Roadblock (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Upon hearing Xu Feng's question, Xiao Dan immediately recited the information mechanically, as if reading from a book:

"Martial artists are divided into three realms: Warrior-level, General-level, and God of War-level, with each realm containing three minor grades!

Mutated creatures and alien races are divided into three realms: Beast Soldier-level, Beast General-level, and Overlord-level.

Each of these realms also follows the same three-grade subdivision as martial artists.

From lowest to highest, they correspond to nine levels of threat: F-grade, E-grade, D-grade, C-grade, B-grade, A-grade, S-grade, SS-grade, and SSS-grade."

Xu Feng ruffled her hair. "Very good. Now, rapid-fire quiz."

Xiao Dan immediately clenched her fists. "Ready!"

Xu Feng asked quickly, "What grade does a mid-tier Beast General correspond to?"

"Hmm," the little girl puffed out her cheeks and grunted for a moment before answering decisively, "B-grade!"

"What does S-grade correspond to?"

"Initial-tier Overlord!"

"Good, next question—"

After several rounds of rapid-fire questions, Xu Feng had successfully refreshed his knowledge through Xiao Dan's answers.

"Oh, by the way, Dad, there have been a lot more soldiers in the base lately."

As they walked, Xiao Dan suddenly pointed toward a group of soldiers running in formation nearby.

Xu Feng's heart skipped a beat. "More? How do you know?"

"Hehe, we used to love leaning on the railing to watch those uncles. They're so cool!"

Xiao Dan said to Xu Feng with an excited smile.

Seeing the stars in her eyes and her look of admiration, Xu Feng was speechless. "How old are you two? Always picking up bad habits! No more watching the soldiers from now on. Isn't your old man cool enough?"

Just as Xu Feng was shamelessly lecturing Xiao Dan, Bai He's voice suddenly rang out from behind him:

"Give it a rest, Old Xu. I could hear you bragging from all the way over here.

If you were really that cool, you wouldn't have to worry about food or clothing; you could just latch onto a few wealthy women."

"Hahaha, you flatter me, you flatter me." Xu Feng thickened his skin, turned around, and greeted Bai He.

The two men stood by the side of the road, watching the two little girls walk into the classroom hand in hand.

"Let's go, time to head to work." Xu Feng waved his hand, and the two men walked side-by-side toward the airport.

"By the way, did you hear any gunshots yesterday?" Xu Feng suddenly remembered the events of the previous night and asked.

Bai He was taken aback. "Gunshots? Where from?"

"Near the shantytown. Someone came to investigate last night and even knocked on my door to ask about it."

"I really didn't hear anything."

When the two arrived at the assembly point while chatting, they discovered a "Temporary Security Inspection" notice posted on the bulletin board.

"Security inspection? Does that mean no work today?" Xu Feng smiled immediately.

"We just had an inspection last month. Why another one today?" Bai He frowned and sighed.

"Why the sigh? You're not happy about a paid day off?" Xu Feng asked in surprise.

Bai He covered his face in agony. "Heh, my wife just happened to ask me to join a transport team to visit the District 20 Trading Zone.

I don't want to go at all, okay? I had work as an excuse before, but now I'm doomed.

Ahhh, when will a middle-aged man ever have any free time!"

Recalling the martial artists who had come knocking the night before, Xu Feng sensed something unusual.

"Why does it feel like security measures have gotten stricter lately? Has something happened?"

"How would I know? Speaking of which, I haven't seen you go out in a long time. Do you want to come with us and look around?"

Bai He looked at Xu Feng and extended an invitation.

In truth, Xu Feng was very curious about the outside world and wanted to learn more about the customs of this strange new world.

But after thinking it over, considering his mediocre strength and limited assets, he ultimately shook his head and declined.

"I'll pass. Expenses have been high lately, and I have a feeling the situation isn't quite right.

You guys should think about it again—running around outside always carries risks. It's safer to stay near the base."

Bai He paused, looking at Xu Feng deeply. "Old Xu, have you really turned over a new leaf? I heard people talking about it earlier, but I thought it was impossible."

"A prodigal son returning is for a prodigal son. Am I a prodigal son? I was just an idiot before."

Xu Feng laughed heartily, which served as his response.

Bai He smiled faintly, "Our partner must be bored out of his mind with nothing to do.

Besides, with the transport team's escort squad around, we can handle whatever comes our way. We aren't exactly ordinary people, after all."

"Alright then, see you tomorrow."

Xu Feng nodded, then bid Bai He farewell.

Back home, the more Xu Feng thought about it, the more he felt his speculation was simply a matter of better safe than sorry.

Regardless of whether he was right or wrong, being cautious was never a mistake.

After hesitating for a moment, he headed straight to the trading zone and bought some canned goods and easy-to-store instant food.

Immediately after, he bought two bags of rice, five large jugs of purified water, ten pounds of Fierce Armor Beef, and twenty pounds of regular beef.

He also picked up some tools and other supplies, spending nearly three thousand yuan in total.

By the time he had made three trips to haul his supplies, his fourth trip finally drew the attention of some observant people on the street.

"Hey! Buddy, let me ask, what are you hoarding all this stuff for?"

The two men who blocked Xu Feng were tall youths, both dressed quite neatly.

One had short hair, while the other had shoulder-length hair held back by a headband.

However, the tattoos on their arms and the weapons they carried made Xu Feng alert.

It wasn't that he had any issue with tattoos.

It was just that when two tattooed youths carrying weapons stop you, you had better be on your guard.

Moreover, his current location had just taken him away from the crowded trading zone; it wasn't exactly remote, but there weren't many people around.

"Oh, nothing much. I just happened to be free today, so I decided to buy some things for the house since I'm usually too lazy to go out."

Xu Feng explained patiently.

Ever since he was a child, he had kept his parents' words in mind: "We don't go looking for trouble, but we don't fear it either," and the "principle of concession for the fortunate."

"Oh, then are you selling those cans in your hands? We're buying at a high price lately."

The short-haired youth in the lead asked with a smile.

The other man quietly moved to block Xu Feng's side, the two of them sandwiching him between them.

Xu Feng glanced at the man, then raised his hand to casually touch his collar:

"Not for sale, they're for my own consumption. Anything else? If not, I'm leaving."

As he spoke, he sidestepped and continued walking forward.

But the youth with the headband stepped sideways again, blocking Xu Feng's path: "We aren't done talking yet, what's the rush?"

The short-haired youth to the side smiled slightly and was about to step forward to "persuade him kindly," but suddenly, Xu Feng flicked his hand.

"Whoosh!"

Thwack!

A flash of cold light grazed the short-haired youth's earlobe and buried itself deep into the concrete pillar behind him!!

The two men were startled by the sudden attack.

They let out a cry of alarm, backed away a few steps, and looked to the side in horror.

The throwing knife was embedded deep into the roadside concrete utility pole, a full finger's depth.

The short-haired youth touched his earlobe nervously and found a trace of blood.

"You, you—" He looked at Xu Feng and reached for the knife at his waist.

Xu Feng stared at them coldly, his hand resting on his own waist: "If you make a move now, it's either you die or I do."

The short-haired youth and the headband-wearing youth froze, hesitation appearing on their faces.

Seeing that they lacked the nerve to fight, Xu Feng spat out a single word: "Get lost!"

Brothers, please keep up with the latest chapters. Tuesday is a crucial day for recommendations; only with enough engagement can I get featured and gain traffic.

I hope you can use your lucky hands to click on the latest chapter, even if you just flip through it! Thank you!

(End of chapter)