"Zhao Yunhai! When it comes to gratitude... it should be me thanking you guys. If it weren't for your help, I might have... sigh~" The man let out a gentle sigh, as if recalling some unbearable past.

"Ah~ haha, Uncle Zhao, you're being too serious. No matter what, if you hadn't come back in time just now, we would have been queueing to board the ship by now, haha." Tang Xiaoquan's voice was somewhat mournful, but his words genuinely reflected their dire predicament at the time.

However, his heartfelt words carried a different undertone when Zhao Yunhai heard them.

"It's... really my fault, everyone. The number of zombies surrounding us was overwhelming. I had to move the vehicle, or else we'd be completely trapped and unable to move later. I also saw you were stuck amidst the zombie horde and couldn't get out, so I thought of driving out first and then turning back to rescue you. I just didn't expect that my decision almost cost you your lives! I'm sorry!"

With another light sigh, Zhao Yunhai seemed concerned that they might hold a preconceived and negative impression of him due to misunderstandings, hence his cautious explanations.

Tang Xiaoquan merely responded with a slight smile.

He could understand the man's feelings. If it were him, in that life-and-death moment, he would have surely chosen to leave as well.

After all, instead of dying with a group of unrelated people, leaving early was the right choice.

As for the man's reason for returning after leaving, Tang Xiaoquan naturally wouldn't naively believe the explanation he just gave.

But, as of now, the reason no longer mattered; what mattered was that the man came back and risked his life to rescue all of them.

Just for that, he was already qualified to join the team.

"Uh, excuse me, may I say something?" Gently stretching his slightly sore arm, Wen Quanxin softly asked, "Where are we heading next?"

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances. Clearly, they had been so focused on discussing their action plan that they hadn't thought about their destination after escaping, so...

With instinctual mutual understanding, they all turned their gaze to Tang Xiaoquan in the middle seat, each one of their faces seemingly written with "Hey, Xiao Tang, where should we go next?"

Speechless! Absolutely speechless! Tang Xiaoquan was left both amused and exasperated by the looks of inquiry from everyone.

After all, everyone has one head and two eyes, so why should he know when they didn't? He wasn't any different from them!

Grumbling aside, Tang Xiaoquan quickly set his mind to work, seriously contemplating the future direction of the team.

This significant issue was also a complex one, and Tang Xiaoquan didn't dare to jump to conclusions.

After all, past painful experiences taught him how important it is for survivors in the apocalypse to carefully choose an appropriate place to settle.

Law of Survival, Article 26: The suitability and potential for sustainable development of a shelter must always be a survivors' top priority.

This was especially a commonly overlooked issue for new survivors of the apocalypse, Tang Xiaoquan's group included.

The scarcity of resources and the threat of zombies forced survivors to spend most of their time gathering supplies, and as for shelters, as long as they provided shelter from the wind and rain and protection from zombies, survivors would be chanting Amitabha Buddha and thanking the heavens.

But is this truly the case in reality? The answer is clearly no.

For example, the two-story building Tang Xiaoquan and his group previously occupied, with outer walls for protection and iron gates for defense, presented no way for zombies to break in.

In a broad sense, it did protect them! After all, the zombies never got inside.

But narrowly speaking, it didn't! Because Tang Xiaoquan and his group ultimately chose to leave!

Why was that? Because of the harsh environment and lack of sustainable development!

So, in summary, Tang Xiaoquan didn't want to repeat the same mistake. At least he wanted to use this rare escape opportunity to plan a direction for the team that could meet those shelter conditions.

But just as he was preparing to think deeply about it, Zhao Yunhai in the driver's seat suddenly spoke up: "I might be being a bit abrupt, but..."

Pausing for a few seconds, Zhao Yunhai seemed a little hesitant, but soon continued: "I'd like you to accompany me back home!"

"Back home!?" Wen Quanxin instinctively blurted out, his previously relaxed posture immediately springing upright again.

The rest were equally taken aback by the man's sudden proposal because he hadn't mentioned this to them before.

Noticing their resistant mood, Zhao Yunhai wasn't surprised. In fact, he was already aware this would be their reaction; otherwise, he wouldn't have appeared hesitant before. But even so, he intended to persist, albeit with a different strategy...

"You don't have to worry. I just want to check if my daughter and wife are safe. Once we arrive there, I can go up alone; you don't need to accompany me!"

Now that he'd put it this way, everyone naturally had nothing more to say, looking at each other in understanding.

Logically, it was perfectly understandable for someone who had barely survived to want to check on their family, and it's what any loyal and righteous man would do.

But, in their hearts, the survivors who had just been through a life-and-death ordeal didn't want to experience such an encounter again.

The car became silent, and the atmosphere was slightly awkward.

Subconsciously touching his forehead, Tang Xiaoquan habitually curled his bangs twice, then shifted his gaze and, with a smile, said: "Haha, Uncle Zhao, what are you talking about? Don't forget you're our lifesaver. Now, even if it's a mountain of swords or a sea of flames, we brothers will accompany you. Isn't that right, everyone?"

He nudged Wang Qiang, who was sitting in the aisle, and the latter instinctively echoed "right" three times.

Following his lead, the rest of them joined the chorus.

"That's right! Zhao Shu, we're family now, how can you be so formal with us!"

"Exactly! Exactly! In a family, we don't speak as outsiders! Your matters are our matters! Wherever you say to go, that's where we'll go!"

Gratitude, heartfelt gratitude, Zhao Yunhai was almost moved to tears. But if he knew the true thoughts in Tang Xiaoquan's mind at this moment, he might not have been so deeply moved...

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