Romance Variety Show: The aloof and beautiful fourth female lead is always coveted.

The patrol members returned one after another, and they were not surprised to see Ji Shu and Bai Nianchu in such a sticky and affectionate pose.

After all, the relationship between the three of them was already something that everyone was used to.

"Captain," the lead team member reported to Bai Nianchu, "nothing unusual has been found."

"But something feels strange..." another team member said. "Usually there are one or two wandering zombies around here, but we haven't seen anything today."

At this moment, the expression on the faces of the team members who were keeping watch on top of the truck changed drastically.

"Captain, something terrible has happened! There's a horde of zombies!"

Bai Nianchu frowned, climbed onto the truck, and took the binoculars. Sure enough, he saw a dense, continuous horde of zombies in the distance, a dark, overwhelming force approaching their camp like a flood. Such a massive zombie horde was beyond the capacity of their current force to withstand.

There are many ways to deal with the zombie horde, but there's no need to waste too much time and energy on them.

"Everyone prepare to evacuate—" Bai Nianchu ordered. "Hurry up and move supplies; the wounded should be put on the trucks first. Chao Sheng, you'll drive alone with me, responsible for clearing the way; Ji Shu, you stay in the truck and protect the entire team. Everyone, move out immediately!"

"yes!"

This wasn't the first or second time they'd done this kind of relocation; they proceeded methodically, undisrupted by the distant howls of the walkers.

In just five minutes, the team had finished loading the truck.

The zombie horde had already surged to within a few hundred meters of the vicinity.

Before Bai Nianchu got into the car, Ji Shu climbed into the driver's seat first.

"Captain, I'm with you."

Bai Nianchu frowned: "Why aren't you following orders?"

"I've memorized the map, so I know the safest route from here on out," Ji Shu quickly explained. "Don't worry about the other team members; I've already explained everything to Ning Zhe."

Ning Zhe is a veteran in the team. He was one of the first members to join them in forming the Survivor Team and is a partner they trust completely.

Bai Nianchu said no more, opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat, "This is the last time."

"Yes, Captain."

The convoy of two cars, a truck, and several motorcycles evacuated in an orderly fashion, leaving the horde of zombies far behind.

A few fast-moving zombies tried to get closer, but Bai Nianchu and Shen Chaosheng took turns shooting them dead.

Ten days later, they drove into Lailuo District.

Ji Shu had a deep impression of this area—soon they would encounter another survivor team here, and a conflict would break out over resources and territory. The other side had far more weapons, ammunition, and fuel than they did. In the ensuing fierce fighting, they lost several members, and he, in order to protect his leader, was slashed in the eye by the opposing leader.

The hospitals, large and small, in Lailuo District had been looted. Ji Shu missed the best time for treatment, and his injured eyes eventually only had a blurry sense of light. A long and hideous scar was also left on his face.

But this scar not only etched itself into his later life, but also into the leader's.

From then on, Bai Nianchu never let anyone stand in front of her again.

In every battle, she would rush to the forefront, as if to remind herself, or perhaps to punish herself.

This matter was like a thorn stuck in Ji Shu's heart, and it was also the regret he most wanted to change.

Returning to this point, Ji Shu did not dissuade Bai Nianchu from changing direction and avoiding Lailuo District.

Compared to another route that he didn't know was safer or more dangerous, he preferred to choose the same path as in his previous life and personally wipe out his enemies.

Having control over the "plot" is his and Shen Chaosheng's biggest advantage.

At this point, they had not yet encountered another team of survivors, but were resting and regrouping about six or seven kilometers away from them.

Ji Shu's plan was to strike first when the group was off guard, ideally defeating them one by one, and then catching them off guard at the right moment.

However, Ji Shu did not hide it from Bai Nianchu and acted alone with Shen Chaosheng.

They knew better than anyone else that Bai Nianchu was not a weak, spineless parasitic vine that needed protection. She was a thorny rose born from ruins and bloodshed, more resilient and sharper than anyone else, the backbone that held up the entire team.

Ji Shu and Shen Chaosheng simply didn't want her to bear unnecessary sacrifices and burdens.

As for the trials and tribulations that Bai Nianchu needs to go through, they will still accompany her through them.

"The leader of this group had a wicked habit—leaving no survivors wherever they went. The elderly, women, children, and those who surrendered were all tortured and killed for their amusement. No group that fought against them ever escaped unscathed."

"Even if we avoid them this time, they'll run into us in a few days."

Ji Shu explained to Bai Nianchu the atrocities committed by that group, including burning, killing, looting, and massacring their own kind, and detailed his plan. After careful consideration, Bai Nianchu agreed to carry out the ambush according to his idea.

She decisively ordered, "Kill them all."

The team members solemnly replied, "Roger that!"

As for why Ji Shu knew so much about the other party's information, there will be plenty of time to ask him later.

Ji Shu had an excellent memory; he remembered the patrol pattern and shift change times of that team, and led his men to lure them into ambush. At the same time, Bai Nianchu and Shen Chaosheng sneaked into the enemy camp under cover of darkness, aiming to kill their leader and deputy, and then slaughtering them one by one when they were off guard.

After losing their leader, the squad only thought of taking their weapons and food and going their separate ways, and the entire team instantly fell apart. Seeing the signal flare go up, Ji Shu led his squad to rejoin them, executed all the remaining rebels, and seized all their weapons and supplies.

The entire operation went incredibly smoothly.

When Ji Shu settled down and rested at the new camp, he still felt somewhat dazed.

At night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep soundly, and wanted to sneak into Bai Nianchu's tent to catch a glimpse of her sleeping face before dawn.

Unexpectedly, he ran into Shen Chaosheng, who was also having trouble sleeping, in front of the tent.

In battle, the two were inseparable friends who would turn their backs on each other.

But once off the battlefield, they reverted to being rivals who loathed each other.

Ji Shu and Shen Chaosheng: "..."

They stared at each other, neither wanting to let the other in, nor wanting to go back.

The team members on night watch were startled by the two dark shadows in front of the captain's tent, thinking that some villains who hadn't been completely killed had returned to seek revenge.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that they were the captain's left and right hands.

It stood there stiffly at night, neither speaking nor moving, which was quite frightening.

The next second, he glimpsed the tent being pulled open from the inside by the captain.

Then, Ji Shu and Shen Chaosheng exchanged a glance, bent down, and crawled inside.

The team member glanced at it a few times, then turned back with a hint of resentment.

Being handsome has its advantages... you can even sleep with the captain.

He thought sourly.