C10 Cooperation

Shortly after, Hwa Xin returned with a pot and the beast meat in tow. It wasn't long before the savory dish was ready to eat.

Mu Chenyu, having severely depleted his energy, found his appetite had doubled. The once plentiful supply of mutated beast meat dwindled rapidly under their ravenous consumption.

As dawn broke and the tantalizing aroma of meat filled the cafeteria, it roused most of the people from their sleep. Yet, upon seeing Mu Chenyu and his group feasting, they could only silently curse their misfortune.

Those who had accompanied Hwa Xin on the previous day's zombie-slaying expedition gradually assembled. Observing their leader indulging in the meal, they held their tongues.

They had long since shed their identities as university students. Now, with their lives hanging by a thread, they watched in silence as the last of the mutated beast meat was devoured, keeping their thoughts to themselves. Though their internal complaints were palpable, none voiced their discontent.

After finishing his meal, Mu Chenyu looked over the gathered crowd of over fifty individuals. Not a single person had departed; all remained present. Wiping his mouth, he stood and surveyed the group, noting an improved aura compared to the day before. No longer did they bear the look of hunger, and most notably, each possessed an air of lethal intent—evidence of their encounters with death.

"Not bad," Mu Chenyu nodded approvingly before addressing them. "I'm aware that the absence of meat has likely sparked some resentment, feeling that I've broken my promise."

"You haven't spoken up, but I won't ignore the obvious. Today, the evolution beads from the zombies you kill are yours to keep, as compensation from me."

"What do you say?"

"Any objections? Speak now if you disagree."

Silence.

The frustration that had clouded their faces gave way to visible relief and joy as they responded in unison, "No objections."

"Good," Mu Chenyu affirmed. "Hwa Xin, take them to Dung Xuetine's for a meal on my tab. Once we've eaten, we'll head out."

Seeing no dissent and sensing their excitement, Mu Chenyu felt a sense of satisfaction. The evolution beads were far more valuable than the mutated beast meat, but he was willing to part with them. If it meant fostering their growth and ambition, then they were worth the investment—they had the potential and the spirit to be molded into something greater.

If I had subordinates who were merely biding their time until death, what use would they be to me? Once they've served their purpose, they can be discarded.

So far, things seem to be going well.

I had my top henchman, the hefty Hwa Xin, take them out for a meal.

Since Mu Chenyu wasn't aligned with any of the three factions in the cafeteria, he had no access to food and had to rely on others for help. Otherwise, even getting breakfast would be a struggle.

Based on his own impressions, he found Dong Xuetine more approachable than Wang Hu, so he directed Hwa Xin to take the group to her.

Wang Hu, on the other hand, Mu Chenyu considered to be quite cunning and not easy to engage with.

Lacking sufficient benefits to offer at the moment, he had no choice but to let that opportunity pass.

Upon receiving Mu Chenyu's orders, Hwa Xin didn't utter a single complaint; he simply agreed and led the men away.

"Do you think highly of Dong Xuetine?" Lin Qingyu, who had been sitting in silence, inquired with a soft voice tinged with an indistinct implication.

Yet, for Mu Chenyu, the mere fact that Lin Qingyu was speaking to him was a delight, so he didn't bother with deceit and responded honestly, "Yes, I find Dong Xuetine more agreeable than Wang Hu."

"Really?" Lin Qingyu's voice floated gently as she probed further, "And how do I compare?"

Her gaze fixed intently on Mu Chenyu, her eyes hinting at a lurking danger.

"Compared to her, you're certainly the better one," Mu Chenyu replied promptly, his expression free of any doubt.

This was his genuine sentiment.

"Oh."

A subtle smile flickered in her eyes, her lips curving into a faint smile as she uttered a single "Oh," then fell silent.

Mu Chenyu didn't waste any time. He sat down cross-legged, his organs rhythmically contracting. His digestive capabilities were significantly enhanced, and in that moment, he rapidly processed the food he had consumed.

His muscles undulated gently, his blood coursing through his veins with a sound reminiscent of a flowing river. The vital energy was transformed into a force that circulated throughout his body, revitalizing his flesh and blood.

The muscles that had felt fatigued were swiftly rejuvenated.

Mu Chenyu felt that he was primed for cultivation, as his body was brimming with Qi and blood. Yet, he refrained from doing so, knowing that soon he would be heading out to slay zombies, which would demand combat readiness. To maintain his strength, his Qi and blood needed to be at their peak. Besides, inner boxing emphasized health preservation, so Mu Chenyu believed it was best to keep his Qi and blood fully charged unless absolutely necessary, as it could yield unexpected benefits for his body.

"Boss, boss, boss!"

Half an hour later, Hwa Xin, panting and with his plump frame, approached Mu Chenyu.

"What's the matter? Finished eating?"

Noticing Hwa Xin's unusual demeanor, Mu Chenyu asked with curiosity.

"Yeah, I've eaten, boss. Dong Xuetine heard you were heading out and wants to join us."

"Oh, I wanted to give you a heads-up about that."

Hwa Xin spoke softly, stealing a glance at Lin Qingyu. Seeing no significant change in her expression, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, let's get going."

Mu Chenyu wasn't particularly surprised to hear that Dong Xuetine wanted to come along and simply nodded in acknowledgment.

"Let's move out!"

He said, picking up his Tang Blade and addressing Hwa Xin. Then, turning to Lin Qingyu, he gauged whether she intended to join them.

The prospect of venturing outside was fraught with danger, and Mu Chenyu was hesitant about Lin Qingyu accompanying them. Perhaps sensing his concern—or for reasons of her own—Lin Qingyu remained silent. She procured an iron rod from somewhere and, gripping it firmly, stepped up gracefully to stand by Mu Chenyu's side. Without a word, her gaze fixed on him, her eyes clearly conveying her desire to go as well.

"Let's go!"

He repeated, seeing no point in insisting she stay behind if Lin Qingyu was set on leaving. Leading the way out of the cafeteria, they were met with three distinct groups of people. Wang Hu and Dong Xuetine were at the forefront of their respective factions.

As Mu Chenyu emerged, Wang Hu greeted him with a beaming smile and a hearty laugh.

"I'm impressed, little brother, you've bounced back so quickly. To think you'd be up and about in less than two days after such a serious injury."

"But knowing you're alright is a relief. Your strength, Brother Mu, is like a life insurance policy around here!"

"I figured since you were heading out, why not join forces and make a team? What do you say, Brother Mu?"

Wang Hu was a real motor-mouth, approaching with a non-stop barrage of words.

His demeanor was a stark contrast to his usual no-nonsense attitude, babbling on like a woman with a lot to say.

"Alright, alright, Brother Wang, if you're keen to join, you're more than welcome."

Eager to move the conversation along after Wang Hu finally paused, Mu Chenyu quickly agreed and then turned to Dong Xuetine.

Dong Xuetine was dressed as sportily as she had been two days prior, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, exuding a no-nonsense vibe. She nodded and simply stated, "Count me in."

Next to Wang Hu, Dong Xuetine seemed more masculine by comparison, Mu Chenyu mused.

"Well then, let's get going."

Mu Chenyu was all for it—more hands make light work, and in the face of danger, there's strength in numbers.

Together, the trio set off in one direction.

North of Jinling Petroleum College lay a residential area, which had been mostly cleared of zombies by the cafeteria crews in recent days.

Further north was Jinling Normal University, teeming with zombies but also likely harboring survivors.

Before long, Mu Chenyu, Wang Hu, and Dong Xuetine, leading a group of around eighty, arrived at the residential area.

The scene was grim: building after building with corpses strewn at the entrances.

The dark blood and the putrid stench of decay were overwhelming, but except for Lin Qingyu, everyone had seen their share of zombie combat and were largely unfazed by the gruesome sight.

Lin Qingyu stood next to Mu Chenyu, her face pinched in disgust. The sight of dismembered bodies proved too much, and she turned away to vomit.

The rest of the group merely glanced over the carnage with little reaction—they had all come through similar horrors.

A closer look would reveal that the troops following Wang Hu and Dong Xuetine had a much more formidable presence than those with Mu Chenyu, and their expressions remained stoic even in the face of the undead.

Mu Chenyu's group of over fifty, despite their attempts to conceal their unease, clearly struggled to adjust. They hadn't fully acclimated, especially when compared to those who had been battling zombies for nearly a week.

Mu Chenyu was aware of their discomfort but chose to remain silent. He knew such challenges would soon pass and that, with time, they would grow stronger.

Approaching Lin Qingyu, he gently patted her back and asked in a soft voice,

"Are you okay?"

"Ugh! Ugh!"

Lin Qingyu, recovering from her nausea and looking pale, replied,

"I'm fine now. Let's move on."

Taking Mu Chenyu's hand, she tugged him forward, and they continued walking.

They soon joined the rest of the group. Wang Hu, noticing the girl in black gripping Mu Chenyu's hand, gave Mu Chenyu a teasing smile, then turned his attention to the floors ahead with a stern look, assessing the areas yet to be cleared.

Dong Xuetine, on the other hand, appeared oblivious to the exchange, her gaze locked on a distant building.

But Wang Hu, with his keen hearing, caught a faint huff.

With a quiet chuckle, Wang Hu eventually addressed Mu Chenyu,

"Bro, see those three buildings up ahead? How about we each take one?"

"Sounds good."

"Agreed."

Dong Xuetine and Mu Chenyu exchanged a quick glance and nodded in consent.

"Let's get going then. If anyone runs into trouble, just shout, and we'll come to the rescue. I'm heading out first."

Wang Hu, reassured by Mu Chenyu and Dong Xuetine's readiness, made his intentions clear. It was crucial to establish a plan since they couldn't predict what they might encounter inside. With a plan in place, they could better support one another.

After finalizing the strategy, Wang Hu nodded to the pair and led his five men toward the building on the right.