CHAPTER 612: CHAPTER 610: LUO CONG DEFENDS THE BUNKER

Large chunks of hail hadn’t completely melted, many of the bodies were still draped with ice blocks, only their limbs protruding.

Su Mo pursed her lips and couldn’t find the words to speak, and Lu Chen’s face also looked terrible, "Look for Luo Cong, he should still be alive."

The people moved those giant pieces of hail and dragged the bodies, horribly mutilated by the impact, together.

In the process, everyone checked the faces but Luo Cong’s was nowhere to be seen, and the superpower users who were with them said many were still missing.

Everyone was both happy and sad, sure that Luo Cong had led some to safety. Lu Chen’s expression eased slightly as he stood straight facing the pile of bodies, "Let’s send them off."

To prevent the soldiers’ bodies from being gnawed by mutant snakes and insects in this mountain forest, they had no choice but to burn them all with fire.

Gathering around the pile of bodies, those with hats took them off, everyone standing rigidly as they watched their comrades turn to ashes.

Watching the bodies slowly burn away, thick smoke rising through the woods, Luo Cong, hiding in the distant cave, saw the rising black smoke and immediately led his people in a frantic run down the mountain toward the site.

By the time all the bodies were completely burned, a slight breeze could lift a great swath of ash, and it was already night.

Luo Cong returned with some injured among his group; Lu Chen was not surprised as he and Su Mo sat by the fire, a pot of cooked noodles between them.

The atmosphere sunk to a low as he and the ten superpower users exchanged greetings, their eyes reddened from emotion.

"This hailstorm was too sudden; I never imagined it would be that severe. There was simply nowhere to hide in this area," Luo Cong sat down beside Lu Chen, his face full of pain.

He had done his best to lead the remaining people up the mountain, yet many were still killed below, mostly weaker common folk.

Lu Chen handed him a bowl of noodles, "Eat first."

Li He, hearing some soldiers’ cries of pain, stood up voluntarily, "I’ll go help treat them."

After slurping up her noodles, Su Mo wiped her mouth, "General Luo, now that your people are so few, why don’t you come back with us?"

Lu Chen put down his bowl and said, "They won’t go back."

Su Mo blinked in surprise, "Hmm?"

"We’ve already cleared out the bunker; you can clean it up and stay there. Just burn the vine-like vegetation outside with fire," said Lu Chen.

That was what Lu Chen had planned. After Luo Cong finished his noodles thoroughly, he finally said, "You want me to watch over that bunker?"

Lu Chen did not deny it, "I will return and find some engineers to bring back. The bunker can provide us a place to stay, and I intend to spend two years renovating it."

The gloomy and damp environment inside was something he did not want Su Mo to endure in a sunless underground life, they needed to find a way to let some sunshine in.

For Luo Cong as well, it was a good option; they didn’t have to trek to P city, the nearer Luohe was a better alternative.

On top of that...

He looked at the soldiers who were injured or handicapped by the hailstorm, his eyes filled with guilt; he really couldn’t afford to have more incidents.

"Alright, I’ll keep watch over the bunker," said Luo Cong.

Luo Cong agreed, and he extended his hand to Lu Chen, both men shaking hands in agreement.

That night, they pitched several tents temporarily where Lu Chen detailed to Luo Cong what they had encountered in the bunker, even hand-drawing a complete map of it for him and indicating where there might still be mutant creatures lingering. He even listed the attack methods and weak points of the insect hybrids.

Luo Cong listened intently and at the end, he clapped Lu Chen on the shoulder, "You’re really strong, youngster; I admire that."

The ten superpower users who followed them back also had certain combat experience. Before following Luo Cong back to the bunker, they specially came over to thank Su Mo.

Thanks to that miraculous tea and food, they were able to arrive here safely.

Su Mo was generous and handed over dozens of bottles, "Take care of the bunker. Save these for the road; they should be enough."

As they watched Luo Cong’s team leave, the four of them got on the war vehicle and hurried back.

Everyone’s hearts weren’t light; the refugee camp covered such a large area, and the hailstorm must have been terrifying.

Lu Chen and Jianxiong took turns driving, managing to cut the journey time down to half a month.

These past few days, Su Mo felt something was wrong with herself.

Every night, as she cooked for them, the smell of the grease made her feel uncomfortable and a bit nauseous. Thinking it was just the fatigue from the journey affecting her stomach, she didn’t pay much attention to it.

Returning to City P, from both sides of the car windows, they could see that the city was even more destroyed than before.

The hail had melted away a long time ago, but at a glance, the city was almost razed to the ground.

When she saw the towering city walls, Su Mo let out a sigh of relief.

The soldiers guarding the entrance of the refugee camp, seeing the familiar war vehicle returning, immediately opened the gates to welcome them back.

Su Mo, already overwhelmed by the bumpy ride, rushed out of the vehicle as soon as it stopped and found a trash can to throw up into.

Lu Chen patted her back gently, looking puzzled, "Your body has weakened lately, I’ll accompany you to the clinic later."

Su Mo shook her head, "Riding for almost half a month, it’s no wonder I’m throwing up. Let’s handle the important matters first, there’s no way my body has any serious problem."

Seeing her determined face, the man did not object further.

With their return, many people came forward to greet them; nevertheless, Lu Chen led the way straight to the hotel.

The hotel’s top floor, Zhao Changsheng, Li Qian, and Jiang Yulian, among others, were already waiting there.

Su Mo had just walked in when someone hugged her tightly.

"Finally, you’re back, I’ve been waiting for you for so long," Zhao Changsheng said as he pulled Su Mo here and there, and seeing her complexion looking a bit off, he asked anxiously, "Are you injured?"

"No... Motion sickness."

"You’ve never had motion sickness before," Zhao Changsheng said peculiarly.

Su Mo looked down, also feeling puzzled, "I don’t know, maybe because I haven’t gotten out of the vehicle for half a month, it made me sick."

Jiang Yulian also pulled Lu Chen back and forth, inspecting him. Seeing he was unharmed, she finally relaxed.

Rong Bai was already sitting in the conference room waiting for them.

After Lu Chen bent down to hug him, everyone gathered around the table, joined by Feng Yao, Jin Han, and others who had hurried over.

Rong Bai: "How is it? Is there hope for that bunker?"

"We’ve already cleared it out, Luo Cong is guarding it," Lu Chen said as he poured a cup of hot water for Su Mo, his hand still patting her back intermittently.