Chapter 86: Taking Action, Wu Dalang’s Broken Leg (First Update)

Got it!

Bian Changxi suddenly said, “From what you’re saying, there are a lot of malls around the Music Square, right? You guys are heading out there, so you’ll probably ‘just happen’ to pick up some supplies too, won’t you?”

She put heavy emphasis on “just happen.” Bian Kuang had told her before: if the convoy leader hadn’t been so reluctant to leave behind those supplies, that tragedy wouldn’t have happened.

“That’s right.”

Bian Changxi gritted her teeth. “That Su Chensi is going too, isn’t she?” As the top spatial ability user, there’s no reason she wouldn’t.

Gu Xu turned his head and saw Su Chensi standing in front of Yue Fushan, listening to his instructions. Su Chensi looked up at him for a moment before quickly lowering her head again.

Gu Xu turned to the side and spoke into his earpiece, “Yes.”

“Don’t go with her!”

Gu Xu chuckled. “Are you worried she’ll try something against me again? She won’t.”

“Just stay away from her, no matter what.”

Gu Xu’s smile faded. After a moment, he said slowly, “Changxi, the way you’re talking, people might get the wrong idea.”

Wrong idea?

Bian Changxi was confused, and then heard him say, “Why don’t you just tell me the real reason?”

She blinked. “I was just saying. Take it or leave it.”

“But Lin Rongrong is there too, right under Su Chensi.”

She held back for a long time, then finally snapped, “Gu Xu, you really are…”—so annoying!

She hung up hard, then pulled out her watch communicator and contacted Lin Rongrong. “You’re with Su Chensi? …If you don’t want to die, get back here now. I don’t care if you have to fake sick or fake dead, just don’t make a scene.”

This watch communicator really wasn’t as good as the earpiece—the static was terrible, and she didn’t even know if Lin Rongrong heard her. Luckily, after a while, Lin Rongrong came running over, out of breath. “What’s going on?”

Bian Changxi didn’t answer, just shook her head and sighed. “I don’t know either. Let’s hope nothing happens.”

Is this what they call “not my business, not my problem”? If she were some ambitious, patriotic hero, she’d have listed out all the possible dangers long ago and led everyone to fight for survival. But after all these days, she still hadn’t thought of any major precautions.

Gu Xu was waiting, Bian Changxi was waiting. Commander Qu Shangjin and the others at headquarters were waiting too, though they were waiting for more supplies and detailed information so they could plan a safe route through Longyue Town. While they were studying the map, around four o’clock, headquarters suddenly received several distress calls.

—It had been mentioned before: the military’s internal communications still worked, but the quality was poor. Now, with the distance, the signal was even worse, voices barely audible through the static. But one thing was clear: the calls were coming from the team at Music Fountain Square, and the situation was dire.

Commander Qu Shangjin quickly had people try to contact the few members of that team who had communicators. After many attempts, they finally reached Yue Fushan. What Yue Fushan described chilled everyone’s hearts. Qu Shangjin hurried to calm the panicked Yue Li, saying loudly, “Anyone who can retreat, get out now! I’ll send reinforcements immediately!”

He handed the communicator to his adjutant, put his hands on his hips and frowned in thought, then said to another officer, “Contact Gu Xu.”

Qu Nan, who had overheard everything, raised his eyebrows slightly and quietly slipped out.

Ten minutes later, Qiu Feng and his group got the news. This mission was urgent, and Gu Xu couldn’t refuse. He went to Team Six, picked some people, and set off. Out of a thousand people, a third had some connection to them—either they’d already pledged loyalty or had built relationships. Qiu Yun, feeling bored, also tagged along.

That’s why Qiu Feng was worried. If it were just Gu Xu, he’d have no concerns—nothing could stump him. But with a group to look after, he’d have to hold back.

Qu Shangjin was already frustrated, and when he saw this group coming in force, his frown deepened. Still, he knew he couldn’t be too rude to them. Not just Qiu Feng—just look at all those ability users behind them. Hmph, Gu Xu’s got some skills. In just a few days, he’s gathered a team, and he’s picked the best. Ambitious, but not even trying to hide it, building his own faction right under my nose—does he take me for a fool?

He said to Qiu Feng, “Qiu Feng, you’re here? I was just about to send for you. There’s an emergency.”

Qiu Feng wasn’t here to argue—he knew when to bow his head. He’d just acted on impulse, and now he had a crowd behind him. But he didn’t care about that. He asked Qu Shangjin, “I heard there’s a big one at Music Fountain Square. You want our captain to lead a rescue?”

“Big one” was what people called powerful zombies. They’d run into plenty lately—first-tier ones with steel-like strength, second-tier ones with abilities, and even a third-tier one at noon that could attack people’s minds. All scary. But most attacks hit the front or rear teams. Ordinary people would freak out at a third-tier zombie, but that was because most dangers were kept secret to avoid panic.

Qu Shangjin nodded. “Gu Xu’s team is closest. Lives are at stake—we can’t delay.” He paused, then added, “Our support team is getting ready too. No one over there can give a clear report. Once Gu Xu figures out what’s going on, we’ll adjust and send reinforcements right away.”

Qiu Feng sneered inwardly. “Our captain’s under a lot of pressure on Jian’an Avenue too, you know. Commander, you realize that if we just retreat from a zombie horde, we’re handing the rear to them. And your order came so suddenly—our captain will need time to organize a safe withdrawal. How long will that take? Plus, they set out in a hurry and have been busy all day—they’re probably exhausted, and ammo’s running low. Wouldn’t it be better to send reinforcements from here? The distance isn’t far.”

Hu Aiquan arrived just in time to hear this and chimed in, “Exactly. Gu Xu has important tasks too—sending him now will just split his focus. If we send troops from here, it might be faster and more effective.”

Qu Shangjin hesitated.

Hu Aiquan glanced at Qiu Feng, then at the group behind him—many of them rumored to be ability users. His eyes flashed, and he gritted his teeth. “I’ve got a team of a thousand elites patrolling just outside the camp, fully equipped with guns, food, and medicine. I just need to give the order. Only thing is, we’re a bit short on vehicles.”

Qu Shangjin had been stern and resolute, but hearing Hu Aiquan volunteer his own men, he wavered.

Hu Aiquan knew him well. He stepped closer and added, “Fushan and his nephew, plus Su Chensi, are all waiting over there, Commander. The situation is out of our hands.”

Qu Shangjin finally made up his mind and approved it. Hu Aiquan seized the moment. “Commander, can we get a batch of drones too? Aerial surveillance will help us spot key points.”

“I can’t authorize Air Force resources.”

“As long as you approve, I’ll talk to Old He from the Air Force myself.”

With that, Hu Aiquan left, not even glancing at Qiu Feng. Qiu Feng watched him go, then said goodbye to Qu Shangjin and led his people after Hu Aiquan.

Qu Nan watched all this, anxious but powerless. Wasn’t his father just handing Gu Xu’s faction over to Hu Aiquan as a favor?

His father had been a decisive, iron-blooded hero in his youth, respected in both the military and government of Jiangcheng. Mention his name, and everyone knew he was a tiger not to be provoked. But as he got older, he grew more cautious, even indecisive and suspicious. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing—he could have coasted to retirement with his reputation intact.

But then the apocalypse came.

With this kind of hesitant personality, who could he outfight or outmaneuver? If not for that, he wouldn’t have rushed to the new district with just a few men after hearing about the Xiao family’s moves. Wasn’t he just using his old reputation to scare off the ambitious and pave the way?

His greatest achievement was recruiting Gu Xu, but he also worried that if his father’s true nature showed, these people would become disloyal. He’d advised his father many times: let Gu Xu and his people do their thing—they’re not ordinary. In the future, a little gratitude for recognizing and supporting them would be enough. But his father just scolded him for lacking ambition.

But what good is ambition? Others might not see it, but surely his father knew—the whole military district was no longer under his sole command. Since the apocalypse, everyone was doing their own thing, obeying on the surface but defying underneath. Everyone wanted to be the boss.

He and his father couldn’t control them, so they needed someone else to help. Gu Xu was the best choice—capable, with status, but no established base. Too bad his father…

And that incident the other night—it clearly wasn’t just Su Chensi accidentally hurting someone. He secretly wondered if his father was behind it. If so, that was serious. If not, then covering for Su Chensi meant taking the blame for nothing.

And making things hard for Bian Changxi was just petty. He really didn’t know what his father was thinking.

Fortunately, things hadn’t turned out too badly. Hu Aiquan had done a favor, but so had he. Qu Nan thought for a moment, then didn’t go to comfort his father. Instead, he followed after Qiu Feng—he couldn’t let Hu Aiquan take all the credit.

Bian Changxi was helping Zhang Bubai sand some wood when she suddenly heard the sound of fighter jets taking off. Actually, a lot of people heard it, but since the jets usually moved with the main force, it was a common sound and no one paid much attention.

Lin Rongrong, who wasn’t on duty, was with her and said, “Huh? Isn’t today a rest day? Where are the jets going?”

Bian Changxi stood up and walked forward a few steps. In the distance, a white-and-blue fighter jet slowly rose into the air, circled to adjust course, and then flew off ahead.

That direction—just as she thought…

She climbed onto a truck, stood on the roof, and looked out. A convoy of armored vehicles and trucks was heading in the same direction, all loaded with armed soldiers.

By now, the sun was already slanting westward. The harsh midday glare had faded to a gentle warmth. All around the camp, cooking smoke drifted up, and everything seemed peaceful."