Chapter 45

As the sun gradually set in the west, the sky turned a golden red. On the gray-black wasteland, trees occasionally appeared, standing straight and tall.

Long Yuehong looked at the figures moving north in the distance and asked in confusion:

"Why do some relic hunters walk purely on foot?"

"Wouldn't they fall behind the previous group?"

Since parting ways with Wu Shoushi and the others, they had encountered several groups of relic hunters heading north of Yuelu Station on their way to Black Rat Town.

These hunters used various means of transportation: some drove modified vehicles, some rode roaring motorcycles, some used bicycles, and some rode tamed horses. Although the modes of transportation were varied, they all had some form of it.

Bai Chen, who was driving, glanced over and said simply:

"These are the ones looking for a bargain."

"How so?" Long Yuehong pressed.

Jiang Baimian, who was maintaining her pistol in the passenger seat, said without looking up:

"They deliberately walk, not wanting to be the first to arrive at the city ruins.

"This way, the relic hunters who arrive first can help them avoid traps and eliminate many dangers.

"Although this means they lose the chance to get first-hand information and select valuable items, it is safer. As long as they don't venture into the city center, their chances of survival are not small. After all, the city is so large that even a major force can't clear out all the peripheral areas at once, nor can they guard all the roads."

Long Yuehong first understood, then had a new doubt:

"But they won't be able to carry much, just by carrying things on their shoulders and in their hands. It would be better not to go at all."

Jiang Baimian looked up and sneered:

"It seems you really don't understand the city ruins.

"There are plenty of abandoned vehicles and various parts there. As long as you know how to repair them, you can 'prepare' your transportation once you get there. This itself is a form of gain.

"In fact, compared to those who drive there, they might end up with more in terms of quantity."

Long Yuehong thought about it carefully and realized it was indeed true:

Previously, Wu Shoushi's relic hunter team of four drove a gray SUV. Once they reached the city ruins, if they could avoid or resolve the dangers, they could at most bring back three vehicles and four loads of supplies. Any more would be impossible to carry.

If the four relic hunters walked purely on foot, carrying only tents and weapons, they could potentially get four vehicles and four loads of supplies.

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said to himself:

"The biggest advantage of driving is saving time and maintaining energy, right?"

"Exactly, so this group will definitely need to rest for more than a day at Yuelu Station. They don't need to rush." Jiang Baimian hung her "Union 202" pistol back on her belt and pointed to the distant group.

She then looked around:

"It's almost evening. We won't make it to Black Rat Town today.

"Let's find a hill or something to camp and wait until dawn to continue."

"Okay." "Sure." Shang Jianyao, Long Yuehong, and the others responded in turn.

Not long after, they found a small hill in the gray-black wasteland and set up their tents in a sheltered area.

Jiang Baimian, looking at the rising campfire, clapped her hands and said with a twinkle in her eye:

"Shang Jianyao, Long Yuehong, you haven't completed your midday tasks yet!"

"Huh?" Long Yuehong was a bit confused.

It took him a few seconds to remember that they still had tasks to complete at the steel factory ruins: one was to find some food using their own abilities, and the other was to draw a layout map of the steel factory ruins.

"But our exploration was interrupted by the cleansing ritual. We can't go back now; we have to get to Black Rat Town." He quickly defended himself.

Shang Jianyao, standing next to him, remained silent, smiling at Jiang Baimian, seemingly understanding that the team leader was "deliberately finding something to do."

Jiang Baimian looked around and said with a smile:

"So, I'll give you a task you can complete now."

She then glanced at her black digital watch:

"Before it gets dark, complete one hunt. The size of the prey doesn't matter."

After saying this, she looked up and said to Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong:

"Let me see the part of the map you've already drawn."

Shang Jianyao immediately handed over the paper with only the hospital and radio station areas drawn.

Jiang Baimian took it, unfolded it, and her expression became a bit strange:

"Why mark a toilet? It can't be used anyway."

Team leader, that's a strange thing to say... Long Yuehong didn't dare to voice his thoughts.

Shang Jianyao responded seriously:

"Attention to detail and realism are my requirements for drawing a map."

"Have you drawn maps before?" Jiang Baimian was a bit curious.

"No." Shang Jianyao shook his head frankly.

"Then say a..." Jiang Baimian swallowed the last word and waved her hand, "Go hunting."

Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong didn't delay, each carrying an assault rifle, they walked to the top of the small hill and looked around.

The weeds on the wasteland swayed gently in the evening breeze, contrasting with the gray-black soil and various rocks.

At a glance, there were only a few dozen trees, let alone active animals.

This meant that Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong couldn't even find a target.

"Which way should we go?" Long Yuehong asked out of habit.

Shang Jianyao looked at the small stream around the hill:

"Follow it. Find a river; there should be fish there."

"Right." Long Yuehong's expression relaxed.

He hesitated and then said:

"But can this be considered hunting?"

"From the purpose, it definitely counts." Shang Jianyao answered indifferently, "The only issue is how far we need to go to find fish."

"… How about we hunt other animals as well?" Long Yuehong suddenly had a strange idea, "Shang Jianyao, do you think you can use your 'Clown Detective' ability to trick the prey into coming back?"

Shang Jianyao looked at Long Yuehong up and down:

"First, you need to make them understand what I'm saying, and second, you need to make them stop and listen."

"… That's true." Long Yuehong opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to ask more, but ultimately didn't.

He thought for a moment and said:

"We can't just blindly go hunting. Let's ask Bai Chen for advice first."

"Okay." Shang Jianyao didn't mind and turned around, walking toward the jeep near the campfire.

Long Yuehong watched his back, silent for a moment, and sighed softly.

"Bai Chen, where might we find prey nearby?" Shang Jianyao asked directly after approaching the jeep.

Bai Chen pointed to an area with sparse trees:

"You can try there. There should be rabbits.

"Be sure to look for footprints, droppings, etc."

She briefly explained the techniques for hunting rabbits and concluded:

"If you were ordinary people, I would suggest setting traps or using tools, but your marksmanship is good enough. Just stay calm and don't panic."

"Okay." Long Yuehong and Shang Jianyao were suddenly a bit excited.

...

An hour later, as the sun's last rays struggled to set, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong, covered in dirt, returned to the campfire.

Shang Jianyao held a gray-white wild rabbit, blood dripping from it.

"You took so long and only caught one rabbit?" Jiang Baimian, who was comfortably roasting by the fire, stood up.

"The rabbits are too sensitive, run fast, and have many burrows..." Long Yuehong explained the difficulties.

Jiang Baimian smiled and added:

"Also, there were too many people passing by today, scaring the rabbits and making them even harder to catch."

"Right, right, right!" Long Yuehong quickly agreed.

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said:

"We underestimated the rabbits, thinking we could easily catch them."

"Good, this experience will help in the future." Jiang Baimian pointed to the campfire, "Pluck the fur, clean the blood, and roast it."

Soon, the rabbit was skewered on a thick branch, turning over and over on the red flames.

Bai Chen occasionally sprinkled salt on the rabbit, making its surface gradually turn golden and releasing a scent that Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong had never smelled before.

"It seems it will be delicious..." Long Yuehong and Shang Jianyao said in unison.

Jiang Baimian smiled and shook her head:

"It's just passable.

"There's no oil to brush on, no spices to sprinkle, and rabbit meat is quite tough. It's barely edible."

"Such luxury." Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong responded instinctively.

Brushing oil on the meat while roasting it is such a waste!

Jiang Baimian, who had been staring at the small rabbit, didn't look up:

"Sometimes, there's no container to hold the rendered fat, so you have to deal with it on the spot.

"In the wild, you need to adapt to the environment."

As Jiang Baimian spoke, she suddenly lifted her head and looked at the side of the hill:

"Two people are coming."

Long Yuehong, who was already on guard, immediately raised the muzzle of his "Assault Rifle" of the Berserker. Shang Jianyao and Bai Chen also looked over.

A few minutes later, they saw the two people.

It was a man and a woman. The man was less than 1.8 meters tall, around forty years old, with long black hair and a well-groomed beard, still looking handsome despite his age.

The woman was over 1.7 meters tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and a strikingly beautiful face.

Both were wearing loose, rare robes, one deep black and the other gray-blue, the latter adorned with various strange and abstract symbols.

Jiang Baimian raised an eyebrow and called out loudly:

"What brings you two here?"

The blonde woman in the gray-blue robe immediately stopped, covered her right hand with her left, raised it to her forehead, and bowed:

"May the Lord of Infinite Blessings be with you."

She spoke in perfect Gray Earth language, not the Red River language she should have used.

The middle-aged man laughed:

"I'm not familiar with her. We just met and smelled the aroma here, thinking we might get lucky and find someone generous."

"We might not be able to be generous." Jiang Baimian pointed to the small rabbit roasting over the fire.

"Since we've met, why not chat a bit?" The middle-aged man maintained his smile, "Not to boast, but everyone I've met praises my extensive knowledge and broad experience."

Hearing this, Jiang Baimian discreetly signaled Shang Jianyao and the others to remain on guard.

She then smiled:

"Sure."

PS: Two updates today, please give me some recommendations!