"Impossible! It's been so long since the apocalypse, how could there still be hot pot for them to eat."
"But that aroma, it's definitely the scent from a hot pot restaurant!"
"They're probably eating self-heating hot pot!"
"They're so lucky. While we're living on bread and tasting nothing, they can still have self-heating hot pot."
"They're hiding inside the shop eating, and they've been killing zombies all morning. They must be exhausted and let their guard down now. What if we charge in then and threaten them into letting us join?"
...
As this suggestion surfaced, the enthusiastic discussion suddenly fell into silence.
Although the idea was tempting, having experienced Su Ling and her group's brutal violence, no one dared to be the leader.
The suggestion, though good, was nipped in the bud as soon as it was voiced and could not be implemented.
Everyone was genuinely craving food, especially when the aroma of hot pot wafted over intermittently, teasing their taste buds.
Those with slightly better conditions could still gnaw on bread, sausages, instant noodle blocks, or even chicken legs.
Those in worse situations could only watch others swallow and endure the hot pot's fragrance.
Was this how they were supposed to silently endure? It didn't seem right!
While the survivors monitoring Su Ling and her group were tormented by the hot pot's scent and their stomachs growled with hunger, Su Ling and her group had already eaten their fill and were resting, occasionally sipping on refreshing, palate-cleansing fruit tea.
The feeling could be summarized by one word: "exhilarating."
This team wasn't just formidable in combat; they were also exceptionally skilled when it came to food.
Indeed, they had devoured everything Su Ling had taken out of her space, leaving nothing but the dual-flavored hot pot broth.
When the survivors, unable to resist the temptation, followed the lingering scent and rushed into the shop, they saw an empty table and Su Ling and her group drinking fruit tea.
At this sight, the survivors were stunned.
Judging by the scene, Su Ling and her group had enjoyed a hearty meal.
If not for Su Ling and her group's disheveled appearance, they might have almost mistaken them for people who had finished their work and came to the shop to reward themselves with hot pot.
Seeing the mountains of bones piled on the table, the survivors' first thought was that the shop had provisions.
Therefore, ignoring Su Ling and her group, they swarmed into the shop's kitchen, afraid that if they were a moment late, the good stuff would be snatched by those who arrived earlier.
A group rushed in with great haste and then hurried towards the kitchen.
After everyone had left, Su Ling picked up her unfinished fruit tea, drank it, and stood up, shouldering her bag.
Gu Shangse and the others saw this and also got up.
By the time the survivors had scoured the kitchen and retreated, repelled by the foul stench, Su Ling and her group had long since left the shop and were outside clearing the mountains of zombies.
Zombies had been killed in droves, falling to the ground, but their cores had yet to be collected.
As Su Ling and her group dug for cores, Han Han was also busy, using a small knife specially made for him by Gu Shangse to chip away at the cores.
Everyone took care of him, leaving the zombies with split heads for Han Han.
Yang Yang, on the other hand, circled Han Han. After he dug out a core, Yang Yang would lead him to the head of a newly discovered zombie that had "bloomed."
He would trot around the zombies, his tail wagging happily.
When the survivors, realizing something was amiss, chased after them, they saw Su Ling's team, from the adults to the children and the dog, all bent over, diligently digging for stones.