Still hoarding supplies in the apocalypse? I'll just go on a killing spree and looting!

Lin You stood at the bridgehead, not in a hurry to cross.

Her gaze fell on the dripping clothes—a gray cloth jacket, a pair of dark trousers, and a white cloth ribbon, like the kind used for wrapping one's head.

The dripping speed is very even, indicating that it was just washed recently.

"How far is it from here to the town?" Mu Xue asked hesitantly.

By passing through the town in front of us, entering the tunnel, and then going through, we can save a large portion of the journey.

"The town is just past that grove of trees," Lin You said. "It's less than three kilometers away as the crow flies."

Mu Xue couldn't help but say, "That person is really bold."

You can't blame Mu Xue for saying that; being close to the town means there's plenty of food for the strange beasts.

There must be many strange beasts around.

At only three kilometers, it is definitely not safe.

You'll find out soon.

Lin You didn't cross the bridge, nor did she intend to go directly across.

This is far too dangerous, since the other party could easily set a trap in front of the SUV and it would get stuck on the bridge.

She'll be in big trouble then.

Lin You sat down on the stone pier at the bridgehead, took out a compressed biscuit from her bag, and handed one to Mu Xue.

It's already noon, and we need to replenish our energy to prepare for any potential conflicts that may arise.

Mu Xue took it and leaned against a withered willow tree, nibbling on it in small bites.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds and fell into the ditch, illuminating the cracked mud bottom with a bright white light.

About ten minutes later, the door of the building across the street opened.

A person came out carrying an enamel basin, walked to the clothesline, and reached out to straighten a piece of clothing.

He was wearing a faded gray short-sleeved shirt and dark trousers with the cuffs rolled up to his calves.

Her hair was gray, and it was tied in a loose bun at the back of her head.

The movements were unhurried, and the force used to straighten the hem of the clothes was steady, as if doing something that did not require any sense of urgency.

Then he turned around and glanced at the bridge.

From a distance of more than ten meters, Lin You could see his face clearly. He was around fifty years old, thin, but with very straight shoulders and back.

He has a narrow face, slightly prominent cheekbones, and a short beard under his chin.

His eyes weren't big, but he always squinted when he looked at people, like the narrow eyes of a fox.

He glanced at Lin You, then at Mu Xue, before carrying the enamel basin back into the house.

After a while, he came out again, this time with a rough porcelain bowl in his hand, steaming from inside.

He walked to the bridge, squatted down, placed the bowl on a cement pillar by the bridge, then retreated to the entrance of the small building and stood there as if waiting.

Lin You frowned and looked up at the man in gray.

Lin You stood up and walked across the bridge, making a gesture behind her back to Mu Xue that she was ready to fight at any time.

Then he approached and stopped next to the rough porcelain bowl.

The liquid in the bowl was dark brown, with a refreshing herbal scent. It wasn't a strong medicinal smell, but rather a cool one—honeysuckle, licorice, and a hint of mint.

Lin You looked up at the entrance of the small building.

A man in gray stood there, leaning against the door frame, his hands tucked into his sleeves.

He glanced at Lin You, then at Mu Xue behind her.

The two gazes lingered for exactly the same amount of time, neither too long nor too short, showing no particular interest in either person.

"Those strange beasts on the road," Lin You stood motionless on the bridge, looking the old man up and down, "Did you kill them?"

The man in gray kept his eyes half-closed, but slightly raised his chin as a nod.

"Seven," Lin You said.

"Eight," the man in gray chuckled softly. "One fell into the river and was swept away. You should have seen seven."

Lin You paused for two or three seconds, then asked, "What about the other two?"

"It couldn't be saved." The man in gray spoke calmly, as if he were casually remarking on the hot weather. "When I arrived, the woman had already passed away. The man held on for about half an incense stick's time, but his internal organs were damaged, and he couldn't be stopped."

"You killed him all by yourself?"

"one person."

"What should we use?"

The man in gray pulled one hand out from his sleeve and showed it to her.

That hand was withered and thin, with large knuckles, and a thick layer of calluses on the tiger's mouth and the edge of the palm.

A few dried, dark red marks remained between his fingers.

"Hands," the gray-clad man said calmly.

Lin You looked at the hand, then glanced at the rough porcelain bowl steaming on the bridge.

"That bowl of stuff," Lin You took two steps back and asked, "what is it?"

"Licorice, honeysuckle, and mint water," the man in gray said. "It's hot, and people who walk long distances are prone to heatstroke. Have a bowl to quench your thirst."

His gaze moved from Lin You's face to other parts of her body.

That feeling of being scrutinized was awful.

The old fox's eyes never truly opened, but Lin You knew he was observing them.

"Come in and have a seat," the strange man invited. "You seem a bit off."

Lin You bent down, picked up the bowl, and took a small sip from the rim.

The cool sweetness slid down the tip of my tongue and into my throat, while the aftertaste of mint pushed up from my nasal cavity.

This bowl of food is not poisonous, and it's just as the person in front of me said.

Although Lin You's actions were dangerous, discussing toxicity without considering dosage is utter nonsense.

Lin You felt that even if the other party wanted to poison her, such a small dose would not have a fatal effect on her.

At worst, a bottle of healing potion will solve the problem.

Lin You carried the bowl towards the small building. As she crossed the threshold, she turned to Mu Xue and said, "If it's not right, take action anytime."

Mu Xue nodded silently, watching the man in gray from outside the door, the safety on her shotgun still on.

Lin You went inside.

The room was dark, with yellowed newspapers pasted on the windows. An old wooden table stood against the wall, on which lay a mortar and pestle, several bundles of dried herbs, a small scale, and a well-worn thread-bound book.

A small stove made of bricks was built in the corner of the wall, with a black pottery jar on it, from which wisps of white steam rose.

The man in gray walked to the table, sat down on a low wooden stool, and casually gathered the scattered herbs on the table to the side.

"sit."

Lin You sat down on the only stool opposite the table. Her position was quite deliberate; she wasn't facing the person in front of her, but rather to his left.

Lin You even placed the mantis knife horizontally on her knee.

The man in gray reached out and took her left wrist, placing three fingers on her pulse point.

The room fell silent.

The medicinal soup in the black earthenware pot was bubbling, and occasionally a gust of wind would rustle the newspaper pasted on the window.

The gray-clad man's eyebrows drooped down slightly, very slowly.

The fingertips dug slightly into the flesh, as if groping for something buried underneath.

After about twenty seconds, he stopped.

"Your internal organs," he said, his eyes unusually wide open, "felt like they had been scraped repeatedly with a dull knife. The energy in your meridians was broken into segments."

He leaned back in his chair, tucked his hands back into his sleeves, and narrowed his fox-like eyes again.

"How did your body manage to hold on until today?"

"People always have to live," Lin You said after a moment's thought, "even if it comes at a price."

The man in gray looked at her, a glint of light flickering in his fox-like eyes, as if he had seen through something, but he had no intention of speaking for her.