Xiao Yu transformed into a giant snake with a hiss, slithering between their legs and lifting them onto its body.
A snake traveled through the mountains several times faster than humans.
With Xiao Yu's venom clearing the path, a three-hour mountain journey was shortened to one hour.
Liu Jie and Wang Xiaotao, however, were terrified to death.
A snake, this was a snake!
"Did you guys hear something? Why does it sound so rustling, like something's approaching?"
"Didn't hear anything! Could it be your imagination?"
The lackey guarding the entrance listened intently for a moment.
Was it his imagination?
No way.
There was definitely a rustling sound.
"Don't you hear it? It sounds like some kind of reptile, could it be an异种 (yì zhǒng - mutated creature)?"
The teammates immediately cocked their guns.
"We haven't eaten meat in days, it would be great if it was an 异种!"
The thought of 异种 meat made their mouths water.
Sometime ago, they had become addicted to hunting 异种 for food.
异种 were large and meaty.
Although hunting one was arduous and could lead to casualties, the size of an 异种 meant that one hunt could last for a long time, much more effective than hunting rabbits or pheasants.
Most importantly, the meat was delicious, unlike that of ordinary animals.
Someone activated infrared to search for the 异种.
A woman's voice suddenly came from above.
"Excuse me, is this Old Bird's territory? I have something I'd like to discuss with Old Bird."
Everyone looked up, following the sound.
The first thing they saw was a delicate and beautiful snake face.
It was beautiful, but… it was way too damn big.
The entrance to the base was a narrow gorge, a natural choke point.
The sides were steep and difficult mountain paths, a complex terrain with layer upon layer of peaks, and only one entrance and exit.
Because of this terrain, the base was easy to defend and hard to attack.
This natural moat was originally their life-saving weapon, but it was useless against a giant snake.
Flying and crawling creatures found it hard to enter, but a snake was different. It was soft and slippery, able to move anywhere silently.
Now, Xiao Yu's body was coiled around the mountain, its head lowered, flicking its tongue at them.
Everyone's legs went weak with fear.
One person couldn't take it and fainted on the spot.
The captain shouted, "Enemy attack, quick, an 异种 enemy attack!"
The team members aimed their guns and fired wildly at Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu tilted its head, its dark eyes instantly turning into vertical pupils, and it let out a roar at them.
Even if it was just a hissing growl, the trace of poison gas escaping from its mouth was enough to paralyze thousands.
Those hiding in the mountains were fine, but the few in the open turned pale and fainted within moments.
Fu Yunting patted its head, "Xiao Yu, don't make a fuss. If you kill them, we'll have to clear the base to get the spring water, which will be too troublesome."
Xiao Yu obediently closed its mouth.
It wriggled its body, looking wronged.
"I know it's not your fault. They fired first. I don't blame you."
Xiao Yu slowly lowered itself to the base of the mountain, pressing its body and head down, gently setting the people down.
Fu Yunting jumped down and helped An Nuan off.
When Wang Xiaotao landed, his legs were weak, and he sat down on the ground.
Liu Jiang helped him up, "Are you alright, brother?"
"I-I'm fine. It's my first time riding a giant snake, it was a bit scary."
Xiao Yu shrank to about two meters in length, coiling around An Nuan and Fu Yunting.
Wang Xiaotao turned his head and met its gaze, almost fainting again.
Liu Jiang chuckled, "This is nothing. You'll know what real fear is when you meet that giant zombie later!"
Wang Xiaotao was too surprised to speak.
He had heard rumors of high-level zombies in their community for a long time.
But he never expected it to be more terrifying than this giant snake.
Fortunately, they were allies, otherwise… Wang Xiaotao didn't dare to imagine.
An Nuan gave them detox pills. As soon as the captain woke up, she smiled kindly.
"Huang Xiaoting told us there was spring water here. We just want to take a little bit and ask for your convenience."
Huang Xiaoting had visited twice, so the captain recognized her.
She also walked over and said, "These are our partners. They just want to get some spring water. Brother Chen, can you help and tell Old Bird?"
Chen Wang hadn't recovered yet, staring at Xiao Yu, his body still trembling.
But what was most important to a man? Face!
Especially in front of women, he absolutely couldn't lose face.
Chen Wang feigned calmness, "You brought such a fierce 异种 just to borrow some spring water? Do you believe that yourself?"
"Fierce?"
An Nuan hugged Xiao Yu, kissing and nuzzling it, then draped it around her neck like an accessory.
"It's very cute. How is it fierce?"
Chen Wang: … This woman might be fiercer than the snake.
Huang Xiaoting pulled him up, "Brother Chen, believe me this once. Help me tell Old Bird. We'll get some spring water and leave."
"I won't take your water for free either. We're all neighbors, helping each other is the right thing to do."
Huang Xiaoting handed him a bag of rice and a large ham.
"I'll trade you these."
Chen Wang was still hesitating. Huang Xiaoting leaned closer, whispering in his ear.
"Brother Chen, when they offer courtesy and exchange, you'd best agree."
"If we fall out and there's no courtesy, you'll get beaten and some people will die, and in the end, you'll end up working for them."
Chen Wang was stunned.
This was their base, what were these people so arrogant about?
But he thought of Xiao Yu.
A snake that could transform at will, whose mere breath could bring them down. If they really fought, they wouldn't gain anything.
Chen Wang frowned, "Alright, come with me. This snake..."
"Together."
Fu Yunting cut him off stiffly, walking into the base without room for refusal.
Chen Wang suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
He released a communication bird to send a message inside first.
By the time they arrived, the base was on high alert.
An Nuan realized upon entering that the construction was quite good.
It must have been a mountain resort before, and then it was modified. All the houses were built into the mountainside, with the mountain serving as a natural protective layer.
Living here would indeed effectively resist external attacks.
Most of the people in the base were ordinary humans, but their weapons and equipment were very complete. They patrolled with weapons, guarding their homes.
The remaining third were ability users, responsible for hunting and finding supplies.
An Nuan recognized the weapons, knowing they were no ordinary goods.
She said half-jokingly, "I thought I walked into an arms dealer's lair. You've got everything."
Old Bird opened his eyes and walked out of a room, wiping water from his beard and flicking it onto the ground.
"Little sister, you still know about arms dealers? What, have you bought arms from me before?"
Fu Yunting narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Old Bird? Han Wen, right?"
Hearing the name, Old Bird stretched his neck and stared at Fu Yunting in disbelief, saying.
"You… you're the eldest son of the Fu family, aren't you? You've grown so much!"