Su Tao and Zhong Gaoyi widened their eyes at the same time.

The total cost of these medicines was only tens of thousands of federal coins, but Zhuo Ercheng asked for 500 crystal cores.

Zhuo Ercheng said calmly:

"Don't think it's too much. Medicines are in short supply right now. Besides, you're here with Xindu. I can earn back 5,000 crystal cores, not to mention 500. A life is much more valuable than a crystal core."

Ling Tianji finally came to his senses. So, if he bargained, would that mean his life was worthless?

He was suddenly choked and couldn't utter a word of bargaining.

Su Tao received the "medical expenses" of 500 crystal cores on the spot. The heavy box made her look at Ling Tianji and Zhuo Ercheng much more favorably.

But after leaving the clinic, Su Tao still confessed to Zhuo Ercheng:

"You're so ruthless in betraying your own people. I'm really scared of you. There's no way I'll take you in."

Zhuo Ercheng smiled, and there was a hint of cunning in his smile:

"It's okay, Boss Su. This is great. From today on, we can put aside our previous hatred and grudges, right?"

Su Tao said: "As long as you don't harbor the intention to cheat Tao Yang, the past will be over with me, of course, except for your two lovely wives at home."

Zhuo Ercheng's smile froze: "Just to clarify, there's only one now."

Except for Deng Zilu, who was the most sensible and intelligent, he gave the others a breakup fee and said goodbye.

He rarely even sees Deng Zilu lately.

Ever since the alliance summit ended, she said she was going to send a puppet doll to the Chu family, but until now, no one knows whether she has delivered it or not, and there is no news at all.

If Su Tao hadn't suddenly mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten that he had a girlfriend named Deng.

Su Tao shrugged and asked, "When are you leaving? I feel like if we don't set off now, the weather will get colder and colder, and the road will be even more dangerous."

Zhuo Ercheng became serious and looked up at the world outside the protective shield, which seemed to be gradually freezing.

"We'll leave tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. This cold winter has arrived so suddenly and strangely. We might see large-scale zombie activity, or even new mutant zombies appearing. You should be prepared in advance."

Su Tao accepted his kind reminder, but she couldn't say that Taoyang's current defense was invincible, but it was indeed indestructible.

Unless several "Bone Wings" unite to attack Taoyang's protective shield day and night.

But in this situation, not only Taoyang, but also Changjing would suffer.

Although Ling Tianji survived, he clearly felt that his health was not as good as before.

Not only that, he also discovered a fact that terrified him even more - Zhuo Ercheng had sidelined him during the time he was unconscious.

Just talking about the people he brought to Taoyang, no one listened to him. When he asked them to do something, they looked at each other, and finally told him that they would ask President Zhuo for instructions.

Ling Tianji was so furious after hearing this.

"You bastards! Who is the base commander of Xindu?!"

The subordinates all stared at their toes, their eyes on their noses and their noses on their hearts, and no one responded to his anger.

As early as several days ago, the news of Ling Tianji's critical illness reached Xindu. For a time, the entire top management was in turmoil. If it were not for President Zhuo who turned the tide and took control of the situation, Xindu would have been torn apart long ago.

If Xindu splits up by then, it will no longer be able to claim the title of the number one base in the south.

After all, it is President Zhuo who is capable, and with the smooth-talking President Zhuo around, they are quite popular in Taoyang and have no worries about food, drink, and shelter.

If Ling Tianji had the same temper, he would have definitely offended Boss Su from Taoyang, and they would have had a hard time in Taoyang.

Ling Tianji was so angry that his heart and lungs exploded. He smashed the cup on the table and shouted:

"Call Zhuo Ercheng over here!"

Zhuo Ercheng pushed the door open and came in: "No need to shout."

Seeing this, the subordinates who were lowering their heads immediately retreated and closed the door tightly.

Ling Tianji pointed at Zhuo Ercheng, his lips trembling as he wanted to say something, but he started coughing madly.

"Mr. Ling, you should just focus on recuperating. I'll take care of anything that happens in Xindu later."

Zhuo Ercheng smiled gently, but quickly stopped smiling:

"You should be thankful that you got sick at this time. If you offend Taoyang to death, Changjing will have to send someone to remove your hat as the base commander."

Ling Tianji's eyes widened: "What do you mean?"

Zhuo Ercheng said dimly, "Oh, yes, I forgot you didn't know this yet. Minister Xu Changxu has already reported Taoyang's various contributions, including supplies, medicine, and so on. Changjing has decided to make an exception and upgrade Taoyang to a third-level base. They are also preparing to provide Taoyang with medical care, armed forces, and weapons. This means that Changjing has already investigated Taoyang's situation and knows that Taoyang is short of weapons."

"Then I know you and the oligarchs from some southern bases joined forces to sign the 'Commitment to Restrict Taoyang's Weapons Purchases'."

Ling Tianji's heart suddenly stopped and almost stopped beating.

Damn Xu Chang! He actually praised and defended Tao Yang so much!

This made Changjing pay extraordinary attention to Taoyang!

If the matter of excluding Tao Yang is really investigated, Ling Tianji will be the first to bear the brunt of it, and he may really lose his position as the head of Xindu and the director of the base.

Seeing his liver-colored face, Zhuo Ercheng guessed most of his thoughts and couldn't help but say:

"You don't think that Minister Xu was exaggerating to Changjing, or that Taoyang gave Minister Xu some benefits, do you? After all this time, you are still so stubborn and narrow-minded!"

"Do you know what the emergence and development of Taoyang means? It means that the bigger Taoyang grows, the more benefits it can bring to humanity. Otherwise, with this horrible climate, we can't grow food, and the water shortage is getting worse every year. Before long, there will be no need for zombies, and humans will starve to death and die of thirst!"

Ling Tianji's face changed all over the place due to his scolding, and his throat felt itchy and painful.

“Cough cough cough——”

Zhuo Ercheng calmed his tone and said, "So, to become enemies with Tao Yang is like digging your own grave. You'd better take care of yourself."

After saying that, he turned and was about to leave.

Ling Tianji coughed violently again and called out to him, "Changjing. Ahem—"

Zhuo Ercheng turned around and said, "You want to ask when Chang Jing will come to take your official hat? Don't worry, I've put the blame for Tao Yang's exclusion on the people at Dingnan Base. Now the relationship between Xindu and Tao Yang is extremely close. Tao Yang is not only the savior of the Xindu base chief, but also an ally of Xindu."

Ling Tianji opened his mouth wide.

Zhuo Ercheng smiled faintly. "So, Base Commander Ling, rest assured and recuperate. Of course, you'd better pray that your recovery takes a long time. After all, a base cannot have two people in charge."

These words were so resounding that they hit Ling Tianji's heart hard, shocking him to the point of freezing.