AFTCKCTCKATD - Chapter 48

 Chapter 48

In Ji Yanqing's Paradise, Zombies Were Not Allowed.

The surroundings were too dark, and Feng Yimo was sitting to his left, further inside the vehicle. Ji Yanqing couldn’t clearly see Feng Yimo’s expression, but for a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a flicker of anger on his face. Recognizing this, Ji Yanqing’s lips curled into a faint smile. All that was in the past. Knowing no one would come to save him, he had learned to pick up a weapon. Even without a protector, he could now protect himself.

Ji Yanqing glanced at the axe he kept by his side, never letting it out of his reach. This apocalypse, which had brought devastation to others, held a different meaning for him. It was a rebirth, albeit a harsh one.

He fell silent, pulling Ji Le into his arms and letting the boy cry against his chest. In this apocalyptic world, the simple act of sobbing openly in someone’s embrace was a luxury, not afforded to everyone. Ji Le, overwhelmed by long-suppressed emotions, finally released his pent-up fear and exhaustion. Coupled with the late hour, he quickly cried himself to sleep. Once he was asleep, Ji Yanqing gently wiped away the tear stains on his small face and laid him down beside him.

He then turned to Ji An, whose eyes were also red-rimmed, brimming with unshed tears. As the older brother, he was trying to be strong. Ji Yanqing extended a hand to him. Ji An, who had been preparing to lie down beside Ji Le, looked up, startled. Without explanation, Ji Yanqing leaned forward and gathered him into his arms. Ji An was small, barely reaching his thigh when standing. In his embrace, he felt even tinier.

Feeling the boy’s slight weight, Ji Yanqing whispered, “It’s okay to tell Daddy if you’re feeling sad. It’s okay; I won’t tell anyone.” He stroked Ji An’s cheek, feeling the flesh that was slowly returning. “You’re the older brother, but I’m your dad.” Ji An was only six months older than Ji Le.

Ji An nodded against Ji Yanqing’s palm, intending to say “okay,” but before he could speak, tears overflowed. “Wuu...” He hadn’t meant to be mean, but Ji Le had blamed him and pushed him away, refusing to acknowledge his attempts at reconciliation. Overwhelmed by his aggrievement, Ji An cried softly, like a small kitten.

Ji Yanqing held him, gently stroking his back until he too fell asleep. He placed Ji An beside Ji Le, letting them huddle together for warmth, and tucked their clothes around them. Finally, he exhaled and turned back to look down at the city below.

As his attention refocused, a headache began to throb behind his eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Lights were still flickering in the county; Xia Shen Shu and the others hadn’t returned. They seemed determined to strip the entire city bare.

While his attention had been diverted by Ji An and Ji Le, the others on the mountain, their nerves stretched taut, had been intently watching the city below. Their faces were pale with tension, some looking as if they were about to be sick.

Xia Shen Shu’s group didn’t return until after daybreak, past five o’clock, nearly an hour after sunrise. Emerging from the city and crossing the open ground between the buildings and the forest, they approached the vehicle with triumphant grins on their faces.

They had returned with a massive haul. The one hundred and twenty people had made over three trips back and forth, finally transporting everything up the mountain by almost eight o’clock. The road behind the vehicle was crammed with stacks of boxes and bags, stretching for over ten meters.

There were so many supplies that the truck couldn’t hold them all. They had utilized every inch of space, stuffing the cargo area until it was bursting at the seams. Even the roof of the truck was piled high with lighter items packed into backpacks and secured with ropes. And still, a pile remained on the ground.

Climbing out of the vehicle, Ji Yanqing sat on a stack of cardboard boxes and watched as a group tended to Lu Qing’s wounds. A dozen people had been injured during the night’s operation.

Lan Zi noticed his gaze and explained with a smile, “During the first run, the rope was too low. The two people pulling it were grabbed by the zombies below who had hold of the lantern. They were almost pulled down. Thankfully, Mo Xian was quick-witted enough to grab them and cut the rope tied to their hands before it was too late.”

Ji Yanqing scanned the crowd and quickly spotted Mo Xian sitting alone in a corner. As one of the less popular members of Xue Gang’s team, he wasn’t exactly surrounded by friends.

“While we were moving things in the supermarket, someone moved too quickly and knocked over a top-heavy shelf. The others rushed to catch it, afraid the noise would attract too many zombies,” Lan Zi continued, still looking shaken. Thankfully, they had acted as human cushions, preventing the shelf from crashing to the ground. Otherwise, the city would have been in chaos.

Ji Yanqing nodded.

Sensing his gaze, several of the injured looked up. Meeting his eyes, they grinned sheepishly. The success of the previous night, the abundance of supplies they had retrieved, had lifted everyone’s spirits.

Ji Yanqing turned to examine several large bags beside him. He pressed on one; the contents felt soft. He opened it to find a collection of black coats.

Not having seen the inventory list yet, Ji Yanqing raised an eyebrow. Why had Xia Shen Shu brought back so many coats? In the freezing weather, coats were essential for the nights, but they usually only wore one, carrying at most a set of light innerwear for changing. They wouldn’t waste precious energy carrying extra bulk.

As he puzzled over this, Xia Shen Shu appeared out of nowhere, carrying two cartoon backpacks, the kind used by kindergarteners. He walked towards Ji An and Ji Le.

Upon receiving the backpacks, both boys beamed with delight. While Ji Yanqing and the others had their own large backpacks, big enough to fit the children inside, these small backpacks were perfect for them. Now, they could carry their own belongings.

“Isn’t your gege good to you?” Xia Shen Shu asked.

Ji Yanqing sighed inwardly. Xia Shen Shu was older than him. If Xia Shen Shu was Ji An and Ji Le’s gege, wouldn’t that make him Xia Shen Shu’s uncle?

“Why did you bring all these back?” Ji Yanqing asked. He appreciated Xia Shen Shu’s kindness towards Ji An and Ji Le, but he couldn’t accept him risking the lives of others for such things. Everyone’s life was precious. After helping Ji An and Ji Le put on their backpacks, Xia Shen Shu stood up with a smile.

He glanced at the bag of coats under Ji Yanqing’s hand, then scanned the crowd until he found Hei Long. He beckoned him over.

Hei Long, who had been joking with the others, jogged over.

“Explain to Captain Ji about these clothes,” Xia Shen Shu instructed.

“These are specifically for the three squads, so they can be distinguished from the rest of the team,” Hei Long explained.

Ji Yanqing immediately pictured the arrogant members of Xue Gang’s squad and the twenty men in suits shivering in the snow behind Hei Long. His face hardened in disapproval. “They don’t need to be distinguished from anyone else.” There was no hierarchy in his team.

Hei Long faltered, staring at Ji Yanqing with a mixture of astonishment and bewilderment, as if he were looking at a strange creature. Unbound by outdated rules, in this apocalyptic world, strength reigned supreme. After a moment of stunned silence, he scratched his head. “It’s also a way to display the strength of the survivor group.”

“Display strength?”

“Survivor groups usually showcase their armed members to demonstrate their power to other groups. It’s an established custom, a form of deterrence that brings many benefits, though it also comes with risks.”

“Most survivor groups only interact with those of similar strength. Displaying our strength is a way of signaling our willingness to cooperate with comparable groups. If they see we’re open to negotiation, they’ll initiate contact.”

“And if we encounter hostile groups, they’ll think twice before attacking us, weighing the potential costs.”

Seeing that Ji Yanqing was unfamiliar with the dynamics of survivor groups, Hei Long elaborated further. “Generally, a group’s strength is measured by the number of firearms it possesses. Fifty is the threshold. Above fifty and below fifty are two completely different things.”

“Below fifty is insignificant. But if a group has more than fifty guns, even if another group with a hundred guns attacks them, the smaller group can still inflict significant casualties.”

“Losing dozens of elite members and hundreds of rounds of ammunition for fifty guns and a few supplies isn’t worth it, even if they win.”

“While there are some ruthless groups who act without regard for consequences, most people form survivor groups to survive, not to court needless conflict.”

Ji Yanqing was taken aback by Hei Long’s explanation. He hadn’t considered these things before. Hei Long’s reasoning made sense. A way to quickly assess the strength of another group would be advantageous. And projecting strength would deter potential threats, saving them a lot of trouble.

While it was true that to a significantly stronger group, this display might make them look like a tempting target, such powerful groups were likely rare in this world.

The image of the shivering men in suits behind Hei Long flashed in Ji Yanqing’s mind. “The suits and sunglasses are also to show strength?”

Hei Long choked, his face turning a shade of red. “Ahem... those are only worn during negotiations with other groups. We usually wear coats. I just thought the coats lacked... flair.”

Ji Yanqing felt a surge of exasperation. He’d just started to think Hei Long might have some redeeming qualities, and now he was questioning his judgment.

Taking a deep breath, Ji Yanqing ignored Hei Long and turned to Xia Shen Shu.

“We didn’t find many similar coats this time, only about twenty. We can give them to one squad first and find more later. Ideally, each team will have distinct clothing for easier identification during operations,” Xia Shen Shu said.

Ji Yanqing nodded.

“Let’s give them to Li Pingsen’s squad first,” Xia Shen Shu said, gesturing towards Li Pingsen and his group, who were taking inventory of the supplies. The goods inside the vehicle had already been counted; now they were working on those left on the road.

Ji Yanqing had no objections.

“Oh, right,” Xia Shen Shu rummaged through a pile of supplies and pulled out a slightly deflated backpack. He brought it to Ji Yanqing and unzipped it.

The first things that caught Ji Yanqing’s eye were five guns: three pistols and two machine guns. Pistols weren’t ideal for this apocalypse, where threats usually came in hordes, but they were better than nothing.

“Found them at the police station,” Xia Shen Shu said, handing the guns to Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing examined the weapons, then looked around. Many people had noticed the commotion. Seeing the guns, several hopeful faces flushed with anticipation. After a quick survey of the crowd, Ji Yanqing distributed four of the guns to unarmed members of Xia Shen Shu and Li Pingsen’s squads.

He tossed the remaining pistol to Mo Xian, who was resting alone in the distance.

Mo Xian stared at the gun in his hand, stunned. He instinctively looked around, as if checking whether Ji Yanqing had made a mistake. Confirming he was the intended recipient, his astonishment deepened. He hadn’t expected to have another chance to hold a gun. Ji Yanqing offered no explanation. Mo Xian had experience with firearms and was physically capable. He had always been a suitable candidate. If not for the incident with Xue Gang’s squad, he likely would have received a gun earlier.

Back in the shrub-covered plains, Mo Xian had been the first to lay down his weapon. Ji Yanqing was willing to give him another chance.

Without waiting for Ji Yanqing to speak, Mo Xian looked down at the heavy gun in his hand, then at the others around him. Many had been hoping for that last gun. Now that it had been assigned, disappointment and envy were evident on their faces. Among them, especially those who had been part of Xue Gang’s squad, there were complex expressions, but no outright anger.

Sensing the weight of the gun in his hand and the reactions around him, Mo Xian’s astonishment gave way to emotion. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he lowered his head. When Ji Yanqing looked back, Mo Xian was burying his face in his arms, his shoulders shaking.

Ji Yanqing glanced at two other men sitting further away, who were watching Mo Xian with a mixture of jealousy and resentment. They were clearly angry and bitter about him receiving the gun.

Ji Yanqing sighed inwardly. Hopeless.

In the meantime, Xia Shen Shu had finished explaining the functionalities of the guns to their new owners, teaching them how to use them.

Next, he pulled out several new binoculars in their original packaging. “From the toy store. Toys these days are surprisingly high-spec. Not as good as military-grade, but still decent,” Xia Shen Shu explained.

After the binoculars, he produced a few more items: chalk, a map, and five walkie-talkies. The walkie-talkies were not new; three looked like they had been salvaged from zombies, their surfaces still stained with dried, unknown fluids.

Ji Yanqing’s eyes lit up at the sight of the walkie-talkies. They were handheld devices, likely from the police station. These walkie-talkies had a range of one to three kilometers in urban areas and three to five kilometers in open terrain. Before the outbreak, he wouldn’t have given them a second glance. But now, especially with three squads, these devices could significantly improve coordination and communication, potentially turning the tide in critical situations.

Xia Shen Shu hadn’t had time to examine them properly before. Now, he spent a few minutes studying them before finally putting them down.

“They seem to be intact and functional, but the batteries are low,” he observed, looking at Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing took a deep breath. They needed to prioritize finding a generator. As Xia Shen Shu repacked the items, Li Pingsen finished inventorying the supplies and compiled a list.

Seeing Ji Yanqing with the list, everyone, whether still busy or resting, looked at him with expectant smiles. A vehicle full of food and drinks, along with medicine and five guns – this had been a remarkably successful haul.

Ji Yanqing scanned the list. “Good work, everyone. You did an excellent job.”

His words brought even wider smiles to their faces. Ji Yanqing immediately instructed them to distribute some of the remaining food. Xia Shen Shu and the others hadn’t had breakfast yet after their all-night operation. As they ate, Ji Yanqing addressed them again. “After you’re done, rest for a bit. We need to refuel and leave here as soon as possible. We’ll find a safer place to rest later.”

They were still too close to the county; there was no guarantee the surrounding mountains were zombie-free. Even if they rested here, they wouldn’t be able to truly relax. It was better to put some distance between themselves and the city before properly resting.

Still buzzing with excitement and adrenaline, no one felt sleepy. After eating and resting for half an hour, without needing any prompting from Ji Yanqing, they began discussing how to procure gasoline. While they had acquired a lot of supplies, gasoline wasn’t among them. Unlike other resources, gasoline had to be collected bit by bit from vehicles in the city, a time-consuming process.

After finalizing their plan, they quickly crossed the forest and re-entered the county. This time, they didn’t linger. Within forty minutes, people began returning with buckets of fuel.

An hour and a half later, as the hottest two hours of the day approached, everyone had returned to the mountain. Some brought enough fuel to fill the vehicle on the mountainside, while others remained at the foot of the mountain. Li Pingsen and his squad changed into the similar black coats they had found, then began transporting the remaining supplies down the mountain.

Leaving behind two drivers and four lookouts, Ji Yanqing, supported by Feng Yimo and accompanied by Ji An and Ji Le, descended the mountain.

By the time they reached the bottom, Xia Shen Shu had already led a group through the trees, reaching the main road outside the county. The road stretched from the city into the mountains, winding its way upwards and over the peak before continuing down the other side. Their vehicle was parked halfway up.

When the outbreak occurred, fleeing residents had created a massive traffic jam that extended from the city to the forest at the foot of the mountain, ending in a pile-up of collided vehicles near the base.

The two large trucks they had their eyes on were parked a hundred meters further down the road, closer to the city. Although this was quite a distance from the city center, the entire road was still teeming with zombies. Any noise they made could trigger a chain reaction, potentially attracting the entire horde from the city.

As Ji Yanqing reached the foot of the mountain, Lan Zi was leading a group in carefully clearing the zombies between the treeline and the trucks by throwing rocks and making small, localized disturbances. There were only about ten ordinary zombies in that immediate area, but more lurked further down the road, causing beads of sweat to form on Lan Zi’s forehead.

Fortunately, the operation went relatively smoothly. Although they accidentally attracted three extra zombies at one point, the larger group in the forest quickly dealt with them.

Once Lan Zi had cleared the path, Xia Shen Shu and Li Pingsen each led a team along the line of abandoned cars towards the two trucks. Li Pingsen stopped at the first truck, while Xia Shen Shu and his team proceeded to the one closer to the city.

Both teams worked quickly. Some checked the tires, others refueled the vehicles, and others carefully opened the cargo holds to prepare for loading. Tension filled the air. Within seconds, their foreheads were damp with sweat.

One of the men refueling a truck, his hands shaking with nerves, nearly dropped a fuel container, almost hitting the vehicle. Everyone’s hearts leaped into their throats.

“Thud.”

Just as they breathed a sigh of relief after catching the container, a dull thud echoed through the air. The sound, though muffled, was heavy enough to make everyone’s muscles tense. Hearts hammered against ribs. They all looked towards the road in both directions.

The zombies between the trucks and the foot of the mountain had been cleared, but many remained further down the road. Several of the closer ones had turned towards Xia Shen Shu’s group.

Everyone stared at the man who had almost dropped the container. He shook his head frantically, drenched in sweat. It wasn’t him!

On the road, Xia Shen Shu and Li Pingsen exchanged glances and quickly checked their teams.

Just as they turned their heads, the same sound resonated again.

“Thud.”

The muscles in the faces of those hiding in the forest twitched with tension. The zombies in front of the trucks were slowly advancing towards Xia Shen Shu’s group.

Those on the road turned pale with fear, their eyes darting nervously around. They tried to pinpoint the source of the sound, but the first time they had been too startled, and the second time, the sound had been too sudden amidst their heightened anxiety.

Xia Shen Shu instinctively looked towards Ji Yanqing. From the forest, Ji Yanqing gestured, pointing to the left.

After a moment of confusion, Xia Shen Shu looked to his left. There was nothing there but the line of abandoned vehicles.

As he frowned in puzzlement, Ji Yanqing pointed downwards.

Xia Shen Shu looked down. He saw a sedan. The car?

Understanding dawned on him instantly. Inside the car!

He immediately looked into the car. As expected, there was someone inside.

A man was slumped in the driver’s seat, his neck mangled from a zombie attack that had shattered the window. He had fully turned. He hadn’t had time to unbuckle his seatbelt before being attacked, so he was still strapped in. Hearing the commotion and seeing them beside the car, he instinctively tried to lunge at them. The thudding sounds had been his head hitting the car roof as he struggled to sit up. He was about to try again.

Understanding, Xia Shen Shu quickly shoved his gun through the broken window, pressing it against the zombie’s neck to prevent him from rising.

“Gurgle...” the zombie growled, but the sound was much quieter than the thud against the roof.

Almost simultaneously, several zombies further down the road, attracted by the noise, noticed Xia Shen Shu.

He glanced back. Just as the zombies were about to pounce, several people from his team lunged forward. They threw their coats over the zombies’ heads, tackling them to the ground, then smashed their skulls in with their gun butts.

It all happened in a flash, yet it felt like an eternity. When the zombies finally lay still, everyone’s lungs ached from holding their breath. The group exchanged glances. Xia Shen Shu continued to pin the zombie in the driver’s seat, while the others quickly resumed their tasks.

As someone opened the driver’s side door after checking the tires and refueling, others opened the rear doors. One truck was empty. The other, however, was filled with boxes. The boxes were heavy, some as tall as a person, impossible to simply toss aside.

They realized then that it was a transport company truck, its sides adorned with the company logo. In their previous haste and focus on the zombies, they hadn’t paid attention to the type of vehicle.

The person who opened the door looked back at Ji Yanqing anxiously. With two-thirds of the space filled, there wouldn’t be room for many people.

Ji Yanqing, already aware of the situation, made a quick decision. It didn’t matter. More people would squeeze into the first truck. They would deal with the boxes later, once they had escaped.

Reassured by Ji Yanqing’s calm demeanor and swift instructions, the panicked individuals regained their composure.

Within moments, everything was ready.

Ji Yanqing glanced back at the others hidden in the forest. They quickly and silently approached the two trucks. The first group carried the overflow of supplies from their previous vehicle. It wasn’t much; twenty people were enough to carry it all.

Following the supplies were the injured and unconscious, who were quickly loaded onto the trucks.

The entire operation, involving over a hundred people, took less than ten seconds. As soon as everyone was aboard, the drivers started the engines.

The truck closer to the mountain’s base roared to life instantly, the engine’s roar shattering the silence. Zombies at both ends of the traffic jam turned their heads. Xia Shen Shu quickly ducked back, preparing to climb into the truck. Just as he moved, the zombie inside grabbed his gun. Caught off guard and bent over, he was yanked into the vehicle.

Xia Shen Shu winced as he saw the zombie’s face inches from his own, its claws outstretched.

Just as the zombie’s nails were about to rake across his face, a powerful force pulled him back.

Ji Yanqing, with surprising strength, had yanked him free, breaking the zombie’s grip on his gun.

“Get in!” Ji Yanqing shouted.

In the brief delay, the surrounding zombies had been fully alerted and were swarming towards them.

Xia Shen Shu scrambled into the back of the truck. He turned to help Ji Yanqing, but Feng Yimo had already lifted him into the vehicle. After Ji Yanqing, Feng Yimo hoisted Ji An and Ji Le up. Then, he climbed in himself. Suddenly, Lan Zi’s sharp cry pierced the air. “Ji Yanqing!”

She was staring at the driver’s seat of the second truck.

Ji Yanqing followed her gaze. The driver was panicking; the engine wouldn’t start. The first truck had already pulled away, but the second remained motionless. Because it was empty, the second truck held even more people than the first.

Everyone realized the situation. Faces turned ashen. Almost two-thirds of the zombies on the road had been alerted, and the commotion was rapidly spreading as more zombies rushed towards them. The disturbance was reaching the city.

They couldn’t risk firing a gun.

Ji Yanqing grabbed his axe and made to jump out, but before he could move, someone grabbed him.

“Stay here,” Feng Yimo said, jumping out of the truck and drawing his sword.

The driver of the second truck frantically tried the ignition again. The engine remained silent. Close to tears, he looked pleadingly at Ji Yanqing in the first truck. Many others followed his gaze. Should they abandon them?

Ji Yanqing remained silent, watching the people in the second truck.

Without receiving an order to leave, the driver hesitated, then lowered his head and tried again. Still nothing. He looked up again, his eyes red-rimmed, on the verge of collapse. His face was drained of color, making his red eyes even more prominent. Ji Yanqing continued to wait.

Gritting his teeth, the driver made another desperate attempt.

Zombies from the rear of the traffic jam had reached the trucks. Several tried to climb aboard. Feng Yimo, below the truck, swiftly decapitated each one.

As the driver turned the key one last time, expecting nothing, the engine sputtered to life.

His face flushed with relief. He fumbled with the controls.

“Go!” Ji Yanqing roared.

Simultaneously, both trucks surged forward. The first truck slammed into the car in front of it, then reversed, swerving sharply left towards the fields, crashing through a fence and plowing into the slightly lower terrain. The second truck followed suit, brutally forcing its way into the field, then both vehicles sped towards the mountains.

“Feng Yimo!” Ji Yanqing reached out to Feng Yimo, who was still outside.

Feng Yimo sliced down another zombie, took two quick steps, grabbed Ji Yanqing’s hand, and leaped onto the truck.

Beside Ji Yanqing, Xia Shen Shu’s lips twitched. This wasn’t the first time Feng Yimo had jumped onto a moving vehicle, but he’d always managed it on his own before.

The combined noise of the two trucks crashing through the vehicles and fence was as loud as gunfire. It instantly alerted the zombies at the edge of the city.

A wave of undead surged towards them like a raging tide, threatening to engulf them. Seeing this in the rearview mirror, both drivers slammed their feet on the accelerators. They ruthlessly plowed through everything in their path, careening along the edge of the road until they reached the end of the traffic jam. Crashing through the last vehicle blocking their way, both trucks returned to the road.

The road was slightly elevated above the surrounding terrain. As the trucks sped back onto the asphalt, the sudden jolt sent the cargo holds flying, making everyone’s hearts lurch.

Back on the road, they rapidly picked up speed, quickly putting distance between themselves and the horde.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but remained vigilant. It wasn’t over yet. As the sounds of their escape carried through the air, more and more zombies gave chase. Mindless and fearless, they continued their relentless pursuit, even as some lost their grip and were crushed beneath the wheels.

Some managed to climb onto the roofs or cling to the sides of the trucks, scrambling towards the rear, trying to get inside. Those at the doors quickly slammed them shut. Unable to enter, the zombies frantically attacked the vehicles, their relentless pounding echoing throughout the cargo holds. The same scene played out on the second truck.

They soon reached the mountainside. The vehicle they had left behind was gone; those who had remained had driven away as soon as they heard the commotion.

After four or five minutes, they spotted the vehicle ahead. The two trucks they had acquired were faster. The three vehicles converged and sped along the road together. As they crested the mountain and left the county behind, they entered a flat expanse. Instead of returning the way they had come, they turned right at the first intersection, continuing to follow the river downstream.

Despite their speed, as they wound their way through the mountains, zombies, guided by the sound, continued to pursue them. Some even cut through the mountains, appearing ahead of them.

This continued for nearly twenty minutes before the sounds outside finally subsided.

As the rear doors of the trucks were opened again, revealing a zombie-free and unfamiliar landscape, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. They didn’t stop there, but continued driving for over an hour, until they had left the mountains behind and entered a relatively large basin. Ji Yanqing had checked the map earlier; there were no villages in this area. The vehicles came to a halt, and people began to disembark.

Relieved to have survived, those who had been drenched in sweat just moments before now managed a wry smile. For a while there, they had thought they were doomed.

After a brief rest, they gathered around the three vehicles. They reversed the truck filled with goods, positioning it back-to-back with the other two, and quickly began unloading and redistributing the supplies.

The cargo from one of the trucks was unloaded and inspected. It mostly consisted of furniture and dishwear – useless in their current situation.

They didn’t put all the supplies in one vehicle, but divided them equally between two trucks to minimize the risk of losing everything if one vehicle was compromised. With many hands working quickly, the entire process took less than twenty minutes.

After repacking, Ji Yanqing checked the time. The hottest two hours of the day had passed; it was now one o’clock in the afternoon. Prolonged lack of food and water, coupled with a sleepless night spent in a state of high alert, had taken its toll. Now that they were safe, exhaustion was evident on everyone’s faces.

“Distribute double rations,” Ji Yanqing instructed, ordering food and water be handed out.

His words roused the weary group, who had been too tired to even speak.

“Consider it a celebration and a reward,” Ji Yanqing added. Resources were precious, but occasional indulgences could boost morale.

Smiles finally appeared on their faces.

“I think we found some beer last night,” Xia Shen Shu said, looking at Ji Yanqing hopefully.

The mention of beer brightened many eyes. While not everyone was a heavy drinker, a cold beer in their current situation seemed like a dream – a true luxury.

“One bottle per person,” Ji Yanqing conceded.

“Hooray!”

“Haha...”

The previous fatigue vanished, replaced by cheers and excitement. People scrambled back into the trucks to search for the beer, which had been stored with the water since it could also help with hydration, albeit in small quantities.

Observing their enthusiasm, Ji Yanqing consulted the map and announced, “We have enough supplies for twelve to thirteen days. Everyone worked hard, so we’ll stay here for the next two days to rest and recover before moving on.”

The news of a two-day respite was met with even greater jubilation. Some faces flushed with excitement. In this apocalyptic world, having food, drink, safety, and the luxury of doing nothing was pure bliss.

“I’ll scout the area,” Lan Zi volunteered.

“We’ll go too,” several others chimed in.

Ji Yanqing nodded. Lan Zi and the volunteers set off to ensure there were no zombies in the immediate vicinity. Only then could they truly relax.

After watching them depart, Ji Yanqing surveyed the area and instructed someone to drive the trucks to a large tree on the left. They parked the two new trucks side-by-side under the tree’s shade, leaving some space between them. Tents were erected in the gap, creating a makeshift camp.

By the time Lan Zi’s group returned, Xia Shen Shu and the others had distributed the food and were carefully pouring beer into paper cups.

The beer, warmed by the sun, was still treated with reverence, sipped slowly and savored. Sitting on the ground or in the trucks, enjoying double rations and ‘cold’ beer, their faces radiated contentment. Looking at the scene before him, Ji Yanqing couldn’t help but smile.

“Here’s yours,” Xia Shen Shu said, approaching Ji Yanqing and Feng Yimo with two beers.

The cups were disposable paper cups, lightweight and stackable – a practical item they often carried. With their growing team, these had become indispensable.

“And this is for you two,” Xia Shen Shu added, pulling a small bottle of cola from his pocket.

Ji An and Ji Le reached eagerly for the cola. Most of the food was difficult for them to swallow, but they didn’t mind sweet drinks.

“Call me gege,” Xia Shen Shu teased, holding the bottle just out of reach.

The two boys stretched their arms, standing on tiptoe, their faces a picture of frustration.

Ji Yanqing, sitting on the ground, handed his beer to Feng Yimo. “Want this?”

Feng Yimo glanced at it and shook his head.

Ji Yanqing waited, holding the paper cup. Once Ji An and Ji Le had snatched the cola and run off, he returned the cup to Xia Shen Shu.

“Not drinking?” Xia Shen Shu asked, surprised. It was a rare treat.

“I’ll take first watch.”

After a full meal and drinks, everyone would likely fall asleep. Although the area seemed safe, it was best to have someone on guard. Besides, he had never liked alcohol. The man who should have been his father, who should have cared for him, had become even more monstrous when drunk.

Feng Yimo also handed his beer back.

Xia Shen Shu took both cups, his lips pouting in playful disapproval. He walked away, only to be chased across the field by Li Pingsen and the others, who wanted to claim Ji Yanqing and Feng Yimo’s share.

The beer had already been poured; it couldn’t be put back. The question was, who would drink it in their stead? They were all eager to volunteer.

The playful chaos continued for over two hours before exhaustion finally claimed them. One by one, they found spots to sleep, until only the soft sounds of breathing filled the air.

They spent most of their time on the run, rarely stopping to rest unless absolutely necessary. Sleeping openly in broad daylight like this was a first, as far as Ji Yanqing could remember.

After observing them for a while, Ji Yanqing got up and walked around the perimeter of the camp. His leg still ached, but short walks were manageable.

Walking some distance away from the camp, out into the open grassland, he gazed at the surrounding mountains, feeling the breeze on his face. A sense of peace settled over him. He stretched his arms above his head, arching his back. If only life could always be like this.

The more comfortable they became, the stronger his desire grew for a permanent sanctuary, a place where they could finally stop running and truly relax. A home. A fortress. They could grow their own vegetables, like the bok choy they had found before. They could send out regular scavenging parties to search for supplies, generators, and other useful appliances. Perhaps they could even copy music and movies from phones and tablets, enjoying entertainment again. Life would be so much easier. He glanced back towards the camp, intending to watch the others sleeping peacefully. Instead, he met Feng Yimo’s gaze, his dark eyes fixed intently on him. Startled, Ji Yanqing beckoned him over.

Feng Yimo rose, holding his sword, and approached, standing to Ji Yanqing’s right.

“I was thinking about where to build a paradise. The north would be too cold, the south too hot. The center of a basin might be ideal, using the mountains as natural walls...”

Ji Yanqing spoke for five or six minutes straight, his voice hoarse from talking so much. He had never shared these thoughts with anyone else, knowing that even Xia Shen Shu and Lan Zi probably didn’t truly believe he could create such a haven. It wasn’t that they didn’t trust him, but the task was simply too daunting. He understood. But Feng Yimo was different. He didn’t care whether Ji Yanqing could actually build a paradise; he wouldn’t judge him for dreaming. Feng Yimo wouldn’t laugh at him.

“Thank you for listening,” Ji Yanqing said, smiling at Feng Yimo before turning back towards the camp.

Up close, he could see the exhaustion and unease etched on the faces of the sleepers. Many were frowning. Even in their unconscious state, their anxieties surfaced. They knew this peace was temporary.

Feng Yimo didn’t follow him back to the camp. He remained standing in the grassland, watching Ji Yanqing’s retreating figure.

Ji Yanqing had spoken of a perfect paradise, but that perfection didn’t include zombies.

In Ji Yanqing’s paradise, there would be no place for zombies.

They slept until nightfall. After dinner, they resumed their team building exercises.

Ji Yanqing, his face a mask of cold indifference, declined the invitation to participate, content to watch from the sidelines. He wasn’t sure how effective Xia Shen Shu’s methods were for improving teamwork, but they were certainly entertaining. The group of over a hundred people was never quiet.

The next day, Xia Shen Shu conducted some combat drills in the grassland. Time was limited, and there was much to learn, so they could only cover the basics.

On the third day, an unexpected downpour disrupted their training. Rain had become extremely rare since the apocalypse began. They had encountered very few storms on their journey.

The rain was acidic, with a bitter taste. Even Lu Qing couldn’t determine if it was safe, so no one dared to drink it.

The rain heightened Ji Yanqing’s unease. As they traveled north, the weather was getting colder.

On the fifth day, around seven or eight o’clock, when the snow on the road had mostly melted, they set off once more.

This time, they had two trucks, the group divided between the two vehicles.

In the first truck, Ji Yanqing spread out both the old and new maps. Xia Shen Shu, Lan Zi, and Li Pingsen gathered around him.

Ji Yanqing marked their recent route and the general terrain on the old map before turning to the new one. Both maps focused on individual cities, the new one depicting the city adjacent to the previous one. This city was much larger, with several densely populated urban areas, each with over a million inhabitants. The closest one was about two days’ drive away.

“There are bound to be Awakened Zombies in a city that size,” Li Pingsen said with a grimace.

“Awakened Zombies? In a major city with millions of people, there might be more than one Awakened Zombie, let alone at least one Corpse King,” Xia Shen Shu added with a chuckle.

A heavy silence fell over the group. Unpleasant as it was, Xia Shen Shu was right.

“There’s no rush to enter the city. We still have food and water. Our priority is to find a generator and a water purifier,” Ji Yanqing declared.

At the mention of a generator, Lu Qing, who had been dozing in the back of the truck, perked up and scurried to sit beside Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing glanced at him but said nothing.

“If possible, we should also try to find other survivor groups and trade for ammunition,” Ji Yanqing continued. Including what Xia Shen Shu had found at the police station, they only had around three hundred rounds. While it sounded like a lot, it meant each gun could only be fired seven or eight times. If they encountered an Awakened Zombie or a Corpse King, that wouldn’t last ten minutes.

“Bullets are expensive,” Hei Long interjected.

Ji Yanqing looked at him.

“All the food and water in these two trucks wouldn’t be enough to trade for a hundred rounds.”

“That expensive?” Lan Zi frowned. Their current supplies could sustain over a hundred people for nearly ten days.

“Food and water can be found with a degree of certainty. Bullets can’t,” Hei Long shrugged.

Lan Zi fell silent.

“Can we trade other things? Information about Corpse Kings, for example?” Ji Yanqing asked.

“You can try, but most people aren’t willing to exchange information for bullets or supplies. Information is usually only traded for more information.”

“Why?” Li Pingsen asked, confused.

“Who knows if the information is accurate? No one really understands zombies. Anyone can make things up.”

Li Pingsen fell silent.

“Then how can we get more bullets?” Ji Yanqing asked.

“Guns, people, or information about mutated plants. Or something like a method for building a water purifier,” Lu Qing answered.

Everyone looked at him.

“Guns are self-explanatory. People are cheap; two hundred people might not even fetch fifty rounds. Mutated plants refer to edible crops, those that are safe to eat, or those with special properties,” Lu Qing explained. He didn’t elaborate on the water purifier, but everyone understood.

Possessing the knowledge to build a water purifier was like having an endless supply of clean water. It could be traded for almost anything, not just bullets. However, such valuable knowledge was also dangerous. If a powerful survivor group found out, they might attack them to capture Lu Qing. Ji Yanqing took a deep breath. If Lu Qing wanted to leave, he wouldn’t stop him. But he would never hand him over under duress. Seemingly oblivious to the implications of his words, Lu Qing, devoid of his usual scholarly composure, sat on the ground, rocking back and forth like a child, his eyes filled with anticipation for the generator.

Ji Yanqing rubbed the bridge of his nose. He made a mental note to remind everyone not to mention Lu Qing’s ability to build a water purifier in front of outsiders.

“What do you know about edible plants?” Ji Yanqing asked Hei Long.

Hei Long shook his head immediately. “That kind of knowledge comes at a cost. People die trying to figure it out. You could lose two hundred people and still not find a single edible plant.”

“And don’t think you can just trick people with random plants. If you’re going to trade with something like that, you’ll have to demonstrate it on the spot, usually by having members of your team, including important ones, eat it in front of the other group.” He glanced at Ji Yanqing as he spoke.

Ji Yanqing wasn’t surprised by this.

“So there’s really no other way?” Lan Zi’s brow furrowed deeply.

All their current ammunition had come from Xue Gang and Lu Qing’s groups. With Xue Gang gone and Lu Qing now part of their team, such opportunities were rare.

“If all else fails, we can always steal them,” Xia Shen Shu said with a chillingly cheerful smile. Ji Yanqing ignored him, lost in thought. Without bullets, their guns were useless.

“You can take their leader hostage while I lead the others to subdue their gunmen. We hit them hard and fast, then get out,” Xia Shen Shu said, looking at Feng Yimo.

Feng Yimo’s dark eyes met his, devoid of humor, as if he were seriously considering the suggestion.

“Don’t put ideas in his head,” Ji Yanqing said quickly.

Xia Shen Shu winked at Feng Yimo without saying a word. Feng Yimo closed his eyes, choosing to ignore him. Xia Shen Shu’s lips twitched.

“Even if you try to rob them, there’s no guarantee of success. Anyone who’s survived this long and become a group leader is not to be trifled with,” Hei Long said, puffing out his chest slightly.

Ji Yanqing and the others ignored him. He himself was an exception to that rule.

“I can win,” Feng Yimo said quietly.

Everyone turned to look at him. He was looking at Ji Yanqing. Meeting his dark gaze, Ji Yanqing couldn’t help but smile. Feng Yimo was like a competitive child. “Yes, you’re the strongest,” he said indulgently.

Hei Long opened his mouth to say something, then changed his mind. “All that aside, if we continue in this direction, we might encounter the black beast Corpse King I encountered before.” He pointed to a city on the map adjacent to the cities ahead of them.

“When I encountered it, it had already attacked the Corpse Kings of two cities. If it hasn’t stopped, it’s likely heading towards the cities in front of us.”

Everyone in the truck frowned.

***

“Achoo!” The enormous black beast, covered in thick black fur, sneezed violently, a chill running down its spine. Its fur stood on end. It tucked its tail, which had finally begun to grow some fur, between its legs and nervously scanned its surroundings. Although it didn’t see the familiar figure it dreaded, it didn’t relax. A sense of foreboding washed over it, a feeling that Feng Yimo might suddenly appear from behind any of the surrounding buildings.

----

<Prev><TOC><Next>

----