I have a city in another world

Chapter 7051 Temporary Camp in the Ruins
The abandoned city before dawn was eerily silent, as if even the air itself had solidified.

There was no sound of any living creatures, no chirping of insects, no sound of wind, only the sound of heavy breathing.

This once bustling metropolis is now nothing but a skeleton of steel and concrete, like the wreckage of a giant beast whose internal organs have been emptied, lying quietly in the fading night.

Tang Zhen led the way, guiding a group of survivors who had escaped from the mountain city settlement into this ruined city that resembled one filled with giant tombstones.

They took each step with extreme caution, like a swarm of ants venturing deep into the belly of some enormous creature.

The cracked concrete beneath my feet made a slight creaking sound, which was amplified into a startling echo in the excessively quiet environment.

Some people unconsciously tensed up, placing their hands on the weapons at their waists and scanning every shadowy corner with wary eyes.

"Maintain formation, pay attention to the sides and top."

Tang Zhen's deep voice broke the silence, but it didn't seem abrupt; instead, it brought a sense of calm to the anxious crowd.

They were no strangers to the ruins of this city. For many years, the survival and development of the mountain town settlement had largely depended on extracting the remaining resources from these ruins.

Many people have entered this place countless times, like vultures pecking at carrion, searching for any usable supplies.

Various kinds of metals, electronic devices that were not completely damaged, remnants of building materials, and fragments of books that were not completely rotten.

After years of looting, the city has been dismantled into pieces, and apart from the sturdy concrete framework, almost nothing intact and useful can be found.

However, at this moment, their goal was not to search for supplies, but to find a refuge where they could temporarily escape the war.

From the direction of the mountain town settlement, the muffled sound of explosions could still be faintly heard, and the horizon was occasionally illuminated red by the flames.

Everyone knows that this battle is far from over.

“The city’s outskirts are too easy to spot, while the central area is too dangerous.” Tang Zhen explained as he led his team through the ruins, “We need to find a position that allows us to observe the surroundings while also being easy to defend.”

Someone in the group whispered in agreement: "Yeah, those homeless people and mutants in the city center..."

Before he could finish speaking, a dark shadow suddenly darted out from behind a pile of collapsed billboards in front of him—it was a huge, mutated wild dog.

Most of its fur had fallen off, and its exposed skin was covered with festering sores. Its scarlet eyes gleamed with hunger and madness.

Almost simultaneously, the bowstring vibrated, and an arrow pierced the wild dog's eye socket with pinpoint accuracy.

Many of the residents in the group possessed considerable fighting ability, and to avoid trouble caused by gunfire, they tacitly switched to cold weapons such as swords, bows, and crossbows.

The beast didn't even have time to let out a wail before it crashed heavily to the ground, twitched twice, and then lay still.

Experienced residents immediately stepped forward and quickly began to dispose of the body.

The knife precisely sliced ​​through the fur, and the edible muscle was quickly peeled off and placed into a container carried with the person.

In a resource-scarce wasteland, no protein source should be wasted.

Watching this scene, an old man in the group murmured, "If only we could farm in peace..."

This statement caused a brief silence.

Sow a single grain in spring, reap ten thousand in autumn; farming is a deep-seated belief for many residents.

Outside the mountain town settlement, there are large areas of farmland, but the harvest is never guaranteed.

This surprise attack caused severe damage to crops outside the city, and even if the enemy is repelled, the ensuing famine will become a new threat.

Tang Zhen glanced at everyone, said nothing, and continued to lead the team deeper into the city.

Finally, they stopped in front of a high-rise building that used to be an office building.

Its original structure of more than thirty floors has now been reduced to only twenty-odd floors, and the top is incomplete, as if it had been bitten off by a giant beast.

The exterior walls were riddled with bullet holes and scratches from unidentified creatures; most of the windows were broken, their dark openings resembling countless blind eyes.

"This is it." Tang Zhen looked up and observed the building structure. "The height is sufficient, the view is unobstructed, and the structure is relatively stable."

Without needing further orders, the survivors sprang into action, like a sophisticated machine at work.

A team entered the building first, clearing and checking each floor to ensure there were no hidden dangers.

Another team set up makeshift alarm devices and traps on the perimeter, while another team searched for usable supplies in the nearby ruins.

Surprisingly, because few people venture into the city center, this area has become home to many wild plants.

Experienced gatherers quickly identified the edible varieties.

A wild vegetable with thick leaves, vines rich in starch at the roots, and several shrubs laden with sour fruits.

"Look, those are the footprints of a mutated pika!"

A young resident of the outer city pointed excitedly at the marks on the ground, the presence of small animals indicating a possible source of meat.

The cleaning work inside the building is also ongoing. A relatively intact space was found on the middle floor, with most of the walls and ceilings intact and able to provide basic shelter.

For the resettlement of the wounded, as well as the elderly, infirm, and disabled, this was undoubtedly a timely help. After a night of fleeing and sporadic clashes, many people were injured, some seriously, and in urgent need of professional medical assistance.

However, in the wasteland, doctors and medicines are the scarcest resources.

While everyone was worrying about this, Tang Zhen left alone for a while.

When he returned, he was followed by several young men, their arms full of all kinds of wild grass.

They found a broken iron pot that they had dug up from somewhere, drew water from a nearby ditch, and treated the plants according to Tang Zhen's instructions.

Wash and chop the ingredients, then put them in a pot to cook.

"Mr. Tang, could this be... a medicinal soup?"

Among the group, a man who knew a little about herbs asked hesitantly.

He recognized several of the plants, and according to his knowledge, two of them not only had no medicinal effects but also contained some toxicity.

Tang Zhen glanced at the other person, not displeased by the question, but instead nodded: "Good question. In the old days, your understanding was correct—the sap of the Blood Lantern could indeed cause nerve paralysis, and the seeds of the Heart-Eating Grass were even more poisonous."

He picked up a plant with dark red leaves and fruit shaped like small lanterns, then pointed to another vine with heart-shaped leaves and continued to explain:

"But after the cataclysm, the properties of many plants changed fundamentally."

Dramatic environmental changes and active psionic energy enabled them to complete an evolutionary leap in a short period of time that would normally take millions of years.

As Tang Zhen spoke, he gently stirred the mixture in the pot with a twig: "For example, the blood lantern, its juice now contains a special alkaloid that can not only numb the nerves, but also greatly reduce the chance of wound infection."

The key lies in the dosage and compatibility. Used alone, it is indeed a poison, but when combined with extracts of *Hemiberlesia asiatica*, it forms a potent natural antibiotic.

He looked around and saw that many people had been drawn to the explanation, so he explained in more detail:

"Let's look at this plant."

He picked up a plant with small purple flowers. "In the old days, it was called Viola yedoensis, and it only had mild heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. But now, look at its mutated root system."

Tang Zhen displayed the roots and stems of the medicinal herbs so that everyone could see them clearly and remember the information.

“Look, the roots, which should have been light yellow, are now a deep purple and are noticeably thicker.”

"After its roots mutate, it can secrete a substance that promotes blood clotting and cell regeneration, which has a remarkable effect on wound healing."

"By combining these medicinal herbs, we can make a decoction that disinfects, sterilizes, and boosts immunity. In times of shortage of medical resources, these wild herbs can save many lives and should not be underestimated."

A gasp of amazement rippled through the crowd. Someone couldn't wait to ask, "Mr. Tang, how did you know all this?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Zhen smiled and said, "I've read a lot of books and have a wide range of knowledge, which can come in handy when needed."

Knowledge is also a kind of power; if used properly, it can have earth-shattering effects.

While the cataclysm destroyed civilization, it also created new laws of nature. Understanding and utilizing these laws is key to our survival.

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes shone brightly, and their gazes toward Tang Zhen were filled with admiration.

Such formidable martial prowess and profound knowledge are truly admirable.

To follow such a strong person is truly an extraordinary stroke of luck.

Tang Zhen had seen countless similar adoring glances before, and his emotions and behavior remained unaffected.

He glanced at everyone and began assigning tasks.

"Keep an eye on the fire, add water three times, and after boiling, distribute the medicinal soup to the wounded. It can be applied externally or taken internally as needed."

Under Tang Zhen's arrangement and command, the temporary shelter entered a busy state.

Lookout posts were set up on the roof, and defensive points were set up at key locations on each floor. At the entrance, simple fortifications were built using abandoned vehicles and concrete blocks.

After searching, the search team brought back some food and usable supplies.

Undamaged plastic containers, some hay that could be used as fuel, and trees—forget about them, they'd all been cut down by the survivors long ago.

As the sun rose, the sounds of gunfire from the direction of the mountain city seemed to intensify, and the battle was unlikely to end anytime soon.

The lookout sent a signal that a troop was approaching.

Everyone went into battle alert mode. Tang Zhen went up to the roof and silently observed with binoculars handed to him by someone else.

After a moment, he put down his binoculars, his expression grave: "They should be refugees from the outer city, a total of thirty-seven people, and their condition doesn't look good."

Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief.

This group of disheveled refugees were quickly taken to a temporary settlement, bringing with them the latest news from the mountain city: many parts of the outer city had fallen, and the army and residents were still holding out, but the situation was not optimistic.

The enemy was more numerous than expected, with an unusual level of organization, and was constantly gathering from all directions.