Chapter 297 - 246: A Sleepless Night

"Huh? You want me to clean up?"

Su Xiaoya heard she had to clean the room, and eating and drinking seemed less important.

She was too aware of the situation inside the room, she didn’t even want to go back, let alone clean... the mess.

"Hey!" Zheng Xinyu put her hands on her hips and said fiercely, "Who else would clean it up if you don’t? Whoever makes the mess cleans it, you blew it up with your fart, alright!"

"Fine, I’ll clean it, no need to be so fierce, nobody will want you in the future..."

Su Xiaoya muttered quietly, her head down.

"What did you just say, damn it?"

"Alright, alright, Xiaowang, Luezi, quickly take her away, don’t let her leave the room!"

Zhang Su saw the two women about to argue and quickly had someone take Su Xiaoya away.

After a few people left, Yuwen said solemnly: "Mr. Zhang, Kuanzhuang is a powerful force, it’s worth fighting for."

As time passed, survivors began to gather, and camps of considerable size started to appear. These camps had ample numbers of people and weapons, which gave them a significant advantage in dealing with zombies and competing with other humans for resources.

Although Celestial Horse Island has developed very steadily, with a geographical advantage that makes defending against zombies not too difficult, a human attack is another story. To grow stronger, population is a very important resource!

"That’s right." Zhang Su nodded. Not to mention, with more than a dozen effective combat powers, standard weapons, and handheld rocket launchers, combined with professional training, they’re even stronger than a typical reserve force!

"Should we take Su Xiaoya to Kuanzhuang now?"

Zhao Dezhu suggested.

Zhang Su shook his head decisively: "No need, but we can ambush nearby to see what’s really going on between them and the Cyan Dragon Corps!"

We can’t just take Su Xiaoya’s word for it; many things need personal verification.

At this critical juncture, any small oversight could lead to serious consequences.

"Let me go, big brother, this kind of task is my specialty!"

"No..."

Zhao Dezhu eagerly volunteered, seemingly to prove his reliability, but was unceremoniously rejected by Zhang Su. Feeling a bit frustrated, he said, "I’m capable of watching the post."

"I’ll go myself."

Zhang Su waved his hand; he had his own arrangements.

Hearing Zhang Su’s intention to go personally, Yuwen hurriedly said, "Mr. Zhang, tomorrow is the day the Cyan Dragon Corps comes over. Are you planning... to go to Kuanzhuang first and then rush back?"

The crowd, hearing Yuwen’s analysis, all looked at Zhang Su. If that’s the case, then the timing is very tight!

Zhang Su, however, nodded and said, "That’s right, I know what I’m doing, you don’t need to worry. Follow the previous plan and take care of things at the camp!"

"But... what if the Cyan Dragon Corps arrives at the south first?"

Zheng Xinyu asked the tricky question.

"If that happens, I can give you early warning!"

Zhang Su smiled and patted the walkie-talkie on his waist. This trip wasn’t just a simple investigation of Kuanzhuang, he was also serving a reconnaissance role. Moreover, he planned to leave at night, so he was the most suitable for this task.

"Big brother, you’re not planning to go alone, are you?"

Zhao Dezhu frowned and asked.

"We’re not engaging the enemy, of course, I’m going alone. More people would only make it easier to get exposed!"

After saying this, Zhang Su looked at Jia Shiqin, who was sitting in the corner with no presence: "Master Jia, could you unlock the speed limit on the electric scooter? I need it tonight."

"Huh? Oh, sure thing, that’s a small matter!"

Jia Shiqin nodded and agreed, then left the dining hall to get busy.

"Did I hear that right? You’re going alone, at night, on a scooter? You’ll knock all your teeth out if you fall into a ditch!"

Zheng Xinyu looked worried.

"What’s wrong with the scooter? It’s silent, turn off the lights, and it’s like stealth mode, very useful!"

"You’re not turning on the lights? Aren’t you afraid of falling to your death?" Zheng Xinyu couldn’t understand Zhang Su’s actions and rolled her eyes.

"Brother Su, this is too risky, we’re not comfortable with it!" Chen Hanzhou said sullenly.

"I also think it’s very dangerous, Brother Su." Lu Yubo also voiced concern.

"I’m not going to die recklessly without a plan. Enough said, let’s end this discussion here!"

After speaking, Zhang Su started arranging other matters.

In the afternoon, Zhang Su, holding a map of Qin City, found Su Xiaoya. For some reason, Kuanzhuang couldn’t be found on the map, whether it was decades-old maps or offline maps downloaded on the phone, none showed it.

After Zhang Su repeatedly confirmed, he finally found Kuanzhuang’s specific location by starting at Niuquanzi Town and passing through Grass Slope Town.

He also understood why it wasn’t marked on the maps. The village was newly separated from another village just before the disaster outbreak, and its administrative divisions hadn’t been reported yet, which is why it wasn’t on the old or new maps.

Time flew by, everything on Celestial Horse Island seemed calm, but the tension was evident on everyone’s faces.

They had overcome various troubles before, but this time was different. It wasn’t just a few bandits or stragglers; it was the organized and disciplined Cyan Dragon Corps, at least according to the current information.

"The enemy is our kind, with many uncertainties, but one thing is certain: since they are not zombies, they are like us—fearful of pain, afraid of dying, they can hesitate and be scared. Therefore, on our home ground, we might as well be bold!"

Zhang Su left everyone in the camp with these words before going to bed early.

Zhang Su slept, but the rest in the camp couldn’t. It wasn’t even late, and with emotional factors, many were restless.

"Hanzhou, do you think we’ll get through this safely?"

On the balcony of a guest room, Pei Lan and Chen Hanzhou sat snuggled up, fingers intertwined, the room without lights as they looked at the dark mountain valley and listened to each other’s heartbeat.

"I don’t think there’s a problem. Brother Su personally went to gather intel, Teacher Yu had previously stalled the Cyan Dragon Corps with deceit. We’re calculated while they’re not; the Cyan Dragon Corps might crash here! But it all depends on what their situation really is. If they’re too strong, Brother Su definitely won’t let us take risks."

"Yeah, Brother Su is really great at this. He can always manage risks appropriately, and living in such a safe encampment is really reassuring. Thinking back to when the disaster first broke out and we ran from the school and met Brother Su, it truly feels like it was just yesterday. Hey, have you thought about Kuang Miao and Song Yijun recently?"

Chen Hanzhou nodded slightly: "Kuang Miao is quite nice, but forget about Song Yijun. If Kuang Miao were here, we’d have an extra helping hand."

"If only the partners who escaped from the school were alive..."

Thud, thud.

Before Pei Lan could finish her sentence, knocking sounded, and someone outside spoke: "Xiaochen, are you there?"

"Teacher Yu?"

Chen Hanzhou stood up, lit a small lamp, and then opened the door, curiously asking, "Teacher Yu, what’s going on?"

"The tasks you entrusted to me, I completed the main part this afternoon, plus a basic dagger tip. Thanks to the new materials provided by Dr. Fu and the skills of Xiaoguo, come try the size."

Yuwen walked in, full of anticipation, handing the mechanical prosthetic to Chen Hanzhou.

"So soon!"

Chen Hanzhou was overjoyed looking at the prosthetic in his hand—it was very much aligned with his design, but the actual usability would only be known upon trying it.

"Hello, Teacher Yu." Pei Lan walked into the room and greeted Yuwen politely.

Yuwen adjusted his glasses with a smile: "Ah, Xiaolan is here too, good evening."

"Let me help you."

Pei Lan, seeing Chen Hanzhou a bit clumsy, took over the prosthetic and helped him wear it.

Snap.

Clipping the buckle on, Chen Hanzhou himself screwed the dagger tip onto the prosthetic, thus a fully-armed arm was born.

The arm had metal and petrifying skin, resistant to knife slashes and even bullets, the palm replaced by a sharp dagger, integrated for attack and defense.

Whoosh, whoosh.

Chen Hanzhou chopped and thrust into the empty space, using karate techniques to exert force, exuding an impressive aura; it was incredibly handy against zombies, moving as effortlessly as if it was his own limb.

"Haha, the attack power is definitely not weak! It’s quite flexible, what kind of leather is this?"

Chen Hanzhou squeezed the leathery part connecting the metal at the joints and asked.

"Hmm..." Yuwen chuckled: "It’s a high-strength composite material discovered by Dr. Fu, resistant to blades and bullets, it works well. I’ll take your feedback to Xiaoguo, I won’t disturb the two of you anymore."

"Teacher Yu, I’ll go with you to thank Master Guo in person, besides, we should head back to sleep."

Chen Hanzhou firm about Zhang Su’s arrangement, opted not to sleep alongside Pei Lan without confirming his own situation.

Pei Lan naturally understood the situation, she didn’t mind, but respected and complied with Chen Hanzhou’s decision.

At the same time, Wang Xin and Liu Tianji were also sitting together chatting.

"Being able to eat some peanuts at this time is really nice." Liu Tianji eating boiled peanuts, feeling quite content.

"I traded a pack of cigarettes with Second Sister-in-law for this, eat, eat."

Wang Xin answered absentmindedly, gazing at the dark outline of Da Shan in the distance.

"I say Old Wang, you’re not in bed with Xiaoya, why come over here, and bring snacks too? You’re acting strange!"

Liu Tianji looked at Wang Xin with suspicion, knowing this kid was surely up to something, yet his hands didn’t stop peeling peanuts, even chewed faster.

"It’s nothing... Liu, I have some things to tell you, please don’t spread it around!"

Wang Xin rubbed his hair, suddenly becoming serious.

"Hey, are you serious, what’s going on?"

Liu Tianji felt a restless twinge in his heart, even his hands stopped.

Wang Xin took a deep breath, squinted slightly and said: "I don’t know why, but I have an uneasy feeling, somehow thinking something bad will happen this time dealing with the Cyan Dragon Corps. But I also know, retreating won’t bring peace. Look..."

Speaking to this point, Wang Xin covered his chest, furrowing his brows: "Just thinking about the Cyan Dragon Corps people coming over tomorrow, my heart starts to beat fast!"

Liu Tianji sighed, pushing the bag of peanuts aside and said: "You’re just scared aren’t you?"

Wang Xin made a peculiar expression, neither agreeing nor denying: "Anyway, I just feel anxious."

"Could it be you think Brother Su’s decision is wrong?"

"Of course not!" Wang Xin shook his head: "I can see, that the majority’s attitude is quite clear, including myself, supporting the resistance against the Cyan Dragon Corps, Brother Su is not acting arbitrarily, resisting is what everyone desires... But it doesn’t stop me from feeling nervous."

Liu Tianji nodded, understanding his old colleague’s sentiment, patted Wang Xin’s shoulder and said: "We chose to follow Zhang Su back then, so we need to trust his judgment and decisions, he won’t let us take risks, rest assured, hasn’t there been prior agreements? If things don’t go as planned, we’ll compromise first then strategize."

"And besides, everyone has made a lot of preparations, even if the Cyan Dragon Corps sends twice the number of people we have, we’re not afraid!"

"Hopefully it’ll be two extremes, either like last time with just a few people coming, or they come in full force, better not be evenly matched, that’d be awkward. Also... Liu, if something really happens to me, tell Zhang Ya to quickly find someone else!"

Wang Xin looked at Liu Tianji very seriously.

"Damn, what are you talking about that’s so pessimistic, and why don’t you entrust Xiaoya to me?" Liu Tianji felt Wang Xin was quite negative tonight, quickly cracking a joke.

"No way, you’re short and fat, Xiaoya wouldn’t be interested!"

Wang Xin was amused by Liu Tianji’s words.

"Hey, if you say that, then if something happens to you, I’ll take Xiaoya for myself, leave you restless even in death, so if you don’t want that, you better be careful!"

"Damn it, I better be careful then..."

"Stop hanging around here, go back and accompany Xiaoya."

Liu Tianji kicked Wang Xin in the butt, swiftly scooped the peanuts into his arms.

Such conversations happened in many rooms, Tan Huajun and Mo Qianlan, Yu Qing and Zhao Dezhu, Guo Dachao and Yang Wenjie, and also alone in her room quietly praying, Zhao Xue.

If Zhang Su hadn’t gone to sleep, he definitely would’ve heard them, but he really did fall asleep.