Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Mysterious Man (Part 2)
"Tha-thank you, thank you for saving me just now!" Tang Xiaoquan was panting heavily, his breath seemingly about to burst through his lungs.
The man in black didn’t reply, only glanced over everyone, and after confirming there were no issues, he indifferently nodded before jumping off the roof of the car, saying in a deep voice, "Little Wu, it’s safe!"
"Little Wu?" Tang Xiaoquan and the others were surprised. They looked at each other, all showing puzzled expressions.
There were clearly only four people here? Could it be that the man in black had an accomplice?
However, just as Tang Xiaoquan and his group were bewildered, a broad-shouldered, thick-set, small-faced man popped his head out from behind the car.
"Hehe, hello everyone! Finally, I see some living people today!" Little Wu appeared extremely happy, his small eyes squinting into crescents.
It seems, the man in black is very alert, Tang Xiaoquan made a preliminary assessment of him based on the details in front of him.
You see, Wu Chao never once appeared, whether it was during the dangerous rescue or now meeting up.
In other words, if their side had made any reckless moves earlier, the man in black on top of the car would have certainly ordered his hidden companion to ambush them immediately, catching them completely off guard.
Regarding the man’s "the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind" tactics, Tang Xiaoquan didn’t show any dislike. On the contrary, he admired the man’s foresight.
After all, in the apocalypse, people’s hearts are unpredictable, and no one can guarantee that those they face are good people.
Thus, being cautious and vigilant is a principle that anyone wanting to survive in the apocalypse must adhere to.
Tang Xiaoquan didn’t yet know how the man in black ruled them out as a threat, but judging by his gesture of calling his companion kindly, the latter seemed to no longer have doubts, at least for now.
"Uh~ well, my name is Wang Qiang, thank you, big brother, for your help just now. I wonder how we should address you..."
"Hu Xiaodong," the man in black interrupted Wang Qiang’s words, then drew the cleaver from his back, and coldly replied, "No need for pleasantries, let’s get out of this damned place first."
No matter how Wang Qiang reacted, the man in black pushed through the crowd and then lunged towards the zombies on the roadside.
"Ah~ bro, don’t take it to heart, Brother Hu is just like that. It’ll be better once we return to the base!" Wu Chao, who had unknowingly moved beside Wang Qiang, understandingly patted his shoulder, and from his equally helpless expression, it was clear he had similar experiences.
It had to be said, Hu Xiaodong’s skills were truly impressive.
Because within the short few dozen seconds Wu Chao was speaking, Hu Xiaodong had already raised his cleaver and taken down two zombies.
Watching the other party’s seemingly game-hacked slaying techniques, Wang Qiang truly felt inadequate, though he too was a veteran zombie hunter with dozens of kills, he was still a far cry from Hu Xiaodong.
Tang Xiaoquan was equally impressed by the man in black’s actions, nodding to himself, convinced that with the latter’s precise control over force, angle, and timing, he was definitely a skilled practitioner.
"Go!" Hu Xiaodong again swung his cleaver, beheading another zombie, then waved to the stunned crowd.
By now, the time had already passed 10 in the morning. The baking earth was gradually becoming an illusion, wisps of steam rising and pervading the air, making it feel like a dream.
Under Hu Xiaodong’s lead, the group slashed and thrust all the way, swiftly arriving at an alley entrance.
The alley was narrow, just enough for an adult to pass through, but its unique structure meant the zombies within were without refuge.
Hu Xiaodong led the way into the alley with his cleaver, followed closely by Wang Qiang and the others.
With tall buildings blocking both sides, the temperature in the alley was surprisingly cooler than outside.
Tang Xiaoquan lowered his gaze to assess the man in front of him, who was of medium height, about 175 cm, wearing a black short shirt tightly wrapped around him. His explosive arms, as thick as bowls, were enough to make one shudder from afar.
The cleaver in the man’s hand was a solid 50 cm long, its substantial blade spine indicating its unusual weight, and from the horrific nicks on its edge, Hu Xiaodong had undoubtedly been through an unforgettable bloody battle.
Suddenly, Hu Xiaodong’s steps halted, and his abrupt movement naturally led the daydreaming Tang Xiaoquan to collide into him head-on.
The latter was immediately startled, about to ask what was going on, but suddenly felt a strong force on his chest, pushing him against the edge of the wall.
"Shh~" Making a silence gesture with his hand, Hu Xiaodong signaled everyone not to speak.
As things stood, Tang Xiaoquan gradually calmed down from his panic.
And as he steadily calmed, he suddenly realized their group had reached the end of the alley.
"So this alley connects two streets!" Looking at the piercing light again streaming from outside, Tang Xiaoquan added another note to his assessment of Hu Xiaodong: Familiar with surrounding road conditions.
"Swish, swish, swish!" What this sound represented was all too familiar to these survivors who had gone through numerous life-threatening situations.
Hu Xiaodong exhaled deeply, then swiftly poked his head out and quickly withdrew, his speed leaving others in awe.
5, this was the sign Hu Xiaodong’s fingers formed after scouting the outside.
Yet Wang Qiang, positioned at the back, was obviously puzzled by this gesture.
He prodded Wu Chao’s arm, whispering, "Hey, buddy, what’s up?"
Wu Chao kept his eyes fixed on Hu Xiaodong’s direction, replied flatly, "Zombies, there are 5 zombies outside!"
"Damn, what are we waiting for, let’s go! Take them out!" As he spoke, Wang Qiang was ready to stand up, thinking, with 5 zombies facing their 5 people, there was no reason to be afraid.
But just as he was halfway up, Wu Chao pulled him back, pressing him against the wall, and solemnly said, "Calm down, brother! We can’t go in recklessly!"
"Why not?" Wang Qiang, naturally inquisitive, frowned and glared at Wu Chao after sitting back down.
"We’re heading back to the base now, we can’t provoke those zombies, if they get agitated, the base’s location might be exposed, so..."
"Shh~" Another signal to keep quiet came from the front, Wu Chao quickly closed his mouth, and his bushy brows furrowed intensely...
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