Zhou You suspected Shao Qi didn't want to drive. The armored car was not only a means of transport but also an escape route. He proposed, "How about I drive the armored car tomorrow and Mr. Shao, you drive the truck?"

Shao Qi stared at him with a pitiful look, "You expect an injured person like me to drive such a huge truck? The steering wheel is hard enough to maneuver as it is."

Zhou You couldn't bear to watch and discreetly rolled his eyes. He curiously inquired, "How much has Mr. Shao's internal injury healed? Can you engage in combat?"

Holding his chest, Shao Qi replied, "The injuries this time were severe. I had to deliver the poison to Master Wei under great stress, making my injuries even worse. It'll be at least a year or two before I'm fully recovered."

Zhou You had always been curious about how Shao Qi managed to poison Master Wei, seemingly more than once. However, delving into someone else's secret techniques wasn't his place.

"Aren't you afraid I'd murder and rob you in the wilderness?" Zhou You gazed at Shao Qi's hand. After all, he was rumored to be a wealthy tycoon. Robbing him would set one up for life.

Shao Qi laughed heartily, "You wouldn't. Trust those you employ and don't employ those you distrust. I trust you!" He said, locking eyes with Zhou You, radiating sincerity.

Zhou You was slightly stunned by Shao Qi's intense gaze, thinking, 'He's indeed brave. If don't rob him of his wealth, what if have other intentions?'

The night passed without conversation. The following day, as dawn broke, they set off. Upon entering the forest, there was a sensation of being engulfed by darkness. Even the temperature dropped. Not just humans, but animals too were busily gathering provisions for winter.

They drove most of the day, only encountering regular wildlife which kept their distance, avoiding conflict.

"It seems Dragon Team entered the mountain before us, taking the same route. Let's change our course," Shao Qi said, checking his digital map, choosing a different path. After all, the paths were makeshift, so any direction was possible.

Zhou You adjusted his headset and accessed his own map. Following Shao Qi's directions, he began planning their route, "This route will extend our journey by half a day, and we'll likely encounter higher-level mutated beasts."

"We can't return empty-handed after driving such a big truck, right? I'm eager to see you in action against those beasts. Maybe I'll learn something."

"Alright then. The route's a bit trickier. Stay close," Zhou You, leading the way in the armored car, couldn't speed up. Soon after changing their route, they encountered a group of wild boars.

Zhou You realized that these wild boars were low-level mutated beasts. Apart from their tasty meat, they had little value. He wasn't too keen on engaging them.

However, Shao Qi suggested, "Let's get a few piglets for roasting. It's been ages since I had roasted suckling pig."

Zhou You reluctantly stopped, aiming his sniper rifle at the herd. According to the database, these mutated pigs had three vulnerable points. Zhou You shot precisely at these spots, eliminating one with each shot. Initially, the boars charged aggressively, but they couldn't even get close to the armored car before Zhou You took them down.

Shao Qi observed every movement of Zhou You, from how he gripped the gun to his habit of pursing his lips after shooting. He felt the young man looked incredibly handsome when focused. Such precise marksmanship wasn't just about martial skill; it indicated professional training.

Shao Qi's curiosity about Zhou You's past grew. No matter, he believed that one day he would know everything from Zhou You himself.

After dealing with the wild boars, Zhou You got out of the car and waved to Shao Qi, "Come and help load them up."

Shao Qi resignedly turned into a porter. Just this group of boars took up nearly half the truck, and they'd only been in the mountains for half a day.

Zhou You let the white tiger roam freely; it had been too restricted at the base. The young tiger joyfully sprinted around, letting out several roars, startling numerous creatures.

Just as Zhou You was about to call it back, his ears pricked up. He glanced towards the dense forest on the right, gestured to Shao Qi, then quickly pulled out his gun and ducked behind the truck.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves and grass in the forest. The very faint footsteps could easily be drowned out, but Zhou You trusted his instincts and hid behind the truck for over ten minutes.

Given the commotion earlier, it wouldn't be surprising if predators were drawn to them, especially since the truck's door was still open, allowing the smell of blood to drift far and wide.

Shao Qi threw a smoke grenade in that direction, which released a sedative gas that could cause unconsciousness if inhaled in large amounts.

As the smoke spread, a predator hiding in the bushes had no choice but to reveal itself. They stared intently and realized it was a leopard cat, not very large among mutated beasts, with thick fur and gem-like green eyes. Recognizing its exposure, it crouched low, wagging its tail, and in a single leap, jumped onto the truck's roof.

Zhou You was about to shoot at it, but seeing its interest was only in the wild boar meat inside the truck, he tossed down a boar. The leopard cat jumped down and began feasting, growling a warning at the two men while it ate.

"Let's go. If it's not a threat, just leave it. Besides, cat meat doesn't taste good anyway."

"The white tiger hasn't returned yet."

"It can follow our scent back to us."

They hadn't driven far when they heard gunshots from another direction, suggesting that the Longxing team was nearby.

The rest of their journey was smooth. They hunted one medium-grade mutated beast and three lower-grade ones. Being at the edge of the forest, they didn't encounter many wild creatures.

At night, they rested in a cave. The armored vehicle was parked at the entrance. Inside the truck was a cold storage room with a device to seal off scents. Locked securely beneath the trees, most predators preferred live prey and wouldn't be interested in frozen meat unless starving.

The white tiger found them before nightfall, its white fur stained with blood. Clumps of it had dried. Zhou You thought it was injured but after a thorough check, realized the blood belonged to other animals; bits of flesh were even stuck between its teeth.

For dinner, they had grilled meat and meat-stuffed buns, accompanied by a mushroom soup. After eating, they each sat in a corner and meditated, without disturbing each other.