Chapter 44: The Crisis of Internal and External Woes

The chilly, stagnant air slithered through the tunnels of the sanctuary like an invisible pack of vipers, coiling tightly around everyone's nerves.

"Supplies... they're really running critically low." Pan Yue's voice was low, carrying an unperceived trace of trembling as her slender fingers nervously twitched at the hem of her garment.

Ever since stepping foot into this wretched place, they had been locked in a daily battle against starvation.

"This is definitely not normal." Wu Xia's gaze was as sharp as a falcon's, sweeping across everyone present. Her voice took on a piercing edge, "Logically speaking, the provisions we gathered should have been enough to sustain us for quite some time, yet more than half of them have vanished. Did they just evaporate into thin air?"

"What are you trying to imply?" Chen Jiang's thick eyebrows knitted together in anger. He detested being the target of suspicion, especially from a woman who used to make her living as an intelligence broker. "Spit it out!"

"What I mean is..." Wu Xia paused, her tone growing even colder, "Among us, someone might be hoarding supplies."

"Absolute nonsense!" Chen Jiang slammed his hand onto the table with a loud crack, making the water cup jump. "What kind of person I am, don't you know? I wouldn't do something so petty and self-defeating!" He glared daggers at Wu Xia.

"I didn't explicitly say it was you, Chen Jiang." Wu Xia sneered, completely unfazed by his fury. She flicked her tongue like a venomous snake, "I'm merely offering a reminder, just in case someone has sticky fingers."

"Enough!" Chu Feng frowned deeply. He hated seeing his teammates bickering over such matters.

"This is not the time for infighting. Our top priority is finding a way to resolve the supply shortage." He tried to smooth things over, but the effect was minimal.

"Then what do you suggest we do? We can't just starve to death in here, can we?" Sun Yue crossed her arms, her shrewd eyes darting among the group as if observing something covert.

"Perhaps..." Liu Yong adjusted his glasses, his voice remaining eerily calm, though his next words caused everyone's hearts to sink, "Perhaps we ought to thoroughly search the sanctuary and see if there are any overlooked corners."

"What is that supposed to mean?!" Pan Yue raised her head, her voice trembling slightly. "Are you implying that someone among us is stashing provisions?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Sun Yue retorted with a playful, teasing smile that appeared gratingly offensive in Pan Yue's eyes.

The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing temperatures. Suspicion and distrust wrapped around everyone like wild vines, and defensive expressions were etched on every face.

Chen Jiang burned with rage, Wu Xia sneered relentlessly, Liu Yong remained taciturn, Sun Yue observed them with keen interest, and Pan Yue's eyes began to turn red.

Watching all of this unfold, a wave of profound helplessness washed over Chu Feng.

"Ahem..." Liu Yong suddenly offered a dry cough. His gaze shifted toward the depths of the sanctuary, filled with a hint of puzzlement.

"There seems to be some movement..." Before Liu Yong could finish his sentence, a low, grating friction echoed from deep within the tunnel—a sound resembling the whisper of the Grim Reaper, chilling everyone to the bone.

"Who's there?!" Chen Jiang's voice boomed like rolling thunder. His eyes locked onto the pitch-black depths of the tunnel as his hands gripped his weapon tighter.

"We... we... aren't..." A muffled voice drifted out from the darkness, accompanied by ragged, panicked breathing, as if fleeing from sheer terror.

Two figures stumbled out from the depths of the corridor. Tattered and pale-faced, they were the team members assigned to perimeter watch. Both were drenched in blood; one clutched his chest as crimson fluid continuously seeped between his fingers.

"Ambush! Enemy ambush!" The wounded member screamed out his final ounce of strength before collapsing heavily to the ground, losing consciousness.

Almost simultaneously, a deafening crash echoed from the sanctuary's entrance. A massive force struck the heavy metal door, deforming it with a harsh screech of friction.

Immediately following, a barrage of impacts hammered against it, causing the entire sanctuary to shake violently.

"Damn it!" Chu Feng cursed under his breath. He realized instantly that they had been surrounded.

Taking advantage of their internal chaos, external enemies had escalated their offensive.

"Chen Jiang, hold the entrance!" Chu Feng made a decisive split-second judgment, rapidly repositioning the team members. "Liu Yong, provide cover! Everyone else, prepare for combat!"

Chen Jiang let out a roar, charging toward the entrance like a berserk beast. He braced his powerful physique against the warped metal door.

Liu Yong quickly set up his modified weapon, laying down suppressing fire against the approaching foes.

The mysterious faction's assault was exceptionally fierce. Energy weapons and explosives poured down like rain, and the sanctuary's defensive fortifications were rapidly demolished, sending rubble and shards of metal flying in all directions.

A sense of despair began to spread through the squad, and terror flickered across the faces of several members.

Trapped in this confined space with no food reserves and formidable enemies outside, their prospects looked bleak.

"Don't panic!" Chu Feng's voice cut through the chaos as he calmly directed the battle. "Trust me, we will survive this!"

Readjusting the formations once more, Chu Feng stationed Chen Jiang at the critical choke point, positioned Liu Yong in the rear for fire support, and led the remaining members in launching a counter-attack.

Caught off guard by the sudden tactical shift, the enemy's assault rhythm broke, buying the squad a precious breathing window.

Under Chu Feng's command, the squad successfully repelled this latest fierce wave of attacks from the mysterious forces.

The enemy's offensive gradually weakened, as if they were reassessing the situation.

"They... they seem to be falling back..." Sun Yue's voice trembled slightly as she cautiously poked her head out to survey the area.

"Don't let your guard down!" Chu Feng barked sternly. "This could be a trick!"

Just then, Pan Yue's voice rang out...

Pan Yue's voice cut through the chaos with startling clarity. She walked over to Chu Feng, gently grasping his hand, her gaze resolute yet tender. "Chu Feng, we are a team. We will definitely overcome this crisis." Scanning the group, she spoke with unyielding determination, "I know the situation is grim, but we cannot surrender hope, nor can we turn on each other with suspicion. Only by uniting as one can we find a way out."

Her words acted like a warm current flowing through the hearts of every member.

Chen Jiang's tense muscles relaxed slightly, the frosty glare in Wu Xia's eyes dissipated somewhat, Liu Yong adjusted his glasses with the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, and even the usually cynical Sun Yue tucked away her flippant demeanor.

An idea suddenly struck Sun Yue's mind as her eyes rolled slyly.

Feigning casualness, she walked up to a visibly panicked team member and whispered, "I know where the supplies are hidden. They're in a concealed room at the back of the sanctuary. I saw it with my own eyes." She lowered her voice on purpose, acting entirely secretive.

The team member took the bait hook, line, and sinker.

A cold smirk tugged at the corner of Sun Yue's mouth as she tracked him closely.

Sure enough, the team member sneaked over to the so-called "stash point" indicated by Sun Yue and began rummaging around frantically.

Sun Yue suddenly leaped out from the shadows, grabbed him by the collar, and slammed him hard onto the floor.

"It really was you!" Sun Yue snapped harshly.

The apprehended member turned ashen, trembling violently, realizing his exposure.

Hearing the commotion, Chu Feng and the others rushed over. Taking in the scene, the truth instantly dawned on them.

They had never imagined that an internal traitor truly existed.

At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed as Wu Xia sprinted in from outside with a grave expression. "Chu Feng, there's a situation! I've discovered..." Her voice cut off abruptly as her eyes landed on the member pinned down by Sun Yue.

Taking a deep breath, Wu Xia stated slowly, "I found traces of the enemy. They seem to be assembling some sort of massive, high-yield device." Pausing, she shifted her gaze back to Chu Feng, "Furthermore, I've uncovered the real reason behind the supply shortage."

The captured team member trembled and confessed everything.

Driven purely by the fear of looming shortages and the dread of starving alongside his family, he had secretly stashed away portions of food—he was no genuine turncoat.

He wept bitterly, begging everyone for forgiveness and swearing on his life never to commit such an offense again.

Looking at the remorseful member, Chu Feng experienced a swirl of complex emotions.

Though the misunderstanding was cleared, the squad had suffered heavy losses, wasting precious time and energy on internal strife.

He understood all too well that in this perilous post-apocalyptic world, unity outweighed everything else.

"Get up," Chu Feng said in a deep voice. "Let's put an end to this matter here. I trust you've learned your lesson and won't repeat the same mistake."

A sense of relief washed over the faces of the team members.

They realized that this was no time for apportioning blame; the paramount task was standing shoulder to shoulder against external threats.

Just then, a harsh, roaring sound erupted from outside the sanctuary, and the earth began to shake violently, as though some colossal behemoth was approaching.

"What is going on?" Chen Jiang demanded vigilantly.

Wu Xia's expression shifted drastically. "Oh no! The enemy's massive device has been activated!"

Before her voice could fade, a gigantic shadow loomed over the entire sanctuary.

A deep, majestic voice echoed through the loudspeakers: "I am Guild Master Zhao. This is your final opportunity: hand over all rune resources, or prepare to be leveled to the ground!"

Guild Master Zhao!

The name caused the hearts of every single team member to plummet.

He was the warlord of this entire region—brutal, greedy, wielding formidable rune powers and commanding a heavily equipped legion.

Silence descended upon the sanctuary, heavy anxiety carved into every face.

They knew a brutal battle was unavoidable.

Chu Feng drew a deep breath and slowly unsheathed the longsword strapped to his back. Its blade caught the dim light, flashing with a chilling, steely glint.

"Prepare for battle!" he commanded in a deep, resolute tone brimming with unyielding resolve.

Pan Yue stepped up beside Chu Feng and gently squeezed his hand. Her steadfast and tender gaze imbued him with immense strength.

At that exact moment, a chilling voice crackled through the loudspeaker: "Guild Master Zhao, why waste words with them? Open fire and wipe them all out!"

Chu Feng recognized that voice instantly—it belonged to Guild Master Zhao's chief strategist, Advisor Qian.

"Advisor Qian..." Chu Feng muttered through gritted teeth, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes. "Just you wait!"

"Hmph," Advisor Qian sneered icily, "I'll be waiting for you to come die!"

A burst of static screeched through the loudspeaker before abruptly cutting out into silence.