After hearing Liu Li's statement, the expressions of the onlookers changed.
"So that's the truth of the matter. That man deserved to die!" exclaimed an older woman indignantly.
"Exactly! This kind of man is the scum of the earth, the worst of the worst!"
"If I were this woman, I'd have crippled that man before killing him. What a piece of trash!"
Most of the women empathized completely, siding entirely with Liu Li.
Some men also shook their heads in disapproval.
"Disgusting! He's a disgrace to all men!"
"How could someone like that even have a wife? Why am I single when I'm such a good catch? It doesn't make sense!"
Of course, there were also some dissenting voices.
"This is just her side of the story. The other party is dead and can't defend himself. We're only hearing what she wants us to hear."
"I agree. Murderers often portray themselves as innocent victims. Who can really say what the truth is?"
However, these opinions were immediately refuted.
"I can testify. I live next door to them, and this man definitely said a lot of terrible things. The initial screams were all female."
"Then why didn't you speak up earlier?"
"I didn't fully understand what had happened before, did I? I couldn't just make assumptions based on what I'd heard."
"Isn't this the same man who tried to sell his wife at the market before? Someone capable of selling his wife can't be a good person. I completely believe this young woman's story."
The situation had completely reversed.
Everyone suddenly felt a wave of sympathy.
"Private fighting and killing are not allowed in the base. Although it was self-defense, you'll still need to come with us," the guards told Liu Li.
Liu Li nodded and stood up from the ground.
"Uncle, in a situation like this, what punishment will this auntie receive?" someone asked.
The person who knew Yun Xiaoxiao and her companions replied, "She'll probably be expelled from the base."
This wasn't the pre-apocalyptic world anymore, and the laws weren't as strict.
Liu Li's crime wasn't punishable by death, nor could they imprison her.
After all, the base didn't have enough resources to spare for prisoners.
At present, expelling someone from the base was considered the harshest punishment.
Outside the base, one's safety couldn't be guaranteed.
"In that case, this auntie doesn't need to go with you. Hand her over to us, and we'll take her out of the base."
Upon hearing this, both the guards and the surrounding onlookers were stunned.
After a long moment, one of the guards asked in confusion.
"Although she didn't start this, she's still a murderer. Are you sure you want to take her with you?"
He knew that Yun Xiaoxiao and her group were from Yun City Base.
So hearing that they wanted to take Liu Li with them was quite surprising.
The people living here were mostly those without special abilities. What use could she be to them?
"Of course," Yun Xiaoxiao replied without hesitation.
Other bases might be overcrowded, but hers still had plenty of space.
They needed a lot of labor as well.
Her criteria for accepting people was based on gut feeling.
No matter how capable someone was, if their character wasn't good, they wouldn't do.
This auntie, though unremarkable in the crowd, had a goodness rating of 90%.
Moreover, she was clear-headed and decisive when needed.
Given a chance, this kind of person could excel at any task assigned to her.
Why wouldn't Yun Xiaoxiao want her?
Liu Li looked at Yun Xiaoxiao, saying nothing, but tears of gratitude welled up in her eyes.
For someone who was already prepared to be expelled from the base, the guards naturally didn't make much fuss.
Even if just to do Yun City Base a favor, they wouldn't interfere further.
"Since someone wants you, you can go with them," they said.
"Auntie, are you willing to come with us?" Yun Xiaoxiao asked with a smile.
Liu Li nodded vigorously, her eyes red-rimmed.
"Yes, of course I'm willing."
In her current wretched state, how could she not be willing when someone was offering to take her in?
"They're not bad people, are they? She might die as soon as they leave the base," someone remarked coldly.
"Don't talk nonsense!" The guard who knew Yun Xiaoxiao's group's identity glared at the speaker.
"These are friends from Yun City Base. This young woman has struck gold by catching their eye. She'll only be living the good life if she goes with them."
Committing a crime here meant being expelled from the base.
Outside, there was a high chance of meeting one's end.
But now, with people from Yun City Base willing to take her in, wasn't that incredible luck?
Hearing this, the surrounding crowd's gaze towards Liu Li changed.
There was even a hint of envy in their eyes.
Yun Xiaoxiao and her companions didn't care what others thought.
They left the building with Liu Li in tow.
As darkness was falling, they decided to rest in the base for the night and set out in the morning.
"Everyone, our base leader has arranged accommodation for you. She specifically sent me to invite you over.
Additionally, dinner is ready."
Just as they reached the ground floor, another guard approached them.
This base leader wasn't Zheng Qishan, but the newly appointed Zheng Xin'er.
Unable to refuse such hospitality, the group accepted.
Zheng Xin'er had made excellent arrangements, ensuring everyone was comfortable with food and lodging.
Even Liu Li benefited from Yun Xiaoxiao's influence, getting her own room.
She felt overwhelmed by the sudden preferential treatment.
In all her time at the base, she had never eaten such good food or stayed in such a nice place.
She almost felt like she was dreaming.
They slept peacefully through the night.
The next day, after waking up, the group prepared to return.
As they neared the base's main gate, Zheng Xin'er arrived.
Yun Xiaoxiao had been thinking that if she didn't see Zheng Xin'er, she'd properly host her the next time she came to their base to exchange evolution liquid.
Since Zheng Xin'er was here now, she decided to thank her in person.
She took out a bottle of level-two evolution liquid and gave it to her.
"Sister Xin'er, this is for you."
"Is this... evolution liquid?!"
"Yes."
"Thanks, Sister Xiaoxiao."
Zheng Xin'er laughed heartily and accepted it without any hesitation.
"I'm really sorry, I was so busy yesterday that I couldn't properly host you.
Are you leaving already? Won't you stay a few more days?"
As she spoke, although addressing Yun Xiaoxiao, her eyes kept flitting towards Lu Chen.
Yun Xiaoxiao had long noticed her glances and pursed her lips slightly.
"Sister Xin'er, if you... miss us, feel free to visit Yun City anytime."
Her words carried a hidden meaning.
Zheng Xin'er immediately caught on.
"Of course, I definitely will."
After bidding farewell, the group got in their vehicle and left.
What they didn't know was that at that moment, thousands of miles away at Rongsheng Base, an incident occurred.
It was this incident that would prompt a large-scale migration of survivors towards Yun City.
