"Mmm..."

  After a long fifteen minutes, Bai Ru, who had been lying stiffly to the side, suddenly shuddered. Her hands clutched the sleeping bag tightly against her chest as she finally heard the deep, resonant groan from the man—a sound so intense and satisfying, it was as if he had ascended to immortality. It was a sound of ultimate pleasure, unmatched by anything else in the world. Even the other women listening couldn't help but let out long sighs of relief. Unconsciously, their underwear had become completely soaked, and their bodies were drenched in sweat.

  Bai Ru buried her flushed face against her chest. She knew the man had finally finished, but as someone inexperienced, she had never gone through such a stimuting eavesdropping experience before. She had clearly felt the man's body trembling violently at the st moment.

  Yet, in that instant, a peculiar sensation overtook her. It was as if his shudders resonated within her own body. Every time he trembled, she did too. A wave of warmth, unlike anything she had ever felt, surged from between her legs. Her delicate face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she could do nothing but rub her thighs together uneasily. Her whole body burned as if she were a steamed lobster.

  "Not bad at all. No wonder you're the team leader—you learn fast! Didn't even need to be told to clean everything up properly. Hey, hey... don't look disgusted. You have two choices: either swallow it right in front of Lord Lin, or take it outside and spit it out. If you spit it out here, that’s an insult to him!"

  Cao Mei’s teasing voice was ced with mischief. After a few seconds of hesitation, the women distinctly heard Zhang Hong making a sucking noise—eerily simir to someone drinking yogurt.

  "I... I need to step outside for a moment!"

  As soon as she was done, Zhang Hong abruptly turned on the light, exposing everything in the room. Everyone could see Lin Tao leaning half against the wall, wearing nothing but a pair of rge shorts. His expression was a mix of satisfaction and awkwardness as he looked at Zhang Hong. To his right, Cao Mei was draped in a bck sheer nightgown, propped up on one arm, her other hand resting on Lin Tao’s abdomen.

  As for Zhang Hong, her appearance was considerably more disheveled. Her waist-length bck hair was a complete mess, as if she had been thoroughly ravaged. Her floral slip dress had ridden up to her waist, its straps loosely hanging off her shoulders. A milky drop of fluid clung to her chin, and under the glow of the light, her lips glistened just like Cao Mei’s.

  "Oh, come on! Keep pretending! You really think I’m blind?!"

  Zhang Hong sighed in frustration at the women, all of whom had their eyes tightly shut, feigning sleep. Despite the dim lighting earlier, she had seen them peeking in, watching the whole time. Now, seeing them hold their breath and remain completely still, she could only shake her head helplessly. Even though her entire body was sore and weak, she still managed to scurry away, knowing full well that her underwear was probably the most soaked among them all!

  "Huh? Lili, why are you still doing undry at this hour?"

  Just as Zhang Hong stepped out of the gss doors into the main hall, she ran into Li Li, who was just coming in. Li Li’s face was still flushed, her expression betraying lingering embarrassment. Even in the dim light, her beauty stood out, yet when she saw Zhang Hong, she immediately lowered her head in a panic, nervously twisting the hem of her shirt.

  "Boss Hu... he insisted on chatting with me. So... I talked with him for a bit."

  "Chat? What’s there to talk about with that cowardly man? Lili, listen to me—he’s not someone you should trust. There’s something off about him, so be careful!" Zhang Hong frowned, clearly displeased.

  "Mmm... got it, Sister Hong," Li Li mumbled, staring at her toes.

  "Go get some rest. I... I need to use the bathroom!" Zhang Hong wiped her mouth hastily and rushed off in a fluster.

  The next morning, after a full day of getting used to each other’s roles, the women all knew what needed to be done. Under Zhang Hong’s guidance, they worked in an orderly fashion. Lin Tao yawned as he walked out, dark circles under his eyes. Looking up, he spotted Bai Ru sitting on a gas tank, lost in thought. He walked over, greeted her, and tossed her a vacuum-sealed bread roll.

  "Lord Lin..."

  Bai Ru caught the bread and climbed down, her rifle slung across her back. Looking at Lin Tao, she asked, "We’re heading south, where the big cities will only become more frequent. Do you really think there will be survivor settlements?"

  "Large cities are unlikely to have settlements. The undead outnumber the living there. Even if there are survivors, they’re probably trapped, and there won’t be many of them. But in rural and suburban areas, I think settlements are still possible. I’ve come across quite a few before," Lin Tao replied casually, lighting a cigarette.

  "But I keep wondering... if you leave us at a settlement, how will we survive? Xue and the others already told us what Boss Hu’s settlement is like. For women like us, it would be no different than..." Bai Ru hesitated, then looked at Lin Tao with a mix of hope and vulnerability. "Lord Lin... if we have to rely on a man, we’d rather it be you."

  "Following me will only put you in greater danger. I carry things with me that you can’t begin to understand. I can’t even ensure my own safety, let alone yours."

  Lin Tao sighed, took a deep drag from his cigarette, then crushed the butt under his foot. "I know it’s tough for women in settlements. Tell you what—if you’re not satisfied with the next pce we find, I’ll help you find decent survivors and help you start your own settlement. That’s the best I can do."

  "You really won’t take us with you?" Bai Ru looked at him with uncharacteristic sorrow and helplessness.

  "Let’s talk after I finish my business in Nanzhou. Maybe we’ll end up together, maybe not. But for now, I can’t give you a definite answer." Lin Tao frowned slightly, his mood turning sour as he walked away.

  The vehicle rumbled back onto the road. The closer they got to the Yangtze River, the more obstacles they encountered. Everywhere they looked, there was nothing but desotion—wandering zombies, wrecked cars, and colpsed buildings. Their vehicle crawled forward like a tortoise, and the women, once excited, had grown numb to the grim scenery.

  "Ha! Look at that slut. Still wearing a miniskirt even after turning into a zombie. Hell, her panties are still showing! What kind of fabric is that? How’s it not rotten yet?" Boss Hu cackled, clutching his gun as he pointed at a female zombie in a bck skirt by the roadside.

  "Why don’t you ask her yourself? Maybe she’ll throw herself into your arms," Cao Mei scoffed, filing her nails with a sneer.

  "Tch!" Boss Hu rolled his eyes and continued watching the bleak roadside.

  After an hour, their way was blocked by a pileup of crashed cars. Lin Tao sighed and pulled the handbrake. "Bai Ru, Cao Mei—stay on guard. Zhang Hong, take the wheel. Boss Hu, you know the drill."

  Boss Hu groaned, grabbing his shotgun. "Man, China has way too many cars and people. I swear, I’m turning into a professional tow-truck driver..."