(To avoid storyline loss and reading disruption, some revisions have been made to Chapter 224, and the reasons will gradually be revealed later. I’ve been on a business trip these days, missing a Chapter yesterday, but today will be a normal 8k in two Chapters. Tomorrow might also see a shorter update, but once I’m back, I’ll make sure to catch up by blowing through updates, hehe.)
Hengshan Pass Gymnasium.
The entrance here is tightly sealed with wire gates, and despite the heavy rain, numerous armed sentinels remain vigilant over each entry point.
Inside the spacious stadium, more than twenty off-road vehicles encircle a few heavy trucks, forming a camp in the middle, with a bonfire and a canopy set up. Hu Lushou is holding a string of sausages, roasting them over the fire for a few turns, then taking a bite, instantly feeling the scorching oil flow. He hurriedly winces and hisses "It’s hot, it’s hot."
Camping and sheltering on flat ground is the method the Federation Garrison Army devised after countless nights to prevent attacks from the Abnormal Bodies. By seeking out flat terrain at night, visibility is more open, and ambushes can be guarded against. This method has now been adopted by many Survivor Caravans.
Although this gymnasium is only a temporary camp for them, guards have been arranged to keep watch at every entrance, prioritizing safety and caution.
His bodyguard Sun Chang is beside him, silently removing her mechanical arm and cleaning the joints of its parts.
At this moment, the walkie-talkie suddenly chirped with a subordinate’s voice: "Mr. Hu, the leader of the Unlimited Fleet is coming with some people."
Upon hearing this, Hu Lushou stood up abruptly, almost choking on the piece of sausage he had just swallowed: "What? How many did he bring?"
"They... arrived on a flying device!"
"Ah?!" Hu Lushou was dumbfounded.
Hearing this, Sun Chang swiftly reattached her mechanical arm, standing up with a commanding presence.
"But it’s just the two of them; they said they’re here to discuss cooperation." The subordinate quickly added.
"Two people?" Hu Lushou and Sun Chang exchanged glances. Hu Lushou frowned: "Why come at night, specifically two people looking for me, what’s the meaning?"
"Could it be an ambush?" Sun Chang’s first instinct was that they came with ill intentions.
Hu Lushou wore an odd expression: "An ambush? Who ambushes at one’s doorstep, and it’s nighttime. Bringing so many people here is quite risky."
He pondered urgently, continuously pondering.
"Damn, being polite, they really came."
"What should we do then? Reject them?"
Hu Lushou contemplated for a moment, raised his hand slightly: "Let’s take a look first. We’re not at a point of bloodshed with them; otherwise, they wouldn’t have let us go in the morning."
After speaking, he picked up the walkie-talkie: "Let the two in. Keep an eye out to see if there are others around."
After giving instructions, Hu Lushou gave Sun Chang a meaningful look.
Sun Chang nodded, signaling a few subordinates to retreat into the cars for an ambush.
Soon, the sound of a motorcycle approached from afar. Members of Hu Lushou’s fleet aimed their guns, while Lin Xian braved the heavy rain, riding into the fleet. The motorcycle was a temporary creation from his flying device to facilitate travel and save every minute.
"Hey, it’s Brother Lin! What brings you here so late to find me?"
As soon as Hu Lushou saw Lin Xian, he immediately put on a fawning expression, welcoming him with a smile.
"Here to discuss a cooperation with you."
Lin Xian didn’t waste words and quickly walked into the canopy with KIKI.
"Cooperation is no problem, just... at this time in the night?" Hu Lushou smiled awkwardly, implying a bit of confusion.
Lin Xian’s gaze swept across the few subordinates around him. Hu Lushou’s eyes slightly changed; seeing KIKI beside Lin Xian, he could only grit his teeth and have the group disarm and step aside. He then pointed to a nearby chair: "Come, Brother Lin, sit down, let me know whatever you need."
Seeing some of the subordinates disperse, Lin Xian directly walked over and straightforwardly asked: "Do you know there’s a secret research facility near Qingshui Town?"
Hu Lushou’s smile instantly froze upon hearing this: "Wh... what do you mean?"
Lin Xian directly stated: "You’re the Deputy Captain of the Yunxiang, you should know the reason for Yunxiang’s crash, right?"
Hu Lushou’s expression shifted subtly as he lightly coughed, then walked over and sat down on a nearby chair.
"Brother Lin, what do you mean by coming to ask this in the middle of the night?"
"I want to enter that research facility." Lin Xian stated directly.
"What research facility?" Hu Lushou looked confused and smiled: "Brother Lin, you’re really puzzling me."
"Don’t pretend, you should know very well where these military supplies came from." KIKI said urgently at this moment.
Hu Lushou smiled shamelessly: "Ah, this matter, does it concern you? Are you guys from the Federation?"
Lin Xian shook his head.
"Or are you worried the supplies I’m trading with you will cause trouble with the Federation?"
"Then this is quite serious," Hu Lushou clicked his tongue: "Then what identity do I have, how these supplies came about, we don’t really need to delve into, right?"
"I’m not concerned with that." Lin Xian lost patience: "I’m talking about the research facility. You should know how to get in, right?"
"Brother Lin, what research facility? How would I know how to get in?" Hu Lushou seemed utterly baffled: "I can’t make sense of what you’re talking about, what do you want to cooperate on?"
Lin Xian glared at Hu Lushou, his gaze cold, then suddenly raised his hand.
This action immediately startled Hu Lushou, and simultaneously, several figures appeared from various corners, armed. Sun Chang suddenly sprang from atop the truck, with her mechanical arm sparking brilliantly.