Chapter 51 - 44: The Deal

Chapter 51: Chapter 44: The Deal

"What do you need?"

Wang Meng was taken aback, clearly not expecting Xu Mo to ask such a question.

But it was only a momentary surprise. He replied, "Food, preferably high-energy. And medicine, especially antibiotics and fever reducers." These were the survival supplies they were most desperate for.

Xu Mo didn’t answer right away, putting on a thoughtful expression. He had noticed Wang Meng’s surprise when he asked what they needed, and he realized the implication of his own words.

"Five packs of compressed biscuits, three cans of canned meat, and I can give you a blister pack of fever-reducing medicine. I don’t have much myself." Xu Mo stated his price, covering for his earlier slip-up. The offer was slightly higher than yesterday’s, but it wasn’t unreasonable for critical information about mutated zombies.

He paused as if he’d just remembered something and added casually, "Oh, right... do you guys... want any cigarettes?"

"Cigarettes?!"

The moment he said the word, the trio’s reaction was even more intense than when they’d heard the offer of food and medicine! A flicker of emotion crossed Wang Meng’s otherwise composed face, Zhao Ming subconsciously pushed up his glasses, and even the normally cold-faced Sun Xiaoyun’s eyes lit up!

"Yes! Of course, we do!" Wang Meng answered almost instantly, his voice tinged with urgency. In the precarious world of the apocalypse, a pure luxury like cigarettes played an irreplaceable role in relieving stress and even served as a form of hard currency for small-scale trades.

Xu Mo said nothing more and turned back into his house. A moment later, he emerged with five packs of compressed biscuits and three cans of luncheon meat. He also pulled a half-full pack of a common brand of cigarettes and a plastic lighter from inside his jacket and handed them all over.

Wang Meng’s hands trembled slightly as he took the items, especially the half-full pack of cigarettes. He solemnly tucked the cigarettes and lighter into an inner pocket close to his chest, then looked at Xu Mo and said with genuine gratitude, "Xu Mo, thank you! I, Wang Meng, will remember this favor."

With the trade complete, the atmosphere was even more relaxed than the day before.

Wang Meng looked at Xu Mo, hesitated, then asked, "Xu Mo, you’re all alone out here. You’re strong, but you’re still vulnerable on your own. We’re heading to the Jiang City Shelter tomorrow. It has a lot of rules, but at least there’s strength in numbers and some basic order. Do you want to come with us?"

It was a common invitation among survivors in the apocalypse, a gesture of goodwill.

Xu Mo shook his head with barely a moment’s hesitation, his tone calm but firm. "Thank you for the kind offer, Captain Wang, but I’m used to being on my own. I have no plans to leave for the time being."

Wang Meng seemed to have expected this answer and didn’t press the issue. He just nodded. "To each their own. In that case, Xu Mo, take care. I hope we’ll have a chance to meet again."

"You too." Xu Mo nodded back.

Wang Meng said no more. He led Zhao Ming and Sun Xiaoyun back the way they came, and their figures soon vanished among the ruins.

As she watched them leave, Sun Xiaoyun couldn’t help but whisper to Wang Meng, "Wang, that Xu Mo... he didn’t seem at all afraid that we’d double-cross him. He gave us so much good stuff for just a little bit of information..."

Zhao Ming pushed up his glasses and offered his analysis. "Either he’s extremely confident and has absolute faith in his own abilities, or he has far more resources than we can see and simply doesn’t care about giving this much up. Whichever it is, it means he’s no simple character."

Wang Meng’s gaze was profound. He glanced back toward Xu Mo’s shelter and said in a low voice, "That guy runs deep. He was so quick to part with those supplies not because he’s a fool, but because he doesn’t consider us a threat in the slightest. Besides, that gun he’s holding is the real deal, and it’s not just for show. Pass the word: everyone stays clear of this area. No one gets any funny ideas. We leave first thing tomorrow morning. We don’t need any more complications."

"Yes, Wang," Zhao Ming and Sun Xiaoyun replied in unison, their minds filled with a complex mix of curiosity and apprehension toward Xu Mo, the man who had claimed a corner of Cyan Pine Ridge Town all for himself.