Zombie Apocalypse: Reborn With A Farming Space Chapter 871: The Herders ( 4 )

Though the jerky came from mutant meat and cost a fortune, these folks' outfits and gear suggested they couldn't possibly snack on something so pricey.

After scanning the area briefly, he snapped his fingers. Right away, the little bulb over the table sputtered and went out.

At once, the team members dashed forward at blinding speed toward the guys. A swift chop to the necks sent the three tumbling with eyes rolled back, out cold instantly.

Pei Yixie whispered upon witnessing it, "Are they dead?"

Fu Guai shot her a glance and said,

His words prompted her to seize his wrist fast, urging, "No, don’t kill them. We can extract more intel by questioning them."

Once she spoke, Li Sikai cut in, "No need. These guys are mere guards. They know nothing valuable."

The team hauled the guards into a shadowy nook. Then Cheng Rui activated his power, morphing a metal pipe into a flat sheet that he rolled around them like a burrito. He left just tiny openings by their noses for breathing.

The others gawked at him, and Jian Ziqin questioned, "Is this necessary?"

"To stop them from warning anyone, we must seal their eyes and mouths," Cheng Rui answered gravely.

Li Sikai motioned with his hand, declaring, "Let’s head inside."

Trailing him, they soon spotted the huge platform crammed with makeshift tents. These 'tents' were barely partitions of filthy cloth or cardboard.

Without approaching, the grunts from men and stifled sobs from women reached their ears.

The largest tent shuddered wildly, accompanied by raunchy moans and crude male chatter. The noises hinted at over two people within.

Pei Yixie’s eyes bulged in horror at the sight ahead. Though nothing was visible, the rhythmic slaps of skin echoed clearly. She grasped the situation immediately.

Fu Guai caught the dread in her gaze and gently pressed his hands over her ears.

The warmth from his hands made her turn, locking eyes with his silver ones.

His voice resounded in her head, drowning out the disgusting noises nearby.

Li Sikai’s expression soured at the display. He turned to Jian Ziqin, inquiring, "Can you handle the men in there?"

Jian Ziqin affirmed with a nod, "I can direct my shadow clones up to 5 kilometers away."

From behind the wall, he twisted his wrists, summoning five shadow clones from his shadow. They slunk along the wall and floor.

Matching Jian Ziqin’s velocity, the clones struck fast, triggering yells and shrieks. Blood sprayed across the fabrics and soiled the worn bedding.

The metallic tang of blood thickened, overpowering the reek of vice.

In under three minutes, the clones slipped back, and Jian Ziqin announced, "Brother Sikai, it’s done."

Li Sikai nodded, snapping his fingers to flood the area with light.

Cheng Rui’s eyes lit with awe at that.

Both lightning mutants, yet Li Sikai’s mastery far outshone his own shaky control. Cheng Rui couldn’t fine-tune his power; lighting lamps would just shatter them.

Bathed in glaring light, the platform’s full horror emerged. Tents covered only a fraction of the space.

Elsewhere stood over 35 cages holding kids, women, and seniors.

"Come out," Li Sikai commanded.

Moments later, women emerged one by one, stripped bare or draped in rags over battered forms.

Some gazed blankly at the group, most with terror.

"Those monsters had it coming," Feng Yun snarled through clenched teeth.

He pulled clothes from his space storage, instructing, "Yixie, pass these out to them."

After their ordeal, he figured the women shunned men now. Pei Yixie was the safer choice.

Snapping out of it, Pei Yixie agreed and unpacked the boxes. She ferried clothes over, set them down quietly, and offered water and rations from her space.

As she handed out aid and garb, the rest crossed to the other side and sprang the cages open.

The captives shrank back, pleading desperately.

"Please don’t take my grandson. He’s skin and bones, no meat on him. Eat me instead—I’ve got more flesh," an elderly woman wailed, kowtowing fiercely.

The plea stunned everyone but Li Sikai. Jian Ziqin halted her, assuring, "We won’t eat you or your grandson."

"W-who are you?" the old woman stammered.

"We’re a mercenary team here on a mission," Li Sikai explained.

Wary stares met this from the survivors. Li Sikai signaled the team, "Grab the supplies and let’s move out now."

Feng Yun summoned water and dry rations from his space.

At the sight, survivors’ eyes gleamed hungrily, tongues flicking over cracked lips. Starving and parched, they hesitated to claim them.

Cheng Rui scowled, "What, you think we poisoned it? If not, leave it."