CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 92: RIVERS OF BLOOD (5.6)

Hoo—

Zhang Feng breathed out lightly,

"Stop standing still, start skinning and getting the meat.

Maybe we can make some anti-scratch gloves.

With the skin quality of evolutionary beasts, it feels like we won’t need to process it, and it won’t crack when worn."

"Alright..."

Old Gao and the others snapped out of their shock, picked up their tools, and began skinning and butchering with their clumsy skills.

’Is Zhang like a martial arts expert from TV?’

’Can a normal person really do this? Kill a six-meter-long crocodile?’

As they worked, they kept glancing at Zhang Feng standing with a knife.

"Cut from that side." Zhang Feng kept an eye on the surroundings while occasionally slicing the crocodile skin, ensuring most of it remained intact.

"Just slice the meat quickly."

Zhang Feng felt the noise was loud earlier, and if there were zombies nearby, they might swarm.

An hour passed safely.

Everyone had skinned and carved the crocodile meat, and everything was normal here.

But when everyone loaded large chunks of meat into their backpacks...

"Whirr, whirr..."

Another crocodile approached from afar, about the same size.

...

Ten minutes later, the group skinned the second crocodile but elected not to use it as food.

Because there was a zombie inside it, one of the three Zhang Feng had killed before.

Seeing this, everyone looked a bit uneasy.

It ate zombies, and would we eat it?

It’s like the cultivation novels where the beasts eat humans, and cultivators eat the beasts.

The group found it unacceptable.

But truth be told, they weren’t hungry yet and had meat from the first crocodile.

Though the first one could be problematic too.

However, humans are contradictory, preferring to believe what they see, ignoring what they haven’t witnessed.

Ultimately, when there’s nothing to eat, people need food, and logic doesn’t sate hunger.

Zhang Feng was indifferent, munching on snacks instead.

It’s not that Zhang Feng was afraid to eat; it’s just a conflict that can be avoided, so why waste thought on whether or not to do it?

Zhang Feng felt these were useless, energy-wasting thoughts.

Thinking about this.

Zhang Feng felt his mental state had ascended, seeing through the essence of certain matters.

Besides, crocodile skin could be used for armor, not bad.

This can’t be discarded.

...

They stayed in the mall for two days.

Found plenty of food, enough for the seven, including Zhang Feng, for five days.

The crocodile meat dried considerably on the mall rooftop, reserved as backup.

The remaining crocodile skin.

With crude skills, Zhang Feng managed to sew a few decent crocodile vests, gloves, and leg guards.

Quite a bit of material left.

"Fits well."

This afternoon.

Everyone donned the crocodile leather gear Zhang Feng stitched.

A whole crocodile squad.

Zhang Feng also wore crocodile skin over his clothes, with protections on arms and legs.

He moved around, feeling good, not stiff.

"Then let’s go."

Zhang Feng glanced at the group.

The mall has restrooms, and the water hasn’t been cut off.

Over the past few days, everyone cleaned up, and looked much tidier.

"Lead the way, Zhang!" Old Gao responded first, following wherever Zhang Feng indicated.

"Find a safe place." Zhang Feng didn’t hide his plan, explaining as they walked:

"Now broadcasts seem corrupted by strange winds.

I don’t know where any survivor bases might be, but a residential building is better than an exposed mall."

In a world with development potential.

Zhang Feng preferred to stabilize first, nurturing his body to be battle-ready.

With food and time at hand.

Zhang Feng aimed to play it safe.

Of course, if it’s a ’pressure time’ like those burrowing rats.

There’s no way to stabilize, you have to go for it.

That really tests your knowledge.

"The target is a residential building on the outskirts."

Zhang Feng pulled out a city map, "There’s a river behind and a residence area ahead.

I’ve heard this place is relatively quiet and remote.

Let’s establish ourselves here."

"Zhang is right!" Old Gao agreed fervently, "We’re at a key ’resource point’ at this mall.

Even if we know it’s empty, outsiders don’t.

It’ll be troublesome if they trickle in."

Old Gao sighed, "Some people have already lost their humanity, rules mean nothing."

"That’s partly why." Zhang Feng approached the door, "Better have fewer issues.

Zombies are a mystery; there’s no time to debate with clueless people."

"Haha, true!" Everyone laughed, a morsel of joy amid the apocalypse.

Ah Sheng also smiled normally.

Being with the group, he was gradually recovering mentally.

Upon leaving the mall.

Zhang Feng glanced around, seeing the ’dried-up’ zombies looking a bit plumper.

’Probably due to the recent rain.’

Contact with that rain slightly increased constitution, though minutely.

For these zombies, it was life-perpetuating.

Zhang Feng glanced but ignored them, leading the group through paths towards the suburbs five miles away.

...

Noon.

Avoiding some zombies.

Zhang Feng and the group reached this outer ring street.

Stepping into a three-story storefront.