Chapter 222: Xiao Ci, I Might Know Those People
"Any discoveries?"
Si Chen and Meng Ci immediately became alert, sensing something was off from Eagle's behavior.
"Nothing!"
Si Chen shook his head, estimating they weren't far from the danger, with Eagle warning them to be cautious.
Meng Ci and Si Chen crouched low, gripping their weapons tightly, ready for whatever might come.
Seeing that both were on guard, Eagle continued leading the way until they reached a large rock, where it stopped.
Meng Ci and Si Chen quickly hid behind the rock and spotted a tunnel at the foot of the opposite mountain. The bridge leading to the tunnel had partially collapsed.
Just a tunnel—what could be so unusual about it?
"Xiao Ci, check if you see anyone on the other side!" Si Chen suddenly said.
Hearing this, Meng Ci quickly retrieved two telescopes from his space.
Through the telescope, he saw several men entering the tunnel.
"What are they doing in the tunnel?" Meng Ci was full of doubt.
Meng Ci estimated that M Town was about twenty kilometers away, which would have taken a pre-apocalypse person four to five hours to walk.
Now, after the apocalypse and with enhanced human physical abilities, it would still take around two hours.
Living in a tunnel is warm in winter and cool in summer, but it would be troublesome to go to the base for food or water.
And in this deep mountain forest, aren't they afraid of danger?
Could they really be self-sufficient out here?
Thinking of this, Meng Ci scanned the area with his telescope but saw no signs of farming.
"It's coming back to me now!" Si Chen flipped over, sitting behind the rock, and suddenly spoke up.
Meng Ci put away the telescope and sat next to Si Chen, puzzled. "What did you remember?"
"In my previous life, at the West Mountain Wilderness Base, I heard others say that a group of people who committed all sorts of crimes lived near the M City refugee camp."
"They kidnapped women, stole valuables, and even cultivated illegal drugs."
"However, because these people hid very deeply and were extremely cautious, the officials at the M City refugee camp couldn't arrest them."
"Later, during the zombie outbreak, I heard they were finally captured just before the polar day ended."
"Their hideout was right here—in this tunnel."
The novel Meng Ci read focused mainly on the two protagonists, who spent most of their time at the West Mountain Wilderness Base, so it didn't mention much about other locations.
Thinking about the two protagonists, Si Chen and Wen Siang, neither of them had been spotted at the West Mountain Wilderness Base.
There's no way they could have run into trouble, right?
Meng Ci thought that since they were the protagonists, they should be fine.
He pushed thoughts of the unimportant people out of his mind and kept his focus on what was happening.
Meng Ci stood up, picked up the binoculars again, and looked toward the opposite tunnel, only to see them dragging two women out.
"What are they doing with the women?" Meng Ci was puzzled. Did they kill or release them because they were useless?
"Trade!" Shen Que also stood up and continued observing, sharing what he knew.
"They've locked many women inside the tunnel, printed photos of them, and taken them to the M City refugee camp or other places for trades."
"If any woman is chosen, they'll bring her out of the mountains for the trade."
"A half-jin of grain, or gold, silver, diamonds—anything could be used for the trade."
Before the polar day, a handful of grain would get you one trade.
Now, because food isn't scarce during the polar day, the price has increased.
"Animals!" Meng Ci cursed angrily.
A bunch of lazy, no-good scumbags, making a living off women's bodies, utterly shameless.
Shen Que noticed Meng Ci hesitating as he kept observing the tunnel.
"Xiao Ci, remember when I told you about what someone informed me regarding what happened here?"
Hearing this, Meng Ci sat back down.
"I remember."
Meng Ci indicated that he was twenty, not one hundred and twenty, and wouldn't have forgotten something just mentioned.
"She was rescued from in there," Shen Que said.
Hearing this, Meng Ci's alarm bells went off immediately.
If someone was rescued from in there, it was most likely a woman. Was there some connection between them? Shen Que's words made Meng Ci suspicious.
"What happened next?" Meng Ci pressed further.
If Shen Que even hinted at liking her, Meng Ci would lose it.
If he had feelings for someone else, why was he still bothering him? He'd have it coming.
Shen Que, realizing his words might cause misunderstanding and lead to Meng Ci's misinterpretation, quickly clarified.
"She only saved my life during the zombie apocalypse; there's absolutely no other relationship between us." Shen Que hurriedly grabbed Meng Ci's hand, explaining anxiously.
Meng Ci shook off Shen Que's hand. "I didn't say you had a relationship."
Having known Shen Que for almost two years, Meng Ci was certain that Shen Que wasn't that kind of person.
Since Shen Que said there was no relationship, then there really wasn't.
Shen Que then introduced the woman.
Her name was Zhou Ning; Shen Que met her during the zombie apocalypse, knowing only that she came to West Mountain Wilderness Base from M City refugee camp.
Zhou Ning led a small team, fighting their way through hordes of zombies.
She was highly capable and agile, her only weakness a limp.
She possessed two types of abilities; her speed ability allowed her to move swiftly between the zombies, while her fire ability let her dispatch zombies faster.
Upon learning that the West Mountain Wilderness Base was developing a drug to resist the zombie virus, Zhou Ning decided to stay and help.
On a mission, Shen Que's team ran into Zhou Ning's team, and soon after, they were caught in a zombie horde.
Shen Que, also a dual power user, had a spatial ability that was useless in combat. He was taken by surprise and knocked to the ground by a zombie.
As the zombie's fangs were about to sink into his neck, Shen Que almost gave up.
In the end, it was Zhou Ning who stepped in and saved him.
Despite this, Shen Que, being cold in nature, merely muttered a terse 'thanks' and they had little interaction after that.
Until another team from the M City refugee camp arrived at the West Mountain Wilderness Base, rumors about Zhou Ning's history started spreading.
Those who once admired her began avoiding her, even calling her tainted and dishonorable.
Zhou Ning's limp was a result of an injury sustained during her imprisonment.
However, Zhou Ning didn't care. She just wanted to see the end of this nightmare and continued to lead her team out daily in search of herbs.
Her team was mostly made up of women.
Upon hearing this, Meng Ci thought Zhou Ning was quite impressive.
Shen Que said, "In another life, she saved me, and before I could find a chance to repay her, I was bitten and killed by zombies."
"So, I want to see if she's inside."
"If she is, I'll rescue her."