"Are you a martial artist?" Chu Shanhe asked enthusiastically.
Chen Chao shook his head. Martial artists were individuals he had encountered before—those who had inherited ancient combat techniques from the old era. Members of martial alliances typically possessed D-level combat skills, with some core members achieving B1-level or higher. It was said that the heads of these alliances were S-level combat masters!
S-level was the pinnacle, symbolizing the peak of power.
Whether it was evolution or combat skills, reaching S-level meant standing at the apex. Such individuals were extraordinary beings for whom survival was no longer a challenge. Their thoughts turned toward ruling the world, striving to become its sole master.
"Impossible…," Chu Shanhe muttered, feeling that Chen Chao was withholding the truth. How could someone with such combat prowess not be a martial artist? Could he be an expert from the national martial arts community? He pondered briefly but refrained from probing further. Every circle had its rules, much like how he, as a soldier, would typically avoid revealing his identity to civilians unless in extraordinary circumstances—it was against regulations.
Reaching out, Chu Shanhe expressed his gratitude, "Thanks to you, I'm alive. Otherwise, I might have died at the hands of those disgusting creatures."
Chen Chao shook his head and said, "You have strong luck. You wouldn't die so easily."
He was telling the truth. Even if he hadn't intervened, Chu Shanhe would have survived. In history, Chu Shanhe had only died after becoming an S-level evolutionist—he still had a few years left.
Chu Shanhe, however, interpreted the remark as praise. Laughing heartily, he said, "You're right, brother! I've taken more than my fair share of bullets and lived to tell the tale. A few monsters like these aren't enough to take my life!"
Chen Chao nodded slightly and glanced at the group. "Where are you headed?" He didn't want his presence to alter Chu Shanhe's trajectory. Legends like him often had their unique encounters. Interfering recklessly might result in them becoming mediocre under the butterfly effect—or perhaps surpassing their past achievements.
Still, Chen Chao wasn't interested in personally fostering such people. It would take too much effort. He preferred surviving on his own but didn't mind planting a seed of goodwill in Chu Shanhe's heart.
Perhaps it would sprout one day.
"The world is in chaos now, and this city has become a sea of monsters. My comrades are bringing reinforcements to pick me up. We're heading to the rendezvous point. Brother, with your skills, why not join our army? It's a good chance to build a name for yourself. With your abilities, you could become a major general in no time. By the way, brother, what's your name?" Chu Shanhe looked at Chen Chao with fervent eyes, eager to recruit him for a shared cause.
"I'm Chen Chao," he replied calmly. "I'm used to being free and don't like the constraints of the military. I happen to have some free time, so I'll escort you to your rendezvous point."
Seeing his refusal, Chu Shanhe became a bit anxious. "Brother Chen, you're highly skilled, but this city is crawling with monsters. These mutated humans are just the weakest of the lot—many mutated animals are terrifyingly strong. You can't fight them all alone. If you come with us, at least your safety will be guaranteed."
Chen Chao shook his head. "Maybe another time. I'll get you there first."
Chu Shanhe, realizing Chen Chao was unmoved, felt a tinge of disappointment. "Brother Chen, if you ever change your mind, remember to mention my name. I'll always be waiting for you!"
Chen Chao gave a faint smile. "Alright."
"Good. Let's move out." Chu Shanhe laughed heartily and took the lead, followed by Chen Chao. Behind them were Officer Xiao Song, two doctors, and a nurse.
The six of them moved together, their human scent as conspicuous as a beacon in the dark.
Chen Chao could already tell that, without his intervention, these five would hardly all make it to the rendezvous point alive. At least one or two of them would die. Still, history showed that Chu Shanhe would survive.
To plant a seed of goodwill in Chu Shanhe's mind, Chen Chao decided to save the others along the way. Gripping his iron rod in his left hand, he extended his right hand toward Officer Xiao Song, saying, "Give me your gun." His tone left no room for argument.
Officer Xiao Song froze, hesitating. After all, this was a firearm. If…
Chu Shanhe noticed his hesitation and immediately said, "Give it to Brother Chen." He hadn't given up on recruiting Chen Chao yet. In his mind, even if Chen Chao was skilled in martial arts, he couldn't have much experience with guns. He'd likely return the weapon soon after realizing his limited proficiency.
"Yes, sir." Officer Xiao Song handed over the pistol without further hesitation.
Chen Chao examined the firearm, casually fiddling with it. He instantly identified its key components and knew he could disassemble it with a slight effort.
While Chen Chao's primary expertise in his past life had been close combat, his firearm skills were at B2 level. In this era, where the apocalypse had just begun, B2-level gunmanship was already exceptional. To put it into perspective, his B1-level lock-picking skills allowed him to bypass nearly any lock except those on national vaults or nuclear bunkers.
B2-level gunmanship was no less extraordinary.
And A-level skills? They were nothing short of legendary.
As for S-level…
That was the ultimate pinnacle.
Assembly and disassembly were basic skills for any gunman. Chen Chao checked the bullets—six rounds, sufficient to kill six golden-tier mutant beasts.
The group moved swiftly.
"The rendezvous point is in the city center, twenty kilometers from here. We'll follow the road signs along the main road to save time and avoid detours," Chu Shanhe explained before glancing at Chen Chao. "What do you think?"
Chen Chao nodded slightly. "Sounds good."
Chu Shanhe immediately led the way forward.
The main road was littered with wandering zombies near bus stops and trees. Officer Xiao Song, seeing the overwhelming number of decaying figures, frowned. "The main road is full of monsters. If we go this way, won't they spot us?"
"Should we try disguising ourselves?" one of the older doctors suggested cautiously. "Those creatures only have whites in their eyes, which means their vision is likely almost nonexistent. They probably rely on their sense of smell. If we disguise our scent and appearance, we might pass unnoticed."
The young nurse in the pink uniform paled. "Deputy Director, isn't that too dangerous? What if…"
The deputy director glared at her. "Stop jinxing us! Keep quiet!"
Chu Shanhe pondered for a moment before saying, "I think it's worth a try. Brother Chen, what do you think?"
...