Chapter 182: Take the Initiative

"Let's go, head out to pick up the cargo—give it some time to charge, we'll check again when we get back!"

Experiments require waiting; there's no rush. Zhang Su led the group away from Tianma Island in a vehicle.

Yet, just after the two vehicles slowly headed north, a scruffy adolescent suddenly emerged from a ditch beside the road, his face filthy and grimy, staring oddly at the tiny black dots of the cars, then glancing toward Tianma Island.

"City folks are so deceitful—they tricked all of us, and even got me to give wrong information..."

The scruffy boy's expression turned grim. He rubbed his face, glanced around, then walked toward Tianma Island.

"Xiaoya, do you have another keyboard? This one's Enter key isn't working..."

In the surveillance room, Pei Lan tapped on a faulty keyboard to switch camera feeds.

Zhang Ya had just pulled her gaze from the screen when she suddenly spotted a figure in her field of view. She frowned. "Don't move—look at Camera Five just now! Someone's coming!"

Pei Lan turned to the screen Zhang Ya indicated, picked up the walkie-talkie without a word, and said: "Hey hey, someone's appeared down the hill, heading straight toward us! Someone's coming! One person! Just one!"

"Hey, kid, where are you from? This area's occupied—don't wander in, go back!"

"Where did this brat come from?"

"Hey hey hey, do you even have ears? I told you this place is occupied—why are you still walking in? Go back! Where you came from, go back there!"

"Why so aggressive? Just taking a look won't kill you..."

The boy sized up the man blocking his path, then peered curiously into the concrete brick wall, giving half-hearted answers.

Jia Shiqin wiped sweat from his forehead and asked cautiously: "Should we tie him up and question him when Brother Su returns?"

Jia Shiqin, who had been working, asked as Wang Xin walked back to the wall and resumed labor.

Wang Xin frowned impatiently.

Wang Xin shrugged helplessly.

The mountain path was piled with red bricks, cement, and rebar; a group was working feverishly to build a wall. After hearing the news, Wang Xin stopped his work, picked up his rifle, and stood in the center of the path, gesturing for the newcomer to leave immediately.

"The kid hasn't done anything out of line—he's probably not a threat."

The boy glanced at Wang Xin, then at the workers, and finally left the path, glancing back every few steps.

The camp had relatively sufficient weapons, but some still hoped for peace.

"Damn, that brat ran off fast—can't see him anymore!"

"Huh? When did someone move in here? I came from that village over there..."

"Better not stir up trouble."

Five minutes later, everyone saw Wang Xin return with a strange expression...

"If he dares come rob us, we'll show him what we're made of!"

"But now he knows our location—that's a problem!"

He walked toward the mountain path.

"Who knows..."

Wang Xin frowned in thought, then put down his tools again. "I'll go bring him back!"

By noon, the two vehicles returning to pick up supplies arrived back at Tianma Island.

During lunch, everyone naturally brought up what had happened that morning.

"A boy wandered into camp?"

Zhang Su, who had been picking up food, instantly sensed something was off. He set down his chopsticks. "What did the boy look like? Where was he from?"

"Right after you left, I saw a boy walking up from the main road on the monitor—seemed like he came from the south, but I couldn't tell clearly; the road cameras are too blurry," Zhang Ya said.

Zhang Ya said.

Zhang Su set down his bowl and stood up. "Forget it—come on, take me to the surveillance room!"

Everyone who had gone out with Zhang Su to gather supplies was sensitive to the boy's presence and followed Zhang Su and Zhang Ya toward the surveillance room.

Liu Tianji and Wang Xin were on duty at this time; they operated the surveillance software with great familiarity and quickly pulled up the footage from the mountain path.

"Shit!"

When Zhang Su saw the boy's filthy face, he cursed aloud.

"Brother Su, do you know this guy...?"

Wang Xin asked tentatively.

"Damn it, this brat's from the same village as the guys who attacked Zhu Zi! He was tailing our vehicle before—I led him to United Village, never thought he'd find his way here!"

Zhang Su frowned at the boy's sneaky figure on the monitor, his anger rising.

"Brother Su, we should've killed him already! Damn it, in this world, you can't spare even a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old—let alone a four- or five-year-old!"

Lu Yubo said fiercely.

He felt no pity whatsoever. Anyone he perceived as a threat was to be eliminated—that was his rule.

"Bozi, killing anyone you meet is what zombies do..."

Zhang Su's principles differed from Lu Yubo's. After leaving the city, he hoped to grow his group—even if he couldn't win loyal allies, forming temporary partnerships was fine, even if just for mutual benefit.

He didn't care about initial conflicts; differing positions inevitably led to clashes. He preferred resolving things through civilized means.

Like Xida Ying Village, like United Village—he had the power to wipe them out completely back then, but he never did.

He felt the same way about those two brats. When Zhang Su didn't yet know they were from Beita Zi Camp and linked to the attack on Zhao De and the others, he still wanted to establish contact.

"Ah..." Wang Xin looked embarrassed, mumbling: "If I'd known... I should've just detained him right away. Brother Su, I'm sorry..."

"He must've spotted our vehicles and traced them up here. Brother Su, shouldn't we strike first?" Qi Xiaoshuai's eyes were filled with anxiety.

Exposing their location was always a risk.

Zhang Su exhaled slowly. "This brat's definitely up to something. Eat up—we're heading to Beita Zi Camp this afternoon. We won't wait for danger to come knocking!"

Since the other side had come to his doorstep, Zhang Su was certain Beita Zi Camp had no intention of letting bygones be bygones. If so, the feud was started by them—then he wouldn't play the coward!

"Alright!"

"Let's do it..."

"They hurt Brother Zhu! Now they dare come to our door? We'll kill them!" Lu Yubo's face was filled with viciousness.

They finished eating quickly. Zhang Su gathered Zheng Xinyu, Lu Yubo, Pang Dakun, Tan Hua, and Qi Xiaoshuai. Whether facing zombies or other survivors, this six-person team was formidable.

"Dude, my leg's healed now—why didn't you take me? Dammit..."

Zhao Dezhu was fed up. He wanted to go too, but Zhang Su refused. He tried to argue, but when he met Zhang Su's rare cold gaze, he swallowed the rest of his words.

"Five magazines each. Check your gear!"

Zhang Su stood beside the vehicle, giving orders with grave seriousness.

Everyone knew what Zhang Su's group was about to do. Their expressions were grim.

Fighting zombies was manageable with proper planning, but clashing with other survivor factions was unpredictable.

Though they had great confidence in Zhang Su's team, everyone in this hellish apocalypse had survived for a reason—none were weak.

Confidence without arrogance was the most basic principle.

"Mr. Zhang, the other side is cunning—be extremely careful," Yu Wen said anxiously. He wanted to join, but knew his old body was better suited to fighting zombies than people.

"Brother Su, Xinyu, be careful. Everyone, stay alert."

Zhong Xiaoshan stepped forward and tightened Zhang Su's rifle strap herself, her face filled with worry.

The better life became, the less they wanted conflict—but sometimes, even when you wish for peace, trouble finds you anyway.

"Relax, everyone. Go about your duties. Don't slack off the camp's defenses—understood?"

Zhang Su got into the vehicle and reminded them.

Everyone nodded, watching the Prado and the van slowly drive away from the guesthouse area.

Yu Wen and Yu Qing moved the barricades at the gate.

"Brother Su, be careful!"

As the vehicle passed the gate, Yu Qing whispered to Zhang Su in the driver's seat.

Zhang Su looked at Yu Qing. In the past, she'd have launched into a full lecture—lay down your weapons, revenge only breeds more revenge, better to reconcile than to hold grudges.

This time was different. Her gaze held cold resolve.

"Take care of Brother Zhu."

Zhang Su gave Yu Qing a smile.

As the vehicle drove off, Qi Xiaoshuai looked in the rearview mirror and said: "Brother Su, Xiao Yu has really changed... If not for you, she wouldn't have survived."

"Everyone has their own beliefs. She holds to hers without dragging the team down. Last time in Beidong Town, when she had to kill to establish authority, she understood and acted—she's finally seen the truth of this world."

Not everyone can kill without hesitation, and change happens differently for each person.

As the vehicle descended the mountain, Zheng Xinyu suddenly said: "Hey, Brother Su, do you know how to get to Beita Zi Camp?"

"I don't know the way—but someone does. We just need a guide."

Zhang Su pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and turned naturally southward. He had a rough idea of the direction, but knowing the exact location would be better.

"Brother Su, Brother Su, where are we going?"

Soon, Lu Yubo in the back vehicle asked.

"We're going to United Village to find a guide!"

Zhang Su answered, then pressed the accelerator, speeding swiftly toward Beidong Town.

(End of Chapter)