Through Miao Miao and his group's efforts, everyone in Squad One was made aware of the relationship between the two individuals. After their initial shock, they expressed admiration and rushed forward to offer their services.

"Let me handle that, sister-in-law, so you won't get burned," said Situ Han boldly, addressing her in public. Shao Qi stared intently at Zhou You, half-expecting him to lash out at Situ for his boldness.

Zhou You sidestepped him and remarked with a smile, "I remember you from the cave rescue. Skip the 'sister-in-law' title; you can call me Brother Zhou."

Situ Han, always quick to adapt, cheerfully responded, "Brother Zhou, if you ever need anything, just ask. We're all family here. Why should you handle tasks like cooking?"

"Ahem!" Shao Qi cleared his throat and coldly instructed, "Situ, if you have spare time, go clean up the mutated beast corpses outside. Gather any valuable materials. We couldn't collect them before due to limited vehicle space."

"Alright," mumbled Situ Han as he went to gather materials. Zhou You placed food in front of Shao Qi, teasing, "Boss, your dinner's ready. Want me to feed you?"

Shao Qi took Zhou You's hand, pulling him closer and reintroduced him to Yao Chen. Though Yao Chen held the rank of Major, he was Shao Qi's right-hand man. Zhou You remembered him being a mere Lieutenant when they first met – his promotion seemed as rapid as a rocket's ascent.

Digging for more information, Zhou You learned from Shao Qi that Yao Chen had been in service for less than two years. Previously, he had lived in the Southwest Base. After a serendipitous rescue by Shao Qi, Yao Chen became his steadfast ally.

Why did Shao Qi trust Yao Chen so much? Yao Chen had a hidden identity – he was Shao Qi's former senior and best buddy. Meeting again after all these apocalyptic years was truly fortunate.

"Hello," greeted Yao Chen, much more composed than Situ Han. Yet, his gaze on Zhou You was one of scrutiny. Unlike others, Yao Chen felt a responsibility to vet Shao Qi's chosen partner, regardless of gender or ability.

He was also privy to a secret: the chosen bride-to-be for Shao Qi by his grandfather was from the prestigious Huangfu family. Rumor had it that she would soon reach the level of Martial Marshal. Knowing Shao Qi's preference for strong individuals, his grandfather had carefully selected her and had planned to arrange a formal introduction soon.

Yet, Shao Qi had secretly obtained a marriage certificate without informing his family.

"Hello, care to join me for a meal?" offered Zhou You. He had prepared a large pot of meat porridge enriched with medicinal herbs he'd collected along their journey. It was perfect for recovery.

Yao Chen, seeing the generous serving, didn't hesitate. After consuming three bowls, he began to understand Shao Qi's attraction to Zhou You. Handsome, skilled in culinary arts, and an adept fighter – Zhou You seemed to lack no virtues.

The group had little time for reminiscing. They had to rest and recuperate quickly. At 4 a.m. sharp the next day, the convoy set out, now reinforced with more armored vehicles, artillery vehicles, and supply trucks.

At last, there was no need for cramped conditions. Zhou You and Shao Qi shared a vehicle, while Yao Chen and his team took the rear. They drove without stopping for the entire day.

Fortunately, they had roasted ample dried meat the previous night. Under the current conditions, it wouldn't spoil. Consuming dried meat was more satisfying than settling for compressed biscuits or nutrient solutions.

The scenery gradually became monotonous. Forests vanished from view, replaced by sparsely populated grasslands. The dominant mutated beasts were now smaller, faster reptilian creatures.

It seemed Earth's evolution was finally meeting resistance. This area had once been a desert. Its current state was a vast improvement. Given another decade or so, vegetation would likely reclaim the land, engulfing the desert completely.

Experts believed the apocalypse hadn't come without warning. In the century preceding the end times, global financial crises had caused many environmental policies to be abandoned. Efforts to rejuvenate economies took precedence over conservation. Lands that had been improved began to desertify again, expanding the desert's reach. Sandstorms became the largest natural calamity in the northwestern regions.

While the area has seen significant recovery, it still remains unsuitable for human habitation. If only water and food supplies were resolved, this vast, scarcely populated region with few mutant creatures would be an excellent spot for a base.

Chapter 179: Calm Before the Storm

A procession of desert marching ants emerged from a hole, forming a long line. They're named as such due to their strict discipline. Scientists found that within their kingdom, there's a distinct hierarchy. Above the queen ant is the emperor ant, who leads all worker ants. The emperor is chosen through a series of combats, possessing strength comparable to a mid-level mutant creature. If an emperor leads an army of billions of these ants, even advanced mutant beasts cannot escape, unless they can fly.

With a soft whistle, a vulture circled in the sky before landing beside a mutant lizard that had been dead for days. As it began to feast, countless ants emerged from the lizard's belly, crawling up the vulture. By the time the bird noticed and tried to shake them off by flying higher, some ants had bitten through its skin, releasing a paralyzing toxin. In a daze, the vulture plummeted to the ground.

As soon as it hit the ground, a swarm of ants engulfed it. Within minutes, when the ants dispersed, nothing but the vulture's skeleton remained.

As the convoy approached the scene, Shao Qi spotted the spectacle through his binoculars, directing the driver to swerve left by a hundred meters. He kept a close watch on the marching ants' movements.

"Looking for something?" Zhou You noticed Shao Qi scanning the horizon, assuming he was searching for an object.

Handing over the binoculars, Shao Qi replied, "I spotted marching ants up ahead. I'm looking for their emperor. If it's present, they might organize and launch a targeted attack on us."

"Did you find it?"

"No, it might not have emerged," Shao Qi said, urging the convoy to speed up. The semi-desert terrain was vast and flat, with few obstructions or mutant creatures. Occasionally, lizards or spiders would pop out from the sand but would keep their distance from the intimidating convoy, making their journey unhindered.