Liu Guanan hadn't expected to return to the wilderness so soon after a single night of rest, but he was no fool—he had to seize the opportunity while the corpse explosion rate was still high. The previous night's ambush had gifted him with plenty of resources and a good amount of loot. After cashing out at the pawnshop, he returned to the graveyard in full gear, ready to sweep through the battlefield.
The corpses from the night before were still warm, and the scent of rot hadn't fully taken hold. This was the perfect time to collect materials. He quickly harvested a batch of carrion, storing their meat, bones, and skin. He also extracted several white crystals from the heads of the stronger zombies. The total value of his haul was at least 100 silver coins, not including any rare drops.
But Liu Guanan wasn't here just to scavenge. He had a plan.
Dragging the fresh corpses behind him, he walked a few kilometers deeper into the wild. Soon, the scent of blood began to draw new monsters toward him—fresh carrion with glowing eyes and twitching limbs. He turned back and jogged toward the original graveyard, leading them in a wide circle.
By the time he returned, he had a proper corpse train behind him—more than a dozen monsters snarling and groaning at his heels. Liu Guanan leapt onto a pile of stone rubble and nocked an arrow. With practiced ease, he picked off the carrion one by one, using the terrain to his advantage.
Heads exploded, limbs shattered, and loot dropped.
He repeated this method over and over, dragging the newly killed carrion in a wide arc before luring in more. Within half an hour, the graveyard was once again littered with broken bodies and glowing crystals. One of the corpses even dropped an Antidote Dan, an incredibly rare alchemical item that could cleanse poisons. Liu Guanan grinned.
Now it was time to collect.
Just as he was about to store the loot, a clattering sound echoed in the distance. He looked up and spotted a familiar sight: a creaky ox cart slowly approaching from the stone path. Riding atop it was none other than Black Ox, the large, muscular man with the calm demeanor.
"Back for more?" Liu Guanan asked.
Black Ox nodded. "You keep the bodies coming, I keep the cart moving."
Behind him were two more carts, one driven by Yellow Ox, a lean, wiry man with sharp eyes, and the other by Stone Ox, a silent type with a scar across his face. Together, they formed a reliable team of corpse haulers.
"Let's load up," Liu Guanan said, pointing to the growing pile.
They worked efficiently. The Ox brothers had become familiar with Liu Guanan's methods and knew how to separate usable materials from junk. The bodies were packed tight, stacked neatly to avoid crushing the loot. With their help, Liu Guanan could transport nearly all of the day's kills in one trip.
Back in Stone City, they made a beeline for the Plum Blossom Chamber of Commerce, the only trading hub that stayed open 24/7. The shop assistant, an elegant NPC with sharp features, smiled as they arrived.
"Ah, Mr. Liu, back again?" she said sweetly. "We've reserved the processing room for you."
"Appreciated."
Inside, the carrion were sorted and evaluated. The total payout was astonishing—nearly 300 silver coins, plus a few rare herbs like Silver Spirit Grass. Liu Guanan kept the Antidote Dan and the white crystals for himself.
With cash in hand, he headed to the equipment store. First, he replaced his battered boots with a pair of Black Mango Shoes—lightweight, reinforced footwear that boosted his speed and allowed for smoother movement on uneven terrain. Then, he visited the blacksmith and commissioned a Topwood Bow upgrade, adjusting the tension for a full 9-point draw strength. He also purchased a 0.3-cubic-meter storage bracelet, not the largest, but big enough to store emergency supplies and loot.
Just as he was admiring his new gear, a shout came from outside.
"Hold it right there! This road is mine!"
Liu Guanan turned to see a group of rugged players—Gold-tier bandits, judging by their fancy gear and arrogant swagger—blocking the path out of the city.
"You've got goods. We've got weapons. You know how this works," their leader said, spinning an axe on his shoulder.
Liu Guanan didn't answer. He simply drew his bow, loosed a single arrow, and blew a hole through the man's skull.
Chaos erupted.
Arrows flew, bodies fell. The entire skirmish lasted less than ten seconds. When the dust settled, twelve players lay dead, their corpses smoldering with the remnants of Liu Guanan's piercing shots. He walked over, looted what little they had, and muttered under his breath:
"Road's mine now."
He waved to Black Ox. "Let's roll."