Several hours later, Grey and the captain's team walked out of the corroded zone. The constant vigilance on their faces slowly faded, replaced by a collective sense of relief. As the oppressive atmosphere of the zone lifted, they started a conversation, and Grey quietly listened in. One of the men who had joined the captain's party earlier had a strange expression on his face as he spoke.
"I heard that the Shadow Sect has taken over another corroded zone in the east," he said, turning to look at his team members. His gaze swept past Grey for only a second before retracting. The others, with the exception of Grey and the captain, showed a great deal of interest. They began to discuss the news with a mix of excitement and unease.
Grey's gaze lingered on the captain. 'I wonder what he's thinking about?' he thought, observing the man's impassive face. The other young man, Trogan, voiced the question on everyone's mind. "What will you do if they come for your scavenger camp, Captain?" he asked, waiting for the leader's response.
The captain stopped in his tracks, but he didn't turn around or say anything. His face became an unreadable mask for a brief moment before he continued walking. The silence spoke volumes.
"I guess that says it all," the young woman, who Grey had learned was named Luo, said with a slight shrug. The air grew heavy with unspoken tension. Grey was curious, but he suppressed the urge to ask questions. He decided that now was not the time. The other members of the party were not yet accustomed to his presence.
By the time the sun was a faint line on the horizon, they could already see the faint outline of the scavenger camp in the distance. When they were close, the captain broke the silence, introducing everyone. "That young lady is Luo," he said calmly as they walked. "She is in the sixth level of Qi Accumulation. The big man behind me is Zuro, he's in the seventh level of Qi Accumulation. And those two men are Trogan and Freis. They are both in the sixth level of Qi Accumulation." Each person offered Grey a small, weary smile as their name was announced. The captain didn't introduce himself, but Grey already knew who he was. 'Che leader of the scavenger camp near Glory City,' Grey thought, a grim nod in his mind. 'And he's in the eighth level of Qi Accumulation.'
As they entered the camp, Grey felt several gazes lock onto him. But the captain's presence was a shield. When he looked in the direction of those gazes, they immediately dissipated. The camp was a ghost town in the fading light. It was late, and most of the shops were closed. Lights were being turned off in houses and tents.
'So the technology here is still working,' Grey mused. He had not seen these things because he had been living in the dilapidated outer settlement. Now, as they walked through the inner settlement, he could see the vast difference. The houses were better built, with clear signs of advanced technology. It had been thousands of years since the catastrophe, and humanity had adapted, finding a way to cope, even if their advancements were in a state of suspended animation due to the corrosive substance.
Upon reaching the inner settlement, the party said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Grey continued to follow the captain, surprised when he left the more developed part of the camp and headed back to the desolate outer settlement. The captain stopped in front of a small, solitary brick house, which looked cozy but was shrouded in darkness. He nodded toward Grey, and together, they entered.
As the light flickered on, Grey took in the interior of the house. It was shockingly normal. A small kitchen, a living area, and a single bedroom. 'So the leader of the scavenger camp lives in a place like this?' Grey thought with surprise. He had expected a much more lavish residence for a powerful cultivator. 'I expected more from him,' he mused inwardly.
Grey's eyes wandered around the simple but well-kept house until his gaze landed on a small bead on a shelf. It had a delicate rope inside it, suggesting it was once a necklace. The captain, coming out of the kitchen, saw Grey looking at the bead and let out a soft sigh.
"Since I invited you to come with me, you'll naturally stay with me," the captain said, his voice calm and cool. Grey couldn't help but wonder how such a young man, with such a tranquil demeanor, could be the leader of a brutal scavenger camp. It didn't fit. The captain beckoned him to the table, which was now laden with several dishes he had seemingly whipped up in a matter of moments.
Before eating, the captain took the small bead from the shelf and wrapped the rope around his hand. His gaze was steady, but when Grey looked into his eyes, he saw a deep, unreadable melancholy. Grey, however, was far too vigilant to simply sit and eat. He was a cynical person, and paranoia was a constant companion. He stared at the captain, not touching his food.
The captain, noticing Grey's hesitation, stopped eating. He let out another weary sigh and took the dishes back into the kitchen. As he walked toward his room, he pointed at another door. "That's your room," he said, and then, he disappeared into the darkness of his own space.
Grey looked at the plain room, his thoughts racing. 'I wonder how he became like that.' The room was simple, with a single bed that was covered in a thick layer of dust. He didn't trust it. He sat down cross-legged on the floor and began to cultivate, knowing he wouldn't sleep this night or the next. He needed to be vigilant, to figure out the captain's true intentions.
In his room, the captain sensed Grey's cautious energy. He too closed his eyes and began his own cultivation, the air around him still and quiet.