Chapter 201, Captain, The Gate is Open.

Chapter 201, Captain, The Gate is Open.

Inside the hotel.

Li Yanhong sat at the table, resting her chin in her hands, staring intently at Wu Heng as he ate.

"What's wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?" Wu Heng asked.

Li Yanhong continued to look at him, smiling as she tilted her head up, "You're so fair-skinned and clean, really good-looking."

"Are you sick or something? You sound like a thug." Wu Heng replied, a bit speechless.

"Maybe I am!" Li Yanhong shot him a playful wink without backing down.

Wu Heng grabbed her arm and pulled her into his lap.

He reached behind her to unhook her buckle, placing his hand on her chest.

"You always start things up, but then leave them hanging. No sense of responsibility at all." Wu Heng said directly.

Li Yanhong wrapped one arm around his shoulder, kicking her legs playfully, "Letting you touch me doesn't count as responsibility? This place stinks, the air is gross. Who has the mood for that?"

After a slight pause, she shyly added, "Sooner or later, I'm all yours. Why are you in such a rush?"

If Wu Heng had insisted.

Li Yanhong would surely have agreed.

But, as she said, the environment here was a bit too grimy.

For Li Yanhong, it didn't feel like the right place.

Wu Heng didn't push further, leaning down towards her chest, "Alright, we'll do it your way!"

"Be gentle." Li Yanhong said softly, holding his head gently.

After a while.

The two separated, and as Li Yanhong put her coat back on, she asked, "Are we bringing all these goods back, or just leaving them here?"

The sudden appearance of strange goods no longer surprised Li Yanhong.

She didn't want to pry into her man's secrets.

Even if she did, she likely wouldn't understand the reasons behind them.

As long as they could continue their current life and grow stronger, that was enough.

Thinking too much in this world would only drive one crazy.

Wu Heng replied, "No need to take these back. Just have your team transport the shop's goods for winter preparations."

Fabrics, spices, and some ores wouldn't be of much use in the prison. They were better off being sold later when Rentam City settled down.

It would be a waste of time and effort to transport them back and forth.

It was better to leave them here, stored properly, as long as they didn't get dirty or damaged.

"Got it!" Li Yanhong turned around, "Help me fasten this."

Wu Heng walked over and fastened her coat, saying, "I've cleared out a few nearby neighborhoods. Have Qiangzi and the others scavenge them later."

"You've become really diligent lately. The prison has enough supplies for winter, so there's no need to rush." Li Yanhong commented.

"Just trying to gather as much as possible." Wu Heng responded casually, then added, "By the way, when you come back next time, bring over two heavy machine guns from the wall. I'll need them."

Li Yanhong looked puzzled.

Guns still had power, but they weren't that effective against zombies.

Plus, the prison's ammo reserves were limited.

She couldn't understand what he needed them for.

But since Wu Heng asked for them, she didn't question it. Then she quickly realized something, "The wall is guarded by skeletons. What if they don't let me dismantle them?"

Among living beings, skeletons only obeyed Wu Heng.

Unless ordered to follow someone else's commands, no one could control the skeletons.

If she acted against Wu Heng's orders, she might get attacked by the skeletons.

Li Yanhong didn't want to die at the hands of a skeleton due to carelessness.

"I'll tell Big Head to go with you and give the skeletons orders." Wu Heng said.

"Alright!"

After briefly discussing their plan, the two tidied up their clothes.

They walked out of the building together.

Wu Heng instructed the skeletons to gather, while Li Yanhong handed the map to Qiangzi, telling him where to scavenge for supplies.

Once everything was prepared, they set off.

They headed to a new location to continue killing zombies.

......

As dusk approached.

Wu Heng returned with his skeleton army.

The skeletons piled the corpses they had collected across from the hotel.

In one afternoon, they had cleared four residential areas of zombies.

His experience had increased, though he was still a bit short of leveling up.

The day's haul, besides the corpses, also included the discovery of two roadside banks, where he found a 100g gold bar and twelve 10g gold bars.

A pleasant surprise.

Inside the hotel lobby.

"Why don't you come back with me, then we can return together later?" Li Yanhong suggested.

Wu Heng shook his head, "You're all mine sooner or later, what's the rush?"

"Who's rushing?" Li Yanhong gave him a playful glare.

"I'll head back in a few days." Wu Heng patted her head, "Oh, and when you go back, check on the Alchemy Skeleton. Bring back some mental and healing potions, and speed up the production of those corpse-core potions too."

"Why do you think your skeletons would listen to me?" Li Yanhong asked.

"The Alchemy Skeleton is smart. It's no different from a regular person. Just talk to it normally, and it'll understand." Wu Heng smiled.

"Alright then!"

Li Yanhong wrapped her arms around his shoulders, gave him a look, then tilted her head and closed her eyes.

Wu Heng cupped the back of her head and kissed her gently.

After a while, they separated again.

Li Yanhong said, "I'm heading out. See you next time."

"Don't forget the machine guns and potions."

"Don't worry, I could forget a car, but not your stuff."

Li Yanhong left, boarding the bus.

She waved goodbye as she and the convoy quickly departed.

......

Using the portal, Wu Heng returned home.

As he came downstairs, dinner was already prepared.

Since the shop was closed again, Minnie and Andviel had nothing else to do.

They spent the day preparing dinner together at home.

The three of them sat at the table, eating.

Wu Heng asked, "Any news from the city?"

Andviel replied, "The outer district is almost empty. The houses are all vacant."

"What about the outer city?"

"A lot of people have left the outer city as well. Only some grocery and general stores are still open, and most of those who stayed are locals." Andviel paused before continuing.

If it weren't for entire families being here.

Most people would have fled by now, leaving the city deserted.

"Hmm." Wu Heng nodded, then asked, "Has Wen Mansa been by?"

"I went to visit Sister Wen Mansa yesterday. The Spikes Gang has been assigned patrol duties, and they're being watched closely, so she can't come over right now. She asked me to tell you." Andviel said.

The Spikes Gang was a faction with over a thousand members.

Even if they were given patrol duties, they would surely be under surveillance.

If that many people rebelled, the situation would become very serious.

It made sense that Wen Mansa wasn't coming for the time being.

"Got it." Wu Heng responded, not saying much else.

After finishing dinner and giving the two of them some additional instructions.

He headed to the guild for tonight's patrol duty.

The patrol assignment was still in the inner city.

Wu Heng led his squad around the area.

After walking a few circuits, they found a corner to sleep in once it got dark.

At dawn, they returned home to rest.

......

In the zombie world.

Wu Heng looked at the sunset-streaked sky and ordered his skeletons to clean the battlefield.

The skeleton army began carrying bodies.

They formed a long, thin line, moving back and forth between the residential area and the hotel.

Wu Heng stood still, watching, while checking his experience points on the panel.

[Level: 9 (49828/64000)]

In two days, they had cleared eight or nine locations of zombies.

The experience gain was slower than he had calculated.

But it was fine. By tomorrow, he would reach level 10.

According to the Book of the Dead, level 10 was considered a third-tier profession.

His strength would see a significant increase.

At that point, he would be better prepared to face the Warhammer Party's threat.

Once the corpses had been transported.

Wu Heng stood over them and cast [Battlefield of the Dead] again.

After a while, he returned to Rentam City, ready for tonight's patrol.

......

At the guild, in the squad's resting room.

Wu Heng pushed open the door, and all the squad members were sitting inside.

"Captain, where are we going tonight?" Duke asked.

"Outer city tonight. Let's get there early, finish the patrol, and then find a place to rest." Wu Heng replied.

Over the past few days, he had grown accustomed to the night shifts.

It was just a matter of walking a few circuits and then finding a spot to sleep until morning.

"Captain, my mom sent me a bearskin. It's really warm." Duke said, pulling out a black fur from the floor and draping it over Wu Heng to try on.

It was indeed a bearskin, with the bear's head still visible.

Seeing the bearskin reminded Wu Heng of the druid girl Yuli.

"This is for me?" Wu Heng asked, feeling the fur.

"Yeah, I told her humans wouldn't like this, but she insisted I bring it. I couldn't argue with her." Duke scratched his head.

Wu Heng glanced at him, "Alright, I'll take it. What did your mom get for you?"

"Just a blanket, which is already in your spatial ring."

"You can use the bearskin to keep warm at night. It's worth quite a bit."

"My mom would kill me if I used it. She gave it to you, so you should keep it."

The group chatted as they walked, leaving the inner city.

The streets in the outer city were mostly deserted.

Most of the shops had already closed.

Occasionally, one was still open, though it had usually been looted.

Wu Heng had underestimated the speed of the looting. It didn't take three days—people had already acted in one night.

"Marta, patrolling the outer city today?"

Suddenly, a voice called out from ahead.

Looking ahead, Wu Heng saw an orcish elderly woman carrying half a sack of rice, with an orc child holding each hand, walking down the alley.

"Ah, why are you still walking around outside?" Marta asked.

"Just came out to buy some things. Heading back now." The old woman grinned, her wrinkled skin bunching up like tree bark.

Marta nodded, "Get home quickly. Don't come out unless you have to."

"Okay." The old woman replied and walked away with her children.

Wu Heng watched her leave.

Marta explained, "Most families still have their entire households here. Many are choosing to stay."

"Aren't they afraid of the Warhammer Party?" Wu Heng asked, curious.

Marta thought for a moment and said, "Honestly...everyone's gambling. Gambling that the Warhammer Party won't break in, or that they just want to take over the city without harming ordinary people."

After a brief silence, Marta added, "Rentam City was never peaceful to begin with."

......

They arrived at their patrol spot.

Wu Heng led his squad up onto the city wall.

Several familiar gang members nodded in greeting.

From atop the wall, they looked down.

The buildings near the wall had been demolished, leaving a 100-meter-wide open area to prevent enemies from using them to attack the wall.

Guarding the wall were the Iron Guard Knights and some gang members from the city.

The Iron Guard was fairly serious, while the gang members were lazier, looking around absentmindedly and clearly not too focused.

To be honest, the gang members had been unlucky to be conscripted.

If they had been in a smaller gang, they might have already fled.

Now, they couldn't escape, and if a battle broke out, they'd be forced to fight on the front lines.

As night fell.

The sky became like a dark shroud.

Only the torches on the wall cast their orange-red light, the crackling of flames and faint murmurs filling the air.

Wu Heng led his squad along the wall.

After confirming that everything was fine, he waved his hand and said, "Let's go down."

The group quietly descended the wall when no one was looking.

They found an empty shop, laid out their blankets, and went to sleep.

Waiting for dawn.

......

In the middle of the night.

Shouts, curses, and the clash of swords and blades echoed outside.

Wu Heng's eyes snapped open, seeing the rogue 'Burke' standing beside him.

"What's going on?" Wu Heng's gaze instantly darkened.

"Captain, something's wrong. There's fighting outside." The rogue quickly reported.

The rest of the group had all woken up by now.

The noise outside grew louder.

Wu Heng motioned for everyone to stay quiet.

He walked to the window and looked outside.

Fires were blazing, smoke billowing into the sky.

Countless gang members, dressed in various outfits, were fighting the guards near the city wall.

Shouts and curses filled the air.

He could faintly hear the twang of crossbows and the agonized cries of the wounded.

Marta shared the vision of her tamed beasts.

Her face turned grim as she said, "Captain, the city gate is open. The Warhammer Party has broken in."

......

The expressions in the room immediately changed.

The Warhammer Party had made their move.

And they had breached the city walls in this way.

Wu Heng didn't respond.

Outside, the sound of battle grew louder, the fighting getting closer.

Bang, bang, bang~!

The door was suddenly pounded on violently.

At the same time, harsh voices shouted, "There are still people in here! Get over here, let's kill them all!"

Clang~!

The door was hit again, crashing down in a cloud of dust.

Five orcs, wearing various types of armor and with white armbands, charged into the room.

Their bodies were covered in blood, and they exuded a fierce, murderous aura.

But when they saw the people and the uniforms in the room, they froze.

"Guild...guild members." The orc who had shouted for help stammered.

Then, another orc shoved him aside and cursed, "So what if they're from the guild? We've already come this far, just kill them. Who's going to know?"

"Exactly. Once we take over the city, the entire guild will be replaced. What's there to be afraid of?"

"Kill them. Don't let them escape."

"Kill—"

Bang, bang, bang~!

Before they could finish speaking.

Wu Heng flicked off the safety and fired several shots.

The orcs in front were shot in the head and fell to the ground.

The remaining two hadn't even realized what had happened, and three of their comrades were already dead.

They turned and fled, disappearing into the chaotic streets outside.

"Don't chase them. Let them run." Wu Heng said.

Duke came over, standing in front of Wu Heng, "Captain, what do we do?"

Before Duke could finish speaking.

More shouting and noise came from outside.

The two who had escaped had returned, bringing more gang members with them.

They crowded outside, cursing and yelling.

Wu Heng's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the rogue in his team, then quickly looked away.

"Prepare for battle!"

As he spoke, he cast [Raise Corpse].

The three corpses blocking the door rose and stood to the side.

"Fight your way out!"