After hearing the honking sound from ahead, Shen Feng quickly got out of the car and rushed forward. He immediately used "Like Wind Following," and within ten seconds, he reached the front. At this moment, Shen Feng saw the large trees growing out of the center of the road and immediately felt a sense of unease.
"I think we should go back the way we came. This place is very strange," Shen Feng said to Wang Yu Sheng.
Upon hearing this, Wang Yu Sheng's expression turned grim. In his eyes, Shen Feng was merely an outsider, yet he was now giving him orders. However, Shen Feng's suggestion seemed to be the best option. In this place shrouded in mist, there was no telling what dangers lurked, and leaving was indeed the wisest course of action.
Wang Yu Sheng nodded and began issuing commands into his walkie-talkie: "Prepare to retreat. We need to get out of this mist first."
As soon as Wang Yu Sheng finished speaking, a loud "Boom—" echoed from the rear of the convoy.
Shen Feng felt a sense of dread. His men were at the back of the convoy, and any accident would be disastrous. He quickly rushed back, instantly reaching the last vehicle. At the rear of the car, a giant tree had appeared, blocking the road. Retreat was now impossible!
"Everyone, get out of the vehicles! Form a circle, with your weapons facing outwards!" Shen Feng shouted loudly, directing everyone to disembark.
At this point, both the front and rear of the convoy were blocked. Any attempt to drive forward would likely result in disaster. It was best to get out of the vehicles quickly and prepare for battle. If there were no dangers, that would be ideal, but if danger arose, no one would escape.
Everyone alighted from the vehicles, gripping their weapons tightly. They stood on both sides of the convoy, cautiously on guard against any potential threats. If it were zombies, it wouldn't be so bad. After prolonged combat, the fear of zombies had lessened. However, in this place filled with mist, where no sounds could be heard, the possibility of zombies appearing was slim.
Wang Yu Sheng walked up to Shen Feng, his face grim, and said, "Now, we can only advance. After cutting down the tree in front, we can continue. I see that you have many people with knives and axes. Have them cut down the tree."
Shen Feng glanced at Wang Yu Sheng and asked, "Do you know how much longer it will take to get through the mist? Do you know what other dangers lie within? If you don't know, then shut up. We don't even know if we can leave safely right now. It's best if you don't cause trouble."
Wang Yu Sheng was displeased, feeling that Shen Feng was being overly timid. He couldn't help but say, "It's just two trees, isn't it? Mutated plants, nothing to worry about. They don't have offensive capabilities."
Shen Feng ignored him and took out a satellite phone from his person, intending to call headquarters to ascertain the situation in the vicinity. However, the call failed. A mechanical female voice came from the satellite phone: "Hello, please go to a place with a signal to make a call."
This was the first time Shen Feng had encountered such a situation. He had been able to contact headquarters to report the situation even in the wilderness before, but now there was no signal.
Wang Yu Sheng couldn't stand it any longer. He picked up his walkie-talkie and shouted, "Command Center, this is Artillery Battalion, please respond."
However, only a harsh "static" sound came from Wang Yu Sheng's walkie-talkie, with no response from the command center. Even the communication vehicle was unable to contact the Rongcheng Command Center. The situation had suddenly become very strange.
Shen Feng looked up at the sky, his heart filled with worry. Could this mist be blocking the signals?
As Shen Feng hesitated, unsure of what to do, he suddenly heard a strange sound: "Swish, swish..."
This sound came from all directions. Although faint, Shen Feng could clearly hear it. It seemed like something was moving from all sides, and these sounds were the friction noises made during movement. Shen Feng immediately drew the two long swords from his person and shouted, "Beware of an ambush!"
In an instant, countless vines emerged from the mist and attacked the convoy. These vines were as thick as a finger and covered with many leaves. No one expected that the attackers would not be animals, but rather vines, and more importantly, these vines could move as if they possessed independent consciousness.
Thus, in their panic, the soldiers immediately opened fire. However, using firearms to cut through the vines was clearly unrealistic. Bullets were fired continuously, but only a few vines were severed. If they were lucky, a bullet would hit a vine and immediately cut it down. But if they were unlucky, the bullets would only fly into the mist.
However, at this moment, the vines had already reached the crowd and began to wrap around them ferociously. A dozen people were caught by the vines and were swiftly pulled back into the mist, disappearing instantly.
At this moment, someone suddenly fired indiscriminately into the surroundings, trying to cut down all the surrounding vines. However, he overlooked the presence of his comrades nearby, accidentally injuring three or four of them.
Seeing this, Yang Chang immediately began to curse, "You bunch of scoundrels, put down your guns! Use knives to cut these vines, stop shooting!"
The enemies were no longer zombies or mutated beasts, but thin vines. Bullets were clearly not very effective against these vines, whereas cold weapons were more effective. Two of the people who were accidentally injured were Yang Chang's subordinates. He hadn't expected that the first casualties would not be from zombies but from their own people. Facing the attack of these vines, it was best to use swords and knives to cut them. As long as the vines were cut, those wrapped around them would also lose their constricting power.
However, there were simply too many vines. For every one cut down, more than ten would crawl out of the mist. By this time, dozens of people had been ensnared by the vines and dragged into the mist. Everyone was helpless. No one knew how many vines were in the mist, nor where the captured people were taken.
Chu Zhao Yan was using a short knife to cut at the vines that tried to grab her, but it was a futile effort as the vines were endless. A person next to Chu Zhao Yan had his feet entangled by vines and was pulled towards the mist, shouting loudly before being taken away, "Help me, help me!"
In a moment of inspiration, Chu Zhao Yan quickly shouted, "Shen Feng, use your abilities to blow away this mist!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Feng also reacted. The situation was unclear, and it was all hidden within the mist. Coincidentally, his ability was wind, which could be used to disperse the mist, at least allowing them to see the surrounding situation clearly!
Shen Feng leaped onto the roof of a truck and began to use "Eye of the Hurricane." Instantly, the mist within a five-meter radius was blown away. Then, Shen Feng ran from the rear of the convoy towards the front, directly dispersing the mist surrounding the convoy. At this point, everyone could see the surrounding scene. On both sides of the road, there were actually vines everywhere.
Countless vines intertwined and crawled along both sides of the road, like writhing snakes. As for the people who were dragged away, they were entangled by the vines, their faces purple, clearly suffocating. These people could not be saved in the end.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, everyone quickly cut the vines on the road, finally alleviating the crisis temporarily. If they continued to be attacked by the vines, casualties might increase.
Guo Pin Ming was also contemplating the current predicament. Escaping was impossible. With vines all around, it was difficult to go anywhere. Moreover, the road was blocked by large trees at both ends, making it impossible to drive away!
At this moment, Guo Pin Ming saw a barrel of gasoline on the car and immediately realized that these vines were plants, after all, and they must have weaknesses, such as fire!
Therefore, Guo Pin Ming immediately ordered his soldiers, "Tear off your clothes, use gasoline to make torches, and use fire to deal with these vines!"
Everyone quickly followed the order, tearing off the cotton-padded clothes they had just put on, wrapping cotton and cloth strips around sticks, and then lighting them to make torches.
At this time, the torches were indeed effective. The vines seemed to sense the heat of the torches and did not continue to climb up, only circling nearby without advancing.
Shen Feng quickly had people take a headcount and discovered that fifty-three people were missing. As for the artillery battalion, they had also lost five people. These people had all been captured by the vines, and their cries could no longer be heard, presumably dead. Shen Feng wished he could charge into the center of the mist to fight, but considering that if he left, the remaining people might be in danger, Shen Feng hesitated. If he rushed out recklessly, everyone in the convoy would be difficult to protect.
However, at this moment, Yang Chang discovered a small path beside the road. It was a dirt path with human footprints on it. Seeing this path, Yang Chang quickly informed Shen Feng, "City Lord, there's a small path here!"
Shen Feng immediately made a decision: "Everyone, take your firearms, ammunition, and food, and prepare to leave the road!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yu Sheng immediately objected, "We cannot abandon these artillery vehicles. Otherwise, we won't be able to complete the mission of weakening the zombies! Furthermore, there are still shells in the other vehicles. These supplies cannot be abandoned!"
Shen Feng grabbed Wang Yu Sheng's collar and said coldly, "The most important thing now is not these vehicles, but everyone's safety. Staying here will only lead to casualties. If you think these vehicles are important, then you can stay here with your men!"
After speaking, Shen Feng began to direct his subordinates to move supplies and prepare to evacuate. Seeing this, Wang Yu Sheng couldn't help but accuse Shen Feng, "You scoundrel, your mission from above was to protect us artillerymen, yet you are the first to retreat. This is dereliction of duty!"
Shen Feng had no intention of paying attention to Wang Yu Sheng. At this moment, anyone with eyes could see that survival was paramount. As for these important artillery vehicles, they could no longer be bothered with! Moreover, with no contact with the command center and even headquarters, the role these vehicles could play was very small.
Shen Feng led his men along the small path. The surroundings were all dense forests, and vines crawled on the ground. However, with the torches lighting the way, the vines could not get close. At this time, Wang Yu Sheng gritted his teeth and said, "We'll follow you."
Shen Feng looked back and saw this, a contemptuous smile appearing on his face. He had thought Wang Yu Sheng was truly fearless and insisted on protecting these vehicles, but he didn't expect him to follow now, wanting both the unseen benefits and to build iconic structures.
Shen Feng also knew that the mission might not be completed now. The entire group was trapped in the mist, with vines attacking from all sides. One wrong step and they could be captured and taken to an unknown location. They would not be able to leave here anytime soon. Perhaps after finding the real enemy, they could set out again.
Shen Feng led his men along the small path and finally arrived at a small town. However, the town was completely silent. There were no humans, no zombies, and not even any wild animals. Shen Feng led his men to the elementary school in the town, dismantled the tables and chairs, and threw them outside to start a fire. The vines quickly surrounded the elementary school, seemingly targeting everyone.
"Old Guo, arrange for people to guard the walls and the gate. I'll go and scout the town!" Shen Feng instructed Guo Pin Ming.
Guo Pin Ming quickly nodded and said, "City Lord, be careful!"
Shen Feng then used "Like Wind Following" and set off. On the road, he frequently saw vines crawling on the streets, and the ground was covered with drag marks. Shen Feng could only see what was within a five-meter radius, his vision being suppressed.
The vines tried to ensnare Shen Feng, but Shen Feng's speed was too great. In the blink of an eye, he had rushed a considerable distance. Eventually, the vines gave up chasing Shen Feng and began to surround the elementary school. As soon as the flames around the elementary school were extinguished, those inside would face the attack of the vines.
"Are there really no living people in this town?" Shen Feng walked through the town, finding no one. Not even a single zombie could be seen.
Suddenly, Shen Feng saw movement on a rooftop not far away, so he quickly jumped onto the rooftop and walked over, asking, "Hey, do you know what's going on with the vines here?"
This was also Shen Feng's good fortune, as he happened to see the figure on the rooftop. Otherwise, passing by on the ground might not have revealed any abnormality.
However, the person sitting on the rooftop did not answer Shen Feng's question. Shen Feng was puzzled. He walked to the front and saw that this person was already dead, with maggots seemingly crawling on his face. This scene immediately disgusted Shen Feng. He hadn't expected to find a dead person here.
Shen Feng wanted to leave immediately, but with a casual glance, he discovered a line of text on the ground: "There is a giant monster in the mist, do not make any noise!"