made him feel even more ashamed.

“There’s no need to be ashamed. It’s not yours alone, and you can’t decide on your own. If it were yours, would you not lend it to me? As for the others, we don’t even know them well. It’s normal to have reservations. Stop fussing and just practice hard. When you get a suitable skill book, show it to me too.” Watching him take the skill book, Rong Xianxian yawned and prepared to return to bed.

Suddenly, there was a series of rapid, forceful bangs on the door.

“Don’t be afraid.” Wang Lin pulled Rong Xianxian behind him and stared nervously at the security door.

“Don’t be tense. That sound came from the third floor. The misfortune just now was probably on the fourth floor. We’re on the 17th floor—monsters can’t get up here. Even if they did, they can’t break this security door. The power’s out, so the elevator’s not working. I have the key; the door’s locked. Rest assured, keep watch and practice your skills,” Rong Xianxian reassured him, patting his shoulder.

With her current hearing, it was easy for her to pinpoint the floor the sounds came from. For some unknown reason, the fourth floor had attracted monsters and failed to secure the safety door. Now the monsters had moved to the third floor, but judging by the sounds, they couldn’t break through the security door there. There was no need to worry; such noises would become frequent, and eventually, they would get used to them.

Wang Lin gradually relaxed, cursing himself inwardly—a man of stature less composed than a woman.

If Rong Xianxian knew what he was thinking, she would certainly chuckle at herself. In her previous life, she would have trembled in fear, shivering in her room at such sounds, unable to sleep all night. Later, she somehow became accustomed to it.

The night passed peacefully. Upon waking, she checked her phone: the battery was full. Although there was no signal, it served well as an emergency flashlight.

“Mom, what time is it now? It’s so dark. Is it raining outside? Are we not going to kindergarten today? I kind of miss Teacher Zhang and the others,” Xuanxuan murmured, half-asleep.

The elegant bedside lamp emitted a soft glow. Rong Xianxian drew back the curtains and watched the rain rush down the window like a little stream. This storm would not stop for three days and nights.

Normally, it would be daylight by now, but outside was a gray haze. The light through the window barely outlined the room’s interior.

“It’s already 7:30 a.m. The school’s closed, so no need to attend classes these days. It’ll probably stay this dark for a while. Are you scared, Xuanxuan?” Rong Xianxian sat on the bed and hugged her.

“No, I’m not scared. I have Mom, so I’m not afraid,” Xuanxuan shook her head.

“What would you like to eat? Mom will make something for you.” Rong Xianxian noticed her daughter’s pale face and tightly clenched small hand. Children’s perception and intuition were remarkably sharp.

Since her rebirth, Rong Xianxian had become more composed and calm than before.

Yet, knowing certain things gave her an urgent sense of pressure. She found herself less patient and less able to accompany her child.

She held Xuanxuan tightly and gently shook her. “Are you afraid of monsters?”

“Those two in the storage room? I think the little cat is cute. Why did they have to kill it?” Xuanxuan looked unhappy.

“Because if you don’t kill them, they’ll kill you. They eat people.” Seeing Xuanxuan’s doubtful expression, Rong Xianxian decided to take her to watch the process of dissecting monster corpses—not just for companionship, but mainly to help the child adapt.

“Sister’s not scared. I’ll protect you,” Xiao Luo had also woken up and, seeing Xuanxuan’s pale face, thought her sister was frightened.

“Aren’t you scared, Xiao Luo? Listen to the sounds outside. It’s so dark out there.” Before Rong Xianxian finished speaking, Xuanxuan instinctively moved closer to her.

Xiao Luo listened intently to the outside noises—faint, sometimes long, sometimes short, near and far—heartrending cries and howls filled the air.

“Mom, when will Dad come back?” Xuanxuan asked tearfully, tears streaming down her cheeks. Xiao Luo looked at her expectantly.

“Dad is still busy with work. Once he finishes, he’ll come home. But until then, shouldn’t we be strong and work hard to train ourselves, so we can defeat the monsters?” In her previous life, Xuanxuan had often asked for her father. At first, Rong Xianxian would just hold her and cry together. But as things worsened and life became harder, she would sometimes lose her temper when Xuanxuan asked. Afterwards, she would feel sorry and regretful.

Gradually, the child stopped speaking so much and grew timid and weak.

“Come on, let’s go cook together. After we finish, I’ll take you to see the monster dissection.” Thinking that the neighbors were probably waking up too, Rong Xianxian hurried to the kitchen to start preparing.