The skirmish did not truly end when the highway group retreated. That would have been too merciful for them.
In Tang Li Yue's experience, trouble rarely walked away after losing a hand, a weapon, and one man. It would still limp, bleed, curse, gather resentment, then search for another opening.
Humans were impressively stubborn that way.
Zombies, at least, had the decency to be predictable. They truly die after their brains explode.
The safehouse remained tense long after the armed group vanished down the road. Gao Jun and Fang Yi returned from escorting Liang Wei and Ma Shun away, both faces grim, clothes damp with sweat and dust. They reported that the two men had been dropped near an abandoned service road far from the safehouse perimeter, with enough bandages to keep Ma Shun from immediately bleeding out and not enough kindness to give them courage to come back.
Tang Li Yue approved. Mostly.
