Chapter 336: Gift-Giving?

Overnight passed, and as sunlight bathed the mountain stream, morning arrived as scheduled.

Winter mornings light up late, so camp residents generally rose later too—life followed a rhythm of tension and release: during training, strict military discipline; in daily life, no rigid demands. Sleeping in was fine, no one cared—there was only so much work to do, and everyone completed it satisfactorily, no need to rush.

Around seven-thirty, Zhang Su woke from bed. His first act was checking the temperature; learning it had stopped dropping and stabilized near minus twenty-eight degrees, he exhaled inwardly in relief.

In the past, morning drills took place in Xiao Xingyun's courtyard. This time was different—he dressed and ran toward the mountain gate, nothing else in mind, just to see yesterday's returned tank.

Stepping out of the small courtyard, he noticed figures everywhere. With his heightened hearing, his ears filled with a cacophony of sounds—he found it oddly disorienting.

"Today we must split these people up…"

Zhang Su pondered. Gathering nearly a hundred people in one place was a huge security risk. Triggering zombie detection was superstition—he wouldn't risk it. Besides, cramming everyone together offered no benefits.

At the parking lot, he found five or six people gathered around the tank, laughing and chatting—all core members of Tianma Yu's original crew. Clearly, he wasn't the only one obsessed, just like when he'd bought a Trek bike back in the day and would wake up in the middle of the night just to turn on the lights and admire it.

"Boss Zhang!"

"Boss Zhang, you're here."

"Haha, we just took photos with the tank—first time in our lives. Look, isn't it awesome?"

Wang Xin showed Zhang Su the photo on his phone.

"Great! But taking turns snapping pics with one tank's no fun. Someday, we'll give everyone their own—now that'll be something! By the way, we're heading north to hunt the Venom Zombie—who's coming with us?"

"I'll go."

"I'm definitely going."

"Take me—I've got the best eyesight!"

Ask anyone, and they'd all want to go. Used to risking their lives outside, they found camp life dull.

"Alright, just us then. Don't call anyone else. Max two vehicles—gas is plentiful, but not that plentiful."

"Understood!" Wang Xin nodded with flair, then frowned: "Boss Zhang, yesterday Yu Bo, Tan Jie, and Xiao Shuai scoured everywhere and found nothing. We can't just retrace old paths, right?"

"No old routes. Yesterday I got the exact location of the chemical plant from Xin Qi. Today we'll circle the area. If we find nothing…"

"Attention, attention! A vehicle approaching from the south! Attention, attention! A vehicle approaching from the south!"

Before Zhang Su could finish speaking, Duan Wuhu's voice crackled through the radio.

As Zhang Su pulled out his radio to reply, the voice blared again: "Attention, attention! A SUV is heading toward Tianma Yu! Attention, attention…"

"Got it, Brother Duan. I'm at the gate—I'll handle it."

Zhang Su replied.

"It's coming straight for us?"

"Who is it…?"

"Damn, Boss Zhang, could that big dog car have a tracker?"

Lu Yubo's expression tightened.

"It can't be the people from Shanhai District. Didn't Old Duan say it's just one vehicle? If they wanted revenge, they'd send one car? Suicide attack?"

Zhang Su smirked. He suspected it might be people from Daqiao Bao Village coming to check things out—few even knew they were here.

"Damn it, this is bad…"

Wu Lue slapped his thigh, staring at the tank beside him: "Now that the tank's visible right at the gate, we've exposed our strength!"

"Yeah, maybe we should grab some quilts and cover it up?"

Wang Xin also looked startled—he understood the principle: don't flaunt wealth.

But Zhang Su merely waved it off. "Times have changed. Only if we're luring someone in do we need to hide our strength. Right now, I want everyone to fear us, to wish we had inflatable tanks in camp. I don't care if they see it."

If intimidation can prevent conflict, deception has its logic—but Zhang Su dared say this because his true trump card remained hidden.

Soon, everyone heard the engine roar as the vehicle began climbing the hill.

"Uncle, it's here!"

Pang Dankun, standing at the watchtower, turned to the crowd.

Zhang Su and the others reached the mountain gate, peering through the gap. A Dodge Durango sat outside. A man around thirty stepped out, wearing ear-flap cotton hat, face clean-shaven, no stubble—impeccably presentable.

"Hello, young man. I'm Xiao Xuejian, Captain of the Vanguard Team, Survivor Alliance. With this bitter cold, our leader Gong Chengming sent me to deliver gifts to your leader."

Xiao Xuejian leaned on the car door, speaking loudly to Pang Dankun on the watchtower.

"Holy shit, this guy's dangerous!"

Wu Lue squinted outside, muttering with a strange expression.

Zhang Su glanced at Wu Lue, surprised: "Luezi, you know him?"

"No." Wu Lue shook his head seriously. "Xiao Xuejian—listen to that name. It'll slice your blood right out. Could he be harmless? And he's a captain of a whole team…"

"Shut the hell up."

Zhang Su shoved Wu Lue's head aside. He'd thought he had real intel—turns out he was just spouting nonsense. Still, Xiao Xuejian's name did sound odd, like something from a wuxia novel…

The world was vast and strange. Maybe his parents were wuxia fans and named him this on purpose. It actually sounded pretty cool.

The others were equally speechless at Wu Lue's antics, yet found him oddly entertaining.

Outside the gate, Xiao Xuejian couldn't see Zhang Su's group laughing or hear their voices. Seeing Pang Dankun frozen with a strange expression, he waved: "Young man, please report to your leader. I came alone, with gifts—no ill intent."

"Captain Xiao." Zhang Su stepped onto the watchtower. "Thank you, Master Gong, for remembering us—and sending a captain to deliver supplies. I'm puzzled. Why?"

Facing Gong Chengming's overture, Zhang Su remained cautious. Gong Chengmin wasn't Wang Xin—he could see at a glance the man had skill, strength, and capability. To be second-in-command of a three-hundred-person survivor group meant he was no ordinary man.

Xiao Xuejian recognized Zhang Su. Though the night before had been dim, he remembered the voice. He was startled to find Zhang Su standing right behind the gate, then quickly replied: "The temperature dropped sharply. Some supplies available in the city aren't found in the outskirts. Master Gong sent me to deliver them to… Leader Zhang."

In the Survivor Alliance, "leader" was the standard term—he used it outside too. It wouldn't be too far off.

(End of Chapter)