Xu Xing assembled her own team of ten, setting out on bicycles. The group, comprising both men and women, carried a portable radio, allowing them to maintain daily contact with Yuzhou. Xu Xing bid farewell to her mother and had already set her sights on a target: the "Yellow River Water Monster."
As they traveled, Xu Xing couldn't help but address her companions. "Brothers and sisters," she declared, "the City Lord once captured a water monster in the Yangtze River, which turned out to be merely a mutated crocodile. Our current objective is to eliminate the Yellow River water monster for the good of the people."
Upon hearing her stated goal, the group expressed a touch of helplessness. "Captain," one of them asked, "the Yellow River is so vast. With only ten of us, how can we possibly locate the Yellow River water monster? If we fail to achieve this objective, won't our expedition be considered a failure from the start?"
Xu Xing pondered for a moment. "It's alright," she replied. "The Yellow River water monster is incredibly famous. Once we deal with it, our names will surely spread throughout the land. If we can't find it within half a month, we'll go to the nearby mountains to suppress bandits. After all, it's not only in the south that bandits exist."
Xu Xing understood the principle of picking the easier target. However, eradicating a band of bandits would only rescue a few dozen victims, at most a hundred. The harm caused by the Yellow River water monster, on the other hand, was immense. The Yellow River basin affected millions, especially in this post-apocalyptic era where countless people relied on the mountains and rivers for survival. Fishing along the Yellow River was a common practice, and encountering a giant water monster was a distinct possibility.
Therefore, Xu Xing wanted to make a grand debut upon leaving. Merely dealing with bandits would garner little attention. Thus, doing something unexpected was crucial at this juncture.
Xu Xing set off with great anticipation. As she departed, Wu Yelian purchased a Buddha statue and offered incense daily, not for any other reason than to pray for her daughter's safety during her mission.
However, as soon as Xu Xing left the borders of Yuzhou, she discovered an overwhelming number of refugees on the road. They were countless, old and young, clad in tattered clothes, and most carried sticks. These were not just dog-beating sticks but also walking canes, which could serve as weapons in times of danger, offering at least some protection.
Xu Xing wanted to help these refugees, but she felt powerless. She only had a few dry biscuits, barely enough to save a handful of people.
Standing on a hillside, Xu Xing gazed into the distance and saw a long, winding procession of people stretching as far as the eye could see. She had no idea how many were in this fleeing multitude. Many collapsed on the ground as they walked. Their families could only gather branches to burn their bodies. Burning the corpses was necessary. While they were buried by the roadside during the day, those within the fleeing crowds were always watchful. Those buried during the day would be exhumed and eaten at night.
"Captain, there are so many people here, all fleeing. Could there be tens of thousands?" someone behind Xu Xing remarked.
Xu Xing nodded. "There are definitely over ten thousand. The famine this year is too severe. People from other regions are all heading towards places with food. So, these people are likely going to Yuzhou."
"Fortunately, we are from Yuzhou. With the Vice City Lord there, we won't go hungry," a team member said, feeling fortunate. Chang Jianyi had been stationed in Yuzhou for a long time, and her capabilities ensured that food could be quickly procured in Yuzhou. Therefore, as long as the Vice City Lord was present, starvation would not be an issue.
Xu Xing suddenly felt a pang of worry. "If there are too many refugees, Yuzhou's food supply might not be enough. This is a difficult problem. I wonder how the City Lord will resolve it."
Xu Xing had previously been the City Lord of Jiucheng. Although she had only held the position for a month, she had learned many things. The most important of these was saving people. It wasn't just about having strength; possessing strength alone couldn't conjure food. To save more people, maintaining regional stability was paramount. As long as a region was stable, its people could naturally eat their fill. However, if a region was unstable and constantly embroiled in war, its people would undoubtedly suffer.
At this moment, Xu Xing understood Shen Feng's predicament. Shen Feng hadn't been fighting frequently in recent years, but he had many matters to consider. The responsibility and pressure of being the City Lord of Yuzhou must be immense.
As Xu Xing stood on the hillside observing the fleeing refugees, a pale-faced refugee looked at her and asked, "Miss, how far is Yuzhou? Is there food in Yuzhou?"
Xu Xing nodded. "Yuzhou naturally has food. However, it's still about five kilometers to the nearest small town. But, it's clearly impossible for you to live in Yuzhou. To survive, you can only go to the mountains south of the Yangtze River to cultivate land."
Upon hearing that there was food, the refugees' eyes lit up with hope. As long as there was food, everything else could be managed.
"Thank you, Miss. As long as there is food to eat, we'll go anywhere. We're not picky," the refugee said gratefully to Xu Xing.
Xu Xing earnestly replied, "I know you are very hungry right now, but I advise you to consider carefully. There are too many mountains to the south, and many mutated beasts inhabit them. Going there could very well lead to danger."
The refugees offered a bitter smile in response to Xu Xing's warning. "Forget cultivating land, we wouldn't flinch even if we had to risk our lives. Right now, we just need to fill our stomachs first. We've already walked hundreds of kilometers. Many villages have no food left at all. Even the unripened wheat in the fields has been eaten. In the city, a bunch of beasts are taking advantage of the rising food prices, forcing us to sell our children. As long as Yuzhou has food and can take us in, we are willing to do anything."
Xu Xing couldn't help but ask, "Is there really such a severe shortage of food outside?"
The refugee leaned against a nearby tree. "Forget food, anything edible is being consumed. It's not just about eating chaff and vegetables; right now, there's not even rice bran or wheat bran left. Young lady, I advise you, it's truly too tragic outside. You are still young, go back now."
Before Xu Xing could respond, a team member behind her spoke directly, "Our captain is an ability user, known as the 'Xian Immortal.' What danger can she not resolve outside? We are all evolutionaries, and we are out here to eliminate evil and promote good. Don't worry unnecessarily."
"Ability user? You're an ability user? We truly didn't recognize your esteemed status. Let's go quickly." Upon hearing Xu Xing's identity, the refugees became hesitant to converse and quickly hastened their pace towards Yuzhou.
After seeing their attitude, a female team member behind Xu Xing became somewhat angry. "We've given them so much information, yet they didn't even offer a word of thanks and just ran off. It's too much, they have no gratitude at all."
Xu Xing waved her hand. "Forget it, it's not a big deal. Perhaps these people have never seen an ability user, so they are afraid upon hearing of their existence. Let them go."
Xu Xing initially believed that the refugees were fleeing because they had learned of her identity as an ability user. However, that night, Xu Xing's group was attacked.
At night, Xu Xing's team of eleven was sleeping in their tents when Xu Xing suddenly felt an abnormal tremor, as if someone was approaching. She awoke instantly and shouted to those around her, "Get up, don't sleep! Someone is approaching us."
As soon as Xu Xing finished speaking, three dark figures appeared in the distance. All three were masked. One of them, upon hearing Xu Xing's words, let out a cold laugh. "As expected of the Xian Immortal, your strength is passable. Unfortunately, your head is destined to be ours now."
A team member wearing glasses emerged from the tent. Upon seeing the three figures, he immediately recalled an important piece of information. "Captain, these people are not good. It is said that they specialize in hunting ability users, and they themselves are ability users. I only know that this organization is called the Tianya Alliance, and their headquarters seems to be in the southeast. I don't know why they are in Jingxiang."
The masked figures chuckled. "You know quite a lot. However, it's too late to realize our identities now. We will take your abilities."
Upon hearing this, Xu Xing calmly drew her long saber. "You all cover the flanks. I'll handle these three."
The team members were now awake and each drew a handgun. The handguns were loaded and convenient to carry. These team members were all evolutionaries, and using firearms against enemies was normal.
When Xu Xing declared that she would face the three ability user enemies alone, the three ability users on the opposite side laughed. Then, one of them said, "Xu Xing, we have investigated you before. You only became an ability user about half a year ago. We, the three of us, have already hunted dozens of ability users. In front of our Tianya Alliance, you can only wait for death."
At this moment, Xu Xing understood why the refugees had fled so quickly upon learning of her identity as an ability user during the day. It was because they knew that someone was hunting ability users, and everyone was afraid of attracting trouble. Thus, they had accelerated their departure during the day. Information spread quickly among refugees.
Xu Xing drew her saber and walked towards the three ability users. At this moment, the leader of the group vanished as if disappearing into thin air, making it impossible to know where he went. Another ability user's muscles bulged, even tearing through his clothes. The third ability user made no move, but he was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
At this time, the one with bulging muscles approached Xu Xing, holding a waist-high iron staff. As he walked, he said, "Xu Xing, you are quite beautiful. I'll give you a chance. Do you choose my iron staff, or my other stick?"
Hearing this, Xu Xing felt furious. She couldn't believe she was being so insulted, as if they didn't take her seriously at all.
As the opponent approached step by step, Xu Xing didn't hesitate. With a serious expression, she walked towards them.
At this moment, Xu Xing's footsteps faltered. She then stomped on the ground, tearing a massive rift in it. The surrounding ground shook violently. The man holding the waist-high staff began to sway uncontrollably, unable to stand steadily.
Seizing this opportunity, Xu Xing suddenly lunged forward, drawing her saber and swinging it.
However, Xu Xing's attack was not directed at the unsteady giant but towards the area behind him.