Chapter 41

Chapter 41

001.

In the wilderness, behind a forest, two massive beasts lay side by side on the ground with their tails between their legs, their eyes blankly gazing at the distant mountains.

Neither of them mentioned the matter of their tails again.

As the sun was about to set, the larger one, covered in black fur, rose from the ground. It was the Corpse King.

"Growl?" The slightly smaller one tilted its head up to look at it.

The black beast took a deep breath and let out a thunderous roar as it took a step forward, "Roar!"

It could no longer sit idly by; it had to break through soon, or it would forever be hiding from Feng Yimo.

Its pair of golden eyes looked towards the mountains, where it could already faintly sense the presence of awakened zombies.

For an existence like it, ordinary human zombies were meaningless no matter how many it consumed. It needed to hunt awakened zombies and Corpse Kings.

With this decision made, the black beast rapidly headed towards the city on the other side of the mountains.

The scaly, badger-shaped awakened zombie hesitated for a moment before quickly following.

They moved one after the other, swiftly crossing the wilderness and vanishing into the mountains.

On a straight road that seemed to reach the sky, a red-truck-head cargo vehicle sped forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

After everyone in the large truck had their fill of shouting and wind, they honestly pulled down and secured the tarp on the roof of the vehicle to shield themselves from the intense sunlight and wind.

The sun was too strong, making it uncomfortable, and the strong wind would quickly deplete their body moisture, leaving them even thirstier and hungrier.

The vehicle continued without stopping, except for switching drivers midway.

They had departed at around two o'clock, and after driving for over four hours, when it turned dark at six, they kept going for another hour until heavy snow fell at eight o'clock at night.

That night, everyone rested directly in the vehicle.

The vehicle was large enough to carry seventy to eighty people, but that was only if everyone sat or stood. At night, there wasn't enough space for everyone to lie down and sleep.

This made sleeping uncomfortable for everyone at night, but being inside the vehicle, protected from the wind and snow, was much warmer and more comfortable than being exposed to the elements.

The next day, when dawn broke, instead of immediately setting off as usual, they stayed put and rested until around seven in the morning when most of the snow on the road had melted, and they resumed their journey.

Previously, they had been traveling on foot. With the ground covered in snow and the need to remain vigilant while walking, the distance they could cover in three to four hours could now be covered by the vehicle in less than half an hour.

At around eight ten, the vehicle suddenly came to a halt.

Sensing the sudden movement, the group in the back of the truck poked their heads out from under the tarp.

They were about to ask what was happening when they saw a village far ahead on the right side of the road.

They had arrived at the next village.

This village was different from the previous ones. It was only two to three hundred meters away from the national highway, and there were even two houses along the edge of the highway.

The village was located in the center of a basin surrounded by hills, with farmland filled with mutated crops and weeds between the hills and the village. From a distance, they could see several figures in the fields and the village.

Everyone quickly got out of the vehicle.

Taking a quick glance at the village, Ji Yanqing instructed the driver to reverse the vehicle back to a hill a hundred meters behind to hide their presence.

As Ji Yanqing watched the vehicle retreat and confirmed that it was completely hidden behind the hill, Li Pingsen, Xia Chen, and the others who were armed with guns were already ready to go.

"We'll go check out the village first," Li Pingsen said, looking at Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing walked towards the vehicle to retrieve his axe.

Seeing this, Ji'an and Ji Le, who were still in the vehicle, hurriedly picked up the axes that Ji Yanqing had placed beside their feet and offered them to him.

"Let them handle it," Xia Shenshu, leaning against the vehicle, said.

Ji Yanqing looked over.

"In the future, there will be more and more people in our group. We need more capable individuals. You can't do everything yourself," Xia Shenshu explained.

Li Pingsen, who was already prepared, smiled. "Don't worry. We've survived in this post-apocalyptic world for half a year. It's just a small village; there won't be any problems."

Hearing Xia Shenshu and Li Pingsen's words, the others nodded in agreement.

Ji Yanqing was capable, but he was also flesh and blood, needing rest and adjustment.

Moreover, since Ji Yanqing had given them guns, they hoped to put them to good use rather than just using them as decorations.

Seeing Li Pingsen and the others' insistence, Ji Yanqing glanced at the not-so-large village in the distance and didn't insist further.

After bidding farewell, Li Pingsen led a group of over twenty people towards the mountains beside the vehicle. They planned to circle around to the vegetable fields near the village and enter the village from there.

Li Pingsen and the others moved quickly, reaching the vegetable fields in just over ten minutes.

Bending low, they swiftly crossed the vegetable fields and entered the village. Upon reaching the entrance, the group silently and quickly dispersed, heading in different directions to explore simultaneously.

Their movements were still somewhat awkward, but they had gained considerable experience in dealing with zombies.

Half an hour later, two members of the team returned to report.

"It's the same as the previous village. It's been searched countless times. There's nothing left to eat or drink. Even the roofs have almost been torn off," Xia Chen reported.

Upon hearing this, the thirty or so people waiting by the vehicle couldn't help but sigh softly.

Fortunately, they had saved a lot of time along the way. Even if they hadn't found supplies today, their reserves would still be enough to sustain them for another two or three days.

"Li Pingsen asked me to come back and ask if we need more gasoline," Xia Chen looked at Ji Yanqing, waiting for him to make a decision.

The gasoline in their vehicle was running low. Without refueling, they would have to abandon the car and continue on foot after driving a bit further.

If they wanted to continue driving, they would have to drive through the village ahead. The village was too close to the road, and the noise and size of the vehicle moving quickly would surely attract many zombies.

This was a risk and a gamble.

Everyone looked at Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing looked towards the distant village.

Under the blazing sun, the village was quiet yet full of danger. Those strange figures aimlessly wandering around the village would instantly go into a frenzy at the slightest sound.

Ji Yanqing nodded. "Be careful."

"Got it!" Xia Chen and the other person who had returned to report exchanged a glance. Both of them couldn't wait to return along the same path to inform Li Pingsen of the news.

Seeing the two disappear into the forest, Ji Yanqing turned around and looked at the others behind him, instructing everyone to find materials to reinforce the vehicle.

The truck they were currently driving had a protective panel only at the bottom of the rear compartment, while the rest was just metal bars. The canvas they were using could block sunlight and wind, but once attacked, its defensive capabilities were virtually zero.

When they drove past the village later, the noise would definitely attract zombies. They needed to reinforce the vehicle's walls in advance.

With something to do, the anxious group sprang into action.

Xia Shenshu led a team into the mountains to cut some vines and branches, while Lan Zi took people to weave the vines onto the sides and top of the vehicle's metal railings.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ji Yanqing took out a map from his backpack and spread it out on the car, studying their next route.

In the past, their team was small, and since they were always near the city, they didn't dare use a vehicle.

Now the situation was different. Their team's numbers were approaching fifty, and perhaps they should indeed get a fixed vehicle for transportation.

Although driving through villages and towns would bring a lot of trouble, it could also save them a lot of physical strength and time.

Especially time. With more time, they could go to more places that were farther away, which would give them more opportunities to acquire supplies.

While considering what kind of vehicle would be most suitable, Ji Yanqing saw Ji'an and Ji Le hiding from the sun in the forest, seemingly sneaking some food.

Ji Yanqing paused, put down his pen, and entered the forest.

Hearing footsteps from afar, Ji'an quickly stuffed the remaining scales back into his pocket.

Seeing this, Ji Le hastily swallowed the delicious scales in his mouth. He was in such a hurry, coupled with the guilt of being caught, that his little face turned bright red.

His skin was fair, and the pinkness beneath his skin made him look tender and inviting.

Due to excitement, his clear black eyes were misty with moisture.

Approaching, Ji Yanqing squatted down in front of the two little ones. "What are you eating?"

Ji Le immediately shook his head guiltily. Ji'an had said not to tell Ji Yanqing. Although he felt that such delicious food should be shared with Ji Yanqing, Ji'an refused no matter what.

Ji Yanqing looked at Ji'an, whose ears were red as he tried to act as if nothing was happening. However, his fluttering eyelashes and the way he stared straight at him already betrayed his guilt.

"Open your mouth." Ji Yanqing gently held Ji'an's chin and opened his mouth, finding nothing inside.

Ji Yanqing then checked Ji Le's mouth, which was also empty.

Not seeing anything in the mouths of the two little ones, Ji Yanqing let out a slight sigh of relief. "Don't eat random things; it will hurt your stomach."

Ji'an and Ji Le hurriedly nodded obediently.

Ji Yanqing rubbed their heads, feeling both heartache and helplessness.

At their age, they needed nutritional supplements, which would affect their development for the rest of their lives. Yet, he couldn't even ensure that they were well-fed.

Ji Yanqing glanced at Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi, who were busy nearby, and returned to the front of the vehicle to calculate their next route more cautiously. He had to ensure that their next route was an effective one.

They must prioritize finding food, after all, only by staying alive could they think about other things.

In the forest, seeing Ji Yanqing return to the vehicle, Ji'an and Ji Le both sighed in relief.

"Brother..." Ji Le looked at Ji'an uneasily. "Are we really not going to give Dad any?"

That thing was so delicious, fragrant and crispy. And although it was just a small piece, after eating it, it made him feel warm and full in his belly.

Having such delicious food without sharing it with Ji Yanqing filled Ji Le with guilt.

Ji'an looked at Ji Le sadly. Ji Le knew nothing.

But it was alright. He would take care of Ji Le.

002.

Ji'an imitated how Ji Yanqing usually touched them, stroking Ji Le's cheek.

He mimicked Ji Yanqing's tone, speaking in a childlike voice. "No, Dad will get angry if he knows we're eating this. If he gets angry, he might not want us anymore."

Hearing that it would anger Ji Yanqing and that they might be abandoned, Ji Le's eyes widened rapidly, filled with unease.

"Then..." Ji Le wanted to say that he wouldn't eat it anymore, but thinking about the fragrant taste and the warmth it brought to his entire body when eaten, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

This made him even sadder. He wasn't good or obedient.

Ji Yanqing was so kind to him, yet he had delicious food and didn't share it with Ji Yanqing.

"Yours?" Ji'an asked.

He had just given Ji Le a scale.

"Eaten it." Ji Le pouted in dismay; Ji Yanqing's sudden appearance had startled him so much that he swallowed his without even chewing.

Ji'an took out his own from his pocket, which he hadn't gotten around to eating yet.

The scale was translucent and light green, about the size of his thumb, resembling jade and feeling cool to the touch.

He had initially taken a handful, but now only a few remained. The scales were delicious and eliminated hunger, making them hard to resist.

As Ji'an prepared to eat his, Ji Le glanced over furtively.

Caught staring, Ji Le quickly looked away, though his Adam's apple still bobbed involuntarily.

After a moment's hesitation, Ji'an offered his scale to Ji Le.

Ji Le's eyes, wet and bright, lit up at the sight.

He reached out to take it, but pulled back just before touching it. He turned and ran out of the woods toward Ji Yanqing.

One for each person, he had already eaten his share and couldn't take Ji'an's. If he did, Ji'an would be left with nothing.

Approaching, Ji Le hugged Ji Yanqing's leg.

Ji Yanqing, who was studying a map behind the vehicle, noticed the movement and looked down. He stroked Ji Le's head. "What is it?"

Ji Le shook his head, calling out softly, "Dad."

Ji Yanqing continued to stroke his head as he returned his attention to the map.

If they drove, they could reach the large town near the canal by the day after tomorrow.

Within half an hour, three sturdy walls were reinforced around the car. Lan Zi and others finished by covering the top with canvas, ensuring that even if zombies lunged at the vehicle, they wouldn't be able to enter easily.

When Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi finished their tasks, Li Pingsen's group finally started moving, carrying gasoline back in batches.

Upon seeing this, Lan Zi and the others who had been modifying the car also entered the forest. Once Li Pingsen's group brought the gasoline into the woods, they helped carry it back to the front of the vehicle.

Li Pingsen's team found a considerable amount of gasoline in the village, enough to fill the car's tank with half a barrel left over.

They sealed the remaining half-barrel and placed it in the car. Amidst the smell of gasoline and the peculiarly modified vehicle, everyone wore smiles under the sun, their eyes gleaming with hope.

After preparations were complete, the group rested in the forest.

It was ten o'clock, the hottest part of the day.

Li Pingsen managed to find some food in the village, but there wasn't enough to feed five people even one meal. The village had been thoroughly scavenged.

Ji Yanqing distributed their own food and water.

After giving Ji'an and Ji Le their usual portions, he added more to their shares from his own portion.

Ji'an and Ji Le exchanged glances, noticing the larger amounts of food in their laps. They saw each other's pain reflected in their eyes.

Especially Ji'an, while Ji Le merely found the food unpalatable, Ji'an struggled to swallow it.

"Eat," Ji Yanqing said.

After instructing the two youngsters, Ji Yanqing was about to start eating when a bag of cookies appeared in his lap.

He looked up to see Feng Yimo.

"Dad, have mine."

"You can have mine too..."

Ji'an and Ji Le, who had been glaring at their food with resentment, quickly stood up and positioned themselves between Feng Yimo and Ji Yanqing. They thrust their food into Ji Yanqing's lap and hastily grabbed Feng Yimo's cookies to return them.

They didn't want Feng Yimo's food; they would take care of and feed their own dad.

Finally, the two youngsters glared warily at Feng Yimo.

Feng Yimo wasn't going to steal Ji Yanqing from them this way.

Confused for a moment by the youngsters' display, Ji Yanqing found it amusing. He looked at Feng Yimo. "What did you do to offend them?"

Feng Yimo picked up the cookies that had been shoved back at him, his gaze sweeping over the fierce faces of Ji'an and Ji Le. Despite being his subordinates, they called Ji Yanqing "Dad" and dared to reject him.

Two little traitors.

After eating, Ji Yanqing made sure the two youngsters drank some water, then had them lie down beside him.

Xia Shenshu approached Ji Yanqing once he was done.

Sitting next to Ji Yanqing, he said, "We only have three doses of hemostatic and anti-inflammatory medicine left."

Ji Yanqing looked over.

"A lot of us are injured to varying degrees, and many have infected wounds," Xia Shenshu explained.

The medicines Ji Yanqing had brought back seemed plentiful at first, but there wasn't much usable medication once the packaging was removed. With everyone sustaining injuries during their recent brushes with death, even with careful use, the supplies were dwindling.

Ji Yanqing nodded, having observed these issues firsthand.

"We need to get a doctor for the team," Xia Shenshu stated.

Ji Yanqing was silent; he wished he could, but where would he find one?

Many people died at the beginning of the virus outbreak, and people continued to die every day since then. There weren’t many people left alive by now, and the probability of finding a doctor among the survivors was minuscule.

Moreover, even if there were doctors, the other members of the Survival Team would have already protected or confined them. It was impossible for them to be wandering around freely.

Xia Shenshu understood this logic and didn’t say anything else.

The two were silent when laughter came from not far away.

Ji Yanqing looked over and saw several people in the nearby woods discussing something. Occasionally, someone would run a short distance.

It was the hottest part of the day. Even though they were relatively cooler in the woods, the temperature was definitely no less than fifty degrees. Under these circumstances, everyone usually lay on the ground, barely alive, and few had the energy to play around at this time.

"They’re practicing running," Xia Shenshu said.

Ji Yanqing looked over. Practicing running at noon?

Hadn’t they run enough during their usual training?

Xia Shenshu smiled and said, "They seem to think you prefer faster runners. You previously gave guns to a few faster runners in the team."

Ji Yanqing was taken aback for a moment before realizing what Xia Shenshu meant. This made him break out into a sweat.

The “they seem to think” that Xia Shenshu mentioned must have been partly due to his efforts. He never shied away from stirring things up.

Ji Yanqing looked back at the busy group and, after some thought, didn’t say anything.

Although their assumption wasn’t entirely correct, it wasn’t entirely wrong either. He did indeed favor those with better physical abilities.

Only such people wouldn’t find the guns burdensome, and only such people would have the strength to take care of others in the team after obtaining a gun.

After watching for a while, Ji Yanqing closed his eyes and prepared to take a nap.

After observing for a while, Xia Shenshu patted his butt and got up, ready to go over and give those people some more advice.

Ji Yanqing sensed the movement and opened his eyes, watching as Xia Shenshu’s fox-like tail swished behind him. He was speechless but didn’t say anything.

Everyone rested in the woods for two hours. At twelve-thirty, when the sun was no longer so scorching, the group got back into their vehicles.

Once everyone was in the car, Xia Shenshu, who was driving, and Lan Zi, who was responsible for protecting him, were also ready in the driver’s seat. Ji Yanqing took a deep breath and ordered them to set off.

The truck sped up and moved forward quickly.

Almost immediately after the truck rushed out of the hill and traveled less than two hundred meters, the zombies in the fields outside the village on the right side of the road noticed their presence. Those zombies immediately rushed towards them.

The car didn’t stop and continued speeding forward.

When the car reached the two houses not far from the road, many zombies had already rushed to the roadside, and the zombies at the edge of the village were also alerted by the movement of the zombies outside the village and began rushing outwards.

Inside the car, everyone gripped their weapons and sticks tightly, fully alert.

Firing a gun would attract all the zombies in the village, so they wouldn’t shoot unless absolutely necessary.

As the car passed the two houses and entered the range parallel to the village, the number of zombies that had discovered them was nearly two hundred. Looking far away, the fields on the right side of the road were filled with frenzied figures.

When zombies ran onto the road ahead, Xia Shenshu, who was driving, stepped on the gas pedal and rammed straight into them.

The front of the car easily pushed aside those zombies, and the wheels rolled over them, making a "pop pop" sound like popping plastic bubbles.

Xia Shenshu whistled, seemingly enjoying the sound.

Lan Zi, who was sitting beside him with a gun, twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Bang!" A zombie lunged at the side of the car.

The tense group in the back of the truck’s hearts jumped, and they all looked over.

They had reinforced the car walls, and the canvas and vines and branches effectively prevented the zombies from rushing into the car. However, this also prevented them from attacking the zombies outside.

The zombies started climbing onto the roof of the car.

Ji Yanqing glanced at the back of the car. Li Pingsen and a few others were using sticks to beat down the zombies trying to lunge at them from behind.

The rear of the car wasn’t reinforced because they needed space to attack.

"Snap…" Footsteps and scratching sounds came from the roof.

Ji Yanqing looked up at the canvas above his head, which was being tugged and moving wildly.

He quickly approached the rear of the car, grabbed the roof, and suddenly swung himself outside, flipping over and jumping onto the roof using the momentum.

There were already four or five zombies lying on the roof. Some were tearing at the canvas below, while others were approaching the rear, trying to jump into the car.

One was crouched near the front of the car, preparing to attack Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi inside.

Ji Yanqing swung his axe and quickly knocked away the two zombies rushing towards him, heading towards the front of the car.

As the car rushed past the village and further away, the zombies didn’t stop. More and more zombies were alerted and chased after them onto the road.

Ji Yanqing looked back from the roof and saw a dense crowd and their crazed attempts to bite them, which made his scalp tingle.

Ji Yanqing had just cleared the zombies on the roof when more jumped up. As he was about to swing his axe, he saw the traffic ahead on the downhill road.

The entrance to the village wasn’t where they had parked earlier, but here.

After the virus outbreak, many people returned from outside the village, and many also left the village, but they hadn’t managed to escape the village before dying at the entrance.

This resulted in over ten cars blocking each other at the entrance, almost blocking the entire road.

Seeing the congested vehicles piled up, Ji Yanqing's first reaction was to run towards the rear of their truck.

Approaching the back, he squatted down and grabbed the roof before leaping in, simultaneously shouting a warning: "Find something to hold on to."

If anyone else were driving, they might have stopped at the sight of the traffic jam, but the driver was Xia Shenshu.

003.

Sure enough, almost immediately after his warning spread, the sound of the front of the vehicle colliding with something echoed through the air.

The truck had already picked up speed, and its velocity was so high that everyone inside was tossed around like dumplings in boiling water, being flung about by the force of the impact and the inertia.

Feng Yimo, standing at the rear to prevent zombies from entering, grabbed Ji Yanqing amidst the shaking and kicked away a zombie that had lunged forward due to the truck's brief deceleration.

Xia Shenshu showed no intention of stopping; he simply rammed into the pile of vehicles, forcefully pushing them aside. One car, positioned to the right, was sent spinning through the air, taking down over a dozen zombies with it.

Lan Zi held onto her gun in one hand and the handle above her head with the other, her face pale despite having fastened her seatbelt. Her lips twitched uncontrollably.

Beside her, Xia Shenshu laughed gleefully.

The truck had ample horsepower, and although the front was dented, it quickly plowed through, creating a path. The sounds of the collisions reverberated far, but the truck successfully navigated through.

After passing the traffic, the truck sped onward.

The group, disoriented and dizzy from the collision, slowly got up from the ground, harboring murderous thoughts, though they knew that under those circumstances, stopping to move the vehicles would have been impossible.

Ji Yanqing threw himself back onto the roof to clear the zombies there, while Li Pingsen and the others quickly returned to their positions at the rear of the truck.

This village had more zombies than the previous one, and since they passed right by it, the zombies chased them for nearly ten minutes before they finally managed to shake them off.

Once they confirmed there were no more zombies nearby, the group collapsed within the truck, rubbing their sore spots while also wearing smiles on their faces.

Ji Yanqing climbed down from the roof and looked toward the corner of the truck.

Ji'an and Ji Le, the two young boys, were crouched on the floor, gripping the truck tightly. Their already pale faces were even whiter now, clearly terrified.

"It's okay now," Ji Yanqing said as he approached them.

Leaving the village behind, the truck continued on its way. Around three in the afternoon, they stopped briefly by the roadside to switch drivers.

When Xia Shenshu returned to the back of the truck, he still wore an expression of excitement.

Lan Zi's face was ashen, and she walked unsteadily.

As Xia Shenshu entered the truck, everyone inside stared at him with a mix of awe and annoyance.

While they couldn't defeat Feng Yimo, they could still gang up on Xia Shenshu and give him a good beating if they wanted to.

After leaving this village, they encountered no other villages along the way. After traversing a forested area, they soon entered a plain.

They drove for another hour after darkness fell at six o'clock, and at seven in the evening, they found a relatively sheltered spot in the plains to park and rest.

The group disembarked, taking advantage of the lull before the snowstorm to stretch their legs and eat something before climbing back into the truck to sleep.

The next morning, they didn't set out immediately but continued to rest until around seven when the snow had melted enough for the truck to travel.

Several people in the group who were eager to get their hands on guns seemed to have been swayed by Xia Shenshu's persuasion, genuinely believing that Ji Yanqing favored those who could run. During the morning break, a bunch of them ran several laps around the vicinity.

The scene was both amusing and exasperating.

If conditions allowed, Ji Yanqing would certainly want to provide each person with a gun.

The truck's speed exceeded Ji Yanqing's expectations. He had originally thought they would reach their intended town on the third day, but by a little past six in the evening on the second day, they could see buildings in the distance.

Upon spotting the town, the driver promptly pulled over.

The town was too large; if they approached it brazenly, they wouldn't stand a chance of escaping.

Exiting the truck, the group gazed at the town from afar under the cover of night.

The town was much larger than they had anticipated. In the darkness, the cluster of buildings stretching to the horizon was vast and layered, covering an area that might even be larger than the county they had previously visited, making it comparable to a city.

"What should we do? Should we go in now?" Lan Zi asked Ji Yanqing.

According to Ji Yanqing's original plan, they were supposed to arrive during the day, giving them ample time to prepare before entering the town properly.

Navigating a city at night was entirely different from traveling through uninhabited areas. They dared to venture through the wilderness in the dark because they were certain there were no zombies there, but a city would likely have tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of zombies.

The town in front of them probably didn't have a population of hundreds of thousands, but it likely had between fifty and sixty thousand residents.

Ji Yanqing hesitated for a moment before saying, "Let's rest up and enter tomorrow. A town this size might already have awakened zombies."

At the mention of "awakened zombies," everyone became extremely cautious, not daring to let their guard down.

Xia Shenshu led a group to scout the nearby road, searching for a suitable place to camp.

Meanwhile, Lan Zi took some people closer to the town to assess how many zombies were at the edge facing them. Despite having spotted the town early and stopping far away, they could be seen from the town as well. Who knew if any of the zombies had particularly sharp eyesight?

Xia Shenshu soon returned, having found a nearby grove of trees. Although not completely secluded, it was better than being out in the open on the road.

Li Pingsen drove the truck off the road and into the grove.

Inside the grove, everyone worked silently in the darkness. Some checked their weapons and prepared for the night watch, while others distributed food and water.

For some reason, Lan Zi hadn't returned yet.

Ji Yanqing climbed to the top of the truck and surveyed the area from a higher vantage point. The plains ahead were not flat; all he could see were a series of low hills.

"She's smart." Xia Shenshu handed Ji Yanqing the food and water meant for him and Ji'an.

Ji Yanqing wasn't worried about Lan Zi, just as Xia Shenshu said, she wasn't stupid. Moreover, there had been no gunfire in the night. He was only puzzled as to why Lan Zi hadn't returned.

Ji Yanqing got out of the vehicle and distributed the supplies among Ji'an and Ji Le. They were almost done eating when movement finally appeared on the plains ahead. Lan Zi had returned.

Lan Zi had left with five or six people, and upon returning, the group, including herself, moved hastily.

Noticing the commotion, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked over.

"What happened?" Ji Yanqing asked.

"There are people inside," Lan Zi said.

Everyone was taken aback, Ji Yanqing included.

Throughout their journey, he had heard similar statements many times, but most often, these were about zombies or zombie kings. This seemed to be the first time someone told him that there were actual humans ahead.

"Human? Alive?" Xia Shenshu raised an eyebrow.

"Alive," Lan Zi confirmed, her tone serious.

Xia Shenshu remained silent, turning his gaze towards Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing put down the water he was about to give to Ji'an and Ji Le, then stood up. "What's going on?"

Lan Zi paused for a moment, organizing her thoughts before recounting the events. "When we got closer, we noticed writing on the walls of the buildings facing us. At first, we thought it was advertising and didn't pay much attention. But as we moved closer, we realized the words were written by people, so we went even closer to take a look."

"The messages were from the people in the city, inviting outsiders to seek help within its walls at any time."

"There were also updates on the wall, indicating the number of months since the virus outbreak, with the latest update being this month."

If the updates were still being made, it meant there were indeed living people in the city.

The presence of survivors in the city should have been a cause for celebration, but the very existence of such a reality plunged everyone into a mix of surprise and complex emotions.

It had been more than half a year since the virus outbreak, which had come like a flood, swift and fierce.

In just three days, the end of the world had arrived, leaving most people bewildered. Three days later, an even more desperate second apocalypse followed, with explosions and seismic disturbances causing the world to change. Not only humanity, but the entire world began to crumble.

Amidst the chaos, they fled in disarray, narrowly escaping death countless times.

During this period, they encountered so-called rescue points, but those quickly collapsed, becoming nightmares for all who sought refuge there.

Countless people flocked to these rescue points, making them some of the most infested places outside supermarkets and schools, places that everyone avoided like hell.

Silence reigned in the darkness of the forest.

Finally, amidst the snowfall, someone spoke up. "What do we do? Should we go?"

All eyes turned to Ji Yanqing.

They had grown accustomed to relying on Ji Yanqing for decisions, recognizing him as their leader, despite their short acquaintance and his strikingly handsome appearance.

"Anything else?" Ji Yanqing asked Lan Zi.

Lan Zi hesitated for a moment. "They may have already spotted us."

Ji Yanqing furrowed his brow.

"There might be lookout posts in the city," Lan Zi continued. "Our vehicles are likely within their line of sight."

Unlike zombies, humans think. Zombies wouldn't notice if a vehicle suddenly appeared on the road without seeing it move, but humans would analyze and deduce the situation.

Everyone's expressions darkened. They knew nothing about the situation in the city, yet the other party seemed to have a good grasp of their circumstances.

Though they now numbered nearly fifty, what if the other side had a hundred or even two hundred people?

"Should we turn back?" Li Pingsen asked Ji Yanqing.

"I don't think we have the chance to turn back," Xia Shenshu's voice echoed.

Ji Yanqing looked over, and Xia Shenshu pointed towards the direction of the town.

A beam of light pierced through the darkness above the town. Someone was shining a flashlight into the sky.

Anyone who had survived the apocalypse knew that lights must never be used at night unless one wanted to die. The other party couldn't be doing this simply because they felt like it.

This was a message for them.

They had been discovered.

"Morse code?"

"Probably."

"They're signaling us to come over," Xia Shenshu said.

"Have you deciphered it?" Lan Zi asked.

Xia Shenshu shook his head. "No."

Lan Zi was taken aback. "Then how do you know?"

"What else could it be?"

Lan Zi was momentarily taken aback, but she had no retort. The other party taking such risks at this point could only be to make contact with them; there was indeed no other possibility. They couldn't be inquiring about the weather. Lan Zi looked around at the swirling large snowflakes; the weather wasn't good.

004.

"What do you say?" Xia Shenshu smiled at Ji Yanqing, his eyes full of anticipation.

Ji Yanqing sighed softly, his gaze sweeping over the faces of those looking at him.

Everyone wore expressions of unease. Ji'an and Ji Le were tense, while only Feng Yimo's dark eyes remained calm and indifferent, as if he hadn't noticed their current situation at all.

Those eyes were too calm and fearless, which suddenly eased Ji Yanqing's tension.

"Let's go take a look." Ji Yanqing made his decision.

They had already fallen into a passive position.

Even if they left immediately, if the other party wanted to do something, it would not be easy for them to escape. Besides, they only had enough food and water for one more day.

Xia Shenshu's face lit up with a smile. "Shall we send a team over?"

Ji Yanqing glanced back at the light beam that continued to transmit Morse code, nodded, and turned to grab an axe.

Xia Shenshu interrupted. "You don't need to go."

Ji Yanqing paused with his hand on the axe.

"You're our team's captain after all. In this situation, you should let the others make first contact. You have to maintain your dignity and not let others look down on us. What if the other side has an ambush?" Xia Shenshu spoke, his eyes shining brighter. He was eager to try.

Ji Yanqing remained silent. He felt that Xia Shenshu was up to something, and Xia Shenshu was the type who didn't mind trouble.

Even Xia Shenshu's seemingly noble words gave him the impression that they were just excuses for fun.

Lan Zi took a deep breath and ignored Xia Shenshu. Although she also thought Xia Shenshu had ill intentions, what he said did make some sense. "We'll go. If anything happens, you can come to rescue us."

If Ji Yanqing went, nobody could save him if something happened.

If they went, she believed that Ji Yanqing would definitely rescue them if something happened.

Ji Yanqing considered it and nodded. "Be careful."

With the plan decided and permission granted, Lan Zi quickly selected people from the group, ignoring Xia Shenshu's eager appearance.

They had around fifty people in total. It was impossible to bring twenty or thirty at once, but sending too few would cause unease. The number of people with guns among those going was also a concern.

After a moment's hesitation, Lan Zi chose ten people, including herself and Xia Shenshu. They only brought Li Pingsen, who had a gun.

"When you meet the other side, show confidence and a murderous intent..." Xia Shenshu began to persuade them.

Lan Zi ignored him and led the group into the snowy landscape.

Ji Yanqing watched Lan Zi leave until their figures disappeared into the darkness amidst the heavy snowfall.

After Lan Zi and the others left, those remaining in the forest exchanged glances. None of them had the mood to continue eating. They sat in the vehicles, distracted and counting the time as they waited.

Half an hour later, Ji Yanqing went up to the roof of the vehicle for a look. Still, there was no sign of anyone within his line of sight.

He got back into the vehicle and shook his head at the group watching him, returning to his previous seat.

Ji'an and Ji Le were already drowsy, their heads nodding and their eyelids drooping shut.

On the other side, Feng Yimo sat with his long blade, closing his eyes to rest, unaffected by the tense atmosphere inside the vehicle.

After sitting down, Ji Yanqing pulled the two little ones over, letting them sleep on his lap. The children were already very sleepy and fell asleep as soon as they touched his legs.

Ji Yanqing adjusted their clothes to prevent cold air from entering.

The two children had gained a bit of weight, though still thin, their bodies and faces were no longer gaunt, making them warm to the touch.

When Ji Yanqing finished, he met a pair of cold, dark eyes staring at him.

Feng Yimo remembered what Xia Shenshu had said: If the other side dared to harm Ji Yanqing, he would kill everyone on the other side.

Another half-hour later, the person keeping watch outside the vehicle stood up, speaking excitedly. "They're back. They've returned."

The group waiting inside the vehicle, who hadn't slept at all, sprang into action, peering out of the vehicle.

Ji Yanqing carefully placed the two soundly sleeping children in a corner before getting out of the vehicle.

About ten minutes later, Lan Zi and her group returned through the wind and snow.

Upon entering the forest, Lan Zi started speaking without being prompted, brushing off the snowflakes on her body. "We saw them. Not many, about twenty, men and women, young and old."

Hearing there were only about twenty people, everyone's hearts relaxed as they exhaled. At least in numbers, they had the advantage and wouldn't have to worry about the other side attacking them.

"All twenty of them had guns," Lan Zi read their thoughts.

The smiles on everyone's faces vanished instantly.

"Each one of them?" Ji Yanqing pondered.

"Yes." After brushing off the snow, Lan Zi clumsily climbed onto the vehicle, her limbs stiff from the cold.

Those on the vehicle saw her struggle and quickly helped her up.

The others who had gone along also got into the vehicle one after another.

Xia Shenshu was the last to walk over, his interest piqued.

After everyone returned to the vehicle, Lan Zi, who had barely recovered, spoke again, "Everyone has guns, they're well-fed and clothed, and their overall health seems good."

Pausing for a moment, Lan Zi continued, "The town is indeed large. It appears that it used to be involved in trade and aquaculture. There's a canal behind the town, with a large dock and a bridge by its side. The city has already been searched thoroughly, so I doubt we'll find any food there."

"The person who came to receive us was a young man in his twenties. He's the main person in charge of the people in the town. His attitude was quite friendly, and his personality seemed gentle. His suggestion was for us to enter the town and find a place to rest, and we can discuss everything else tomorrow."

"There aren't many zombies in the village, and there are no awakened zombies or zombie kings."

Upon hearing Lan Zi's words, the people in the vehicle began to discuss quietly among themselves.

Things seemed to be different from what they had imagined, but not as bad as they had feared.

"By the way, they said that the water in the canal can still be drunk after treatment," Lan Zi added.

This statement caused everyone in the vehicle to look over, their faces filled with surprise and excitement.

"Can the water in the canal still be drunk?" Xia Chen stood up in excitement.

After fleeing for more than half a year, water was what they lacked the most. He couldn't even remember when he last drank to his heart's content.

"They said it needs to be treated, but it can indeed be drunk," Li Pingsen, who had also gone along, chimed in, equally excited.

Without mentioning other aspects, just the entire river's worth of water was enough to make them fall head over heels in love.

"What are we waiting for then? Let's go there now!" Xia Chen exclaimed.

Everyone looked at Ji Yanqing.

They all wanted nothing more than to dive into that river and drink until they were satisfied, but Ji Yanqing was the team leader, and his decision would prevail.

"What do you think?" Ji Yanqing asked, his face devoid of any smile as he looked at Xia Shenshu.

"There's something wrong."

Li Pingsen and the others, who were still elated, were taken aback.

Li Pingsen asked, "Problem? What problem?"

It wasn't Xia Shenshu or Ji Yanqing who answered, but Lan Zi, who was rubbing her hands to warm them up. She said, "They only have about twenty people, including the elderly and children. How could such a small group obtain so many guns?"

"Furthermore, the supplies in the city have long been depleted. Even if the water in the canal can be drunk after treatment, do they just drink water all day without eating anything?"

Pausing for a moment, Lan Zi added, "Their overall health seems good. Although they're not exactly plump and fair-skinned, they're much better off than us."

Although Lan Zi might not match Ji Yanqing in terms of combat prowess, nor Xia Shenshu in terms of innovative thinking, she was not without her merits.

She was very observant, meticulous in her observations, and not unintelligent.

Xia Shenshu might not shy away from trouble, but Lan Zi was steady and reliable.

That was why Ji Yanqing had agreed to let her lead the team to make contact with the other party earlier.

"I estimate that there are quite a few survival teams with similar thoughts to ours. These survival teams have likely provided them with plenty of food and weapons over the past half a year," Xia Shenshu remarked.

The previously elated people in the vehicle calmed down, their expressions turning grim.

They weren't really stupid; they had just been a little carried away upon hearing about an endless supply of water. Now, upon careful reflection, they realized the situation.

"Many people probably wouldn't care about anything else once they heard about the water," Li Pingsen said with a bitter smile, referring to their own reactions earlier.

At this point, the temptation of having unlimited access to water was akin to winning a lottery worth hundreds of millions before the virus outbreak.

No, it was even more exhilarating than winning the lottery, for winning the lottery wouldn't put one's life at risk, while lacking water would.

"So what should we do now?" Xia Chen turned to Ji Yanqing.

"Get ready. We're entering the town." Ji Yanqing got up to wake up Ji'an and Ji Le.

Upon hearing that they were going into the town, everyone's faces displayed surprise once again.

Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi were not surprised, both getting up to pack their belongings.

"Should we drive over?" Xia Shenshu asked.

"It's better to stay here. There are quite a few zombies near the town, and it won't be easy to leave once we drive over," Lan Zi suggested.

Xia Shenshu nodded.

Ji Yanqing woke up the two youngsters, shouldered his backpack, and Feng Yimo, who had also gotten up, looked at the others. "Let's go."

The group quickly shouldered their backpacks and followed, descending from the vehicle. Under Lan Zi's lead, they headed towards the town.

As they walked towards the opposite small town through the snowstorm, Li Pingsen and Xia Chen's group asked Ji Yanqing about his plan in confusion. Knowing that there was something wrong with the other party, why were they still going?

"We need water," Ji Yanqing stated, and that alone was enough reason for them to take the risk.

"Even if they have intentions against us, they can't just open fire on us. There are so many zombies in the city," Lan Zi added.

Xia Shenshu thought of something and smiled, turning back to ask, "Didn't you want the guns?"

"Moreover, they've been here for so long, so they should know a lot of useful information," Ji Yanqing said, looking at Xia Shenshu.

Xia Shenshu's smile was full of mischief, indicating that he didn't have good intentions.

This time, however, Ji Yanqing shared the same thoughts as him.

They needed guns, and the other party had them.

This was the apocalypse; laws and regulations were long gone. The other party wasn't good people and didn't have good intentions towards them, so even if he took their things, he wouldn't feel guilty.

Within his capabilities, he was willing to be kind to the people around him, but that didn't mean he would be kind to everyone in the world.

Ji Yanqing turned back and picked up Ji'an and Ji Le from the snow. The wind and snow were too strong, and the two little ones, wearing oversized clothes, were almost blown away.

He couldn't bear to let the two little ones fly away.

Picking up the two little ones, Ji Yanqing looked back and found that the wind and snow had lessened. He saw that Feng Yimo had walked in front of him in this moment, blocking the wind and snow coming at him from the front.

Feng Yimo's back was straight, his coat flapping in the wind, completely unaffected by the cold.

005.

The forest was quite a distance from the town, and with the heavy snow making the journey difficult, it took them nearly fifteen minutes to reach the outskirts of the town.

As they approached, before they could get close to the town, someone on the left side facing them signaled to them from around the corner.

It was a young girl who looked only fifteen or sixteen years old. She wore a white tracksuit and a white woolen hat, and she looked healthy.

Ji Yanqing's group quickly moved closer.

There were still two or three people in the alley: a man in his forties with a weathered face, a teenager around seventeen or eighteen with red cheeks from the cold, and all three held guns.

After meeting up, the three didn't say anything and directly led Ji Yanqing's group into the town.

The three were very familiar with the town, knowing exactly where the zombies were and where was safe.

Soon, Ji Yanqing's group was brought in front of a large church.

Outside the church gates was a pile of debris deliberately dragged back to block the view and used to tie wire. The doors and windows of the church were sealed shut with wooden boards from the inside, and behind the main door were reinforced iron bolts.

The chairs in the hall had been moved to the edges, and now in the middle of the hall was a pile of dining chairs and machines for power generation and water filtration. At the far end of the hall was a set of tech fabric sofas.

Inside stood about ten people, men and women, young and old, including Lan Zi, the young, good-tempered leader they had mentioned earlier.

At the far end of the hall, a campfire was lit, the warm, flickering flames isolating the outside wind and snow, and just looking at it made one feel warm.

After Ji Yanqing's group entered, the three who had led them back hurriedly closed the door.

"Rest first, we'll talk tomorrow." The leader, a man in his twenties, smiled and asked someone nearby to bring an electric kettle and cups to pour water for Ji Yanqing's group, who were already blue-faced from the cold.

As the water was poured, seeing the white steam rising above the cups, everyone realized that the water was heated by electricity.

They exchanged glances, trying to suppress their surprise. The last time they drank water heated by electricity was before the virus outbreak.

In that instant, they even had the illusion of returning to the time before the virus outbreak.

"What's wrong?" The young man noticed that Ji Yanqing's group hadn't touched the water and saw the surprise in their eyes.

"Thank you." Ji Yanqing put down Ji'an and Ji Le but didn't touch the cup of water.

Hearing this, the man looked at Ji Yanqing and was taken aback when he saw his face clearly.

Under the firelight, Ji Yanqing's hair and clothes were still covered with large patches of snow. The cold wind had frozen his face pale, making his lips even paler and purplish, but it also made his features, stained with wind and snow, even more delicate.

He was like a person walking out of a poster, clean and beautiful, out of place in this ragged world.

"Are you the captain?" The man seemed surprised that Ji Yanqing was the captain of their Survival Team.

"Yes."

"Sorry." The man retracted his surprised gaze, seemingly embarrassed about judging by appearance. His ears turned slightly red, and the elegant aura around him grew stronger.

As if to cover his embarrassment, he looked at the others. "Why aren't you drinking—"

Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly came to his senses. He smiled, took one of the cups, blew on it, and started drinking.

After drinking more than half of the cup, he said with a smile, "If you're not reassured, I can take a sip from each cup."

Li Pingsen and the others' Adam's apples bobbed, but they still didn't move.

Ji Yanqing glanced back at them, and the group quickly stepped forward, each taking a cup and blowing on it to the side.

Having just come out of the wind and snow, everyone was shivering from the cold. Suddenly holding a warm cup of water, the expressions on everyone's faces softened.

The young man smiled, seemingly happy to have helped.

"Have you always been here?" Ji Yanqing asked.

"Well, sort of. We arrived here gradually and later stayed here." The girl who had led them over earlier, around sixteen or seventeen years old, said with a smile.

The young man clapped his hands, interrupting their conversation. "Alright, no more idle chat. Xiaokang, after they finish their water, take them to rest. We'll discuss everything else after they've rested and are ready tomorrow."

The girl called Xiaokang stuck out her tongue playfully and walked away.

Seeing this relaxed atmosphere, Li Pingsen and the others, who were drinking water, relaxed their guarded expressions even further.

In the apocalypse, even though everyone was unwilling, they couldn't help but show signs of hardship and bitterness in their expressions. They rarely saw such smiles.

The water was a bit hot, so Li Pingsen and the others drank slowly.

After standing beside them for a while, the young man looked at Ji Yanqing again and asked, "Are you also going north?"

"North?"

Seeing Ji Yanqing's confusion, the young man looked surprised. "Not? Then why did you come here?"

"We were just passing by." Ji Yanqing didn't reveal their true purpose. "What's happening in the north? Many people are heading there?"

The young man was taken aback, sizing up Ji Yanqing.

Seeing that Ji Yanqing seemed genuinely unaware, he explained, "To the north, there's a powerful Corpse King you've probably heard of?"

Ji Yanqing nodded. "I've heard he killed many other Corpse Kings."

The young man smiled wryly, shaking his head. "He's killed more than just many Corpse Kings. He's nearly exterminated all of them in the entire northern region, leaving no awakened zombies behind."

Ji Yanqing was surprised; he hadn't heard these details.

"Wherever he goes, he kills. If it were a human, the path would be described as rivers of blood and sheer madness. Because he kills so much, other Survival Teams have given him a nickname: The Reaper."

"Some call him the New King."

"You must have heard about how Corpse Kings fight to establish new orders? Many believe he's now the strongest among them all, the future king of this world."

The man chuckled, returning to the topic of the Corpse King. "Zombies somehow spread information. Many Corpse Kings now avoid him, fleeing wherever he passes."

"Because of this, the north is arguably the safest place in this apocalypse, with few Corpse Kings around."

Ji Yanqing began to understand.

The young man pointed to the left of the sofa. "Across the canal lies the territory where The Reaper once massacred."

"But wouldn't that make the north more dangerous? Running into The Reaper would mean certain death," Li Pingsen and his group, who had forgotten about drinking water, were fully engrossed.

"What isn't dangerous?" The man laughed bitterly. "Awakened zombies, Corpse Kings, or The Reaper—what difference does it make to us?"

Li Pingsen's group was speechless.

Indeed, to them, there was no difference—all meant certain death upon encounter.

In fact, compared to the numerous awakened zombies and Corpse Kings, The Reaper wasn't as terrifying.

"There's a bridge behind our town for crossing the river. Many seeking safety in the north come here first before crossing. Our place is quite well-known among Survival Teams. I assumed that's why you came here too," the man said.

The man's words conveyed too much information. Even Ji Yanqing, Xia Shenshu, Lan Zi, and the others, who tried not to show their emotions, couldn't hide their surprise.

Behind Ji Yanqing, Feng Yimo lowered his gaze, looking at his long blade.

Even standing across the canal, he hadn't sensed The Reaper's presence or any lingering aura, confirming its terrifying nature.

He might not be able to defeat it.