Chapter 616: Journey into the Chaos Zone

Two sets of change clothes. Check.

One cigarette and six lighters. Check.

New beef canned food, non-fried noodle cake, fried noodle cake, dehydrated vegetables, sausage… Check.

A case of bottled water and a compact water purifier. Check.

Medicines—anti-inflammatory, detox, and painkillers. Not very effective, but still packed. Check.

And finally, the murderer’s gun. Check.

……

……

Two days later, Lu Xin had everything ready and set off for the Chaos Zone.

Originally, he was meant to depart the next day, but upon learning of his imminent departure, Han Bing—fulfilling her role as intel specialist and personal assistant—once again prepared a checklist for Lu Xin and even spent a day having the R&D Department of the Special Pollution Cleanup Department modify his off-road vehicle.

After the modifications, the exterior looked unchanged, yet the vehicle felt considerably heavier.

Meanwhile, at Lu Xin’s request, Han Bing, who was to watch over the renovation work at the old apartment building after his departure, promptly took a day off to travel to Second Satellite City and solemnly accepted from Lu Xin a set of keys adorned with a small skull pendant.

In that moment, Han Bing felt the weight of responsibility—after all, these were the keys to a Single Soldier’s home…

With everything in order and the permit to leave the city in hand, Lu Xin began his journey into Hell.

Before leaving on his business trip, he made a call to Chen Jing to confirm a rough return time.

And he double-checked that this time, Gecko wouldn’t be tagging along.

From a financial perspective, this was merely an offline gathering, with a total payment of only five million—Gecko’s share would be hard to divide.

Moreover, Lu Xin knew in his heart that this journey might prove perilous.

After all, who could even locate Gecko at such times?

Even Chen Jing only knew that he was currently hiding at Room 702, Unit 1, Building B, Qinghe Community in Second Satellite City…

…Inside the cabinet of the left-hand secondary bedroom.

……

……

The off-road vehicle thundered across the steel drawbridge, roaring as it sped ahead.

Now a seasoned driver, Lu Xin had once driven a big truck all the way from Heichao City back to Qinggang. On regular roads, he didn’t need Sister’s help—he could easily maintain 800 kilometers per hour on his own.

Only on those tricky, sharp bends did he need his Sister’s assistance.

With food, drink, and money ahead.

Apart from missing Gecko’s one-man comedy routines, Lu Xin’s journey went smoothly.

He pulled up the map to the Chaos Zone from his phone glasses and drove straight on, obediently following the road.

Day travels and night rests—the schedule was strict. At refueling points, he abided by local rules; even if robbed on the road, he would first calmly reason with his assailants before eliminating them and covering his tracks…

After four or five days of steady travel, he finally left the direction of Qinggang and reached the edge of the Chaos Zone.

Under the Red Moon, the chaotic world sprawled—the territories of the Alliance and the Chaos Zone controlled by Flame overlapped without clear boundaries.

Yet, since neither side guarded their borders strictly, a long stretch of chaos lay between them.

“Phew…”

Before formally entering this territory, Lu Xin took a moment for some mental preparation.

Knowing the terror of the Chaos Zone, he had done his homework in advance.

Due to the leniency—almost indulgence—of Flame’s management, this area was essentially lawless. Combined with the constant emergence of settlements and a myriad of sects, along with rampant rule by the Knight Orders, the region was plunged into endless warfare, poverty, and savagery.

Being a simple man used to life within high walls, he had to be extra cautious here.

He noticed that deeper into the Chaos Zone, even the map displayed on his phone glasses grew more jumbled—a sign of incomplete road data, since the Chaos Zone and the Alliance weren’t governed by the same faction.

Anything that could roughly guide him was more than enough.

……

……

Once inside the Chaos Zone, he sporadically encountered a few people.

Lu Xin observed that some were working in the farmlands while others lingered at orchard edges. In small groups, whenever a vehicle approached, they all stopped and stared. Their movements were vacant and sluggish, almost as if they were part of the crops.

Lu Xin scrutinized their behavior carefully.

He had heard that the Chaos Zone teemed with fear, yet their faces revealed none—no trace of terror.

Not even a hint of weakness.

Once, when Lu Xin considered stopping to ask for directions, the moment he slowed down, a person immediately pulled out a submachine gun from a shoulder bag.

Startled, Lu Xin quickly accelerated away.

Determined, he decided that in such a dangerous place, it was best to avoid unnecessary encounters.

With that in mind, Lu Xin started meticulously conserving fuel, all to reach his destination for the offline gathering and to reclaim the three million owed to him by Dracula. But he never imagined that such a simple plan would soon crumble…

…The car got stuck in a ditch.

It wasn’t exactly Lu Xin’s fault—the road here was treacherous. The map clearly marked a wide road, yet in reality it was riddled with potholes, and a seemingly insignificant ditch had no warning, trapping both front wheels.

The ditch was filled with silt; despite Lu Xin pressing the accelerator, the car sank deeper.

With no other option, he had to call on his Sister for help…

“Brother, were you aiming for the ditch when you drove in?”

His Sister reluctantly came over and, with a remarkably confident gesture, took hold of the steering wheel.

Yet after twisting the wheel for ages, the steel monster’s growls bordered on agony—without any result.

“Sister, you seem to be quite attached to that ditch too…”

Lu Xin, who had driven the car into the ditch and was already in a sour mood, found his spirits oddly lifted by his Sister’s inability to free the vehicle.

Laughing, he got out to assess the situation and saw that both front wheels were hopelessly mired in the mud.

Gradually he realized that the situation called not for Spider-type tactics…

…but for a crowbar.

……

Since the last time he used the crowbar to accomplish something even a doll couldn’t manage, Lu Xin always kept one in his trunk. He opened the trunk, took it out, and, after a strenuous effort, couldn’t help but fall into a moment of life reflection—apparently, the crowbar alone wasn’t enough.

After all, he was just an ordinary man. How could he possibly lift this steel monster?

Breaking into a sweat, Lu Xin straightened up and looked around, noticing several people in the distant fields, casually watching with their legs crossed.

Men, women, and a few burly young men.

“Villagers…”

With no other option, Lu Xin called out, “Could you help lift the car a bit?”

In such a chaotic and disorderly place, he wasn’t exactly confident in their integrity. Desperation left him no choice but to shout. Unexpectedly, upon hearing him, a group of strong village men in the fields quickly exchanged glances, and in no time, a dozen people approached, gathered around the car, and on a three-count, heaved with all their might.

The vehicle was practically carried over the ditch by them.

Deeply moved, Lu Xin quickly offered them some cigarettes. “Thank you, villagers. I can’t express my gratitude enough…”

The locals modestly waved it off, and one of them warmly added, “Oh dear guest, your car’s damage is pretty severe—the chassis is bent. Come along with us to the village, and we’ll fix it up nicely…”

“Exactly, look at those tires—they’ve been pierced by several nails…”

……

Lu Xin quickly declined with a smile, “No need, it still runs.”

“Oh, don’t be so modest. Our village is just a few steps away…”

“Even if you don’t repair it, it still needs a wash. Look at how filthy it is…”

“It’s almost dark out. Traveling by night isn’t safe. Come rest in our village for the night…”

……

The villagers’ hospitality was overwhelming—they persistently invited Lu Xin.

Not one to refuse kindness, and with night falling and the prospect of camping outdoors nearby, Lu Xin accepted their offer to go with them to a nearby settlement where his car would be repaired and he could rest for the night.

The group then dispersed from in front of the car, even finding a young lady to sit in the passenger seat with him.

“Oh, brother, you look so handsome…”

The young lady with braided hair, clutching a sharp scythe, shyly eyed Lu Xin and said, “Where are you from?”

He replied, “Qinggang.”

“Do you have a partner?”

He answered, “Not yet, for now.”

“Are you looking for someone?”

He mumbled, “I’ll have to consult with my family.”

“Where are they? Let me see them…”

He joked, “They’re right behind you, watching. Can you believe it?”

……

Sure enough, the village wasn’t far. Under the guidance of the braided young lady and accompanied by villagers from both sides, Lu Xin soon drove into the village.

From afar, as soon as the car lights shone, the locals opened up a wooden fence bound by thick logs to admit Lu Xin. In the distance, the sound of gongs and drums could be heard, and the village chief—nearly two meters tall—stepped forward enthusiastically, extending both hands to shake Lu Xin’s.

“Welcome, dear guest from afar. We haven’t seen an outsider in ages…” he exclaimed, waving his hand. “Quick, let’s wash the car, remove the nails, and serve you some food and drink.”

Lu Xin was ushered into an empty room by the roadside, where an assortment of food and beverages awaited him—plain rice, black cornbread, homemade pickles, and even savory sausages so tempting that the local children drooled at the sight.

“This…”

Lu Xin was somewhat taken aback. “The Chaos Zone seems nothing like the legends—its people are genuinely simple and kind…”

But overcome by the locals’ warm hospitality, Lu Xin ate and drank to his fill.

Seeing his genuine nature, the villagers beamed with joy, their smiles blooming like flowers.

After the meal, the village chief quickly arranged for a place for Lu Xin to stay—new blankets were laid out and he even called over the village widow…

Feeling a bit embarrassed by all the attention, Lu Xin said, “No need for the widow…”

“Whether it’s food, drink, or car repair and washing, let’s settle the bill fairly. We can’t let you get these freebies…”

……

“Ah…”

But the village chief waved his large hand and said sternly, “What are you saying, guest?”

“When you’re away from home, everyone faces hardships. If someone needs help, you must lend a hand, right?”

“Don’t worry about the money for now. First, let me show you our village’s specialties.”

He gestured for a group of villagers to come forward and present their local specialties for the guest to see.