Chen Hao felt a chill for no reason.
Luo Luo said coldly, "I told you to call me Zhou Luoluo, or Miss Zhou!"
Chen Hao chuckled foolishly, "Isn't Luo Luo more affectionate?"
"You don't need to be that affectionate, I'm a respectable young woman with a man!"
Chen Hao was rejected.
Yet, he had a strange illusion.
Even with a man, they were afraid. Who knew how long one would live these days? He still had a chance!
Xiong Da warmly invited Luo Luo and her group to visit his base.
This was a base where beasts and humans lived together.
With over fifty thousand in total, the stench was exceptionally pungent.
Now, with the addition of over ten thousand people from the Hundred Base, the smell was even worse.
Luo Luo quickly created a flower garden to purify the air.
Da Xiong brought out their prized game to entertain everyone.
"Thank you all for coming to help us through this difficult time. With your assistance, my confidence has soared! Let's toast to express our gratitude!"
Everyone clinked their glasses.
Brother Hammer downed his in one gulp, "Good wine! I haven't had such good wine in a long time!"
Er Xiong replied, "It was sent by President Nuan. Your base should have it too."
Brother Hammer was taken aback. "Really? I didn't see any. Are you bullying us and deliberately not sending it?"
An Nuan shrugged. These matters were handled by her subordinates; she was only responsible for logistics and contracts.
Chang Kai Tong, who handled the arrangements, said, "Your leader said they didn't want alcohol. Too many men drinking leads to trouble. In return, they requested grain, so everything was exchanged for grain and water!"
Hammer was speechless.
His alcohol tolerance was excellent, so how could it lead to trouble?
The old man just liked to worry unnecessarily!
He secretly pulled out his wine bottle and took two sips. Ah, refreshing!
"As expected, one must drink heartily! Old Xiao, have some?"
Xiao Hang poured himself a cup and smiled at Chen Wenjing, "Kid, I heard you also have the ability to hear sounds. So do I! We should get along well."
Chen Wenjing raised her cola and smiled.
He didn't like interacting with strangers, but the atmosphere here was quite good.
At least, when he scanned with his hearing for the first time, he detected no malice.
An Nuan, eating stir-fried clams, said, "Let's talk business. Are there any combat plans yet?"
"We have another major base. If they are willing to send people to help, we won't have to fear internal strife. I plan to take you there first to build goodwill."
"Take me?"
Da Xiong chuckled and took another swig of wine.
In this era, those with grain were like gods of wealth. Those with wine, cigarettes, and meat were practically deities!
---
The thousand-strong team from the north marched mightily downstream.
Although they started with only ten thousand, they encountered many small city gangs along the way. Those they could use were conquered; those they couldn't were annihilated.
All acquired supplies and livestock were bound and sent back to the base.
Haozi rode on a bull's back, cradling a dying woman.
Tang Qing, standing beside him, watched coldly, "Had enough fun? You reek! I don't know how you do it, but you turn someone into this state in a single day."
"This is being conquered by my masculine charm!"
Haozi wore a lewd expression and casually tossed the woman he was holding to the ground.
The bull's hoof stepped on her, the sound of cracking bones exceptionally crisp.
A pack of wild beasts rushed forward and began to tear at the woman's body. She tried to scream, but her throat and tongue were already mangled.
A beast bit her neck, and blood gushed out, quickly drowning her within the pack.
Haozi giggled foolishly, resting his hands behind his head, "This woman was not bad, a pity she couldn't handle it. Perhaps it was due to her low level."
His gaze swept over Tang Qing, and he whistled.
"It's a shame someone with your figure doesn't have a boyfriend. Want one?"
A flame scorched his chin.
Haozi quickly extinguished the fire. Instead of being deterred, his gaze became even more lewd.
A strong and beautiful woman was the most enticing to men!
Tang Qing sneered, "I like men stronger than me. You... hehe."
Haozi narrowed his eyes, pulled another naked woman from behind, and without regard for her consent, began to have sex on the bull's back.
"Barbarian!"
Tang Qing couldn't stand it anymore and walked to the edge, saying to her teammate:
"Why are we working with trash like this!"
The red-haired man motioned for her to lower her voice.
"Everyone has their hobbies. He's not your boyfriend, so don't worry so much."
Tang Qing frowned, then sneered and turned away, walking alone on the periphery.
She knew such things happened daily.
Even formal members of the base, women were still the weaker sex.
To survive, many women traded themselves.
And these were people from the attacked smaller groups.
In any era, the weaker party was bullied, wasn't it?
Logically, she should be used to it by now.
But every time Tang Qing witnessed such scenes, she still felt disgusted.
"Sister Qing, you shouldn't keep looking. We can't fall out with them now."
"I understand, but I don't get it. Why not manage their own territory properly? They haven't even sorted out their own affairs and are already thinking of attacking others. What are they thinking?"
Liu Qing was also speechless.
This time, the base had dispatched three thousand high-level ability users and a thousand battle wolves.
Such a large investment, was it worth it?
Would the recovered supplies be enough for three bases to share?
Tang Qing sighed, "We don't have enough supplies, and it's too cold over there during the extreme winter. We might not last much longer. The leadership must have had this consideration in mind when making this decision."
"Probably. Survival of the fittest, limited resources, so we can only fight for them. Sister Qing, don't dwell on it too much. We just need to stay out of those dirty deeds."
Tang Qing wanted to stay out of it, but the vile sounds were incessant, making her uncomfortable.
She had not wanted to participate in this war of plunder to begin with, and now her heart felt even more wretched.
She glanced back at the vast, winding team, her brow furrowed slightly.
Liu Qing, thinking she was worried about victory, quickly comforted her:
"Don't worry, Sister Qing. We are all skilled fighters, and we've captured fifteen thousand people. With them joining the battlefield, we can wear down the enemy even with a wheel战. We will definitely win!"
Women and children without abilities were sent to the base; the elderly and men were dragged out as human shields.
Ability users of tier four and above were considered threats and were all killed.
Those below tier four were forced to be vanguards.
With their loved ones held captive and being unable to fight back, they had no choice but to obey.
Was this war?
This was simply a massacre!
Tang Qing was increasingly uncertain if what she was doing was just to survive, even if it meant living like a beast.