"Heh!" Lin Tao took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling a thin stream of smoke as he smiled and asked, "Boss Hu, what is your greatest wish right now?"

  "My greatest wish?" Boss Hu was momentarily stunned. He slumped back into his chair, his gaze dry and weary. "In this godforsaken world, who still dares to dream? We live day by day, every extra second we survive is a blessing."

  "Exactly," Lin Tao crushed his cigarette into the ashtray before him, then lifted his head. "We all die sooner or ter—it's just a matter of time. My biggest wish right now is to return to Nanzhou, my hometown. Even if I die the moment I get there, at least I’ll have returned to my roots."

  A simple phrase—returning to one's roots—stirred a deep resonance among those in the room. Most of them were not locals, having gathered here by chance and circumstance. Silence settled over the room as each person fell into their own thoughts. Even Boss Hu, who usually had something to say, leaned back in his chair, his expression complicated as he stared downward, lost in memories of his own homend.

  "Alright, it's almost nightfall." Lin Tao gnced at the bck aviation watch on his wrist before rising from the sofa. "Thanks for the tea, Boss Hu. I need to find a pce to rest. I have a long journey ahead tomorrow."

  "Uh… Lin, why not stay and have a meal with us?" Boss Hu quickly stood up, attempting to persuade him to stay. But as he turned to gnce at the dwindling food supplies behind him, he sighed helplessly. "We don’t have much, but at least we have enough rice to fill your stomach."

  "I appreciate it, really, but I brought my own food. Your supplies are running low, and you have many mouths to feed. I don’t want to add to your burden." Lin Tao smiled understandingly, shaking his head.

  "Sigh… who doesn’t know that? This food will st at most another half a month. Supplies are getting harder and harder to find. I sent twenty people out this morning, and none of them have returned yet. I fear the worst." Boss Hu’s face darkened, the weight of leading three hundred people pressing heavily on his shoulders. Just keeping everyone fed was an uphill battle.

  "When scavenging for supplies, it's best to send no more than five people at a time. If they can bear it, they should smear themselves with the blood of the infected—it greatly reduces the chances of being detected." Lin Tao noticed Boss Hu’s surprised expression and chuckled. "Just a little survival trick."

  With that, he pulled out the st two packs of premium cigarettes from his pocket and pced them on the tea table. Nodding to Boss Hu, he turned and walked toward the exit. Beside him, Cao Mei hesitated, gncing at Boss Hu. When he gave her a subtle nod, she quickly followed Lin Tao.

  "Boss, shouldn’t we take action against that guy? He’s got some damn fine weapons on him," Old Ma whispered as soon as Lin Tao stepped out.

  "Take action? With what? This rusted gun with a single bullet?" Boss Hu scowled, pulling the pistol from the table and tossing it into a drawer. He shot Old Ma a sharp gre. "That man came all the way from the north, alone, surviving every step of the way. He’s been to settlements with thousands of people. Do you think someone like that is easy prey? Listen up—out there, both the infected and the living are deadly. The moment he stepped in here, you lot had your eyes glued to his weapons. Do you think he’s an idiot who doesn’t know what you’re thinking? Hmph! I guarantee you, he's killed more people than infected on his way here."

  His words sent a chill through the room. The men, who had been itching for action, immediately reconsidered. They had encountered lone survivors before, but most were either half-mad or on the brink of colpse. None had the composure or resources of Lin Tao. Compared to their own ragged, malnourished appearances, Lin Tao’s well-fed condition and even the fact that he kept a pet dog spoke volumes.

  A shudder ran through them. If anyone had made a move to seize Lin Tao’s gun, they would likely already be corpses on the floor.

  "Brother Lin, over here!"

  As soon as he stepped outside, Lin Tao saw Ling Ling waving excitedly from the corner of a crumbling wall. Beside her, wagging its tail eagerly, was Michael, his loyal dog. Lin Tao gnced at Cao Mei, who now followed him obediently, her expression meek. Without a word, he led her toward Ling Ling’s small living space.

  "Brother Lin, we’ve prepared a pce for you to sleep! We tidied up the bed—it’s all set. Just y a clean cloth over it, and it won’t feel dirty at all!" Ling Ling chirped happily, linking arms with Lin Tao. When she noticed Cao Mei trailing behind, her face darkened. "Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be tending to your Master Hu?"

  "It was Boss Hu who asked me to look after Master Lin," Cao Mei replied cautiously, stealing a gnce at Lin Tao’s expression before biting her lip.

  "Hmph, well, we didn’t make extra food for you!" Ling Ling huffed but let the matter drop. Instead, she clung to Lin Tao, leading him toward her small sleeping area.

  "Brother Lin, come sit!" A’Xue greeted him shyly, standing up from the makeshift bedding. She was wearing a white shirt Lin Tao had given her earlier, and her nervous excitement resembled a university girl sneaking a boy into her dorm for the first time.

  Lin Tao surveyed their modest shelter. It was nothing more than a corner with an old, tattered mattress. The left and back sides were walled in, while the other two were covered with thin fabric for privacy. At the head of the mattress, a few jars and miscelneous items were neatly arranged. Despite the limited resources, their worn-out clothes were stacked with surprising tidiness. Wanting to make their guest comfortable, the girls had even found two half-burnt candles, which A’Xue hastily lit upon his arrival.

  "What’s for dinner?" Lin Tao asked, stepping inside.

  "We’re having the biscuits you gave us, but we made rice especially for you!" A’Xue said cheerfully, lifting the lid off a small bckened iron pot. The rich aroma of freshly cooked white rice filled the air. The mere scent of it made all three girls instinctively swallow hard, their hunger evident.

  "Huh?" A curious voice came from the neighboring shelter. A woman lifted the fabric separating them, revealing herself. Lying on a wooden board, she peered over and excimed, "A’Xue, are you crazy? You cooked all your rice at once?!"

  "Mind your own damn business!" A gruff male voice barked. A rge, calloused hand pulled the curtain back in annoyance, revealing the scene behind it.

  Lin Tao’s eyes flickered as he took in the sight. The woman, though attractive, y beneath a burly, naked man who was rhythmically thrusting into her. Her body rocked under his forceful movements, her long legs nearly folded against her chest. And yet, despite it all, she had still found time to question A’Xue about rice.

  "Damn woman, I told her to keep quiet," Ling Ling muttered, blushing.

  A’Xue’s face turned a deep shade of red as well. Embarrassed, she hastily wiped a pair of chopsticks with a napkin and handed them to Lin Tao. "Brother Lin, use mine. We boiled them clean—it’s very hygienic!"