Chapter 489, Zombie King?
"Please proceed. We will reward you with weapons and supplies based on the importance of the information," the voice from the radio said.
Liu Chuang leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly. "The King of Hell from Xinfu City is here and preparing to head to the military factory."
Silence suddenly filled the other end.
"Hello? Anyone there? Do you want this information or not?" Liu Chuang asked, puzzled by the lack of response.
Based on what he had heard over the radio in the past few days, the two factions had already clashed multiple times over supplies.
Now that Xinfu City's people were coming to occupy the factory,
the rescue team should definitely have some concerns.
Just as he was about to push further, a response came from the other end.
This time, it wasn't the previous operator but a man's deep voice.
"This is the rescue team. Repeat what you just said. We'll provide appropriate rewards for the information."
Liu Chuang realized the other side was taking this seriously.
He immediately repeated everything he had just said in detail, including the appearance of their leader and the number of vehicles.
"Excellent. The rescue team will remember your contribution to this intelligence," the voice replied. "When are you planning to head out?"
"We're leaving soon."
"Understood. If conditions allow, continue providing us with information."
"Copy that!"
Liu Chuang hung up, his mood significantly improved.
Establishing a connection with the provincial rescue team was a good opportunity for him.
Even if he had to seek refuge there later, he might secure a position of some authority, improving his current situation.
He handed control of the radio to the woman on watch.
Then he walked out of the room.
...
Inside the truck.
Everyone was waiting.
Qi Hancai took a sip of water and said, "This Liu Chuang adapts quickly. When he talked to me, he wanted us gone as soon as possible, afraid we'd take over his shelter. But when he spoke to you, he even agreed to come along."
"You don't like him?"
"He's not as good-looking as you are," Qi Hancai joked with a smile, then continued, "He didn't choose to join us and wants to manage his own shelter. He's clearly someone who values power and self-interest."
Wu Heng nodded. "As long as he leads us to the factory, that's fine. If he has any ideas, we can just take over his shelter."
As they spoke, Xiaoxiao flew back from the direction of the rest stop.
In her invisible state, she leaned close to Wu Heng's ear and whispered, "That bad guy is contacting someone else."
Wu Heng raised an eyebrow.
Xiaoxiao then slipped back into Wu Heng's body.
The shared vision appeared.
After Wu Heng and Qi Hancai had left, Liu Chuang had relayed their plans to the provincial rescue team.
Moreover, the rescue team had shown significant interest in the intelligence about Wu Heng.
Not only did they encourage Liu Chuang to continue gathering information, but they also hinted at deploying troops.
In truth, this was a rare opportunity for them.
The rescue team had attempted to take the factory before but failed.
This time, with Wu Heng bringing his forces, whether they succeeded or not,
the rescue team could seize the aftermath of the battle or even capture Wu Heng, demanding an endless supply of grain from his base.
It was an excellent opportunity.
"What's wrong?" Qi Hancai asked, noticing his expression.
Wu Heng smiled. "Liu Chuang informed the provincial rescue team about us. They seem to be planning to send reinforcements."
Qi Hancai frowned, not doubting Wu Heng's information.
She said angrily, "What's his game? Harming others without benefiting himself?"
"He's probably looking for benefits from the provincial team."
"Let's destroy his shelter," Qi Hancai said bluntly.
"No rush. Let him lead us to the factory first."
Questioning corpses could provide information, but if the route was complex, it might not be clear enough.
They still needed him to guide them.
"Fine."
From the direction of the rest stop,
a small van drove out.
Liu Chuang poked his head out from the passenger seat. "We're ready. We'll follow behind your convoy."
Qi Hancai said, "Lead the way. Ride with us. The van can follow in the convoy."
The truck door opened.
Two skeletons got out, grabbed Liu Chuang from the van, and placed him in the truck's back seat.
One sat on each side, sandwiching him in the middle.
Liu Chuang wiped the sweat from his forehead and forced a smile.
He noticed their attitudes seemed different from earlier.
The van joined the middle of the convoy.
"Let's go," Wu Heng said.
Qi Hancai used the radio to relay the order. "Move out."
The convoy set off, quickly heading forward.
...
Xinbiao Road.
A road specifically built for the factories in the area.
The surface was smooth, free of the vehicle congestion seen in cities.
Windbreak forests lined both sides, though in winter, they were laden with snow.
The convoy traveled smoothly along the road.
Since entering this stretch, they hadn't stopped once.
Along the way, the occasional stray zombie was killed by passing cavalry.
The bodies were tossed to the roadside.
"It's just ahead. That factory complex is what you're looking for. I wasn't lying," Liu Chuang said, pointing ahead through the windshield.
Looking forward, a large factory complex came into view.
Tall walls, barbed wire, and structures resembling watchtowers were scattered along the perimeter.
Inside, factory buildings and other structures resembled a small city.
"Alright, leaders. This is as far as we go. Any closer, and we might run into zombies. We can't help with that," Liu Chuang said, trying to find an excuse to leave.
As he spoke, a voice came through the radio from the lead vehicle.
"Sister Qi, we can see zombies wandering near the factory. Any closer, and we might have to engage."
Wu Heng said, "Stop the vehicles."
Qi Hancai used the radio. "Slow down. Stop the convoy."
The convoy slowed and pulled over to the roadside.
Wu Heng focused, releasing two phantoms that flew swiftly toward the factory to scout.
Meanwhile, Liu Chuang coughed lightly and said, "We've arrived. We'll head back now. About the grain you promised..."
"Don't rush," Wu Heng said, retrieving a provincial map from the truck's glove compartment and handing it to him. "Mark these locations for me: bustling commercial areas, gold shop clusters, key factories, and the location of the provincial rescue team."
Mentioning the rescue team made Liu Chuang's heart skip a beat.
But surely, they didn't know about his contact with them.
"Alright, sure!" Liu Chuang nodded and began marking the locations one by one.
"Done." He handed the map back.
"Get out."
Liu Chuang carefully squeezed past the skeletons, opened the door, and walked toward his van.
Wu Heng glanced at him and instructed, "Keramu, kill that man and the two with him."
Keramu disembarked and strode toward the van.
Liu Chuang panicked and started running.
Keramu caught up in a few steps, slashing Liu Chuang's head off with a longsword.
Then he leaped onto the van's hood, thrusting his sword through the windshield to kill the driver. Turning the blade, he dispatched the remaining person.
The action was smooth and efficient.
"Sister Qi, the King's skeleton just killed those people," someone reported through the radio.
Qi Hancai responded, "It's fine. They leaked our plans to others. The King found out."
"Understood."
Qi Hancai continued, "Everyone, step out to check the van for supplies. If you need a smoke or a restroom break, now's the time."
"Got it."
Qi Hancai exited the vehicle, and others in the convoy opened their doors to stretch and take a breather.
After all, they had been traveling all day.
...
Inside the truck, Wu Heng was alone.
Shortly after, Xiaoxiao and Glenda returned one after the other.
Xiaoxiao's form slowly became visible. "Uncle, there are Level-2 mutated zombies inside, along with a Level-3 mutated zombie."
Glenda added from the other side, "Spirit Vision shows the levels of the mutated zombies clearly. It's quite handy."
Zombies indeed retained levels after transformation.
It made sense that Spirit Vision could detect them.
"Are there many mutated zombies?" Wu Heng asked.
Xiaoxiao nodded. "Quite a few—at least five or six. But it's no big deal for you, Uncle. Even if there were more, it's nothing compared to when we fought the pirates."
"That time, pirates from all over the Emerald Sea gathered, so of course, there were more high-level ones," Glenda said.
"That's what I meant!" Xiaoxiao said softly, perched on Wu Heng's shoulder.
Wu Heng said, "Let me take a look. Then we'll deal with the zombies."
"Alright!"
Xiaoxiao and Glenda both merged into his body.
In the next moment, two visuals were shared.
Inside the large factory yard, the phantoms darted through building after building.
Many buildings had been severely damaged by fire or explosions, rendered unrecognizable.
The remaining structures showed varying degrees of destruction.
At least five or six Level-2 mutated zombies were present.
In an office building, a zombie figure appeared in view.
It wore a bloodstained suit, its head resembling layers of unfolding fungi like "lingzhi."
Between the folds of the lingzhi-like head were a pair of eyes.
They stared at the phantoms hovering in the air.
Judging by its level, it was a Level-3 zombie.
However, its appearance matched Qi Hancai's description of a Level-4 mutated zombie.
Zombie King?
Its level wasn't high enough.