Zhou You covered his mouth, "Wait! I didn't mean it like that…" Seeing the light fade from Shao Qi's eyes, Zhou You hastily added, "Love develops over time. Let's just follow our hearts. If you think I'm too indecisive, then forget I said anything. I think we can be lifelong friends, but taking it further might complicate things."

Shao Qi licked his palm before retreating in mock anger, laughing, "Alright, I'll listen to you. We're together every day anyway, almost like lovers, except...hehe." He slung his arm around Zhou You's shoulder, asking playfully, "You don't mind friends being this close, right?"

Zhou You rolled his eyes, "It's not like we haven't been this close before. It's a good thing you never had feelings for me back when we shared a bed, or things would've gotten complicated."

Pushing his luck, Shao Qi took Zhou You's hand, leaning his entire body against him, cheekily asking, "Holding hands is fine for friends, right? And hugging is just basic etiquette."

Zhou You shoved him away, "What's next? Claiming that kissing between good friends is also normal?"

A crisp kiss landed on Zhou You's cheek, followed by Shao Qi's triumphant laughter, "You mentioned it, not me. I was just demonstrating. What do you think?"

Zhou You, red-faced, angrily kicked him off the car's roof, "Get lost, stop bothering me!"

Chapter 111: Ruins of the Ancient Base

The sound of a gunshot shattered the stillness of dawn. With the campfire extinguished and day yet to break, the rustling noises grew closer. Both Zhou You and Shao Qi instantly awoke, and Shao Qi fired a shot to alert the others.

"What's happening? Are mutant beasts approaching?" Cheng Suyan emerged from her tent, sword in hand, and quickly joined Zhou You.

Standing atop the car, Zhou You scanned the surroundings and instructed Cheng Suyan, "Head northwest and inspect the area about a kilometer out. Be cautious."

"Alright," she replied, wielding her sword and heading out. Others dispersed in different directions, ready to fire warning shots if necessary. This transitional period between night and day was a vulnerable time when humans were most fatigued, making it a prime hunting opportunity for many beasts.

Zhou You spotted a shadow darting from a tree towards Cheng Suyan's direction. He gripped his dagger and followed suit. Shao Qi reignited the campfire, illuminating the surroundings, but saw no threats.

Both he and Zhou You had heard something approaching earlier. Whatever it was either moved incredibly fast or was very small, making it hard to track.

Minutes later, everyone regrouped without having encountered any mutant beasts. Cheng Suyan planted her sword into the ground, visibly frustrated, "I checked everywhere, not even an insect in sight."

"We didn't notice anything either. What just happened?" Everyone turned their eyes to the night watchman.

Shao Qi remarked, "I heard sounds coming from all around, like the friction of limbs or footsteps. It could also have been the wind rustling through the foliage."

"Impossible. I saw a shadow, about the size of a seven or eight-year-old child. I'm sure I wasn't mistaken," Zhou You replied. He had given chase earlier but lost track, and given the wild surroundings, he didn't dare venture too far.

"Let's move on. Dawn is approaching anyway. If we encounter anything, we'll deal with it then. Given the strength of our group, even if advanced mutant creatures appear, we won't be scared." Miao Miao began to pack, and everyone helped load the luggage onto the vehicles, departing under the morning glow.

After their departure, several mutated moles emerged from the ground, sniffing around their campsite and consuming leftover food scraps.

Just then, a monkey leaped from a tree, aggressively chasing away the moles. It rummaged through the garbage on the ground and then pursued the convoy. The moles, seeing this, followed suit.

On the afternoon of the sixth day, the convoy reached the outskirts of an ancient, dilapidated city wall. Only Zhou You and Li Yunxi had never traveled this route. They were stunned by the sight of modern ruins through the city gate.

"What place is this?" Zhou You opened the map, momentarily mistaking it for Yangcheng base had he not realized the distance was off.

"This is the ruins of Da Gu Base, a survivor base from the early post-apocalyptic era. Due to mismanagement and power struggles among various factions, many died from internal strife. A subsequent earthquake killed many more, and a wave of creatures broke through the walls. Those who could escape did, leaving the place abandoned," Shao Qi explained. He had seen many destroyed bases, but Da Gu's fall was the most regrettable, as it was entirely due to human folly.

"It's not far from Yangcheng Base. Later, Xu Yintian circled this abandoned base as a training ground for warriors. Not only are there stray mutant creatures inside, but creatures intentionally released by Yangcheng Base are also present. They are periodically fed to maintain the ecosystem."

This was the first Zhou You had heard of such a practice, finding it intriguing. Extending his senses, he could indeed detect mutant creatures not far from the city gate, occupying what once belonged to humans. The vegetation had regrown, resembling a miniature ecosystem.

"This method is quite effective, providing warriors with training opportunities without excessive danger. Rescues can be organized if needed, far better than the policies at Jiangnan Base where they never venture out," Zhou You commented from the passenger seat. Seeing Shao Qi stopping the vehicle and the rest following suit, he inquired, "Aren't we going in? We can find a place to stay inside for the night."

Shao Qi refrained from driving in, "The roads inside are mostly destroyed, and vehicles would cause too much noise. It's better to go on foot. I found some decent spots during my previous visits. We can check if they're still habitable."

He drove a short distance along the wall, parking on level ground. Calling the rest over, he said, "Tonight, we'll stay in the Da Gu ruins and search for any useful resources. Although warriors frequently pass through, some items might have been overlooked."