The provincial capital surely was big. It took the autocade several hours through the beltway even with Heiyu and the Wolf King as the path-clearers. When they left the third ring, it was almost 2 pm. Everyone was slack-jawed as they saw the herds and herds of zombies before them. It was impossible to get through this mass.
Despite being down-hearted, they still had to fight it through. Obviously, vehicles were useless here so Mo Wenyang ordered space superfunction possessors to put the trucks away. Every 20 men a group, the expedition plowed forward at a slow pace. Lei Dashan and Chen Hua decisively took their men to join Peak and Chaoyang. With Heiyu and the Wolf King in the group, these level-3 guys progressed significantly faster than other groups. When they got so ahead of others, Yun Che was given enough time to locate level-3 zombies or take a look inside the supermarkets along the way. Sometimes, he even took Xing Feng with him to plunder the supermarkets in secret. They just put everything into Space whether they needed it or not. In short, the detours were worthwhile.
In comparison, others were having a tough time, keeping themselves alive in the fight alone had sapped them. The expedition hadn't made it out of the third ring by 6 pm. The night would only grant more power to the zombies. Mo Wenyang had no choice but to order everyone to clear a building that seemed safe. It would be their shelter for the night.
Drawn by the smell of flesh in the air, more and more zombies gathered outside the building, roaring and howling. Everyone nibbled on their field rations in terror. Put the military aside, normally, average superfunction possessors wouldn't even enter Lingjiang City unless they were with Chaoyang or Peak. It was an ordeal that they had to spend a night in the provincial capital.
"Oh, do you guys want the bodies of those dead mutant wolves?"
It suddenly crossed Yun Che's mind after he finished his lush dinner. No one had extra energy for that because everybody was tired last night, some people didn't even notice that he put the bodies in Space.
"It sounds like the bodies of the dead wolves were useful?"
Why would he ask if otherwise?
Mo Wenyang understood Yun Che's point right away. He wasn't interested in those bodies previously but since Yun Che asked, his attitude changed. He knew Yun Che as much as Chaoyang and Peak people did.
"What? Haven't I mentioned that the meat of mutant beasts is edible? It's actually quite nutritious to superfunction possessors. It's not as good as crystal nucleus but it can be a moderate superfunction boost and it strengthens your body and vigor."
Acting surprised, Yun Che explained the benefit of the meat of mutant beasts to everybody.
"Shit, why didn't tell us earlier? Now, hand over all the mutant wolves!"
The information keyed Mo Wenyang up, he sprang to his feet at once. All the superfunction possessors that joined the battle last night looked expectantly at Yun Che. Everybody would love a bite of meat, even better, the meat was good for them. Why wouldn't they salivate over it?
"Hey, why are you all looking at me like hungry wolves? You'll get the meat, but let's discuss how we apportion the bodies first."
Yun Che took a tough stance as well. He, too, was in need of the meat of the mutant wolves. And if it wasn't for Mo Wenyang, he wouldn't even want to share the meat.
"One piece for every participant."
More soldiers joined the battle last night than superfunction possessors. Mo Wenyang thought of himself as a clever man but Yun Che was by no means stupid, either.
"Bullshit, there are only 37 in total, and you got 100 soldiers on the exploration team last night. There would be nothing left for us."
After taking a glower at Mo Wenyang, Yun Che then proposed, "In my opinion, whoever killed the wolf gets the wolf. I don't care how the army apportions the meat, I know for a fact that everyone in Chaoyang and Peak killed at least one last night, so did Chen Hua and Lei Dashan. So we get 13, you get 24."
"Whoa, hold on, you've got a Wolf King, haven't you? And Xing Feng and two of your guys didn't really do anything, why do they get one for each?"
Yun Che initiated the haggle and Mo Wenyang was in.
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Hadn't we helped you, would you lot be able to kill those wolves on your own? You would have become their supper last night. And I'm not blind, after Yehan and our people killed their mutant wolves, they went to help your people. Xingchen used beast-control to aid you as well when he hit level 3. Why can't they get the meat? It's already a great deal for you, just take it."
"But 13 is too many. What about the Wolf King? You gotta count it in, it's also edible, no?"
"So you and Heiyu will be clearing the path in turns, huh?"
"Anyway, you can only get 10. No more."
Mo Wenyang was losing the argument, he just became unreasonable altogether. The Wolf King hid behind Heiyu in fear, thinking, "Humans are horrible. I'm still alive. Can't believe they are thinking about cooking me."
"12. No less."
Yun Che took a small step back. Lei Dashan and Chen Hua didn't make a sound the whole time, as they got Yun Che fighting for their rights. The soldiers and superfunction possessors who didn't take part in the exploration team last night, however, were very much regretful. They all heard Yun Che say that not only the meat of mutant beasts was edible, but it also could boost superfunction and strengthen the body. Who wouldn't want meat and become stronger?
"11. Last chance."
Mo Wenyang was insistent. Yun Che threw a contemptuous look at him. "Is this a flea market to you? Are we bargaining here? 12 or end of discussion."
But Yun Che himself was being petty too.
All the superfunction soldiers on the exploration team last night stared at him with their sullen eyes. Well, Yun Che always had a special talent for drawing haters.
"All right, fine, 12 it is then."
Mo Wenyang waved his hand and yielded to the home-guarding beast but his face was brighter than ever. He knew that no one would even remember the dead wolves if Yun Che hadn't told them their meat was edible. He fought with Yun Che because he had to put on a show as a commanding figure of the military.
"That's more like it."
Yun Che then took 25 dead mutant wolves from Space. The meat was in good condition, even the dripping blood was still warm. Mo Wenyang asked space superfunction soldiers to keep the wolves for now and had them apportioned back in the base.
"Lei, Chen, these are yours."
Like he said, Yun Che didn't care what the military would do with the meat, he took another two wolves out and gave Lei Dashan and Chen Hua one each. Loser and Joy both had their own space superfunction possessor. They said thank-you and put the wolves away. Unlikely the military, their wolf was for one squad but they both got a big family to feed so they, too, would eat the meat back in the base.
Other superfunction possessors just sat there and watched in envy. To their surprise, though, Yun Che walked up to them and put another two wolves in front of them. "Guys, Peak and Chaoyang will keep 10 because Chaoyang has a lot of people. These two are for you. You divide them the way you want."
Not expecting Yun Che to share the good stuff with them, the superfunction possessors froze for quite a while. Yun Che teased, "What? Not enough?"
"No, no, no. It's not like that, Captain Yun. We're just shocked. We didn't expect to get the wolf meat."
"Yeah, Captain Yun, thank you so much. You always take us into consideration."
"So generous of you, Captain Yun. I haven't had any meat for ages."
"Me either."
The superfunction possessors all waved their hands and denied. Not enough? No way. Even one wolf would be shocking, let alone two. After all, none of them was on the exploration team last night. Just by looking at how destructive the Wolf King was could they tell what a perilous night it was. Plus, Captain Yun was right, Chaoyang did have a lot of people and they only got 10.
"Hehe, you're welcome. We're all superfunction possessors, we should stick together and help each other. Chaoyang and Peak may use some of your help too in the future."
Yun Che sounded generous with a friendly smile on the face. But everybody knew him could tell he said it just for show. Yun Che needed these people to back him up when they were back or else he wouldn't have given them the wolves. You couldn't say he was stingy or hypocritical, though. He was genuinely generous to those who fought by his side like Lei Dashan and Chen Hua but not to those who didn't do anything at all. He didn't run a charity, he wouldn't just give stuff away even though he did own a lot.
"No problem, Captain Yun. If you need us, just say the word, we'll never say no."
"Yes. Just say the word, Captain Yun."
"Are you still recruiting, Captain Yun? I can be sure of one thing, be a Peak member, get a full belly."
"Haha!"
With regard to the unsolicited change of topic, Yun Che didn't have anything to comment but kept the smile on the face. Chaoyang wouldn't easily accept new recruits but Peak did need people. However, to be a Peak member, one would need to be more than a powerful superfunction possessor, every side of this person would have to be inspected and tested. Once Yun Che approved, even if this person's superfunction only sprouted, Peak would still welcome this person whereas if one or two things about this person dissatisfied Yun Che, he wouldn't waste one more minute even if this person was a level-10 superfunction possessor.
"How generous of Captain Yun. The military will also need to do a little something. Yang Peng, give 5 mutant wolves to the superfunction possessors," Mo Wenyang cut in, "Thank you for your hard work, my fellow superfunction possessors, please accept my gratitude."
"Major General Mo!"
Right after Mo Wenyang finished speaking, Major General Zeng called him to stop. All superfunction possessors immediately turned their attention to him. It was supposed to be controversial that Mo Wenyang wasn't the first to offer the mutant wolves, but the blunt interception from Major General Zeng was so unpleasant that it made Mo Wenyang look respectable.
"No, guys, don't get me wrong. I mean, our soldiers fought with their lives, let's at least ask for their opinion."
Major General Zeng hastily explained himself after receiving everyone's hostile stare. But he just made things worse. The superfunction possessors didn't feel anything better, instead, they even found this man repulsive. Mo Wenyang put on a serious face and lectured him, "Zeng, you and I are both major generals, how are we supposed to command the soldiers if we have to ask for their opinion? Extra work has been given to the expedition without notice, shouldn't the military at least offer something to our fellow superfunction possessors as compensation? I'm sure my people will understand and won't make a fuss about it."
"Uh…"
What Mo Wenyang said silenced Major General Zeng and soothed some unsettled soldiers. All superfunction possessors secretly gave Mo thumbs-up. Yun Che and Xing Feng saw it all. They made eye contact and nodded at each other. Mo Wenyang was one hell of a slick fellow who would seize every opportunity that he spotted. Zeng was crushed within a few words.