"As for me? I haven’t found the right person. But I like strong, independent women. They’re everywhere now."

"Like Li Yunxi?" Shao Qi raised an eyebrow, seeming surprised at Zhou You’s taste.

Zhou You shook his head. He had no particular feelings for Li Yunxi. In fact, he hadn't fallen for anyone yet. He just admired that type of woman.

"The Morning Glow team just left a few days ago. With this snowstorm, I wonder if they can reach Yang City safely. They'll be in danger if they encounter hunting mutants."

No sooner had Zhou You spoken than the military alarm rang out. They had just dealt with mutant birds yesterday; what would today bring?

"This must be a call to gather. I don't know why they'd choose to leave in this weather. I have a meeting with Ren Zhiyuan today. You can explore the inner city."

Zhou You might be wealthy now, but not even all that money would make him shop in this weather. He doubted many stores would be open.

"I'm heading out of town. The noises I heard last night have left me uneasy. I'll roam around nearby and check on Xiaobai." Zhou You was still wearing his heavenly silk armor, which protected him against the elements, but he had thrown on an overcoat. After freshening up, he shouldered his backpack and prepared to leave.

Shao Qi advised him, "You should consider bringing Xiaobai inside. The weather poses a harsh challenge for wild animals. Being so young, it's easily preyed upon by others."

"But hiding it now with its size has become difficult," replied Zhou You. He caught sight of Shao Qi and was momentarily dazzled. Shao Qi was dressed in a military uniform, and his innate charisma, combined with the uniform, made him irresistibly handsome—like walking pheromones.

"Could you help me fasten this belt?" Shao Qi's uniform was a temporary arrangement by Miao Miao and wasn’t his usual attire. The belt was filled with weapons, making the buckle holes hard to find.

Zhou You approached him. Being almost ten centimeters shorter, he had to look up at Shao Qi. Moving behind him, Zhou You secured the belt, then took out Shao Qi's handgun, chuckled, and said, "This seems rather perfunctory. You should at least have an energy gun befitting your status."

Shao Qi tossed aside the gun in Zhou You's hand, replacing it with his own, and also swapped out his dagger, tucking it into his military boot. Additionally, a sword hung from his waist. Zhou You curiously inquired, "Do you normally use a sword?"

While Shao Qi primarily used a knife, he was adept with other weapons as well. For him, there wasn’t much difference between swordsmanship and knife techniques.

"I'm proficient with both," he said.

Zhou You noticed a red cloak nearby. Draping it over Shao Qi and placing a military cap on him, he looked every bit the dashing military officer straight out of a novel, exuding charisma.

Observing his ensemble, Zhou You teased, "You look less like you're heading to a meeting and more like you're entering a beauty contest."

In the past, Shao Qi disliked being complimented on his looks. However, Zhou You's indirect praise brightened his mood. "If it's a beauty contest, I could simply bring you along, couldn’t I? Today, I'm preparing for a fight."

Shao Qi was highly dissatisfied with the capabilities of the Jiangnan military region. He had held back yesterday out of respect for their recent battle. If they had been his troops, he would’ve sent them into the mountains as prey for the beasts.

Shao Qi wasn't heading out alone today. With Miao Miao and three others by his side, they appeared ready to cause a ruckus.

Watching them depart, Zhou You envisioned Shao Qi wreaking havoc in someone's conference room. He shook his head in resignation, silently mourning for Commander Ren and the others. He then drove his armored vehicle out of the Jiangnan military zone.

At the city gate, he encountered a military troop led by Zhao Jinghao. Their expressions were grim, indicating something amiss.

"Mr. Zhou, why are you venturing out with such heavy snowfall?" asked a surprised city guard.

Zhou You replied casually, "I'm scouting the vicinity, perhaps hunting some stray mutant beasts... By the way, where are Lieutenant Zhao and his team headed? Has something happened outside the city?"

The guard sighed deeply and said, "Word has it that an outpost was overrun by mutant beasts last night. Not only did the staff there perish, but a squad resting there was also caught in the incident."

"How far is this outpost from here?" Zhou You wondered if the noise he heard last night was related to the outpost's predicament.

"It’s about a day's drive to the northwest. If you intend to go there, it's safer to accompany the military. Venturing alone is too risky," the guard, having witnessed Zhou You's previous feats with mutant beasts, said, hinting at Zhou You's skills but uncertain of their extent.

After thanking the guard, Zhou You drove out. The snow reached knee-high. His armored vehicle, with its elevated chassis and specialized tires, maneuvered through the snow, albeit slowly.

The snow had inadvertently fixed the uneven roads that had been damaged and resembled a lunar surface, making repairs less urgent.

Zhou You scouted the area, finding a livestock farm to the north. The heavy snow had collapsed cattle sheds, causing the cattle to wander aimlessly in the snow, attracting several mutant beasts.

The farm's staff had been alarmed the previous night. Ferocious mutant beasts stormed in, and they dared not step outside. Attempts to call for help failed due to a disrupted signal, leaving them to hide inside, trembling and hoping they weren't the targets.

Zhou You steered his vehicle into the farm. High walls and electrified fences once protected it, but the heavy snow had disrupted the power, and something had punched a large hole in the wall, rendering their defenses useless as mutants roamed freely.

Zhou You drove around only to find the cowshed empty. In the sheepfold, two mutant beasts gnawed on bones, surrounded by fresh blood and scattered wool. The chicken and duck farms were no different, essentially wiped out.