Chapter 39: Bait

Three days had passed. Those who could escape had long since fled. Those who did not want to escape either stayed at home or had become meals for the beasts.

The minivan drove along the highway, feeling somewhat unusual. Occasionally, they saw scattered vehicles and people. They all stared in shock at the minivan coming towards them, unable to comprehend. How could someone still be running towards the sea at this time? Did they not want to live?

Thinking that Qiaomu Town might have been occupied by Fierce Beasts, and that the journey ahead was full of dangers, the atmosphere in the minivan became oppressive. No one spoke; they just silently smoked.

Zhou Liming did not feel much. He just stared out the window, watching the villages that were now devoid of people. Only occasional barking and roosters’ cries broke the silence, followed by deathly quiet. The fields were green and lush. The rice had headed and would mature in a little over a month. It was a pity that it looked like it would go to waste.

With almost no cars or pedestrians on the highway, Pheasant accelerated the minivan to 100 kilometers per hour. On a township-level road, this was considered reckless.

Perhaps used to Pheasant’s reckless driving, no one in the car spoke.

The distance of less than 50 kilometers was covered in half an hour.

Qiaomu Town was prosperous, somewhat like a small county town. Zhang Yibao told Pheasant to park the minivan outside the town entrance. He took a machete from under the car seat, jumped out of the car, and said, “The minivan’s target is too large. Who knows if there are Fierce Beasts? We’d better be careful. Since we are not far from the transfer point anyway, we will walk there.”

The others had no objections. When they got out of the car, everyone carried weapons. Zhou Liming was even handed a steel pipe.

Chen Shanji was reluctant. He said, “Brother Bao, in my opinion, we should just drive straight into the transfer point, and then make our escape with the fuel tankers. Don’t you trust my skills?”

Zhang Yibao glanced coldly at Chen Shanji and said, “Shut up. You know nothing.”

The group carefully crept into the town. Zhang Yibao even looked around cautiously. However, the town was quiet, with a deathly peace that made people feel a bit terrified.

Under the sunlight, the Small Town looked just like always. High-rise buildings still reflected the sunlight, and most shops on the streets were open. Various cars, motorcycles, mopeds, and electric bikes were parked on the streets. The only thing missing was the pedestrians and the continuous flow of traffic from the past.

Zhang Yibao felt strange. He said, “Don’t you think it’s too quiet?”

Indeed, the entire Small Town was too quiet. According to Zhang Yibao’s understanding, in county towns, villages, and small towns like this, there were many people who had not left. They preferred death to leaving their homes because they simply did not believe in the existence of Fierce Beasts. Even when they saw the central government’s orders on TV and the Fierce Beasts appearing along the coast, they still refused to leave.

In Zhang Yibao’s opinion, those people deserved to die. The whole world was in chaos now, yet they stubbornly believed it was impossible? By the time the monsters appeared in front of them, it would be too late to believe. But… what did it have to do with him? He didn’t care about their lives or deaths.

Feeling a bit nervous, and influenced by the atmosphere, Zhang Yibao waved the machete in his hand, as if he were slashing all those stubborn people to death.

“Ah!!”

A scream suddenly rang out in the town. Separated by a few streets, the echoing scream could be heard. It lasted only a moment before the town fell into deathly silence again, as if the scream had never happened. The wind blew through the streets, sweeping up papers and plastic bags left on the ground into the air. They flew for a moment before slowly falling back down.

Pheasant and the others felt a tightness in their chests. Fear appeared on their faces. They began to feel that the streets under the sunlight had also become eerie.

Zhang Yibao was also afraid, but thinking that he was ultimately the boss, his expression changed. He cursed, “What are you afraid of? The people you messed with before screamed louder than this. Why were you not afraid then, but full of excitement?”

“But… but Brother Bao, this is different. I always feel something is wrong with this Small Town.”

“What could be wrong? The transfer point is just one street away.” Although Zhang Yibao was also spooked in his heart, seeing that success was just around the corner, who would be willing to give up? People die for wealth, birds die for food. Let’s risk it.

Turning a corner, they saw a building with a structure similar to a gas station. More than a dozen fuel tankers were parked inside.

However, Zhang Yibao and the others had not yet had time to rejoice when they saw a Fierce Beast. Its head looked somewhat like a bird’s, but it had a long strip of flesh on the back of its head. It stood like a dinosaur, tearing apart a corpse and dragging out the internal organs to eat them. Occasionally, the Fierce Beast would raise its head and look around vigilantly. Its long intestines swayed in the air as it raised its head.

Everyone’s eyes widened. The bloody scene made Zhang Yibao and the others nearly vomit. Their whole bodies trembled.

“B-B-Brother Bao, l-let’s… l-let’s go. W-we… w-we won’t earn this m-money.” Chen Shanji stuttered. He felt his blood turning cold. His limbs became stiff with fear. The scene he had seen was too terrible. It had exceeded his limit of endurance.

Zhang Yibao’s expression kept changing. He did not expect victory to be right in front of him, yet a damn beast that was neither beast nor bird appeared. Looking at its two thick legs standing upright, anyone could guess how fast it could run. Discontent and fear intertwined, making Zhang Yibao almost lose control.

“We can’t go back empty-handed…”

Zhang Yibao suddenly thought of something. A fierce look appeared in his eyes. He pointed the machete at Zhou Liming and said, “You, go draw that damn monster away.” Seeing Zhou Limine dazed, he suddenly pressed the machete against Zhou Liming’s neck. “Do you believe I can kill you right now without any consequences? Draw away that monster, and I’ll give you half a tank of fuel.”

Zhou Liming’s face showed a stunned expression, then struggle. Finally, he clenched his fists and said, “Okay, I’ll draw it away. Remember what you said.”

Zhou Liming’s thoughts were simple. It was impossible for these people to draw away that Fierce Beast. Even if they abandoned him, he would find a way to stay. He could not drive. If they drove the fuel tankers back, so be it. As for their promise to share half a tank of oil, Zhou Liming was not worried about them not paying. At that time, it would be up to him, not them.

The expression he just showed was only an act.

Of course, Zhou Liming understood what Zhang Yibao was plotting. In his mind, he who attracted the attention of the Fierce Beast would definitely not escape its grasp. As long as he drew away the Fierce Beast and they successfully drove the oil tankers away, who would care about his life or death? The promise of half a tank of oil was just a big pie drawn by Zhang Yibao.

After all, dead people need nothing.