Chapter 196: 196, Carjacking

In these times, the various consortiums rarely disclose even the maps of their controlled territories, leaving everyone with a hazy understanding of geography.

Typically, people describe neighboring bastions as front, back, left, right, north, and south, but the exact distance in kilometers or precise direction remains a mystery...

As Ren Xiaosu mused, this bastion was likely a vast alliance, yet no one had managed to produce a complete map. Each consortium guarded against others like they were thieves.

Of course, he suspected that detailed maps existed within each consortium, but they were kept secret.

This led to... Ren Xiaosu, though determined to head to Bastion 88, found himself in an awkward predicament—he had no idea where Bastion 88 actually lay.

After pondering for a while, he said, "It shouldn't be a problem. It must be in the north. We'll get there if we keep walking."

"I somehow feel your certainty isn't that solid," Yan Liuyuan remarked, approaching Jiang Wu to inquire. It turned out Jiang Wu was equally clueless about Bastion 88's location.

According to Yang Xiaojin, there were two bastions between 88 and 109, with a total distance of 500 to 1,000 kilometers. Traveling on foot would be grueling.

Ordinary people rarely ventured beyond adjacent bastions; crossing such vast wastelands was nearly impossible without the resources of a consortium.

Thus, Jiang Wu's ignorance was understandable.

"Brother, are we really going to pedal bicycles across 1,000 kilometers?" Yan Liuyuan felt despair at the thought.

Ren Xiaosu considered it and said, "Perhaps when we reach the next bastion, we can find a chance to acquire a car and drive to Bastion 88!"

"Acquiring a car? Just say we'll steal one outright," Yan Liuyuan replied. "Qingshi's Bastion 111 is closest to us. If we're set on stealing, I suggest we target 111..."

"Qing Zhen and Luo Lan are probably on their way back to 111," Ren Xiaosu mused. "I think it's best we avoid 111. Those two are hot-headed; too much contact with them isn't wise."

"Brother, since you're so set on going to 88, that acquaintance you mentioned must be Yang Xiaojin, right?" Yan Liuyuan suddenly asked.

"Just you, always talking too much," Ren Xiaosu shot him a glance. "Get some rest. We'll start our journey tomorrow, heading north. If we encounter bastions along the way, we'll stop briefly in their outer settlements to gather information about 88 before moving on."

Ren Xiaosu felt it prudent to keep his distance from Qingshi's 111 and Li's faction, lest Li Shen Tan's wrath for vengeance somehow engulf them.

Thinking of Li Shen Tan, he couldn't help but feel that the young man, fresh from the asylum, had but one purpose in life—revenge.

At that moment, a lone wolf's howl echoed in the distance, followed by a chorus of eerie calls across the desolate wilderness.

The refugees, some already asleep, jolted awake, staring around in panic. How could they have escaped the clutches of the experimental subjects only to face wolves again?

Was the wasteland so perilous?

Someone whispered, "Look over there on the hillside!"

All eyes turned. Hundreds of massive white wolves, as large as wild buffalo, stood silently atop the slope, gazing toward them. These wolves defied the textbooks' descriptions—nowhere near this size!

If these wolves attacked the refugee camp, many would perish, and the survivors would struggle to flee their pursuit.

Ren Xiaosu remained silent. He knew they wouldn't assault the camp; if they had, the refugees would have died on the road fleeing 113.

Yet he couldn't fathom why the wolves had been trailing them.

He sensed the wolves' presence here was tied to their small group, not the other refugees.

Still, he couldn't be certain.

But the refugees knew nothing of this. Seeing the wolves, they scrambled northward in a frenzy.

"Follow the main group for now!" Ren Xiaosu called out.

As he spoke, Jiang Wu had already roused the still-sleeping students. Without question, they followed Ren Xiaosu's lead.

The group mounted bicycles, blending into the refugees' right flank. The path was smooth, making cycling far easier than running—far less exhausting.

"Don't pedal too fast. Keep pace with the crowd," Ren Xiaosu directed.

Yan Liuyuan glanced back and spotted Ren Xiaosu perched on Chen Wudi's bicycle, gesturing grandly as if commanding the world...

"You don't even know how to ride a bike, do you?" Yan Liuyuan asked curiously.

Ren Xiaosu replied with a straight face, "I can ride. I just lost my bike."

"Then let me ride with you," Yan Liuyuan said.

Ren Xiaosu spoke with righteous firmness, "Liuyuan, you're a grown man. You should ride your own bike."

Yan Liuyuan sighed, "Brother, you're the most shameless person I've ever met—no exceptions."

Behind them, Jiang Wu and the students rode bicycles, marveling at how following Ren Xiaosu prolonged their lives.

Suddenly, two refugees spotted the students on bicycles and lunged to seize them!

Everyone knew vehicles could move faster, and Jiang Wu's students looked easy to bully, so malice stirred.

Two refugees grabbed a student's sleeve: "Get off!"

They shoved the student off the bike, but Chen Wudi leaped down from his bicycle, closing the distance in a single stride. "How dare you before the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"

In an instant, Chen Wudi's fists and feet sent one refugee flying backward, his leg twisting unnaturally!

He steadied the bicycle and handed it to the student: "Be careful. If anyone tries to steal it again, call for me!"

The student stared, dazed: "Th-thank you..."

"Don't thank me! Thank my master!" Chen Wudi declared, waving his hand.

At that moment, only Ren Xiaosu felt most desolate.

He had assumed Chen Wudi was strong enough that sitting behind him wouldn't burden him.

But he never imagined Chen Wudi would jump off...

Clang! Ren Xiaosu, along with his bike, crashed in a heap.