AFTCKCTCKATD - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Ji Yanqing was clearly not a Corpse King, but he could control the mind of one

Ji Yanqing stared, speechless. He looked up, meeting Feng Yimo’s earnest gaze. A wave of embarrassment washed over him, a strange fluttering in his chest. He quickly looked away.

Feng Yimo was an enigma. It was as if human emotions were a foreign language to him.

“Thank you,” Ji Yanqing said, forcing his voice to remain steady.

The others had finished rechecking their wounds.

Confirming once again that the scabs were forming, that the creatures seemed to have vanished from their flesh, they collectively sighed in relief, though the memory of those countless holes still made their scalps crawl.

“Could there have been something corrosive in the grass?” Xia Chen speculated, attempting to steer the conversation away from the disturbing experience. He, too, had been reduced to tears earlier.

“If it were corrosive, wouldn’t it have affected a larger area? Why would it target specific spots…” Lan Zi trailed off, unable to articulate the description of the wounds. The mere thought of those tiny, needle-like holes covering her feet made her shudder.

“Yeah,” Xia Chen agreed, sharing her revulsion.

They discussed the possibilities for a while, but with no concrete answers, they shifted their focus to their next course of action.

The world had become a bizarre and unpredictable place, filled with phenomena beyond their comprehension. All they could do was adapt and survive.

The grassland stretched endlessly before them. Burning a path through it was impossible. The fire they had started earlier had died out after a short distance. Their only option now was to wait for the snow and walk out on its surface.

It was only two or three in the afternoon, too early for snowfall.

They couldn’t risk wearing their contaminated shoes. Who knew if those creatures still lingered within

Without shoes, their only option was to tear up their remaining clothes and wrap their feet.

But their clothing supplies were already dwindling. They had burned some, and with more needed for makeshift footwear, they were running low.

The sun was still high, the temperature scorching. Wearing less clothing provided some relief from the heat, but once the snow fell, it would be a different story.

They took stock of their remaining supplies.

If they rationed carefully, their food could last two more days. But their water would be gone by nightfall.

According to their initial plan, they should have reached a new city by today, allowing them to replenish their water tomorrow. But now, they were stranded.

“If all else fails, we can see if the snow is safe to drink,” Xia Shen Shu said, attempting a smile as he saw the grim expressions around him.

Everyone looked at him, but no one could muster a smile in return.

The snow was clearly contaminated.

Perhaps even more dangerous than the grassland itself.

Exhausted from the ordeal, they fell silent. Everyone sat amidst the ashes, waiting.

Time crawled by, each minute an eternity in the oppressive silence. As the sun began to set, anxiety gnawed at them.

In the evening, as darkness approached, Ji Yanqing distributed their remaining food and the last of their water.

There wasn’t much water left. Even if they rationed it, it wouldn’t last beyond tomorrow. Better to drink it now and face the night ahead with some hydration.

They ate their meager meal in silence and settled down to wait once more.

As the sky darkened with alarming speed, anxiety morphed into unease.

Finally, a little after eight in the evening, large snowflakes began to fall. A collective sigh of relief swept through the group huddled in the ashes.

But those who had no shelter, exposed to the elements, shivered violently.

The night was already cold, and the falling snow brought the temperature plummeting, perhaps reaching minus twenty degrees Celsius. As the wind picked up across the plains, their lips turned white, their teeth chattered, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

They were beyond caring about appearances or discomfort. Using their backpacks to create a makeshift barrier in the ashes, they huddled together, desperately seeking warmth.

But it was a futile effort. The wind, sharp as a knife, cut through their meager defenses, carrying away any warmth they managed to generate.

They were freezing, but no one complained, no one cried out. Their teeth chattered too violently to even form words.

Ji Yanqing pulled the two little buns close, tucking them under his coat, trying to shield them with his own body heat.

Ji An and Ji Le were already weak and vulnerable. In these conditions, they were especially susceptible to frostbite. And Ji An still had a fever. What if he became even sicker?

“Papa…” Ji Le whispered, his eyes filled with worry as he looked at Ji Yanqing. His lips were purple with cold, his hair dusted with snow.

He wanted to help, but he was powerless, reliant on Ji Yanqing for protection.

“It’s not as cold if you don’t think about it,” Ji Yanqing said, his voice strained.

Ji Le’s lips trembled, his eyes welling up with tears.

He wasn’t afraid of the cold. He was heartbroken for Ji Yanqing.

He had promised to protect Ji Yanqing, but in the end, he could do nothing but be protected.

Ji Yanqing pulled the two closer, trying to keep the icy wind from penetrating his coat.

Suddenly, the wind that had been lashing at his back lessened.

He turned stiffly. Feng Yimo, who had been sitting beside him, was now behind him.

The wind was at their backs, and Feng Yimo was shielding them from the brunt of it. 

In the darkness, under the snow that felt like knives, Feng Yimo looked as if he didn’t feel the cold at all.

Feng Yimo might not have acknowledged the cold, but the cold certainly acknowledged him. Even Feng Yimo’s lips were white in this extreme temperature.

So even Feng Yimo could feel cold . . .

Ji Yanqing was stunned. He was about to say something when a gust of wind blew, and he had to turn his head back and lower it slightly to block the opening of his collar.

If Ji An’s fever worsened, he would have to make the worst plan.

High fevers could kill.

The strong wind lasted for several minutes. When it blew past and Ji Yanqing turned around again, Feng Yimo had turned his head to look into the distance, and he had missed the opportunity to speak.

Under the heavy snow, the lines of Feng Yimo’s profile were as sharp and cold as a knife, but the back that Ji Yanqing was leaning against was warm.

Feeling the warmth, lower than that of an ordinary person but all the more desirable in this extreme cold, Ji Yanqing suddenly remembered the nest made of quilts, branches, and backpacks from last night.

That nest, although strange, simple, and fragile, had been very warm.

The words Xia Shen Shu had said before once again surfaced in Ji Yanqing’s mind: form a survival team, build a paradise, then constantly strengthen it, until it could shield them from the wind and rain, from danger, until it could be called home.

At a little past one in the morning, the snow on the grass finally reached a thickness of about ten centimeters.

After confirming that the snow provided a barrier between their feet and the grass, the group, their bodies stiff and voices lost to the cold, began their slow and awkward trek through the snow. They shouldered their backpacks, preparing to leave the cursed plain behind.

As Ji Yanqing rose, he unzipped his backpack and looked at Ji An. “I’ll carry you.”

The snow was thick and hadn’t fully frozen. Ji An and Ji Le were too small; if they walked on their own, their feet would sink deep into the snow.

Ji An looked at Ji Yanqing, then at the swirling snow behind him. He hesitated.

The journey was already arduous. If Ji Yanqing carried him and held Ji Le, it would become even more challenging.

And Ji Yanqing’s feet were injured.

Ji Yanqing touched Ji An’s head reassuringly. “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

Before Ji An could respond, a pair of slender, strong hands reached out and scooped up both Ji An and Ji Le, one in each arm.

Ji Yanqing looked up. It was Feng Yimo.

Clearly unaccustomed to holding children, Feng Yimo’s grip was awkward, as if he were holding two delicate dolls.

“Let’s go,” Feng Yimo said, nodding towards the front and starting forward.

Ji Yanqing stared for a moment, then hurried after Feng Yimo, grabbing his arm.

Feng Yimo was heading in the wrong direction, back towards the treacherous plain.

If they followed Feng Yimo’s lead, they wouldn’t be able to leave here within their lifetimes.

Ji Yanqing glanced at Ji An and Ji Le, then at the others, shivering as they struggled to their feet. After a moment’s hesitation, he didn’t take the children back. “Thank you,” he said to Feng Yimo.

Several members of the team had succumbed to the cold and exhaustion. Two, including Lan Zi, had been injured earlier, and the combination of their wounds reopening and the frigid temperatures had caused them to lose consciousness.

Ji Yanqing trudged through the snow to Xia Shen Shu and helped him lift Lan Zi onto his back, taking Xia Shen Shu’s backpack as well.

For the other two unconscious members, he found two of the strongest-looking individuals and asked them to carry the injured.

It would have been easy to abandon the unconscious. All it would take was a single word. But if he abandoned those two today, he could abandon anyone tomorrow.

The rest of the group understood this unspoken rule. Without complaint, they picked up the abandoned backpacks, adding to their own burdens.

After ensuring everyone was accounted for, Ji Yanqing, weighed down by two heavy backpacks, returned to Feng Yimo. “Follow me. Stay close,” he instructed.

Feng Yimo looked puzzled but nodded in agreement.

Ji Yanqing took a deep breath, glanced back at the others, and stepped into the swirling snow, leading the way.

The trek was even more grueling than he had anticipated. The wind howled, driving snow into their faces like icy needles. The snow, not yet fully frozen, was soft and treacherous, their feet sinking with each step.

The cloth wrapped around their feet quickly became soaked, the icy water stealing away what little warmth remained. Soon, Ji Yanqing’s feet were numb.

He pressed on, forging a path through the blinding snow. After some time, he turned to check on the others.

Despite the difficulty, everyone was keeping up.

He breathed a sigh of relief. As he turned to continue, his foot caught on a hidden drift of snow, sending him sprawling face-first into the icy ground.

He struggled to get up.

Ji An, cradled in Feng Yimo’s arms, saw Ji Yanqing fall and thought he was hurt. His eyes filled with tears.

“Can you hold Papa?” he pleaded, looking at Feng Yimo.

Feng Yimo glanced at Ji An.

“You hold Papa and walk. Papa’s feet are hurt, it must be painful… I can walk by myself. I’ll hold Didi’sYounger Brother, Gege means older brother hand, okay?” Ji An’s voice choked with sobs. He had promised to protect Ji Yanqing, but he was helpless.

Feng Yimo’s gaze shifted to Ji Yanqing, who had managed to stand up. He was brushing snow off his clothes, his face covered in white.

He looked disheveled, his wounds likely throbbing. But there was no despair in his eyes, only determination.

The snow continued to fall relentlessly for four or five hours, blanketing the world in white. In every direction, the landscape was identical, a sea of white. It was impossible to discern their direction, creating the illusion that the road beneath their feet, the pain they endured, would never end.

Ji Yanqing took a deep breath, the icy air filling his lungs. He forced himself to rally.

He retrieved his heavy backpack from the snow and continued forward.

He had to lead them out of this wasteland.

He would lead them to survival.

They trudged on, heads bowed against the wind and snow, following the unwavering figure in the lead.

They lost track of time, lost track of distance. Finally, a faint light appeared on the horizon, and the shadowy outlines of mountains emerged in the distance.

The sight of the mountains, a sign of a change in terrain, revitalized them. A spark of hope flickered in their eyes.

A little after five in the morning, the sky began to lighten, and the snow gradually subsided. They reached the edge of the plain, the foot of the mountains.

The mountains were covered in a sparse forest, the slopes gentle and terraced with farmland.

The crops were hidden beneath a layer of snow, but the paths between the fields were still discernible.

At the far end of the mountains, to the right, they could make out a road in the distance.

Zombies were impervious to heat and cold. They lacked the capacity for thought or feeling, including pain.

No one in this ravaged world liked zombies. But at this moment, seeing those figures wandering aimlessly through the snow, the survivors couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of kinship.

Those zombies were far less menacing than the wind, the snow, and the invisible creatures of the plain.

“Let’s cross the mountains,” Ji Yanqing said. “Be careful where you step. Stick to the middle of the paths. The edges might be ridges. Don’t fall.”

No one spoke. They just gritted their teeth and followed. 

They had reached their physical limits. They didn’t have the energy to talk. They could only force themselves not to think, to numb themselves so they wouldn’t feel the pain and exhaustion, so they could keep up.

The mountains weren’t high, and there were paths to go up and down. It took them only about half an hour to cross over to the other side of the mountain.

On the other side of the mountain was a county town. The county town was quite large. There weren’t any particularly conspicuous skyscrapers, but it looked quite prosperous because of its large area.

The busiest street was in the center of the county town. From a distance, they could see quite a few figures. Those were all zombies.

After looking out from the top of the mountain for a while, Ji Yanqing didn’t let the team stop. He directly led everyone down the mountain.

Their physical strength had been exhausted. If they stopped now, it would be difficult for them to get up and walk again for a while.

Twenty minutes later, they reached the outskirts of the town, where farmland stretched out in uneven patches. Snow-dusted, mutated crops provided a semblance of cover. Ji Yanqing, expertly navigating around a few stray zombies, slipped into the nearest building for a quick reconnaissance. Satisfied that it was clear, he signaled for the others to approach.

Unlike the haphazard construction often found in rural areas, this edge of the town showcased a planned development of five-story row houses. These long buildings bordered a street on one side and a road choked with abandoned vehicles and zombies on the other.

A quick glance at the street confirmed Ji Yanqing’s suspicions – it was swarming with the undead. Instead of attempting a risky detour, he retrieved a rope from his backpack. Securing it around his waist, he took a running start and, using a first-floor window and a second-floor air conditioning unit as handholds, he scaled the building’s facade, reaching the third floor in a display of agility.

The third-floor window stood ajar, revealing an unfinished interior, untouched since before the outbreak. As he pulled himself onto the windowsill, his numb fingers nearly lost their grip, sending a jolt of fear through him. With a quick reaction, he hooked the windowsill with his axe, steadying himself just in time.

Below, the others watched, startled by the sight. 

After jumping down from the window and entering the house, Ji Yanqing quickly surveyed the house, confirming its emptiness of both the living and the undead. He then secured the rope he’d brought to the handle of an interior door. The developer-supplied door, though flimsy, would have to suffice. 

His hands were numb and disobedient. It took him a lot of effort to finally tie the rope securely.

After doing this, he went to the window and threw the rope down.

Seeing this, the people below hurriedly climbed up the rope.

Everyone’s bodies were numb from being frozen all night. The short distance, which wasn’t normally difficult to climb, took them a while.

Ji Yanqing watched from the window, looking for an opportunity to go down. After most people had climbed up, and he descended, he tied Ji An and Ji Le to the rope separately and had the people above pull them up.

After Ji An and Ji Le, it was the three unconscious people, Lan Zi and the other two.

Next came the three unconscious individuals: Lan Zi and the two others. Despite their weakened state from prolonged food scarcity, their adult bodies proved significantly heavier than the children, demanding more time and effort to raise. 

With the unconscious safely inside, Ji Yanqing maintained a vigilant watch as the remaining helpers climbed up. He ascended last, ensuring everyone’s safety. 

Inside the house, after confirming they were safe, everyone threw down their backpacks and collapsed on the ground. No one had the energy to stand. Only Ji An and Ji Le were clinging to the window.

They widened their eyes, trying to see Ji Yanqing outside. They were too short. Even if they stood on tiptoes, they couldn’t see outside. They could only see the rope swaying.

“Snap!” 

A subtle metallic sound suddenly rang out. Everyone, whose nerves had just relaxed after surviving three near-death experiences in one day, was startled.

Xia Shen Shu instinctively picked up the gun placed beside him. Before he could find the source of the sound, he saw Ji An rush to one side and grab something.

He didn’t know where Ji An got so much strength. The rope instantly tautened.

As Xia Shen Shu reacted and rushed to help, Feng Yimo had already grabbed the rope as well.

Ji Yanqing had tied the rope to the doorknob before, but the door was of such poor quality that the doorknob actually broke off as the thirty-plus people pulled on it repeatedly.

Seeing the rope tighten, Xia Shen Shu quickly ran to the window. “Ji Yanqing?”

Ji Yanqing, who was climbing up the rope, was also startled. Fortunately, the rope was pulled taut just before he fell.

He quickly climbed up to the window.

After jumping through the window and into the relative safety of the house, Ji Yanqing turned to Feng Yimo, a quiet “Thank you” escaping his lips.

Feng Yimo merely nodded, his gaze fixed on Ji An at his feet.

Ji Yanqing’s heart clenched as he followed Feng Yimo’s line of sight. Ji An’s small palms, normally fair and smooth, were covered in blood.

“Ji An?” Ji Yanqing quickly dropped his axe and crouched down, his voice laced with concern.

Deep scrapes marred the boy’s hands, some superficial, others horrifyingly deep, the bone nearly visible. A wave of heartache washed over Ji Yanqing, the sight of Ji An’s bleeding hands a painful reminder of the dangers they had faced.

“Does it hurt?” he asked, rummaging through his backpack for a clean cloth. But the backpack was empty, its contents sacrificed back on the fire-washed plain.

“Here.” Li Pingsen tossed him a relatively clean piece of clothing.

Ji Yanqing snatched it, tore it apart, and gently wiped Ji An’s palms.

The boy flinched at the contact, his small face paling, but he bravely shook his head, unwilling to add to Ji Yanqing’s worries.

“Really?” Ji Yanqing pressed gently on Ji An’s soft palm, trying to stem the bleeding.

“...Just a little,” Ji An admitted, his long lashes fluttering against his cheeks. The burning pain brought tears to his eyes.

Ji Yanqing’s voice softened, a rare tenderness gracing his tone. “Thank you, Ji An. If you hadn’t grabbed the rope, I would have fallen.”

Ji An, his attention momentarily diverted from the pain, looked up at Ji Yanqing. He had helped?

“You were a big help,” Ji Yanqing affirmed, ruffling the boy’s hair.

“I was?”

“Mhm.” Ji Yanqing nodded.

Tears welled up in Ji An’s eyes, his nose red from the cold. He sniffled, fighting back the urge to cry, a happy smile spreading across his face. He had promised to protect Ji Yanqing, and he had.

Ji Yanqing’s heart melted at the sight of the boy’s teary smile.

After tending to Ji An’s wounds, Ji Yanqing collected clean clothes from the others, tearing them into strips to carefully bandage the boy’s hands until they resembled two small rice dumplings.

He turned to find the rest of the group sprawled on the floor, exhaustion claiming them. As the snow subsided and the sky lightened, the temperature gradually rose, bringing a return of sensation to their numb limbs and a crushing wave of fatigue.

Safe at last, many succumbed to sleep.

Ji Yanqing, fighting his own exhaustion, picked up his axe. “I’m going to check the building.”

Xia Shen Shu, propped against the wall, his face etched with pain, could barely sit up, yet Ji Yanqing still possessed the strength to ensure their security.

Ji Yanqing stepped over the sleeping forms and approached the door. He pressed his ear against it, listening intently. Hearing no sounds from the hallway, he cautiously opened the door and slipped out.

The row house was relatively new, with a low occupancy rate. The apartment across the hall stood vacant, its door missing, revealing bare walls and floors.

Ji Yanqing carefully entered, checking every corner. Satisfied that it was clear, he descended the stairs.

The hallway down to the third floor was empty of the undead. But on the second floor, the open door of an apartment revealed a grim scene. A family of four, victims of the zombie horde.

Scratch marks on the door and signs of a struggle inside painted a tragic picture of their final moments.

Ji Yanqing cautiously used his axe to pull the door closed, preventing the reanimated family from escaping.

On the first floor, the main door stood ajar, revealing a group of over twenty zombies milling about in the open space beyond.

Ji Yanqing repeated his actions, carefully closing the door with his axe to secure the building.

His inspection complete, he quietly returned upstairs, axe in hand.

The row house had five floors. The fourth-floor door was closed. On the fifth floor, one apartment door stood open, suggesting occupancy, but it was devoid of both the living and the undead.

Minutes later, Ji Yanqing returned to the third floor, clutching a pile of clean clothes salvaged from the fifth-floor apartment.

He tossed the clothes onto the floor. “Use these to tend to your wounds,” he instructed.

When he came back, almost everyone in the room had fallen asleep. The few who were still awake were staring at the pile of clothes with half-open eyes, but none of them had the energy to get up and treat their wounds.

Xia Shen Shu was one of them.

“We’ll go find a supermarket after one o’clock this afternoon,” Ji Yanqing said.

Xia Shen Shu, who was struggling with fatigue and trying to convince himself to get up and bandage his wounds, rolled his eyes when he heard that they would be setting out again in a few hours. He wished he had just fainted from exhaustion.

The other few who were still half-awake felt the same, with pained expressions on their faces.

Seeing this, Ji Yanqing, whose eyes were no longer covered by the goggles, smiled faintly. He added in a deep voice, “After we find water and food, if conditions permit, we will rest here for a week before leaving.”

Hearing this, the few who had just been in pain, including Xia Shen Shu, all lit up.

Ji Yanqing ignored them and walked towards Feng Yimo, Ji An, and Ji Le in the corner.

He had thought about it carefully. They hadn’t had a good rest since they entered the maze-like mountains. The Zombie King in the hospital had almost killed them several times, and many of their group had died.

After crossing the plains, everyone was injured again now.

Both their bodies and minds had reached their limit. In this case, they were obviously not suitable to continue moving forward, so if they could find food and water in this city, and if conditions allowed, he wanted to rest here for a week.

When everyone’s injuries were healed and their spirits were restored, they would continue on their way.

Hearing that they could rest in this county for a week if all went well, Xia Shen Shu was as if he had been injected with chicken blood. He forced himself to get up from the ground and crawled towards the pile of clothes to bandage his wounds.

Following Xia Shen Shu, the other people who were awake also forced themselves to move.

Feng Yimo was sitting by the window, with Ji An and Ji Le beside him.

Seeing Ji Yanqing approaching, the two little ones quickly moved aside to make room for Ji Yanqing in the middle.

As Ji Yanqing approached, before he could even sit down, the moment he decided to relax, his body was like a high-rise building that had been stretched to its limit and suddenly collapsed, aching all over.

His half-squatting legs instantly lost their strength. He managed to support himself against the wall so as not to fall.

“Dad?” Ji An, who noticed that something was wrong with Ji Yanqing, had been happy that Ji Yanqing had come back to sit next to them. Now, his moist eyes were filled with worry.

Ji Yanqing looked at him. “I’m fine. Just a little tired…”

Ji Yanqing looked at Ji An’s hands. “Does it still hurt?”

Ji An looked at his two hands, which were wrapped like little zongzi, and shook his head. “It doesn’t hurt at all.”

Hearing this, Ji Yanqing’s eyes softened. How could it not hurt?

Ji Yanqing felt Ji An’s forehead. He was still running a high fever.

Ji Yanqing looked at Ji Le, who was also looking at him with concern.

“I’ll just sleep for a bit.” Before he could wait for Ji An and Ji Le’s answer, Ji Yanqing’s consciousness rapidly blurred. 

His aching body fell abruptly towards the wall on the left, about to fall on Ji An. He tried to control himself; he didn’t want to scare Ji An and Ji Le, but his body simply wouldn’t listen.

Just as he was struggling to keep himself from passing out, a hand supported his shoulder.

The person pulled Ji An away and let Ji Yanqing lean on him.

Feeling the slightly lower than normal body temperature and the broad, strong, and reassuring shoulder under his head, Ji Yanqing stopped struggling and let his consciousness fade completely.

Someone like Feng Yimo wouldn’t look down on him just because of his face, and he would also help take care of Ji An and Ji Le. With Feng Yimo around, it wouldn’t matter if he fainted for a while.

“Dad?” Ji Le held Ji Yanqing’s hand uneasily.

His lips, which had gradually turned pink as the temperature warmed up, were pitifully pursed. His eyes were filled with tears, but he didn’t cry, because he knew that no one except Ji Yanqing cared if he cried. If they saw him, they would even think he was annoying.

Ji An helplessly reached out, wanting to touch Ji Yanqing’s forehead the way Ji Yanqing usually touched his, but he remembered that his hands were wrapped like zongzi before his hand reached Ji Yanqing’s forehead.

Unable to touch Ji Yanqing’s forehead, Ji An became even more helpless. He looked at Feng Yimo, who was letting Ji Yanqing lean on his shoulder, with red eyes. “Is he asleep?”

“Yes,” Feng Yimo said, his dark eyes deep.

“Will he wake up after he’s had enough sleep?”

“Yes.”

Ji An sniffed and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Ji An cupped Ji Yanqing’s hand with his two small hands wrapped like zongzi Rice Dumpling, glutinous rice stuffed with fillings and wrapped in bamboo or leaves and lay down next to Ji Yanqing like a kitten.

When would he grow up?

He wanted to grow up quickly, because only when he grew up could he help Ji Yanqing.

When he grew up, as big as Ji Yanqing, he would carry Ji Yanqing on his back to cross the snow. If there was food and water, he would let Ji Yanqing eat and drink first.

Seeing this, Ji Le, who was also tired and sleepy, lay down next to Ji Yanqing’s other hand.

Listening to the long, even breathing beside him, feeling the weight and temperature on his shoulder, and looking at Ji An and Ji Le who were sleeping next to Ji Yanqing, Feng Yimo felt a strange feeling spread through his chest.

The feeling warmed him from his chest and made him reluctant to push Ji Yanqing away, even though he was leaning heavily on his shoulder.

Ji Yanqing was clearly not a Corpse King, but he could control the mind of one . . . himself. 

Xia Shen Shu, who had bandaged his wounds and found a place to lie down for a good sleep, habitually glanced around before falling asleep. His eyes swept over Feng Yimo, and he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

There was no smile on Feng Yimo’s face. He still had that aloof look, but somehow, it made people feel that he was happy.

Xia Shen Shu’s gaze lingered on Ji Yanqing, who had obviously fainted, for a moment, and he sighed silently.

If it had been Xue Gang, after going through so much and finding a place to stay, he would never have gone to check the building himself. He would have naturally ordered others to do it.

But that was also why Xue Gang could never become Ji Yanqing.

Xia Shen Shu lay down and closed his eyes.

Ji Yanqing slept soundly.

Although his body was in constant pain, although his head throbbed even in his sleep, it was the most peaceful sleep he had had in more than half a year since the outbreak of the virus.

When he woke up, it was as if his entire being had come back to life.

Although his body was still sore, the pain in his head had disappeared. The exhaustion and mental strain brought on by the long escape were soothed and replenished, as if he had awakened from chaos.

Ji Yanqing was awakened by a noise. Someone was talking.

He opened his eyes drowsily and saw only a few figures gathered together in a disturbed atmosphere.

His body instinctively moved, and it was only then that he realized that he was leaning on Feng Yimo. Feng Yimo noticed that he was awake and was tilting his head, looking at him intently.

Ji Yanqing was stunned. Before he could think about anything, a voice came from ahead.

“He’s dead.”

Ji Yanqing instantly woke up.

Xia Shen Shu sighed. “He was already seriously injured, and with the heavy snow before...”

Ji Yanqing instinctively looked at the place where Lan Zi had been sleeping. He saw that Lan Zi was sleeping alone and Xia Shen Shu wasn’t there. He froze for a moment before he understood.

Xia Shen Shu wasn’t talking about Lan Zi.

Ji Yanqing quickly got up from the ground and walked towards the few people who were gathered together.

Seeing Ji Yanqing approaching, the group made way for him.

Noticing the commotion, Xia Shen Shu looked up and saw Ji Yanqing. He explained, “He was already gone when we found him.”

Ji Yanqing was speechless for a moment, unsure how to react.

He had often seen people die in front of him since the outbreak. After seeing so much death, he had gradually become numb to it, but looking at the face in front of him now, his heart inexplicably sank.

He hadn’t felt this way even when he saw Zhang Guxian Callback to chapter 18, Zhang Guxian was the one who lured people to his village for his wifey. commit suicide.

“They’re all gone…” Xia Shen Shu muttered.

Ji Yanqing’s lips moved, understanding somewhat what the feeling of heaviness in his heart was. It was helplessness.

Zhang Guxian had chosen to end his life in despair, but this person in front of him had died after they had risked their lives to escape to safety.

“It’s not necessarily a bad thing to die peacefully without knowing,” Xia Shen Shu said as he took a piece of clothing from the side and covered the man’s face with it.

“Let’s just leave him here,” Ji Yanqing said, taking a deep breath. Xia Shen Shu was right.

Hearing this, the others also took deep breaths, trying to shake off the despair. They didn’t have time to wallow in it.

Either live or die. If you don’t want to die, then fight, with all you have, to live.

Ji Yanqing looked at the others in the room. The commotion just now had been quite loud, and most of those who had been asleep had already woken up.

After six or seven hours of sleep, everyone was in good spirits.

Ji Yanqing took another deep breath and told everyone about the decision he had made earlier. “…But before that, we must first make sure that there is enough food and water for us to stay here for a week.”

Hearing that they could recuperate in this county for a week, everyone’s spirits were lifted. Some even smiled.

Ji Yanqing was about to repeat the premise, that they had to first make sure that there was enough water and food in this county, but he swallowed the words.

It wasn’t that these people didn’t hear him; they just preferred to indulge in the joy.

After being immersed in despair and fear for so long, many had even forgotten how to smile.

Ji Yanqing stood there quietly, waiting until everyone was done rejoicing before continuing, “Rest up. Those who are still able to move, come with me to take a look around. Let’s familiarize ourselves with the environment here, find the supermarket, and then decide what to do.”

The excited group responded one after another. They didn’t need Ji Yanqing to say anything more before they quickly found places to bandage their wounds in preparation for the next move.

Ji Yanqing didn’t say anything more. He walked over to Ji An and Ji Le in the corner. The two little ones had already woken up.

Ji Le was sleepily rubbing his eyes. His fair cheeks were flushed red from sleep. He seemed to be not fully awake yet, and wasn’t in very good spirits.

Ji An was turning his head as he got up from the ground. Seeing him, Ji An relaxed. “Papa.”

“Don’t rub your eyes. Let me take a look.” Ji Yanqing squatted down in front of Ji Le. He reached out and held Ji Le’s hand to help him take a look at his eyes. The moment his hand touched Ji Le’s forehead, he froze. Ji Le’s forehead was burning hot.

“Papa…” Ji Le sounded weak and listless.

Ji Yanqing’s heart sank. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“Mhm.” Ji Le, who was sitting on the ground, shuffled forward miserably, got closer to Ji Yanqing, and rested his heavy head on his papa’s knees.

“Wait for me.” Ji Yanqing carefully got up and walked towards Li Pingsen. He was going to ask him for a thermometer. He remembered that there had been a thermometer among the supplies when Li Pingsen had been taking inventory before.

If Ji Le also had a fever…

Hearing that Ji Le was feeling unwell, Ji An’s black eyes widened slightly. He imitated Ji Yanqing and reached out to touch Ji Le’s forehead. His movement was too fast, and he accidentally nudged the cloth strips on his hand.

The cloth strips had already loosened while he was sleeping, and with this touch, they completely fell off.

Ji An saw it, and remembering that his hands had been injured, he looked at his palms.

He saw obvious dried blood on his palms, but there wasn’t a single scar.

They had healed.

The injuries he had sustained just a few hours ago had already healed.

Even though he was still young, he knew that human injuries couldn’t heal so quickly. The wounds he had received when Xue Gang beat him before had hurt for a long time.

Ji An felt like he had been thrown into a lake full of ice in the middle of winter. His hands and feet, even his entire body, turned ice-cold.

How could he have forgotten? He would never grow up. He was about to become a little zombie.

“Wu…” Knowing that he could no longer grow up, that he could no longer hold Ji Yanqing in his arms to shield him from the wind and snow, and that he might even be unable to protect Ji Le, Ji An couldn’t hold back any longer. Tears streamed down his face, and he cried out in sorrow.

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