"The previous skirmish with Beita Camp could only be considered an appetizer; the Cyan Dragon Corps is the main course. However, everyone shouldn’t be too nervous. They have the barracks backing them, fully armed, and we also have ample ammunition. Plus, everyone here is elite. Equipment is important, but it’s talent that determines the outcome. You can’t beg for peace; you only get it by using your fists."

Under the bright lights, Zhang Su clenched his fist in front of everyone.

"Beat them to death; they’re just delivery boys!"

Zheng Xinyu was the first to respond to Zhang Su’s rallying cry, her face showing a fierce and somewhat cute expression.

"Sister-in-law is right; they’re just delivery boys. When we seize their weapons, we’ll become even stronger!"

"Haha, thinking about it this way, I’m a bit excited; we didn’t go out to rob others, but here they are delivering themselves right to our door. Isn’t that something?"

The meticulous plan, ample weaponry, and high spirits made everyone somewhat anticipate the arrival of the Cyan Dragon Corps.

Duan Wuhu smiled a quirky smile and said, "Brother Zhang, I thought the countryside was a paradise; didn’t expect the fights here to be even fiercer than in the city!"

Previously at the Survivor Alliance, most of their outings were small-scale skirmishes, and given the Alliance’s big name, smaller factions of survivors were unwilling to provoke them, leading to fewer conflicts. Aside from dealing with zombies, they rarely saw gunfights between camps!

Zhang Su shrugged and said, "Now it’s like a scene from a sci-fi novel; we’re living in a dark jungle. Every camp is a hunter with guns, and with limited resources, everyone’s top priority is survival. Eliminating others reduces resource consumption while also gaining more for oneself!"

The life on Celestial Horse Island is considered relatively comfortable among all the survivor camps, yet the outside environment remains extremely harsh and will continue to worsen, not yet reaching the darkest depths. Everyone jumps back and forth between comfort and brutality...

BZZZZZT.

As they were speaking, several radios on site suddenly crackled to life.

Mo Qianlan’s voice came through the speaker: "There’s a convoy coming from the provincial road, a convoy coming from the provincial road!"

??

"What’s going on!?"

Most people on site were stunned.

Zhang Su moved quickly, sprinting out of the yard to the monitoring room, the images blurry, so he dashed out the door and jumped on his small electric scooter, heading to a tourist platform with a view of the provincial road, using binoculars to look afar.

With dual zoom, Zhang Su clearly saw the convoy situation, among which were cars he was familiar with, ones he had seen not long ago in West Camp Village!

"Why are there so many people? Could it be the safe camp from the city is relocating..."

Wang Xin and some others also came to the platform, watching a string of car lights heading north, faces very serious.

Having just discussed the dwindling resources, suddenly seeing so many people inevitably made everyone tense.

"If I’m not mistaken, this is West Camp Village’s convoy!"

Zhang Su thoughtfully said, though it wasn’t really a guess, he was certain but couldn’t explain why.

"West Camp Village? Aren’t they supposed to be guarding the bridge, collecting tolls? Why run north so late?"

Lu Yubo asked, puzzled.

"I’ll go ask, once I ask, everything will be clear."

Zhang Su finished speaking, went back to Little Lucky to take out a radio specifically for contacting Ma Changshou, pressed the call button: "Old Ma, what are you up to?"

Everyone followed Zhang Su, standing in the corridor waiting for a response.

Once past the Chuhai River, going north to Niuquanzi Town, a meandering journey of about twenty kilometers, after the United Village was wiped out, only Celestial Horse Island and West Camp Village remained as survivor gathering places, so everyone was very concerned about West Camp Village’s movements.

After waiting about one or two minutes, the radio remained silent.

Zhang Su furrowed his brows, calling again: "Old Ma, we’ve shared some encounters; I heard about today’s Survivor Alliance incident. You were quite considerate. We might not be close friends, but we’re certainly not enemies. Leaving without a word doesn’t seem right, does it?"

He had been thinking of finding an opportunity to sit down, with a dish of peanuts and a pot of hot tea, to talk about future development, not expecting such a hurried departure.

This time they didn’t wait long; about twenty seconds later, the radio crackled to life.

"Boss Zhang, looks like I’ve passed by your sentry post; it’s not that I left without saying anything. This morning, the Survivor Alliance came to our village, inquiring about the van that crossed the bridge yesterday. To protect your situation from being exposed, our village ended up offending the Survivor Alliance...

I had no choice; fearing they might come for revenge, we had to move ahead of schedule. There’s still quite a bit of supplies in the village; if you have time, you should go and pick them up, or else they might end up with the Survivor Alliance!"

Ma Changshou’s voice carried a hint of fatigue; today had him exhausted, initially planning to depart in a few days, but the incident forced a village-wide mobilization, everyone was frantically busy, finally sorting things out by sunset.

"Old Ma, pretty righteous, I heard those Survivor Alliance guys say you even shot a traitor?"

"Actually, I should thank the Survivor Alliance for letting me uncover the hidden danger early. Hohoho... Boss Zhang, you’re truly amazing. Later I saw the Survivor Alliance leave, only one vehicle left. I take it you had a great victory?"

Zhang Su smiled and didn’t hide anything: "Killed a few, grabbed a car, let’s not talk about that. Old Ma, are you planning to head north on this trip?"

"Take one step at a time. With our current capabilities, clearing a village wouldn’t be too difficult."

Even now, Ma Changshou hasn’t stated his intentions clearly.

"Is that so..."

Seeing that the other party was still concealing their true intentions for heading north, Zhang Su didn’t plan to expose them, as it was meaningless, so he said, "Alright, let’s get in touch after settling down. You haven’t returned the welding machine, and you promised me a sow obstetrician but haven’t delivered on that, haha!"

"Hahaha, Boss Zhang, these things can’t be helped now. The welding machine is yours. As for the sow, it will definitely give birth smoothly. It’s getting cold, remember to keep the pigsty warm!"

Like reminders between old friends, Ma Changshou chose to join the Cyan Dragon Corps but didn’t intend to be an enemy to Zhang Su, just selecting a place that’s more suitable for survival for himself and the villagers.

"Alright then, see you later. Maybe we can trade in the future!"

"Sure, Boss Zhang is honest, I’m willing to interact with you. For now, I hope there’s a chance to meet again!"

"Goodbye!"

After saying goodbye, Zhang Su put down the walkie-talkie and looked at the group with complex expressions on their faces.

The straight-line distance from West Camp Village to Celestial Horse Island is about eight or nine kilometers, about twelve or thirteen kilometers by car. Although the two have not fought side by side, they have interacted closely in recent times. The pigs and sheep in the camp were exchanged from West Camp Village.

And there’s a crucial welding machine.

As a still-decent relationship of the same kind, it gives everyone a feeling of mutual dependence. Now, only Celestial Horse Island remains as a single seedling in such a vast area, perhaps with some hidden stragglers, invoking a sense of desolation in their hearts.

"How can they just leave like that? The village was fine, growing crops, raising pigs, winter is approaching, changing places now, I really don’t get it."

Wu Lue shook his head in confusion.

"Do you believe whatever people say?"

Zhao Xue gave Wu Lue a helpless look, three months in the apocalypse, and this guy’s mentality seems unchanged, still stuck in the mindset from his convenience store days.

Faced with Zhao Xue’s criticism, Wu Lue didn’t dare contradict her and said regretfully, "Then why travel in the middle of the night?"

"Mr. Zhang, in my view, West Camp Village intends to join the Cyan Dragon Corps, right?"

Yuwen spoke with rare seriousness.

"What?"

"Really?"

"How could this happen..."

Everyone looked at Yuwen in astonishment, unwilling to believe his deduction.

Zhang Su nodded, "Exactly, West Camp Village chose to join the Cyan Dragon Corps. When the Cyan Dragon Corps went to United Village, they went to West Camp Village too. I saw the tracks their wheels left, but Ma Changshou didn’t mention the Cyan Dragon Corps, only said they plan to migrate."

"This... Brother Su, doesn’t this mean West Camp Village will become our enemy?"

Liu Tianji felt very frustrated, especially unwilling to turn hostile against a force they had decent relations with.

"I don’t see it that way." Zhang Su shook his head, saying, "Although I haven’t dealt with Old Ma many times, I can tell he’s just a patriarch wanting to keep his villagers alive, without ambition. Well... Whatever choice is West Camp Village’s freedom. Hope not to encounter them in the Grain Collection Team!

It’s getting late, go back and rest. There are many things to do tomorrow!"

Zhang Su put down the walkie-talkie, thinking it might not be used anytime soon, but he’ll keep it charged.

Everyone left Zhang Su’s room, returning to their places with complex emotions, knowing they’re the only ones left in the nearby area, feeling a sense of unease.

Just like in an apartment building, at night not a single household has their lights on, yet you have to muster the courage to walk into your unit, the building’s pretty tall, takes a minute for an elevator ride, lights might suddenly go out between several floors...

Once home, you turn on the lights, becoming the only illumination in the building. Sitting in the quiet place, you feel uncertain.

The psychological impact is temporary, yet the future crisis is what’s really lasting.

West Camp Village left, meaning the Chuhai River Bridge is unobstructed, anyone coming from the south will have smooth access.

Meanwhile, the zombies roaming between West Camp Village and Celestial Horse Island suddenly lost a gathering place, fearing more zombies will attack Celestial Horse Island. Scattered ones are no big deal, but it’s worrying if hordes appear.

Additionally, the matter of exchanging goods arises. With United Village being breached and the departure of West Camp Village, the relationships Zhang Su built have crumbled completely, leaving no external trade partners. Either heed Zhang Xin’s advice to venture into town to trade with others in the Survivor Alliance or explore north to connect with other settlements.

Humans are social creatures. Even in the apocalypse, if there’s long-term lack of external contact, over time everyone’s mental state will inevitably be affected.