Joining Tiandao Company: Starting by mending a zombie world

Chu Sheng stood aside without interrupting, but felt a sense of familiarity when he heard the names of the Hieiyama Ninja Clan, the Tang Clan, and Ono Noriyoshi.

It seems that this battle against the dragon veins will be no easier than dealing with the demon-turned Princess Hui.

He shook his head; it seemed he would have to do some more research when he got back.

"Brother Sheng, are you leaving?"

After meeting, Xiaodouzi found Chusheng, looking very aggrieved.

"A few more days."

"You little rascal...do a good job!"

Chu Sheng patted Xiao Douzi, knowing full well that this separation meant it would be a long time before they could meet again.

"Brother Sheng, the captain wants to throw you a farewell party tonight to thank you for your kindness."

"They all call you 'Great Philanthropist Chu' now."

Chu Sheng was both amused and exasperated. Ever since he donated that treasure, he had somehow acquired this nickname.

In truth, no one knew that he was also in pain inside.

Firstly, they couldn't take it back; secondly, their conscience wasn't dead, and they couldn't bear to see the people and soldiers of Gantian Town starve to death.

Fortunately, he didn't get nothing at all—there were still a few valuable Yuan Shikai silver dollars in the space compartment.

So he pretended to be serious and said, "What great philanthropist? I am just returning the people's treasures to the people."

"There's nothing to be proud of."

"I will donate my own money after I earn it in the future. That will make me a truly great philanthropist."

Little Bean was stunned, and countless little stars appeared in his eyes:

"Brother Sheng, is what you're saying the 'enlightenment' the instructor was talking about?"

Chu Sheng gave an awkward smile.

With such awareness and mindset, even he himself felt that it was a waste of his talent not to become a company instructor.

"Um... Brother Sheng, are you going to the farewell party tonight?" Xiaodouzi asked in a murmur.

"If there's wine, let's go! I'm going to drink eight!" Chu Sheng puffed out his chest and said proudly.

"Yes! We found several jars of liquor in the Japanese soldiers' graves." Little Bean exclaimed happily upon hearing Chu Sheng's agreement.

"We also have some canned beef; we'll make sure you get some good food and drinks on your way."

Chu Sheng agreed without hesitation.

That night, several bonfires were lit in the open space of the temporary command post.

The captured Japanese beef cans were pried open and stewed with wild vegetables into a fragrant stew.

Several jars of liquor, salvaged from the tombs of Japanese soldiers, had just had their mud seals broken when their strong aroma wafted out.

Surrounded by Feng Zhenguo, Yang Shaohui, and others, Chu Sheng drank heavily.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

The guerrillas took turns offering him drinks, and Chu Sheng accepted them all. Relying on his physique, which had been enhanced by the Pure Yang Spirit Herb, he managed to get sixteen people drunk and passed out before Yu Chuda and Xiaodouzi finally carried him back.

A few days later, Mao Xiaofang and Ma Danna left one after another, while Chu Sheng followed Yu Chuda on the road to Renjia Town.

Before parting, Lin Susu handed a heavy cloth bag to Chu Sheng.

When Chu Sheng opened it, he found that in addition to some emergency dry food and medicine, there were also several captured Japanese canned goods.

"Take it with you to eat on the road," Lin Susu explained. "Although it tastes terrible, it can replenish your energy."

"Remember its taste, remember the Japanese soldiers' transformation from 'real beef' to 'cow blood and mixed grains'."

"This is not just a war, it's a war for the nation's destiny."

Chu Sheng picked up a can of food and smiled, "Comrade Lin, my prediction was pretty accurate. In less than a month, that little bastard will definitely surrender."

Lin Susu smiled too. She knew the Japanese were now in their death throes, but surrendering wouldn't be so quick. However, not wanting to discourage Chu Sheng, she said, "I believe you."

Chu Sheng naturally realized that Lin Susu was teasing him, so he didn't explain further, waved his hand, and said goodbye.

"Have a safe journey." Lin Susu waved gently at Chu Sheng's retreating figure, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes.

Just then, Xiaodouzi ran over with red eyes and handed Chu Sheng a small cloth bag: "Brother Sheng, these are pancakes I made for you myself. Eat them on the way."

Chu Sheng patted him on the shoulder: "Work hard, and I'll come back to see you after the revolution is victorious."

"Definitely!" Little Bean nodded emphatically.

The two brothers left the city gate and headed south along the dirt road.

Upon reaching a grove of trees, Yu Chuda suddenly pointed to the woods beside the road and said, "Junior brother, look over there!"

Chu Sheng looked in the direction he pointed and saw a gray shadow flash by in the woods at an extremely fast speed.

"Is it Itachi?" Chu Sheng was taken aback.

Sure enough, the next moment, the gray shadow darted onto the carriage, perched on Chu Sheng's shoulder, and squeaked twice—it was the wind-sniffing weasel that Mao Xiaofang kept.

"Itachi-sama? What brings you here?" Yu Chuda asked in surprise.

The weasel patted the cloth bag in Chu Sheng's arms with its paw and squeaked twice, pointing to its mouth.

Chu Sheng was both amused and exasperated: "Well, so you smelled the canned beef?"

The weasel nodded vigorously, its small, beady eyes filled with anticipation.

Chu Sheng smiled, opened a can of beef, and handed it over.

The weasel caught it, swallowed it in a few gulps, and let out a satisfied burp.

Then he crawled into Chu Sheng's bundle, found a comfortable spot, curled up into a ball, and started to catch up on sleep with two "squeaks".

"Junior brother, what did Itachi say?" Yu Chuda asked curiously.

"What Master means is that he's worried we're both too inexperienced, so he's sending it to keep an eye on things," Chu Sheng explained.

"This..." Yu Chuda pouted, puffed out his chest defiantly, then deflated like a punctured balloon.

"To be honest, this is the first time I've ever driven alone in my life, and I'm actually a little scared."

Chu Sheng laughed heartily: "Senior brother, you still have me. In terms of age, I'm older than you."

"You just look a bit older than me."

Yu Chuda was both amused and exasperated: "Pah! You're the old one."

Chu Sheng laughed heartily and engaged in a heated exchange on the "art of language" with Yu Chuda.

Afterwards, the two traveled along the official road for two days. With the help of a fellow villager, they arrived at a provincial capital and finally saw the outline of the city wall before dark.

"Young man, we've arrived. This is the provincial capital," the villager said, pointing ahead.

"Shaozhou?" Chu Sheng read aloud, looking at the two large traditional Chinese characters on the city wall.

"Ah... young man, you can read?" The villager, who was about forty or fifty years old, was surprised that Chu Sheng could read, and then sighed:

"When I was a child, I was killed by the Eight Banners soldiers in the city just because my father taught me to write the character '一' (one).

Yu Chuda looked incredulous: "Grandpa, you're kidding me. You think teaching you to write a word would lead to murder? Are those Tartars really that unreasonable?"

The villager rolled his eyes at Yu Chuda: "Do you think I'm old enough to lie to you? If it weren't for my mother being a prostitute, I would have died long ago."

Yu Chuda was taken aback and was about to ask what a "guanren" did when Chu Sheng interrupted him first:

"Senior brother, let the villagers find us an inn later, and we can stay there for a couple of days."

Upon hearing that he no longer needed to travel and could stay at an inn, Yu Chuda forgot to ask about his fellow villager and immediately smiled:

"Alright, alright, alright! Junior brother, if we don't get some rest, my bones will fall apart."