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Chapter14
"What level of expertise does that Marshal Shao possess?"
Hesitating for a moment, Zhan Cheng whispered, "Between you and me, don't spread this. Rumor has it... Marshal Shao and his special unit aren't martial artists. They're mutated humans, products of the research institute!"
Zhou You's eyes widened in shock, "How can this be? Mutants can't just be created on demand, can they? And those are soldiers! How many lives must be sacrificed for such experiments to succeed?"
"Shhh..." Jan Cheng dramatically said, "That group is incredibly powerful. Where could you find a thousand fighters of that caliber? And I heard that General Shao can control objects from a distance, and his arms are shielded with scales during battles. People speculate that they might be creations of the research institute, possibly integrated with mutant beast genes. Haven't you heard of such things in post-apocalyptic novels and movies before?"
"It might not be true," Zhou You remained skeptical. "The government using soldiers as test subjects? It sounds powerful, but who dares to think deeply about the horrors of the lab?"
"In the end, they're high-profile figures out of our reach. Does it matter if it's true or not? It doesn't concern us. Once we get to Yang City, I'll apply for an engineer's certification. Surprising, right? I used to be a senior engineer."
Zhou You noted that he looked no older than forty. Ten years ago, he would have been only thirty, and yet he was already a senior engineer. "Then you'll surely find a good job in the future," he remarked.
"As long as I can make a living, it's enough. When one eats, the whole family won't starve." Jan Cheng's expression darkened. He chewed on a piece of tobacco, losing his enthusiasm for the conversation.
Finding him to be quite amiable, Zhou You asked, "What was the favor you mentioned earlier? I can't promise anything, but we can think of a solution together."
Jan Cheng shook his head, never revealing the matter to Zhou You.
Author's side note: General Shao: "I became a mutant? When did that happen?"
Chapter 011 - One Bad Apple
After being worn out, Zhou You sat cross-legged to meditate. As he channeled his inner energy, the spiritual essence from the world rushed into the vehicle and entered his body.
The passengers felt the air in the compartment become refreshingly clean, unlike the earlier stifling atmosphere.
For the next half day, the convoy faced no significant obstacles. By evening, word spread that they had suffered zero casualties, a lucky day indeed.
"That's not entirely true. Five young men from my vehicle disappeared last night. They were about to be recruited by the Dawn Exploration Team. But they never returned."
People knew Wang Zi Kai and his group for their arrogance. Their sudden disappearance was noticed, but nobody seemed to care what danger they had encountered, whether they were dead or had simply fallen behind.
Zhou You learned by evening that the convoy only had two meals a day. Jan Cheng informed him that several of their food trucks had been lost, so they had to ration until they found the next farmland. The exploration team could go hunting for extra food, but they couldn't.
While it was called rationing, Zhou You observed that everyone ate a lot. A large pot of thick porridge was quickly consumed. Some even roasted ant corpses, and soon the scent of roasted meat wafted through the air.
"If this were before the apocalypse, I would starve rather than eat this. But now, it's a delicacy," Jan Cheng said with just one ant for himself.
Zhou You asked, "If mutant animal meat is beneficial for humans, why doesn't everyone work together to catch some? We could avoid the large predators and catch smaller prey like wild rabbits or chickens."
Jan Cheng scoffed, "You're overthinking. With our skinny arms and legs, we can't outrun a rabbit or overpower a monkey. Even the chickens can fly now. And with everyone focused on moving during the day, hunting is left for nights. We'd better just stay put, or we'll lose even more lives."
Zhou You had to admit he had a point. But now that he knew the benefits, he wanted to try mutant meat. It seemed easier than training. But how could he do it openly?
Zhou You saw a lively group in the distance and thought of a straightforward way - joining the Dawn Exploration Team, allowing him to go hunting.
As he approached, he was stopped by Ning Xufeng, the captain of their vehicle. "What do you want?" he asked.
"I want to speak with Captain Li," Zhou You replied.
Ning Xufeng believed there was something between him and Li Hongxi. He was envious, "With your frail frame, can you handle the captain? If he offered you something, tell me. I'll see if the deal's worth it."
With a sinister smile, he continued, "You think he's the only one who can make offers? Tell me what you want, and we might be able to work something out."
Zhou You was utterly perplexed by his words, assuming he was referencing the matter of Li Hongxi sheltering him. He replied, "Captain Li is kind-hearted and asked for no compensation."
"Kind-hearted? Hahaha..." Ning Xufeng laughed uncontrollably, as if he had just heard the funniest joke ever.
An onlooker, curious about their conversation, asked, "Xiaofeng, what's so hilarious? Share the joke with us!"
"It's... nothing, just a funny story," Ning Xufeng said, shielding Zhou You's body from view. In front of these martial artists, Zhou You looked frail and delicate, becoming even more endearing upon closer inspection.
Frowning, Zhou You questioned, "What are you implying? Did I get it wrong? Do we have to pay to hitch a ride?" He remembered what Zhan Cheng mentioned about the exploration team earning rewards for escorting them to Yang City, but nothing was said about individual payments!