Chapter 0052: Leaving the Base to Rescue People

The night passed without incident, and early the next morning, just after 6 AM, Di Ping woke up as usual. His biological clock had become accustomed to this routine, and he always woke up around 6 AM. After a good night's sleep, he felt refreshed, full of energy, and his body was once again brimming with strength. As he clenched his fists, his bones cracked and popped, the powerful force surging through his entire body, instilling him with the confidence of someone who could conquer the world.

He threw a few punches, each strike powerful and swift, the sound of the wind cutting through the air with a thunderous roar. It felt as if he could punch through mountains or strike down a bull with a single blow. At that moment, with his newfound strength, he felt as though he could take on any mutated beast right now.

However, this wasn't the time. Di Ping quickly did a few physical exercises. With his rapidly increasing strength, he often found himself unable to fully control his power. He had already crushed several teacups in his hands. These simple exercises were helping him become more familiar with his strength and gradually gain better control over it. Though he had previously struggled with this, he now found the method effective. He no longer broke teacups with ease, though achieving complete precision was still some distance away.

"Di Ge, be careful on the road!"

"Di Ge, please be safe!"

Around 7 AM, a crowd had gathered outside the castle, and Di Ping stood at the center. Everyone around him looked at him with reluctant and worried expressions, as today he would be departing with Gina. The crowd had gathered to see him off.

"Alright, alright! I'm not going too far; I'll probably be back in a day or so! Don't worry about me!"

Di Ping hated these kinds of farewell scenes. It felt as though his departure would be permanent. Seeing the concerned looks of the others made his heart ache, and he quickly smiled and waved to calm them.

"Di Ge, take me with you!"

The overweight man, Fatty, looked at Di Ping with a pleading and expectant gaze.

"Enough, Fatty, stop acting like a woman. Stay here and look after the house!"

Di Ping was somewhat touched. Although Fatty was a bit timid, he was sincere and heartfelt in his loyalty. Di Ping gently patted Fatty's shoulder and smiled, offering reassurance.

"Cheng Chao, you're the most reliable here. Take care of things while I'm gone!"

Di Ping looked at Cheng Chao with sincerity. While he was leaving, he couldn't help but feel uneasy about leaving the castle in someone else's hands. Cheng Chao had proven to be dependable, and after observing him over the past few days, Di Ping trusted him with this responsibility. Among the group, Cheng Chao was the most stable and leadership-oriented. With him in charge, Di Ping felt a little more at ease.

"Di Ge, don't worry. I'll do my best to take care of everything!"

Cheng Chao stood at attention, his face serious as he made the promise.

"By the way, make sure the team keeps up with their training. Safety is the top priority; don't be careless!"

Di Ping suddenly remembered something and turned back to Cheng Chao, offering another reminder.

"Understood!"

Cheng Chao saluted again, his tone firm and resolute.

"Buji, I'm leaving you behind. Make sure you follow Cheng Ge's instructions and keep the place safe!"

After confirming Cheng Chao's temporary leadership, Di Ping turned to Buji, who was holding a fire axe. Di Ping had been unable to get a proper weapon for Buji, so he had to make do with this axe for now.

"Yes, master!"

The barbarian Buji responded simply, his deep voice sounding like the booming of thunder.

Di Ping felt there was nothing more to arrange. The castle would be taken care of by Barton, and with the tavern currently not open to the public, Wu An could handle it. The manor required more attention, but Di Ping trusted that Derin, who had been assigned to manage it, would do a good job. Furthermore, he had sent Old Luo to assist Derin, so the workload could be shared.

His gaze briefly scanned the group, stopping on the eager and concerned Yu Shujie. Di Ping exchanged a reassuring glance with her, while the other three women received only a quick glance from him. They hadn't known him for long, and he didn't feel the need to express much more.

With that, Di Ping and Gina set off, leaving the castle behind. Their figures disappeared from view as the trees obstructed the sight. Only then did the others slowly come back to their senses and walk back toward the castle. No one spoke, but the silent expressions on their faces showed that with Di Ping's departure, they felt as though something vital had been taken from them—like a pillar had been removed.

It was understandable. These people had always relied on Di Ping. In this new world, they had lived under his protection, so they never had to worry or think much. As long as Di Ping was around, they felt safe and secure. But now that he was leaving, they felt uneasy and unprepared.

Still, this could be a good thing. These people had been exceptional before the apocalypse, but they had found themselves without purpose when the world changed, forced to rely on Di Ping. They had followed his lead without question. Now, with his departure, they would have to quickly adapt and grow, transforming into true partners for Di Ping rather than mere followers.

Now, let's focus back on Di Ping and Gina.

Di Ping led Gina out of the neighborhood and onto the main road, heading south. The rescue site was more than ten kilometers away, and while Di Ping hadn't measured the distance precisely, he knew it was likely over fifteen kilometers. He had driven this route before, so he followed the road south for about five kilometers, then turned east, eventually reaching the underground mall where the small base, housing over a thousand people, was located.

The sun had already risen, casting red light through the leaves and onto the road. The grass glistened with dew, and the cool morning breeze carried a hint of chill, completely unlike the typical summer heat.

Since Di Ping had already scouted the route the previous day, they made good time, covering the first two kilometers in about twenty minutes. When they arrived at the cargo van where they had rested before, they hadn't encountered any mutated creatures. It seemed the animals hadn't stirred yet or were just returning to their dens.

Gina wore a black trench coat, her head wrapped tightly, revealing only half of her pale face. She walked closely behind Di Ping, having clearly fallen into the role of a loyal follower. Her sharp, keen eyes scanned the surroundings with alertness, completely different from the weak, timid girl Di Ping had first encountered. Her deep blue eyes flickered with intelligence, as though lightning might shoot out at any moment. Nothing seemed to escape her observation, and her serious, focused expression gave the impression of a seasoned soldier rather than a fresh graduate of a magic academy. Di Ping thought to himself that the system's training was truly exceptional.