Chapter 481, Composite Bow
Radio Room.
"My Lord!" The girl in charge of the radio stood up and greeted him.
Her gaze was filled with gratitude and admiration.
"Jia Yingying, is your leg better?" Wu Heng addressed her by name.
Jia Yingying was responsible for the radio under Li Yanhong's supervision.
She had been rescued by Wu Heng's group from a hotel.
At that time, her leg wasn't in good condition, and she had to use a wheelchair.
Later, a Skeleton Alchemist treated her with potions, mostly curing her.
Although not as agile as a healthy person, she could walk normally.
"It's fine now, nothing serious," Jia Yingying said with a broad smile, running in place for a moment.
After exchanging greetings, Wu Heng asked directly, "Get in touch with Qi Hancai."
The last time Qi Hancai was here,
she returned to 'Anhui City' after Wu Heng left, as the place couldn't be left unattended for too long.
Jia Yingying returned to her seat, made the call, and
handed the microphone to Wu Heng. "It's connected."
"Qi Hancai, what's going on over there?" Wu Heng asked directly.
Qi Hancai's voice came through the radio. "I had the newly modified train leave early to scout the route and check if snow was affecting the tracks.
This morning, the train reported that it had reached the Dajin station. They encountered roadblocks and a large number of survivors ahead, and we lost contact after that."
Qi Hancai's report was detailed and thorough.
This indicated that the missing people were likely stopped by survivors who had set up roadblocks.
They were probably being held captive now.
In the current environment, zombies were terrifying, but survivors weren't always friendly either.
Wu Heng's side had overwhelming strength compared to other bases, which ensured courteous treatment from others. However, survivor groups often didn't share such civility among themselves.
"How long will it take to reach this Dajin station?" Wu Heng asked.
"About three hours. It's just a small stop along the way, not far."
Wu Heng followed up, "Where's the train now?"
Li Yanhong replied, "It's at my station, scheduled to transport supplies back tomorrow."
"Get ready. We're departing soon to head directly to Dajin station for the rescue."
Li Yanhong nodded. "Understood."
Wu Heng spoke into the microphone, "When the train passes your location, get on board."
"Got it!"
After delegating tasks,
Wu Heng returned the microphone to Jia Yingying and left the radio room to prepare for departure.
...
Winter nights came quickly in the north.
By now, it was pitch black outside the windows.
The train picked up Qi Hancai en route and continued toward Dajin station.
Qi Hancai's expression was grim. She only answered Wu Heng's questions during the journey.
Many of the scouts sent out this time were her trusted people, those who had come with her from Dong'an Village.
Even though the base population had grown,
she still assigned important tasks to those she trusted.
Now, with no contact from them, she was understandably worried.
"Did you notify the city in advance?" Wu Heng asked.
Qi Hancai sighed. "Yes, but I suspect they heard about us and set up the roadblocks on the tracks. Otherwise, who would block a railway?"
That made sense.
Without concrete information, no one would go out of their way to block the tracks.
Zombies didn't drive trains.
It was more likely someone had learned from the radio that a train carrying food was coming to exchange for gold.
The idea of robbing the food must have tempted them.
"Don't worry. Let's assess the situation first. They won't kill anyone just yet," Wu Heng reassured.
Qi Hancai nodded and fell silent.
After traveling for a while, the train began to slow down.
A voice came from the driver's compartment. "Sister Qi, we're approaching the station. Going any further might alert those at the station."
Qi Hancai looked at Wu Heng.
"Stop here and wait," Wu Heng said directly.
Qi Hancai pressed the walkie-talkie and relayed the command.
The train stopped, plunging into total darkness.
Zombies trailing behind were
picked up and smashed into pulp by the swooping Skeleton Wyverns.
Wu Heng focused his thoughts, and Xiaoxiao flew out of his body, invisible, and scouted along the tracks.
Before long, it found a station and flew in.
...
"Brother Tiger, these two seem to be the leaders."
Several figures dragged two people and tossed them over.
Across from them, a bloated figure sat in a chair, eyes on the two captives.
"Kneel before me!" The fat man, called Brother Tiger, barked.
A subordinate kicked their knees, forcing them to kneel.
The bloated Brother Tiger stood up, his massive body like a small mountain, blocking the light behind him.
Looking at the two, he asked, "Are you really planning to trade food for gold?"
"Heh," one of the kneeling captives sneered.
"Damn it." Brother Tiger raised a hand and slapped the person to the ground.
He continued asking, "How many people are with you?"
"Enough to flatten this place," the other captive said.
"Quite the mouth you've got," Brother Tiger sneered, gripping the captive's shoulder.
A cracking sound was heard as he applied pressure.
"Brother Tiger, don't kill them!" a subordinate quickly reminded.
Brother Tiger's eyes flashed dangerously.
The subordinate explained, "Brother Tiger, it doesn't matter if they're lying or not. Let them contact their base and ransom themselves with food. If they refuse, then we can kill them."
Brother Tiger suddenly grinned, retracting his hand, and patted the subordinate.
"Good idea. Take them away and have them contact their base. If they won't ransom themselves, feed them to the zombies."
"Got it, Brother Tiger."
...
Wu Heng waited inside the train car for a while.
Xiaoxiao flew back, entered his body, and shared the visuals.
The station indeed had survivors, with temporary lighting.
Combatants numbered around eleven or twelve. Some women appeared to be slaves, disheveled and pitiful.
Most of the Boxers were armed with machetes and iron spears, and a few carried composite bows resembling those seen in competitions on TV.
Wu Heng's people were all alive.
Most were tied up in a room, while two had been taken for questioning.
"What's the situation?" Qi Hancai asked as Wu Heng stood.
"It's fine. There aren't many of them. Wait for my signal," Wu Heng said, tightening his leather armor.
Qi Hancai asked curiously, "Aren't you using skeletons to attack?"
"No, it would draw too much attention and put our people in danger."
Besides Qi Hancai's team, there were also train operators—essential talents for the base.
Chaos could lead to their deaths, which would be disastrous.
"Understood," Qi Hancai nodded and bowed. "Thank you."
"Mm."
Wu Heng disembarked, summoned a Wyvern from the sky,
mounted it with his skeleton attendants, and disappeared into the night sky.
...
Nearing the station, they landed on a snow-covered rooftop.
Wu Heng scanned the area, then pried open a locked iron door on the roof with his skeleton attendants.
He walked straight in.
The entire station hall was dimly lit, with only a temporary light on one side casting a faint yellow glow.
From the hall below, shouts and curses from an interrogation could be heard.
"Which room are the hostages in?" Wu Heng asked quietly to the side.
Xiaoxiao's figure appeared, saying, "Most of them are in that room over there, and two uncles are being beaten downstairs."
Wu Heng followed the direction Xiaoxiao pointed and glanced over.
Waving his hand, he led the way toward the room holding the hostages.
Dealing with survivors in this world wasn't much of a challenge.
Even the skeletons could easily overrun this refuge.
The focus was more on ensuring the safety of the hostages—veterans of the base, skilled in train operation and maintenance, and considered valuable talent.
As they approached the room, two guards stood at the door.
Hearing footsteps, they drowsily opened their eyes.
The unfamiliar face and strange attire caught their attention.
Especially the blue glow emanating from the eye sockets of two figures.
"What do you want?" one of them shouted.
The other immediately woke up, hurriedly removing the composite bow from his shoulder.
Wu Heng said, "Kill them both."
Receiving the command, Kalema and Tolga moved around Wu Heng and charged forward.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Two arrows whizzed through the air instantly.
Kalema tilted his head to dodge, while Tolga caught one arrow mid-flight and threw it back, piercing one guard's forehead.
Kalema closed in on the other guard.
With a flash of his blade, the second guard's head fell to the ground.
The two skeleton attendants returned.
Wu Heng glanced toward the hall.
The shouting and interrogation continued, unaffected by the commotion.
Stepping over the fallen bodies, Wu Heng opened the room door.
A faint light spilled into the room.
In the corner, several base members in thin clothing were tied up.
As the door opened,
they all looked up simultaneously.
In the dim light, their faces lit up upon seeing the figure in robes and leather armor.
"My Lord!" they exclaimed with joy.
Wu Heng nodded and instructed his attendants, "Untie them."
Sword blades sliced through the ropes, freeing the captives, who all stood up.
"Where are your clothes?"
"Those people stripped us. They placed…."
"No rush. Stay here for now. There are still two people downstairs," Wu Heng interrupted and continued.
They nodded without further comment.
After confirming the safety of the hostages, Wu Heng left the room with the skeletons.
Taking another look at the hall, he gave the order, "Kill everyone with a weapon."
The two skeleton attendants dashed forward again.
They burst into the interrogation room.
"Damn, what's that?"
"Shit, monsters have gotten in!"
"Hey! Someone, get out here! There are monsters!"
Chaos and screaming erupted, echoing through the hall.
But the shouts stopped abruptly after just two cries, and the skeletons reemerged.
Kalema flicked the blood from his sword, while Tolga cracked his neck bones.
From further inside, more people rushed out of rooms, drawn by the noise.
Seeing only two figures in the light, they charged forward in unison.
The skeleton attendants plunged into the crowd, blades flashing as bodies fell. Fists shattered bones, and joints snapped.
"Damn it! If anyone runs, I'll kill them myself! There's only two of them!"
A deep voice bellowed.
A bloated figure squeezed out of a room, stepping into view.
With two slaps, he sent fleeing men sprawling.
"Brother Tiger, they're monsters!"
"Monster, my ass! Follow me and kill them!" Brother Tiger cursed.
He charged forward, his heavy steps thudding against the ground.
Closing in quickly, he lunged at Tolga. "Die, you monster!"
Bang!
A blast of air exploded.
Tolga's punch caved in Brother Tiger's body. Suspended momentarily in the air, he was sent flying.
"Damn it… you…"
Brother Tiger lay on the ground, groaning in pain.
His twisted expression changed as he spotted another figure in the darkness behind the skeletons.
The figure controlling the monsters.
His demeanor suddenly turned sharp. Scrambling up, he bypassed the fight and charged toward the shadow.
"You! I've found you!"
As he closed the distance rapidly.
Crackle, boom!
Lightning crackled.
A silver bolt struck instantly.
Brother Tiger's body exploded, flesh and blood spraying everywhere.
"You…."
He looked down at his shredded stomach, as if a balloon had burst.
His face was filled with horror.
"You're a monster too."
Whoosh!
A whistling sound filled the air.
A spinning machete flew over, embedding itself in his skull.
Brother Tiger's eyes widened as his body fell backward.
He never got up again.
Nearby, the skeleton attendants' battle had also ended.
The floor was littered with corpses.
The skeleton attendants returned.
"Release the two people hanging up," Wu Heng ordered.
Kalema entered a side room to lower the two captives.
Wu Heng took out his walkie-talkie to call Qi Hancai.
His gaze fell on the bloated corpse with its shredded stomach.
[Speak with Dead]was cast.
The bloated corpse slowly sat up.
Its internal organs spilled onto the floor with a wet splatter.
Wu Heng asked, "Why did you block the tracks?"
The corpse replied, "We heard on the radio that someone was coming to trade for gold, so we waited here."
Just as they had guessed.
Wu Heng's gaze shifted to the composite bow lodged in the wall.
He continued, "Where did you get these composite bows?"
"There's a factory nearby that makes them. We found them there."