Zhou You snapped his fingers and declared, "The loser has to provide the winner with a month's worth of mutated beast meat." Their current provisions were from the military. The meat they got yesterday was just ordinary. Maybe soon, they won't have any meat left, but their bodies still need the energy from mutated meat.

"Deal. The winner gets to choose, and at the very least, we need to hunt several high-level mutated beasts for reserves." Shao Qi took a step, leaving a barely noticeable footprint in the snow, which was soon covered by fresh snowflakes.

Zhou You nodded in agreement, he too had no taste for the meat of inferior mutated beasts; otherwise, with so many at the ranch, he could simply bring back one or two to last them a month.

I wonder if the city defense team has cleaned up the scene.

Speaking of the devil, a patrol vehicle from the city defense team passed by the Martial Arts Association. Leading them was Captain Lin Zihua. Upon seeing Zhou You and his companion, he immediately instructed his team to stop the vehicle, shouting, "Mr. Zhou..."

In such weather, the two stood out as they walked along the road. The accumulated snow was almost as tall as a person, making it nearly impossible for ordinary people to traverse.

"Look, their feet don’t sink into the snow. How did they manage that?"

"Is it a skateboard?"

"No, just regular boots. It's incredible! If one saw this at night, they might think they've seen a ghost."

"They must be masters. They walk so effortlessly on the snow. When we go out in this weather, we either have to shovel our way or trudge through, sinking deep with every step."

"Ever since they arrived at the Jiangnan base, I've had this feeling that our base is going to undergo a significant transformation. I'm not sure if it’s for better or worse."

"You're referring to the ordinary people practicing martial arts, right? I heard that already over a hundred can absorb spiritual energy. In a few days, our base might have an influx of new warriors. It’s a good thing; fresh blood gives us more hope for survival."

"Look, as they walk towards us, every step seems as if they're walking on solid ground. Is this lightness skill?"

"They must have profound internal strength!" Captain Lin Zihua exclaimed, his respect for the duo growing immensely. Gone was his initial arrogance. He politely said, "Mr. Zhou, we tried to drive out of the city to the ranch yesterday. Unfortunately, due to the severe weather and poor road conditions, we had to turn back within a kilometer. We truly wasted your goodwill."

"It's okay. It's too dangerous to leave the city in this weather. Next time, I'll take you hunting."

The city defense guards were instantly excited. Their main duty is to maintain internal order, so they rarely venture out. If someone like Zhou You were to lead them, they’d gladly take the opportunity for some real-world experience.

Shao Qi pondered for a moment, then said, "Given that there's readily available mutated beast meat, it'd be a waste not to bring it back. You select some martial artists of master rank, and I'll arrange the trip. However, vehicles won't work; we need sleds. Does your base have large transport sleds?"

Lin Zihua's eyes lit up, "Yes, our city defense team has three sleds for transporting supplies. The military area has a few too. We can borrow them. As for master-ranked martial artists, ten of our team leaders qualify. Except for the two on duty, all can come."

Shao Qi nodded in approval, "Fine. In an hour, gather your men at the city gate. We won't be able to return tonight, so plan to spend the night at the ranch. Make sure to bring some food and cold-resistant items."

Hearing they’d be spending the night outside the city, an excited Lin Zihua asked, "Should we bring more weapons? Our defense team's guns are just ordinary. I doubt they'd be effective against mutated beasts."

Shao Qi glanced at the sword on Lin Zihua's waist, and replied calmly, "If you see this trip as a test, then you might not need guns. Your martial skills will be your true asset."

Lin Zihua gripped his sword’s scabbard and thought: That's right, in a battle against mutated beasts, it all comes down to one’s own abilities. Let's do this!

After the two left, a subordinate said to Lin Zihua, "Captain, spending the night outside the city is dangerous. Are you sure about this?"

"Haven't you heard from those who returned from the ranch? There are at least a hundred mutated beast corpses. If we can transport them back, not only will our defense team have ample meat for the upcoming months, but we can also earn a handsome profit. The year's end is approaching; this money will ensure a good celebration for our brothers."

"But..."

"Enough. I'll discuss with others. Outsiders are willing to help, and here we are, hesitating. Isn’t that shameful?"

As Zhou You and his companion reached the entrance of the mansion, they looked back at their footprints. The snow was pristine, without a trace of their passage. It was evident that their skills in this aspect were closely matched.

"It's a draw. Seems like we should go hunting outside the city together next time," Shao Qi said with a smirk.

Miao Miao and the two others breathed a sigh of relief when they saw them return. If they'd been any later, they'd have turned into snow statues.

This little white tiger had endless energy. No matter how much they coaxed, it refused to come inside, choosing instead to play in the snow. In the end, it was Miao Miao who brought out the grill that rescued everyone. They could warm themselves while enjoying grilled meat. However, having a flying white tiger by their side while eating made them feel a bit pressured. As a result, most of the meat ended up in the tiger's mouth.

Hearing that they were being asked to head out of the city to collect spoils of war, the trio immediately set their meat aside and stood up. Miao Miao cleaned his greasy hands with snow and excitedly said, "Why didn’t you tell us about this sooner? How many spoils can we carry back? The meat provided by the military zone is terrible."

Zhou You recalled killing several mid-level mutated beasts and told them the approximate locations so they wouldn’t miss them under the thick snow.

Watching the trio equip themselves and head out on their sleds, Zhou You felt a tad uneasy. "They'll be spending the night outside the city. Isn't it too dangerous? Should I accompany them?"