Chapter 32: Performance

The standoff between the two sides was very delicate.

Chen Mu's side didn't want to initiate violence, but the other side obviously had reservations as well.

Besides Wei Dalei's obviously unusual physique, the flatbed truck and the exquisitely crafted wolf-tooth club clearly exceeded their imagination.

"Like this, we can't take much either—at most a few leaves. How about it?" Chen Mu said again in a negotiating tone.

"No, letting you go is already generous; don't push your luck." That person insisted.

Seeing this, Chen Mu said nothing more, suddenly pulled a stone from his pocket and hurled it forward.

"Boom!"

Although the weapon made personally by Dong Junwei was far less powerful than a real grenade, its explosive effect was already astonishing.

Chen Mu's stone struck the ground and exploded right in front of that person, frightening them into fleeing far away instantly.

Not throwing it directly at a person was also because he feared they might go all‑out; four grenades couldn't kill everyone, so intimidating them was best.

Indeed.

The dozen or so people opposite were all startled; although this blast's power wasn't enough to affect everyone, the very fact of it was completely beyond their imagination.

Grenade!

At a time like this, this person actually has explosives?!

At the same time, Chen Mu took another stone in his hand.

Wei Dalei reacted quickly as well, taking out his two stones and giving one to Zhao Xiao Yan.

All three raised their hands, as if they were about to throw them at any moment.

Seeing this, the opposite side immediately had everyone step back several paces, and the encircling formation loosened considerably.

Good fellow.

We agreed to fight with bayonets, but you bastards are actually using nuclear weapons!

They never imagined that Chen Mu's side had only these three grenades left.

"Please understand one thing: I'm willing to negotiate properly because I think it's not worth dying over this little stuff, but if you insist on fighting first and a few people die, I have no objection."

Chen Mu actually didn't care about those vegetables; his refusal to retreat a step was also forced by the circumstances.

He was very clear about that.

If he showed even a hint of timidity or agreed to leave empty‑handed, the other side would likely think they were easy prey and might swarm them at any moment.

Of course, this was also a gamble.

If the opposite side turned out to be a bunch of blockheads, this move might backfire.

Fortunately, his gamble paid off.

The Yi Zhong group stared at each other for a while, and finally the leader said, "As agreed, we can only take a few leaves."

Chen Mu gave an indifferent smile: "Who cares? We're not short of food; we just want a change of flavor."

Having said that, he turned to Wei Dalei: "Old Wei, go pull a few celery leaves, fresh ones."

These vegetables have been here for at least five days; fortunately the cafeteria's interior temperature is low, so they haven't rotted completely, but most are already wilted.

Wei Dalei acknowledged, then deliberately thrust the wolf‑tooth club into the ground, blasting a hole, and left the weapon standing there.

Afterward, he walked toward the vegetable pile with empty hands.

Chen Mu almost wanted to cheer him; this move not only displayed strength, but casually discarding the weapon also made him look fearless.

Indeed, the opponent's last shred of fighting spirit was also crushed by that wolf‑tooth club.

Chen Mu seized the moment, relaxed, and asked the leader: "What's your name?"

"Li Hegwei." This time the person finally gave a proper answer.

"Do you have anyone else?"

"Yes, plenty; all the Yi Zhong people are doing fine." Li Hegwei puffed out his chest, as if gaining some confidence.

Chen Mu didn't know how many from Yi Zhong had come, nor whether he was lying, so he didn't press further and asked: "Are you all together? Where are you staying?"

Li Hegwei hemmed and hawed, a bit reluctant to speak, wanting to refuse but afraid of offending them.

Chen Mu finally realized that, given these people's abilities, they couldn't have survived to now; obviously they had a team behind them, and these dozen or so were likely a small squad sent out to scavenge food—put bluntly, cannon fodder.

Not everyone is as harmonious as Class 4, Senior Year 3; the stronger members of a team are the ones sent out to find food.

The strong forcing the weak to do dangerous things is easy to understand in the apocalypse.

But from this, it's clear they indeed have a team behind them, and it's not small.

It's very likely, as Li Hegwei said, that the Yi Zhong people, thanks to some fortunate coincidences, have all survived.

If so, then at least half of those on the playground back then were Ziwei High School students—I don't know how they're doing.

Chen Mu kept his doubts to himself, not asking directly, fearing to ruin the imposing image he'd just built; obviously the other side now thought his trio belonged to a larger team—after all, Ziwei High School is the local hegemon, so having more people than Yi Zhong is normal.

"Forget it if you don't want to say; I'm not interested either. You Yi Zhong folks came with just that few people—even if one doesn't die, what does it matter?"

"I doubt what you say will count, but go tell your supervisors: no matter what, this place is Ziwei High School's territory; stay put honestly, and we won't bother you."

Chen Mu bluffed wildly, and indeed the opposition was startled, truly believing Ziwei High School had already mustered a large force.

At this moment, Wei Dalei finished picking, holding a dozen or so tender green celery leaves, and returned to the flatbed truck.

These were enough for them to eat for a long time.

"Alright, the rest is up to you."

Chen Mu shook his hand, feeling as if that pile of vegetables were what he'd picked over and then given as charity to them.

Afterward, he greeted Wei Dalei and the two: "Let's go, let's check the cold storage."

"Sigh!"

Wei Dalei acknowledged.

Then he lifted the wolf‑tooth club, glanced around the dozen or so opponents, let out a cold snort from his nose, hoisted the weapon, single‑handedly dragged the flatbed truck, and slowly followed behind Chen Mu.

After walking far away, Zhao Xiao Yan kept a stern little face until it finally relaxed, and she puffed out a laugh: "You guys really can act."

Chen Mu spread his hands, feigning vicissitude: "Life is like a play."

Wei Dalei hehehe laughed: "It can't be said to be purely acting; if we really got into a fight, who knows, I alone might take care of all of them."

"I'm just afraid there might be some odd ability-users among them who could catch us off guard; otherwise we really wouldn't be that scared. But looking at it now, these people probably lack any real ability, which is why they were sent out to do this dangerous task." Chen Mu said.

"Shouldn't only those with ability be sent out?" Zhao Xiao Yan puzzled.

Chen Mu didn't know how to explain it to him for a moment.

Fortunately Wei Dalei didn't pay much attention to that, and suddenly asked: "I don't know if what he said is true, but have those people from Yi Zhong all gathered together?"

"Quite possible."

Chen Mu's mood was complicated.

Logically speaking, the more people who survive, the better.

But sometimes, humans can be more dangerous than rats.