Hearing the voice, Cao Jingshan and the others couldn't help but feel tense.
When they turned to look, they saw Yu Ziming leading about half his squad, armed and aiming their weapons at the wooden planks protecting the old, weak, sick, and disabled group.
"Hand over all your money and supplies. If you don't, we're dragging you all down with us," Yu Ziming said arrogantly, his gaze fixed on Cao Jingshan.
He dared to do this because he'd already observed that his Level was the highest in this group, at Level 6—about the same as Cao Jingshan.
He hadn't dared make a move before, when they were numerous and strong, but now most of the fighting force—especially Cao Jingshan—had gone off to deal with Demon Beasts, so this was the perfect moment.
As long as they robbed enough money, entered the territory, they could live pretty well.
Back at his old Jiguang Village, robberies were everywhere. Don't think he didn't know—the mastermind behind those robberies was the Lord, so those who stole were never punished. Just to survive, he'd joined the robbing crew.
He robbed Demon Beasts, he robbed money, he robbed supplies, and in a short time he'd accumulated capital and built up his own squad.
But unfortunately, Jiguang Village couldn't withstand the sudden Demon Beast raid. In the blink of an eye, Demon Beasts infiltrated the territory and slaughtered at will; everyone scattered, and he could only flee with his team. On the way, he ran into Canglei Village and settled there for a while.
But that very night, Canglei Village also faced Demon Beast invasion. He figured it out: whenever the territory gets promoted, Demon Beasts attack.
But that's not the point—the real point is that after two rounds of Demon Beast raids, his squad used up almost all their equipment and money just trying to stay alive.
Originally, they could recoup by killing Demon Beasts, but then came this torrential rain, making their situation even harder.
This Hope Village, he wasn't clear on the details, but judging from previous territories, equipment would sure be expensive.
Plus, the Lord in charge has absolute power in the territory and can kick out residents. When they first arrive, they definitely can't rob openly inside—so they could only rob this refugee squad before entering, get what they need, and then go into Hope Village.
By then, with their squad's Level, if the territory needs people to fight Demon Beasts, the Lord of Hope Village will probably recruit them.
Sure, Huang Jingshan's squad has a few good residents—but they've got a lot of dead weight too!
Wounded, disabled, even a few women whose Constitution is poor.
He thought, not many territories would give up a high-fighting-force team just to accept so many liabilities.
Yu Ziming had thought through everything before pulling this stunt.
But you can't deny Yu Ziming hit a nerve with Cao Jingshan and his crew.
Because his wife and kid were right there in the group of "old, weak, sick, and disabled"—and his teammates' families too.
Their strong team kept carrying these "liabilities," simply because they were family.
The team formation used to be front and back—fighters in the lead, Yu Ziming's team covering the rear, all coordinating nicely until they found this territory.
They thought they'd finally settle down for a bit, but didn't expect Yu Ziming, who'd fled Canglei Village alongside them, to have hidden intentions.
Thanks to Yu Ziming's threat, several of the fighters like Cao Jingshan were instantly distracted.
Because if those wooden planks got destroyed, the "old, weak, sick, and disabled" whose Life Value was already low might have their Life Value drop to zero and disappear.
[Life Value -10]
[Life Value -10]
[...]
Hearing the Life Value loss alerts, Cao Jingshan snapped back, telling the others, "You guys keep fighting, I'll go negotiate."
The others, seeing the ferocious Magic Frogs and Yu Ziming seizing the chance, hated him to the bone, but had no choice but to grit their teeth and deal with the Demon Beasts first.
With the fight settling down, Cao Jingshan walked up to Yu Ziming.
"You followed us from Canglei Village, so you know we barely have any supplies or equipment left. If we give you everything, we won't even have enough to get into a new territory. That's a death sentence for all of us—if you push us too hard, we'll all die together," Cao Jingshan's tone darkened.
He knew the Doomsday Game made people's hearts turn fast, but hadn't expected betrayal to happen this soon, and at their most desperate moment.
Without money and supplies, how is that any different from death???
The apocalypse—is it wiping out humanity entirely?
Yu Ziming listened to Cao Jingshan, lips twitching. "I never expected you to hand over everything, but together it has to be more than 20 Gold Coins. Make up your mind quickly—I have no patience."
As he spoke, Yu Ziming deliberately knocked his weapon against the wooden planks, showing he meant business.
"Fine, I'll pay!" Seeing Yu Ziming aiming at his wife, Cao Jingshan agreed instantly.
You can earn money again, but lose your family and they're gone for good.
Cao Jingshan started gathering funds on the spot.
The fighters, for their families' sake, each handed over 1 Gold Coin, and the others protected by them obediently surrendered copper or silver coins, understanding their own lives were at stake.
All together, they only managed 19 Gold Coins.
"This is our limit—we need to save some just to enter the territory," Cao Jingshan said coldly.
Yu Ziming took the Gold Coins, his gaze scanning over Cao Jingshan's weapons, but in the end said nothing.
The other's weapons weren't even as good as his. Stealing them was pointless.
He flicked a glance at his Companions, who instantly broke off from the larger group—a squad of twenty-plus, all armed.
Their direction: Hope Village.
After they left, all you could hear were cries and wails.
"Those heartless bastards! My money!"
"How will we survive in the next territory?"
"Food and weapons are so expensive now!"
"If this territory can't survive another Demon Beast attack, we're finished—we can't escape again!"
Cao Jingshan rushed to his wife Xu Ximan and daughter Cao Zhu, "Are you alright?"
"We're fine, hurry back to work! Let's get to the territory as fast as possible—I'm worried our daughter's health won't last." Xu Ximan urged.
Cao Jingshan glanced at his daughter's pale face.
She was young, low Level; her Life Value couldn't compare to his.
Right now, Cao Jingshan felt a pang of regret—regretting he'd sheltered his daughter too much, never letting her kill Demon Beasts, so she hadn't leveled up and her Life Value was lower.
Clenching his fists, Cao Jingshan returned to the front line, joining the others in finishing off the remaining Magic Frogs, then addressed the group: "Let's keep moving! Stay behind them and head for the territory."
Yu Ziming's squad was clearly aiming for Hope Village; following behind them would save energy.
Hearing Cao Jingshan's words, most people, angry or bitter or heartbroken, could only force themselves onward.
Just now, when death was staring them in the face, they realized—
They were afraid to die.
If you're afraid of dying, do your best to live.
And just as the team was preparing to move out, suddenly, from up ahead, came the sound of hurried footsteps.
At the noise, everyone stopped. Soon a squad appeared before them—all dressed in matching leather armor, holding Long Spears unlike their own whittled wood, the tips gleaming coldly.
Even more striking, they wore bamboo hats and cloaks, so the falling rain never touched them—as if an invisible protective shield sheltered them.
That had to be Equipment, right? The kind that let you move freely in the rain.
How much would something like that cost?
It was obvious—this was a powerful squad!
Realizing this, Cao Jingshan and the others had just one thought: It's over!
Escaped wolves, only to meet tigers!
As Cao Jingshan debated whether to risk everything, the lead figure of the new squad spoke up, "Are you all alright? We're the soldier team from Hope Village, here for rescue!"
First to arrive was Li Xingteng. He looked his squad over, worrying, then seeing their tense expressions, added another sentence.
It had an instant effect: hearing they were rescue personnel, people's fear faded, replaced by disbelief.
Li Xingteng didn't let them linger, saying directly, "Follow us—we'll take you to Hope Village."
Next, the soldiers behind Li Xingteng turned their attention to the "old, weak, sick, and disabled" in the group. One of them noticed Cao Zhu.
This was the first child they'd seen since the apocalypse.
The soldier took off his cloak and draped it over Cao Zhu's head, "Here—use this!"
Soon, other soldiers removed their cloaks and lent them to wounded teammates.
Once done, they began escorting everyone forward.
Many could only follow numbly.
After walking some distance, they finally began to wake from their dazed state.
Had they really...been saved?