Antidote

Tu Zuo Fu's outburst came out of nowhere. No one knew what was going on.

After a long silence, Tu Zuo Fu grew even more irritable. "Since none of you are talking, get the hell out of here!"

Some people nearby noticed the commotion and tried to gather around to watch, but Guards soldiers drove them away.

The Scavengers' gazes gathered on Qu Jianlei again.

Qu Jianlei helplessly curled his lips and spread his hands. I can't be the only one talking, can I? Unless forced to, he really did not like drawing attention. Wouldn't it be nice to stay home and entertain himself? But the short, stocky man grew anxious. "Little Qu, we've patronized your business before. Aren't you going to put in a good word for us?"

Seeing this, Tu Zuo Fu directly pulled out his Laser Gun and pulled the trigger without another word.

A hole the size of a wine cup instantly appeared in the stocky man's forehead.

With an expression of utter disbelief, he slowly collapsed to the ground.

He simply could not understand it. He had already been injected with poison and was already under control, so why had he still been shot dead?

If you wanted me dead, couldn't you just withhold the antidote?

Tu Zuo Fu merely snorted. "Who gave you the nerve to disregard me?"

He had not deliberately stepped in to relieve Qu Jianlei. He mainly wanted to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys.

Just because he had promised them antidotes did not mean he was obligated to provide them.

Seeing this, the Dirty Woman decisively spoke up. "Lord Tu, we'll step up our efforts to gather information. Please give us a chance."

Tu Zuo Fu glanced at her and snorted. "Either fools or women... are all the male Scavengers dead?"

"My lord," another man spoke up, "we've been searching hard already, but the Mine is really too large."

Tu Zuo Fu narrowed his single eye and spoke in a sinister tone. "Are you saying... you can't do it?"

"No," the man quickly shook his head. "It takes time. Please see clearly, my lord."

A faintly amused smile appeared on Tu Zuo Fu's face. "How much time will be enough?"

"This... this lowly one dares not say," the man answered respectfully. "The item may not necessarily be in our Mine."

Tu Zuo Fu waved a hand and spoke blandly. "There must be a reason we chose you..."

"This time, I'll give you the antidote, but let me make this clear: if there is still no news next time, more people will die!"

The crowd fell silent. They finally understood that he had killed someone merely to establish his authority.

Once they understood this, everyone felt a faint sense of helplessness and sorrow. In the Wasteland, human lives truly were worthless.

Tu Zuo Fu waved a hand, and a Guards soldier stepped forward, removed a box from his waist, and opened it.

Inside were rows upon rows of small paper packets, arranged neatly.

"Take one packet each. Five days from now, I hope you'll have good news."

Having just killed someone to establish his authority, the Scavengers were obedient as sheep and did not dare entertain any other thoughts.

The Dirty Woman looked around. Seeing that no one moved, she stepped forward and took a packet of antidote. "Thank you, Lord Tu."

Seeing this, the others followed suit, stepping forward to take their medicine and offering their thanks.

Qu Jianlei was the last to take an antidote.

By then, the Dirty Woman had already opened her packet and poured the brown powder directly into her mouth.

She did not throw away the paper packet either. Instead, she carefully folded it and solemnly tucked it into her clothes.

The others immediately understood when they saw this, and one after another followed suit, swallowing their antidotes.

Qu Jianlei was somewhat stunned. He understood their reasoning, but... the five days were not up yet.

If they took it early this time, what if the next antidote came a little later? Would something go wrong? After Tu Zuo Fu shot someone, much of the hostility in his heart dissipated, and he noticed Qu Jianlei's odd behavior.

He actually smiled as he asked, "What, you don't understand their logic?"

"I understand," Qu Jianlei answered honestly. "I'm just still a little confused."

If you really said you didn't understand, that would be playing dumb! Tu Zuo Fu nodded slightly. Even animals knew to guard their food.

So he commented, "The evil in human nature is beyond what you can imagine... if they take it now, they can at least live another five days."

Qu Jianlei nodded blankly, but he was pondering, So five days is only an approximate figure?

There were surely individual differences among Survivors, so... the timing was not that precise?

Seeing the fellow spacing out again, Tu Zuo Fu could not be bothered with him. He casually handed over a small cloth pouch. "This is for the next five days."

Qu Jianlei came back to his senses and opened the pouch. There were indeed ten doses of Nutrient Solution inside.

Then he gave a bitter smile. "I don't deserve this."

It was only a casual move! Tu Zuo Fu glanced at him. "Aren't you worried someone will snatch your antidote?"

Only then did Qu Jianlei realize it. He opened the paper packet, swallowed the antidote, and casually put the packet away.

Tu Zuo Fu reached out and patted his shoulder. "You've even got all your weapons now. You do have some ability."

After saying that, he turned and left. The other Guards members followed, without a single unnecessary word.

Qu Jianlei's gaze drifted as he felt the antidote's effects on his body while remaining alert for a possible attack.

This antidote really was no joke. Less than five minutes after taking it, a faint warmth spread through his entire body.

The various tearing pains faintly present within his body also lessened considerably in an instant.

Moreover, its effects lasted long enough. Even half an hour later, it was still working.

With all the pain gone from his body, Qu Jianlei felt so comfortable he could have ridden the wind and flown.

"No wonder Tu Zuo Fu kills people..." he murmured thoughtfully.

If his guess was correct, this so-called "antidote" was a rare medicine that was highly beneficial to the body.

Killing one person saved at least one dose of medicine. Killing someone to establish authority was only the means; the purpose was not so simple.

He stood there lost in thought, and the others were much the same. Everyone was immersed in the joy of their bodies being restored.

But someone was ultimately more vigilant. A fully armed Brawny Man walked over.

The muscles on his face were still twitching involuntarily, though he was forcibly suppressing them.

"Little Qu, this time it's over. What about next time?"

Only then did Qu Jianlei snap out of his daze. He rubbed his forehead in distress. "I've got no solution either. We'll take it one step at a time."

The Brawny Man frowned slightly. "They think highly of you. How about you take the lead and come up with a plan?"

Hearing that, someone nearby quickly chimed in. "Yeah, people can't keep dying at the drop of a hat."

You want me to take the lead? Qu Jianlei raised his brows and slowly shook his head. "I don't have that ability."

"No one else has more ability!" the Brawny Man said in a deep voice. "I, Collins, fully support you. Anyone who disagrees can come find me!"

Collins was among the strongest Scavengers. He was a lone wolf, ruthless and vicious, but he had never bullied Qu Jianlei in the past.

It was not because he was upright. Qu Jianlei had simply been too weak to be worth bullying.

Qu Jianlei speechlessly pursed his lips. You're all afraid of dying, so am I not?

But he had no intention of explaining. He turned around and went to browse the other shops.

Collins watched him leave, frowning slightly before looking at the others nearby. "You don't support him?"

Someone sighed softly. "Looks like we'll have to have a proper talk with Silly Qu later... could this guy be some family's illegitimate son?"

They truly could not understand how this fool had received such preferential treatment.

A vicious glint flashed through Collins's eyes. "We got dragged into this... actually because we were saving him."

Qu Jianlei had no idea that this had happened behind him. It was his first time outside the Settlement, so naturally he wanted to take a look around.

Here, he finally saw the legendary currency—Hong Si Coin.

This currency was issued by the Hong Si Settlement itself, but to his surprise, it was actually stamped from silver.

In the Wasteland, silver was merely an uncommon metal and was not worth very much.

Silver had decent conductivity, but there were not many places that needed it, since there was hardly any industry here.

Qu Jianlei had a small silver plate in his hand. He had obtained it from Third Master, but he did not know what it was for.

So he took it out and asked the shopkeeper, "How many Silver Coins is this worth?"

The shopkeeper was a slightly plump middle-aged man. After glancing at the plate, he answered without changing expression, "It can only be exchanged for five Silver Horns."

"Then forget it." Qu Jianlei put away the plate and left, not noticing the greed in the shopkeeper's eyes.

Watching him leave, the shopkeeper frowned slightly. "A Secret Silver Plate... how did that fellow get something like this?"

Just then, another person entered from outside. He was a muscular man. "Second Brother, who are you planning to scheme against this time?"

The shopkeeper glanced at him and lowered his voice. "Old Wu, that guy just now had a Secret Silver Plate on him."

"A silver plate?" Old Wu immediately grew interested. "Could you tell where it came from?"

"No," the shopkeeper shook his head. "I offered him five Silver Horns, but that fellow refused to sell."

"It's worth at least five Silver Coins, and you really are ruthless," Old Wu chuckled. "Want to make a move on him?"

The shopkeeper nodded slightly. "He's an unfamiliar face, probably one of those uncommon wild men. His equipment is pretty good, though."

"So what if his equipment is good?" Old Wu answered dismissively. "If seven or eight people surround him, would he dare fight back?"

"Better be careful," the shopkeeper said seriously. "Go sound him out first. Just make sure it isn't a trap."

Out in the Wasteland, schemes and counter-schemes were common. It was hard to say whether the other side was fishing for prey.

Before long, Old Wu returned. "Second Brother, they're a group of Scavengers from outside. One of them was even shot dead by One-Eyed Wolf."

"Scavengers... then he got it by chance?" The shopkeeper raised his brows. "How many companions does he have?"

Near the Garbage Dump, Scavengers really were not easy to provoke, but the elites of the Hong Si Settlement truly did not fear them.

It was nothing more than one group robbing another. With the advantage of preparation, who was afraid of whom?

Old Wu's face darkened at that. "Looks like there are more than forty of them, with three vehicles."

"More than forty?" The shopkeeper was instantly stunned. "Since when have Scavengers been so united?"

Old Wu helplessly spread his hands. "I heard it has something to do with One-Eyed Wolf... the details still aren't clear."

"This is a bit..." The shopkeeper frowned in distress.