AFTCKCTCKATD - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Feng Yimo’s hand tightened around his ankle.

Ji Yanqing left Feng Yimo to guard the staircase and headed back downstairs.

The pitch-black street remained deserted, but snow had begun to fall. Large flakes blurred the already dim street, obscuring the distant corners and creating an illusion of lurking figures.

Ji Yanqing paused at the supermarket entrance, axe in hand. He swiftly crossed the street, reaching a warehouse with a “No Parking” sign.

The warehouse, modified from a single-car underground garage, sat below street level. Its sole entrance was a heavy iron door added when the parking lot was sealed.

Ji Yanqing circled the door, axe at the ready, but he didn’t act rashly. Prying open such a door would create a racket. He soon noticed a row of small, waist-high glass windows on the left side of the building, ventilation for the underground space. The glass was intact but not reinforced.

Peering through a window, he saw stacks of cardboard boxes. It was too dark to make out details, but the writing on a few boxes near the window seemed to indicate beverages.

This was indeed the supermarket’s warehouse.

Ji Yanqing’s mind raced. Glancing back at the empty street, he quickly removed his coat, spreading it over the glass. With a deep breath, he gently tapped the glass with his axe.

The first tap was too light; the glass held.

After another wary glance around, he gritted his teeth and increased his force.

Silence hung heavy in the darkness. Though the distant groans of the zombies, drawn to the far corner by Xia Shen Shu’s flashlight, could still be heard, they were faint. The shattering of glass would easily pierce through them.

With the second strike, a jarring “crunch” echoed as the glass gave way, shards falling onto the concrete floor inside. The initial crack was quiet, but the clatter of glass on the floor was sharp and piercing.

Ji Yanqing felt a shiver run down his spine.

He immediately glanced back towards the intersection. Holding his breath, he waited. Two minutes passed, and no zombies appeared. Releasing a held breath, he refocused on the broken window.

Some shards remained embedded in the frame, while others littered the warehouse floor. Ji Yanqing carefully removed the remaining pieces, using his coat to protect his hands, making sure none fell inside.

He pulled his coat back on and lay on the ground. Grasping the window frame, he slid into the darkness below.

Landing silently, Ji Yanqing took a quick look at the window above before heading deeper into the warehouse.

The space was crammed with supplies, mostly durable goods: chairs, fans, blankets, pillows. Food and water, with their shorter shelf life, occupied only twenty or so boxes.

Even so, the sight was enough to make Ji Yanqing’s heart leap.

The door was easy to open from the inside, but the metal groaned ominously as he eased the bolt. He moved with agonizing slowness, every nerve on high alert.

Despite his caution, the door still let out a protesting screech. Teeth clenched, Ji Yanqing persisted, the process stretching into a grueling two minutes.

Finally, the door was open just enough to pass through. He wedged a nearby box against it to prevent it from swinging shut, his forehead slick with cold sweat.

Leaving the box to guard the door, Ji Yanqing dashed back to the supermarket through the swirling snow.

As he entered, he found the others already moving supplies down from the second floor, their search complete.

Ji Yanqing quickly briefed them about the warehouse and its bounty. A collective gasp went through the group, their faces lighting up at the news of twenty more boxes of supplies. A small group immediately set off towards the building.

The lookout team on the roof watched anxiously, unaware of what was happening below.

Ji Yanqing quickly flashed another hand signal, urging them to wait.

He located Feng Yimo among the group that had come downstairs, relief flooding him. Taking charge, he directed everyone to move the supplies out of the supermarket.

They had planned their route carefully. There was a secluded alleyway branching off to the left, away from the main street and devoid of zombies. Once they moved everything to that location, they could begin the slower process of transporting it back to their base.

Everyone worked swiftly and silently, their movements honed by urgency. No urging from Ji Yanqing was needed as they hoisted backpacks and boxes, disappearing into the night.

Ji Yanqing walked with them for a short distance, taking position at a corner to watch for zombies.

The group moved back and forth, an efficient line of ants, each carrying their burden. Watching them, a smile touched Ji Yanqing’s eyes.

His joy was short-lived. A grating, teeth-gritting screech cut through the night – the unmistakable sound of a metal door. His blood ran cold.

The sound brought the entire operation to a standstill. Every head turned towards the source of the noise.

Ji Yanqing rushed back to the warehouse.

Reaching the street, he saw the faces of those carrying boxes from the warehouse drain of color. One of them had accidentally removed the box wedging the door open, causing it to shift.

“I’m sorry…” the person with the box stammered, his face pale. It had been the last box, and he hadn’t anticipated the consequence of removing it.

Ji Yanqing rushed forward, just as the telltale sound of running footsteps echoed from the alley across the street.

“Go!” There was no time for blame. He barked the order, turning to face the oncoming threat.

The others, faces white with fear, didn’t need to be told twice. Clutching their burdens, they bolted toward the safety of the alleyway.

As they rounded the corner, figures emerged from the alley, drawn by the noise.

“Clang!”

A new sound pierced the night – glass shattering against concrete. This time, it came from the direction where Xia Shen Shu and the others had used the lamp to lure the zombies.

Ji Yanqing’s heart stuttered in his chest. He whipped his head up towards the rooftops.

Xia Shen Shu was gesturing frantically from the roof. It wasn’t one of their pre-arranged signals, but Ji Yanqing quickly deciphered the message: the sound had been deliberate, a distraction to cover the noise they were making.

His mind made the connection in an instant.

He turned and flashed the “continue” signal to the group that had just dropped off their load and were about to head back for more. Then, without hesitation, he sprinted towards the alleyway, ready to deal with the approaching zombies.

The small group of zombies, hearing the commotion, had paused, torn between investigating the noise and pursuing Ji Yanqing.

They didn’t hesitate any longer. As one, they surged toward Ji Yanqing.

A long blade flashed in the darkness. There was no wasted movement, only lethal efficiency as it arced towards its target, severing the spinal cord of each zombie with deadly precision.

Feng Yimo had arrived.

Ji Yanqing let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding and quickly dispatched the last two.

He edged closer to the corner of the building and stole another glance at the other group’s progress.

Hundreds, nearly a thousand zombies, were now clustered beneath the dangling flashlights, their moans and snarls a horrifying chorus. They clawed and scrambled, a roiling sea of rotting flesh, desperate to reach the tantalizing light.

The sheer mass of bodies meant that many were crushed against the building, clambering over each other, using their companions as macabre stepping stones. They were already reaching the second floor, some even finding footholds on balconies and window ledges.

Xia Shen Shu and the others couldn’t hold out much longer.

And once the zombies reached the roof…

Ji Yanqing turned back to the supermarket. His group, oblivious to the danger unfolding across the street, continued to ferry their precious cargo, shadowy figures disappearing and reappearing in the darkness. The process continued for another agonizing three minutes until finally, someone signaled to him from the supermarket entrance.

It was the signal they had agreed on.

Immediately, Ji Yanqing flashed the retreat signal to Xia Shen Shu’s team on the rooftop.

The signal was met with a flurry of motion. The team, already strung tight with tension, wasted no time. They secured the ropes to the roof and sprinted for the stairwell.

One of them, before abandoning his post, gave the rope a final, deliberate shake. The light danced erratically from side to side, sending the horde of zombies below into a frenzy. They surged and swayed, a grotesque tide controlled by a single, bobbing light.

Ji Yanqing couldn’t help but wince at the sight. Only Xia Shen Shu could find a way to inject chaos into such a dire situation.

He and Feng Yimo, who had been watching with an almost eager anticipation in his eyes, quickly retreated to a safe distance, waiting.

Three minutes later, Xia Shen Shu’s group emerged from the building. Ji Yanqing threw a wry look at the other man, who was grinning like a maniac, and quickly led everyone away from the street.

“Did you find food?” Li Pingsen asked in a hushed voice as he jogged alongside Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing didn’t answer, but instead led them around a corner.

The sight that greeted them as they rounded the bend stole their breath away. The alleyway was filled with backpacks and boxes, stacked almost to the top of the walls. For a moment, Li Pingsen and the others could only gape, speechless with shock, before their faces erupted into expressions of pure joy.

“So much?!” Xia Shen Shu breathed, his eyes wide.

“Let’s move everything back first,” Ji Yanqing reminded them.

The group, buoyed by elation, sprang back into action. Backpacks were shouldered, boxes hoisted, and even Xia Shen Shu and his group slung their rifles and joined the effort.

Ji Yanqing took point with Feng Yimo at his side, scouting the path ahead and ensuring it was clear of zombies.

The sheer quantity of supplies, even greater than they’d anticipated, filled them with exhilaration but also prolonged their task. Transporting everything in a single trip was impossible; they would have to make several rounds.

First, they moved the supplies to a corner further down the alley, away from the supermarket. From there, they carried them to the shelter of a narrow eaves, then again to a different hiding place, before finally reaching their building.

As they passed the vegetable garden on their final approach, someone accidentally bumped against the makeshift greenhouse. The mutated cabbages swayed, alerting a pair of nearby zombies.

Fortunately, there were only two. Ji Yanqing waited until they entered the garden before swiftly dispatching them with Feng Yimo’s help.

With the immediate threat neutralized, they crossed the garden and reached the building, now piled high with backpacks and boxes. Several faces peered down from the windows above, alerted by the commotion. Ji An and Ji Le, too short to reach even on tiptoes, were thankfully absent.

Ji Yanqing waved for the others to return inside. While the corner near their building was clear, there were still zombies further down the road and on the mountain.

Once they were gone, Ji Yanqing surveyed the mountain of supplies with a touch of apprehension. Getting everything to the third floor using ropes would require countless trips.

“Over here,” Xia Shen Shu called out, pointing to a window near the ground. It belonged to the unit directly below theirs.

Ji Yanqing examined it. A bathroom.

The first floor of the building wasn’t residential, but rather a storefront. The main entrance faced the street, leaving the back for a bathroom and a small room that could serve as either storage or a single bedroom.

The bathroom window was secured by a metal grille.

Quickly removing his coat, Ji Yanqing picked up his axe and headed towards the window. He wrapped his coat around the blade, using it to pry open a gap between the wall and the grille.

The bathroom window was small, as was its security grille. It was held in place by just four screws at the corners.

Ji Yanqing worked quickly and skillfully, prying out each screw in turn.

As he finished, Li Pingsen and the others, who had been supporting the grille from the outside, carefully removed it and set it aside.

Xia Shen Shu was the first to climb through, scouting the space inside.

He reappeared a minute later. “Clear,” he announced.

A collective sigh of relief swept through the group, followed by a renewed burst of activity.

Some climbed through the window to receive the supplies from inside, while others remained outside, forming a human chain to pass boxes and bags through the opening.

Ji Yanqing retreated to the edge of the vegetable garden, where he had a clear view of both approaches. He stood watch, his senses alert.

The process took nearly ten minutes, but finally, every last item had been passed through the window.

Ji Yanqing approached the window. Inside, Feng Yimo was waiting. He extended a hand.

Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, Ji Yanqing reached out and let himself be pulled inside.

He closed and secured the window.

The room was filled with weary figures, sprawled on the floor, their faces illuminated by a mixture of exhaustion and euphoria.

They looked at Ji Yanqing, their gazes lingering on the mountain of boxes and bags that filled the living room. It was a sight that made them want to shout with relief and joy.

Ji Yanqing drew in a deep breath. His first words were not of triumph or a summary of their mission. “Let’s distribute some water first,” he said.

As if a switch had been flipped, the group, moments ago on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion, was suddenly energized. Forgetting their fatigue and tension, they rose and began to rummage through the supplies for water.

Ji Yanqing leaned his axe against the wall and stepped back. His gaze was drawn to the bathroom window, above which lay the room where Ji An and the others slept.

He stepped back, took a running leap, and without using the rope, easily hoisted himself up to the third floor.

Inside, the others were gathered near the window, with the exception of Lan Zi and the other unconscious man. Ji An and Ji Le, perched on the window sill, stretched their necks and stood on tiptoes, desperate for a glimpse of what was happening below.

“Papa!” They rushed towards him with delight as he appeared in the doorway.

Ji Yanqing ruffled their hair affectionately. “Everyone downstairs,” he announced, meeting the gazes of the others. “We brought back a lot of supplies.”

They had all seen the mountain of supplies through the window, but hearing Ji Yanqing confirm their abundance brought smiles to their faces. One by one, they descended to the lower floor using the rope.

Once everyone was safely down, Ji Yanqing carefully lowered Ji An and Ji Le, one after the other, taking care to pad their descent.

Feng Yimo waited below, catching each boy and untying the rope.

When it was Lan Zi’s turn, Ji Yanqing spoke, and Feng Yimo, without a word, untied the rope once she was safely inside, handing her over to Xia Shen Shu.

For the last man, Ji Yanqing secured the rope around his waist and lowered him through the window. However, when he attempted to follow, he found himself still dangling from the rope. With a sigh, he untied himself and climbed down the rest of the way.

Entering through the window once more, he secured both it and the door. As he turned, he noticed that everyone had managed to find a bottle of water.

“Here’s yours,” Xia Shen Shu said, tossing him a bottle.

Ji Yanqing caught it and examined it. It was a bottle of mineral water, brand new but partially depleted due to the heat, only eighty percent remaining.

The coolness of the plastic against his palm, the comforting weight of it, sent a wave of relief through him. He hadn’t realized how parched he was until that moment.

“Papa!”

Ji An and Ji Le, who were sharing a single bottle, scrambled towards him, eagerly offering him their water.

Ji Yanqing unscrewed the cap, took a small sip, and handed it back to them with a smile.

Finally, he raised his own bottle to his lips and took a long drink. His throat, dry and scratchy from thirst, felt as if it would crack. The cool water was like a balm, and he couldn’t help but shudder as it flowed down his throat, a sigh of relief escaping his lips.

The sound of his sigh, the sight of him swallowing, seemed to awaken a similar thirst in the others. As one, they uncapped their bottles and began to drink.

Gone was their earlier restraint. Now, knowing that water was plentiful, they drank deeply, the sound of their gulps and swallows echoing in the darkness.

The sensation of the cool liquid soothing their parched throats, revitalizing their weary bodies, brought a collective sigh of contentment to the room.

When they finally lowered their bottles, having drunk their fill, they looked at each other with a renewed sense of hope. For a brief moment, the despair of the apocalypse, the exhaustion that clung to them, the pain of their wounds, all seemed to fade away.

Ji Yanqing crouched down, offering the rest of his water bottle to Ji Le, who drank greedily before passing it to his brother.

Watching the two boys drink, their faces flushed with contentment, a flicker of warmth touched Ji Yanqing’s eyes.

Setting aside the empty bottle, he addressed the group. “Let’s have something to eat, and then everyone should get some rest. We’ll figure out the rest tomorrow,” he said.

His words seemed to break a spell. Glancing out the window at the steadily falling snow, they realized with a jolt that it was the middle of the night. The excitement of finding food and water had eclipsed all else, even the biting cold.

There were no arguments. Their thirst quenched, their stomachs no longer gnawing with hunger, they moved with a newfound calm, distributing food and finding spaces on the floor to eat.

Their meal finished, they took the time to reinforce the windows and doors once more, ensuring no unwanted visitors could enter. Then, one by one, they lay down, seeking rest.

Within minutes, most of the room was asleep. The extreme fatigue, followed by the overwhelming relief and joy, had taken its toll. Even the children succumbed to sleep within moments, their breathing deep and even.

Watching them, Ji Yanqing gathered a bottle of water and a clean cloth and made his way to a secluded corner.

He sat down with a sigh and looked down at his bandaged foot. He hated the thought of anything crawling on his skin, let alone burrowing beneath it. The mere thought made his skin crawl. He hadn’t dared to change the bandages since leaving the snowfield.

He didn’t want anyone to see his fear, his unease. Even if they wouldn’t judge, he knew they needed a leader who remained strong, who wouldn’t crumble in the face of adversity.

Glancing around once more to ensure no one was watching, Ji Yanqing took a deep breath and slowly unwound the cloth from his foot.

The snow had washed away the blood, leaving only the wounds, now just faint lines in the dim light. He exhaled, feeling a strange mix of relief and morbid curiosity.

He forced himself not to look too closely, but the feeling of revulsion lingered.

As he reached for the water to clean the wounds, a figure appeared beside him.

“Feng Yimo.”

Feng Yimo sat down opposite him, unscrewing the cap of his own water bottle. He gently lifted Ji Yanqing’s foot and began to rinse away the dried blood.

The water, chilled by the night air, sent a jolt through Ji Yanqing, making him flinch involuntarily.

Feng Yimo’s hand tightened around his ankle, a silent reassurance. His fingers were long and strong, his touch firm but not rough. The slight coolness of his skin against Ji Yanqing’s own sent a wave of unexpected vulnerability through him. He started to pull his foot away.

As if sensing his intent, Feng Yimo’s gaze met his, his grip tightening just slightly.

Ji Yanqing’s heart skipped a beat under that dark, unreadable gaze. His lips parted to speak, but no words came out.

The process, thankfully, didn’t take long. The water bottle was soon empty.

Feng Yimo carefully patted Ji Yanqing’s feet dry with the cloth and proceeded to re-bandage both of them.

“Thank you…” Ji Yanqing murmured, feeling a blush creep up his neck.

Once done, Feng Yimo stood up.

Ji Yanqing quickly offered him his own bottle, still more than half full. Feng Yimo had used his own water to clean his wounds. Though their supplies were currently abundant, they had each received a fixed ration. If Feng Yimo had used all his water on him…

Feng Yimo glanced at the bottle but made no move to take it. Turning, he walked away.

“Feng Yimo?” Ji Yanqing called out, his voice hoarse. His gaze followed the other man until he settled down in a corner, seemingly preparing to sleep.

Ji Yanqing lowered his hand, his gaze falling on his neatly bandaged feet. A wave of warmth, both physical and emotional, spread through him.

He stood up and went to lie down beside Ji An and Ji Le.

The boys were still awake, waiting for him.

He settled down between them, adjusting their collars and waistbands to seal out the drafts. Then he shrugged out of his coat and draped it over all three of them. “Sleep,” he commanded gently.

Exhaustion finally claimed them, their breathing quickly becoming slow and deep.

Ji Yanqing listened to the sound of their breathing, a small smile touching his lips. He pulled the coat more snugly around them and closed his eyes, sleep claiming him as well.

Despite being sheltered from the wind, the bitter cold seeped into the building. Throughout the night, Ji Yanqing would wake with a shiver, his body curled protectively around his sons, his own share of the coat pitifully inadequate.

It wasn’t until the early hours, when the temperature finally relented somewhat, that he fell into a deeper sleep.

The floor, hard and unforgiving, offered little comfort. But even the aches and chills of a night spent on cold concrete couldn’t dampen the spirits of those who woke to a room overflowing with food and water.

Ji Yanqing lay still for a while after waking, content to listen to the sounds of the others stirring around him. When Ji An and Ji Le finally woke as well, he opened his eyes and sat up.

The coat he had used to cover his sons slipped off, revealing the familiar black of Feng Yimo’s own coat beneath. It seemed to retain a trace of the other man’s body heat, a subtle reminder of his presence.

Ji Yanqing glanced around, but Feng Yimo was nowhere to be found.

“Papa…” Ji Le mumbled, his cheeks flushed with sleep.

Ji Yanqing reached out to feel his forehead. The fever had subsided considerably; it was no longer burning hot. He let out a breath of relief.

He quickly checked Ji An’s temperature as well, only to feel his own heart clench again. The fever lingered, showing no signs of breaking.

As worry tightened its grip on his chest, a shadow fell over him.

“Morning, Little Captain Ji.”

He glanced up, expecting to see Lan Zi or perhaps Xia Shen Shu, the only ones who addressed him so formally. Instead, he found himself staring at two grinning faces, unfamiliar at first glance.

They were members of his team, a young man and woman, their arms laden with thick quilts they had salvaged from one of the apartments.

Ji Yanqing shot a mock-glower at Xia Shen Shu, who was busy making an inventory of their supplies. It was his influence, undoubtedly, that had corrupted the others. He was Captain Ji, not some informal “Little Captain Ji”.

Xia Shen Shu, sensing his gaze, looked up with an expression of exaggerated innocence.

Ji Yanqing rose to his feet, shrugging on his jacket. Picking up Feng Yimo’s coat, he began to scan the room, searching.

It was still early morning. The sky outside was just beginning to lighten, casting a pale glow over the snow-covered street. The air was still bitterly cold.

Most of the group was engaged in sorting and organizing their newly acquired supplies, while others took the opportunity to clean and re-bandage their wounds with clean water. Although their wounds had already scabbed over, they couldn’t shake the fear that the snow might be contaminated. They were alive now, but what hidden dangers might they be carrying?

Near the bathroom window, another group was busy hauling in armfuls of quilts they had procured from neighboring apartments. Even inside, the mountain air was frigid. They had a week to recuperate, and now that food and water were no longer a concern, warmth was their next priority.

Unable to find Feng Yimo inside, Ji Yanqing moved towards the window, poking his head out to scan their surroundings.

Nothing.

He frowned. Surely Feng Yimo couldn’t have gotten lost within the confines of their building…

Someone outside called out, about to pass more supplies through the window. Ji Yanqing quickly stepped back to make room.

He searched the living room once more, this time venturing into each of the bedrooms. When he still couldn’t find Feng Yimo, he climbed out of the window to search outside.

Behind their building lay farmland, the mutated crops, some taller than a grown man, forming a dense barrier that obscured the road from the view of any zombies further down. As long as they remained quiet, they were relatively safe.

Li Pingsen and a small group were struggling to climb into a third-floor window of the adjacent building, hoping to find more quilts.

Ji Yanqing glanced upwards, his gaze sweeping over the building. His eyes fell on a familiar figure perched precariously on the air conditioning unit of the fourth floor.

A laugh escaped his lips. So even Feng Yimo felt the cold. And it seemed a night spent freezing had motivated him to finally seek out a blanket.

Feng Yimo had spotted him as well. He had been making his way down, using the air conditioning units as makeshift steps. He watched, his expression unreadable, as Ji Yanqing’s face broke into a wide smile.

Landing silently on the ground, he turned to face Ji Yanqing, who was walking towards him.

“Here’s your coat. Thank you,” Ji Yanqing said, handing it to him.

Feng Yimo took the coat, and to Ji Yanqing’s surprise, immediately draped the thick quilt he had been carrying into his arms.

Ji Yanqing stared at him, bewildered, then instinctively clutched the quilt to his chest. It was incredibly soft and light, probably silk.

He looked up just as Feng Yimo finished shrugging on his coat and retrieved his sword from where it was propped against the wall.

He watched, speechless, as Feng Yimo turned and headed back towards the building, clearly intending to rejoin the others.

It dawned on him, belatedly, that Feng Yimo hadn’t found the quilt for himself. He’d braved the cold and the precarious climb to find a blanket for Ji Yanqing.

By the time Ji Yanqing returned to the living room, still clutching the quilt, Xia Shen Shu had completed the inventory. They had, without a doubt, struck gold.

Food aside, they had found over ten cases of water alone. Eight of them were mineral water. Each case contained twenty-four bottles, enough to last them eleven days at their current rate of consumption – half a bottle per person per day. The remaining cases contained assorted beverages, not as ideal as water but better than nothing.

Xia Shen Shu gave him a brief summary and handed him the notebook.

“I was just discussing with the others,” Xia Shen Shu began, “We were thinking of heading back out once there’s a bit more light.”

Ji Yanqing looked at him, waiting.

“We need more warm clothes and shoes,” Li Pingsen chimed in. “And we should probably try the pharmacy, and maybe the police station.”

The incident on the plains had cost them most of their spare clothing. Yesterday, their priority had been food and water; they hadn’t had the luxury of searching for such items. As a result, they were still resorting to using cloth to bandage their wounds, and several lacked proper winter coats.

As for the pharmacy… the medicine Ji Yanqing had brought back from the hospital was dwindling rapidly, even with those nursing minor injuries forgoing treatment to conserve their limited supplies.

The rationale for the police station was twofold. First, there was always a chance of finding more guns and ammunition. Second, they needed a map.

“This town is relatively safe. We should try to find everything we need while we still have the chance. The next city might not be so kind,” Xia Shen Shu added.

Ji Yanqing considered for a moment before nodding in agreement. “I’ll go too.”

Xia Shen Shu’s concerns were valid. The zombies here were plentiful, but they had seen no signs of devoured bodies, which meant the chances of encountering evolved zombies or a Zombie King were slim. However, they couldn’t rely on such luck in other cities.

His mind made up, Ji Yanqing gathered everyone together, distributed breakfast and water, and informed them of their next objective.

Their recent success had buoyed their spirits, and the prospect of returning to the streets, a daunting task under normal circumstances, was met with enthusiasm.

They were determined to make the most of their opportunity to recuperate and gather everything they needed to face whatever lay ahead.

With renewed purpose, they ate their breakfast quickly and efficiently.

Once everyone was fed, Ji Yanqing divided them into teams.

Three teams in total. Ji Yanqing, Xia Shen Shu, and Li Pingsen would each lead a team, targeting the pharmacy, the police station, and clothing stores, respectively.

Ji Yanqing and Xia Shen Shu’s teams would be small and mobile, five to six people each. Li Pingsen’s team, tasked with scavenging for clothing, shoes, and other necessities, would be the largest, with fifteen members.

Li Pingsen’s face practically glowed with pride. This would be his first time leading a team since receiving his gun.

Preparations complete, they slipped out of the window one by one and made their way along the back of the building, past the vegetable garden, and onto the familiar path.

They hadn’t even reached the street when Li Pingsen and his team peeled off, heading for the quieter side streets where clothing stores were more common.

Ji Yanqing and Xia Shen Shu continued onwards with their teams for a short distance, stopping when they were close to the supermarket from the previous night.

Ji Yanqing hesitated, glancing at Feng Yimo, who was part of Xia Shen Shu’s team. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Feng Yimo had been watching him intently ever since they’d left the building, his gaze following his every move like a large dog about to be abandoned by its owner.

His decision to assign Feng Yimo to Xia Shen Shu’s team had been strategic. While scavenging for clothing and shoes could be done in relative safety, the pharmacy and the police station were almost guaranteed to be crawling with zombies.

The main street was close by, which meant Xia Shen Shu’s team had to be prepared to fight their way out if necessary, and preferably without using their guns, which would attract unwanted attention.

Ji Yanqing could rely on his axe in close combat, but Xia Shen Shu’s team, without their guns, would be severely disadvantaged. Feng Yimo was the obvious solution.

But a small part of him couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt, as if he were abandoning a loyal companion.

“We’ll meet back here then?” Xia Shen Shu asked, confirming their rendezvous point. The pharmacy and police station were both located a short distance away, near the main street next to the supermarket.

Ji Yanqing met Feng Yimo’s gaze. “I’ll leave him in your capable hands,” he said, hoping he wasn’t imagining the hurt in those dark eyes.

Feng Yimo’s expression remained unreadable, giving no indication of his thoughts.

“Keep an eye on him,” Ji Yanqing added to Xia Shen Shu in a low voice.

He couldn’t shake the irrational feeling that Feng Yimo might wander off if left unsupervised.

Xia Shen Shu grimaced. Whether he wanted to “keep an eye” on Feng Yimo was irrelevant. The question was whether Feng Yimo would listen to him at all.

Seemingly reading his mind, Ji Yanqing pulled him aside and whispered conspiratorially, “He likes being praised.”

In many ways, Feng Yimo was like an innocent, sheltered child.

“Let’s go.” Ji Yanqing turned and led his team down a side street to the right, Feng Yimo’s gaze burning into his back.

He resisted the urge to look back until they rounded a corner.

Feng Yimo was still watching him, his eyes filled with what appeared to be hurt and accusation. Guilt gnawed at Ji Yanqing’s conscience.

He quickly pushed the feeling aside and refocused on the task at hand, his senses on high alert.

“Are you sure the pharmacy is up ahead?” he asked Xia Chen, who had been the one to spot it during his earlier scouting mission.

“Yes, it’s a clinic, quite large, should have a dispensary,” Xia Chen affirmed.

Ji Yanqing nodded and cautiously led his team onwards.

They were nearing the main street now, but this section, being closer to the edge of town, was less densely populated with both buildings and zombies.

After about five or six minutes, they spotted a group of figures ahead.

Rather than risk a confrontation, they chose a roundabout route, eventually arriving at a different intersection.

A car was parked at the intersection, partially blocking the view of nearby zombies.

Ji Yanqing and his team carefully approached, crouching low behind the vehicle. He followed Xia Chen’s directions, spotting the clinic on the opposite side of the street to their left.

Zombies were clustered around the entrance, spilling out onto the sidewalk and making the already difficult task of reaching their destination even more challenging.

After assessing the situation, Ji Yanqing signaled to his team, and they retreated to the safety of the alleyway.

Once hidden from view, he pulled out a rock he had picked up earlier and hurled it at the roof of the car.

A loud clang echoed through the air, instantly attracting the attention of several nearby zombies. There was a moment of stillness before they turned and began lumbering towards the source of the sound.

As soon as he heard them approaching, Ji Yanqing motioned for his team to follow him. They circled around the block, using the narrow alleyways for cover, until they were once again positioned opposite the clinic.

The distraction had worked. Only a handful of zombies remained near the clinic’s entrance.

Ji Yanqing stole one last glance back at the other alley to ensure they hadn’t been followed, then, with a whispered command, they sprinted across the street and through the clinic doors.

He frowned the moment they were inside.

From a distance, the dispensary had been obscured from view, but now it was glaringly obvious that they were not the first to target this location. Every drawer and cabinet had been ransacked, their contents emptied. Even the cardboard boxes used for storage had been ripped open and discarded, their empty forms bearing the imprint of countless footprints.

They had been cleaned out.

Ji Yanqing wasted no time in leading his disappointed team out of the clinic and back into the relative safety of the alleyway.

Once they were hidden from view, a wave of frustrated disappointment washed over them.

“It must have been that other survivor group,” Xia Chen muttered angrily.

They had come across signs of the other group’s presence in the town before, but the untouched supermarket had led them to believe that they hadn’t ventured this deep. Now, it seemed that the other group had simply made the same calculation that Ji Yanqing had: the supermarket, though tempting, would require too much time, ammunition, and manpower to clear.

“Xia Shen Shu and the others...the police station...” Xia Chen trailed off, his face grim. The police station, one of the few places likely to hold guns and ammunition, would not have been overlooked.

Ji Yanqing glanced towards the police station, a knot of worry forming in his stomach.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the street, Xia Shen Shu swore under his breath, his gaze fixed on the police station across the road.

There were even more zombies than he’d anticipated, at least fifty or sixty, packed into the small lobby like sardines in a can.

“Maybe we should just head back?” someone suggested nervously. “We can always look for a map in the next city.”

Facing off against this many zombies, even using their planned diversion tactics, was too risky. They could easily attract even more, making their situation exponentially more dangerous.

“After the outbreak, places like this would have been mobbed,” Xia Shen Shu countered. “For all we know, the next city will be even worse.”

The guns were secondary. Those were likely long gone. Their real objective was the map.

They couldn’t exactly rely on Google Maps in the apocalypse.

“Then what do we do?”

Xia Shen Shu rubbed his temples, torn.

“Is this what Ji Yanqing wants?” Feng Yimo’s voice cut through his thoughts, cold and sharp.

Xia Shen Shu looked at him. “It’s… important.”

Feng Yimo didn’t hesitate. Before Xia Shen Shu could react, he was crossing the street, heading straight for the police station’s glass doors.

“Feng Yimo! What are you doing?!” Xia Shen Shu hissed, but it was too late. Feng Yimo had already reached the entrance.

He watched, his blood turning to ice, as Feng Yimo pushed open the doors, stepping inside.

The zombies in the lobby turned as one, their moans rising in a crescendo of hunger as they surged towards this new threat.

Feng Yimo raised his leg and delivered a swift, brutal kick to the chest of the nearest zombie, sending it crashing into the horde behind it, a bowling ball scattering pins. He followed up with a series of punches and kicks, his movements a blur of lethal efficiency. Zombies flew backwards, crashing into each other and the furniture with sickening crunches and thuds.

Even from across the street, the sounds of the onslaught sent shivers down their spines.

Before they could process what they were seeing, Feng Yimo drew his sword.

The sight sent another wave of shocked disbelief through Xia Shen Shu’s team.

They all knew Feng Yimo was strong. After Ji Yanqing, he was arguably the most capable fighter in their group. But none of them had expected this, this almost casual brutality. It was as if fear was a foreign concept to him, as if he were incapable of feeling even a flicker of trepidation in the face of such overwhelming odds.

Xia Shen Shu cursed under his breath. He took another quick glance around to make sure they hadn’t attracted unwanted attention, then, with a determined nod, he sprinted across the street towards the police station, his team close behind.

By the time they reached the entrance, only a handful of zombies remained standing.

They hesitated, as if even in their mindless, ravenous state, they sensed something different, something dangerous, about Feng Yimo.

Seeing that they were unwilling to approach, Feng Yimo went to them, stepping over their fallen comrades without a flicker of hesitation, his gaze fixed on the hallway beyond.

“The map! Find the map!” Xia Shen Shu called out, snapping the others out of their stupor.

He spared a cursory glance for the fallen officers, their bodies half-devoured, before steeling himself and following Feng Yimo, who had already disappeared into the depths of the building.

Feng Yimo moved with a chilling precision, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.

Xia Shen Shu spotted a glint of metal among the corpses. He quickly located a set of keys and used them to open a nearby cabinet. It was filled with ammunition. Jackpot.

“Found it!” someone shouted triumphantly from a nearby room.

They had located the city map, along with a detailed street plan of their district, mounted on the wall of what was presumably a meeting room.

Xia Shen Shu immediately abandoned his search for more ammunition and hurried towards them.

Feng Yimo was emerging from a room to their left, his sword dripping, his dark eyes cold and distant, almost… fixated.

“Feng Yimo, let’s go!” Xia Shen Shu called out, trying to regain his attention.

Feng Yimo paused, the tip of his sword inches from the neck of another zombie. After a moment, he sheathed his blade and turned to face them.

Xia Shen Shu swallowed, suddenly remembering Ji Yanqing’s words. “Good job. We can… play again later.”

Feng Yimo’s movements stilled, his dark eyes lifting to meet Xia Shen Shu’s.

His expression remained blank, but for a moment, Xia Shen Shu had the bizarre feeling that he had just said something incredibly stupid, even repulsive.

Xia Shen Shu’s lips twitched. Wasn’t this supposed to be his “thing”, enjoying compliments?

“Let’s head back,” he said, holding up the map. “Ji Yanqing said finding the map was the priority.”

Feng Yimo’s gaze flickered towards the map, then back to Xia Shen Shu. He gave a curt nod, wiping his blade clean on the back of a fallen zombie.

With that, he turned and headed back towards the entrance, leaving behind a scene of carnage that would haunt Xia Shen Shu for weeks to come.

As they made their way back to their meeting point, several of them couldn’t help but steal nervous glances at Feng Yimo, who seemed completely unaffected by the massacre he’d just unleashed.

They all killed zombies. It was a necessity in this new world. But while the others, even Ji Yanqing, killed out of necessity, out of a primal need to survive, Feng Yimo…

Feng Yimo killed with a chilling, detached focus, a terrifying lack of emotion that sent a shiver down their spines. It was as if he’d completely disassociated himself from the act, as if the zombies were nothing more than obstacles to be eliminated with ruthless efficiency.

They rounded a corner, and spotted Ji Yanqing and his team waiting for them.

As Xia Shen Shu drew closer, Feng Yimo suddenly surged forward, brushing past him without a word and heading straight towards Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing, frowning, watched him approach. There was something almost desperate in Feng Yimo’s movements, as if there was a psychopath chasing close behind. 

“What happened?” Ji Yanqing asked, turning to Xia Shen Shu.

Xia Shen Shu gritted his teeth. If it weren’t for the fact that he couldn’t win…

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