Chapter 283: The Zheng Family Takes Action
“He has a severe headache, took medicine and is sleeping,” Zhuang Mingxu said, then inquired about the current situation.
Upon learning that Lu Weiyi had bowed to his teammates one by one to save the lives of the Zhuang family members, Zhuang Mingxu was heartbroken beyond words.
“I understand. I… cough…” his voice hoarse with emotion, “I’ll go find General Lu to handle external matters. Team members, please take care, especially watch out for any special powered individuals nearby.”
Qi Lin nodded.
“Thank you for saving Ai Yi this time. I owe you one. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me,” Zhuang Mingxu said seriously to Xu Yi.
Xu Yi snorted and muttered, “We’re even now.”
Zhuang Mingxu glanced at him but said nothing.
“Big Daddy, I have a little brother now,” Zhuang Ai Yi said after complaining, introducing his little friend while hugging Tao Tao with both hands. “Tao Tao, this is Big Daddy.”
“Tao Tao” obediently called the man, with big dark eyes like grapes, moist and beautiful.
“…” Zhuang Mingxu looked at Xu Yi. “Whose kid did you bring back?”
Being so well cared for and obviously not having suffered hardships, Qi Lin had been out looking for Lu Xiao these days, and no one else had the chance. So by process of elimination, it had to be Xu Yi.
“Ha, this is Lu Weiyi’s son. He personally brought him out,” Xu Yi said cautiously, wary of Zhuang Mingxu but still unwilling to miss the chance to tease him.
Zhuang Mingxu looked at Qi Lin.
Qi Lin nodded at him. “I’m not sure of the details. When the team leader recovered, he was holding this child who called him father. We were busy all morning and didn’t get the chance to ask.”
Zhuang Mingxu studied the child’s features but didn’t notice any resemblance to Lu Weiyi. And judging by the child’s age, Lu Weiyi probably didn’t have the chance to have a child.
Zhuang Mingxu didn’t overly focus or ask like Xu Yi hoped, but just lightly nodded, bent down, and pinched the child’s face. “Good Tao Tao, go play with your brother. Big Daddy will come back to play games with you.”
Tao Tao obediently let him pinch his cheeks and slowly nodded.
*
Once outside the villa, Zhuang Mingxu’s aura changed immediately.
Knowing Lu Xiao was busy with something, Zhuang Mingxu didn’t go out looking for him but instead asked Cong Qing, the person in charge left behind, about the base’s situation earlier that morning.
The guards in the villa were all Lu Xiao’s men, so the recent events naturally couldn’t be hidden from Cong Qing, who immediately explained all the latest reconnaissance to him one by one.
“The people in the Hunter’s Guild are still searching with all their effort for Luo Qi. The rest are taking advantage of the chaos to snatch supplies. Luo Feifei’s combat ability isn’t strong enough to stop them. Each team is already in complete disarray. About half an hour ago, there was a skirmish, and they managed to capture Luo Feifei.”
“The Zheng family and the Zhao family both have contacts with the Hunter’s Guild. Some teams, out of concern for missing people, haven’t disclosed the situation; others have already leaked the information. They should now know about Luo Qi’s cooperation with the Zhuang family,” Cong Qing said, then looked up calmly at Zhuang Mingxu, showing no emotion—as if what he said wasn’t about Zhuang’s own family.
Zhuang Mingxu ignored the scrutiny and unconsciously rubbed his fingertips together, asking, “No forces are contacting the people under the Zhuang family?”
“There are. Both sides are making contact, but the Zhuang family is surrounded by Lu Xiao’s men. Zhao Qiang stopped after some inquiries and found no other activity. The Zheng family is trying to reach out to Captain Sun and Major Liu.”
Fearing Zhuang might not understand their importance, Cong Qing added, “They are the forces in the hands of the Zhuang family’s main branch, slightly weaker than Lu Xiao’s.”
“Have they met them?” Zhuang Mingxu asked.
“No,” Cong Qing replied. “Lu Xiao handed them a phone.”
Zhuang Mingxu looked up.
Cong Qing smiled slightly, looking genteel. “The video on it shows several people under those two who were sent to the laboratory and are still alive.”
Hearing this, Zhuang Mingxu understood Lu Xiao’s intention was to get those two forces under his control. “What about the forces of the Zhuang family’s third branch?”
“Lu Xiao went to make contact.” Cong Qing said so, but in fact, Lu Xiao had directly sent people to control the third branch’s main supply warehouse.
Although each family’s warehouse was well hidden, at his level, Lu Xiao had his channels, especially since it was his faction’s supply base.
This meant Lu Xiao planned to completely absorb the Zhuang family’s forces.
Cong Qing thought this was the result of his mediation and felt very excited. He was already quietly planning how to stabilize the various small groups and even secure a foothold among other forces in Capital.
After all, most men still dream of doing something big; only a few, like Lu Weiyi, simply want to lie low.
Hearing this, Zhuang Mingxu also understood Lu Xiao’s plan.
At first, when those imprisoned in the laboratory were still being experimented on, he had wanted to help the Zhuang family. But after seeing Lu Weiyi’s current condition and the concessions he made, all those thoughts were gone.
They would spare their lives according to Lu Weiyi’s arrangement.
Without outside help, Zhuang Mingxu didn’t know if the old patriarch of the Zhuang family was still waiting to see him, hoping he could mediate.
After a moment’s thought, he chose silence—Lu Weiyi had already made the choice for him. If he intervened, he would only make things difficult for everyone.
The waters in the Capital base were still too deep. Zhuang Mingxu thought it best to ask Zhuang Mobai soon to clarify the side effects and duration of the medicine on the team members and to leave as soon as possible.
Just as he was about to ask about information on other factions, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Someone quickly approached Cong Qing.
Seeing the anxious face, Cong Qing stepped aside. The newcomer whispered urgently in his ear, and Cong Qing’s expression turned serious.
“Is the information reliable?” Cong Qing asked.
The newcomer nodded.
“Something’s happened?” Zhuang Mingxu asked.
Cong Qing was silent for a moment, then said, “There’s a lot of noise on the Zheng family’s side. Their people are spreading rumors outside that the Zhuang family is conducting experiments on powered individuals, capturing many powered people, and inciting those powered people who have mysteriously disappeared.”
“They are contacting the Hunter’s Guild on a large scale and even sending people to the Zhao family,” Cong Qing said, narrowing his eyes unconsciously and murmuring, “What are they trying to do?”
Just then, another person ran in and told Cong Qing, “The people from ‘Queen Bee’ quietly passed us some news.”
“Speak,” Cong Qing immediately stood straight.
“The Zheng family contacted ‘Queen Bee,’ saying the supplies in Qiqiao Town are in the hands of the Only Team, and they want to persuade them to join forces and split these supplies.”
Zhuang Mingxu suddenly looked up. “Is their information reliable?”
Cong Qing thought for a moment and said, “About 80%. ‘Queen Bee’ once went out to collect crystal cores but was ambushed by zombies and almost wiped out. It was Lu Xiao who saved them against all odds.”
“Qian Yu then said she owed Lu Xiao one and would repay him later. Didn’t expect it to be now.”
“Who exactly is the Zheng family targeting?” Cong Qing asked anxiously, pacing back and forth and nervously biting his nails.
“Maybe everyone,” Zhuang Mingxu saw the situation more clearly.
Lu Xiao was clearly integrated with the Only Team. If the Zheng family wanted to target the Only Team, Lu Xiao would definitely be involved.
If that was the case, it was better to take advantage of the Zhuang family’s chaos and seize the entire Zhuang family’s power.
Hearing this, Cong Qing quickly looked at the man waiting nearby. “Quick, have our people spread the message that the Zhuang family is experimenting on Lu Xiao’s son, and Lu Xiao retaliated and wiped them out. We should take the moral high ground first to prevent everyone from thinking we’re still colluding with the Zhuang family.”
If it weren’t for the human experimentation issue, Lu Xiao’s actions would be just a change of power, and small players wouldn’t pay much attention. But with the label of human experiments, it would be very unfavorable for their future standing.
“Luckily, the video was only shown to the major teams in the Hunter’s Guild and wasn’t directly given to them. They don’t have solid evidence now, so it can only be rumors,” Cong Qing said with relief.
Zhuang Mingxu shook his head. “It’s useless.”
“You forget this is the apocalypse, a time with very low law and morality. If the Zheng family is ready to take action against the Zhuang family, they don’t need any excuse. Those rumors are just to support or justify their moves.”
“Basically, as long as the military strength is enough, that’s all that matters.”
Among the several factions of the Zhuang family in the base, they were already at a disadvantage, and now they were at a precarious moment—divided and fragmented. Lu Xiao’s forces had weakened them even more.
This was the best time to move in and swallow them up.
Cong Qing certainly understood this principle, but Lu Xiao hadn’t even taken control of the Zhuang family’s forces yet and couldn’t oppose them effectively. All he could do was to prevent them from having better excuses.
While the two were talking, someone strode in—it was Lu Xiao.
He saw Zhuang Mingxu hesitate for a moment but quickly recovered and quietly asked, “Where’s Xiaoyi? How is your team’s physical condition? Can you leave now?”
Zhuang Mingxu met his gaze but said nothing.
Lu Xiao ran a hand through his hair. “I just got the news—the Zheng family wants to move against you. They don’t know how you got the supplies from Qiqiao Town, but now they’re joining forces with others to divide those supplies and want to take you down in one stroke.”
“These supplies were officially recorded by the state. Their high-ups have their own channels, and with interests involved, it will definitely sway people’s hearts. If they really move, your safety can’t be guaranteed. You should lead your team out quickly; I’ll send people to escort you,” Lu Xiao said, then looked at Cong Qing, “Cong Qing, you…”
Cong Qing smiled, “I’ll stay here with Lord Xiao and hold down the rear.”
Lu Xiao’s lips twitched, knowing Cong Qing understood his meaning. Just as he was about to look for someone else, Zhuang Mingxu also shook his head.
