Chapter 32

Chapter 32

001.

Hearing the deafening roar, everyone in the forest turned to look in the direction it came from.

The sound originated from the mountains far away, but the beast moved at an incredible speed. The sound served as a constant reminder of its danger.

"Let's go," Ji Yanqing repeated, leading the way and quickening his pace to get as far away from the city and the beast as possible.

In the forest, everyone immediately followed suit.

They had been awakened around two o'clock in the morning, and by then, it had been snowing heavily for about five or six hours, leaving a thick layer of snow on the ground.

Traversing through the snow was challenging, especially in the forest where what appeared to be flat ground could suddenly collapse underfoot due to hollows or slopes beneath the surface.

Several times, people rolled down slopes, only to be stopped by nearby trees.

Their journey was bumpy and slow, but after trekking for over two hours, nearing half-past four, when the snow gradually stopped and the sky began to lighten in the distance, they finally saw the end of the forest.

The city they had left was adjacent to a vast area consisting of dozens of hills of varying sizes. Beyond this forest lay a plain.

From their vantage point on the mountain, the snow-covered plain stretched out like a vast white canvas, seemingly endless.

Ji Yanqing, noticing the weariness on everyone's faces, ordered a temporary rest.

They set up camp on a relatively flat area at the top of the mountain. After distributing food, the group sat down in small clusters, eating quietly.

As Ji Yanqing patrolled the area, he sat down next to Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi, who were discussing the events of the previous night.

"It's likely that the Beast Corpse King fought with the Corpse King in the hospital. The Beast Corpse King lost, so it fled," Lan Zi said.

Xia Shenshu nodded thoughtfully. "That's possible."

Lan Zi paused in her eating and sighed deeply, glancing back toward the city. "We're lucky we ran fast."

The Corpse King in the hospital was much stronger than they had anticipated, even forcing the Beast Corpse King to flee in disarray. If they hadn't left when they did, they might have died there.

"When we were about to leave the city, didn't many of the ordinary zombies chasing us suddenly turn back? I think the Beast Corpse King must have already entered the city by then," someone interjected.

Ji Yanqing looked over. The speaker was one of the twenty or so people he had rescued from the city, the man who had opened the door when he knocked.

He was young, in his early twenties, and before the virus outbreak, he must have been quite muscular. But after enduring prolonged periods without food or water, he was now gaunt, with noticeable sunken cheeks.

"So, you're saying the Beast Corpse King actually saved our lives?" Lan Zi said with a bitter smile.

No one argued. If their assumptions were correct, they truly owed their survival to the Beast Corpse King.

Ji Yanqing glanced at Ji'an and Ji Le. Ji Le had finished his share of the food and was attentively watching Ji'an, who was slowly eating his portion, still lacking appetite.

After checking on Ji'an and Ji Le, Ji Yanqing instinctively looked toward Feng Yimo.

Feng Yimo always kept to himself. Now, he was sitting alone under a tree opposite them, having apparently finished his food. He was quietly gazing into the distance.

The rest of the group was also quiet, the environment having instilled a habit of silence in everyone. However, the silence surrounding Feng Yimo was different from that of others.

While others' silence stemmed from fear and suppression, Feng Yimo was like an ancient pond, calm and still, devoid of human emotions, simply existing.

"What did you do when you suddenly left for the city earlier?" Ji Yanqing asked.

In response, Feng Yimo, as if remembering something, opened the backpack beside him and methodically pulled out several items.

Among them were food, water, bullets, and finally, even a machine gun.

After laying everything out in front of him, Feng Yimo looked at Ji Yanqing. Something seemed to flicker in his dark, unemotional eyes.

He gave Ji Yanqing the impression of a large dog eagerly awaiting praise from its owner.

Ji Yanqing was taken aback. "Where did you get these?"

The backpack he had asked Feng Yimo to carry definitely didn't contain a gun.

"I found them."

Ji Yanqing's lips moved, and instead of praise, he offered a word of caution. "Don't do reckless things in the future."

Someone like Feng Yimo wouldn't seek praise from others.

"Understood," Feng Yimo said, lowering his gaze.

"Let me see," Xia Shenshu said, gesturing for Feng Yimo to toss him the gun. There were a few meters between them.

Feng Yimo made no move, instead silently packing everything back into the backpack.

Xia Shenshu's lips twitched, and he forced a bright smile.

When he got the chance, he would definitely teach Feng Yimo a lesson.

"Feng Yimo," Ji Yanqing held out his hand.

Feng Yimo, who had already put the gun back in the backpack, looked at Ji Yanqing's outstretched hand, which was wrapped in bandages with traces of blood visible.

Feng Yimo threw the gun at Ji Yanqing's feet.

Xia Shenshu's lips twitched again. He got up, picked up the gun, and sat back down. After quickly checking the magazine, aiming, and loading it, he said, "It works fine."

Xia Shenshu looked at Feng Yimo. "What about the bullets?"

Feng Yimo ignored him.

Ji Yanqing got up and walked to Feng Yimo, taking the entire backpack back to their side.

Xia Shenshu opened the backpack, took out the plastic box containing bullets, and opened it. There were quite a few bullets that Feng Yimo had found, adding up to more than thirty in total, including those in the gun.

Seeing those bullets, Xia Shenshu couldn't resist whistling.

There were many types of guns, and the same was true for bullets.

They originally had four guns and over ninety bullets. Due to different models, nearly forty bullets were unusable, leaving them with only around fifty usable bullets in total.

With four guns and fifty bullets, one could fire at most ten shots per gun.

Now, with the addition of the gun and bullets that Feng Yimo brought back, although they were still lacking in firepower overall, their situation had improved significantly.

Feng Yimo had effectively brought back more than half of the usable bullets they originally had.

After confirming that both the gun and bullets were usable, Xia Shenshu put everything back into the backpack.

Ji Yanqing handed the backpack back to Feng Yimo and reminded him, "Don't use the gun unless absolutely necessary."

Feng Yimo looked at the backpack in front of him again and then at Ji Yanqing. "No."

"Hmm?"

"I don't need that."

Ji Yanqing quickly realized that Feng Yimo was referring to the gun.

Feng Yimo always carried a Tang saber as tall as himself. Ji Yanqing had seen him use it before, and his movements were remarkably swift and clean.

Ji Yanqing was speechless but not particularly surprised. He himself wasn't used to using guns either; he preferred an axe.

"Should I take it then?" Ji Yanqing asked Feng Yimo's opinion.

"Mm." Feng Yimo agreed. He wasn't interested in these things to begin with. He had packed them into the backpack and brought them out because he knew Ji Yanqing would want them.

Ji Yanqing opened the backpack and took away the gun and bullets.

Standing up again, Ji Yanqing surveyed the surroundings.

Everyone on the flat ground was looking at him, especially the twenty or so people from Xue Gang's team.

Ji Yanqing's team originally had four guns: one each for Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi. The gun that belonged to Ji Yanqing and Xia Shenshu's pistol had been temporarily given to two members of the team to use, but they had been returned after leaving the city.

Including the two guns plus the one in Ji Yanqing's hand, there were now three usable guns in their team.

In other words, there were still three people in the team who might possess guns.

The difference between having a gun and not having one was like night and day. In Xue Gang's team, it directly determined whether you were considered human or trash. The allocation of food, water, and speaking power would all change once someone possessed a gun.

Under the intense gaze of the group, Ji Yanqing felt a momentary chill, but he quickly regained his composure. "Has anyone here fired a gun before?"

The group exchanged glances, and two people raised their hands. They were the two individuals who had been temporarily given guns during their escape.

One was the man who had opened the door when Ji Yanqing knocked, and Xia Shenshu had thrown his gun to him for temporary use. The other was the thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boy who had received Xia Shenshu's pistol.

In Xue Gang's team, Xue Gang himself knew how much these people hated him, so he would never let guns fall into their hands.

Ji Yanqing's gaze swept over the faces of the two men. After a moment of thought, he threw the machine gun in his hand to the man who had opened the door.

Seeing Ji Yanqing throw the gun towards him, the man excitedly got up to catch it.

Holding the gun and feeling its weight in his hand, his thin face, which was sunken in at the cheeks, visibly flushed red.

Ji Yanqing turned to look at Xia Shenshu, who understood and took out his original pistol and another gun that had belonged to Ji Yanqing but had been unused. He threw them to Ji Yanqing.

As for his own pistol, Xia Shenshu didn't mind. He now had another machine gun.

Having two guns wouldn't directly increase his combat capabilities and make him live longer. Only by strengthening the team as a whole could they become safer.

Ji Yanqing took the guns and, under the intense and almost burning gazes of the group, threw the pistol to the thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boy who had used it before.

For the last gun, Ji Yanqing chose a man in his thirties from the team who appeared physically stronger and more composed.

With the last gun assigned, the others who had been watching Ji Yanqing with intense anticipation now wore expressions of disappointment.

The three individuals who received guns held them tightly, their faces turning a deep shade of red.

Ji Yanqing's gaze coldly swept over their faces. "Don't pull any stunts like Xue Gang did in my team. I gave you guns not to point them at your fellow teammates but to protect them."

Listening to Ji Yanqing's deliberately lowered voice, the three men, their heads buzzing from the weight of the guns in their hands, hurriedly nodded.

Ji Yanqing said nothing more. He knew that at this moment, the three men in their excitement might not be able to fully absorb what he was saying.

Ji Yanqing looked at the others who were still disappointed. "We'll have more guns in the future."

The group exchanged glances, still disappointed, but their expressions improved somewhat.

Their time spent with Ji Yanqing wasn't very long, but they had already recognized that he was different from Xue Gang.

"Boss, what should we do next?" The man who had received the first gun looked eagerly at Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing looked at him coldly. "Captain Ji."

"Captain Ji!" The man immediately corrected himself.

"Rest for another half hour, then set off," Ji Yanqing said. After a pause, he asked, "What's your name?"

"Li Pingsen."

Ji Yanqing looked at the other two who had obtained guns.

The man in his thirties, who seemed more robust and steady, immediately said, "Xia Chen."

The skinny teenager, around thirteen or fourteen, followed, "Su Luo."

Ji Yanqing nodded, committing everything to memory. "We depart in half an hour."

Having done this, Ji Yanqing walked over to Xia Shenshu. Upon turning around, he met the smiling eyes of Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi.

"Team Leader Ji."

"Team Leader Ji."

"Team Leader Ji is Team Leader Ji." Ji Yanqing chided in a low voice.

"Yes, Team Leader Ji..." Xia Shenshu's expression was serious.

Lan Zi couldn't hold back, breaking into a radiant smile.

Ji Yanqing ignored the two, sitting down next to Ji'an and Ji Le with a cold face. He then lifted his gaze towards Feng Yimo on the opposite side.

His eyes scanned Feng Yimo from head to toe, then he mimicked his expressionless demeanor, gazing into the distance.

Feng Yimo appeared quite aloof.

002.

"Dad..."

Ji'an and Ji Le lay on either side across Ji Yanqing's legs.

Ji Yanqing retracted his gaze, rubbing the heads of the two kids and feeling Ji'an's forehead, which was still hot.

After resting for another half hour as the sky fully brightened, the group set off again, heading down the mountain.

Beyond the forest lay an endless plain, where no zombies could be seen, making it relatively safe. However, they needed to replenish their water supply within three days, so they had to quickly cross the entire plain and enter the city.

After retrieving someone who had wandered towards the left woods, Ji Yanqing pondered how long it would take to traverse the plain ahead while following the others down the mountain.

As he thought, several people at the front of the group slowed down.

Ji Yanqing looked up.

"Listen," one of them who had stopped said.

Several people in the group paused to listen quietly, and Ji Yanqing did the same.

After listening for a while, Ji Yanqing heard nothing but footsteps.

"There seems to be the sound of water," Lan Zi said.

Ji Yanqing looked over.

"It's over there," Lan Zi pointed in one direction.

Those who had already stopped also pointed in that direction, having heard the sound of water from there as well.

Hearing about the possibility of water, the group quickly headed in that direction.

There were no inhabitants in the forest, and the mountain path was rugged and uneven. After walking in the direction of the sound for two or three minutes, they saw a small waterfall on the cliff ahead.

The waterfall was about ten meters high, cascading down from the cliff above.

Originally, the waterfall should have been three or four meters wide, but due to changes in weather, it had narrowed to less than half a meter. In a few months, even this trickle might dry up.

Seeing the water, the group, who had been searching for it, felt a surge of energy and broke out into smiles.

Without needing any instruction from Ji Yanqing, they hurriedly found a place to build a stove and boil water.

They couldn't drink water exposed outdoors casually, nor did they have the means to test if it was safe. The only precaution they could take was to boil the water before drinking it.

Everyone had clear roles: building the stove, fetching water, and gathering firewood. Within three minutes, the fire was lit.

After watching for a while, Ji Yanqing took an axe and went around to patrol, ensuring there were no zombies nearby.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to bring Feng Yimo along, who was walking in the direction they came, seemingly intent on patrolling nearby. However, Ji Yanqing wasn't planning to search the mountainside for him later.

"Come take a look," a panicked voice called from the woods. The voice was suppressed and not loud, but it was clear the speaker was frightened.

Ji Yanqing hurried over.

The sound came from below the stream, and there were others in the group patrolling nearby.

When Ji Yanqing arrived with Feng Yimo, Xia Shenshu and Li Pingsen stood grim-faced downstream by the stream.

In front of them lay four or five corpses, presumably a family, sprawled in strange positions on the ground.

More accurately, these could hardly be considered corpses, as all that remained were piles of clothes mixed with dried blood and dirt, along with a few fragments of skulls and hair.

"Were they... eaten by something?" Xia Shenshu picked up a stick nearby and prodded one of the clothes, revealing some bones underneath.

"What could eat them so thoroughly—" Realizing something, Li Pingsen rushed upstream. "There's something wrong with the water!"

Ji Yanqing and Xia Shenshu were alerted, both furrowing their brows simultaneously.

They didn't follow him back. No one would drink the water before boiling it, and Li Pingsen returning to warn the others was enough.

Xia Shenshu squatted down with his stick and examined the other clothes on the ground.

The state of the corpses was similar; they had been eaten or corroded by something unknown, leaving only their clothes, pools of blood, skulls, and hair.

The bodies had been here for quite some time, and the stench of blood in the air had mostly dissipated.

Next to the corpses were two luggage bags. Xia Shenshu didn't dare touch them directly with his hands. After poking at them with a stick for a while, he finally managed to pry open a seam. Inside were clothes, shoes, socks, a mobile phone, a tablet, and some food.

"Must have been people who fled here early on," Xia Shenshu said, prodding the phone and tablet with his stick. Only those who fled early would have brought electronic devices like phones and tablets.

The virus spread rapidly, overwhelming transportation, communication, medical services, and the military. The society they had built over millennia crumbled in just three days, collapsing under the onslaught of the virus.

On the fourth and fifth days, some tried to solve the problem with force, launching widespread nuclear attacks. However, this only exacerbated the situation rather than resolving it.

The Earth's magnetic field changed, leading to frequent mutations among microorganisms, plants, and animals.

When it was all over, the world had become unrecognizable.

Xia Shenshu threw away the branch. "Let's go."

Ji Yanqing turned and left.

When the trio returned to the group, the previously cheerful faces of the others had darkened.

They weren't too surprised, as this wasn't the first time they had encountered such a situation.

Having survived, they even felt a sense of relief.

After packing up their belongings and their emotions, the group continued down the mountain.

The mountains outside the city were not very high. It took them about half an hour to descend.

By the time they reached the plains at the foot of the mountain, it was already past seven in the morning. The sun had risen not long ago, but the temperature had already climbed to over thirty degrees Celsius.

The scorching sunlight baked the entire plain before them. The ground, which had been covered in thick snow, now revealed hints of lush green grass beneath.

The grass grew vigorously, verdant and dense, with slender leaves adorned with sparkling droplets of water. From a distance, it looked like a thick green quilt encrusted with tiny diamonds.

The sight of green shoots emerging from beneath the snow was full of vitality, seemingly healing the hearts of the group that had been weighed down by despair and pain for so long.

The group rolled up their pant legs and stepped into the grassland.

The grassland offered a wide view, stretching far into the distance.

There were no zombies on the grassland, which helped ease the tension in the group.

As they walked, Xia Shenshu took the opportunity to instruct the three members of the group who had guns on how to shoot properly, while also continuing to teach Lan Zi.

Lan Zi indeed had a natural talent for shooting, which made Xia Shenshu feel both excited and envious.

Around eight o'clock, after confirming there were no zombies nearby, Xia Shenshu, with Ji Yanqing's consent, gave Lan Zi three bullets to try live-fire shooting.

After the three shots, Ji Yanqing focused all his attention on the surroundings, alert for any zombies that might be attracted by the sound.

After the three shots, Xia Shenshu, who had been enthusiastic, now looked dazed and vacant. Lan Zi was indeed very talented, to the point where she was making Xia Shenshu feel inadequate.

Seeing Xia Shenshu's stunned and shaken expression, the corner of Ji Yanqing's mouth involuntarily curled upward.

As he turned his head, he noticed Feng Yimo looking at him. After a brief moment of surprise, he didn't immediately hide his smile but instead smiled back.

Feng Yimo wasn't the type to underestimate someone based on their appearance.

With his fluffy, messy hair, flawless fair skin, double eyelids, large eyes, and rosy lips, Ji Yanqing's face looked clean yet strikingly beautiful.

Especially his eyes, which carried a faint smile, were pure and clear yet hazy, reminiscent of the green plains emerging from the melting snow beneath their feet. Just meeting his gaze could make one's heart race uncontrollably.

Feng Yimo was visibly taken aback by Ji Yanqing's smile.

In the next moment, Feng Yimo looked away.

It was rare for Ji Yanqing to show such an unrestrained smile, but the other party avoided his gaze, leaving him momentarily bewildered and feeling a sudden sense of loss.

As Ji Yanqing was lost in thought, a voice came from the front of the group.

Thinking they had spotted zombies, Ji Yanqing immediately looked in that direction.

Others in the group who were on alert also turned to look.

However, when he looked, Ji Yanqing did not see panic or unease on the faces of the people at the front; instead, he saw excitement.

Surprised, Ji Yanqing moved forward.

As he approached, Ji Yanqing followed the excited gazes of the others toward the front, where he saw a cluster of objects that were not part of the grassland.

Under the snow that had mostly melted, atop the vibrant grass, there were five or six black objects resembling tents gathered together.

The group quickened their pace, approaching swiftly.

Feng Yimo walked at the end of the group. His gaze instinctively followed Ji Yanqing, who was ahead. He frowned slightly, his usually emotionless face showing a hint of confusion.

Why did he feel strange when Ji Yanqing smiled at him?

Could Ji Yanqing also possess mind control? Was Ji Yanqing also a Zombie King?

Feng Yimo observed Ji Yanqing. With his slender, pale arms holding an axe, Ji Yanqing didn't seem like a Zombie King at all.

003.

The grassland was flat and offered a wide view. They spotted the objects from afar, but it wasn't until they had walked through the grassland for about ten minutes that they actually got close.

These objects were indeed tents, indicating that someone had camped here before.

From the traces of food packaging bags left on the ground, the number of people in the team that had camped here previously was quite large, more than Xue Gang's team. A rough estimate put them at around five or six hundred people, or even more.

A survival team of such size would likely be one of the largest in the world.

"The packaging bags are all on top of the grass, and the marks on the ground are still fresh. The other party probably camped here just a few days ago, no more than five days' journey from us. If we hurry, we might catch up with them," Xia Shenshu tossed away the food packaging bag in his hand as he looked at Ji Yanqing. "What should we do? Should we pursue them?"

Ji Yanqing lowered his head to look at the food bags scattered on the ground, lost in deep thought.

If this were before, he would have led everyone to chase after them without hesitation. Joining a survival team would be beneficial for them. However, they now had their own survival team, albeit small, which made things different.

Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi exchanged a glance, both falling into contemplation.

They understood Ji Yanqing's hesitation.

Personality and capability weren't directly related. In fact, in this post-apocalyptic environment, selfish and unscrupulous individuals might fare better.

Before encountering the survival team, they had already realized that not everyone in a survival team was good, and there were plenty like Xue Gang. After their experience with Xue Gang, their belief in this only grew stronger.

They hadn't met the leader of this survival team; he could be a good person, or perhaps an even worse scum than Xue Gang.

If the other party truly was that kind of person, approaching them would be akin to delivering themselves to their doorstep. Even though they didn't carry many supplies and weapons, it didn't mean the other party could resist the temptation.

Ji Yanqing looked towards Li Pingsen, who was walking around nearby. Li Pingsen had been with Xue Gang's team for nearly two months, joining early on.

In the initial stages of the virus outbreak, he had taken his family and two friends, along with their families, to hide in the mountains.

They had managed to escape the initial disaster, but due to the suddenness of their retreat, the food and water they had prepared were far from enough.

Within ten days of the virus outbreak, their group of about ten people split into three factions, some leaving and others venturing deeper into the forest.

Li Pingsen took his family back to the outskirts of the city, intending to search for food and water. However, on the day they approached the city, only he and his mother remained of their family.

Afterward, they were frequently discovered by zombies due to their lack of experience, forcing them to flee until they encountered others about five or six days later, barely managing to avoid disaster.

He then lived in the city with his mother and others, leading a meager and painful existence, much like rats in a sewer.

Six months later, when he joined Xue Gang's team with others, his mother had already passed away, leaving him as the sole survivor of his family.

When he joined Xue Gang's survival team, he had felt a sense of relief, thinking he had finally seen a glimmer of hope in the midst of despair. But the next day after joining Xue Gang's team, he realized he had merely stepped out of one hell and into another.

After realizing something was amiss, he had tried to escape but soon gave up on the idea.

As time went on, food and water in the city became increasingly scarce, making it impossible for him to survive alone in this post-apocalyptic world.

After that, he lived in a daze until Xue Gang forced them to distract the zombies with guns. It wasn't until he hid in a rental apartment with others and Ji Yanqing knocked on the door that his life changed.

When Xue Gang forced them to attract the zombies' attention with guns, Li Pingsen had felt utterly hopeless, knowing he was certain to die.

Even after hiding in the rental apartment and surviving, he didn't feel any joy because he knew he couldn't leave the city. Temporary survival only prolonged his suffering.

But he met Ji Yanqing, survived and left that city, and even obtained a gun from Ji Yanqing.

Noticing Ji Yanqing calling him, Li Pingsen jogged over with the heavy gun in his arms. "Captain Ji."

Ji Yanqing nodded. "Did you encounter any other survival teams while you were with Xue Gang?"

Li Pingsen glanced at the packaging bags on the ground and quickly understood what Ji Yanqing meant.

After considering how to explain, Li Pingsen said, "We encountered two, but neither were very friendly."

Ji Yanqing's brows furrowed slightly.

"Most survival teams aren't particularly friendly with each other. One reason is competition, since resources in the city are limited. Another reason is that survival teams are essentially mobile warehouses, and some survival teams specifically target other survival teams."

Ji Yanqing exchanged glances with Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi, their bad premonition proving true.

"However, most survival teams are willing to interact with other survival teams, and some even maintain stable contact with each other," Li Pingsen continued.

"Maintain contact?" Lan Zi raised an eyebrow. If they were eyeing each other's supplies and weapons, they should keep their distance instead.

"Interactions between survival teams have benefits. They can exchange living supplies, bullets, medicine, and information."

"Information?" Ji Yanqing looked at him.

"Information about zombies, other survival teams, the state of cities, and zombie kings." Li Pingsen gestured toward the city they had just left. "For example, we now have information on three zombie kings: the beast zombie king, the hospital zombie king, and the one to the north."

Li Pingsen continued, "Zombie kings are terrifying beings. Even a large team of hundreds of people with guns finds it difficult to kill them, and they might even be wiped out. Therefore, most survival teams with information sources try to avoid cities with zombie kings."

Ji Yanqing pondered this, and Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi also fell into deep thought.

This was all new information to them, but upon reflection, it made sense.

If they had known there was a zombie king in this city with terrifying intelligence, they wouldn't have come here.

And the forest, if they had known they couldn't leave once they entered, they wouldn't have gone in so easily.

"Additionally, we can exchange information about zombies, such as the fact that zombie kings can share their blood with other zombies to make them their subordinates. This information wasn't known to the several survival teams Xue Gang interacted with, so it should be quite valuable."

After leaving the city, Ji Yanqing and the others shared the information about the hospital zombie king with the rest of the team to remind them to be cautious.

They must always be vigilant, as any momentary carelessness could lead to their downfall.

"Is it possible that other survival teams might have doctors?" Ji Yanqing asked.

Li Pingsen was momentarily taken aback before realizing Ji Yanqing was concerned about Ji'an and Lan Zi. This realization left him with a strange expression, as Xue Gang had never cared about the lives of others.

Not just Xue Gang, but in this post-apocalyptic world, most people didn't care about the lives of others.

"Yes. Doctors are highly sought after in this post-apocalyptic world. Many large survival teams have medical teams, and they are protected as the core of the team," Li Pingsen explained.

Pausing, Li Pingsen reminded, "However, the price for getting them to help with medical treatment will be very high."

Ji Yanqing nodded; it was good enough that there was hope.

Lan Zi still had a slight fever, but he was gradually healing and improving.

However, Ji'an's fever persisted and even worsened, becoming increasingly hot. The prolonged lack of food had already left him thin and weak, and if this continued, Ji Yanqing really feared that Ji'an might not wake up one day.

Instinctively, Ji Yanqing looked at Ji'an and Ji Le. The two youngsters knew the area was safe and, seeing everyone else dispersing to check their surroundings, they were earnestly mimicking the adults, examining their environment with great seriousness, having a grand time.

Having spent more time around Ji Yanqing, smiles gradually appeared on their young faces, and they began to resemble normal children.

Ji Yanqing's expression softened. "Call everyone back; don't linger any longer."

It was almost nine o'clock now, and the temperature had reached over forty degrees, nearing fifty. There was no place to hide from the sun in the grasslands. If they proceeded further, they would have to construct sun shelters using their backpacks and sheets.

These would be largely ineffective, but better than nothing.

Li Pingsen walked toward the others to organize their continued journey. After taking a few steps, he turned back to Ji Yanqing. "We should get some maps. That way, we can mark out the routes we've taken and our intended direction. Xue Gang has maps, which his own people carry, never letting us touch them. He only takes them out when encountering other Survival Teams."

Ji Yanqing made a mental note; they indeed needed a map.

In the past, with fewer people in their group, they had simply gone wherever they ended up. However, as their team grew larger, he had to plan their route in advance.

As the team expanded, so did their consumption. They had to find more food and water than before.

When Ji Yanqing heard Xue Gang mention searching malls previously, he had been surprised because he had always tried to avoid malls, never getting close, given the number of zombies inside, comparable to schools and hospitals.

Now, as the leader, Ji Yanqing started to understand.

Ordinary stores on city streets had long been looted by various Survival Teams. Even if anything remained, the food would certainly not be enough to sustain dozens or hundreds of people.

Malls were extremely dangerous, deterring most ordinary survival squads from approaching. As a result, the supplies inside were likely much more abundant.

If they could secure those supplies successfully, a single operation might provide their entire Survival Team with enough food and drink for half a month without worry.

Compared to this, constantly leading a group through the city, searching every street for sustenance, might actually be less safe.

While Li Pingsen gathered everyone to continue moving forward, Ji Yanqing briefly shared his thoughts with Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi.

Upon hearing this, the two exchanged a glance, inhaling deeply with a hint of a smile on their faces.

Their team was gradually growing into a true Survival Team.

After walking for another forty minutes, the group stopped. They quickly constructed a makeshift tent large enough to accommodate about thirty people using their backpacks, telescopic poles, sheets, and sun-blocking curtains in the grass.

The snow on the ground had completely melted, and even the moisture between the grass blades had evaporated, making the air scorching hot, as if trying to roast everything.

Huddled together in the tent, everyone soon became drowsy due to the heat.

The water they drank upon entering the tent seemed to evaporate near their throats before reaching their stomachs.

Ji Yanqing glanced at the two dazed youngsters. Ji Le lay on his lap, half-asleep, while Ji'an was still awake, though his head drooped sleepily.

Ji Yanqing pulled him closer, allowing him to rest his head on his knee.

Ji'an and Ji Le had always followed him, running alongside, never complaining even when the adults struggled. Their maturity sometimes made Ji Yanqing forget that they were only three years old, barely reaching his thigh.

Resting against Ji Yanqing's knee, Ji'an looked up at him drowsily before relaxing and falling asleep.

Ji Yanqing felt his forehead; it was still burning hot.

He had nearly finished half a pack of cold medicine, yet there was no sign of his temperature dropping.

"Huh." Someone let out a soft exclamation.

In the tent, aside from the two guards, everyone else was drowsy. The sigh was so faint amidst the rising heat that it seemed like an illusion.

Ji Yanqing looked over; the person who sighed was Xia Shenshu.

After asking Li Pingsen about the Survival Teams, Xia Shenshu soon recalled teaching Lan Zi how to shoot, which plunged him back into a state of self-imposed isolation. He had been quiet ever since.

When Ji Yanqing looked over, Xia Shenshu was removing his shoes.

Almost instantly after pulling off his shoe, Ji Yanqing frowned, as Xia Shenshu's foot was entirely red, soaked in blood that had seeped through his shoe and ankle.

"What's going on?" Xia Shenshu was also very surprised, seemingly feeling no pain.

Xia Shenshu grabbed one side of his sock and pulled it off. Almost immediately, a piece of flesh, about the size of a thumb, fell to the ground.

"Hisss..." Xia Shenshu's sharp intake of breath echoed in the rising heat.

In the next moment, Xia Shenshu shouted a warning. "Wake up! Everyone, get up!"

Those who hadn't fully fallen asleep, their minds muddled by the heat, opened their eyes at the commotion. Everyone looked at Xia Shenshu.

Xia Shenshu had removed his other shoe, revealing that his other foot was also stained red with blood.

Glancing over, everyone saw his bloody feet and shuddered. Then, they all reacted, quickly checking their own feet.

Suddenly, the tent filled with the scent of blood, as everyone's feet were bleeding without exception.

"Hisss... What is this?"

"Do you feel any pain? Why do I not feel any pain at all?"

"Darn it!"

"How could this happen?"

"There's something wrong with this grass."

"Are your shoes alright? Mine aren't cracked!"

Everyone fell into panic as they discovered their feet bleeding, and soon realized that their skin was riddled with tiny yet deep holes.

These holes were densely packed everywhere, covering their entire feet.

The sight was extremely unsettling, causing goosebumps to rise uncontrollably on everyone's bodies, and a chill ran from the soles of their feet straight up to the top of their heads.

Some who couldn't bear the sight of the dense holes cried out, wishing they could cut off their own feet in that instant.

"There's something wrong with this grass," Xia Shenshu said grimly.

A patch of skin had peeled off his left foot, and the wound made him shudder all over, but he didn't feel any pain at all.

"We need to leave this place quickly," Xia Chen said, his face also quite pale. He couldn't stand the sight of those dense holes and couldn't imagine what had burrowed into his body.

"How do we leave, where do we go?" Lan Zi's facial muscles twitched.

They didn't know how far they would have to walk to get out of this plain, and they had already been walking for half a day. Even if they turned back, their feet might be completely hollowed out before they reached the mountains.

"What can we do?"

"Burn it! Find something to burn all the grass around us." Ji Yanqing took off his backpack and placed it on the ground, lifted Ji'an and Ji Le onto it, and lit a lighter after taking off his coat and igniting it quickly.

The others, caught in panic, hurriedly followed suit, taking off their backpacks and searching for flammable items inside.

Most of what they carried were essentials, and there wasn't much that could be burned; clothes made up the bulk of it.

In a short while, forty or fifty pieces of clothing were thrown on the ground, and flames began to spread from all directions.

The temperature had already reached over sixty degrees, and even though the grass contained moisture, it easily caught fire under such high temperatures. In no time, the sound of crackling flames filled the air.

At the same time, the smell of burning protein spread through the air.

There was indeed something living in the grass that they couldn't see, and this was the smell of those creatures being burned.

004.

After burning a hole in the grass, Ji Yanqing immediately led the group into it.

Standing amidst the ashes, watching the flames spreading outward, no one attempted to extinguish them. At this moment, they wished the fire would consume the entire grassland.

Ji Yanqing placed his backpack in the ashes and set Ji'an and Ji Le on top of it. He quickly squatted down and removed their shoes.

Thinking about the bloody scene he had witnessed earlier, his face paled.

Ji'an and Ji Le's feet were small, fitting comfortably in his hand. If bitten, these tiny feet could easily be completely destroyed.

Ji'an and Ji Le shouldn't have to endure this.

He quickly pulled off Ji'an's shoe, but despite preparing himself mentally, Ji Yanqing paused when he saw no blood on his sock.

After a brief moment of surprise, Ji Yanqing hastily removed his sock as well.

Ji'an's little feet were clean and white, his tiny toes like small beans, round and soft, adorable. There were no wounds on his feet.

Ji Yanqing removed the other shoe and sock from his other foot, and both were clean.

He then quickly removed both shoes and socks from Ji Le, who was pale and visibly frightened by the wounds. His little feet were also clean, without a drop of blood.

Seeing the two pairs of clean little feet, Ji Yanqing sighed in relief but was also puzzled. Why hadn't those creatures bitten Ji'an and Ji Le?

"Your feet."

Ji Yanqing looked over, and Feng Yimo was standing beside him, looking at him.

Meeting Feng Yimo's gaze, Ji Yanqing suddenly came back to his senses, realizing he hadn't checked his own feet yet.

Ji'an and Ji Le hurriedly got off the backpack to make room for him.

Ji Yanqing sat down on the backpack, took a deep breath, and started to remove his shoes.

Before he could take off his shoe, he saw blood. He hesitated, not liking the thought of a dense cluster of something. He suffered from trypophobia.

He had been too preoccupied with worrying about Ji'an and Ji Le to be afraid, but now the fear seemed to overwhelm him, enveloping him in a cold chill.

Ji Yanqing was unsure whether to put his shoes back on or what to do next when a long, slender hand grasped his foot, and Feng Yimo squatted down in front of him.

Ji Yanqing was taken aback and looked over.

Feng Yimo maintained his usual expressionless demeanor and didn't show any aversion to handling someone else's foot. He quickly removed his shoes and socks.

Ji Yanqing couldn't bear to look, turning away almost instantly upon seeing the redness.

He disliked the sight of those densely packed holes, and if he saw them on his own body, he would surely lose his mind.

Although Ji Yanqing didn't see, the sight of Ji'an and Ji Le's shock and unease told him that his condition was no better than anyone else's.

Ji Yanqing struggled to keep himself from dwelling on the scene.

Looking into the distance, Ji Yanqing's lips twitched. "It's fine. Those things probably have a toxin that numbs our nerves, so we don't feel any pain."

Feng Yimo, squatting in front of Ji Yanqing, raised his eyes. Despite Ji Yanqing's words of reassurance, his body was visibly trembling.

Ji Yanqing was afraid, very afraid.

In that instant, Feng Yimo felt an odd sensation in his heart once again.

He couldn't describe what the feeling was; it made him feel incredibly alienated. But he knew he didn't want to see Ji Yanqing like this.

Feng Yimo frowned as he looked at Ji Yanqing's feet. If they were his own, he could heal them instantly. But Ji Yanqing wasn't him.

As Feng Yimo lowered his gaze, he ran his right thumb across his palm, and a deep gash appeared, exposing bone. He turned his palm downward, allowing his blood to drip into the ashes below.

Almost immediately, something began stirring within the wounds and ashes of everyone present, like a stone dropped into a tranquil lake, sending ripples outward in concentric circles.

Many noticed but couldn't pinpoint the source. The movement was too subtle, like a breeze brushing over grass.

Feng Yimo took the clothes Ji Yanqing had prepared from his backpack to treat Ji'an and Ji Le's wounds. He tore them into two pieces and carefully wrapped Ji Yanqing's feet.

His own wound healed in an instant.

"It's okay now," Feng Yimo said, looking at Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing realized his feet were bandaged and finally mustered the courage to look at them. He dared not look for long, averting his gaze after just a glance.

His face was deathly pale, with beads of sweat on his forehead. He tried hard not to show fear, but his bloodless lips betrayed him.

"Thank you..." It took Ji Yanqing a second attempt to finally speak.

"What do we do next? We can't just burn our way out. How long would that take?" someone nearby asked Ji Yanqing anxiously.

Ji Yanqing tried to speak, but his mind was blank.

"We wait for snow. When it snows, the snow will cover the grass, and then we can move." Feng Yimo stood up, blocking Ji Yanqing from view.

Though he didn't understand why, Ji Yanqing didn't like others seeing him afraid, which was why he maintained a composed facade.

Hearing this, the uneasy and fearful group paused before quickly relaxing. Feng Yimo's solution seemed viable.

The night's snowfall was heavy, likely accumulating to over ten centimeters. With the snow beneath their feet, they could leave without touching the grass.

Knowing there was a plan, everyone refocused on their wounds. While they could manage the bleeding, they couldn't deal with whatever was inside the wounds.

Among the medicines Ji Yanqing had brought back from the hospital was alcohol, but there wasn't enough for everyone.

If the wounds were too deep, even alcohol might not be effective.

Everyone sat down in various spots, their faces pale. They tried not to think about it, but their gazes involuntarily drifted to their feet, and the sight of the blood-soaked cloth left their minds blank.

Just moments ago, they were celebrating their narrow escapes, even fantasizing about encountering other Survival Teams. Now, they sat among the ashes, waiting to die.

Despair and silence intertwined, spreading through the rising heat.

Somewhere in the background, someone couldn't bear the atmosphere and started crying, but the sobs were muffled by the steam.

Ji Yanqing tried to stay calm, attempting several times to say something to boost morale, but each time, the words died in his throat. In this situation, anything he said would be wrong.

Ji Yanqing looked at Feng Yimo, who was quietly observing his feet, seemingly troubled.

Ji Yanqing didn't dare look at his own feet; just trying not to think about them took all his strength.

"Have you treated your feet?" Ji Yanqing belatedly came to his senses.

Feng Yimo raised his gaze to meet Ji Yanqing's.

Ji Yanqing still looked pale, with a sheen of cold sweat on his forehead and bloodless lips.

"It doesn't hurt," Feng Yimo said softly.

Ji Yanqing was taken aback. "You still need to treat them."

"You'll be fine," Feng Yimo reassured him, realizing Ji Yanqing had misunderstood.

Ji Yanqing disliked the Corpse King and couldn't be told that all the insects in the field had been scared away by his blood.

Realizing he had been comforted, Ji Yanqing was momentarily speechless, then chuckled.

Feng Yimo's way of comforting people was rather clumsy.

"Uh-huh..." Ji Yanqing looked at Ji'an and Ji Le.

The two youngsters, knowing his feet had also been bitten, looked at him anxiously from either side.

Their faces were pale, and their large, clear eyes were misty with unshed tears, as if they themselves had been bitten.

"It's okay," Ji Yanqing said, stroking their cheeks.

Over the past few days, the two youngsters' faces had subtly filled out, improving the texture despite their continued thinness.

The atmosphere of despair lingered until several hours later.

As the hottest part of the day passed and the wounds on their feet began to scab over, the group moved from despair to confusion.

"Those things seem to be gone?" Lan Zi looked at the scabs on her feet, her expression bewildered.

"The fire worked," Li Pingsen stated.

"But why did those things inside our feet disappear as well?" Xia Shenshu asked.

No one could answer his question.

But upon realizing that everyone's feet were starting to scab over, the previously silent group couldn't help but smile.

There were far too many inexplicable phenomena in this strange world after the collapse. For now, they were content knowing they could continue living.

"That next..." Li Pingsen had intended to ask what to do next, but before he could finish his words, he crumbled and began to weep.

He hastily raised his hand to cover his face, not wanting anyone to see his embarrassing state.

He was already in his twenties, yet he was crying at the drop of a hat—it would be shameful if word got out.

Among the ashes, many heard his sobbing voice and were moved by it; several people broke down from the emotional highs and lows, their eyes reddening.

No one mocked those people. Even those who didn't break down felt no better in their hearts than those who did.

Ji Yanqing finally mustered the courage to look at his feet and see the injuries on his toes wrapped around his back, observing the dried blood. His tense and trembling body shuddered momentarily, followed instantly by a wave of soreness.

Ji Yanqing took a deep breath. He touched Ji'an and Ji Le, whose eyes were red, then looked toward Feng Yimo.

Feng Yimo was gazing at him with a distant expression, as if to say, "See? I told you nothing would happen."

"Weren't you scared?" Ji Yanqing realized his voice was hoarse when he spoke, due to his intense fear and tension. This hoarseness was different from the one he had forced earlier, revealing his vulnerability.

Ji Yanqing felt somewhat uncomfortable.

In Feng Yimo's deep, dark eyes, there was a faint confusion, as if he didn't understand what fear meant.

"It's about being nervous that something will come true, not wanting it to turn out that way." Ji Yanqing explained.

Feng Yimo suddenly understood, nodding. "I've been afraid."

Ji Yanqing raised an eyebrow. Feng Yimo didn't seem like someone who would ever feel fear. Sometimes, he even wondered if Feng Yimo wasn't human, for how could he lack the emotions typical of humans?

"Just now, I was afraid, afraid that you'd be in pain."