Rotting Land: Survive

"All right! If you really plan to go, you need to move fast, because every time they let me out they set a time limit. If I go back late, I’m afraid they’ll do something to Demmi and Zhao Lina."

Although he didn’t think much of these people’s chances, Derek had no choice when it came to the safety of the woman he loved.

Nodding, Tang Xiaoquan had no objection to Derek’s proposal; he had already decided to send people to the school as soon as possible.

After all, the sooner they moved, the sooner they could rescue Zhao Lina from the wolves’ den, and it would also help ease Old Zhao’s worried heart.

Time ticked by second after second; that night all the Survivors were in a state of high alert. It wasn’t until dawn that Xu Renjie returned from the front with Hu Xiaodong, Wei Dazhuang and the others.

"How is it? Old Xu, did you find anything?" As soon as Old Xu stepped through the door, Bi Dahu grabbed him. The whole night’s waiting, everyone’s hopes, all hinged on Old Xu’s answer.

Old Xu first picked up a porcelain bowl, filled it to the brim with clear water, and only then replied, "I checked it; didn’t find any tracks. The village is safe for now."

With that, amid everyone’s sighs of relief, Old Xu tilted his head back and drained the bowl.

Wiping the water from his lips with a sweep of his sleeve, Old Xu pulled over a stool and sat down, then asked, "Old Zhao, how were things here after I left? Anything happen?"

Dead silence. Old Xu got no reply from Old Zhao; he assumed the man hadn’t heard, so he casually repeated his question: "Old Zhao, everything at home still okay?"

Still no sound. This time Old Xu felt something was off. He raised his eyes and glanced at Zhao Yunhai in the corner, and only then did he notice that Old Zhao seemed to have aged a lot overnight. His once black hair now had a few silver strands at the temples.

The sensitive Old Xu immediately realized something must have happened. His gaze swept over everyone in the room and he saw that their faces were all clouded with a heavy, indescribable expression.

His heart clenched at once. Ignoring everything else, Old Xu asked, "What’s with all of you? What happened?"

In the end Old Xu fixed his eyes on Derek; clearly, he had decided that the source of the problem had to be this young man.

Being stared at like that by Old Xu, Derek felt extremely uncomfortable. The scene of Old Xu one-handedly locking his throat last night flashed in his mind; he instinctively turned his head away, not daring to meet his gaze.

Which only further confirmed Old Xu’s suspicions.

Just as Old Xu was about to ask again, Tang Xiaoquan let out a soft sigh and said, "Old Xu, step outside for a bit."

He paused for a moment, but when he saw the meaningful look on Tang Xiaoquan’s face, Old Xu didn’t say anything more and followed the young man out of the house.

Outside, Hu Xiaodong and Wei Dazhuang were squatting and smoking. Seeing Old Xu and Tang Xiaoquan come out, they both greeted them.

After responding, Tang Xiaoquan pulled Old Xu into a corner; as soon as they stopped, Old Xu frowned and asked, "Xiao Tang, tell me honestly, did something happen at home? And why is Old Zhao’s mental state so bad?"

Tang Xiaoquan sighed and said bluntly, "We found a lead on Old Zhao’s daughter."

"What!" Xu Renjie’s brain almost couldn’t keep up. It was no wonder—after being gone just one night, he came back and was immediately told that Old Zhao’s daughter had been found. How could such explosive news not shock Old Xu?

"W-what the hell is going on?"

"Here’s the situation..."

So Tang Xiaoquan went over everything that had happened during last night’s interrogation. After hearing it, the wrinkles between Old Xu’s brows deepened.

He thought for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Do you believe what that kid said?"

"Hmph." Tang Xiaoquan gave a short snort and shook his head.

"Then why are you still planning to take the risk?"

"Old Zhao! For Old Zhao! If we don’t help him with this, he’ll definitely insist on going himself. With his abilities, never mind rescuing anyone, he probably couldn’t even get into the school. So... we have to help him. Besides, from talking with Derek yesterday, I feel like that kid still has some humanity in his bones; he doesn’t seem like an absolutely irredeemable bastard. Of course, that’s just my personal judgment. But one thing is almost one hundred percent certain: Old Zhao’s daughter Zhao Lina is trapped in the school. What I’m worried about now is whether Zhao Lina is still..."

"Alive." Tang Xiaoquan ultimately couldn’t bring himself to say those two words aloud. The reason he’d pulled Old Xu out here alone was precisely because he didn’t want to rub salt into Old Zhao’s wounds in front of him.

After listening to Tang Xiaoquan’s analysis, Xu Renjie lowered his head and thought for a moment, then raised it again and said firmly, "No matter what’s become of Old Zhao’s daughter, this is something we have to handle!"

There was nothing to hesitate over. A bunch of little Japanese punks daring to act so arrogantly, throwing their weight around on Huaxia Land?

Just for that, as a member of the Sharp Blade Company, Old Xu absolutely couldn’t just stand by.

With Old Xu’s words, the big stone in Tang Xiaoquan’s heart finally dropped.

He might desperately want to help Old Zhao, but when it came to actually carrying it out, he still had to rely on capable people like Xu Renjie.

"Since that’s the case, Old Xu, let’s go back in and discuss the specific plan."

"Okay!" With a big wave of his hand, Xu Renjie went back inside with Tang Xiaoquan.

In the living room, the atmosphere was still heavy. As soon as Old Xu entered, he called out to Wu Chao and told him to take Derek outside.

After all, what they were about to discuss was the action plan. Naturally, they couldn’t let someone like Derek, whose identity was still unclear, hear any of it.

He walked over to Old Zhao. Now that he understood the situation, Old Xu fully grasped the pain this man in front of him was feeling.

He might not be married and have kids, but Old Xu still knew perfectly well what a father’s love was.

He reached out and patted Old Zhao’s shoulder. Seeing this tough man so dejected made Old Xu feel terrible, and his hatred for those damned little Japanese punks shot through the roof.

"Old Zhao! Don’t worry, we’ll help you get your daughter out. I swear those dogshit bastards will get what they deserve!"

The Sharp Blade Company never lightly makes promises to people, but once they do, no matter who you are, no matter where you are, they’ll hunt you to the ends of the earth—Blood Sword in hand, they’ll carve out their merit.

This is the dominance of Huaxia soldiers!

"Old Xu, I know it’s kind of discouraging to bring this up right now, but have you really thought it through—are you actually planning to go to the school?"

"Hey, Old Bi, what’s that supposed to mean? Of course we’re going to the school! What, you scared?" Hearing the hesitation in Bi Dahu’s tone, Wen Quanxin shot back, displeased.

"Xiao Wen, what kind of talk is that! When did I ever say I was scared? I mean, we’re going, sure—but what about that kid? What if he sets us up? Can you guarantee everything he said last night was true?"

"Who cares if it’s true or not, it’s just a few pieces of crap. We’ll just storm in and hack them to death! What the hell is there to be scared of!"

Wen Quanxin stuck his neck out high, as if that were the only way to show his resolve. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)