Chapter 37: River and Stream Warehousing

Amidst the chaotic clamor and lingering wails, Chen Xiao and his companions departed from the warehouse complex. The only silent witness to the massacre was a pool of water in the rooftop room.

"Chen Xiao, where are we heading now?" The question came from Jiang Yunhan. At some point, he had begun to defer to Chen Xiao’s judgment.

Chen Xiao pondered for a moment. "The Jianghe Granary!"

Jiang Yunhan nodded; the answer matched his own thoughts perfectly. It was the most likely place to find Chuxue and the others. After all, the winding, thousand-mile-long Menglong River stood as a barrier between Jiangbei and Jiangnan. To cross it, there were only two options: the sea route via the Cangzhou Port—which was too far from Jiangbei to be practical for refugees—or the air route via flight-based abilities or aircraft, neither of which the trio possessed.

That left the final option: the bridge. The Jianghe Bridge. It stood like a colossal dragon, towering majestically over the shimmering river, a landmark that had been a 5A-rated tourist destination before the apocalypse. And nestled right beside the Jianghe Bridge was a major faction: the Jianghe Granary.

It was a far more formidable survival stronghold than the warehouse. It was bound to be crawling with powerful individuals who would never let a lucrative asset like the Jianghe Bridge slip through their fingers. Charging tolls for travelers passing from north to south was a steady stream of income.

With their objectives aligned, there was no room for disagreement. After leaving the warehouse, they secured a fully fueled heavy truck and set off toward the Jianghe Bridge.

Three hours later.

"Wow, is this the bridge you were talking about? It’s much more grand than what I saw on TV!" The little monk, sitting in the backseat, gazed out with sparkling eyes, fascinated by everything.

Chen Xiao nodded. "Yes, this is it. But it looks... a bit tricky."

Jiang Yunhan slowly brought the truck to a halt, looking ahead. Several large trucks blocked their path. The people from the Jianghe Granary had arrived.

The three men stepped out of their vehicle with smiles, walking toward the others. The opposing faction consisted of seven or eight men, all looking menacing, their eyes locked intently on the trio.

"State your names, where you’re from, and where you’re headed."

"Jiang Bing, from Nancheng, going to Jiangnan to visit my uncle."

"Chen Dadao, same as him."

"Li Fugui, same as them."

All three chose to use aliases to conceal their identities. The little monk didn't really need to, but he did it just for fun, picking a name on a whim.

The leader of the group was a brawny man in a black leather jacket. His muscles were as taut as iron, and a silver wolf pendant hung from his neck, swaying with his breathing and exuding a wild energy. He shook his head. "You aren't passing through."

Chen Xiao, who was just as tall, stepped forward, his gaze hardening. "And if we don't pass, what are you going to do about it?"

"Hah, you dare talk to me like that?" The man sneered and threw a punch without hesitation, whipping up a surge of raw, tangible power.

*Bang!*

Chen Xiao caught the man's fist firmly. Without even exerting much effort, he continued to smile. "And now?"

The brute tried to retract his fist, only to find he couldn't move it an inch. He braced his feet to launch a kick, but Chen Xiao anticipated the move, twisting to dodge and releasing him in one fluid motion. In reality, he had been holding back significantly.

"Hmph, you’re a tough one," the man said, his eyes losing their initial contempt. He spoke calmly, "Our Jianghe Granary is short on hands. You two come work for me, and that little brat can tag along as a dependent. How about it?"

The little monk felt a surge of irritation; he wanted nothing more than to smash the man’s mouth, but Chen Xiao held him back.

Chen Xiao asked, "Work for you? What can you offer? His uncle is a relative of the Tang family in Jiangnan."

The man shook his head. "Don't worry. The power our Jianghe Granary commands is far beyond your imagination." He continued to boast, "Have you eaten lamb since the end of the world?"

As soon as he said this, the man noticed the expressions of the two men across from him shift. Assuming they were just country bumpkins who hadn't seen much of the world, he laughed. "I’ll let you in on a secret: a newcomer arrived at our granary today who can actually create sheep. I hear she’s a beauty, too!"

Jiang Yunhan’s body trembled uncontrollably, but Chen Xiao tapped his shoulder to steady him.

"So, is there water in your granary?"

The man didn't see the point of the question. "Don't be stupid. There’s tons of bottled water; we can’t even finish it all."

They hadn't gathered any useful tactical information, but the mention of a beautiful woman who could create sheep made it almost certain that it was Jiang Chuxue. In his past life, having spent so many years in Jiangbei, Chen Xiao had only ever heard of one person like her.

"Alright, we’ll join."

Chen Xiao readily accepted the man's invitation.

Afterward, the man led the three of them to familiarize themselves with the base. He introduced himself as Feng Jiafan, a squad leader for the Jianghe Granary, stationed to guard this access road. Anyone wanting to cross the bridge had to pay a toll or hand over beautiful women.

Hearing these demands, Chen Xiao and Jiang Yunhan felt a growing sense of urgency. After all, among the people they were searching for were two exceptional beauties.

As the sky gradually darkened, Chen Xiao and his companions followed Feng Jiafan on patrol to a few more locations before finally heading back to the base. Feng Jiafan was still feeling smug about recruiting two young men and acquiring a heavy truck.

He chuckled, "Dadao, you’ve got real talent. Once you’re inside the granary and making a name for yourself, don’t forget the guy who showed you the ropes! Hahahaha!"

Chen Xiao nodded, his hands behind his back. "That goes without saying. I’m just wondering, once I’m in the granary, will I get to eat that lamb?"

Feng Jiafan’s eyes darted around. "You definitely will, Brother Dadao. Trust me, the moment we get back, I’ll introduce you to our Young Master!"

Jiang Yunhan asked curiously from the side, "Young Master?"

Feng Jiafan looked serious. "That’s right. Our granary belongs to the Xu family. When you meet the Young Master later, make sure you call him 'Young Master Xu,' understand? And don't say I didn't warn you—Young Master Xu has a notoriously foul temper. He’s been pissed off for the last few days because of some woman, and he’s been beating anyone in his path."

Chen Xiao and Jiang Yunhan silently committed this information to memory. As the driver turned the key, the truck engine sputtered and died. The group stepped out of the vehicle, following the proud-looking Feng Jiafan.

"Jiafan, you’ve rounded up two more guys?"

As soon as they stepped down, a group approached them—three men and two women.

"Yeah, Sister Liu. Had good luck today, even picked up a heavy truck, hahaha!" Feng Jiafan laughed heartily, clearly delighted.

The woman called Sister Liu didn't look very old, perhaps around thirty, dressed in the style of a sophisticated young matron. She wore a wine-red silk shirt with the hem tucked into a pair of high-waisted wide-leg trousers. The V-neck of her top subtly revealed her fair skin and the line of her collarbone, stirring the imagination. She wore beige pointed-toe heels, exuding an elegant, minimalist, and innate sense of confidence.

"Oh my, and you brought back two handsome men, too?" Sister Liu surveyed Chen Xiao and Jiang Yunhan with a fiery, uninhibited gaze.

The attention made Jiang Yunhan feel uncomfortable. Chen Xiao, however, met her gaze with equal intensity. As their eyes locked, a spark of tension crackled between them.