It was clearly a donkey.
Chen Mo turned his head.
It was Lin Lu.
Lin Lu stood behind Big Niu,
his face covered with white strips of cloth.
He was facing Red Hare, examining him.
Then he turned toward Chen Mo. Chen Mo climbed down from the truck apprehensively, squirming under Lin Lu's scrutiny.
"C-Captain Lin..."
Chen Mo spoke up, greeting Captain Lin.
Lin Lu gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Just then, several more figures approached.
It was Su Qian, holding the hand of Xiao Ya, who was clutching her Barbie Doll.
Old Yang followed them over, examining Red Hare curiously.
"Chen Mo, where did you get a donkey? I didn't see it earlier."
With everyone staring, Chen Mo felt his scalp prickle.
He forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace.
"It came running down the road when we were setting up camp. It should be... a horse."
"Nonsense, it's a donkey. Still, it's pretty sturdy. It should be able to carry plenty."
Su Qian looked over the black-and-white spotted donkey and offered her opinion.
Xiao Ya, whose hand Su Qian was holding, stared fixedly at Red Hare.
More unnervingly, the Barbie Doll in her arms followed her movements, staring just as intently at the donkey.
At the sight, Chen Mo chose to shut his mouth.
If they discovered that this old donkey was an anomaly,
his life would probably be over.
They would certainly brand him a traitor to humanity and tear him limb from limb.
No one would be able to save him.
Surrounded by onlookers, Red Hare kept his head lowered, chewing grass with a vacant gaze.
His donkey ears drooped as he played the fool, letting them comment however they pleased.
Inside Chen Mo's mind, however, Red Hare's furious roars rang out.
"Donkey, donkey, donkey! Your whole families are donkeys!"
"I'm Red Hare, the greatest divine steed of the Three Kingdoms! A horse! A thousand-mile steed!"
"Once I reach level three, I'm sewing the mouths of these blind fools shut!"
Chen Mo's expression remained calm, but inwardly he scoffed.
Who could you blame when you looked like that?
Lin Lu withdrew his attention from Red Hare and turned toward Chen Mo.
"Big Niu told me the two of you killed a level-one variant."
"By the time Big Niu arrived, you'd already seriously wounded the Hairy Savage. You did well."
"You still have that claw, don't you?"
Here it came.
Chen Mo knew Lin Lu and the others had come for the claw.
In an instant, the chatter stopped.
Every gaze settled on Chen Mo.
The people nearby also looked over curiously.
Brother Dao had heard that Chen Mo had killed an anomaly,
and came over with his followers.
Hu Yaya and Li Shiqi watched from a distance as well.
There was a trace of worry in their eyes.
Hearing this, Old Yang walked over to Chen Mo,
and tugged his sleeve.
"Something this important-why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Lin Lu continued, his voice perfectly level.
"Without Big Niu and Old Yang, you couldn't have killed the Hairy Savage."
"The convoy should get the lion's share of that claw."
Chen Mo didn't argue.
It was the truth.
Without Big Niu's final, thunderous strike,
without Old Yang's black box,
he would have had no way to fight back against the Hairy Savage.
Not even a badly wounded Hairy Savage.
Trying to keep all the spoils for oneself was taboo in any group.
Especially in this man-eating apocalypse.
"I'm not taking your belongings."
Lin Lu seemed to "see" through Chen Mo's wariness.
"The convoy has rules. You and Big Niu killed the anomaly this time."
"You're entitled to a share of the material."
"But you're an ordinary person. In your hands, it's nothing but a lump of rotten flesh."
"Hand it over. I'll compensate you."
Lin Lu held out a hand.
"Two choices."
"First, twenty jin of food, a case of water, and a box of antibiotics."
"Second, Old Yang modifies your truck once, free of charge. Any modification you want. The convoy supplies the materials."
Big Niu seemed somewhat surprised by the atmosphere.
He walked over, his throat bobbing as he prepared to speak.
"I choose the second."
Chen Mo answered promptly and decisively, before Big Niu could speak.
He turned and retrieved the Hairy Savage's severed claw, wrapped in cloth, from the cab.
He walked up to Lin Lu and offered it with both hands.
Xiao Liu stepped forward from beside Lin Lu.
He took the claw, unwrapped it for a look, then nodded to Lin Lu.
"You're smart."
"Old Yang, stay and help him. Have Xiao Liu fetch whatever materials you need."
Lin Lu lowered his hand and left without another word.
A confrontation that could have proved fatal ended just like that.
Finding no spectacle left to watch, the onlookers dispersed reluctantly.
Brother Dao gave Chen Mo a long look, the gloating in his eyes replaced by wariness, then left with his men.
Soon, only Chen Mo, Old Yang, and the donkey playing dumb remained beside the dump truck.
"Don't take it to heart."
Old Yang patted Chen Mo's shoulder and offered him a cigarette.
"That's just how Captain Lin is. It's about the matter, not the person. He has to keep things fair in the convoy, or people will stop sticking together."
"That thing counts as spoils. Every Transcendent in the convoy is entitled to a share."
"Besides, it really isn't much use to you."
Chen Mo took the cigarette and shook his head.
"Old Yang, I understand."
"Captain Lin was right. Without Big Niu and your device, I probably would've died."
"I was too greedy. In the end, I'm just not strong enough."
Chen Mo knew.
If he insisted on keeping that claw today,
then by tomorrow morning,
his corpse would probably be lying in some ditch.
Lin Lu might not do it himself,
but plenty of people would be willing to solve that problem for him.
"Good, as long as you understand."
Old Yang nodded approvingly, blew out a smoke ring, and looked at the battered dump truck.
"So, what modifications do you want?"
Chen Mo stubbed out his cigarette and examined the dump truck.
"Brother Yang, enclose the entire bed. Weld it shut with sheet metal."
"Then cut an opening between the cab and the bed, so I can move freely between them."
That way, the truck bed would become a completely private space.
Whether he was hiding supplies or people, it would be far safer than the currently open bed.
Even if someone wanted to rob him, they would first have to find a way through the welded metal.
"That's a fair bit of work. I'll need to find some materials."
As he spoke, Old Yang began rummaging through the camp.
Soon, he dragged over several sheets of metal in different sizes.
He carried a cutting tool and a welding torch.
Old Yang said no more.
He put on his safety goggles and got to work.
The shrill sound of cutting rang out.
Sparks flew everywhere.
At some point, Red Hare came over.
He rubbed his head against Chen Mo's arm.
Red Hare's approving voice sounded in his mind.
"Not bad, kid. You think on your feet."
"You traded a hot potato for a mobile fortress. A good deal."
"Something made by a Transcendent mechanic is a much better bargain than hiring someone else to do it."
Chen Mo ignored him.
He simply watched the sparks dancing beneath the welding torch.
The night passed uneventfully. Early the next morning,
Chen Mo walked over to his dump truck.
Old Yang had worked until midnight before heading back.
He had returned in the morning to finish the job.
"Done!"
Old Yang took off his goggles and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The dump truck's bed was now completely covered in thick sheet metal.
It had become a tightly sealed iron box.
A square opening, one meter on each side, had been cut into the partition behind the cab.
He could enter the truck bed directly from the cab.
"Thanks, Brother Yang."
Chen Mo offered him a half-full bottle of water.
"No need for that."
"We're still friends, aren't we?"
Old Yang took a large gulp of water and waved a hand.
"Remember, what Captain Lin cares about is value."
"The value you showed today"
"was enough to secure your place in the convoy."
"The next time something happens, he should favor you a little."
Old Yang turned and patted Chen Mo's shoulder.
Then he went back to the command vehicle to rest.
Once Old Yang was far enough away,
Chen Mo opened the cab door and climbed inside.
He opened the metal door leading to the truck bed from within and crawled through.
A wave of rust and the acrid smell of welding hit him inside the truck bed.
There wasn't much room inside, but it was enough for two or three people to lie down.
"Kid."
Red Hare's voice rang out in his mind.
It carried a gravity he had never heard before.
"Don't celebrate just yet."
"That stupid bear seems to have caught the scent."
"It... is coming."
Before you continue