Chapter 7 – Blood Bone Incense

Volume 2: Battlefield Between Two Worlds

In the vehicle, as the incense in Grandpa Sun's hand was lit and its scent drifted farther and farther away, the empty Hualin Town gradually began to stir.

A few wild dogs hidden out in the wasteland sniffed hard. Catching that strange smell, their eyes slowly reddened, and then they bolted like mad toward where the scent was coming from.

Zombies, Mutant Beasts, and even many herbivores were drawn in by the odor released by the incense, surging nonstop toward the Vehicle Convoy.

…

At the same time, in the center of Hualin Town, inside a low Residential Building.

"Mayor Li, the brothers on watch said Sun Ruixing and his people drove out. They've already reached the outskirts of Hualin Town." A skinny boy reported to Mayor Li, trembling with fear.

"Mm, got it. Tell all the Class Holders to get ready. We'll go immediately and absorb the rest of Sun Ruixing's manpower." Mayor Li was sprawled on a spacious bed, naked, enjoying the services of a young girl on top of him. Hearing the news, he nodded in satisfaction.

The boy watched as Mayor Li's greasy hands pawed at the young girl's chest; a flash of resentment passed through his eyes. Then he turned and left the room.

Once Mayor Li saw there was no one else in the room, he rolled over and pressed the girl beneath him, pinching her cheeks hard as he leered and said, "So, Feifei, not bad, right? The job Li-Ge arranged for your little brother-being my messenger-is a lot safer than going out to kill Zombies and Mutant Creatures."

The girl beneath him first looked tense, then forced a stiff smile at Mayor Li. "Many thanks to Mayor Li for showing Feifei such favor."

Seeing the girl beneath him full of confusion and sorrow yet still forcing a smile, Mayor Li burst into laughter, his slightly chubby face moving in to kiss her. Soon, the room filled with ragged panting.

…

The big truck led the way, heading straight for the Mudanjiang City Toll Station. Several vehicles loaded with Survivors followed close behind.

"Qiang, what do you think things are like in Mudanjiang City now?"

Sun Ruixing, who was driving, chatted with Qiang in the passenger seat.

"My guess is even if it's better than here, it won't be better by much. Sun-Ge, you know it too-there's no Military around Mudanjiang City."

Qiang had his own take on the situation, and it was basically correct.

"Exactly. But those uncles and aunties just won't believe it. I don't have a choice. If something really happens later, I'll have to count on you to have the brothers put in more work." Qiang was Sun Ruixing's old friend, and when the Apocalypse arrived, he was also one of the earliest to follow at Sun Ruixing's side. Sun Ruixing naturally trusted him.

"Don't worry, Sun-Ge. It's what I should do." Qiang patted his chest and said to Sun Ruixing.

"But Sun-Ge, these people in the back-are we just going to keep supporting them like this? Recently when the brothers go out to look for supplies, they've found less and less food left. I'm afraid the remaining grain in Hualin Town won't be enough to feed us for more than a few months."

Hearing Qiang's complaint, a complicated struggle flashed through Sun Ruixing's eyes, only to be replaced by resolve. "These old folks are alone and helpless. If we don't take care of them, they're as good as dead. How is that any different from killing them with our own hands? I, Sun Ruixing, can't bring myself to be that ruthless. Don't bring this up again in the future."

Qiang sighed silently and didn't say anything more.

As the vehicle fell silent once again, Qiang was just about to say something when a harsh screech of tires grinding against the road came from behind, followed by piercing screams.

"Help! Help!"

"Quick, stop up ahead-the last car has broken down, there's a Mutant Beast!"

"Boss, Boss, there's a Mutant Beast!"

Hearing the cries from the rear, Sun Ruixing immediately pulled the big truck over, grabbed his War Blade and Wooden Shield, and hurried down.

The Vehicle Convoy had been attacked by several Mutant Goats that had rapidly caught up from behind. Lambs that had originally been less than half a person's height, catalyzed by Demon Qi, had grown to over a person tall. Charging at high speed, they closed in on the convoy from the rear. With a forceful thrust of their Mutated horns, they nearly flipped the private car bringing up the rear. Fortunately, the driver's skills were superb, and in the emergency he steered the car to a stop by the roadside.

By the time Sun Ruixing arrived, he saw that the Mutant Goats had already been killed by Class Holders.

As he watched the dead goats' blood-red eyes fixed on the crowd, the sense of unease in Sun Ruixing's heart grew stronger and stronger.

He had seen Mutant Goats not long ago, but these herbivores would never take the initiative to attack humans.

"Move, get in the cars-turn back the way we came, now! Hurry!!"

Sun Ruixing roared at everyone in the Vehicle Convoy.

"Boss, it's too late…" Qiang beside him swallowed hard and said to Sun Ruixing in a trembling voice.

Looking at the countless figures in the distance charging toward them at terrifying speed, cold sweat immediately streamed down Sun Ruixing's forehead.

"How… how could it be like this!!"

…

"Blood Bone Incense (C-rank item): refined from the essence of flesh and blood. Once lit, it can attract Mutant Creatures within a ten-kilometer radius."

"This is an item I obtained in a Treasure Land. Since it's far too uncontrollable, using it on Sun Ruixing's group isn't a loss."

Mayor Li said blandly to the person beside him.

"Mayor Li is truly brilliant."

"Following Mayor Li, we're really living the good life."

"With a wave of his hand, Mayor Li can make Sun Ruixing's bunch vanish into thin air. Brothers, if we stick with Mayor Li, we'll definitely be eating well and drinking fine. Later, when the Government starts operating again, Mayor Li will surely have rendered great service-maybe we can even land ourselves some minor official posts."

Listening to the flattery around him, Mayor Li gave a faint smile. Then he turned back and asked the scrawny boy behind him, "Bai Xiao'an, how's the manpower organization coming along?"

"Mayor Li, most of our Class Holders are waiting in the hall. I left one-third of them behind to guard the place," Bai Xiao'an said timidly.

"Mm." Mayor Li nodded in satisfaction.

"Then let's set off. Oh right, Xiao'an-don't call me Mayor Li anymore. From now on, you should call me brother-in-law instead. Hah, hahahahaha." Along with Mayor Li's wild laughter, all the Leaders in the room echoed with loud laughter as well-except Bai Xiao'an, whose face grew increasingly ashen, yet he couldn't say a word.

"Let's go. From now on, this Hualin Town will be ours to run." Mayor Li swept his arm and led his men into the hall.

Inside the hall, nearly a hundred Class Holders holding Steel Blades waited in silence. Seeing Mayor Li and the others take the lead out the door, they hurried to follow behind.

This was the strength of the strongest Settlement in HL Town at present.