Miao Miao pushed past him, pointing at a bunch of white bats and questioned, "Aren't the live ones worth more? We're days away from Yangcheng. Shouldn’t we keep them alive? What do bats eat?"

No one had experience with bats, but their sharp teeth suggested a carnivorous diet. Miao Miao threw in a small piece of meat, which the bats tore at immediately. However, they spit it out after biting off chunks.

When Shao Qi returned, he saw everyone intently discussing the bats. The food on the campfire was almost burnt. He removed the pot to find the bottom of the stew charred.

"What are you all up to?" Shao Qi inquired.

"They don't eat meat," Zhou You pointed at the bats, "Miao Miao wanted to keep them alive for selling, but they spit out the meat we fed them."

Sitting on a nearby boulder, Shao Qi arrogantly motioned Zhou You over, "Wipe my sweat, and I'll tell you what they eat."

Tossing a towel, Zhou You laughed, "Half that sweat's yours! Share if you want to, or don’t."

Exhausted, Shao Qi changed into fresh clothes and returned with a live rabbit. He released it into the bat enclosure. Within moments, the once lively rabbit was drained of its blood, turning into a dry corpse.

Everyone instinctively backed away from the blood-sucking bats. Li Yunxi remarked, "They look deceivingly cute for their brutality. Are we sure about keeping them?"

"What if they escape at night and drain us of our blood?" Cheng Suyuan said, evidently horrified.

Disdainfully, Shao Qi responded, "If you can't even handle a few bats, maybe you should head home. This wilderness isn't for you. These bats are one of the weakest mutated creatures. They're only daunting in numbers."

Zhou You secured the bats in the truck, reassuring everyone, "Don't worry, they won't escape. I'll keep an eye on them."

After dinner, they gathered around the campfire. Some practiced their skills, while others watched dramas. If not for the external threats, it felt almost like a camping trip.

Nightly, two teams took turns standing guard. Shao Qi insisted on partnering with Zhou You, and no one dared oppose. Despite Miao Miao's jests about his bias, he was the leader after all.

Zhou You would often take the midnight shift, capable of meditating and standing guard simultaneously. Every morning, he seemed more refreshed than anyone else, leading many to wonder if he had mastered a unique technique to draw energy from the sun and moon.

Zhou You wasn't secretive and shared the first mantra of the Taiyi Heart Sutra with everyone. However, most found it too cryptic to understand, let alone practice.

With Zhou You's guidance, everyone saw improvement in their inner strength. During one session, Miao Miao infused her whip with chi and shattered a boulder with a single strike, doubling its power. If she could further strengthen her chi, she would surely stand a chance against those three monsters.

"Have you ever wondered what the future holds for our world?" Zhou You asked, jumping onto the vehicle roof and sitting next to Shao Qi.

The night sky was mesmerizing. Earth was rapidly healing, with global heavy industries now operating at less than 0.1% of their pre-apocalypse capacity. Forests were expanding and carbon dioxide emissions had decreased significantly. Zhou You sometimes thought that the spiritual energy had always been present, but previous pollution had significantly diminished its concentration.

Lying back with his hands cushioning his head, Shao Qi watched a shooting star cross the sky, murmuring, "No one can predict the future. Perhaps in a few years, we might face another ice age. Or, a devastating tsunami might wipe out continents, or a massive earthquake could threaten humanity's existence."

"Is that a bit pessimistic?" Zhou You had always thought of Shao Qi as fearless, someone who'd survive even if the world came to an end.

"It's not about being pessimistic. I just don't dwell on those things. Living in the present and cherishing each day is enough. After all, no one can claim to outlive Earth itself, especially those like us who face daily dangers. Overthinking is just an added burden."

While Zhou You agreed with Shao Qi's sentiments, he pondered, isn't the desire to live and have dreams inherent in everyone?

Turning to face him, Zhou You asked, "If you don't harbor such thoughts, why bother establishing a family or a career? Isn't being a free spirit better?"

Shao Qi's eyes widened as he grasped Zhou You's implication, grabbing his arm and asking, "Are you discussing matters of the heart with me?"

A gleam of excitement in his eyes, Shao Qi leaned in closer, whispering, "What are you trying to convey? If my previous words upset you, I can reconsider. While it might be easy for one to live carelessly, two people together need a plan."

As he spoke, Shao Qi's voice was filled with hope for the future. He began discussing his assets, "Money won't be an issue for us. Either of us has enough, and if we ever fall short, we can always earn more."

"I have a grandfather at home. My parents have passed away, but I have a cousin, though she's as dear to me as a sister. She's a bit pampered and can be hard to get along with, but you don't have to interact with her if you don't wish to."

"She and my grandfather live in the old family house. If you don't like it, we can buy a new one. I mostly live in the military quarters and am frequently away on missions. If you find my job unstable, I can always shift to a support role..."