Chapter137

Zhao Jinghao probably could guess their ordeal. Surviving alone in such circumstances, it was difficult to decide whether to label it as luck or misfortune.

Chapter 076: "A Group of Beasts"

Upon seeing Zhou You, Li Yunxi's reaction mirrored encountering her lifeline. Even before learning about his prowess, she had held an exceptional trust in Zhou You. Now that she knew he wasn't an ordinary individual, her only hope was for him to aid in her quest for vengeance.

Her voice had turned hoarse from crying. She spoke in a low, somber tone, "Allow me to speak... We set off on the second day after you and Mr. Shao left the city. Although we had learned of the impending cold wave and knew it would arrive soon, the forecast indicated it was still over ten days away. We believed we could make it to Yangcheng in time. If we didn't depart then, we would be delayed by several months in the Jiangnan Base. So, Big Brother led us out.

Yet, we didn't anticipate snowfall after just a few days, and it was a heavy snowfall at that. Soon, the trucks couldn't move anymore. Ordinary members of the group could only distribute among various armored vehicles, and luggage had to be tied to the roof. We abandoned the trucks and searched for a place to take refuge.

The road ahead was untraveled; no one had passed that way before. The nearest supply station marked on the map would take three to four days to reach. Hence, when we reached the supply station, another group was already there seeking shelter. The snowstorm was too intense. The station personnel said they were preparing to evacuate to the base. The supplies at the station weren't enough for so many people, so they could only offer a place to stay.

"We had believed the supply station to be safe with the military guarding it. Yet, upon our arrival, another team was resting there. The heavy blizzard had caught everyone off guard, and the station's staff mentioned their plan to retreat to the base. Their supplies wouldn’t suffice for all of us, so they could only offer shelter."

"Having set out from the base with ample supplies, we didn't need to rely on their provisions. The other group, composed of over twenty warriors, identified themselves as members of the Extreme Exploration Team from Yang City. Their intention had been to venture into the Yunlan Mountains before the end of the year, but they hadn’t expected the early snowfall."

"Upon hearing they were from Yang City's base, my elder brother saw an opportunity for alliance. Their team was comprised of formidable fighters, mostly elite warriors. Wang Kunyu, who never really saw eye-to-eye with my brother, intended to set his own path once they reached Yang City, a sentiment echoed by many of his close allies."

"During our discussions, they may have inadvertently revealed our team's strength, even disclosing the rewards we'd received from the Jiangnan Base. My brother sensed something amiss and deftly changed the topic. But he grew cautious. For safety, we all stayed together in two large rooms that night, spreading our mats on the floor."

"Yet, we had underestimated the depth of human treachery. The Extreme Team, realizing their mission to the Yunlan Mountains was thwarted, harbored intentions of thievery. That night, they neutralized the supply station's guards, leaving their bodies outside to attract mutated beasts. By the time we sensed something wrong, the station was surrounded."

"Panic ensued. Some tried to escape, only to be met with their screams echoing in the cold night. Most of us remained indoors, hoping the beasts would retreat. But unbeknownst to us, the Extreme Team left corpses by our door, luring the creatures. The frail door was no match for the onslaught of mutated beasts."

"My brother and his team resisted fiercely, ordering Wu Yong and Wang Kunyu to evacuate the civilians. I was among the evacuees. However, once Wang Kunyu reached a vehicle, he fled without a backward glance at our fate."

"Brave Wu Yong fell defending his family. As more and more mutated beasts closed in, and with my limited capability, I could only watch helplessly as my comrades fell one by one. I then fled back to the supply station with Wu Yong's son, determined to face our end with my brother."

"My brother secured us inside a metal container. Its cramped, airtight confines made breathing increasingly difficult. Wu Yang, Wu Yong's son, almost suffocated several times. On briefly opening a crack for air, I saw members of the Extreme Team returning and quickly sealed it again, overhearing their conversations."

"We'd survived for ten years post-apocalypse, nearing our destination, only to be betrayed by our own kind. They finished off any survivors, took their ID cards and our supplies, and drove away in the armored vehicle. If it wasn’t for my deep-seated hatred, I might have wished to join them in death."

"Zhao Jinghao, recalling his visit to the supply station, noticed the chaotic footprints and felt the numbers were inconsistent. The emptiness of the place, void of even vehicles, puzzled him. But assuming some had fled in a vehicle, and with the woman not providing any information, he didn’t ponder it further."

"After their team left, I didn't dare venture out due to the lurking mutated beasts. The container, however, was airtight and little Wu Yang almost suffocated multiple times. I discreetly moved us to a cold storage room. When the military finally arrived, Wu Yang was barely breathing and on the brink of death."

"Those beasts!" Zhao Jinghao exclaimed, giving the table a fierce kick. With the supply station not far from the base, the danger of mutated beasts moving towards the base loomed, potentially triggering a fierce battle."

"It was often said that many bases fell due to human treachery, a notion I previously found exaggerated. It seemed impossible for humans to commit such heinous acts. But witnessing people murder for mere possessions, I realized that they were no longer deserving of humanity."

"'The Extreme Exploration Team – can we retrieve any information on this squad?' Zhou You asked Shao Qi. Given Shao Qi's influence, identifying a few individuals should be straightforward."

As expected, Shao Qi nodded, "Every exploration team is registered with government departments, and personnel changes are documented. It's easy to track. Do we have names?"

Wiping her tears, Li Yunxi nodded, "One introduced himself as Gao Chengxue. Others only provided surnames. Wait, I have a video which captured some of their faces."

"Li Yunxi had unintentionally captured the interior scene while filming the heavy snow outside. Although fleeting, the footage could still be used to identify individuals after some enhancement."