Chapter 276: The Burden on Xu Family Town
Even though he knew it was dangerous, Uncle You still insisted on helping Zhang Yi, which warmed Zhang Yi's heart.
"Uncle You, thank you! But for now, it's better if you don't come over. There are many soldiers around, guarding the area," Zhang Yi advised. "If you come, you're bound to clash with them. No matter how strong you are, you can't fend off a pack of wolves alone. They have the numbers, advanced weapons, and several Superhumans. I don't want you to be in danger."
However, Uncle You replied firmly, "You saved my life back then, and the peace I have now is all thanks to you. I can't just watch while you're in danger!"
"Don't worry. I've fought in the military for many years. I'm not afraid of these soldiers."
"Haha, I'm not boasting, but I've been on the battlefield before! These kids don't scare me one bit."
Seeing Uncle You's insistence, Zhang Yi thought it over and finally said, "Alright, Uncle You. I'm safe for now, and they haven't broken in. But I may launch a counterattack later, and when that happens, I'll let you know. I want you to be a hidden asset. How about that?"
Uncle You nodded. "Alright, I'll wait for your signal! But Zhang Yi, promise me that if you're in trouble, you'll let me know. Don't treat me as an outsider!"
Zhang Yi felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Uncle You was indeed a loyal friend.
Uncle You was a physically enhanced Superhuman, and Zhang Yi had seen his power firsthand—he could catch a high-speed, full-force charge from his transformed cat, Huahua, with his bare hands. Ordinary firearms couldn't hurt him. Such a powerful close-combat fighter had to be used wisely to maximize his potential.
"I don't need your help yet. Defense comes first," Zhang Yi said, leaning back on Zhou Ke'er's soft chest, eyes half-closed, deep in thought. His pet cat Huahua jumped onto his lap, playfully pawing at his pants leg before curling up comfortably with a purr.
Zhang Yi stroked the cat's soft fur. Between him, Uncle You, and the demonic cat Huahua, they had a formidable fighting force. The enemy had no idea that Huahua and Uncle You were part of his hidden arsenal. If he could get Fatty Xu to join the fight, their chances would be even better.
"No rush, it's only a matter of time," Zhang Yi thought with a smile, petting Huahua's head. He was confident that the soldiers from West Hill Base wouldn't get along peacefully with the villagers of Xu Family Town.
Ling Feng had gone back to fetch more explosives, leaving most of the soldiers stationed in Xudong Village. Following Ling Feng's orders to prepare for a long-term battle, Shi Dayong called over Fatty Xu and Xu Dongtang.
Shi Dayong instructed them, "We're going to stay here for a while. Make sure to clear out some houses for us to live in. And remember, you need to prepare meals for sixty-five people every day!"
Fatty Xu's heart sank. Sixty-five people? He had seen these soldiers eat before, and each one consumed enough for five villagers. In the post-apocalyptic world, the residents of Xu Family Town were barely scraping by, doing everything they could to stretch their food supplies. They couldn't afford to waste a single grain. But with sixty-five soldiers eating so much, their food wouldn't last long.
Xu Dongtang's expression also changed. After a moment of hesitation, he forced a smile and said, "Of course! It's an honor for Xu Family Town to have your guidance."
"But when do you think you'll be able to deal with that murderer Zhang Yi?"
Xu Dongtang had initially thought that the soldiers from West Hill Base were there to take down Zhang Yi. Once they did, they would leave. He never expected Zhang Yi to hold off their attacks. Now, he just hoped West Hill Base would speed up their assault.
Shi Dayong responded coldly, "The timing and actions are military secrets! Just focus on providing us with what we need."
"Remember, we're here to avenge you, after all."
Shi Dayong's towering presence and authoritative tone left Xu Dongtang speechless, nodding in agreement. After Shi Dayong left, Xu Dongtang straightened up and ordered Fatty Xu, "Chunlei, build more snow houses for our West Hill guests. Make sure you do a good job!"
He then summoned the other village chiefs and instructed them to prepare food for the soldiers. The villagers, eager to please, offered up their best supplies, hoping to leave a good impression on the soldiers.
Fatty Xu watched all of this with growing concern. But he had learned to keep his thoughts to himself; no one would listen to him anyway.
"To them, no matter how strong I am, I'm still just a useless fat otaku!" Fatty Xu thought bitterly, deciding to focus on protecting himself and Xu Lili's family.
Back in his shelter, Zhang Yi set up a rotation of guards to monitor the surveillance equipment, ensuring that West Hill Base wouldn't launch a surprise attack while he slept. He was certain their next move would come from the same direction as before, so he kept his cameras focused on the small hill.
While the high-definition cameras couldn't capture clear images from two kilometers away in the blizzard, any significant movement of heavy explosives would cause enough noise to be detected. To ensure nothing was missed, Zhang Yi assigned Lu Keran, the most reliable person in his group, to keep watch, accompanied by Huahua. The cat's keen senses made it a perfect observer.
Huahua, ever so perceptive, agreed to the task in exchange for several boxes of dried fish. When Zhang Yi wasn't keeping watch himself, Lu Keran and Huahua took over. However, that night, West Hill Base didn't make any moves against the shelter. Although a night raid would have been effective, the above-ground floors of the shelter were completely empty, and the soldiers, no matter how fit, couldn't throw explosives with precision in the dark.