Chapter 168 Self-Awareness

"If that bird exists, why are there still people who can't get out?" Liu Chang asked. "After all, no matter how terrifying the Hide-and-Seek Forest is, having a creature that can fly should make things rather simple... Or perhaps I simply don't know." Li Feng shook his head. "Besides, there's only one such bird. Leaving aside whether it would get torn to shreds by other flocks of birds upon flying into the sky, carrying someone away is already a problem in itself. Even if someone were chosen, whether that person would actually be willing to leave remains another question entirely. The people in there lack neither food nor drink, and they have no strong desire to leave this place at all. To be honest, if I hadn't found out about the giant willow tree moving northward, I wouldn't want to leave either. After all, the whole world is like this nowadays; where isn't running just running?"

"Mm," Liu Chang nodded. "That's true."

"Still, thank you for telling me this news today. If possible, I will take you with me."

"Having your word is enough." Li Feng was a smart man; hinting at things just to a certain extent was ideal for him. Patting Liu Chang on the shoulder, he knew that today's conversation had come to an end, and with a smile, he left the spot.

Lost in thought about the giant bird, Liu Chang returned to his room. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Milan dressed in seductive lingerie.

Milan was currently lying on his bed, wearing a red, sheer gauzy garment on her upper body and black fishnet stockings below. Seeing Liu Chang push the door open, she wore a charming expression.

"Come here, shall I give you a massage?"

"What is it?" Liu Chang walked into the room. "You're usually not this enthusiastic. What happened?"

"Nothing much. I just saw that you've been running back and forth these past few days and must be quite tired, so I wanted to help you relax... Well, actually, there is something." Liu Chang sat down on the stool beside the bed. "If you have something to say, spit it out. If not, get out."

"Why are you being so blunt?"

"Because I don't want to owe you a favor, and even less do I want to have romantic entanglements with you," Liu Chang said honestly. "Because I'm afraid I won't be able to repay them."

"Fine." Hearing Liu Chang's words, Milan stood up from the bed and walked toward the door. "Since you've put it that way, I'll be leaving."

"Mm," Liu Chang nodded. "You came today because you heard people here talking about the giant willow tree, didn't you?"

"Yes," Milan said. "I don't want to sit here and await my doom. Even though I don't know whether what you said is true or false, I really want to go and see the outside world."

"I'm sorry, I can't manage this matter for you." Liu Chang stood up from the bed and pushed Milan out the door. "I'm no hero, nor am I a bastard who takes advantage and refuses to pay it back. So, please understand me."

With that said, Liu Chang closed the room door.

That night.

After darkness completely enshrouded the crimson world, Liu Chang, having rested for only a short while, sat up from his bed. Taking up the firearm on his desk and fully arming himself, he quietly slipped out of the room—without a sound, completely undetected.

He wanted to head toward the government compound to see where that giant bird really was. Although he might not necessarily find the target tonight, seeing more would give him a better understanding. He believed that before long, he would be able to turn that place upside down—and when that time came, no matter where the giant bird was, he could dig it out.

In the pitch-black night, Liu Chang carried his submachine gun and strapped his military crossbow to his back, quietly walking along the nighttime path.

Though fully armed this time—equipped with a military crossbow and a dagger—he had not brought any heavy-duty weapons. The shredded meat grinder and that modified Gatling gun were both too conspicuous and too cumbersome. His mission tonight centered on stealth and reconnaissance to gather intelligence, so bringing those two items was naturally inappropriate.

Therefore, moving lightly, he lurked within the night sky, wading through the thick, red-and-black viscous fog all the way toward the government department compound in the city center.

What he had learned over the past few days told him that over the past four years, the place had been converted into the administrative command center of this area—the garrison and several vital departments had all relocated there.

After all, amid the apocalypse, the city center was relatively safe, and once the military moved there, administration became much more convenient.

Following the route in his memory toward that remodeled, massive courtyard, Liu Chang spotted the prison-like tall walls and the surrounding garrison guards from afar.

These sights, which would normally terrify ordinary people, could no longer instill any fear in Liu Chang. Ever since his transformation a few days ago, he had thoroughly calculated his own combat power.

Once the reptile genes within his body awakened, his life force had already reached a terrifying numerical value of sixty-five, while his outer skin was covered with tough, folded scales. His vision far surpassed that of ordinary humans and all detection instruments, and he possessed precise physical control and calculation capabilities that ensured every shot hit its mark.

In fact, ever since that day, he had been thinking that his strength had already far surpassed many of the superheroes seen in Hollywood blockbuster movies.

Spider-Man, Batman, Captain America—none of them measured up; even if the Hulk himself were to show up, Liu Chang believed he had the strength to put up a fight, though the other party's physique was much stronger than his.

He had never truly been weak all along; or rather, he had always stood at the pinnacle of human combat power. It was just that he constantly encountered opponents far stronger than himself, leaving him unable to display his prowess—among the friends and foes he had encountered, whether it was Liu, Li Qingshui, or that god-like, terrifying giant willow tree, none of them were opponents he could handle.

Consequently, he had always failed, giving off a weak appearance.

Yet even so, his confidence remained unbroken—Liu Chang felt that his greatest advantage was self-awareness: neither humble nor arrogant, he could clearly recognize his own strength and position.

Back when Li Qingshui was around, he had always trusted and obeyed him unconditionally—such yielding was something many men could never manage, yet he could, and he had always done it well. This was because he knew the intellectual gap between them was immeasurable, so giving up his own judgment was the best judgment. Now, venturing out on his own, he could still recognize his position through countless setbacks, see his own strength clearly, avoid looking down on himself because of failure, and never feel weak just because an opponent was overly powerful.

"I am strong!" This was the conclusion Liu Chang arrived at through self-analysis, a scientific result, and therefore, Liu Chang remained unwavering.

Scaling the "prison" wall, Liu Chang entered this converted, massive government compound.

It was vast. After leaping into the courtyard, Liu Chang raised his gaze to survey everything before him. Four years of modification and expansion had turned the place into a miniature military base, stripping the courtyard of any lingering trace of human warmth.