Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Director Huang had originally planned to set up the HQ for hunting the mutant wolves in Qi Mo's courtyard.

After Huo Liangchuan returned, Qi Mo led Director Huang Ming and another Special Ops soldier into the house.

"Staying in the courtyard blocks your view. Our water tower is four meters high—standing on it, you can see far into the distance. We also have a ladder here. If they can't hold off the mutants and need to retreat, you can provide backup," Qi Mo explained.

Huang Ming was somewhat swayed by Qi Mo's words.

Truthfully, hastily setting traps today wasn’t ideal. But Huo Liangchuan slaughtered a lot of chickens, leaving a heavy blood scent. Most importantly, if they didn’t kill the wolves tonight, more people could get hurt tomorrow.

They had the numbers, the spot, and the setup—no need to wait. The more they waited, the tougher it’d get.

As director, Huang Ming knew about the animal mutations.

That’s why he was in such a hurry.

Huang Ming and the Special Ops soldier went up to the water tower roof.

Qi Mo laid out a mat on top and placed a ladder nearby. Huang Ming and the soldier lay low, watching the chicken farm.

If they took down the wolves, they’d fire a signal flare.

If the wolves charged toward the village, they’d set off firecrackers as a heads-up.

Huo Liangchuan guarded the entrance to the water cellar.

If anything happened, he’d bring everyone inside and shut the door.

With their reinforced windows and doors, they should be able to hold the mutants off for now.

Qi Mo brought Chubby baby and Kitty upstairs to wash up.

Afterward, Qi Mo stood on the third-floor balcony, scanning the horizon. Chubby baby was drowsy, his head resting on his father's shoulder.

Snowball the kitty insisted on squeezing next to her brother, plonked on his head, and occasionally nuzzled his cheek.

Her brother’s skin felt cool and smooth—she couldn’t get enough.

The night fell still, the insect chirps dying out. Under the hazy moonlight, the alpha wolf raised its muzzle, inhaling sharply as the scent of blood drifted on the wind...

Its green eyes fixed on a certain spot—there, its enemies lay.

Who did they think they were, trying to spook them? Did they think they were pushovers?

Was it scared? The alpha wolf took a few steps forward, then let out a long howl into the sky...

A taunt—straight-up disrespect.

After watching for a while, Qi Mo carried Chubby baby and Kitty back to the room to sleep. The wolves always struck at midnight, and this time would be no exception.

Qi Mo had a long night ahead—he’d better catch some sleep first.

In the middle of the night, Qi Mo bolted upright. Finding the outside dead quiet, he made for the water tower.

Huo Liangchuan slumped against the doorframe, dozing.

Director Huang and the Special Forces soldier noticed everyone was still quite alert, probably from drinking tea to stay awake.

Checking the time, it was around 11 p.m.

The mutant wolf hadn’t arrived yet.

Qi Mo left Huang Ming undisturbed and went back to his room. If anything happened outside, he would hear it from within.

He hauled out the mixed cement and began laying bricks one by one, slathering on the mortar and stacking them onto the half-built pigpen.

Row after row, layer upon layer…

The pigpen was taking shape, already one meter high.

Qi Mo planned to build it up to 1.3 meters so even the biggest pigs couldn’t get out.

As Qi Mo worked on the pigpen, Jiang Nuan was nearing Huo Family Village with five or six people…

Looking at the village ahead, she thought about the Jiang family’s grain mill and their stockpiled food—they needed to get it back.

The only way to make Huo Liangzhou comply was through Qi Mo and the little kid, Huo Jingyan.

That was why Jiang Nuan had gone through so much trouble to come to Yuncheng.

At the chicken farm, four ambushing Special Forces soldiers spotted green glints in the distance under the moonlight.

The green glints gradually approached, growing larger—now as big as a baby’s fist.

The soldier with sharper vision widened his eyes—was that a wolf?

Hell, was that still a wolf?

No wonder they called it a mutant wolf.

It was at least twice the size of a normal wolf.

The soldier hesitated briefly, waiting for these spectral wolves to step into the trap.

They’d tied up a wounded boar beneath a tree, surrounded by pits filled with sharpened rebar.

They’d also smeared pig blood inside a shack and placed a few live chickens provided by Huo Liangchuan.

Once the mutant wolves entered, they’d slam the door shut and strike immediately.

But instead, the massive creatures stopped short at the chicken coop’s entrance before suddenly turning and bolting toward Huo Family Village…

The ambushing soldier in the tree scrambled a few feet higher. Before he could steady himself, the rooftop sniper was already firing.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bullets shot out, wounding the fourth wolf in the rear.

The injured mutant wolf howled and turned back for revenge.

Under the moonlight, seeing only one wolf return, the ambush team sensed something was wrong.

These wolves were heading straight for Huo Family Village without hesitation…

Did these wolves have a vendetta against the village?

After all, they started shooting and even wounded one of the mutant wolves.

The pack that should’ve been out for revenge abandoned their fallen—only the injured one came back to settle the score.

So these wolves really hated Huo Village.

A commando on the rooftop shouted, “Let’s wrap this up fast—we need to get back and support Director Huang and Lao Wu. If the mutant wolves attack the villagers, they won’t last.”

The other commandos nodded.

Huang Ming and the soldier staked out at Qi Mo’s house went tense when they heard the wolf howl.

Then came the gunshots, and Huang Ming jumped up.

“What’s going on? Are they fighting over there?” Huang Ming asked.

The young commando with a sunburnt face nodded. “Director Huang, things don’t look good.”

Before the soldier could finish speaking, firecrackers went off—three quick pops.

At the sound, Huang Ming froze.

Three—three wolves were coming for the village.

“Three of them. Hey, Huo Liangchuan, you any good with a gun?” Huang Ming called out behind him.

Huo Liangchuan, who had been dozing off, snapped awake.

“Director Huang, what’s happening? Are the wolves here?” Huo Liangchuan sprang up and rushed out to ask.

Huang Ming immediately said, “Three wolves have entered the village. No word from the chicken farm. I’ve got a gun here—can you use it?”

Huo Liangchuan took it without hesitation. “No problem. My shooting’s decent—I practiced overseas.”

As the two spoke, shots rang out—

They’re fighting one of the mutants over there.

Jiang Nuan, who had just arrived with her guide, frowned. In the darkness, they heard the gunfire.

“What’s going on? Is someone stealing supplies?” Jiang Nuan asked.

One of the Jiang family’s trusted men replied, “Could be. The village has a lot of food, and desperate people are raiding hard these days. Word is some have scored big.”

Jiang Nuan frowned. “I thought I heard a wolf earlier. Could there really be wolves around? Should we watch out?”

“Watch out for what? If there are, we’ll have fresh meat for dinner. We brought guns this time. Besides, where would wolves come from now—except in zoos? Probably someone’s husky. Those dogs sound like wolves,” another added.

Jiang Nuan listened again. “Gunfire and dog barks—at the back of the village. Move fast—don’t let anyone get to Qi Mo first.”

In an instant, five or six people rushed toward the edge of the village.

“This is the place—Huo Liangzhou’s house. It’s the only one like it in Huo Village,” the guide explained.

Jiang Nuan brightened when she realized the raiders hadn’t reached Qi Mo yet. “Quick, climb over! Grab Qi Mo, and I’ll give you a hundred pounds of food and a spot in the Jiang family’s base.”

Huang Ming was ready for the mutant wolves to arrive—but before they showed up, it was the team hunting Qi Mo who got there first.

Huo Liangchuan—damn it, showing up now?

"Director Huang, what if I have to kill someone?" Huo Liangchuan asked.

Huang Ming replied, "Do what you have to. Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Qi Mo, who had nearly finished building the pigpen, immediately emerged from his dimensional space upon hearing the gunshots.

The provoked kitty was furious and ready to puff up in anger, determined to deal with the mutant wolves and show them what real pain looks like.

Unfortunately, before it could act, his dad came out and stared at it. Being a cat is tough—who gets it?

The chubby baby was sleeping soundly, softly snoring, while the kitty Snowball curled up by his brother's neck, its snow-white fur gently rising and falling—it looked incredibly cute.

Qi Mo placed the chubby baby and the kitty into a cradle, stored them in his dimensional space, then grabbed a gun and hurried to the top of the water cistern.

"What's going on?" Qi Mo asked.

At that moment, Jiang Nuan’s voice came from the courtyard gate.

Qi Mo widened his eyes and looked at Huo Liangchuan.

Huo Liangchuan immediately lowered his voice and said, "This is why I came back. The Jiang family seized back the Jiang Food Processing Plant but wouldn't hand over supplies. I returned to protect you and the chubby baby."

The Special Forces soldier whispered, "They're here—giant mutant wolves!"