Da Ming ge's heart relaxed, a smile returned to his face, and he extended his hand, saying, "That's good! That's good! The enemy of an enemy is a friend!"
Xiao Wenqiang also extended her right hand and clasped Da Ming ge's.
In a few short seconds, Da Ming became even more certain that the other party was not to be underestimated. After all, he had awakened his power-type ability, yet this girl, with him using eighty percent of his strength, still maintained a calm demeanor.
This meant that either she had also awakened a power-type ability, or she possessed other skills far stronger than his. It was naturally better not to offend such a person.
Da Ming ge's smile became more sincere, "What should I call you, friend?"
"My surname is Xiao!" Xiao Wenqiang withdrew her hand, replying softly as if unaffected by his earlier provocation. "Da Ming ge, we need to fill our car's gas tank. How much food do you need on your end?"
Da Ming ge looked at the SUV that had driven in behind them and, after some internal calculation, replied, "Originally, it was five bottles of water and some preserved food. Seeing that Miss Xiao is also a fellow traveler, let's be friends. Two bottles of water and one type of food will suffice."
"Alright, then I'll be your friend, Da Ming ge," Xiao Wenqiang mused for a moment before agreeing.
Da Ming ge's full name was Ma Mingguang, and he was the boss of this gas station. The other man, who had been slacking off and was the first to smash the car, was his younger brother, Ma Mingliang. The last man was Zhao Yong, who barely spoke.
These three were originally co-workers at the same auto parts factory. After the meteorite fall and the release of strange gas, some of their co-workers became zombies. When everyone realized what was happening, they started to flee in panic. These three were part of the same industrial chain and usually got along well, so they escaped together.
After a period of hardship, the three finally found this gas station. Ma Mingguang was the first to discover that he had awakened a power-type ability. After they killed the remaining zombies inside, they tidied up the place and began to establish their dominion.
In the past few days, a few groups of people had occasionally come by. Those who were obedient left food and water and exchanged it for a small amount of gasoline. Those who were disobedient, relying on their numbers, tried to rob them, but none ended up well. Not only were their supplies confiscated, but they were also beaten, maimed, and thrown out.
While Xiao Wenqiang was chatting with Ma Mingguang, Yang Ning had already driven the SUV to the fuel pump.
Younger brother Ma Mingliang was responsible for filling the car's gas tank, while Zhao Yong was responsible for inventorying the water and biscuits handed over by Lu Feiguang.
"Xiao Xiao, if you're not in a hurry, you can rest here for the night." In a short period, Ma Mingguang had become very enthusiastic towards Xiao Wenqiang.
Xiao Wenqiang glanced at the gradually darkening sky outside and smiled, nodding her thanks. "Thank you, Da Ming ge. We are indeed quite tired from our journey."
"You're welcome! I don't have much else, but I have plenty of space." Ma Mingguang pointed towards the convenience store at the gas station.
However, there was nothing left inside at the moment, and even the shelves had been used for barricades, making it appear even more empty and spacious.
The gas station actually had quite complete facilities. Besides public restrooms, there were also employee dormitories in the attached building. But since Ma Mingguang and the others needed to live there themselves, Xiao Wenqiang was not so lacking in foresight as to demand them.
At night, the six members of Songjiang University each huddled in the empty convenience store to rest. Outside, besides the whistling cold wind, there was Wang Hu's increasingly weak voice.
"Yanzi... Yanzi... I was wrong, Yanzi..."
"Yanzi... I didn't mean to abandon you... I was trying to find reinforcements..."
"Yanzi... save me... Yanzi... I love you..."
"Yanzi... I will treat you well in the future... Don't you remember we said we would get married..."
"Yanzi... I truly know I was wrong... Please save me..."
Wang Hu's hands were tied behind his back with a rope by Zhao Yong and he was hung on a pole erected outside the gas station. This served both to deter those with ill intentions towards the gas station and to act as bait for the zombies.
They had installed traps and an electric fence in that area. As soon as a zombie touched it, they would be electrocuted by the high-voltage current from the electric fence, rendering them unconscious. This would allow Ma Mingguang and the others to deal with the zombies more smoothly, without any effort.
Inside the building, Zhu Yan desperately covered her ears, forcing herself not to listen, not to believe, and not to be soft-hearted again. How could this man Wang Hu, who would push her to her death in a crisis, still have sincerity and love?
However, he kept calling out, and she was afraid it would affect others. But she didn't dare to go over, afraid she wouldn't bear to see his miserable state, and even more afraid of being deceived by his glib talk again. Thus, she could only cry with her hands covering her ears, murmuring, "Stop talking, I don't want to hear it."
Sensing Zhu Yan's helplessness, Xiao Wenqiang patted her shoulder and then walked out the door.
"Yanzi, Yanzi, is that you? Are you here to save me?" Hearing footsteps, Wang Hu seemed to regain some spirit as if experiencing a final surge of energy.
Xiao Wenqiang stepped onto the brick steps prepared by Ma Mingguang and climbed to the top of the wall. "No, you're too noisy!"
As soon as she finished speaking, before Wang Hu could react, Xiao Wenqiang thrust the dagger into his mouth, and the sharp blade instantly severed his tongue.
"Ah!" A piercing scream tore through the night. Wang Hu's mouth immediately spurted blood.
The smell of blood and the loud noise attracted several zombies wandering on the road. They gathered by the wall and began to gnaw and tear at Wang Hu's body. After Wang Hu completely stopped breathing, Xiao Wenqiang stood at the vantage point and harvested the zombies.
Soon, calm returned to the outside. Xiao Wenqiang washed her soul weapon knife by the water pool before leisurely returning to the convenience store.
"This woman's strength is unfathomable. She can practically take down a zombie with one blow," Zhao Yong reported after observing from the window.
"I tested her today. She should have a power-type ability, but looking at her, her strength is still above mine," Ma Mingguang said.
"However, it seems she's the only strong one in their team. I don't think the others are very capable," Ma Mingliang said, feeling somewhat tempted. "There's still a chance..."
Although it was very late, the three men in the attached building were not asleep. After seeing what Xiao Wenqiang had done, they began to ponder whether they should make a move.
Those who could claim a territory and rule in such an environment couldn't possibly be purely innocent and kind people. Even making friends in this chaotic world overrun by zombies wouldn't be so easy. However, the three of them had always been wise enough to adapt to circumstances, which was why they hadn't met a disastrous end.
The night grew darker, and everyone gradually fell asleep due to exhaustion.
"Knock, knock, knock!" Suddenly, a soft knocking sound came from the door of the attached building...