Lin Tao followed Boss Hu into the innermost concrete room. It was spacious, roughly fifty square meters, with a gss skylight that allowed for ventition and natural light. The room was divided into two sections, furnished simply with a set of sofas, a coffee table, and an imposing executive desk. What immediately caught Lin Tao’s eye, however, were the piles of rice sacks and various supplies stacked against the walls. While they might seem like a considerable amount at first gnce, given that over three hundred people depended on them, they were hardly sufficient.

  "You zy wenches, get out here and serve our guest some tea! Or have you forgotten how to use your legs?" Boss Hu barked the moment he entered, swaggering over to a rge leather armchair and slumping down into it. He then gestured toward a worn-out couch, its springs partially exposed, inviting Lin Tao to sit.

  Lin Tao took his seat as Boss Hu exchanged a few casual pleasantries. Soon after, the fabric curtain separating the inner room was drawn aside, revealing a mature woman cd in a sheer bck robe over denim shorts. She carried a steaming teapot, her gaze lingering on Lin Tao with a sultry smile before gracefully making her way over. Kneeling at his feet, she poured him a cup of tea, her fair arms brushing against his leg as she cooed, "Master, please enjoy your tea."

  "Cao Mei, you stay right there and serve Brother Lin well. If he fancies you, you’re his for the night!" Boss Hu decred with a magnanimous wave, pulling two voluptuous women into his arms. Grinning, he continued, "Brother, times are tough, and I don’t have much to offer. But what we do have in abundance are women. Take your pick—hell, if you’ve got the stamina, have them all! I won’t stop you!"

  Lin Tao chuckled lightly. "Boss Hu, you ftter me. I’m not sure I have that kind of stamina."

  He cast a brief gnce at Cao Mei, who was now kneeling at his feet, diligently massaging his legs. It was clear that she was the most beautiful among Boss Hu’s women—her striking features and graceful demeanor made an impression. From the dampness of her freshly washed hair and the faint scent of cheap perfume, it was obvious that she had taken extra steps to make herself appealing for him.

  "So, Brother Lin, where are you coming from?" Boss Hu suddenly pulled a pistol from his waistband, casually pcing it on the table before him. It was an old, well-worn Type 54, its bck finish almost entirely stripped away. Though his actions seemed nonchant, the barrel was unmistakably pointed in Lin Tao’s direction—a clear warning.

  Lin Tao sipped his tea unperturbed as Boss Hu retrieved a fresh pack of cigarettes from his desk drawer. He opened it and tossed one to Lin Tao, his tone carrying a hint of weariness. "Tell me, what’s it like out there? How bad is it? Are there even any survivors left?"

  Lin Tao took the cigarette between his lips, and Cao Mei quickly picked up a lighter, flicking it on to light it for him. He inhaled deeply before leaning back into the couch. "I traveled from the north. I haven’t seen any rge survivor settlements—at most, groups of five to six thousand. But for the most part, it’s just scattered hideouts like yours, housing a few dozen or a hundred people."

  Boss Hu’s eyes widened. He leaned forward, his voice filled with urgency. "What about the government? The military? Are they still out there? Maybe in some of the major cities?"

  Lin Tao exhaled a slow stream of smoke and met Boss Hu’s gaze. "The bigger the city, the rger the popution—the lower the chances of survival. As for the military… you already know. When soldiers turn into zombies, they’re far deadlier than your average infected. At least one to two times more powerful."

  "Damn it!" Boss Hu smmed his hand on the desk and slumped back into his chair, frustration etched into his scarred face. Though they had long suspected the worst, some sliver of hope had always remained. Deep down, they had clung to the belief that, against all odds, salvation might come. But Lin Tao’s words had shattered that st fragile illusion.

  A heavy silence filled the room. Even Cao Mei, who had been diligently massaging Lin Tao’s legs, paused, her delicate face turning pale with shock.

  "Come on now, don’t be so disheartened!" Lin Tao shrugged, gncing at the stunned Cao Mei and gesturing for her to continue. He then turned back to Boss Hu. "This outbreak spread fast, and the infection rate is terrifyingly high, but at most, it’s about eighty to ninety percent. China had over a billion people—there are still at least one to two hundred million survivors out there. Large settlements must exist somewhere. I just haven’t found them yet. And China’s a big pce—I can’t just wander into every dangerous zone blindly."

  Boss Hu exhaled deeply, nodding as he mulled over Lin Tao’s words. "So, Brother Lin, how did you make it this far? You got some kind of special trick up your sleeve?"

  Lin Tao shook his head and chuckled. "There’s no trick. Just caution—constant, relentless caution. That’s the only way to survive. Besides, you haven’t even encountered the real horrors yet. The zombies? They’re just the appetizer."

  Boss Hu swallowed hard, a flicker of fear crossing his face. His scarred cheek twitched involuntarily as he recalled something from the past. He hesitated before speaking. "A year ago, fifty-eight of us went scavenging in a small supermarket. I don’t even know what hit us. One second, everything was fine, and the next… a bck shadow fshed by, and the heads of the guys at the front just… dropped. Blood sprayed all over the ceiling. Out of fifty-eight, only Old Ma and I made it back. That’s how he lost his eye. Is that what you’re talking about?"

  "Something like that," Lin Tao nodded, his expression darkening. "There are things out there you wouldn’t believe unless you saw them yourself."

  "Damn…" Boss Hu muttered, running a hand through his slicked-back hair. Then, after a moment of silence, he straightened up and forced a smirk. "Still, I run a tight ship here. It might be rough, but we survive. Everyone pulls their weight. No freeloading, and no senseless abuse of the women. If you want them, you pay. That’s the only way we stay together. Those other settlements that resorted to cannibalism? That’s just madness."

  Lin Tao smiled and nodded. "You’ve done a good job maintaining order."

  Boss Hu’s smirk widened as he leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "Brother Lin, what’s your pn from here? Why not stay with us? If you do, all the women here are yours."

  "I appreciate the offer, Boss Hu, but my goal is to get to Nanzhou," Lin Tao replied smoothly.

  Boss Hu’s expression instantly changed. His pupils shrank, and his voice rose in surprise. "Nanzhou? The one near Jiangcheng?"

  "That’s the one," Lin Tao confirmed, his eyes flickering with anticipation.

  Boss Hu sucked in a sharp breath. "Damn… That’s a hell of a journey. Jiangcheng alone is a nightmare—it’s packed with the infected. And to get to Nanzhou, you’ll have to cross the river. Brother Lin, I hope you’re not pnning on throwing your life away."

  Lin Tao merely smiled, taking another slow drag from his cigarette.