Chapter 46: 46, Mysterious death

Preconceived notions had led them to doubt whether Ren Xiaosu was truly the only doctor in the settlement. When they first met him, he was still living in a makeshift hut. How could he have become a doctor in just a few days? If he truly possessed medical skill, why had he waited so long to act?

In their desperation, an old saying perfectly captured their plight: desperate times call for desperate measures. Yet Ren Xiaosu’s response left them stunned. What in the world was a quack doctor?

“Get up,” Liu Bu shoved Ren Xiaosu aside, then approached the injured driver with concern. “Are you hurt? Does it pain you?”

Ren Xiaosu glanced around. Originally, there had been five SUVs and one pickup truck, six vehicles in total. Now only four remained. The two wrecked vehicles seemed beyond repair, though Ren Xiaosu knew little about cars. He’d have to wait for the private army’s soldiers to assess the damage.

Officer Xu Xiancu led his men to inspect the scene. The vehicle overturned by the giant deer was beyond repair—the engine had multiple dents. Yet the deer itself was not unscathed; Ren Xiaosu noticed a small piece of antler on the ground, cracked and broken.

Liu Bu asked Xu Xiancu, “Can it be fixed?”

“We’ll have to check the other one,” Xu Xiancu said after examining the vehicles. “That one’s beyond saving. The one that hit the tree wasn’t going fast, so the damage isn’t too severe. We can salvage parts from it to repair one functional vehicle.”

“Only one car?!” Liu Bu froze. “What about all of us?”

Xu Xiancu frowned. “The pickup’s bed can still seat people…”

Ren Xiaosu raised his hand. “I’ll go!”

“Go to hell,” Liu Bu snapped. He wouldn’t even let Ren Xiaosu ride in the pickup. Instead, he climbed into the bed himself.

Xu Xiancu hurried his men to repair the vehicles. During the work, he frowned and instructed his soldiers, “Secure the perimeter. Shoot any unknown creatures on sight.”

Though the private army’s bureaucracy ran deep, Xu Xiancu wasn’t foolish. If they didn’t stay vigilant now, it would be too late. If another giant beast approached while they were repairing the car, many would die.

Ren Xiaosu crouched by the vehicle, watching the soldiers work. He’d always been curious, eager to understand the mechanics of these “large machines.” To him, they held a unique beauty.

Civilization’s rebirth—this every detail was a crystallization of human ingenuity.

Liu Bu stood nearby, arms crossed, sneering. “Do you understand any of this?”

Ren Xiaosu turned to him. “I don’t. Do you?”

Liu Bu paused. He didn’t understand either…

“Look, you don’t understand, and neither do I,” Ren Xiaosu said slowly. “Why bother talking?”

With that, he ignored Liu Bu. The repairs lasted from morning until afternoon, while Liu Bu and the others debated vehicle allocation and defense strategies.

Some suggested shooting any creature on sight. Others worried about provoking them. The deer’s size alone might not be penetrated by bullets unless aimed at the eyes—but who among them had such marksmanship?

At minimum, they’d need to hit a nine-ring target at fifty paces.

Ren Xiaosu mused silently. These people didn’t know Yang Xiaojin was a master marksman. He himself had a six-in-ten chance of hitting the deer’s eyes at fifty meters. Yang Xiaojin, he figured, had at least a ninety percent chance—perhaps even perfect accuracy.

He observed Yang Xiaojin’s reaction. While others discussed handling the beasts, she remained silent, as if uninvolved.

Yet they found slight comfort in the fact that the deer was herbivorous. Had it been carnivorous, the group would’ve lost three or four people.

“These woods are mostly large herbivores,” Xu Xiancu said. “Otherwise, the wall would’ve listed them as priority targets. We’ll stay alert and avoid disturbing them. If we encounter carnivores, shoot immediately. Alright, the car’s fixed. Let’s move.”

Liu Bu added, “We’re short a vehicle, so we’ll need to reshuffle seating.” He told a band staffer, “Xu Xia, you and Cheng Donghang will ride in the pickup bed. Bear with it.”

The two, Xu Xia and Cheng Donghang, glared at Ren Xiaosu. They’d originally planned to let him ride above, but Liu Bu feared he’d eat all the rations, so they had to go themselves…

They grumbled as they climbed into the bed—until Xu Xia suddenly screamed and tumbled out. Ren Xiaosu stared in shock. Xu Xia clutched his neck, wailing in agony.

His face reddened, as if enduring unbearable pain. Within seconds, he collapsed, foaming at the mouth, his skin turning blue and purple.

Xu Xiancu approached cautiously, gun in hand. After confirming no threats nearby, he checked Xu Xia’s breath. His face darkened. “He’s dead.”

All stood frozen. How could someone die so suddenly?

Liu Bu trembled, asking Cheng Donghang, “What happened?”

Cheng Donghang, leaning against the pickup, stammered, “I don’t know. We climbed in together, and he suddenly screamed. I didn’t see anything strange.”

The rustling in the woods grew eerie. The trees were the same, but their hearts had changed.

This was their first death on the journey. Liu Bu roared at Ren Xiaosu, “What kind of route did you lead us on? Why didn’t this happen last time? Is your path cursed?”

“My path isn’t the problem,” Ren Xiaosu said calmly. “But even in the wall, you should know this wilderness grows more treacherous. I don’t know why you’re here, but I urge you to turn back to Wall 113 immediately.”

“No,” Xu Xiancu said coldly. “We’ve been given a death order. If we don’t complete the task, we don’t return. You won’t either.”

Ren Xiaosu sensed something was wrong. A single task wouldn’t drive Xu Xiancu to risk his life—there had to be more to it.

…

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