Liu Feng looked at Han Bing and asked with interest, "What do you think we should do?"
Han Bing knew exactly what Liu Feng had in mind, but he truly could not bear to see others suffer the same fate he had. He clenched his teeth and hesitated for a long time before finally making up his mind.
"Brother Feng, you saved my life. Whatever you decide, I'll follow your lead!"
Seeing Han Bing finally take that first step pleased Liu Feng.
In this cruel world, saviors often failed to save anyone and merely became dinner for the zombies. Those who could steel their hearts, on the other hand, often lived longer.
"Then here's what we'll do. I've gone through quite a bit of information these past few days. When Long Tai was in charge, five neighborhood camps submitted to him. Now that this residential complex is under our control, we need to go check out those five camps again and see where they stand. If they're willing to remain under our rule, we can leave them in peace. If they aren't, then..."
Liu Feng left the ugly part unsaid, but Han Bing already understood what he meant. He nodded and said respectfully in a low voice, "Brother Feng, I'll go get everything ready. We'll leave in half an hour."
Liu Feng nodded. As he watched Han Bing walk away, a satisfied smile spread across his handsome face.
On the map, the five smaller neighborhood camps formed a ring around their residential camp.
Han Bing gathered all the men in the camp, leaving only the balding Uncle Ge and a few women behind to keep watch.
More than thirty men armed with rifles and formidable fighting skills set off in seven or eight modified pickup trucks, heading toward the first small camp in an imposing convoy.
The five- or six-kilometer journey took about half an hour before they finally reached their destination.
It was a relatively run-down neighborhood camp. Not only were its defenses weak, but it also had very few strong, able-bodied men. Most of its residents were middle-aged and getting on in years.
When the residents saw modified pickup trucks charging toward them, they immediately shut the camp gates. Holding an automatic rifle, Han Bing stood atop a pickup truck, looking every bit imposing.
"Uncle Wang, open the gates! It's me, Han Bing!"
Han Bing shouted at the top of his lungs seven or eight times before a middle-aged man with a brutish face finally appeared on the platform above the gates.
"Han Bing, what exactly are you planning, bringing so many people here?" The middle-aged man's face darkened as he snorted disdainfully. "Our forces might be weaker than yours, but if you intend to swallow us whole, I can show you what it means to take you down with us."
Hearing this, Han Bing forced a smile and put away his automatic rifle.
"Uncle Wang, you're worrying too much. We're on such good terms. How could we possibly use force against you?"
"Hmph. You come here fully armed with all these men, and you expect me to believe that nonsense?"
Han Bing chuckled and said with some embarrassment, "Uncle Wang, to tell you the truth, I didn't come here with good intentions today. Your tribute is due around now, after all. So if you have anything worthwhile, please bring it out as soon as possible!"
Hearing this, Uncle Wang gave a disdainful snort.
"Heh, there really is no end to the fools in this world! Han Bing, do you think I don't know what you're capable of? Besides, Long Tai hasn't even said anything yet. Who are you to make demands?"
Han Bing seemed to have expected that response. He clapped his hands, and more than a dozen strong, sturdy men climbed out of the three trucks behind him.
"Uncle Wang, you recognize these men, don't you?" Han Bing chuckled and continued as he watched the shock spread across Uncle Wang's face. "Long Tai is history. Brother Feng calls the shots here now!"
"Han Bing, you..."
Before Uncle Wang could finish, Liu Feng stepped out of the truck. With a sweep of his hand, nearly a hundred thousand Iron-toothed Insects appeared, blanketing the sky.
"Uncle Wang, this is our Brother Feng, a powerful Gene Warrior. If you want to resist, you're welcome to try."
Uncle Wang's face filled with shock as he listened to Han Bing.
Though he had desperately wanted to escape Long Tai's control, at that moment, he wished more than anything that Long Tai would appear. Unfortunately, his wish went unanswered.
Uncle Wang looked up at the squad this new leader had brought. More than thirty young, sturdy men stood in neat ranks, each carrying heavy weaponry. Compared with his own forces, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Uncle Wang shook his head helplessly and sighed. With a wave of his hand, the neighborhood camp's gates opened.
"Brother Feng, the weather has been getting worse lately, so we're producing far fewer daily necessities than before. If possible, please leave us thirty percent."
With Uncle Wang leading the way, Liu Feng entered the neighborhood camp's warehouse.
Aside from neatly stacked clothing, there were two large baskets of eggs and vegetables, along with five or six birds in bamboo cages. Having this much productive capacity in the apocalypse was no small feat.
Rather than answer Uncle Wang directly, Liu Feng turned to Han Bing and asked quietly, "Han Bing, how much did Long Tai usually take?"
Han Bing paused before answering in a low voice, "Generally, Long Tai took eighty percent. And what he left behind was usually the stuff of poorer quality and condition."
Liu Feng knitted his brows at this, deep in thought.
After taking stock of all the supplies, Liu Feng went straight back to the pickup truck. He waved Han Bing over.
"Han Bing."
"Yes, Brother Feng?"
"Take only half the clothing and vegetables. We don't need the live poultry. Leave it all for them."
"Brother Feng, if we do that..."
Han Bing was only halfway through his sentence when he saw the serious look on Liu Feng's face and swallowed the rest of his words.
As the convoy departed, Uncle Wang fell to his knees, weeping with gratitude, and repeatedly kowtowed toward the departing trucks.
They said the first step was always the hardest, but Liu Feng's first tribute collection had gone so smoothly that he was brimming with confidence about the rest.
After winding their way onward, the convoy followed the map and collected tribute from three more neighborhood camps in succession. Some people were unwilling, but faced with the threat of rocket launchers and Iron-toothed Insects, they could only comply.
In the blink of an eye, evening had arrived. The sunset dyed the western sky blood-red.
"Brother Feng, I didn't expect things to go this smoothly."
Liu Feng gave a quiet snort and replied, "The next one might not be so smooth."
"Why?"
Liu Feng pointed at the neighborhood camp now just ahead of them. Its high platform was packed with burly men carrying firearms.
(End of chapter)
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