Chapter 5 – Crisis Under the Cover of Night

Volume 2: Battlefield Between Two Worlds

Sun Ruixing let out a helpless sigh. Watching the Old Man downstairs grow more and more outrageous-he even dragged the topic into whether Sun Ruixing was a counterrevolutionary or not-and a bunch of middle-aged women who had never witnessed the cruelty of the Apocalypse also jumped in to meddle.

"Enough. Let me say a few words," Sun Ruixing shouted out directly.

"Tomorrow I'll take everyone out. As for me, all I can say is I'll do my best to ensure everyone's safety." When his attempts to reassure them had no effect, the only way things could go was for Sun Ruixing to compromise.

"Mm, Sun, don't worry. We won't cause trouble for you. Everyone, eat up," Grandpa Sun said, smiling broadly as he spoke to the people around him, seeing that he'd gotten the outcome he wanted.

Seeing Sun Ruixing's extremely sullen expression off to the side, Wen Yu immediately understood: sooner or later, this man was going to be done in by this bunch of deadweight.

After finishing the meal with a lot of huffing and puffing, Wen Yu greeted Sun Ruixing and headed straight for his room.

Just now, Wen Yu hadn't rested enough yet.

…

As the night grew deeper, in the mountainous area around Hualin Town, a rotund big rat quietly poked its head out.

Its long, narrow snout kept sniffing at the scents around it, trying to find something to eat, because this Level 1 Mutant Rat hadn't eaten anything all day.

It wasn't because there wasn't enough food, but because the animal's keen instincts told it that there was a terrifying presence nearby-like a giant that had slept its fill and was slowly waking up.

The rat crept forward little by little, then stopped in a patch of abandoned farmland.

An enticing smell wafted up from underground-this was the smell of food.

Its two forepaws rapidly scraped at the dust on the ground. After mutation, its claws were exceptionally sharp. Before long, the big rat found its meal.

It was a plant root, about five centimeters in diameter, long and slender, with even finer rootlets on it that were constantly wriggling.

The big rat didn't care what species it was. Hunger had already robbed it of its reason. It opened its mouth wide and bit down viciously on the root in front of it.

But it wouldn't bite through.

The plump big rat was puzzled-what kind of thing could withstand its sharp teeth?

As if receiving a signal, the plant root on the ground began to writhe frantically. Then, before the big rat could react, the slender root, like a snake, looped directly around the rat's body.

The rat struggled madly, but the plant on its body only tightened more and more. Then, dragging the struggling rat, it drilled straight into the ground.

The rat's shrieks gradually faded away, leaving only a huge pit on the surface. Before long, the earth began to squirm. Looking closely, countless slender roots were constantly tidying up the traces on the ground, and then the farmland returned to calm once again.

…

In Sun Ruixing's Settlement, not far from the main house.

In a separate small courtyard, waves of low, muted conversation could be heard.

"How are the preparations?" an unfamiliar voice sounded.

"Everything's ready. Tomorrow, even if this Old Man has to risk his life, I won't let Sun Ruixing, that counterrevolutionary, succeed with his scheme," came Grandpa Sun's voice.

"Good. Grandpa Sun truly deserves to be a revolutionary of the older generation-responsible indeed. The Country will not forget you. This Sun Ruixing actually wants to occupy the mountain and rule as a king, ignoring the Country's laws. That's an act of betraying the people. The Country definitely won't let him off." The unfamiliar voice first buttered up Grandpa Sun with a few lines, then began to rake Sun Ruixing over the coals.

"Take this thing, Grandpa Sun, hold it. Tomorrow when you and Sun Ruixing get in the car, light this incense stick-once it's lit, Grandpa Sun won't have to do anything. The power of the Country will surely mete out severe punishment to Sun Ruixing."

As soon as the words fell, there came the sound of rummaging about, and then the stranger handed something to Grandpa Sun.

Grandpa Sun took the incense stick, yawned, and walked straight back into the house. The old man simply didn't have much stamina-Grandpa Sun was already drowsy.

No sooner had Grandpa Sun gone inside than voices sounded again in the courtyard: "Mayor Li, is this old man reliable?"

"What's unreliable about him? These old folks are loyal to the Country. Besides, with my status, as long as I fly the Country's banner, these old folks will definitely do whatever I say. What a pity for Sun Ruixing-after going through so much to save the man, treating him like an honored elder and supporting him like a lord, and in the blink of an eye he sells him out, tsk tsk. But then again, that patriotic fervor and sense of belonging to the Country really is getting worse with each generation, isn't it?" Mayor Li said with a sigh.

"Heh-heh." The other voice gave two awkward dry laughs, then said directly to Mayor Li, "Tomorrow I'll be in charge of watching the house, and I've already bribed most of the Patrol Team. When the time comes and Mayor Li brings his people over, you can just absorb this small camp outright. But after it's done, the benefits Mayor Li promised?"

"Don't worry. Women, power, strength-not a single one will be missing for you, Lin Hu."

"Good, good." Lin Hu-Hu, that is-said with satisfaction.

"Oh right, what was that incense stick Mayor Li took out just now? Don't let it fail to kill Sun Ruixing. If Sun Ruixing comes back alive, things could take an unexpected turn." Hu still felt a trace of guilt toward Sun Ruixing. After all, the only reason he was still alive was because of Sun Ruixing; he didn't want Sun Ruixing to know about his betrayal. So the best way was to make sure Sun Ruixing never came back.

"Heh-heh, don't worry. This is a little trinket I got in the Treasure Land-Sun Ruixing will go there and never return." Mayor Li said with certainty.

"Treasure Land?" Hu asked, puzzled.

"Heh-heh. Once you join us, you'll know everything. In this damn world, I'm sure Brother Lin Hu has seen it too-following me will definitely be far better than following Sun Ruixing. Your big brother here won't let you suffer losses either. When the time comes, we'll be local overlords in little Hualin Town-wouldn't that be delightful?"

Watching Lin Hu nod as if deep in thought, Mayor Li let out a cold laugh to himself. With your strength and your little tricks, Lin Hu, you're only fit to be a Patrol Captain. You still want to share glory and riches with me? Why don't you look in the mirror and see what sort of pathetic creature you are.

"Since everything's been arranged properly, I'll be going first. When it's noon tomorrow, I'll bring my people over directly." Mayor Li nodded at Hu, and then his whole figure blurred-he actually vanished on the spot.

Lin Hu stared at the place where Mayor Li had disappeared. The expression on his face shifted between light and dark, and was then replaced by a fierce, ruthless look.

"People live for nothing but wealth and rank. Sun-Ge, if you can't give it to me, I'll take it myself."