Chapter 50 - 44: The Deal

Chapter 50: Chapter 44: The Deal

Although the information was limited, the map was like a few dim lights turning on in Xu Mo’s mind. It finally gave him a broad, directional sense of his own position and the surrounding environment, dispelling the complete darkness and confusion.

"Over two hundred kilometers... Route 201..." Xu Mo muttered to himself, his mind already beginning to map out a preliminary route. Of course, this was all contingent on him deciding to leave and on the Jiang City Shelter being worth the journey.

The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Xu Mo was on his roof right on schedule, greeting the sunrise and absorbing the Purple Qi. The process went as smoothly as ever, and the qi and blood within him grew even more vigorous and lively under the nourishment of the Sunrise Qi.

Just as he finished his cultivation and was about to head downstairs for his daily workout, his eyes swept across the street below, and he froze once more.

’Sure enough, they’re back.’

It was three people again, heading in his direction from the center of town. He recognized two of them from yesterday, but the man walking between them was a new face.

This man was slightly taller and also wore a bulky old overcoat, but his stride was steady and his posture erect. Even from a distance, Xu Mo could sense an air of competence that set him apart from the average person. He walked in the center, with the other two deliberately falling half a step behind him. Xu Mo immediately deduced that this must be the true leader of the small survivor group.

The trio voluntarily stopped at the same spot where they had traded yesterday, an intersection about twenty or thirty meters from Xu Mo’s shelter. This gesture gave Xu Mo a favorable impression of their sense of boundaries and discretion. At the very least, it showed they weren’t the type to take a mile when given an inch, people who didn’t know the rules.

After a moment of thought, Xu Mo donned his combat fatigues and a stab-proof vest. He slung the Mountain-Cutting Saber over his back, checked the ammunition in his AK-47, and stepped outside, facing the distant trio.

The moment Xu Mo appeared, Wang’s gaze locked onto him. It was a steady, sharp look, one of scrutiny and assessment, but it held no obvious hostility. He took the initiative to walk a few steps forward, stopping about ten meters away from Xu Mo—a distance perfect for clear conversation while still maintaining a safe buffer.

"Friend, sorry to disturb you." Wang cupped his fist as he spoke. His voice was low and raspy, yet it carried a natural authority. "My name is Wang Meng. I’m the leader of this team. My people made a trade with you yesterday. Thanks for the supplies."

His self-introduction was brief and to the point, in the manner of a soldier.

"Xu Mo," he returned, stating his own name as a basic courtesy. Then he cut straight to the chase. "Captain Wang, are you here today to trade again?"

Wang Meng nodded, his gaze frank as he looked at Xu Mo. "Yes. We’re leaving Cyan Pine Ridge first thing tomorrow morning and continuing toward Jiang City. Before we go, we’d like to trade some information we consider valuable for a few more urgently needed supplies."

He paused for a moment to gauge Xu Mo’s reaction before continuing, "I can see you’re highly skilled and well-equipped, friend. I assume you’re doing what it takes to survive in this apocalypse. I was wondering... would you be interested in information about mutated zombies?"

Mutated zombies.

Those two words landed like a boulder dropped into a placid lake, sending ripples through Xu Mo’s mind. Though he’d suspected more dangerous things existed, he’d never had any confirmation.

"Mutated zombies?" Xu Mo raised an eyebrow, a calculated look of surprise and interest on his face. "Tell me more." He didn’t let himself seem too eager, but the focus in his eyes gave him away.

Seeing that Xu Mo was interested, Wang Meng felt more confident and began to explain in a low voice, "This is what we learned trading information with other survivor groups on our way down from the north. Unlike regular zombies, these mutated variants are much harder to deal with and far more threatening. As far as we know, there are three main types:

"First is the Agility Type. These zombies are relatively smaller and thinner than the common ones, but they’re incredibly fast and agile, specializing in climbing and surprise attacks."

"Second is the Strength Type. These zombies are exceptionally burly, with bulging muscles and immense power. They can easily flip cars and smash through walls. Normal blunt weapons have little effect on them, and even rifle rounds won’t kill them instantly unless you hit a vital spot."

"The third, and most troublesome, is the Venom Type. They’re relatively rare but extremely dangerous. Their size is similar to a regular zombie’s, but their skin often has an eerie blue-green hue. Their mouths and fingernails might carry a highly corrosive venom or some unknown virus. If you get scratched or bitten, the wound festers rapidly. The infection spreads much faster than a normal zombie’s, and it can cause severe symptoms like high fever and organ failure. It’s basically a death sentence."

Wang Meng’s description was clear and detailed. This clearly wasn’t just secondhand information; it sounded like hard-won experience, summarized after personal encounters that had likely come at a bloody cost. Listening from the side, both Zhao Ming and Sun Xiaoyun’s expressions grew grim. It was hard to tell if they were hearing this for the first time or recalling some terrible memory.

Xu Mo silently committed the information to memory, his mind especially wary of the description of the Venom Type. ’Could the defense of my Cowhide Realm withstand that kind of corrosive venom?’ He wasn’t sure.

"This information is very valuable," Xu Mo said with a nod, acknowledging the quality of the intel. He then asked directly, "What do you need?"