Li Yunxi finally looked at him directly, her expression still indifferent, "The reputation of your Jifeng Exploration Team isn’t that great either. Who knows what atrocities you might've committed outside?"

Zhang Dingshan raised both hands, grinning cheekily, "Well, who can claim they've never killed someone out in the wild? Good and evil can be subjective. If killing is inherently evil, then I’m not innocent. But rest assured, I've never committed atrocities like Song Jin'an."

Continuing, Zhang Dingshan asked, "I've heard about your story. Are you planning to always stay with Brother Zhou? Why haven't you taken him as your master?"

"None of your business!" Li Yunxi stood up and began helping with washing the armored vehicle, which was dirty beyond belief. Everyone was a mess. They started cleaning themselves up as they regained their energy.

Everyone was meticulously wiping their black armor. This armor was top-notch, and it's hard to guess its price. It might not even be available on the market.

Zhou You was tightly embraced by Shao Qi. Their passionate kiss stirred emotions, but the timing and place weren’t right for further intimacy.

When Shao Qi released him, Zhou You gave him a firm kick, wiping his lips, "Are you trying to announce to the world what we're up to here? And, you bit my lip! Are you a dog or something?"

"I was born in the year of the tiger," Shao Qi leaned in for another kiss, chuckling, "We're in a legitimate relationship. Who cares if they know? We haven’t done anything improper yet. Haven't you missed me over these few silent days?"

Zhou You examined Shao Qi's hand, noticing its dryness and cracked knuckles, "The harsh weather makes traveling tough."

"Feeling sorry for me now?" Shao Qi put gloves on both of their hands, having removed them earlier for convenience. After adjusting their armors, the two walked back side by side.

"Let's move on." Shao Qi coughed, gave Zhou You a glance, and boarded the lead vehicle.

This time, Zhou You's vehicle was at the rear. Their formation brought a sense of security to the group. Having emerged from the swamp, everyone was now deeply respectful of both Shao Qi and Zhou You.

As for Zhou You, everyone had seen his capabilities and were even more curious about his background, his martial arts skills, and where he learned them from. All they knew was that he was once a top player in some game.

The following day was surprisingly smooth for the convoy. They didn't encounter any strong mutated beasts or humans. Accustomed to the lively base life, the desolation of the wilderness sometimes felt haunting, as if humanity had been abandoned. Can humans really defy the laws of nature?

"The snow keeps getting heavier. Is this weather really suitable for launching a satellite? What if we've been deceived?" Two men talked as they went to relieve themselves, snowflakes clinging to them.

"Deceived about what? We've come all this way from the base, losing so much equipment and vehicles. Who would go to such lengths to deceive us? Besides, Captain Shao wouldn’t lie."

"Isn't it just a nagging doubt? Aren’t you curious?"

As the days passed, they had traveled far from Yang City and were nearing their destination. Heavy snowfall persisted for three days, blocking many roads. Thankfully, the armored vehicles were equipped for snow travel.

"In this ghastly weather, who else would be out here? I think the captain's been overly cautious lately, even wanting us to pair up just to use the restroom."

"It's safer in pairs. Let's hurry. I'm freezing here. Next time, I'll just find a tree hollow to pee."

"Well, if it freezes a few more times, it might just stop working." The two turned around and headed back. After they left, several heads, wearing white helmets that blended perfectly with the snow, emerged from the snow-covered ground.

They climbed out of the snow and crawled forward. Even up close, one would mistake them for moving snowballs.

At the camp, tents were erected, and fires were lit for warmth. They managed to boil some soup to go with their compressed biscuits. Hot meals were out of the question since they'd lost all their pots and pans.

"Half a day's journey ahead lies a deserted city where the vegetation, restricted by the soil, doesn't grow wildly. Before the apocalypse, it was a prefecture-level city. We'll enter it to search for supplies," Shao Qi pointed to a spot on the map.

Zhou You looked at the marked point and curiously asked, "Do pre-apocalyptic cities still exist?"

"They certainly do. There are numerous city ruins across the country. The southern ones get quickly covered by overgrowth, but the north is better preserved, especially the northwestern deserts. We've taken shortcuts, so we rarely visited these ruins, but you'll see one tomorrow."

"If the northwestern desert is inhospitable to vegetation, why not establish a base there?"

"What used to be desert is now a wasteland. There are a few bases there, but without forests or oceans, securing food in an inland city is a challenge. It's not like the old days when supplies could arrive in a day or two. Running out of food here is a dire situation."

Zhou You nodded, "It's like the old saying: 'Lean on a big tree for shade and the mountains for sustenance.' How do the people there survive?"

"Mainly through factories. The vast and sparsely populated areas are ideal for factories. Our military factory is also located there, but it's quite far from Jiu City, otherwise, I would've taken you there."

"Can an outsider like me enter such a critical military zone?"

"Do you consider yourself an outsider?" Shao Qi hugged him and said, "With our marriage certificate, I guarantee no one would dare stop you."