CH 140

After gaining the trust of the large fleet, they exchanged information. This fleet was ranked second on the hit list, known as Jiang Dianzhai, which had a rather tongue-twisting name. Shu Shuishui still found “Shui Jing Gong” to be more pleasant, proving that Gu Langu was indeed skilled at naming. So far, Shu Shuishui hadn’t heard a name more appealing or memorable than “Shui Jing Gong”.

As for the origin of the name Jiang Dianzhai, it was quite simple. The leaders of this base were a couple named Jiang Jiu and Dian Hua. It was said that one of them was exiled to Cang Zhan Star, and when the other learned of it, they deliberately broke the law to be exiled there as well. Cang Zhan Star, neither too big nor too small, especially in a situation where technology was restricted, made finding someone in the perilous Cang Zhan Star quite challenging.

They didn’t talk much about their search for each other, but there must be a story behind it. Among the two, one was a half-mechanical individual with high combat capabilities. Unlike Gu Langu’s mechanization, this person only modified their right arm, seemingly due to losing it in battle, so they underwent direct modification. However, this person belonged to a different military unit and was not in a superior-subordinate relationship with Gu Langu.

Jiang Jiu, true to their name, had a particular fondness for alcohol, and once you got to know them, you’d find that their personality was like the warmth of alcohol – enthusiastic, cheerful, and sunny. Dian Hua, on the other hand, was entirely different: quiet, calm, and accommodating. If you were to make a comparison, Jiang Jiu was like the liquor itself, while Dian Hua was the wine cask capable of containing and preserving this strong spirit. They may appear unremarkable, but only this wine cask could hold and handle the fiery liquor.

This dynamic was evident during lunch. When someone poured wine, Jiang Jiu clearly had an eager expression in their eyes, but their gaze immediately shifted to Dian Hua, whom they looked at carefully. Only after receiving approval from Dian Hua did Jiang Jiu eagerly lift the wine glass.

Shu Shuishui found this couple’s daily interaction style quite intriguing, as it was entirely different from his own relationship with Gu Langu.

Apparently, Shu Shuishui’s gaze was quite conspicuous, and Dian Hua looked over. Shu Shuishui returned the look openly and offered a friendly smile, to which Dian Hua responded with a polite smile.

“It’s been way too stifling these past few days. I can’t even talk about alcohol; even finding food has become a problem. Once we reach the Cangyu Mountains, if there’s anything we need to do, just tell us, Brother Nang Ge,” Jiang Jiu said. After just a few hours, Jiang Jiu had already become acquainted with Nan Ge. As for Gu Langu, even though they were all exiles now, for some reason, Jiang Jiu, as warm-hearted as they were, didn’t dare to approach Gu Langu as familiarly.

Fortunately, before departure, the socialite Nan Ge had come along, along with the equally lively personality of Yu Jin, and both sides quickly got to know each other.

As for any lingering suspicions between them, there was no rush to address them. At least for now, Dian Hua maintained caution and skepticism, and as for Jiang Jiu, while they appeared to trust the Shui Jing Gong on the surface, no one could be entirely certain of their true intentions.

Nan Ge smiled and replied, “We’ll talk about it once we reach the Cangyu Mountains.”

The hearty lunch had made them more familiar with each other. Shu Shuishui could only attribute this phenomenon to the fact that sharing a meal increased their mutual fondness. Whether it was humans or animals, eating together was a form of acknowledgment.

The fleet moved swiftly, and although Jiang Dianzhai’s fleet was large, their coordination was excellent. They navigated various waterways with ease, indicating that their day-to-day management was well-organized.

In the late afternoon, the Shui Jing Gong’s maritime search team, along with Jiang Dianzhai’s fleet, returned to the outskirts of the Cangyu Mountains. They docked at a growing pier, and some of Jiang Dianzhai’s people disembarked onto the Cangyu Mountains.

The scene that caught their eyes was quite impactful. The vitality of the Shui Jing Gong members was one aspect, but the sight of those busy giant gray mutated rats was another. What truly left people baffled was the presence of several large owls in the sky, helping transport supplies. To make things even more astonishing, one of the owls had a young gray mutated rat hanging from its claw.

The mutated rat had dashed towards Shu Shuishui the moment the search team docked, attempting to leap into his arms. However, halfway there, a large hand appeared out of nowhere, blocking its path. It was none other than Gu Langu, who had caught the rat. Gu Langu didn’t hesitate to give the rat a few squeezes, making it feel dizzy. Before it could recover, the owl had grabbed it by the back of its neck with its beak.

Under the rigid appearance of the owl, its eyes blinked hesitantly. Gu Langu stared back with a cold expression, and after a moment, both parties averted their gazes as if nothing had happened.

Once the rat regained its senses, it seemed uncomfortable and made a series of squeaks, apparently not willing to give up on leaping onto Shu Shuishui. The owl lowered its head and set the rat down. However, before the rat could make another move, a large paw came down and pressed on its fur. The rat struggled to lift itself but failed, eventually sitting down in resignation, looking somewhat gloomy.

The owl’s rigid exterior seemed to soften as its eyes blinked again, seemingly pondering something.

Shu Shuishui took a couple of steps forward and patted the rat. “My little one has made a new friend, and the new friend is here to help. Shouldn’t we show some gratitude?”

The rat nodded vigorously, indicating it wanted to express gratitude. It then pointed at its own jio1feet and made a gesture as if it was resting its head on its paw while sleeping. It even continued to squeak while demonstrating.

Shu Shuishui nodded in satisfaction. “My little one has grown up. You know how to give your friend socks.”

Behind Nan Ge, Jiang Jiu asked curiously, “Brother Nan Ge, do socks have any special meaning in your base? I’m sorry for visiting unannounced, and I didn’t prepare any gifts.”

Nan Ge replied, “No need to prepare.” He wasn’t sure why socks had become a luxury item among the rats, and at some point, rats began to feel like owning a pair of socks was akin to owning a house.

Shu Shuishui glanced up at the giant owl. “But it seems your friend can’t sleep in socks.”

The rat reached out and gestured, seemingly just realizing this cruel reality. Its head, which had been lifted with pride moments ago, slowly drooped. However, in no time, two talismans appeared before their eyes. The rat looked up to see Gu Langu bending over with a blank expression, his palm open, revealing two transformation talismans.

“Two transformation talismans, do you need them? Family discount, and you can pay in installments,” Gu  Langu said.

Shu Shuishui: ???

Everyone else: ???

The legendary man from the past seemed to have a slightly different style now. Was this the same Gu Langu, or was he someone impersonating him?

However, they quickly dismissed this speculation because, as far as the eye could see, there was an abundance of resources, population, and advanced technology. They had even witnessed quite a number of mechanically modified creatures. Of course, the most bizarre aspect was the harmonious coexistence between these mutated rats and mutated owls. Setting aside the question of how mutated creatures interacted with humans, who could explain how owls and rats coexisted peacefully?

While the people on one side were still in shock and perplexed, the little gray rat on the other side had brightened up. Through paw gestures, it quickly settled the price for the transformation talismans, took them, and promptly rolled them up before stuffing them into its small backpack. The owl stood motionless, observing the transaction. Despite its newfound intelligence, it still couldn’t comprehend what the transformation talismans were.

After securing the transformation talismans, the rat seemed to remember something important and began to squeak rapidly. Shu Shuishui listened attentively and looked pleasantly surprised. “Really? You’ve found a place to live?”

Just as he spoke, Liu Po arrived upon hearing the news, with a rare expression of joy on his face, clearly bringing good news. However, when he saw Jiang Jiu and Dian Hua, he paused for a moment. “Who are these?”

“Jiang Jiu and Dian Hua, from Jiang Dianzhai,” Jiang Jiu introduced himself while gesturing and introducing his partner.

Liu Po had obviously paid attention to the hunting list and recognized the names. He shook hands with Jiang Jiu and Dian Hua. “Welcome to the Cangyu Mountains, becoming part of the alliance.”

Jiang Jiu smiled and replied, “I’m honored and fortunate.”

Nan Ge led Jiang Dianzhai’s group to tour the area around their base and explained the situation of the Cangyu Mountains. When he mentioned that various bases could hire mutated gray rats to explore the mountains without being attacked by mutated creatures, the expressions of Jiang Jiu and Dian Hua once again showed clear signs of astonishment. However, under the consecutive shocks they had experienced, their expressions quickly returned to normal.

“Joining the alliance allows your base to obtain residency within the mountains. Of course, you can’t venture deep into the mountains without proper reasons. If you have a valid reason, you need to apply in advance. I’m sure you all know that mutated creatures have a strong sense of territory. So, it’s important not to wander aimlessly to avoid attracting their attacks.” Nan Ge further explained the benefits of joining.

The eyes of Jiang Jiu and Dian Hua were getting brighter, clearly not expecting such a good deal. In the current situation, acquiring a piece of land for settlement was a rare opportunity, and considering the vastness of the Cangyu Mountains, their new settlement should be reasonably spacious.

“Mr. Nan Ge, may I ask if there are any limitations on the residency area?” Dian Hua inquired.

“On the condition that you don’t cause extensive damage to the vegetation or disrupt other mutated creatures, there are no limitations. However, for the safety of your base, it’s not advisable to spread out too widely.”

Dian Hua nodded. “With such benefits, there must be other conditions or requirements, right?”

Nan Ge didn’t hide anything. “Yes. Shui Jing Gong holds absolute command within the alliance. The North Hemisphere bases united together have formidable strength, including well-established ones like Zone A and S. To compete with them, we can’t afford any discrepancies.”

Dian Hua understood Nan Ge’s point. Despite coming from the South Hemisphere, these fleets weren’t familiar with each other, and if they acted independently, they’d be like scattered grains of sand. These forces needed someone with absolute authority to lead them and consolidate significant power.

After touring the base, Jiang Dianzhai’s people were already showing signs of longing. Without much need for words, orders were given, and the fleets began transferring supplies to the shore. Of course, the fleet was too large, and it couldn’t all be moved in a short time, so only a small group stayed overnight in the mountains.

In the evening, many exploration teams from other bases returned one after another. They were surprised to see new faces but quickly expressed their understanding after explanations.

Even the bases that hadn’t found a settlement weren’t in a hurry. They realized that settling down wasn’t something to rush.

Everyone was sitting together around a campfire, illuminating a large area. Jiang Dianzhai’s group once again marveled at the Shui Jing Gong fleet’s food—abundant, fresh, and delicious. Nan Ge timely explained the existence of micro-farms and ranches, which earned them yet another round of astonished stares.

Just as they were in awe, something stumbled and staggered over from the side. The past few days of the kill order had made Jiang Dianzhai’s group as skittish as birds startled by a bowstring. They were almost ready to attack immediately. However, after seeing what it was, they all fell silent.

Shu Shuishui also saw the stumbling “thing.” It was an owl wearing socks…

Apparently, even with the use of a mimicry seal, an owl wasn’t quite suitable for sleeping in socks, and it seemed like they were being used in the wrong way.

Fortunately, the little gray rat quickly caught up and laboriously pulled the socks off the mimicry owl. Then, it examined them and gestured to the owl to lift its foot. The owl obediently raised one foot, and the little gray rat slipped the sock onto it, then did the same for the other foot.

The owl was very cooperative, so it got stuffed into the socks step by step and carried away…

Everyone: “…”

Jiang Jiu even coughed lightly. “The rats here are quite… smart, huh…”