"Ouch," Chuncao said, stunned, "This is a fat sheep."

The last wave of Indian summer sun scorched the asphalt, and a few Zombies wandered aimlessly on the road ahead. Zhou Rong slammed on the gas, sending them flying with a few thuds, then stopped by the side of the road.

A container truck lay on its side, its doors wide open, the driver's cab splattered with black blood.

Yan Hao narrowed his eyes. "Isn't this the truck from that Feng guy last night?"

"This morning, they came looking for me bright and early, asking if they could borrow a car to exercise their initiative as Alphas and clear out Zombies in the surrounding areas." Zhou Rong grabbed a crowbar and jumped out of the vehicle. The sunlight reflected off his defiant, spiky short hair and sunglasses, his expression looking malicious no matter how you looked at it. "I knew something was fishy the moment I heard it. Since when were these idiot Alphas so diligent?"

Si Nan rarely took the initiative to express his opinion:

"Mhm."

Chuncao and Yan Hao, who got out of the car after him, both had their expressions twist.

"...Rong-ge is so shameless," Chuncao whispered.

Yan Hao nodded with mixed feelings.

"The Feng Family is a local powerhouse. This Young Master Feng fled with a group of subordinates and women, you think he'd bring nothing but cash?" Zhou Rong jammed the steel crowbar into the already twisted and deformed container lock, grabbed it with both hands, propped a foot against the rear door, and sneered, "Trying to trick me out of my vehicle to move your goods? In... your... dreams—"

With a "Heh!" Zhou Rong's arm and back muscles bulged as he wrenched the container door open!

"What happened to not taking a single needle or thread from the masses?" Yan Hao teased.

Zhou Rong casually tossed the crowbar aside, then used his bare hands to pull the container door fully open. He stepped back two paces amidst a loud bang. "Confiscating illegal firearms is the duty of the public security department," Zhou Rong said politely. "I'm just amicably fulfilling B City's Public Security Bureau's duties for them. No need to thank me."

The container was densely packed with rice, flour, biscuits, canned food boxes, and various supplies. Several guns were hung against the container wall—all Type 64s and Type 56s. Three submachine guns were tossed on the floor. Shockingly, there was even a Type 89 Heavy Machine Gun.

Yan Hao's jaw remained dropped. "..."

"Awe... awesome..." Chuncao leaped into the container in a few steps. Staring at the dozen or so boxes of ammunition at her feet, even her voice trembled. "With all this, what's there to fear from Zombies? Just open fire and kill them. Why were those guys running last night?"

"Because there wasn't enough time." Zhou Rong gave her the answer. "In the dark of night, when several hundred Zombies swarm you at once, those with poor mental fortitude will break down immediately. In the chaos, they only know to run forward in a blind panic. It's an issue of combat discipline."

Yan Hao cautiously examined the Type 89. After a long moment, he caressed the barrel with a reverent expression and muttered, "I haven't seen one of these since I was selected for Unit 118. To think the regular units are still using them. I thought they'd long been relegated to a history museum..."

Before he could finish, Zhou Rong kicked him. "That was some piss-poor showing off. Get back and try again!"

Ten minutes later, under the bright sun, the group was moving guns and ammunition back and forth, sweating profusely.

"I'm telling you, this Young Master Feng is really something. Don't tell me he robbed a police station. I heard B City has completely fallen. It wouldn't be strange for this group to do anything..."

Zhou Rong interrupted the panting Chuncao, "No, it's likely a private collection. Look, this Type 89 and the submachine guns have obviously been modified. They were probably bought privately through the black market."

Chuncao nodded in a daze. Yan Hao, carrying a thirty-kilogram ammo box in each hand, threw them onto the armored vehicle with two thuds and said, "There are all sorts of ammunition calibers here. A simple gun collector wouldn't have this much ammo. They probably scavenged it from wrecked military vehicles along the way... By the way, aren't they planning to come back for their stuff? When the arsenal is gone, how are we going to explain it?"

Zhou Rong said coldly, "What arsenal? Is there an arsenal? How could there possibly be an arsenal in the escape vehicle of Mr. Feng Wentai, one of the nation's Ten Outstanding Young People?"

Zhou Rong wrapped the heavy machine gun's ammo belts around his body, looking like an Asian version of Stallone. He swayed back to the armored vehicle, dumped the ammo belts onto the floorboards with a loud clatter, and let out a sharp exhale, rolling his neck left and right to relieve the countless deep marks pressed into it.

"Don't touch a single thing of the rice and grain in this truck. Later, bring Feng Wentai here and let them confirm with their own eyes the integrity and innocence of our People's Army. As for the Feng Family's bodyguards, I have a use for them. In a few days, after we set off for the B Military Region..."

Zhou Rong pushed up his sunglasses. His profile was covered in sweat under the sun, revealing a rugged and defiant contour. "We'll leave the temporary shelter to them. Otherwise, with over thirty Betas, they might not even be able to hold it for a week."

Yan Hao asked, "So you're finally willing to take everyone with you, Captain?"

Zhou Rong said, "What other choice is there? You all rely on me and adore me so much."

"..." Yan Hao was silent for a few seconds. "Leaving the Fertilizer Plant to Feng Wentai won't work, right? If something happens, won't he just push others out to cover his retreat?"

Zhou Rong cradled the Type 89 heavy machine gun preciously, as if holding the sole heir to eight generations of his family, his tone becoming exceptionally gentle. "Don't worry. As long as they still want to cling to the government's coattails, they won't dare do anything too outrageous before we get back from the Military Region. Besides, for their own safety, they'll have to participate in protecting the Fertilizer Plant. When the time comes, I'll distribute the supplies... and give the minibus keys to that Doctor Zheng..."

Zhou Rong suddenly looked up. "How come it's just the two of us working?!"

Si Nan and Chuncao's chewing stopped simultaneously, but it was already too late.

Zhou Rong tore through the pile of boxes in a flash, only to see, in the innermost part of the container, his cheap daughter and the non-staff combatant squatting head-to-head, each holding a can and eating heartily.

"..." Zhou Rong took a deep breath. He suddenly caught sight of the type of can and became furious. "You two, show some restraint! What time do you think it is, eating caviar?!"

Chuncao pointed a trembling finger at Si Nan. "I-I-I don't know anything! He said this stuff was expensive and delicious..."

Si Nan, holding a spoon, explained, "I'm not part of the system. I don't have to listen to your orders."

Zhou Rong went up and, without another word, snatched away their cans. He shooed Chuncao away to move things like she was a little chick, then poked Si Nan's forehead and lectured him, "You won't eat canned luncheon meat unless it's fried, you won't eat compressed biscuits unless they have filling, and all day long you're eyeing the chicken coop. What's next, you want me to find a cow to milk just for you? Who spoiled you into these pampered habits?"

Si Nan stared at him coldly.

"Take stock of all the supplies in this container truck within half an hour, or this can will be confiscated for the state." Zhou Rong patted his head and said majestically, "Go!"

Half an hour later, Yan Hao slammed a case of mineral water back onto the ground with a thud, wiped his sweat, and said, "Two hundred and sixteen."

"Five hundred kilograms," Zhou Rong noted down the total weight of the rice bags, squatting unsteadily to the side.

Not far away, Si Nan sat in the back of the armored vehicle, his legs crossed, continuing to eat his can of food. This time he'd switched to canned strawberries in syrup, occasionally feeding one or two to Chuncao.

Zhou Rong was exhausted. He clapped his hands and stood up. "Alright, let's pack up and head back to camp!" With that, he jumped down from the container, returned to the armored vehicle, and as he passed Si Nan, he viciously shoved the can of caviar back into his hands.

·

Feng Wentai was pacing in circles in the front yard of the Fertilizer Plant. When the special forces' armored hazmat vehicle finally returned, he immediately stood still. Though he tried his best to appear calm, a trace of anxiety was still visible in his eyes.

"Yo, Young Master Feng, what're you up to?" Zhou Rong leaned his head out of the vehicle and smiled.

Feng Wentai hurried forward, a broad smile on his face. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Rong slowly interrupted him, "Oh, right, there's something I have to tell you. We found that truck of yours that overturned last night on the side of the road. There were a lot of supplies inside, so we were thinking you should probably move everything back..."

Feng Wentai's worst fear had come true. For a moment, his expression stiffened.

"Don't worry, we didn't touch a thing. All the rice, flour, oil, grain, medicine, blankets, and so on are still there." Zhou Rong said with a beaming smile, "We can't take a single needle or thread from the common people, you know. You have to voluntarily hand it over to the state yourself."

"..." Feng Wentai immediately expressed, "There's no need for such trouble. It's fine if Captain Zhou hands it over on my humble behalf."

Of course, Zhou Rong immediately said that wouldn't do, that they had to maintain discipline and couldn't privately handle the personal property of disaster victims. The two went back and forth like a seesaw for a while until, as expected, Feng Wentai achieved victory. Unable to refuse any longer, Zhou Rong reluctantly accepted his supplies on behalf of the thirty-odd refugees at the Fertilizer Plant.

Feng Wentai rubbed his hands together and smiled. "There's one more thing. To be honest with you, I am a military enthusiast. There are some things in that container, my personal collection from back in the day. They've been modified and don't really have much firepower..."

Zhou Rong was completely baffled. "What?"

"It's just," Feng Wentai seemed to find it difficult to say, "some things that my military enthusiast friends gave me when I was studying abroad... a few Uzi Submachine Guns and such..."

"Aiya, we didn't see those!" Zhou Rong slapped his thigh. "Are you sure they were in the truck?"

Feng Wentai nodded.

Zhou Rong said regretfully, "That's good stuff, someone must have picked it up already. By the way, why didn't you tell me last night? If I'd known, I would have gotten them for you then. How could they possibly still be there now?"

Although he had anticipated it, upon seeing Zhou Rong's innocent expression with his own eyes, Feng Wentai still choked back a mouthful of old blood.

"—My friend," Zhou Rong ignored Feng Wentai's expression, forcibly slung an arm around his neck, and started walking toward the courtyard.

"In a couple of days, we're planning to make a trip to B City to find Xiangzi's old man at the Military Region. You know, these high-ranking officials have special shelters. Minister Guo doesn't want his grandson risking his life out here..."

Feng Wentai said repeatedly, "Of course, of course."

"We're planning a three-day round trip, a week at most. During this time, you and your men might have to work a bit, helping to look after this Fertilizer Plant. All thirty-six survivors were rescued by us from T City." Zhou Rong stopped, placed his hands on Feng Wentai's shoulders, and said solemnly, "After we get back from the B Military Region, we will make a special trip to bring everyone who has gone through thick and thin with us into the shelter."

Feng Wentai wanted to ask something, but Zhou Rong lowered his voice and said, "Of course, it's not one of those concentration camp-style public shelters that takes in as many as show up... You understand, my friend."

Feng Wentai could certainly read between the lines, but he nodded, a trace of hesitation still in his expression. "Captain Zhou, making a special trip out of the Military Region just to pick us up, wouldn't that be too risky? Why don't we just go together? The minibus is big enough for everyone anyway..."

Although his words sounded pleasant, Young Master Feng's concern was obvious—who knows if you'll actually return from the B Military Region to pick us up?

You've already taken the guns. When the time comes, you'll go enjoy yourselves in the officials' shelter and leave everyone here at the Fertilizer Plant to fend for themselves. That would be a huge problem.

Under his suspicious gaze, Zhou Rong heaved a heavy sigh. "It's not that I don't want to, Brother Feng! But B City has basically fallen. If we were to drive in with all of you, the journey would be a constant battle..." He pointed a finger toward the factory dorms. "Do you see that pregnant woman?"

Feng Wentai was filled with doubt.

"Why do you think we'd bring a pregnant woman with us all this way? That's Xiangzi's... you know!"

Zhou Rong shook his head grimly, his face a mask of someone at a loss for words. "If it weren't for the sake of the one with the surname Guo in her belly, we would have fought our way into the Military Region ourselves long ago. Why else would we be staying here at this Fertilizer Plant!"

Feng Wentai finally had an epiphany, feeling that everything he couldn't understand before now had an explanation.

"You understand, we have no choice. But thankfully, the higher-ups can send a helicopter. As long as everyone holds out until we return from the Military Region, once the helicopter picks us up, everyone will be safe." Zhou Rong patted Feng Wentai's arm forcefully and smiled. "Brother Feng, your contributions have been great. This matter, naturally..."

"I understand, I understand. We're all on the same side, Brother Zhou, no need to be a stranger." Feng Wentai pondered for a moment, then said sincerely, "Last night, it was thanks to Brother Zhou's intervention that we were saved. Your little brother was wronged, and that was my fault."

He waved to a bodyguard waiting at the factory building entrance not far away and said, "Tell Lu Hui to come over."

Lu Hui was the man with glasses. There was a shocking, dark bruise on his throat, created last night when Zhou Rong had pinned him against the wall with his elbow in front of everyone.

"I must have this disappointing subordinate apologize to that little brother," Feng Wentai said with utmost sincerity. "This incident was extremely vile and must be used to set an example for others. Please, Brother Zhou, understand my difficult position..."

The two went back and forth again for a while, and, as expected, Zhou Rong failed once more. He had no choice but to reluctantly turn and shout, "Si Nan!"

Si Nan turned around from beside the armored vehicle.

Zhou Rong was afraid he was still eating that can of strawberries in syrup. He looked closely, saw that he wasn't holding a can or jar of any kind, and waved him over. "Come here!"

In front of outsiders, Si Nan was relatively obedient to the organization. He slowly walked over at the call. But when he got closer, Zhou Rong saw a small, dried, pinkish trace of syrup stuck to the corner of his lips.

"..." Without a word, Zhou Rong grabbed him and wiped it away forcefully with his thumb twice.

Si Nan turned his head forcefully to avoid it, giving him a cold glance.

—The killing intent in that gaze was chilling, instantly reminding Zhou Rong of when they were in T City, how this person had charged out from a sea of thousands of corpses on a motorcycle, the cold, sharp look in his eyes under the helmet exactly the same as it was now.

The little man in Zhou Rong's heart immediately surrendered.

"This is the guy who grabbed you last night." Zhou Rong slung a buddy-buddy arm around Si Nan and coaxed in a low voice, "He wants to apologize to you in person. See, that's why I called you over."

Lu Hui was tall with a sullen face. He seemed reluctant to move, but after a glare from Feng Wentai, he unwillingly knelt on one knee, and a moment later, on both.

"My hand slipped last night by accident." His throat was injured, so his voice was a bit muffled and indistinct. "Sorry about that. Don't take it to heart, brother."

Si Nan stood there silently, his face expressionless, not saying a word.

His silhouette was particularly sharp, outlined by the black, form-fitting tank top. Because his legs were so long, he had to wear camouflage pants one size up; the waistband hung loosely on his hips, held up by a belt. On his feet were a pair of high-top combat boots that Zhou Rong had found for him.

The midday sun shone on his cold, fair cheeks, making them seem to glow translucently.

Feng Wentai's eyes shifted slightly. He coughed to cover it up. "Captain Zhou's little brother is truly... exceptionally skilled, and so handsome, I can't even find the words to describe him..."

He turned and cursed his subordinate again, "You bastard! Who are you trying to impress, kneeling there so stiffly? Kowtow already?!"

Lu Hui swallowed his anger and lowered his head. But just as he leaned forward, a shoe sole pressed down on his shoulder.

Si Nan pushed off with one foot.

—The movement was slight, but the immense force made the Alpha instantly stagger and roll backward!

Then, under Feng Wentai's indescribable gaze, he retracted his foot, wiped the sugar stain from the corner of his mouth, and walked away without a word.