Chapter Ninety-Eight: Fever

“Brother, may I ask which survivor zone you’re from?” Cao Fusheng sat on a stone outside the outpost, addressing the dark-skinned man beside him.

The man’s name was Dang Wei, the temporary leader of their squad.

This outpost was located in a solitary building on the outskirts of ZZ City, relatively safe with few undead roaming nearby.

This was likely because all the predators in the area had been summoned to block the horde at Tianzhu.

Dang Wei smiled. “No inconvenience at all. Our survivor zone is to the north, called ‘The North.’ There are quite a few people there, mainly because it’s safe—a true paradise.”

“Oh? Paradise? Even more comfortable than Tianzhu?” Cao Fusheng asked.

“Not quite. I’ve never been to Tianzhu, so I don’t know what it’s really like inside. But I’m comfortable where we are—it’s probably just that I’ve grown used to it over time.”

Cao Fusheng took the cigarette Dang Wei offered, then pulled out a lighter from his pocket, lighting both their cigarettes.

Dang Wei silently thought this brother was straightforward. From the journey here to finishing the surgery on the unconscious girl, he hadn’t shown any arrogance or dissatisfaction.

Everything was natural and ordinary. Both groups got along without conflict.

“Anyway, we owe you our thanks today. If it weren’t for your help, our team wouldn’t have held out much longer,” Cao Fusheng said with a smile.

Dang Wei quickly waved his hand. “Not at all. Survivors from the Post-Genesis era should help each other. That’s the only way to survive. In these chaotic times, if we keep fighting and killing each other, how are we supposed to live?”

“By the way, I haven’t asked—what brings you to ZZ City? Don’t you know it’s surrounded by predators?”

Cao Fusheng paused thoughtfully before answering, “Of course we know. We came partly to see if there’s any way to treat our injured comrades, and partly to scout the situation around Tianzhu.”

Dang Wei was surprised. “You mean you want to take your team into Tianzhu? Forgive me for being blunt, but that’s impossible. You’ll understand when you venture deeper into the city and see the situation for yourself.”

“Even if you had ten times your number, it’s still impossible—especially with only five people. If I may speak freely, brother, why don’t you join us? Come back to the survivor zone with us. It’s very safe, and I guarantee you won’t have any trouble there.”

Cao Fusheng nodded. “Since you say that, I’ll think about it some more. I need to discuss it with the others.”

Dang Wei didn’t pressure him, keeping his tone light as he patted Cao Fusheng’s shoulder. “It’s getting late. The moonlit night is coming soon. Let’s rest here tonight. We’ve set aside a room for you. Space is limited, so don’t mind.”

“Thanks for the hospitality tonight,” Cao Fusheng replied gratefully, a touched smile on his face.

As the moon rose, the massive undead horde in ZZ City stirred violently—definitely not a good time to venture out.

Going outside now would be suicide. They had no choice but to follow Dang Wei’s suggestion and rest here for the night.

Moreover, Chu Wei had just undergone minor surgery and remained unconscious; they had to wait for her to wake before making further plans.

Back in the room, Shen Dong, Gao Yi, and Han Shuqing each took up strategic positions by the window, in corners, and behind the door.

No matter how friendly the others appeared, they had to remain cautious.

Chu Wei lay alone on the bed, her face pale and still unconscious.

But she was far better than before, no longer on the verge of collapse; her breathing was steady.

“Cao, how did the talk go?” Shen Dong asked eagerly as soon as he entered.

Cao Fusheng gestured for the group to gather and whispered, “So far, nothing unusual. Dang Wei’s behavior is commendable, but the better someone acts, the more suspicious I become. Normally, would someone open their heart and treat strangers so well without hesitation?”

Shen Dong and Han Shuqing shook their heads—clearly not.

Only Gao Yi spoke with uncertainty, “Maybe there really are people like that, and we just happened to meet them? Besides, they helped us save someone. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be cautious, but so far, there’s no reason to think they mean harm.”

“I understand. Tonight we’ll take turns keeping watch and observe their movements closely,” Cao Fusheng said.

Blessed with exceptional hearing, even inside the room he could pick up sounds from adjacent rooms.

They might not gain much information now, but if there were any signs of deceit, they would surely reveal themselves by late night when everyone assumed they were asleep.

At three in the morning.

Moonlight poured gently over the land, giving the eternally shadowed surface an almost sacred glow.

But alongside it came increasingly frantic howls.

Many kilometers from the outpost, the predators raged and fidgeted.

Cao Fusheng leaned against the wall motionless, seemingly asleep. Han Shuqing had fallen asleep peacefully in his arms.

The only bed was reserved for the injured Chu Wei.

Shen Dong was on watch, standing alone by the window, smoking, staring at the hazy white moon while lost in thought.

Cao Fusheng’s eyes were closed; he hadn’t slept all night. Suddenly, he recalled something Chu Wei had said.

Tianzhu had once established outposts in and around ZZ City, but all had been wiped out since the undead siege.

Yet this solitary building, though dilapidated from outside, was surprisingly tidy and well-stocked inside.

It hardly seemed like a temporary refuge.

This group was clearly not Tianzhu’s operative force, so the question arose:

Were these people allies or enemies of Tianzhu? Or did Tianzhu simply ignore survivor zones beyond the suburbs?

ZZ City had previously been occupied by Tianzhu’s scouts and squads; they were territorial and would not tolerate other survivor zones nearby.

Moreover, they hadn’t recruited outsiders in a long time; personnel losses were replaced internally.

The only one who might clarify this was Chu Wei—after all, she was an insider.

Cao Fusheng gently moved Han Shuqing aside and stood beside Chu Wei, lightly touching her body.

Something was wrong with her temperature.

Why was her body burning hot?

Shen Dong, noticing Cao Fusheng’s movement, tiptoed over. “Cao, what are you doing? Are you interested in her?”

“Chu Wei seems to have a fever…” Cao Fusheng frowned, whispering.

Shen Dong’s face darkened. He knew very well what fever meant—if someone was turning into one of the undead, fever was the inevitable precursor!