You were supposed to hoard supplies, why the heck did you hoard zombies!

But the key to escaping the mall wasn't about how to get out.

It was about where to go.

Zheng Youcai had already sent no less than five groups of people to scout, but few had returned alive, not to mention bringing back any valuable information.

That's why he let the tall, thin man go.

He came back alive.

Not only did he return alive, but he also brought back the intelligence that Zheng Youcai wanted.

Under the watchful eyes of all, as the leader who had once sworn to take all his subordinates out of the mall alive, how could he lay hands on a meritorious servant over a dubious wound?

A clear distinction between rewards and punishments was the best way to govern.

So, not only could he not harm the other party, but he had to specifically assign someone to deliver the promised reward to the man's room.

Several boxes of food that hadn't gone moldy or spoiled, a five-liter jug of purified water.

And a woman who had lost her husband in the chaos.

This was now the best reward.

At this thought, Zheng Youcai felt an even stronger disgust towards Chen Bingjiang, that damned fatso actually managed to fix the surveillance quietly?

Wouldn't that mean everything he was planning to do would be under Chen's watchful eye?

His plan to leave quietly was doomed to fail.

He had to instruct his people to block the surveillance immediately.

Damn Fat Dragon!

Yet Chen Bingjiang seemed indifferent to his reaction.

If he dared to speak it out loud, he was confident that Zheng wouldn't dare do anything to him.

Besides, he didn't come here today just to pick a fight.

"Boss Zheng, how about a cooperation?"

Just as Zheng Youcai was thinking about having his men take down all the external surveillance, suddenly a sentence that surprised him immensely rang in his ear.

He instinctively looked towards the other's face and saw a serious expression written all over Chen Bingjiang's face.

It didn't seem like a joke. Discover hidden tales at empire

"Cooperate?"

"Cooperate on what?"

Zheng Youcai chuckled a few times, his eyes still holding a hint of doubt.

He had the look of someone who had no idea what the other was talking about.

Chen Bingjiang snorted, and his bulky body reclined back again, making the leather chair behind him emit a creaking sound as if it couldn't bear his weight.

"At this point, can we stop playing dumb?"

"I've admitted to sending someone to follow that kid, I think you know what I want to do—"

"Boss Zheng surely isn't unaware, right?"

Zheng Youcai still didn't speak.

He just silently stared at the cactus on the table.

As if he had suddenly transformed into an old farmer passionate about horticulture, his gaze filled with focus.

A fire ignited in Chen Bingjiang's heart; damn it, was he trying to act profound with him?

His teeth gritted, his eyes flashing fiercely.

But he calmed down.

Stay calm.

The Zheng surname must be doing it on purpose.

Trying to provoke him and gain an advantage in the negotiation?

When this thought struck him, the anger in his heart subsided substantially, and he straightforwardly got to the point:

"The supplies at my place are now less than half of what they were."

"In another month at most."

"We'll run out of food."

Zheng Youcai still appeared oblivious, but his gaze clearly drifted.

"I reckon it's the same with yours?"

"How much is left?"

"The things on the fifth floor were split in half for Xu Lin from the outset, so I guess the situation is even worse than mine, heh heh."

Chen Bingjiang said this, his gaze at Zheng Youcai suddenly filled with mockery.

Half a floor of supplies, just like that, given away.

Indeed, it was a heavy price to pay.

At this thought, he couldn't help feeling smug, because Zheng Youcai had made such a move in order to join hands with Xu Lin against him.

No choice, who made him too strong?

Easily a hundred survivors.

There were no old people, no children, almost all were young and strong men.

Together, the survivors under Xu Lin and Zheng Youcai barely exceeded that number, among them many were over forty years of age.

This was the basis for Chen Bingjiang's confidence to brave the danger alone.

It was also why he was so confident about the proposal he was about to make.

"The mall will have to be abandoned sooner or later," he said.

"Even if we don't leave, who knows when the horde of corpses below might make it up here, and then we'd all be dead."

"Previously, no one knew what the situation outside was like."

"But now, it's different."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Youcai finally looked up, his expression turning serious.

"Different?"

"What's different?"

"You're not suggesting we just take everyone and throw in our lot with that kid, are you?"

When he spoke, there was a hint of a smile in the corner of his eye, not so much mocking as probing.

Chen Bingjiang clearly caught the implication in his words.

"Throw in our lot with him?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"What is he?"

"Is he fit to have people like us as his underlings?"

As he spoke, he suddenly leaned forward, his thick arm slamming down on the desk, nearly knocking the potted succulent to the floor.

His huge head all but pressed right up to Zheng Youcai's face.

"That kid daring to roam around with so many people, what does it show?"

"It shows that the place he's staying is safe enough!"

"He doesn't have to worry about his backyard catching fire, and of course—"

"He's strong enough."

"And he's looking for a generator, not supplies, which means that place isn't lacking supplies at all!"

"A refuge that's replete with supplies and completely safe."

"Zheng, isn't that enough?"

After locking eyes for a few seconds, Zheng Youcai suddenly started laughing.

"But why should I look for you?"

"Xu Lin—"

He had just uttered these words.

When Chen Bingjiang already waved his hand dismissively, cutting him off with contempt.

"You're counting on Xu Lin? Might as well count on the zombies on the first floor to pack up and leave the mall by themselves."

"You should know very well what kind of man he is."

"He's a police inspector."

"Not a bandit."

Suddenly, Zheng Youcai fell silent, his face betraying his thoughts.

Chen Bingjiang was absolutely right.

Xu Lin was not a bandit.

Even though he had killed a few people before to quell the rebellion, deep down he was still the same upright and kind-hearted inspector.

Follow him to the villa district to grab territory?

Just thinking about it, one knew it was impossible.

Even if Xu Lin did agree to his request, it would probably end up in negotiations, making Zhang Ye take them into the villa district of his own will.

Never mind whether he was willing or not, would Zhang Ye be willing?

The incident in the stairwell had already spread.

Dead men tell no tales, so no one knew what exactly Huang Mao had done to anger him.

But just by the fact that he had killed Huang Mao in front of Chen Bingjiang, it was clear this young man was definitely not one to charitably welcome them.

This meant collaborating with Xu Lin would only yield two possible outcomes.

Either a decisive rejection by him.

Or a rejection by Zhang Ye, ultimately leading to a conflict.

The arrival of Chen Bingjiang, on the other hand, offered Zheng Youcai a whole new option.

To join forces with this ferocious and brutal "fat dragon" to completely wrest the villa district from the boy's hands, ensuring no fear of zombies bursting into one's room at night.

Watching his expressions shift, Chen Bingjiang felt assured.

"So, what do you say?"

"Do you want to partner with me?"