Natural Disasters Strikes: I stockpiled like crazy!-Chapter 273: Enemies meet on a Narrow Road (2)

Two days on the road under extreme heat had already pushed the South Winds and the other teams—who had initially agreed to escort Lu Chenyu—to the brink of regret.

Unlike the bus and car that Nanzhi and her team were riding in, their vehicles had broken-down air-conditioning and no insulation coating. During the day, being inside felt like being baked alive.

Even at night, the heat inside the cars was unbearable.

If not for Lu Chenyu’s supplies, they would have abandoned him halfway and turned back long ago.

The South Winds and the other teams glanced toward the car where Lu Chenyu was resting.

"I thought this Lu Chenyu was smart, but he actually exchanged his supplies for spars at a rate lower than the trade market?"

"I refuse to believe this bastard is that generous. He’s always been greedy with supplies."

"Now that you mention it," someone added quietly, "I heard from someone who passed by Lan Fuyou’s residence this morning. He said Lan Fuyou was cursing loudly inside. It was noisy enough to hear from outside. Apparently, Lan Fuyou and Lu Chenyu had a fight. Lu Chenyu suddenly traveling in the middle of the night must be related to that."

"What? They fought? Then what about the escort mission rewards? Are we still getting the thirty kilograms of food and water he promised?"

The teams grew restless, anger bubbling as they imagined Lu Chenyu’s promises going unfulfilled.

Someone suddenly interjected, his gaze briefly landing on the fearless man lying atop one of the cars.

"Lan Fuyou still sent his precious right-hand man to accompany Lu Chenyu... That doesn’t seem right."

That was true. Lan Fuyou and his right-hand man were famously inseparable. The survivors had rarely seen the two apart, to the point that rumors about a strange relationship had even circulated. If Lan Fuyou had really sent this man along, then perhaps the rewards would still be honored.

Another person leaned closer and whispered, "But if Lu Chenyu has really fallen out of favor, doesn’t that give us a chance to take his place? I heard the Thorn Team was wiped out on their last mission because of the Iron Gale Team. Lan Fuyou might need people to fill the gaps."

At the thought of replacing those who had long bullied and exploited them, the South Winds and the other teams grinned. Still, they kept their voices low—the poker-faced man who could melt anything with fire was nearby.

They laughed softly while drinking water and eating the supplies they had traded from Lu Chenyu.

One person wiped the corner of his mouth after finally quenching his thirst. He stared greedily at the half-empty plastic bottle in his hand. "Just yesterday and today, the supplies he traded must add up to at least fifteen kilograms. I wonder how much he has left," he said maliciously.

"There must still be more in the trunk."

"If we can get our hands on it..."

"Ha ha ha!"

There was only one Lu Chenyu, and there were many of them. They were no longer truly afraid of him. If not for that fire-wielding man, they might have already robbed Lu Chenyu outright.

Inside the car, Lu Chenyu had just finished absorbing the spars he traded that evening. A surge of immense power flooded his body—along with an equally intense pain.

Erratic black energy, similar to what Nanzhi had sensed from Bei Mingsi, coiled around him.

He clenched his teeth, enduring the agony until blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The pain lasted for ten minutes. When it finally subsided, Lu Chenyu clenched his fists and smiled faintly, testing his strength. He was well aware of the conversations happening outside.

Lu Chenyu sneered.

When the time came, these people would pay for looking down on him.

Suddenly, Lan Fuyou’s right-hand man—who had been resting on top of one of the cars—sensed alien beasts approaching from this direction. At the same time, his connection with Lan Fuyou weakened sharply.

He gritted his teeth, suppressing the pain.

That stupid pig!

Without hesitation, he jumped down, got into the car, and drove back toward the base.

Lu Chenyu and the others heard the engine roar. They tried to give chase, but the number of alien beasts ahead had become too dense, forcing them to detour.

"Quick! Drive!"

"Damn it! What’s going on? Didn’t we clear this area earlier? Why are there so many now?"

Lu Chenyu started his car as well. Even with his powers, facing hundreds of alien beasts was too much. He had no confidence he could slip past them unnoticed.

At the same time, Nanzhi detected multiple energy signatures moving toward the flea market—followed closely by alien beasts.

She immediately woke Lin Weihao and informed him.

The ones on duty were Uncle and Feng Ran. Weihao relayed Nanzhi’s warning to them without hesitation.

They had no doubts—Nanzhi’s sixth sense had never been wrong.

Everyone was awakened. In the middle of the night, they set off, carefully avoiding both the cars and the alien beasts. However, Nanzhi soon realized something was terribly wrong.

There was a horde of alien beasts in one direction... another horde in a different direction... and now more beasts were passing through the flea market they had just left.

Their numbers were far greater than usual, and all of them were moving toward the same destination— 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Longmen Base.

What was happening there?

Although Nanzhi was obsessed with earning EXP, it was night, and the sheer number of beasts made fighting impossible for the others. This was not the time or place to engage.

Nanzhi’s car and the bus were now trapped in the middle, unable to move in any of the four directions.

Thunderous vibrations echoed as thousands of hooves and feet pounded the ground.

Just listening to it made everyone’s hearts race.

"We can’t stay here," Weihao said grimly. "Let’s find a safe place to hide first."

Nanzhi nodded. She zoomed in on the Virtual Map and quickly located a suitable spot nearby—one that could serve as both a hiding place and a defensive position in the worst-case scenario.

It was a small community center, surrounded by low-rise apartment buildings arranged in a square formation.

Weihao agreed immediately. Nanzhi contacted Baoyin to guide them to the location, since Uncle, who was driving the bus, couldn’t answer calls.

Baoyin nodded decisively. "Okay, Sister Nan!"

Just as the car and bus turned toward the community center, Nanzhi sensed several familiar energy signatures closing in.

Everyone noticed flickering headlights behind them. When they turned around, they saw at least ten cars—and behind them, alien beasts in pursuit.

Suddenly, the windows of ten cars rolled down.

Wind blades, metal daggers, wooden thorns, and earthen spikes shot out, all aimed directly at the tires of Nanzhi’s car and the bus.

Their intention was clear: sacrifice the people in the car and bus to the alien beasts so they can bid time and escape.

Nanzhi’s principles had never changed.

If you treat me well, I’ll treat you well.

If you don’t provoke me, I won’t provoke you.

But if you dare harm me, my friends, or my loved ones—

I will kill you.