Chapter 192: Chapter 182: The Tribe at the Foot of the Mountain

"Can this vine really reach all the way to the bottom of the mountain?"

Tang Mo asked skeptically.

"Of course not," Abu said as he worked. "What were you thinking?"

If it were that simple, he wouldn’t have spent so long figuring out how to climb back up again.

The first time he climbed up was basically by chance, but this time, it was premeditated and planned.

The kind of plan that had been in the works for a long time.

This was a vine Abu had spent ages looking for—it was both sturdy and very long.

But no matter how long it was, it wasn’t nearly enough to span the height of the cliff.

So, Abu had spent a long time carving five equidistant footholds into the steep cliff face.

The vine only needed to reach the first foothold. From there, he could tie it off and continue his descent.

Of course, Abu had assigned the task of untying the top end of the vine from the previous spot to that clever little bird.

"I understand how to get down, but if you wanted to come up, how did you carve out those footholds in the first place?"

The more Tang Mo thought about it, the more she felt this was too big a project for one person to complete.

"Simple. I had the bird secure the vine to a spot on the cliff face, then I climbed up, held on to the vine, and chipped away at the rock with my tools."

Abu said it casually, but Tang Mo still felt there were many parts of his story that didn’t add up. However, she didn’t press him further.

The vine could only support the weight of one person, so Tang Mo waited for Abu to descend first before she followed.

Climbing down the vine, she soon arrived at the first foothold Abu had mentioned.

Seeing the foothold, Tang Mo became even more certain of her suspicions.

’This is definitely not the work of one person. It would have taken the combined effort of many.’

The foothold was carved into the cliff face, about a square meter in size—spacious enough to fit several people.

If Abu were acting alone, there would be no reason to expend so much extra effort to make the foothold this large.

’It seems the people below have already prepared to launch an attack on the summit.’

Tang Mo understood the implications and couldn’t help but worry for the Xing Clan on the mountain.

Of course, she should be more worried about herself right now. If climbing the mountain wasn’t just Abu’s secret mission but an organized, planned operation, then her situation at the bottom of the mountain, having followed him down, had just become extremely dangerous.

But she was already here. Whether it was a wolf’s den or a tiger’s lair, Tang Mo was determined to brave it. There was no turning back.

Abu was clearly no stranger to this climb; his speed was incredible.

As for Tang Mo, her agility attribute was very high, and with the boost from her spirit, her body was exceptionally nimble and light. Thus, the two of them reached the bottom of the mountain with extreme speed.

At the base of the mountain, unlike the Xing Clan’s territory, there were no guards posted.

It made sense when you thought about it. Humans went up the mountain for treasures, but why would an ape go through all the trouble and hardship to come down? There was simply no reason.

"That’s our tribe’s gathering point over there."

After they got down, Abu coiled up the vine and pointed to a cluster of wooden huts in the distance.

"It’s best if we part ways here. You’ll have to figure things out on your own from now on, sis. Our tribe isn’t exactly welcoming to outsiders."

It was unclear what Abu was thinking. Perhaps Tang Mo’s strength had truly shaken him, making him unwilling to be her enemy. He didn’t seem to have any intention of telling his tribe that he’d brought her down.

"Thanks."

Even though Tang Mo thought Abu was a liar and a total scumbag, credit was due where it was due. He had helped her out a lot.

"This is for you."

Tang Mo tossed Abu a bag of beef jerky.

It was a habit of Tang Mo’s. No matter what kind of person they were, if someone did her a favor, she would never accept it for free. She always repaid her debts.

Abu stared blankly after catching the beef jerky. ’Didn’t this lady hate my guts? Why is she suddenly being so nice to me?’

The humans in the tribe were much like the Xing Clan; they also subsisted on foraged fruit.

Because this entire area was Xing Clan territory, mutant beasts were scarce, and there was very little game to hunt.

Abu hadn’t tasted meat in months.

This gift of beef jerky was truly generous, making Abu feel a little embarrassed to accept it.

"Sis, the person you’re looking for is locked up in that wooden hut in the center. If it’s your husband, you’d better act fast. Otherwise, his ’virtue’ might not be intact for much longer."

After tossing out that last sentence, Abu clutched the beef jerky and quickly ran off.

Tang Mo stood there alone, staring at the central hut. Recalling Abu’s words about "virtue not being intact," her expression turned ugly.

’I knew it. That face of Qin Ling’s was bound to get him into trouble sooner or later.’

Daring to touch her person... The people here must have a death wish.

A bone-chillingly cold aura emanated from Tang Mo.

’Gods, buddhas... I’ll kill anyone who gets in my way.’

This was the first time since the apocalypse began that Tang Mo had been truly furious, and the first time she had prepared for a fight with such deadly seriousness.

「Inside the central hut」

"Brothers, do you guys smell chicken legs? Or am I just hallucinating from hunger?"

A weakened Lao Ba sat on the floor, his back against the wall of the wooden hut.

There had originally been ten of them, including their leader. But after losing two brothers to an accident on the road, the remaining eight had been trapped here for a full fifteen days.

In those fifteen days, they had eaten nothing, receiving only enough water to wet their throats.

If it weren’t for their exceptionally tough physiques, they would have starved to death long ago.

"Lao Ba, shut your mouth! You mention ’chicken legs’ one more time and see if I don’t break your legs!"

The eight grown men were scattered about, sitting slumped against the hut’s wooden walls, as if they didn’t even have the strength to sit up without support.

"Dammit, this is so pathetic! To think I didn’t die in the jaws of a mutant beast, but I’m going to starve to death instead. It’s so frustrating! What a disgrace!"

Lao Qi was hot-tempered. Even though he was too hungry to even stand, it didn’t stop him from cursing.

"If someone gave me something to eat right now, I’d even call them ’daddy’."

The youngest, Xiao Shiqi, was already sprawled on the floor, his voice weak and faint from hunger.

He had the weakest constitution of them all. He’d probably be dead in another two days.

A few days ago, his brothers would have cursed him for being so spineless when he said things like that. But today, seeing him barely hanging on, they all just looked away. No one said a word, their eyes silently turning red.

These were their brothers-in-arms, who had faced life and death with them. Yet now, there was nothing they could do.

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