58: Chapter 58: Jiang Jiuyou, ranked third on the list, calls...

The canyon winds were cold, yet warmth filled the Ghost Fortress.

Inside the vehicle, Su Xiaoqi gnawed on a charred, mutated pig leg, her cheeks puffed out and her lips glistening with grease.

She also clutched a piece of ice plains mammoth tenderloin in her hand, its meat shimmering with a crystalline pale blue—a premium ingredient Chen Chen had looted from the Pig-Faced Butcher.

Shen Wanxing couldn't help but laugh at her 'mukbang' display.

Using her chopsticks, she picked up a slice of boiled fatty beef and put it in her mouth, her eyes filled with contentment.

In her view, this vehicle was the safest harbor in the apocalypse, and Chen Chen was her greatest support.

Shen Wanbing sat in the passenger seat, a data report resting on the table in front of her.

The concentration ice heart necklace emitted a faint blue light, smoothing away the weariness between her brows.

Eating some plain vegetables, she reported in a low voice to Chen Chen, "According to the latest radar scan, the scale of the zombie horde in the Flesh Wasteland has expanded by another ten percent within ten minutes. It's projected to completely engulf Gluttony Town within three hours."

Jiang Yanxue wiped her Shadow Instant-Kill Blade, its edge gleaming coldly under the warm light.

She sheathed the blade back into the tactical strap on her thigh, picked up the beer bottle in front of her, tilted her head back for a large gulp, and let out a satisfied sigh.

Her dark red eyes occasionally flickered towards Su Xiaoqi, carrying a sense of appreciation.

She liked this kind of pure and formidable strength.

"They will find new food sources."

Chen Chen responded flatly to Shen Wanbing.

The hotpot in front of him bubbled and gurgled, its rising steam blurring his profile.

He wasn't in a hurry to use his chopsticks, merely watching the four women before him.

This was his empire, his spoils of war, and the foundation for his own growth in strength.

Su Xiaoqi was eating merrily when suddenly, the communicator on her wrist vibrated.

A private channel exclusive to members of the Jiang Consortium's covert division.

A holographic projection materialized out of thin air in front of Su Xiaoqi.

It was a woman with long black hair cascading over her shoulders, bloodstains smeared on her cheek, a simple bandage wrapped around her left arm, and burning ruins in the background.

Even in such a wretched state, the sharpness and power in her eyes and brows were palpable.

It was Jiang Jiuyou.

As soon as she appeared, her gaze locked onto Su Xiaoqi, then slowly shifted to Chen Chen.

"Xiaoqi."

Jiang Jiuyou's voice, brooking no argument, came through, "Come back."

With the mammoth tenderloin still dangling from her mouth, Su Xiaoqi shook her head vigorously like a rattle-drum.

She pointed at the mountain of food in front of her, then at Chen Chen, the meaning crystal clear: there's plenty to eat here, I'm not leaving.

Jiang Jiuyou's eyes swept back and forth between Chen Chen and Su Xiaoqi.

She saw the obscenely extravagant pile of food in front of Su Xiaoqi, and the warm, tidy environment inside the vehicle.

Looking again at the ruins she herself was in, a flicker of complexity passed through her eyes.

"Chen Chen," she called his name directly, "Why didn't you accept the friend request I sent earlier?"

Chen Chen picked up his chopsticks, plucked a piece of blanched tripe from the hotpot, dipped it in the sesame oil sauce, and leisurely brought it to his mouth.

After chewing a few times, he finally lifted his eyes to look at Jiang Jiuyou's projection.

"Too much junk mail."

Jiang Jiuyou's face stiffened.

"I admit, our intelligence was flawed. You are stronger than we anticipated. Now, Xiaoqi is with you, and you can see her condition. She is our Jiang Consortium's most important strategic resource and cannot remain outside."

Jiang Jiuyou got straight to the point, "What do you want? I can give you resources of equal value, or even more. A-grade blueprints? Rare materials? Or high-level equipment?"

Chen Chen didn't speak, merely adding another piece of octopus tentacle to Su Xiaoqi's plate.

Su Xiaoqi obediently opened her mouth, took a bite, and narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

This scene caused Jiang Jiuyou's mouth corner to twitch almost imperceptibly.

That was a deep-sea giant octopus tentacle, a mutated ingredient said to be obtainable only by top-tier factions, each gram containing astonishing energy.

And this man was feeding it to a little girl as a snack.

"Jiang Jiuyou." Chen Chen set down his chopsticks, leaned forward, his voice low and forceful,

"You know perfectly well that once someone gets on my vehicle, there's no getting off. What you call 'equal value' is nothing but scrap metal in my eyes."

He paused, his tone turning cold and hard, "Three portions of A-grade rare materials, or one unique item. If you can't produce them, don't contact her again."

A-grade rare materials! A unique item!

Jiang Jiuyou's pupils contracted sharply.

This was simply an outrageous demand!

"Chen Chen, you are really too..."

"Your current location is less than three hundred kilometers from the center of the Flesh Wasteland."

Shen Wanbing's voice, devoid of any emotion, cut in coldly,

"According to my radar calculations, the temporary safe zone you are in will be overrun by a zombie horde led by at least one Tyrant-class Mutant in four hours. By then, your covert squad, with over half its members wounded, will have less than thirty percent combat effectiveness."

Shen Wanbing's precise intelligence struck right at Jiang Jiuyou's sore spot.

Her face instantly turned deathly pale.

Chen Chen paid no further heed to Jiang Jiuyou's reaction. He directly raised his hand and swiped across Su Xiaoqi's communicator.

*Click.* The projection vanished instantly.

Peace returned to the vehicle.

Only the sound of the bubbling hotpot and Su Xiaoqi's occasional satisfied hums remained.

Shen Wanxing was somewhat puzzled. She asked curiously, "Chen Chen, Jiang Jiuyou's offer sounded quite tempting. Why not negotiate with her?"

Chen Chen replied nonchalantly, "There's no need to waste time on things of no value."

He knew well that A-grade materials and unique items were also strategic-level assets for Jiang Jiuyou.

The condition he proposed, seemingly extortionate, was actually a test of the Jiang Consortium's bottom line and resolve.

Jiang Yanxue looked at Chen Chen, the appreciation in her eyes deepening.

This man always knew what he wanted, and he always knew how to obtain it in the most direct and ruthless way.

Night deepened, the lingering warmth of the hotpot dissipated.

Chen Chen picked up Su Xiaoqi. The little girl, full and satisfied, was already sound asleep.

He gently placed her on a temporary bunk in the first-level living quarters, then turned to look at Shen Wanxing.

Shen Wanxing was sitting on the edge of the mattress, her feet dangling lightly, the hem of her silver evening gown shimmering under the light.

She had just washed her feet with warm water. Her fair toes, painted with a light nude-pink nail polish, looked especially alluring under the glow.

Chen Chen walked over to her and motioned for her to lift her leg.

Shen Wanxing obediently placed her foot on his thigh.

He grasped her slender ankle and began to gently massage it.

The bruises left from last time had already faded, replaced by an even smoother texture.

"Chen Chen..." Shen Wanxing called his name softly, her body trembling slightly.

Her cheeks flushed, and her amber eyes glistened with moisture.