Chapter Forty-Seven: The Tomb of Tenderness (Fifth Watch Presented!)

"I understand all of this! But I don't want to hear it. I'm asking you one last time, and I only need a definite answer: was my father's death in any way related to you?" Shen Dong wiped his tears in anguish, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on Huo Tian.

Huo Tian shook his head and sighed, "No."

After a moment, he continued, "Originally, I didn't want to say these things to you. In fact, I never even mentioned them to Xiao Bing. But now, things have reached this point, so I must speak plainly. Shen Lin was my brother; I would never harm him. Everything I have done was to protect this settlement, to provide a shelter for some people during these ruined times."

"Fine, I believe you. I have nothing more to say. I heard Uncle Huo intends to deal with me—well, go ahead." Shen Dong seemed to let go of everything. He gave a bitter smile, then fell silent.

Huo Tian opened a drawer, took out a pistol, and set it heavily on the table. Then he stood up and said quietly, "I truly did want you to disappear."

He picked up the gun and walked toward Shen Dong.

One step.

Two steps.

He came ever closer. Shen Dong gave a grim laugh, then slowly closed his eyes.

Perhaps, until now, his only obsession was to uncover the truth behind his father's death. He believed Huo Tian was responsible, which was why he stood opposed to him.

Huo Bing looked at Shen Dong with a complicated expression, then turned her face toward me.

I patted her hand reassuringly. Huo Tian had no intention to kill; I wasn't the least bit worried he would shoot Shen Dong.

"Shen Dong, you are a good kid. Perhaps before today, I did want to get rid of you, but now I've changed my mind." Huo Tian smiled, patted Shen Dong's shoulder, and gently loosened his tightly clenched fist, placing the pistol in his hand.

"This pistol belonged to your father. I have kept it safe all this time, being a sentimental man. Your father's death grieved me deeply as well. Now, I give this gun to you. You will remain captain of the Scavengers. I hope you will lead these warriors well, and not follow in your father's footsteps."

Shen Dong opened his mouth, staring blankly at the gun, upon which Shen Lin's name was indeed engraved.

He broke down, sobbing aloud. At this moment, Shen Dong finally shed all the burdens in his heart, crying like a child. Perhaps, after today, he will transform.

A smile crept to my lips. This matter was resolved perfectly. Whether Huo Tian was truly the culprit or not no longer mattered—the dead are gone, and pursuing it further would be meaningless.

And Huo Tian's handling of the situation was nothing short of brilliant. I couldn't help but admire his finesse.

"Brother Cao, I didn't assign you the captain's position as promised. I hope you don't begrudge your elder brother," Huo Tian said with a smile.

I replied indifferently, "I never intended to be captain anyway; it's not my style. But you owe me that knife—I’ve been coveting it. If you don't give it to me, I'll make trouble for you."

"Haha, of course! Absolutely! I'll have someone deliver it to your room soon," Huo Tian laughed heartily, clearly in good spirits, no longer shadowed as he had been when he first saw Shen Dong.

"Uncle Huo... I have a question. What will happen to the families of the fallen team members?" Shen Dong finally composed himself, though his voice was hoarse.

I thought, this kid switches faces quickly—just a moment ago he was cursing the old bastard, and now he calls him uncle. Clearly, his heart has been unburdened.

Hearing this, Huo Bing's beautiful dark eyes fixed intently on her father, and she covertly pinched me.

I was baffled—her jealousy was sky high! That affair with Han Shuqing wasn’t my fault; her father sent her over, and I couldn't refuse, especially since there was no harm in it.

For revenge, I pinched her back where she had the most flesh.

"Ah..."

Huo Bing cried out in surprise, her cheeks flushed crimson. She shot me a coquettish glare but said nothing.

Her cry drew the attention of Huo Tian and Shen Dong, who looked at us in puzzlement, unsure what had happened.

"Brother Cao... Are you crazy, pinching my butt..." Huo Bing whispered to me, afraid the other two men would hear.

I laughed awkwardly, not explaining. It was a complete accident! I just pinched wherever there was flesh, not realizing I had grabbed her bottom.

"Well, according to our previous arrangement, let's vacate the rooms in the middle sector. The Scavengers have suffered heavy losses recently; we'll need to select new members from the community and settle them and their families in the middle sector," Huo Tian said after some thought.

Shen Dong immediately objected, "I think our previous handling has been improper. This approach will chill people's hearts. Their husbands and sons risked their lives for the settlement, and after their deaths, you throw their families out..."

Huo Tian waved his hand to stop Shen Dong from continuing. "There's no other way. How else can we ensure the next batch of team members have a decent living environment? Besides, it's no longer appropriate for their families to stay in the middle sector. The best solution is for them to move to the lower sector and support themselves through labor."

Shen Dong wanted to say more, but Huo Tian continued, "Shen Dong, this is the apocalypse. There is no fairness left; everything must be done by the rules. Without rules, our settlement would be even more chaotic. Those who have value should live better. Keeping those low-value survivors is already an act of mercy."

Seeing the two about to clash over their differing philosophies, I interjected with a smile, "Actually, I agree with Brother Huo. While they're alive, their families enjoyed better lives than those in the lower sector—that's what the team members earned. Now that they're gone, their families have lost their contribution, so it's only right they move aside for others."

"But, to prevent people from avoiding the Scavenger team out of fear, I think we should offer some compensation. It doesn't need to be strictly by the rules. After all, people have humanity. For those in despair, a small kindness goes a long way—they will be grateful for even the smallest favor."

With that, I got up and left, not forgetting to give Huo Tian a meaningful look—the knife must be delivered.

Whether they took my advice or not was their business. What compensation they gave was none of my concern.

I just overheard the issue and offered a suggestion. Nothing more.

Back in my room, with my head resting on Han Shuqing’s soft lap, I sighed to myself: After a night of terror outside, nothing compares to the comfort of returning to the embrace of gentleness.