C29 – Desolate Swamp Mountain Range
After some time, Tan Chong reached the base of the mountain. He settled into a spot and quietly mused, “Jiang Qiu and the others must have left by now, right?”
He had lured the Zombie Group away, aiding Jiang Qiu and the rest in their escape and buying them precious time.
He was confident that Ming Dong and the others were en route to Vajra City by now.
With that thought, Tan Chong breathed a sigh of relief.
He quickly grabbed a bite to eat and was about to catch some sleep when he noticed a young man, around fourteen or fifteen, approaching him.
“Big brother, this place is very dangerous. You shouldn’t sleep here,” the youth warned, noticing Tan Chong’s drowsy state.
“Danger?” Tan Chong said, surprised. He gave the young man an interested glance and chuckled, “If it’s dangerous, why did you come here by yourself?”
He had already scoped out the area and hadn’t detected any threats. He was curious about the young man’s caution.
The young man explained, “Zombies often wander around here. If you fall asleep, it could be risky. I frequently traverse this area and always prepare in advance if any zombies show up.”
Realization dawned on Tan Chong, and he inquired, “What place is this? Is there somewhere safe nearby?”
After a night’s ordeal, all he wanted was a good place to sleep.
“This is the Desolate Swamp Mountain Range. You can come back with me if you want, but my place is small, so you’ll need to move on after a short rest,” the young man offered.
“Desolate Swamp Mountain Range,” Tan Chong repeated, pondering.
He recalled hearing about the numerous Mutated Beasts deep within the range and the small human settlements on the periphery, forming a modest Gathering Land.
“Thank you,” Tan Chong expressed his gratitude, managing a weary smile. “I’m Tan Chong. What’s your name?”
Worn out and without a decent place to rest, he decided to follow the young man.
“Mr. Tan, hello. I’m Qiu Hanh,” Qiu Hanh replied with a smile.
Tan Chong was slightly lost in thought. Since his arrival in this new world, he hadn’t encountered such an innocent smile. For a brief moment, he felt transported back to his former life, a sense of warmth flooding his heart.
”Mr. Tan, what’s on your mind?” Qiu Hanh inquired, noticing Tan Chong’s distant gaze.
“It’s nothing,” Tan Chong replied, coming back to the present with a light cough. “Let’s get moving.”
Guided by Qiu Hanh, they chatted as they walked. Half an hour later, they arrived at a valley encircled by mountains.
Tan Chong surveyed the surroundings with a critical eye and gave a slight nod of approval. “Nice setting,” he commented.
The valley wasn’t large, just a few hundred square meters, but it was filled with an abundance of crops.
Around the base of the mountains, more than thirty stone caves were arranged, each entrance barred by wooden fences. Initially, Tan Chong was puzzled about the purpose of these caves until Qiu Hanh’s explanation made it clear: each cave was a human residence, home to a single family.
“Mr. Tan, this is my place. Let me show you around,” Qiu Hanh said, gesturing toward one of the caves.
Inside the cave, Tan Chong took in the sparse interior and shook his head. The space was about ten square meters, furnished with just two rudimentary wooden beds and a handful of cooking utensils. It was even more spartan than the dilapidated house Tan Chong had in the Celestial South Gathering Land.
”My sister is out at the moment, Mr. Tan. You might want to rest while you can. She might not be keen on having you stay once she’s back,” Qiu Hanh advised.
Tan Chong nodded, settled onto one of the beds, and closed his eyes. Though heavy with sleep, he dared not let himself drift off. The complexities of human nature in this world were not lost on him; despite Qiu Hanh seeming trustworthy, Tan Chong remained vigilant.
He rested for a couple of hours until a statuesque woman with striking features and long, dark hair entered the cave.
She appeared to be under 20 years old.
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