Qin Hua wasn't sure why Lu Chen had suddenly become so quiet, but as soon as Alex mentioned the poisoning, she remembered something and started digging around in the inventory.

She took out the bag of miscellaneous herbs that she had collected and stored, excluding the ones she had forcefully shoved down Su Yan's throat.

[Woof! I think I saw some plants that cure poisons in here.] She tried to use her thick paw to sort the plants but it was being very inconvenient.

[Maybe I should give this job to the old man who had the alchemist title.]

While Qin Hua was mulling over this, the group of survivors slowly started walking out one by one. Two or three of them stood together, leaning on each other.

Just from the looks of things, it was abundantly clear that all of them were on their last leg and only barely dragging their body forward.

They were literally hanging by a thread, ready to collapse at any given instant and yet no one complained.

Alex and Xu Meilin felt extremely sad after seeing their plight. They looked at Guan Ye and Luo Zu, but the two guys didn't seem to care at all and were busy with something or the other.

However, Alex and Xu Meilin couldn't just let this happen in front of their eyes. These were severely injured people and they needed their help.

The two women looked at each other and silently nodded, deciding to talk to Lu Chen about it. Alex sighed and spoke up first. "Lu Chen, can we talk for a second."

"Hmmm?" Lu Chen calmly crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Alex could tell that he already knew what she was going to talk about and also had a feeling what his response might be. Nevertheless, she knew that she had to try and talk some sense into him.

She cracked her fingers nervously and hesitated for a moment before calling over Guan Ye and Luo Zu as well for some additional support, though she doubted if they would be of any help.

"We really need to hurry." Lu Chen reminded her.

"Ok. Sorry. Yes." Alex clenched her fists. "I think we should probably look for another truck or some large vehicle around?"

Lu Chen casually shrugged responding to her. "Sure. We can use a vehicle." He paused and then to Alex's dismay he added. "When you find one. Until then we need to keep moving."

"Come on, Lu Chen." Alex sighed. "We are all poisoned. Aren't you exhausted? I mean just imagine their condition."

"Yes. I can see."

"Listen, I know that we have to keep moving."

Lu Chen did not prolong this any longer and quickly stopped her. "Let me stop you right here. I am done. We are done with these free handouts."

"Everyone is suffering. Not just them. Cannot just keep doing this. Everyone has to fight for their own survival. Otherwise, sooner or later, we are all going to be dead."

"But.." Alex interrupted him.

However, Lu Chen once again cut her short. "As I said, feel free to take your time and search for a vehicle and then come along with the rest of the people here."

"There is a hospital nearby. We can search for some anti-dote or treatment once we reach there. We will be leaving now." 

Clearly not intending to discuss with Alex any further, he turned to the man who was giving Su Yan a piggyback ride. "Luo Zu walk with me. We are leaving."

Of course, Luo Zu didn't bother inserting himself in between things that were not related to him and he immediately complied.

With that Lu Chen, Guan Ye, and Luo Zu started walking, along with the big black dog next to them. Alex lifted her hand to hold back Lu Chen, but Xu Meilin held her back and shook her head.

"Think about it, Alex." The young girl timidly answered. "What Chen spoke is not wrong. None of these people were even able to lift a finger when the swarm of insects attacked us."

"They didn't fight back even a little."

"I know it's going to be hard, but they need to start defending for themselves. There is nothing more we can do. Chen is not doing this purposefully. Do you understand?"

Alex could only sigh helplessly. Of course, she knew that! 

She only wished that this kind of treatment or rule could start after the whole poison incident was resolved, but Lu Chen was unusually stubborn and she couldn't reason with him at all.

"Alright. Can you help whoever you can, let me try and search if there are any vehicles nearby." 

Alex was getting ready to leave when a faint voice sounded from behind her. Xiao Ming stood with her head drooping down out of tiredness. Her face was also pale from excessive blood loss.

"Sister, we can manage. Don't worry."

"What? It's fine. Don't worry about it. We can find a vehicle within minutes. I will go search now personally."

However, Xiao Ming resolutely shook her head. "Let's listen to what Lu Chen said. We should start looking after ourselves."

Alex sighed. "Are you afraid? Don't worry. We won't leave you guys behind. I think he is just tired. We all are tired."

"No, sister. It's not because of that. We really don't want to remain a burden any longer. Let's do what is safe and start walking. We shouldn't delay and put everyone in danger."

"That's fine for you maybe. What about others?" Alex frowned, while looked behind Xiao Ming. Everyone seemed to have similar expressions like herself.

Ha! Alex loudly exclaimed in exasperation. "So you guys also feel the same way?" She no longer knew what was the right thing to do!

"The hospital is at least 8kms away. Can you all even walk that much?" 

No one said anything and there was only silence. It looked like even they were regretting not being able to respond quickly and fight back with more courage.

"Ahh! Fine. if someone wants me to carry them, just say so." Alex sighed and walked at the very back of the group.