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Chapter222
Merely glimpsing those scattered high-grade materials left everyone astounded. How formidable must one be to hunt down so many elite mutated creatures?
If Zhou You knew their thoughts, he'd be exasperated. This loot was minimal. He initially thought a truckload would be easily filled, hence didn't bring much meat. Now, half the truck remained empty. Indeed, there were fewer beasts during winter.
"You drive." Shao Qi instructed Song Xingzhen, who then helped Shao Qi into an armored vehicle ahead.
Once inside, Zhou You inquired, "What kind of faction is Qianji Hall? Are they influential?"
Shao Qi nonchalantly replied, "A criminal syndicate, the largest gang in Yangcheng. Though they won't admit to being underworld, preferring 'community stabilizing organization.' The leader, Wang Houjie, is renowned. It's surprising he birthed such an inept son. A tarnished legacy indeed."
Zhou You widened his eyes, "So criminal organizations can openly exist now?"
"Not exactly. As long as they don't overstep, abide by the base's laws, and pay their dues on time, calling them factions would be accurate too. What's the difference between them and the so-called sects?"
Pondering, Zhou You found himself unable to refute. He laughed, "I've been narrow-minded, always assuming our world remains peaceful. I forgot how much has changed."
"Have you been in the Yunlan Mountains this past decade?" Shao Qi couldn't see Zhou You as a recluse. Surviving a decade in the Yunlan Mountains meant there was nowhere he couldn't venture.
"Well, I guess you could say that. I'm just a country bumpkin after all."
Shao Qi chuckled, ruffling Zhou You's hair, "No worries. I can take you all over the country. Not many have such an opportunity."
Zhou You felt this life was good, with its constant thrills. Each day brought unknown challenges and possible new species to discover. Every day felt like exploring a new world.
After picking up their teammates from the supermarket, they loaded the supplies. The sight of a few additional people didn't faze the team. Picking up survivors on their outings had become routine.
Before departing, Shao Qi went to the basement. From a distance, Zhou You noticed explosions, followed by thick smoke, then flames consuming the remains of the supermarket.
Song Xingzhen recognized the place. He had met the young Zhou You nearby just the night before. This was their base, explaining why Zhou You lured the mutated snake away.
Emerging from the flames, Shao Qi, carrying his gear and gun, approached with an imposing aura. His face was stern, resembling a warrior who'd braved countless battles. Few men in the country could match his presence.
Cheng Suyan watched the imposing man with gritted teeth, then Zhou You's awestruck face, lamenting the days when he was everyone's heartthrob. How did he fall so far?
"Who exactly are they?" Song Xingzhen pondered. In these times, those who looked like soldiers might be bandits, and vice versa. Regardless, weren't they all saviors?
On their way out of the city, the convoy faced multiple attacks. Mutants in this ruin had grown accustomed to human presence, even discerning which teams to intercept and which to avoid.
Zhou You and his group drove into the city with just two vehicles – among the least equipped of any humans entering the city in the past. As a result, numerous mutated creatures targeted them. However, unless they encountered high-level mutants, Zhou You didn’t even need to lift a finger.
Song Xingzhen witnessed the formidable combat abilities of that team and felt fortunate for swallowing his pride and joining them. With them present, they should be safe and sound.
"What... what's that?" Song Xingzhen's hand, which was on the steering wheel, trembled. He instinctively hit the brakes, his eyes widening in astonishment – even more so than when he saw the high-level mutated cobra the night before.
"Is that... a mutated tiger?"
His voice was almost audible. He wanted to honk to alert those ahead but feared startling the white tiger. It was a juvenile white tiger, its fur smooth and pure white, lying on the ground gnawing at meat. This was the spot where they had fought the hyenas earlier. The ground was littered with the bodies of about a dozen mutated hyenas, which the tiger was feeding on.
But it was said that mutated tigers wouldn't consume corpses unless there was no other choice. They preferred hunting live prey. With abundant prey in this ruin, why would it eat lifeless bodies?
Zhou You and the others, of course, noticed the young white tiger. They wondered where it had wandered off to all night. Zhou You was concerned that it might hop onto the car when it saw them, which would be hard to explain to the people following behind.
Thus, he stepped out of the car, instructing the rest to move on. He discreetly intended to get the young tiger into the vehicle, considering they still had another car parked outside the city.
Seeing Zhou You staying behind alone, Song Xingzhen was astounded. How could they dare leave him alone here? Even if the white tiger was juvenile, it was not something one could handle alone.
But since Zhou You's companions didn’t object, Song Xingzhen felt he had even less say. He silently resolved that if they didn’t plan on returning for backup after leaving the city, he would come back alone.
Zhou You approached and patted the white tiger on its head, asking, "Have you eaten enough?"
The young white tiger had actually waited here, having caught the scent of Zhou You and the others, and decided to snack in the meantime. Rising and shaking its fur, it licked the blood off its lips and nudged Zhou You's chest with its head.
Zhou You rubbed its head and said, "Let’s go, we're leaving the city. With your size now, I wonder how much longer we can keep you hidden."
He felt that hiding it wasn’t a sustainable solution. It was best to let it roam free. Ever since it started following him, it had never shown aggression towards humans. It seemed even tamer than pet cats from the past.