Chapter 791: Scary Strong

“Let’s not beat around the bush between us, you seem to have changed a lot lately. Is it that energy inside affecting you?”

On the mountain road from Cui Leng Pavilion to the parking lot, Zhang Su asked Chen Hanzhou bluntly.

Chen Hanzhou clenched his intact hand into a fist, pursed his lips, and said in a low voice, “It should be. I can’t control it.”

“Is it that you can’t control it, or you don’t want to control it?”

Zhang Su stopped in his tracks and looked at Chen Hanzhou meaningfully.

Being unable to control it is an external force, not wanting to control it is a matter of personal choice.

Chen Hanzhou’s gaze flickered slightly as he sighed, “Both, I guess. Brother Su, it’s freaking addictive. Once you’ve tried it, you can’t let it go. Resisting it is like quitting smoking—it’s tough and painful…”

In the past few days, Chen Hanzhou had become increasingly proficient in controlling that energy within him. He had considered many things, including trying to deliberately suppress it, but whenever he did, he felt an unexplainable anxiety, whereas just going with the flow felt comfortable.

“That intense? How well can you use that energy now?”

“I’m getting more proficient, hit the target without a miss. Brother Su, I feel terrifyingly strong now!”

A smile spread across Chen Hanzhou’s face, looking very cheerful and confident.

Before the disaster, wealth and power were a man’s confidence. In today’s zombie-ridden world, personal strength is the backbone.

“Playing jokes now, eh? Well, it seems you’re really okay.” Zhang Su chuckled.

“Really, I’m very strong now, Brother Su. How about you try it?”

A sudden fighting spirit emerged in Chen Hanzhou.

Zhang Su slightly raised an eyebrow. The old Chen Hanzhou was very low-key and silent, whereas the current Chen was obviously much more flamboyant. Personality change isn’t about being good or bad, just hoping it doesn’t go uncontrolled.

“Try it? How are you going to do that?”

Chen Hanzhou smiled, looked around, seeing the place was crowded, he initially wanted to invite Zhang Su to the mountain stream for a proper duel, but considering there was still much to do, he said, “Let’s keep it simple, how about a grip strength contest?”

As he spoke, he took off his gloves and extended his left hand, which was covered with scars and calluses.

“Grip strength, huh? Alright, let’s go!”

Zhang Su extended his hand. His hand too had small scars and calluses, but compared to Chen Hanzhou’s, it looked much ‘softer’!

An uninformed observer would definitely think that Chen Hanzhou would win.

“Uncle, come, come quick, there’s something fun!”

Zheng Ziwen said he wouldn’t help Ding Yong Country with work, but he only lazed for a day, then obediently helped in the blacksmith shop. While quenching a newly made short tachi, he looked up to see Zhang Su and Chen Hanzhou ‘shaking hands’ on the mountain path?

“You do nothing every day, old man is busy, you watch your own!”

Ding Yong Country was really busy, working on pressing steel billets, a very critical process, occasionally needing to reheat, a rather tedious process, sweating from his forehead, with no time for interruptions.

Not only Zheng Ziwen, but some busy people in the distance also noticed this strange scene, all stopping to watch, wanting to know what the two were up to.

“Brother Su, you call the start.”

Chen Hanzhou squinted, the special energy within him surged, gathering in his left palm, but due to excess energy, the hand couldn’t contain it, spreading through his entire arm.

Zhang Su calmly observed Chen Hanzhou. Besides his serious and focused demeanor, there was nothing else to see. He faintly said, “Then let’s begin.”

“Hmm…”

After Zhang Su finished speaking, Chen Hanzhou began exerting, the veins bulging on the back of his hand, muscles and sinews stretching and trembling, creaking sounds emerging from the tightly clasped hands.

However, in less than three seconds, Chen Hanzhou’s expression changed. Logically, if he had more strength, he could squeeze Zhang Su’s hand out of shape, but the reality was no matter how much force he used, the opponent could always counter with an equal amount…

It felt like a limitless dynamometer, no matter how much force applied it was like a stone sinking into the ocean, so steady, so cold.

“I lost…”

Chen Hanzhou released his grip, revealing a reluctant smile.

“Already admitting defeat so soon? I haven’t even used my strength!”

“Ah, hey, hey hey, ah oh oh…”

Seeing the odd grin on Zhang Su’s face, Chen Hanzhou knew things went south. As he tried to resist again, it was too late, or simply in vain!

His palm felt like being “pinched,” manipulated by the opponent at will, creaking sounds from sinews, a feeling of overwhelming weakness and pain swept through, losing control of facial expression, twisting instantly.

Stamping hard, pulling away with force, his arm flung back by itself, as the opponent had already withdrawn the strength.

“Did Xiaochen eat too much garlic? Why compare grip strength with Brother Su?”

“Maybe Brother Su wanted to test his strength?”

“Who knows, but it looks quite painful…”

The onlookers nodded knowingly, grasping their left hands.

Zheng Ziwen pulled a shocked expression, hunched his shoulders, quickly getting back to his tasks, the pride from passing two tests crumbling after seeing Chen Hanzhou’s defeat.

“Keep up the good work!”

Zhang Su gave a clenched fist to Chen Hanzhou, who stood there gritting his teeth, as he calmly walked down the mountain, taking out a walkie-talkie, planning to confirm personnel arrangements with Yuwen in the morning, including a rough count for each department, to be announced after lunch!

The onlookers were bewildered, not knowing who initiated this little duel. If it was Zhang Su, a bit odd, if it was Chen Hanzhou, even stranger…

In the Mountain and Sea District township, eight cars parked haphazardly in the ruins, ahead lay even worse road conditions, not even a fully loaded off-road vehicle could pass without a second thought, let alone a tank!

“No way to drive any further, time to go on foot!”

Duan Wuhu looked around, after struggling to clear paths, only drove less than three hundred meters. The closer to the Dragon Head Camp, the worse the road, some buildings collapsed crosswise, larger than cars lying on the streets, impossible for manpower to clear away.

“Uh, Teacher Duan, how about we scout ahead from here first?”

Wu Lue pointed to the car storing the drone.

“Captain Shen, how far is it to the Dragon Head Camp from here?”

Duan Wuhu had a rough idea, but decided it was best to ask.

“I know!” Pu Chanyong raised his hand eagerly, “I’m a Mountain and Sea District local, very familiar. From here to the Dragon Head Camp is a bit over four kilometers direct line, driving about 5.6 kilometers, usually a taxi fare of fifteen or sixteen bucks!”

“Pretty detailed…” Duan Wuhu nodded and then looked at Wu Lue, “Xiaowu, is this distance a challenge for the drone?”

He was very responsible, not only for the personnel’s safety but also for the camp’s assets, not wanting to expense important equipment for scouting.

Wu Lue walked towards the car, giving an OK sign, full of confidence, “In the past, with tall buildings, not easy to say, but in this condition, not to mention four kilometers, even eight kilometers is fine with sufficient power. Luckily I fully charged it yesterday!”

“That’s great.”

“High-tech is impressive.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, facing the continuous ruins daunting, even walking over would be difficult, let alone a return trip!