“Brother Teng, this is my teammate Zhao Rui. He wants to join our Tenglong Search Team with me.” Standing in front of Gu Yanlin was a man who was about 175 cm tall, with a broad build, small eyes, and a calculating look on his face.

This man was Wang Teng, the captain of the search team that Gu Yanlin wanted to join, and his team was called the Tenglong Search Team. The name Tenglong Search Team was also based on his own name, which Wang Teng thought was incredibly imposing.

"Little Gu, it's not good to go back on what we agreed on yesterday," Brother Teng said, narrowing his eyes and speaking with displeasure.

"Brother Teng, it's all my fault. I apologize to you first. Yesterday I went back and said that the Tenglong Collection Team is the best collection team in our Liancheng base, and Brother Teng is the best captain in the entire base. I want to join our collection team and work with Brother Teng."

When our captain heard about it, he actually said the Tenglong Search Team was nothing, and that he wanted to form his own search team so everyone could see who the best captain at the Liancheng base was. My brother couldn't stand what that guy surnamed Chu was doing, so he said a few words. He got yelled at by Chu and kicked out.

"Brother Teng, why don't you take me in as your brother?" Gu Yanlin said, bowing slightly and smiling ingratiatingly.

Gu Yanlin was already outstanding in appearance, with a sunny and cheerful demeanor. After a long period of training in the 532nd Squad, he also developed a uniquely tough military bearing. The same words that others might have said might have sounded like flattery, but when Gu Yanlin said them, there was no hint of obsequiousness. It made people feel that he was genuinely indignant on behalf of his good brother, disapproving of Chu Guodong's actions, and sincerely praising Wang Teng.

"Alright, for your sake, Xiao Gu, I'll let your brother stay, but this..." Wang Teng patted Gu Yanlin's shoulder with one hand, and rubbed his thumb and forefinger against Gu Yanlin a few times with the other hand.

"Don't worry, Brother Teng, I understand." Gu Yanlin nodded emphatically, then turned to Zhao Rui behind him and waved, "Rui, thank you, Brother Teng."

"Thank you, Brother Teng, thank you, Brother Teng. Don't worry, Brother Teng, I will definitely work hard for you and let that guy surnamed Chu know who is the boss of the Liancheng base's search team." Zhao Rui quickly stepped forward, grasped Wang Teng's hands with both hands, and said with a bow and scrape.

"cough"

Gu Yanlin coughed lightly twice beside him.

Zhao Rui quickly took out the cigarettes from his pocket and stuffed them into Wang Teng's hand. "Brother Teng, this is just a small token of my appreciation."

"Alright, Zhao Rui, right? From now on, you'll work hard for me, and Brother Teng won't treat you unfairly," Wang Teng said, glancing down at the cigarette pack in his hand and patting Zhao Rui's shoulder with satisfaction.

The cigarettes Zhao Rui gave him were given to him by Gu Yanlin that morning to prevent any accidents. Although they weren't as good as the pack Gu Yanlin had given him yesterday, they were still rare and good cigarettes in the apocalypse.

"Alright, you two go find a spot in the middle, it's time to get ready to go."

"Since it's your first day in the team, you don't know anything. Just learn from the people next to you."

It was around 5 a.m., and the sky was still dark. Most of the looting teams at the Liancheng base had been working under the stars and moon. The closer they got to the base, the more supplies they had already rummaged through, so they had to head further afield.

To make a round trip in a day, they usually set off very early. Some gathering teams go further, perhaps as early as 2 or 3 in the morning. Medium and large gathering teams like the Tenglong Gathering Team have vehicles, are faster, and go further, so they usually set off around 5 a.m.

Gu Yanlin and Zhao Rui quickly climbed onto the truck. The trucks of the Tenglong Collection Team were considered to be in very good condition among all the collection teams. The truck bed was completely enclosed, and the team of more than 20 people were not crowded in the truck bed, and everyone had their own seat.

The truck bed door wasn't closed tightly; it was held shut with a stick, leaving a small gap. It was windproof yet breathable.

Wang Teng, on the other hand, sat in the driver's seat with the team's drivers, which was more spacious and comfortable.

After Gu Yanlin and Zhao Rui climbed into the car, they found a secluded corner to sit down. Seeing them sit, the person next to them nudged Zhao Rui with their elbow, "Hey bro, where did you get that good stuff? Any more?" The question immediately drew the attention of everyone nearby, their eyes filled with eager anticipation for an answer.

"No, I secretly hid it before the apocalypse, just one pack. I've always been reluctant to smoke it," Zhao Rui lied with a pained expression.

Today's pack of cigarettes was given openly and honestly in front of everyone, while yesterday's pack given by Gu Yanlin was given secretly at night, without anyone else in the Tenglong Collection Team knowing.

"Brothers, I heard you guys are special forces. Why did you decide to join our search team? Wouldn't your own team be better?" After Zhao Rui finished speaking, the person who had asked the question first immediately changed the subject, not knowing whether the others believed him or not.

"Ugh, just thinking about this makes me angry," Gu Yanlin said with a face full of resentment, and began to complain endlessly.

"You know that guy surnamed Chu, right? He's a tyrant, completely insane, a pervert."

"I was never interested in this special forces team. My sister had an accident and is temporarily unable to move around. That guy surnamed Chu took a liking to me and used my sister's doctor as leverage to force me to join his team and live under the same roof as him."

"Otherwise, they won't let the doctors treat my sister. You know, our City C doesn't have many resources to begin with, and that pervert is one of the most powerful officials. With one order from him, there really won't be any doctors to treat my sister's injuries."

"I had no choice but to join in. But it seems he's set his sights on someone else now, and his interest in me has lessened a bit. It's a pity my sister and brother-in-law are still in their hands, otherwise I would definitely rebel against him."

"I hope to work hard under Brother Teng and strive to overthrow this tyrant as soon as possible, exposing his evil deeds to the light of day."

As Gu Yanlin spoke with great emotion, he clenched his fists and stood up, as if he were about to take revenge. He was then comforted and pulled back down to sit by the people around him.

"Brother, you wouldn't also...?" Hearing Gu Yanlin's words, Zhao Rui couldn't help but want to laugh. Afraid of being discovered, he could only cover his face with his hands, lower his head, his shoulders shaking incessantly, and occasionally making some strange noises.

The person next to him mistakenly thought that something sad had been touched upon, and cautiously guessed what was going on.

“Yes, my brother is also one of those coerced by that scumbag surnamed Chu, just like me.” Gu Yanlin reached behind Zhao Rui and pinched him hard.

Zhao Rui gasped in pain, tears welling in his eyes.

To others, it seemed like he had been correctly guessed, which made him even more heartbroken and upset.

Zhao Rui raised his head, revealing tears in his eyes, nodded, and said, "Yes."

Then she raised her hand and gently wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes.