Chapter 276: Visiting
But now, calling a servant over was a bit unrealistic. The current situation was tense, and he didn’t dare to let anyone cook casually anymore.
“I’ll ask Cong Qing to find someone who can cook. They probably haven’t eaten all day. Once things settle down, they can eat something,” Lu Xiao offered proactively.
“Thank you, Great-Uncle! Ai Yi loves you the most,” Zhuang Ai Yi said sweetly with keen insight.
Taotao, still in his arms, immediately chimed in, “Thank you, uncle! Taotao loves you too.”
Their soft voices brought a smile to Lu Xiao’s lips. He ruffled both kids’ heads with a big hand.
“I’m going to handle the rest. I’ll leave this to you,” Lu Weiyi said.
“Don’t worry, Captain. Mission will be completed,” Qi Lin habitually stood up straight and saluted.
“Let’s go,” Lu Weiyi said, leading the way out, looking like someone ready to die early and be reborn soon.
Lu Xiao sighed and followed him out, reminding, “If you need anything, tell the others outside.”
“Thanks, Major General Lu.”
After giving some final instructions, Lu Xiao glanced at Lu Weiyi and called out to the team, “Feiying!”
“Present!” A broad-shouldered man responded, “Master Xiao!”
“My nephew isn’t feeling well. Come take a look,” Lu Xiao said, looking at Lu Weiyi. “He’s the team medic. Your complexion looks bad. Let him check you out.”
Lu Weiyi shook his head, “I’m fine.”
But his complexion was terribly bad. His pale fingers pressed against his forehead and never let go. His steps were unsteady, as if he might collapse any moment.
Lu Xiao was really uneasy. “How about you go back and rest, and I’ll handle it?”
If later Zhuang Mingxu got blamed, he would take responsibility for it.
After all, he was also a victim, and Zhuang Mingxu wouldn’t be able to do much to him.
Lu Weiyi shook his head.
Lu Xiao used to think his nephew had no feelings for Zhuang Mingxu, but now he was a bit puzzled. Could it be that the saying “time breeds affection” was true?
He didn’t ask about the younger generation’s love life and instead turned to Cong Qing. “Give the videos related to the Hunters’ Guild to each team so they can handle Luo Qi and his group themselves. If anyone asks where the people are…”
“Just say they’re with the Only Team and let them trade supplies for the hostages,” Lu Weiyi finished.
Lu Xiao didn’t object. In everyone’s eyes, he was one with the Zhuang family. The videos were released by his people, and then he separated himself, which would easily make people mistakenly think he was still part of the Zhuang family.
But if they pinned everything on the Only Team…
Lu Xiao worried all the teams would combine forces to corner them. The Only Team’s current situation wasn’t good; just Lu Weiyi alone was resisting dozens of teams, and that was without other forces muddying the waters…
“Uncle, don’t worry,” Lu Weiyi saw the worry in his brow, stepped closer, and said quietly, “My ability has reached SS level.”
Lu Xiao’s eyes brightened. He looked Weiyi up and down, wanting to ask more, but with so many people around, he took a deep breath and held back.
He nodded in agreement with Lu Weiyi, “Also, call Major Liu and Commander Sun over. Let them take a look at the stuff.”
“They were already taken away early this morning by the Zhuang family’s people. They’re with them now,” Cong Qing reported the latest news.
Lu Xiao sneered, “That’s perfect. Arrange for people to protect the perimeter and watch for other forces, especially those with unusual abilities.”
After a few more instructions, Lu Xiao led the group out of the villa.
His nephew walking beside him was slender, youthful, with slow but steady steps. Unbeknownst to him, this child he once promised to protect had already begun to take on responsibility and learned to be accountable.
Because of the big move that morning, the villa was surrounded by people with no blind spots, protecting the entire villa in the center. The abilities-users soldiers stood tall and alert, facing outward. People came to inquire but were politely turned away with a laugh. The Zhuang family members who had previously caused trouble and insisted on entering were nowhere to be seen now.
Lu Xiao was decisive and resolute, his teammates standing tall and commanding. Compared to other teams, their presence was noticeably superior.
Next to them, Lu Weiyi seemed from a completely different world. His brows drooped, hair covering half his face, radiating a fragile feeling that made people want to pity him.
It was clear he was a delicate person carefully cared for while growing up.
Not far away, people from various factions tried to get information. When acquaintances came to ask, Lu Xiao’s men blocked them.
“Uncle, what do you plan to do?” Lu Weiyi asked as they neared the gate.
Lu Xiao’s eyes were firm. “I have never wronged the Zhuang family, before or after the apocalypse. They knew Lu Xi was my only son and still dared to strike. That means they openly disrespected me, Lu Xiao. Since that’s the case…”
Lu Xiao sneered, “Then there’s nothing more to say.”
“Are you going to split from the Zhuang family?”
Lu Xiao smiled, a roguish charm mixed with dominance. “This team is something I fought for. Why would I split it off?”
Lu Weiyi had a bad headache and didn’t quite catch what he meant, nor was he in the mood to ask.
Instead, Lu Xiao asked, “If the people under the Hunters’ Guild don’t come to trade supplies, what will you do?”
“They are all team captains or deputies, with decent abilities.”
The surveillance showed they’d suffered, but who hadn’t suffered in the apocalypse? Being alive was already lucky.
With zombies getting stronger, Lu Xiao hoped for more high-level ability users on the human side.
“Uncle wants some?” Lu Weiyi asked.
Lu Xiao shook his head. Most of his men were soldiers or people willing to obey military discipline. Randomly letting in someone with strong abilities who didn’t follow orders would disrupt the team and be more trouble than it’s worth.
“We’ll talk about that later.” There were still many immediate matters. Lu Weiyi wasn’t thinking long-term and instead asked, “Do you know where the Zhuang family’s supplies are stored?”
“Don’t even think about the Zhuang family’s supplies. Most of that’s what I fought for,” Lu Xiao said, amused at how his nephew had suddenly developed a money-loving streak. Though the times were good now, being greedy for what belonged to him was a problem.
“Don’t think I don’t know what’s in the storage before,” Lu Xiao lowered his voice as he leaned in, “Leave some for your uncle. I still have to lead the team. Isn’t your base well supplied? Just consider it a gift for your old uncle.”
Earlier, Lu Weiyi had told Lu Xiao not to worry, that their base lacked nothing and was doing well. Now hearing it used against him was a bit frustrating.
Pretending to be poor felt fake, and Lu Weiyi wasn’t the type to do that.
He began to wonder if this shameless person asking for stuff was really his uncle.
He certainly didn’t look like the elder he remembered.
Lu Xiao seemed to understand his look and laughed, “Before, I treated you like a kid, and you had Zhuang Mingxu by your side. Of course, I had to stand firm and give you a sense of security and support. So if you were ever in trouble, you’d know there was a way out. Now our Xiao Yi has grown up, can lead a team, and even snatch supplies from the Capital base and get away clean. Your uncle is old now, and I’ll be counting on you in the future.”
Lu Weiyi was stunned by Lu Xiao’s shameless attitude. To prevent him from continuing to play the victim, Lu Weiyi immediately decided to stop thinking about the Zhuang family’s supplies.
Not far away, many people were stationed at the entrances of the two main houses of the Zhuang family. When they saw Lu Xiao leading people over, some were puzzled.
A few exchanged glances. One of the leaders then walked toward Lu Xiao.
“Uncle, don’t worry about anyone causing trouble for me. My ability has now upgraded to SS level,” Lu Weiyi whispered before the man reached them.
Surprise flashed briefly in Lu Xiao’s eyes.
“General Xiao, what are you doing here?” The approaching man was young, slightly bowing, trying to appear conciliatory.
“Nothing,” Lu Xiao smiled and waved his hand toward the people behind him. Suddenly, his expression changed, “Surround this place tightly. Not a single fly is allowed to get out.”
“Yes, sir!” came a booming response that echoed around.
The hundreds of armed soldiers behind Lu Xiao quickly moved. In moments, they had surrounded the two neighboring villas. Those originally standing guard tried to resist but were swiftly subdued by the skilled group.
“Major Lu…” The butler opened the iron gate after hearing the commotion and saw the scene before him. Just as he was about to speak, a gun was pressed against his head.
Butler Zhou slowly raised his hands over his head.
“Butler Zhou, where is Old Master Zhuang?” Lu Xiao asked. Someone had already opened the main gate, revealing what was inside.
Several children were playing in the courtyard. Seeing this scene, they didn’t understand what was happening and froze, looking over.
It seemed they recognized Lu Xiao, and no one was scared. However, Xia Mingzhi, who was older, saw Butler Zhou with a gun to his head and immediately sensed something was wrong, turning to run inside.
After a moment, Zhuang Chengyan and Xia Xiaorong strode out. Seeing Lu Xiao and Lu Weiyi, they barely let out a relieved breath.
“General Lu, what are you doing?” Zhuang Chengyan asked.
Two people were clearly leading on this side. She still didn’t acknowledge Lu Weiyi’s presence. Ever since learning about his relationship with Zhuang Mingxu, she hadn’t paid him any attention, as if he were invisible.
Compared to the other hateful and unlucky looks, this was oddly unique.
“I’m here to see Old Master Zhuang,” Lu Xiao said firmly.
Old Master Zhuang and Third Master Zhuang, accompanied by Zhuang Chengye, walked over from Zhuang Mobai’s villa. Behind them followed several military leaders.
Most of the Zhuang family’s main and third houses were around Zhuang Mobai’s villa, with people digging to find anyone trapped by the sudden collapse of a villa.
Many earth-element ability users didn’t even know what was beneath and were pulled in to rescue people. Only the Zhuang family’s core members were extremely anxious.
