Luo Xiaole waved her hand.
"No need for that. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have found him. To be precise, you saved yourself." Luo Xiaole was like a mirror; when facing honest people, she became very honest herself.
Besides, this was just a minor effort for her. Since she had already brought Pi Jiajia here, it was a rare opportunity, so she might as well save as many people as she could.
In any case, she had all the delicious food Pi Jiajia wanted and wouldn't mistreat him.
"Alright, young friend, I appreciate your character. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Zhou Shoushan, the current commander of Luocheng Base. I was trapped here due to a sudden illness and could not return to Luocheng Base."
"Though it may be abrupt, could I ask for your assistance in accompanying me?" His tone carried a hint of affirmation towards Luo Xiaole.
Luo Xiaole was surprised. The commander of Luocheng Base?
So the Young Master Zhou, who was currently holding down Luocheng for his father and collecting rings...
was this man's son?
Although she had overheard that he was a high-ranking official before, she still had many questions.
Luocheng was a major city. The supplies and weaponry of Luocheng Base would undoubtedly be much better than this small base. This base should, by all means, be under the command of Luocheng Base.
Moreover, in terms of rank, this commander should be much higher than the officers of this base.
"Forgive my boldness, but since you are the commander of Luocheng Base, why are you so ill and not receiving treatment here at this base?"
Furthermore, judging by his demeanor, he didn't even seem to know there was a healer with abilities here...
Unexpectedly, a flicker of pain flashed in Zhou Shoushan's eyes.
"Because I had previously sent word to Luocheng Base that I was ill, Cheng Miao used that as an excuse." His voice deepened slightly.
This statement came out of the blue.
However, Luo Xiaole seemed to have deciphered a significant amount of information from it...
Cheng Miao, should be the "Brother Cheng" everyone was talking about?
Luo Xiaole was stunned for a few seconds.
She suddenly recalled that she had found it strange before why Qin Mingyang and that Cheng Miao were stationed in such a heavily guarded office building, while this dignified commander of Luocheng was only assigned to the seventh floor of the dormitory building.
He did not receive the same care as those in the office.
Even the guards on the seventh floor were likely people he had brought himself.
Under normal circumstances, if Cheng Miao dared to collude with the officers of this base to neglect the commander, he would have been punished long ago.
But it was precisely because Zhou Shoushan had fallen ill on the way, and his life was uncertain.
If Zhou Shoushan perished midway and could not return to Luocheng Base,
Cheng Miao would have ample excuse to shirk responsibility, even claiming that it was someone's delay in delivering medicine that led to the commander's demise.
No one would blame him.
After all, in this apocalypse, communication was not advanced, and evidence could not be left behind.
If the commander died suddenly from illness, even if others wanted to investigate, they would find no loopholes.
This was why he had been dragging his feet, withholding adequate treatment for Zhou Shoushan, and even keeping the existence of a healer a complete secret.
Cheng Miao targeting this commander so fiercely likely meant that Zhou Shoushan had once stood in the way of some of his "financial avenues"...
How despicable of him!
Luo Xiaole's eyes rippled with emotion as she pieced together the situation.
Zhou Shoushan remained silent, observing Luo Xiaole's expression.
He understood that Luo Xiaole had grasped the crux of the matter.
He subtly curved his lips.
Good, he hadn't misjudged her.
"But why are you looking for me?" Even many soldiers on the seventh floor had been killed by infiltrators before...
Did this commander have no other forces he could rely on?
It shouldn't have come to the point of desperation where he had to find her. Her physique for a guarding mission?
It was hardly convincing...
"Your weapon is not ordinary," Zhou Shoushan stated frankly.
"A man's wealth is his own ruin. You possess such a powerful item, yet you have managed to reach this place unharmed. Especially under Cheng Miao's nose."
"You've hidden yourself well." A hint of shrewdness gleamed in his eyes.
"To put it bluntly, I need capable individuals. I highly value your weapon and your awareness. I also highly value the person who taught you combat skills. I cannot trust the people here, so tell me, will you accept this mission?"
Zhou Shoushan's eyes sparkled.
"If I accept, what benefits will I get?" Luo Xiaole still preferred to be prepared.
"If you can ensure my safe return to Luocheng, then within the entire Luocheng Base, your weapons will no longer need to be hidden."
Luo Xiaole gasped. She understood Zhou Shoushan's meaning.
As long as Zhou Shoushan lived, he would firmly grasp the title and authority of the Luocheng Commander.
The reason Luo Xiaole had been playing it safe was her lack of a sufficiently strong backer.
If she were to act openly, even with weapons, she would have been bombarded by countless firearms and relentless attacks, or captured and tortured.
But if her future weapons were under military protection...
At least within the established Luocheng Base, no one would dare to confront the military head-on.
Naturally, no one would seek trouble with her.
Zhou Shoushan intended to protect her.
Since the commander had seen through her strategy...
She propped her chin and thought. After all, most of Qin Mingyang and his teammates wanted to go to Luocheng Base, so it was on her way.
This was practically a godsend; it would be foolish not to accept it!
So, she nodded decisively.
Seeing her accept the mission, Zhou Shoushan's tightly pursed lips relaxed.
He clapped his hands in agreement.
Several of his subordinates, who were in the adjacent room, walked in.
"Commander, what are your orders?"
"Summon Cheng Miao to me," coldness flashed in his eyes.
...
Cheng Miao had just finished having the cellar cleaned out.
He had neatly rearranged everything.
He was wondering why no one had brought that little sprout over yet.
Then he heard a soldier reporting.
"Boss! That old geezer Zhou Shoushan seems to have woken up and ordered you and the chief to see him!" the soldier panted.
"What? Woken up?" Surprise flickered in Cheng Miao's eyes, followed by a hint of understanding.
"Considering the time, it must be a final burst of energy before death, hahahaha. This old man, who always acted so righteous, has fallen into my hands this time." Cheng Miao's tone was filled with smugness.
"Let's go meet him! We'll go mock that old man one last time."
He threw on his luxurious-looking cashmere coat and, in a good mood, headed to the dormitory building.
As soon as he reached the seventh floor, he sensed that the atmosphere was off.
The people Zhou Shoushan brought were all loyal to him.
Why were they all looking so cheerful now, even as he was on his deathbed?
What had possessed them?
He quickened his pace and strode into the opulent room.
He saw the man who should have been lying on his sickbed, appearing to be on his last breath.
Now, he stood facing the window, tall and robust, his back to him.
His dignified and upright posture, like a general, was reflected in the window, impacting his vision with the might of Mount Tai.
What?
This old thing was better?
Absolutely impossible!
His senior brother also stood behind him, his body stiffening abruptly.
"Com... Commander... what is this?"
Zhou Shoushan waved his hand, full of authority.
"The people coming to escort me will arrive tomorrow. Make the preparations. I will be leaving tomorrow."
Zhou Shoushan's trickery was swift.
Cheng Miao's expression turned grim. Wasn't he told that those people had perished on the road...
"Oh, and bring this young friend along," Zhou Shoushan pointed to Luo Xiaole beside him, "and her teammates."
Cheng Miao looked at Luo Xiaole. Why was she everywhere?
She was really ruining his plans!
He gritted his teeth so hard his molars were about to crack.
But Zhou Shoushan was now recovered and unharmed, and with him deliberately standing by the window, numerous eyes had already witnessed it.
It was no longer easy to make a move.
Brother Cheng exchanged a look with his senior brother, and they could only stand down for now.
They proceeded to prepare what Zhou Shoushan required according to his instructions.
Luo Xiaole had not seen Cheng Miao since her vision stabilized to perceive the swirling energy above people's heads, until now.
She looked at Cheng Miao and a man behind him, who appeared to be a base officer, with some surprise.
She noticed that, like Pi Jiajia, they both had a green swirl of energy above their heads...