CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 23 SETTING OUT_1

"Dear friends and family, today we are to return to a civilized society, back to the embrace of our party and country."

"Today, we are going to say goodbye to the days of fear, living without water and electricity, and waiting for everything to restore order..."

Wen Yu stood by the window on the sixth floor, the window wide open, quietly drinking water while listening to Li Quan’an’s impassioned speech down below.

Below, more than three hundred people were scattered. Some had joyful and excited smiles on their faces as they listened to Li Quan’an’s speech, while some professionists were just observing coldly.

Wen Yu sneered, drained the water bottle, then turned and walked downstairs.

When Wen Yu reached downstairs, Li Quan’an’s mobilization conference had already ended. The busy crowd was constantly packing their luggage into the cars, most of them with smiles on their faces.

"Is everything ready?"

"No problem," Li Quan’an answered confidently.

"When can we set off?" Wen Yu asked.

"As soon as they finish packing, we’ll set off; might as well let these people enjoy a little more happiness." At this point, Li Quan’an had no room left for any sympathy.

"Understood. I’ll go get ready and be back shortly."

Wen Yu greeted Li Quan’an and headed towards the Exchange Stone Pillar.

With not many points left, Wen Yu directly exchanged them for a basic healing potion, stored it in his space ring, and used up nearly all his remaining points, leaving only a few dozen.

By now, Wen Yu’s preparations were all complete.

"Wen Yu."

A voice sounded from behind Wen Yu.

Wen Yu turned to look. It was Sun Ruixing.

Recent days had not been good for Sun Ruixing; being constantly scrutinized and monitored by multiple people was an unbearable reality for anyone, especially someone of his character. More importantly, given Sun Ruixing’s integrity, such treatment was somewhat too cruel for him.

"Yes." He gave a slight nod. Wen Yu didn’t have much to say to Sun Ruixing.

"Brother Wen Yu, I know things are beyond redemption. I’ve been thinking about this too. So, I hope if you have the capability, you’ll look after a few more people."

Sun Ruixing’s tone was full of helplessness and uncertainty, with even a hint of almost imperceptible despair.

Wen Yu hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Big Brother Sun, all I can say is I’ll try my best. This isn’t a promise. If the situation is good, I’ll try to save people. But if it gets too bad, I can only prioritize my own life."

"That’s enough... that’s enough..." Sun Ruixing muttered, then walked towards the ordinary civilians who were packing their things.

Lin Hu followed closely behind him.

「...」

"Set off!"

With a wave of Li Quan’an’s hand, the convoy of over three hundred people slowly started moving.

A group of over three hundred people wasn’t excessively large, but with the addition of dozens of vehicles of various sizes, it immediately seemed cumbersome.

Many professionists who couldn’t find a place in the vehicles trailed behind the convoy, keeping pace at a considerable speed.

Wen Yu and Li Quan’an sat in one car, with Li Quan’an driving and Wen Yu in the passenger seat. Bai Feifei was in the back.

Being in the same car as Wen Yu, and particularly with Li Quan’an also there, a fleeting look of awkwardness crossed Bai Feifei’s face.

"Will I be needed for anything later?" Wen Yu asked Li Quan’an, smoking a cigarette.

Li Quan’an hesitated for a moment, then replied firmly, "Not necessary. We can handle it."

Blowing out a smoke ring, Wen Yu said with satisfaction, "Not bad, Mayor Li. You’re a real talent. Now I owe you one. If I can’t help you later, I’ll make it up to you once we reach Chaihe Town."

Li Quan’an chuckled. "Hearing your words, Brother Wen Yu, puts this old brother at ease. As for whether we can break through, I don’t think there will be much of a problem on my end."

"Oh?" Noticing Li Quan’an’s confident expression, a flicker of realization passed through Wen Yu’s eyes. This Li Quan’an might have quite a few tricks up his sleeve, he thought.

What a crafty old fox, Wen Yu thought silently, then paid it no more mind.

The convoy moved slowly along the dilapidated and desolate streets. Many people hadn’t left the camp recently. Seeing their hometown in such a state, everyone gradually fell silent.

An oppressive atmosphere enveloped the entire group, until a scream pierced the silence.

"Help me, help me! Something has entangled me!"

A professionist at the edge of the group had been ensnared by mutant vines but was quickly rescued by other professionists who rushed over.

From their car, Li Quan’an and Wen Yu clearly saw this happening not far away.

"It’s starting." Li Quan’an’s hands clenched the steering wheel, his unease evident.

"Soon. Get out of the car and prepare," Wen Yu said, opening the car door and stepping out.

Following this sudden incident, the entire convoy gradually slowed to a halt. By this time, they were less than 200 meters from the mutant vine blockade.

"Everyone, everyone, listen to me! Don’t panic!"

Li Quan’an got out of the car, leaped onto the tallest truck in a few bounds, and shouted.

His resonant voice carried throughout the convoy. Except for a few professionists who were busy clearing away the encroaching mutant vines, everyone else was looking at Li Quan’an.

"There’s been a... change in the situation."

Li Quan’an cleared his throat and spoke directly, the usual gentleness gone from his voice.

"Ahead is Chaihe Town. As I said, Chaihe Town has been taken over by the government. However, the problem has arisen here in our Hualin Town."

"Hualin Town’s exits have been completely sealed off by some mutant vines. We must break through to find a chance of survival. Look, those are the mutant vines that just started attacking us."

"Now, I give you a choice: follow us and fight your way out, or stay in Hualin Town and wait for death."

As soon as Li Quan’an finished speaking, a clamor erupted from the crowd below.

"What do we do? I just saw even professionists get entangled by those vines. If we go up there, won’t we be doomed?"

"This Li Quan’an must be tricking us! He probably wants to use us as bait so he can escape himself!"

"Exactly! What if we die? I’m not going! I’ll stay in the car and not go anywhere. I refuse to believe these damn plants can crush a big truck!"

Amidst the crowd, a few people stood up, thumping their chests loudly, declaring their willingness to charge out with Li Quan’an.

These were ordinary people bribed by Li Quan’an, most of them relatives of the professionists who knew the truth.

However, these people were only a small minority.

"Alright, let’s get to it."

Seeing the crowd below grow increasingly rowdy, Li Quan’an directly gave the order to the professionists.