Chen Hao felt a chill for no reason.
Luo Luo said coldly, "I told you to call me Zhou Luoluo, or Miss Zhou, that's fine too!"
Chen Hao chuckled foolishly, "Don't you think Luoluo sounds more intimate?"
"There's no need to be so intimate. I'm a respectable young lady with a man!"
Chen Hao was rejected.
Yet, why did he have a strange feeling in his heart?
Having a man didn't guarantee safety; who knew how long one would live in this era? He still had a chance!
Xiong Da enthusiastically welcomed Luo Luo and her group to visit his base.
This was a base where beasts and humans lived together.
Their combined numbers exceeded fifty thousand, making the air exceptionally pungent.
Now, with over ten thousand people sent from Base Baiyi, the smell was even worse.
Luo Luo quickly created a flower garden to purify the air.
Da Xiong brought out their treasured wild game to entertain everyone.
"Thank you all for coming to help us through this difficult time. With your assistance, my confidence has soared! Let's have a toast to express our gratitude!"
Everyone raised their glasses and clinked them.
Hammer Brother downed his in one gulp, "Good wine! I haven't had such good wine in a long time!"
Er Xiong replied, "It was sent by President Nuan. Your base should have some too."
Hammer Brother blinked, "Really? I didn't see any. Are you bullying us, deliberately withholding it?"
An Nuan shrugged. These matters were handled by her subordinates; she was only responsible for transporting goods and signing contracts.
Chang Kaitong, who had handled the arrangements, said, "Your leader said they didn't want alcohol. He felt too many men drinking would lead to trouble. In exchange, they requested grain, so it was all converted to grain and water!"
Hammer Brother was speechless.
His alcohol tolerance was excellent; how could it lead to trouble?
The old man was always worrying about unnecessary things!
He secretly took out his wine bottle and took two sips, feeling refreshed.
"It truly is best to drink heartily! Old Xiao, have a sip?"
Xiao Hang poured himself a glass and smiled at Chen Wenjing, "Little friend, I heard you also have the ability to hear sounds. So do I. We should get along well."
Chen Wenjing raised her cola and smiled.
He didn't particularly like interacting with strangers, but the atmosphere here was quite good.
At least, during the first pass of his auditory scan, he detected no malice.
An Nuan, while eating stir-fried clams, said, "Let's talk business. Are there any combat plans yet?"
"We have another largest base here. If they are willing to send people to help, we won't have to fear internal strife. I plan to take you there first to build some goodwill."
"Take me there?"
Da Xiong grinned and took another swig of wine.
In this era, those with food were like gods. Those with wine, cigarettes, and meat were practically divine!
---
The northern army of ten thousand people marched southwards downstream.
Although they started with only ten thousand, they encountered many small groups from smaller cities along the way. Those that could be utilized were conquered; those that could not be conquered were annihilated.
All the acquired supplies and livestock were bound and sent back to the base.
Hao Zi rode on the back of a bull, holding a dying woman in his arms.
Tang Qing, standing beside him, watched coldly, "Had enough fun? You reek! I don't know how you do it, turning someone into this state in a single day."
"She was conquered by my masculine charm!"
Hao Zi leered and casually tossed the person in his arms to the ground.
The bull's hoof stepped on her, and the sound of bones breaking was exceptionally crisp.
A pack of wild beasts rushed forward to tear at the woman's body. She opened her mouth to scream, but her throat and tongue had been damaged.
A beast bit into her neck, and blood gushed out, quickly submerging her amidst the pack of beasts.
Hao Zi cackled foolishly, resting his hands behind his head. "This woman wasn't bad. It's a shame she couldn't handle it. Perhaps her level was too low."
He glanced at Tang Qing and whistled twice.
"It's a pity someone with your figure doesn't have a boyfriend. Interested?"
A burst of fire ignited his chin.
Hao Zi quickly extinguished the flames, but instead of being chastened, his gaze became even more lecherous.
A strong and beautiful woman was precisely what ignited a man's desire to conquer!
Tang Qing sneered, "I like men stronger than me. As for you... hehe."
Hao Zi narrowed his eyes, pulled another unclothed woman from behind, and without regard for her consent, began to engage in sexual activity on the bull's back.
"Barbarian!"
Tang Qing could no longer bear to watch. She walked to the very edge and said to her teammate:
"Why are we moving with this kind of trash!"
The red-haired man gestured for her to lower her voice.
"Everyone has their hobbies. He's not your boyfriend, so don't worry so much."
Tang Qing frowned, then sneered and turned her head away, walking alone on the periphery.
Such things happened every day; she was actually aware of it.
Even among the formal members of the base, women were a vulnerable group.
To survive, many women traded themselves.
This was even more so for these small groups that were attacked.
In any era, the weak were bullied, weren't they?
Logically, she should be accustomed to it by now.
But every time Tang Qing witnessed such scenes, she still felt disgusted.
"Sister Qing, you shouldn't keep watching. We can't fall out with them right now."
"I understand, but I don't get it. Why not manage their own territory well? They haven't even sorted out their own affairs, yet they're thinking of dealing with others. What are they thinking?"
Liu Qing was also speechless.
This time, the base had dispatched three thousand high-level ability users and a thousand battle wolves.
Investing such a large amount, was it truly worth it?
Would the recovered supplies be enough for three bases to share?
Tang Qing sighed, "The supplies are insufficient, and it's too cold over there in the extreme winter. They might not last much longer. The leadership's decision likely has these considerations in mind."
"Probably. Survival of the fittest. With limited resources, we can only fight for them. Sister Qing, don't pay too much mind. As long as we don't get involved in those dirty deeds, that's fine."
Tang Qing wished she could stay out of it, but the sordid sounds were incessant and truly unbearable.
Originally, she didn't want to participate in this war of plunder, and now her heart felt even more distressed.
She looked back at the vast, surging team, her brows furrowed slightly.
Liu Qing, mistaking her concern for victory, quickly tried to comfort her:
"Don't worry, Sister Qing. We are all skilled fighters, and we've captured fifteen thousand people. With them joining the fray, we can even wear down the enemy with turn-based combat. We will surely win!"
Women and children without abilities were sent to the base, while the elderly and men were dragged out to be used as shields.
Ability users of Tier Four and above were threats and were therefore all killed.
Those below Tier Four were forced to act as vanguards.
With their loved ones held captive and unable to fight back, they could only obey.
Was this war?
This was simply a massacre!
Tang Qing increasingly didn't understand. Was what she was doing just to survive? Even if it meant living like an animal?