Chapter 84: Setting Out—This Is Basically Migration (Part 1)

After the battle, the convoy was unusually quiet, as if everyone was still in shock from what had just happened.

It wasn’t as if they’d never been attacked by zombies before—zombies and mutant beasts harassed this massive convoy almost every day. Blood had been spilled, people had died. But never had it been like today: right before their eyes, in full view of everyone, a single zombie had been so brazen, so unstoppable, rampaging as if no one could stand in its way.

This long-legged, speed-type zombie had shown everyone just how truly vicious and powerful zombies could be, making the harshness of their current survival environment hit home in a way that was both direct and unforgettable.

Of course, in the end, whether it was that spatial blade or the burst of flames, both brought people endless hope and excitement.

So ability users could be this strong—killing zombies without a trace, even blasting them away with a single strike. Damn, that was incredible!

From today on, ordinary people who’d been stuck outside the world of ability users couldn’t help but yearn to become stronger themselves. At the same time, two names began to echo throughout the entire convoy for the first time.

One was Su Chensi. The other, Gu Xu.

Back to the scene: after the last zombie was brought down, people gradually regained their senses. The zombie’s psychic attack had been relatively weak, so everyone had just felt dizzy for a moment, but quickly recovered.

Then the loudspeaker announced that all danger had passed. But the convoy didn’t move, because a group of people—normal people, thankfully—had emerged from the mysterious building that had been surrounded by zombies. The lead convoy sent people to negotiate, and after a long wait, the announcement came down: they would set up camp on the grassland for the night.

Cheers broke out. After such a fright, everyone was exhausted; being able to rest was already a blessing.

Zhang Bubai checked the time. “It’s not even one o’clock yet.” His face was still a bit pale—whether from fear or excitement, it was hard to tell. He kept repeating, “That was Captain Gu just now, right? He’s really… really amazing.” If Captain Gu hadn’t shown up, would anyone have been able to stop that zombie? Would it have gone on a rampage, killing indiscriminately? Would any of them have survived? The thought alone was terrifying.

Bian Changxi pursed her lips. It was indeed Gu Xu. She was also surprised that he’d suddenly appeared there instead of with his own Team Six. What really shocked her, though, was Gu Xu’s mastery of fire—he was clearly already at Tier Two.

Comparisons are odious. Just three days ago, he’d been badly injured, losing almost half his blood, but now, less than three days later, he was back to full strength and had even advanced a tier, making a huge splash.

It was still early, not even two o’clock. But with clearing the area and settling the vehicles and people team by team, it was already three-thirty by the time everything was set up.

The sun was still blazing. Zhang Bubai and the people from the rear truck worked together to haul out two bundles of cloth—old, torn tents that had been patched up, an idea Bian Changxi had suggested. They tied one end of the cloth to the truck, propped up the other ends with bamboo poles, and created a makeshift awning on both sides of the vehicle, casting some much-needed shade. Once the people from the rear truck got out, they gathered in the shade.

Bian Changxi brought out her folding stool, stretched her waist and legs, then plopped down. After a day of bumping along, her bones felt like they were about to fall apart.

Zhang Bubai, after a short rest, started making more folding stools. She joked, “You don’t have to work so hard, you know. Aren’t you tired?”

Two days ago, Bian Changxi had given one of these stools to Lin Rongrong and Chen Yisha. Lin Rongrong hadn’t thought much of it, but everyone in Chen Yisha’s family and team wanted one. The vehicles were crowded, with barely enough space for supplies, let alone chairs or stools. When people got out, they either had to stand or sit on the ground, which wasn’t comfortable even with a cloth spread out. So, everyone really liked these folding stools.

Bian Changxi realized there was a business opportunity here and proposed trading stools for supplies.

She’d seen Zhang Bubai make stools—he was skilled, and if he didn’t fuss over the details, he could finish one in an hour. After some haggling, she managed to set the price at one 500-600ml bottle of water or a standard 250g pack of biscuits per stool. The price scared off some people, but others with more resources were happy to trade. Zhang Bubai was thrilled.

Even though he had to drive during the day and couldn’t make many stools, any extra income was welcome. He even shared the “business” with a few roommates and friends who were worse off than him—often going hungry—but had more free time. They made stools for food and generously gave him a cut. In just two days, the whole convoy knew about this little group making folding stools. Soon, people were making folding chairs, fans, wooden clogs, mats, clothes, hats, parasols—you name it. The skilled craftsmen had all started hustling for a living.

Of course, none of them could match the prices Bian Changxi had negotiated herself.

Because of this, Bian Changxi, the trailblazer, became well-known and received countless tokens of gratitude—“good person” cards and all sorts of simple but practical gifts.

It wasn’t that people were especially honest or kind, but seeing the benefits Zhang Bubai, her fellow driver, had gained, others were eager to get in on the action and get close to her. Not to mention, as the strongest wood-type ability user in the convoy so far, she was already in high demand.

Sweating, Zhang Bubai grinned. “It’s just as hot sitting around as it is working, so why waste time?”

He was good at planning ahead. Unlike many in the apocalypse who lived for the moment, he saved most of the food and water he earned, just in case something unexpected happened and he suddenly had nothing to eat.

“You’re absolutely right,” said an old man from the rear truck, sitting next to Zhang Bubai and hugging a few peeled, sun-dried wooden stakes. “You should always keep busy. No matter when, people shouldn’t be idle.” He added, “Mind lending me your axe?”

This old man was even more skilled than Zhang Bubai. He made tableware, chopping the wood into sections and skillfully using knives and chisels. In no time, he’d made chopsticks, spoons, bowls, and plates. After some polishing, they’d be beautiful and practical. The leftover scraps could be turned into cute pendants. But Bian Changxi hadn’t seen anyone buy his wares—maybe because pure wood had a smell, or maybe people just didn’t need them. Either way, his products didn’t sell, but he was still content, his deeply wrinkled face full of quiet satisfaction and determination.

Looking at him, then at the anxious, irritable young people nearby—arguing over what seemed like major life decisions but never reaching any conclusions—Bian Changxi felt like they were worlds apart.

Before she could reflect any further, someone came over—there were wounded who needed her help.

The medical team didn’t get any special treatment, but they still had to do their work, and ever since she’d publicly rejected Qu Shangjin’s obvious recruitment attempts, she’d been squeezed even harder. But there was nothing she could do—she wasn’t ready to fall out with Qu Shangjin just yet.

On the way, she detoured to check on Wu Dalang. His injuries weren’t as life-threatening as Gu Xu’s, but healing was much harder—a whole bone broken, not just flesh. He was still lying down all day, his leg immobilized.

Before she reached him, she heard Wu Dalang’s voice, cold and blunt: “You can go. Take the crystal core too—I don’t need it.”

Rounding a vehicle, Bian Changxi saw Wu Dalang half-lying on a foldable mattress in the back of a silver-gray van, the rear emptied out. Su Chensi, dressed in a crisp military uniform, stood by the door, looking disappointed and conflicted.

Aside from them, only the barbecue guy, Nan Bin—everyone called him Ah Nan—was there. Gu Xu and the others were busy, so this young strongman had been sent to look after Wu Dalang.

“Well, take care of yourself. About the other day, I… I’m really sorry.” Su Chensi lowered her head and hurried away.

Bian Changxi walked over. “She still comes every day?”

“Miss Bian,” Wu Dalang greeted her with a sigh. “Yeah, every day. Sometimes more than once.” He wasn’t like Qiu Yun, or he’d be complaining, “What’s wrong with her? I told her not to come, isn’t she just asking for trouble?”

Bian Changxi bent over to examine his leg, then asked Ah Nan to help remove the splint so Wu Dalang could carefully bend his knee.

“It’ll hurt a bit—it’s not healed yet. But you have to move it, or the muscles will just keep shrinking. That’s not good.”

Wu Dalang nodded gratefully. “I know, I know.”

While the soldier escorting Bian Changxi was distracted by Ah Nan, Wu Dalang said quietly, “You still have to go over there?”

“Yeah.”

“Those people are getting more and more unreasonable. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to force yourself.”

Bian Changxi was taken aback. The way she was treated when healing people lately was worlds apart from before. Wu Dalang’s words warmed her heart. He took something out. “The captain knew you’d come by and asked me to give you this.”

Bian Changxi’s eyes lit up. No way—a green core, and it looked like a Tier Three!

“This from that zombie earlier?”

“Yeah. The captain had to go to a meeting and didn’t know when he’d be back, so he asked me to give it to you first.”

Taking such a valuable item, Bian Changxi felt a little embarrassed. Still, only a fool would refuse something so good. She tended to Wu Dalang’s wound even more carefully, and casually asked, “What’s the meeting about?”

“Not sure. The people from the dairy farm provided some intel—the highway to Sucheng is blocked, so Longyue Town ahead is the only way through. Otherwise, the convoy would have to detour fifty kilometers through the mountains. It’s not far, but the road is bad, and a lot of vehicles would have to be abandoned. Plus, who knows what beasts are in the mountains. Commander Qu and the others want to clear a path through Longyue Town. I think that’s what the meeting’s about.”

Bian Changxi’s heart skipped a beat. Longyue Town? Wasn’t that the place where so many people died? What did Bian Kuang say about it back then…?

PS:

Thanks to ajulia for the reward and hull1977 for the floating votes—thank you all for your support!

A family elder had to see a doctor, so I got roped into running errands. The second update will be posted a bit later today, sorry!"