"Found it!" Zhou You spotted the white tiger digging holes in the snow. Its plump behind swaying from side to side, it was unclear what it was after.

He whistled, amplifying the sound with his inner energy to pierce the howling blizzard, reaching the tiger's ears. It responded with a joyful, youthful roar and rushed over.

In the vast snowy expanse, Sun Lu glimpsed a flash of white, resembling a mutant creature, but its size wasn't right—more like a domestic animal, which then hopped into the armored vehicle ahead.

"Must be seeing things," Sun Lu mumbled to himself. "Such a small creature couldn't possibly have survived in the wild." He followed the vehicle closely, with the journey seeming swift for him but dragging for others aboard who kept checking the time, feeling the return trip took longer than usual.

"What's taking so long? Is the return trip always this extended?"

"Doesn't this road seem off to you? Zhou isn't from the Jiangnan base; could he have gotten lost?" With the current low visibility, their only clues about their whereabouts came from passing landmarks. Could Zhou truly be unaware?

"Sun Lu, catch up and check. Zhou must be lost. At this rate, we might be heading further away from the base," the ranch's manager gently suggested.

Sun Lu shared their concerns, familiar with this route for years, realizing Zhou's mistake even sooner. However, due to the heavy snowfall, he found it challenging to notify Zhou.

Chapter 071: What a Coincidence, So Is Mine

"I'll try," Sun Lu accelerated, honking continuously. Zhou, with his keen hearing, caught the sound but didn't halt. Inside his vehicle was a white tiger, now grown to the size of a mature Samoyed, clearly visible through the window.

Zhou turned on the hazard lights, acknowledging them, and continued driving. Meanwhile, he watched the white tiger in the rearview mirror. The creature seemed to have grown a bit in just a few days, licking its wounds with focused intent.

Zhou guessed that the tiger had had a rough time outside. Seeing it wet and muddy, licking its deep wounds on the back seat, was distressing. The wounds on its leg looked deep, likely caused by another wild creature.

"Did he misinterpret, thinking we couldn't keep up?"

With over a dozen people in the vehicle, their combined anxiety nearly reached a breaking point. Everyone barked orders at Sun Lu.

"Sun Lu, speed up! Let's get ahead of him."

"Maybe you should shout, Sun Lu. Zhou might hear you."

"Sun Lu, honk the horn again! The car in front just turned. He must be lost!"

"Little Sun…"

Sun Lu's nerves were frayed. The noise nearly pushed him over the edge. "Shout one more time and you can drive yourself!" he snapped.

As a herdsman, Sun Lu had a low standing in the ranch, usually acquiescing to others. But when he erupted, no one was really scared. They even joked about docking his wages.

Zhou You could hear the bickering from the car behind. A smirk appeared on his lips. Arguing at such a time? They must be oblivious to the concept of danger. But the determined Sun Lu, who was driving, caught Zhou You's attention. Resolute individuals excel no matter their profession.

Before nightfall, Zhou You finally led them back to the base. The sight of the city walls moved many to tears. Driving through the gates, everything still felt surreal.

Learning that they were ranch workers and that the ranch had been destroyed by mutated beasts, the gate guard's first thought was, "Oh no, we'll be meatless this winter."

Hearing that Zhou You had rescued them, the guard saluted Zhou You, who added, "I killed hundreds of mutants at the ranch. Inform your superiors and see if they want to collect them. If they're late, they might be gone."

The possibility of mutant meat made the guard rush to report. And by telling the city defense, did Zhou You intend to gift these mutants to them?

"The army hunted so many mutant birds yesterday and didn’t leave even one for our defense team. What a rip-off!"

As Zhou You drove in, he spotted Miao Miao at the entrance. She sprinted towards him, pressing herself against his car window, "I thought we'd have to come looking for you!"

Zhou You, not well-acquainted with her, presumed it was Shao Qi's doing. "I can handle myself. There's no need to worry," he said.

"Of course! You're the expert here. But someone's worried you might leave. It feels like he's more protective over you than his own wife," teased Miao Miao, hinting at Shao Qi.

"Speaking of which, Shao... our company borrowed a place in the inner city from the military. The elder has already moved. I was waiting to guide you there."

Remembering what Shao Qi had mentioned earlier, Zhou You realized that this meant he wouldn't need to worry about the white tiger being discovered.

"Hop in!" Zhou You gestured for her to get in the car, then followed the route she indicated.

The moment she got in, Miao Miao was fixated on the rearview, her eyes wide in shock. If not for Zhou You beside her, she'd probably have pulled out a whip. Who'd dare keep such a beast?

The white tiger didn't recognize Miao Miao and growled menacingly. She couldn't handle the tension and decided to get off midway, leading the way with a rented e-scooter.

When they reached the destination, Zhou You recognized the old Jianmen. He had seen it sealed off online, never imagining they'd be staying there.