Chapter 85: This Is My Brother

The iron gate was lightly tapped, emitting a series of metallic clangs.

“I know you’re right behind the vehicle. We need to talk. Could you open the gate and let us in? It’s not convenient out here with all the corpses roaming about,” the woman among the two spoke up.

Cao Fusheng waved his hand, and the four of them revealed themselves in unison.

Han Shuqing and her two companions raised their guns, aiming at the pair outside the gate.

Cao Fusheng strode up to the gate, sneering coldly at the man and woman.

“What’s the meaning of this? We have no ill intentions, we just want to talk. I noticed you when you first arrived a few days ago, but we wanted to observe at first. Who knew you’d stay holed up and never come out?” the woman hurriedly explained, attempting to justify why they hadn’t approached the group sooner despite knowing they were here.

Cao Fusheng narrowed his eyes at the man’s movements. The man was scratching his backside, almost absentmindedly.

He was trying to draw his gun.

“We’ll let you in, but hand over your firearms first,” Cao Fusheng stated coolly.

The woman feigned confusion. “Guns? What guns? We don’t—”

“You both have pistols at your waists. There’s a rifle in that long backpack. Do you need me to be more detailed? Including the color of your underwear?” Cao Fusheng lifted his pistol, aiming through the iron gate at the man’s head.

“Stop scratching your backside. Everyone knows you’re trying to draw your gun.”

The man’s face flushed with embarrassment, but soon deep wariness and confusion took over. He seemed desperate to know how Cao Fusheng could possibly be aware of the weapons they carried.

The woman drew a sharp breath, shocked. “How do you know? Then tell me, what color is my bra?”

“Hmm, a conservative white bra, but rather wild black lace panties. Why is there such a stark contrast between a woman’s upper and lower attire?” Cao Fusheng replied with a cheerful grin.

“That’s impossible… How can you know so clearly… Are you surveilling us at all times?” the woman stared wide-eyed at Cao Fusheng, signaling to her partner not to make any rash moves.

Cao Fusheng chuckled. “Not at all. Careful observation reveals everything. There’s a tear in your shirt at the chest, and during a scuffle your tight pants exposed the edge of your underwear. As for the pistols at your waists, I noticed them when you turned around. The rifle in your backpack—I just guessed.”

He breezed through the lie so naturally it was flawless at first glance.

“It’s so dark, and you were so far away. How could you see all that?” the woman questioned again, doubt creeping into her voice.

“I have night vision—see better than most at night. Enough talk. The corpses are gathering; you have a choice to make,” Cao Fusheng reminded them calmly.

The corpses nearby were already shambling toward them, drawn by the muffled sounds of their fallen kin. Although their eyesight was poor, their sense of smell and hearing were sharp.

“Xiaowei! No! Let’s leave. If we hand over our guns, we’ll be at their mercy! Let’s wait, maybe there’s still a chance,” the man urged the woman anxiously.

It was clear that in this duo, the woman was the leader.

Han Shuqing stepped forward, gun raised, her voice icy. “You don’t have much time. Either accept our terms, or leave.”

A guttural growl echoed closer.

Perhaps because Han Shuqing was also a woman, or perhaps because of the increasingly close growls, the woman called Xiaowei finally chose to compromise.

“I’ll give you my gun. Let us in. I really do have something to ask of you,” the woman said, pulling out the pistol from her waist and handing it to Han Shuqing, placing her steel pipe on the ground.

“Xiaowei!”

“Just do it! Don’t pin your hopes on unreliable chances. You know what they say—opportunity knocks but once. If we turn back now, we might not get another chance.”

“…Alright.”

In the end, both surrendered their weapons. True to his word, Cao Fusheng opened the gate and let them in.

“Come on, let’s talk inside. You two have just derailed our plans to leave,” Cao Fusheng said, leading the way. Shen Dong and Gao Yi followed behind, keeping a close watch on the pair.

Though allowed inside, the rule remained: the slightest suspicious move would be dealt with immediately.

Fortunately, the newcomers seemed resigned to their fate and showed no sign of trouble as they entered and sat down. The man’s expression was sour, his demeanor sullen—which was understandable. No one would be in a good mood after being disarmed.

“So, what brings you here?” Cao Fusheng asked as they lit a candle, filling the room with a faint glow.

The woman appeared to be in her twenties, her shapely figure accentuated by tight clothing, curves both pronounced and alluring. Still, her bust was a couple of sizes smaller than Han Shuqing’s.

After all, women as buxom as Han Shuqing were rare.

The woman wore her hair in a neat bob, her skin a healthy bronze, her features bold and eyes shining with clarity—a look of competence. She was someone who had undergone rigorous training, not a survivor who had simply drifted through the apocalypse.

The man, by contrast, was unremarkable—both in appearance and build, the type who could vanish in a crowd.

The woman seated herself opposite Cao Fusheng with composure, while the man stood beside her, playing the role of bodyguard. Their roles were clear.

“Allow me to introduce myself. Chu Wei. This is my partner, Zhao Cong,” she said, offering her hand. Cao Fusheng didn’t take it, merely watching her with indifference.

She showed no sign of embarrassment. Compared to Zhao Cong’s alertness, Chu Wei seemed at ease.

“Zhao Cong and I were just observing you at first. In this post-apocalyptic world, everyone is wary and trust comes slowly. I understand why you disarmed us—it’s good sense.”

Her gaze swept over the four, then lingered on Xiaoye with a wry smile. “I didn’t expect you to have a pet with you.”

“A pet?” Cao Fusheng glanced at Xiaoye, amused.

A deep growl rolled from Xiaoye’s throat. His enormous maw opened wide, showering Chu Wei with saliva.

The sight of a mouth large enough to swallow a person whole was enough to frighten anyone. Zhao Cong was stunned, frozen in place.

Chu Wei’s reaction was little better; her body trembled visibly.

“That’s enough, Xiaoye. Don’t scare our guests,” Cao Fusheng said, ruffling Xiaoye’s head. The creature slumped to the side, mollified.

Cao Fusheng grinned at Chu Wei, gesturing toward Xiaoye. “Let me introduce you—Xiaoye, my brother.”