Chapter 1067: Chapter 736: Living Dead
On the way, they took turns driving and resting, and finally arrived at their destination the morning of the next day, a small town at the foot of Mute Mountain.
The supplies were already prepared before they arrived. Each person carried a backpack with enough food for seven days and a minimum of three days’ drinking water.
Since it was mostly high-calorie foods like compressed biscuits, chocolate, and beef jerky, it didn’t take much space. The rest of the essential gear, such as sleeping bags, moisture-proof mats, a universal dagger, and a Mountain Splitter Blade, were also a must.
Yang Xiao stuffed the relatively less important but heavy gear into the pack of the scar-faced strong man, Chai Yong.
He clearly remembered that on the way, Chai Yong had bragged to Tong Han about his great physical prowess, calling himself the Silver Spear Little Overlord.
Knowing that this was Yang Xiao’s retaliation, Chai Yong dared not refuse anymore. Earlier, he hadn’t even seen Yang Xiao’s strike before he was knocked out.
Before coming, Yang Xiao had already obtained a detailed route map for entering the mountain, meticulously planned by the technology department. According to this route, it would only take a day’s hike to reach the area where paranormal signals were active.
However, whether they could find it or not would depend a bit on luck. Fortunately, the provisions Yang Xiao and the team carried would last for a while.
This time, besides food and outdoor gear, Yang Xiao also specifically brought a newly developed signal device from the technology department. This device could capture paranormal signals. It was very compact, about the size of a router, with several extendable antennas.
After a brief rest, the group entered the mountain at noon. The first part was relatively easy, as it was paved with long stone pathways. After all, this place was also a tourist spot. But as they delved deeper, the road conditions deteriorated rapidly, turning into intermittent old stone slab paths covered in moss, slippery even for those in hiking boots.
Before long, the surrounding trees grew larger and taller, their towering crowns blocking the sunlight. The stone path disappeared entirely, and after passing a few warning signs, they truly stepped into the depths of Mute Mountain.
Trekking through the deep mountains was overly taxing. By the time Yang Xiao and the group reached their designated campsite, it was already an hour and a half later than planned, and darkness had completely fallen.
They couldn’t go any further. They were now less than 3 kilometers from the area with paranormal activity.
This was just a straight-line distance.
As the saying goes, "seeing the mountain tires the horse," the rugged mountain path would eat up at least 6 more hours for the last three kilometers.
Yang Xiao decided to set up camp here and rest for the night. As soon as dawn broke the next day, they would immediately set out, aiming to reach the edges of the paranormal signal area by around noon, establish a base at a high vantage point, stabilize communications, and set up delayed transmissions to send signals back to the technology department.
Yang Xiao didn’t want the Patrol Defense Office to know exactly what he was doing, but the risk was too great this time. He wasn’t sure if any unexpected events would occur. The advantage of setting a delayed transmission was that if the group got trapped, they would still have reinforcements, and Director Nalan would never abandon him.
Should they successfully obtain the Resentful Eye and leave, they could cancel the transmission upon their return, causing no delays to anything.
Being under the protection of a powerful backing was also one of the reasons Yang Xiao had joined the Patrol Defense Office, aside from the lucrative bonuses.
In fact, Tong Han’s presence did alleviate much of Yang Xiao’s pressure. With a reliable person, Yang Xiao and Tong Han could take turns keeping night watch, ensuring they had ample rest.
He and Cen Fengyang would watch the first half of the night, while Tong Han and Lina would take the second half. As for the brute, Chai Yong, it wasn’t that Yang Xiao was letting him off. It was just that upon seeing his pitiful state, with him carrying not only Yang Xiao’s load but also volunteering to bear Tong Han’s, he was trying to leave a good impression on Yang Xiao.
These three were not fools. They had all noticed the subtle dynamics between Yang Xiao and Tong Han during the journey.
After a full day of hiking, Chai Yong, known as the Silver Spear Little Overlord, was almost exhausted to death. After unloading his gear, he lay on the ground, panting heavily, visibly dazed.
They gathered some dry branches and started a fire. The five of them rested around the campfire, with Tong Han sleeping next to Yang Xiao and Chai Yong at the farthest distance from them, his snores echoing loudly.
Yang Xiao stared blankly at the campfire, while Cen Fengyang was in charge of tending to it, occasionally breaking branches and throwing them in.
"Sir, what are you thinking about?" Seeing that the others were fast asleep, Cen Fengyang asked in a low voice.
Yang Xiao glanced at him, "You know me?"
"With my low status, I haven’t had the luck to meet you, but your impressive presence and authoritative appearance are unmistakable," Cen Fengyang wasn’t stingy with his compliments, matching Yang Xiao in flattery.
"You didn’t say that when we first met," the night was long, and Yang Xiao didn’t mind chatting.
Cen Fengyang showed no embarrassment, cupped his hands earnestly, and said, "The new Pingxi Marquis’s fame is known to everyone in Xiang Ma Town. If you don’t mind, I’d like to become your disciple and serve you with my life!"
"Sure, right now, I could use some dedicated people. If you truly have the capability, this is your chance to prove yourself." Yang Xiao replied, imitating the unscrupulous Script Club boss he had once met, with a smile.
"I will do my utmost to show you my worth," Cen Fengyang was delighted.
With the timing just right, Yang Xiao gently awoke Tong Han, then got up and roused Lina, as the two groups switched shifts.
