Xie Li frowned, her voice heavy with concern. "But it's really too dangerous. I'm so worried about you…"
Chen Du gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, smiling warmly. "Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll pull back immediately."
"And besides, when it comes to raw fighting power, I'm not scared of anyone these days."
Xie Li let out a deep sigh. "It's just… I wish I could help more. If we had enough combat gear and medical supplies, I'd come with you without hesitation."
Chen Du chuckled lightly. "For now, just stay safe at home. Set up the traps I gave you around the area and practice your crossbow aim. Once I've gathered enough supplies, I'll drag you along whether you like it or not."
Reluctantly, Xie Li nodded. "Fine, I'll stay put and keep everything under control."
After sketching out a quick plan for the next day, Chen Du and Xie Li spent the rest of the afternoon stocking up on supplies—molotov cocktails, crossbow bolts, iron spikes, and anything else they could find on the trading platform.
The next morning, Chen Du woke early and opened the system's email. As soon as he saw the notification about the unlimited supply of gasoline, he couldn't stop grinning. His biggest worry—running out of resources—was finally resolved. With gasoline, he effectively had an endless supply of molotov cocktails. Sure, using gasoline directly might be a bit trickier than pre-made molotovs, but the sheer volume made it worth it.
Thanks to his upgraded physical abilities, Chen Du could easily hurl gasoline barrels twenty to thirty meters away. Toss one into a zombie horde, ignite it with a single shot, and watch the chaos unfold—a never-ending cycle of destruction.
With the gasoline secured, Chen Du felt more confident than ever. If there really was a gold-tier supply crate waiting for him, he knew he could handle any zombie horde given enough time. Last time had been tough, but this time would be different.
Without hesitation, Chen Du set off. After saying goodbye to Xie Li, he found a bicycle nearby and pedaled toward his destination. Even with his enhanced stamina, running all day wouldn't tire him out as long as he had supplies. But riding a road bike? That was pure speed.
The route to the gold-tier supply crate followed an abandoned highway. Chen Du pushed the pedals hard, racing along at breakneck speeds. He moved with such intensity that he rivaled even the most skilled cyclists of the old world. It wasn't long before he reached the coordinates.
Chen Du paused for a moment to catch his breath, then quickly recovered. After stowing the bike in his backpack, he pulled out a telescope and scanned the warehouse he'd seen in the photo. Sure enough, a faint golden glow emanated from inside—but the constant growls of zombies sent chills down his spine.
So, the coordinates provided by ID 9990 were accurate after all. Slowly, Chen Du approached the warehouse, ready to grab the gold-tier supply crate and head back. But something nagged at him—he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was following him.
Quickening his pace, Chen Du leaped over a large rock and darted behind a tree, concealing himself. Moments later, he heard the sound of someone landing softly after climbing over the rock. Using a small mirror, he caught a glimpse of his pursuer: a petite woman with delicate features.
At first glance, she looked like the kind of girl who might appeal to fans of cute, youthful charm. Unfortunately, Chen Du wasn't interested in that type. His tastes leaned more toward fiery beauties like Xie Li.
Pushing aside his initial reaction, Chen Du calmly assessed the situation. He didn't know which faction she belonged to, but one thing was clear—she meant trouble. Since she hadn't shown any mercy, neither would he.
Taking advantage of her distraction, Chen Du hurled two molotov cocktails toward her. The bottles exploded on impact, forcing the woman to retreat toward the rock. When she tried to escape back the way she came, she discovered that Chen Du had already doused the rock with gasoline and set it ablaze, trapping her in a ring of fire.
With the woman cornered, Chen Du raised his crossbow and shouted, "Who are you? Start talking!"
Surrounded by flames, the woman's face twisted in frustration. She hadn't expected Chen Du to detect her presence, let alone set up such a flawless ambush. Where had she slipped up?
When she remained silent, Chen Du fired an arrow, startling her. "1945, it's me, 9990!" she cried, her voice trembling. "I was worried you wouldn't find the coordinates, so I came to guide you. It's all a misunderstanding…"
Chen Du rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "Cut the act. You're not fooling anyone. Spill it, and I'll spare your life. I mean it."
ID 9990 clenched her teeth. She prided herself on being a cute beauty, yet here she was being dismissed as unremarkable. But with flames licking at her heels, vanity was the least of her concerns. Reluctantly, she decided to confess. "Alright, I'll tell you everything. But you have to promise not to hurt me!"
Chen Du didn't waste time. "Talk fast. No stalling."
ID 9990 sighed inwardly. This 1945 was truly cold-hearted. Trying to win his trust with her looks hadn't worked. She had no choice but to tell the truth.
"My name is Bai Xi, ID 9990. I sold you the coordinates because I wanted you to scout the area or lure away the zombies so I could swoop in and take the spoils."
Chen Du had already suspected as much. Bai Xi had intended to use him as bait while she played the role of the cunning opportunist. Unfortunately for her, she had crossed paths with someone who was well-equipped to turn the tables.
What puzzled Chen Du, though, was how Bai Xi had the guts to follow him alone. "Hey, Bai Xi, right? Your status shows you're in a team. Where are your teammates?"
Bai Xi raised her hands to her head, frustration evident in her voice. "I wanted to keep it all for myself, so I didn't tell my team."
Chen Du decided to take her at her word—for now. Keeping his crossbow trained on her, he slowly began moving toward the warehouse.
Seeing Chen Du about to leave while she was still trapped in the ring of fire, Bai Xi panicked. "Hey, 1945, I've told you everything! Aren't you going to let me out? Hey!"
Chen Du didn't slow down. "I said I'd spare your life, and I've kept my word. Whether you can get out or not is up to you. It's not my problem anymore!"