American Comics: BOSS Invasion

In the southern suburbs of the capital, about twenty miles from the official road, along a small mountain path, a rather large tavern had been built in what should have been a deserted area.

The tavern was simple: a few wooden pillars erected, a crossbeam casually tied on top, a straw mat laid over it, a liquor cabinet placed inside, six tables, some bowls, chopsticks, and wine jars crammed in – and the tavern was officially open for business.

The owner's surname was Luo, but no one knew what his given name was. Regulars simply called him Old Luo.

Old Luo was a tall, sturdy man. Judging from his current frame, one could vaguely see how strong he was in his youth. However, age had taken its toll, making him somewhat hunched over, his back severely bent. Coupled with his graying hair, he looked no different from anyone else.

But his hands were noticeable; every gesture and movement drew people's attention to them.

His hands were neither large nor small, slender and long, with skin so delicate it was unbelievable, feeling almost like a woman's hands, completely mismatched with the image of the little old man.

Following the narrow path behind the tavern, over the small hill, and past the cliff-like precipice, lay the infamous Mass Burial Grounds, known for miles around.

It was said that this place was once a bustling town, but for some reason, it attracted a large number of bandits who committed all sorts of atrocities, burning, killing, and looting. The town suffered immensely, and in desperation, the town leader ignited the black oil wells beneath the town, instantly filling the entire area with toxic fumes, killing everyone, including the invading bandits.

Although the people died, the toxic fumes remained trapped in the valley, heavy and unable to rise above the mountains, accumulating continuously within the valley.

This resulted in the entire valley being shrouded in a constant haze, and on windy days, one could vaguely see the outline of the town.

Precisely because the town remained relatively intact, over the years, fearless hunters, fully equipped, frequently ventured in to explore. Most died inside, but occasionally, a few lucky ones emerged, carrying large bags and bundles filled with gold and silver.

Life was already difficult enough, and when a way to make money finally appeared, people naturally rushed in headfirst.

People only saw the successful ones, reaping great rewards, but didn't see that most died inside.

Even so, it would have been acceptable; wealth is found in danger, life and death are predetermined, and fortune is in the heavens. It was understandable that people wanted to risk their lives for wealth.

However, things suddenly changed a few years ago. Rumors began to spread that the people who had died in the town, some for dozens or even hundreds of years, were rising from the dead. They roamed the town, and would not hesitate to hunt down any living person they encountered.

These living dead lacked intelligence, relying only on their sense of smell to track blood and sound, leading to the deaths of many hunters.

Sometimes, some of the living dead would even leave the valley and attack passersby.

It was precisely because of this that the Embroidered Uniform Guard was able to gather information about this place.

Qi Shan, riding a white donkey, headed straight here after leaving the capital.

In his opinion, anyone who dared to open a tavern on the road leading to the Mass Burial Grounds would definitely know something.

Upon arriving at the tavern, Qi Shan confirmed his judgment. This place was indeed not ordinary. In this seemingly peaceful world, there were indeed places like this hidden beneath the surface.

Clearly, in this world, there also existed a world unknown to ordinary people.

On the straw mat around the tavern's exterior, many scraps of paper were haphazardly stuck, covered with a jumble of announcements.

"Missing… Death… Zombies Reappear… Obtain Large Amounts of Treasure…"

All sorts of information, inescapably revolving around death and money.

Qi Shan slightly raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Dismounting the white donkey, Qi Shan unhesitatingly walked into the tavern.

From the outside, there was no sound, as if there was no one inside the tavern. But upon lifting the thin curtain, various noises flooded out.

The loudest were from one particular group.

They were actually arguing, their voices filled with terror and pain. Qi Shan looked up and saw a dozen people, old and young, sitting in a circle, each in their own chair, with a man and a woman facing off in the middle.

The man was as sturdy as an orc, and the woman was slightly more slender, but her arms were as thick as an ordinary person's legs.

Both of them had their eyes wide open, like fighting cocks.

The man seemed somewhat saddened, with a few tears in the corners of his eyes, trembling all over, his voice low. His left hand was always on the hilt of the knife at his waist, while his right hand stared intently at the strong woman's collar.

The woman was equally unwilling to back down, roaring loudly, even using one hand to grab the man's neck.

The two of them struggled against each other, but the man was slightly inferior, his body constantly leaning backward, as if he would lose his balance at any moment.

"If it weren't for you, Xiao An and the others wouldn't have died!"

"Everyone here will eventually die at the hands of the strange creatures. We all know this. This is the fate we must bear. Don't tell me about these useless things.

So what if I gave the order? If you don't have the courage to tie your head to your belt, what are you talking about making a fortune!"

The woman roared loudly, pushing the man aside.

The man lost his balance and collapsed directly to the ground, crying like a 200-pound aggrieved child.

While this group argued loudly, the others seemed to pay no attention, all eating their meals with their heads down. Occasionally, they would say a few words. These people ate as if they were fighting a war, with various vegetable soups and meat juices flying everywhere.

They would grab two fist-sized steamed buns at once and stuff them into their mouths, chewing a few times before swallowing them directly.

Qi Shan looked up and saw the little old man turn and walk inside.

Interesting, this is really too interesting!

Qi Shan couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth.