Chapter 242: Ending Up Like This
The flames gradually died down.
The zombie horde instantly collided with the skeleton ranks.
Spears pierced through the zombies' bodies, while the skeletons behind wielded iron swords and axes, chopping down the zombies that squeezed in from above.
Blood and severed limbs splattered everywhere.
The entire sky seemed covered by a red haze, a dark crimson.
"Big Guy, Terrorclaw, you join in too!" Wu Heng observed the scene and continued.
Big Guy pounded his chest armor twice and led the other mutated skeletons into the zombie horde.
His arms swung like pendulums, sending large groups of zombies flying in all directions.
Terrorclaw climbed along the surrounding walls, occasionally grabbing zombies and ripping off their heads.
"Full advance!" Wu Heng ordered.
The skeletons moved forward uniformly, holding spears like a wall of spikes, skewering the zombies.
The zombies that slipped through were chopped into pulp by the skeletons behind using swords and knives.
......
The battle raged from day into night.
The entire street was covered with corpses. Orange flames flickered, and abandoned cars by the roadside smoked heavily.
Squelch~!
Terrorclaw crushed the last zombie's head.
The entire battlefield gradually quieted down.
"Secure the perimeter. Assign some to clean up the battlefield and move all the bodies to the sides," Wu Heng said.
Clatter~!
The standby skeletons moved again—some formed a perimeter, while others began moving corpses.
Wu Heng, accompanied by a few skeletons, approached a green off-road vehicle.
The car door was half-open, not fully closed.
Inside the vehicle were some supplies and bullets; it was clearly a military vehicle.
Then they proceeded to the other two military trucks.
Climbing into the truck bed, Li Yanhong took out a flashlight to illuminate the surroundings.
Inside the truck was a layer of covering.
Wu Heng lifted a corner, revealing boxes of first-aid kits and some sealed compressed rations.
They removed all the coverings on the trucks.
Revealing the full contents inside.
All sorts of military supplies.
There was also a special package.
Opening it, they found neatly stacked earpieces.
Wireless earpieces?
What a great find!
Wu Heng picked one up, looked at it, and put it back.
They moved on to the next vehicle.
After uncovering everything, they found various firearms and boxes of ammunition inside.
"So many bullets!"
"Hmm, looks like this wasn't a rescue team; they were probably planning to evacuate," Wu Heng said.
A rescue team would make space in the vehicles to accommodate survivors.
With all these packages on board, they were clearly heading somewhere specific.
Thinking for a moment, he waved his hand and stored all the firearms and ammunition.
He pondered whether to distribute firearms to others at the base; he'd need to discuss it carefully upon returning.
At least for now, he couldn't reveal them.
Li Yanhong didn't say anything and asked, "Should we drive back directly?"
"Let's rest in the vehicles tonight. We'll organize the surroundings tomorrow."
"Alright!"
Li Yanhong signaled the convoy to come closer.
The convoy approached with headlights on.
After briefing everyone, Li Yanhong returned to the bus to rest.
......
Back on the bus.
Wu Heng had already laid out blankets on the floor.
Li Yanhong freshened up using items from the vehicle, took off her clothes, and nestled into his arms.
Lying on his chest, listening to his heartbeat, she said, "The zombies are getting stronger. Will they also awaken abilities? Humanity might really have no chance then."
Wu Heng gently stroked her smooth back, rolled over to press her beneath him, and said, "Don't worry. Even if they get stronger, it won't be that extreme."
Li Yanhong hummed softly, pouted, and lifted her hips slightly to match her lover's movements. She continued, "I really envy that you all can awaken abilities. I've taken the potion twice and still no effect."
"The Level 1 corpse core potion mainly improves physical fitness; it's not that easy to awaken abilities."
"But you awakened early on, so Level 1 does have an effect."
Wu Heng smiled and lifted his loose shirt.
Li Yanhong said, "Don't take it off; there might be emergencies at night. Let's leave it."
Wu Heng nodded, pulled his shirt halfway up to cover his eyes, and said, "Don't worry about the abilities. Wait until the Level 2 potion is developed; you can try some then."
Regarding abilities, Wu Heng wasn't overly optimistic.
The effects of awakening weren't as significant as imagined. After Flame God's Ma Zhiyong awakened his fire abilities, his most powerful move was just throwing a fireball.
Not much different from his own Fireball Spell.
If abilities only had such effects, it might be better to transition into a professional class.
When the time was right, Wu Heng could provide professional scrolls to Li Yanhong or others at the base.
After completing the profession, all attributes would improve, along with a complete heritage and training system.
Suddenly, his eyes were covered by the lifted shirt. As he tried to remove it, he said, "Hey, I can't see anything."
Wu Heng grabbed her arms, pressing them above her head, and said, "Be good, don't move."
Li Yanhong turned her head, softly humming twice, "This feels a bit sensitive."
"That's what makes it fun. Keep your voice down; you don't want your subordinates to hear, do you?"
"Hmph! Pervert."
The deep night was filled only with Li Yanhong's muffled murmurs as she bit her lip.
......
The next morning.
Qiangzi and others conducted preliminary scavenging along nearby shops.
The skeletons continuously loaded various supplies onto the trucks.
They worked until noon, gradually filling several trucks.
"You guys take these back first," Wu Heng said.
Li Yanhong nodded and had the convoy return with the supplies.
Besides what they scavenged, there were also the military vehicles and supplies from the previous night.
This was quite a haul.
After a brief briefing, the convoy returned fully loaded.
Wu Heng stayed with Li Yanhong and the skeleton army, using [Battlefield of the Dead] along the way.
Gray-white circles of light spread out repeatedly, and large numbers of skeletons stood up to join the ranks.
After reaching Level 10 and unlocking [Arcane Echo] and [Necromancer Scholar], the skill's consumption decreased, and his mental recovery improved.
This greatly increased the efficiency of converting skeletons.
Near noon, the convoy returned.
Leaving some skeletons to guard the area, making it easier for Li Yanhong and others to thoroughly scavenge later.
Wu Heng then returned to the passenger station with the convoy.
He went back to Rentam City through the portal.
......
It was still daytime in Rentam City.
Wu Heng had lunch at a nearby tavern and headed straight to the guild.
Just entering the hall,
Staff members and some squad members greeted him.
"Good afternoon, Steward Wu Heng!"
"Steward, we'll see you off when you leave!"
"My son has some talent; could he become your apprentice?"
Being called "Steward" repeatedly almost made him feel smug.
Wu Heng smiled and nodded, saying, "Deputy, Deputy Steward, no need to be so formal."
The others joked along, saying they were used to calling him that in the guild.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, he headed straight to the squad lounge.
Although he was no longer a squad member, no one would object to him using the lounge temporarily.
Pushing the door open, he found no one inside.
It seemed that during his time as captain, he had fostered a not-so-great habit in the squad.
He opened the door and called for a staff member.
He asked him to bring the weapon shop owner.
The staff member nodded and quickly left.
Shortly after, the owners of the weapon shop he collaborated with and the Mao Liao Armor Shop arrived.
"Captain Wu Heng, we heard you're being transferred," the armor shop owner said.
Wu Heng hadn't expected him to come along.
He nodded, "Yes, I'll be leaving in a couple of days."
"What about your half of the city?" the armor shop owner asked tentatively.
Seeing his anxious look, Wu Heng understood his concern and said, "That half of the city will still be managed by Wen Mansa. Our previous cooperation will continue as usual; you don't need to worry."
The armor shop owner smiled, "We're not worried, just a bit regretful that you're leaving so soon."
Wu Heng stood up, poured tea for the two, and said, "The guild has its considerations. It's just a temporary move; I'll apply to transfer back later."
Hearing that he could return, both visibly relaxed.
Their smiles grew brighter.
They preferred to work with Wu Heng over a gang leader's wife.
After all, with various rumors about him being a wealthy young master or a master apprentice, his status seemed profound and unpredictable.
"That's true; you can transfer back after a while," the armor shop owner agreed.
Wu Heng turned to the weapon shop owner and asked directly, "How's the production of the crossbows going?"
"We've rushed some out, but not many—haven't met the delivery requirements yet," the weapon shop owner replied.
"How many have you made?" Wu Heng asked, sipping his tea.
"Over 17 iron swords and knives, 5 crossbows. Making crossbows isn't easy, so progress is slow," the weapon shop owner said.
The craftsmanship of crossbows is indeed complex; otherwise, they wouldn't be so expensive.
Wu Heng nodded, "Tomorrow, send me those five first; I'll settle the payment."
"Oh, alright!"
After chatting, the three walked out together.
The two owners, assured that Wu Heng could transfer back later, were noticeably more at ease.
They shared their plans with Wu Heng—to recruit more craftsmen and increase production speed.
Wu Heng didn't object, simply telling them to focus on production.
Just after seeing them off, a member of the Spikes Gang hurried over.
He said, "Captain, the boss lady urgently needs to see you."
"Alright, let's go check it out!"
......
Spikes Gang Headquarters.
Wu Heng looked at the corpse placed in the middle of the courtyard, frowning.
It was a young girl wearing a local maid outfit.
Her skin was covered in bruises and scars; it seemed she had suffered some terrible abuse before death.
"What's going on?" Wu Heng asked.
Wen Mansa glanced at the girl being held by gang members nearby. The girl broke free, knelt down, and kowtowed twice.
With a sobbing voice, she said, "Please, Captain, avenge my sister."
Wu Heng looked at the thin, young girl and asked, "What exactly happened?"