A series of hurried footsteps echoed from afar into the ears of those anxiously waiting at the gathering area, making everyone’s spirits seem to ignite with a new flame of hope. When they saw the road-clearing team return safely, joy appeared across their dirt-covered faces. After all, in this cruel apocalypse, every fallen soldier meant a loss of strength, while everyone returning unharmed was already a miracle worth celebrating.
When they were only a few steps away from the gathering area, the rich, fragrant, and tempting aroma of freshly cooked pork offal congee drifted through the air, causing the people outside to swallow repeatedly. After tense battles and complete physical exhaustion, a hot, delicious meal was no different from a refreshing stream healing the souls of people who no longer knew how much longer they could survive.
-“What smells so good, Big Brother?!” Aaron excitedly rushed inside and immediately bounced over to the fire. But when he leaned closer and looked into the somewhat strange-colored, thick congee, the little Bear became somewhat hesitant and suspicious. After all, having been born into a noble family, he found it extremely strange to see food that smelled so enticing yet looked so unfamiliar and crude. Even the refugees around them widened their eyes. They had never seen food with such a peculiar appearance.
With the keen instincts of an assassin, Chris only needed one glance to see through the nourishing ingredients inside. Although he had tasted countless delicacies and ordinary foods alike, this was the first time the little Wolf had ever felt such an intense wave of hunger.
When the soldiers entered and saw the unfamiliar faces, they immediately placed their hands on their gun holsters, remaining highly vigilant. But the old commander waved his hand to signal that everything was safe. He slowly approached Chen Luo, his experienced gaze examining the young man busy holding the handles of the cast-iron pot.
-“Hello, young man. Looks like you’re the ‘Big Brother’ those two outstanding kids keep talking about?”
-“That would be me. May I ask what you require?” Chen Luo calmly stirred the steaming pot with a large wooden ladle before raising his head and replying to the old soldier in an utterly composed voice. His confidence was enough to surprise even the old man.
-“Hello, comrade! I’m Galahad Brimstone. You can just call me Galahad. We’re brothers from Company C, Platoon 29, Squad 12, Group 6. On behalf of all my brothers, I sincerely thank you for sending these two outstanding young men to rescue us in time.” Although the veteran was surprised by Chen Luo’s composure, he still straightened his back and gave a formal military salute to show his respect.
-“Hello, Uncle Galahad! My name is Lin Feng. The two kids who just rescued everyone are Christian and Avalon, while the three girls over there are Celestia, Maria, and Aphy respectively—they’re all comrades who have shared life and death with me.” Chen Luo introduced them politely before smiling and extending an invitation. “If you don’t mind, Uncle, please come over and have some hot congee with your brothers. I’ve prepared more than enough for everyone.”
With his sharp, almost penetrating eyes, Chen Luo knew perfectly well that this group of soldiers had reached the limits of exhaustion. There was no reason for them to refuse his sincere invitation.
Chen Luo had calculated everything precisely. The huge cast-iron pot had enough capacity to provide more than sixty generous servings. Serving around thirty people was effortless for him. Although the cast-iron pot was heavy and scorching hot, Chen Luo lifted it with ease thanks to his extraordinary physical attributes.
Bowl after bowl of steaming pork offal congee was personally handed to everyone. The rich aroma of the bone broth mixed with the sharp fragrance of fresh ginger and ground pepper, instantly awakening all their senses. Crisp slices of pork heart and kidney, along with rich, tender blood sausage cooked to perfection, rested in the smooth congee. Everyone could not help but gasp in amazement after taking their first mouthful. The warmth of the food spread from their throats all the way into their stomachs, completely dispelling the lingering cold and exhaustion.
Chen Luo himself scooped up a spoonful and tasted it, feeling deeply satisfied. This was the authentic flavor he had once longed for in his old world. He had never understood why people were so obsessed with pork offal congee, but in this harsh moment of survival, he was completely won over.
More than thirty minutes later, the entire room was filled with the satisfied sounds of people eating. It had been a very long time since they had enjoyed such a full and warm meal. The refugees and soldiers repeatedly nodded toward Chen Luo with tears in their eyes in gratitude. In the chaotic apocalypse, merely taking care of oneself was already a life-or-death challenge, yet a stranger was willing to share precious food resources with dozens of people. Even if he were regarded as some eccentric “Holy Mother,” such an act was still extraordinarily noble.
However, in a dark corner of the refugee area, a pair of eyes as cold as razors secretly remained fixed on Chen Luo’s every movement. Yet only a few seconds later, that hidden gaze quickly shifted away. Although Chen Luo keenly noticed something unusual, he did not rush to alert the other party. He leisurely cleaned everything up and reminded everyone to prepare for rest. Night descended over the ruined city, and preserving their strength for tomorrow’s difficult journey was the top priority.
When the children and refugees had fallen into deep sleep, Chen Luo and the soldiers cleared out a small corner and sat there to stand guard through the night. They whispered and exchanged idle conversation to ward off sleep and the terrifying silence of the apocalyptic night. Occasionally, the wind blowing through the broken doorway mingled with the children’s steady breathing, creating a rare rhythm of tranquility.
-“Hey, young man... how exactly did you lead this group of people to survive and find us?” Galahad leaned against a collapsed brick wall and asked curiously. His massive build, bulging muscles beneath his worn military uniform, graying beard, and red beret made him look more like a weathered old general than an ordinary road-clearing soldier.
-“If I told you that finding this gathering area was completely by chance, would you believe me, Uncle?” Chen Luo smiled calmly. “As for finding your group, I have to thank Captain Zhang for providing the precise location.” Chen Luo did not hide anything, because in this situation, a clumsy lie would only make the other party more suspicious.
-“I believe you.” Galahad narrowed his eyes and stared deeply into Chen Luo’s eyes. “But for children as terrifyingly powerful as Christian and Avalon to willingly bow their heads and call you ‘Big Brother,’ I’d bet your true strength is anything but ordinary.”
As soon as he heard this, Chris, sitting silently in the dark corner, suddenly curled the corners of his lips upward. Without any warning, the little Wolf flicked his finger, sending a sharp dagger flying straight toward Chen Luo at extreme speed! The blade tore through the air in a cold flash, startling the soldiers so badly that they almost instinctively drew their guns.
*CLANG!*
A crisp metallic sound rang out. Chen Luo did not even bother turning his head. His hand shot upward like lightning, two fingers firmly catching the spine of the blade only a few millimeters from his eardrum! Immediately afterward, with a smooth flick of his wrist, he sent the dagger flying back perfectly into the sheath at Chris’s waist without harming a single hair.
Galahad’s entire squad stared in stunned silence, their spines turning cold. They were not amateurs—the dagger Chris had thrown was fast enough to kill any of them before they could even react, yet Chen Luo had neutralized it as casually as swatting away a fly. Galahad swallowed dryly, realizing that if the young man before him harbored any ill intent, every life in this room could be taken in the blink of an eye. He immediately abandoned his probing attitude and dared not ask any further questions about that power.
-“Actually, there’s no great secret.” Chen Luo took the initiative to ease the oppressive atmosphere with a calm smile. “A few days ago, we encountered an army belonging to a high-level faction. We didn’t directly clash with them, but I knew they had come with bad intentions. To survive, I had no choice but to eliminate them, but the news still leaked out. To avoid trouble and their pursuit, we had to flee and ended up wandering into this area.”
Chen Luo gave a half-truthful account. He cleverly concealed the details that should not be revealed, providing just enough explanation for his appearance without dragging the soldiers into dangerous trouble. His natural demeanor and unwavering gaze completely convinced Galahad.
The old soldier sighed, his eyes turning toward the dim ceiling as he asked in a low voice:
-“So, what are your plans from here?”