The opposition had twice their numbers, with most being advanced martial artists. Their leader had even advanced to the rank of Martial Master. Frankly, Zhou You felt that half of his own advancement came from luck; without it, his score wouldn't have been as high. He suspected that their opponent also exploited some trick to inflate his score.

But in the game, a Martial Master remains a Martial Master, regardless of how they achieved their rank. They possess the skills of a Martial Master. However, Zhou You had three secret manuals, granting him more abilities.

"What does it matter if they outnumber us? We've never backed down from a fight," Miao Miao charged forward, and the rest followed suit, taking the enemies by surprise.

Their group's moves were swift and fierce, targeting human vulnerabilities. While this approach might not be effective against advanced mutated beasts, against humans, it could easily result in fatal blows.

After the initial clash, half of the enemy forces were down. Zhou You was keeping their leader busy, and Shao Qi was so formidable that opponents would hesitate for a moment upon seeing his name, only to be quickly defeated.

Reputation precedes oneself. The epic battle from the previous night was etched in the minds of many. Their arrogant young opponent, seeking fame, thought a one-on-one duel with Zhou You's team would bring him renown, which was why they had this "chance" encounter.

"Oh dear, your numbers are dwindling. What makes you think you can win against us? Is it just because you have more people?" Zhou You teased as he played with his opponent. He could easily finish the young foe but saw no need.

The opponent glanced around the battlefield, realizing that most of his forces had been decimated. The few remaining lacked the will to fight and appeared easily subdued.

He shouted, "What are you doing? Even if they are of the same level, you shouldn't be losing like this! Kill one and get 5,000 points, two kills get you 10,000 points!"

The promise of a bounty briefly revitalized the remaining few. They charged, wisely avoiding Shao Qi and targeting what they perceived as the weaker members of Zhou You's team.

But did Zhou You's team have any weak links? Even Li Yunxi, who had endured a long journey from the south to Yang City, was not one to be trifled with.

As for the others, they were battle-hardened warriors. Taking down these opponents was child's play for them.

"It's over!" Zhou You smirked, manipulating several flying knives to toy with his adversary. A couple of knives kept the enemy busy, while the rest left cuts all over him. Over the course of ten minutes, his health dwindled until he met his demise.

"You...wait for my revenge!" The enemy vanished after his declaration, likely respawning at the revival point. Not wanting to repeat the same fight, Zhou You and his team logged off.

Exiting the gaming pod, Qin Lifei remarked with glee, "It was satisfying to watch Mister Zhou toy with that fool. We'll dig up his background soon. He must be naive to think we wouldn't recognize him in the game."

Shao Qi had other priorities. "Xiao Bai has been out for days, shouldn't we bring him back?"

"I'll check on him tonight. But he's probably having too much fun in the wild to return," Zhou You replied. Since the Zhu family fell, their orphanage remained temporarily closed, but they could come and go as they pleased via a secret tunnel. Those in the know turned a blind eye, much to their convenience.

The ranch staff had been withdrawn, leaving the area as a no-man's land. Xiao Bai roamed nearby, with ample food sources, so Zhou You wasn't worried.

No sightings of mutated tigers near the base had been reported, indicating Xiao Bai remained undetected. Even if discovered, Zhou You believed no ordinary person could capture him.

Zhuo Hao was taken by Qin Lifei to gather intel. The rest congregated in the living room, planning tactics over late-night snacks. In no time, Shao Qi had crafted a detailed holographic map featuring a majestic mutated tiger.

This 3D tech was often used in military operations. Being a computer whiz, Shao Qi could replicate the mutated tiger's reactions with astonishing accuracy, especially after their recent encounter.

After roles were assigned and simulations conducted, feeling 80% confident in their strategy, the team dispersed, and Shao Qi accompanied Zhou You outside the city walls.

Yang City had a vibrant nightlife. The city guards focused on maintaining order, not on petty issues like unlicensed street vendors. Ever since points became the primary currency, bartering became common, and street stalls were everywhere.

Since it was still early, Zhou You and Shao Qi walked. The weather had turned noticeably colder since the previous day, leading many vendors to pack up early.

They overheard conversations about an imminent blizzard. "The forecast says we might get snowed in for a few days. Fortunately, we've stocked up on dry rations. As long as the heating doesn't fail, we can stay warm indoors."

"Exactly, the municipal government provides decent benefits too. They deliver supplies every three days. Besides not being able to go out, I quite enjoy this life—it's so relaxing."

"You fool! If one enjoys a too comfortable life for long, they can become stagnant. I've heard that everyone in the Jiangnan Base is now learning martial arts—even during the cold winters. They're practicing at home. Just one winter might pass, and that small base could surpass our Yang City."

"Oh, come on! How skilled can ordinary folks get from practicing martial arts? At most, it's for fitness. We exercise at home too, at least two hours a day. Mostly, I accompany my son in his practice. At my age and since I don't leave the base, it doesn't matter if I practice or not."

"Still, I hope within my lifetime I can venture outside once more. When I'm old and have lived enough, I want to see the outside world again—even if just for a day. Mountains, rivers, oceans, flora, and fauna—I dearly miss them from before."