Tong City
Outside of Xianguo Base, the scary scenery before could still be seen. A thick rotten smell still proliferated around the place. The park outside of the base had been turned into a swamp. People could easily get sucked in when they carelessly stepped on it. In some places, it could even suck the entirety of a human being. These were the places that were in the radius of the explosions that Chu Han had planned. In the largest pit lay the most number of dead zombies.
When the crisis was solved, the survivors of the base did not celebrate, as they were warned of a forthcoming crisis not even a miracle could save them from. Ye Chen along with hundreds of people hurriedly left the city. A lot of people were unwilling to live but they no longer had any other choice since staying undermined their survival. Driving a lot of big trucks and lorries and then loading them with foods they ransacked from supermarkets, they had sufficient provisions to last them until they were able to find a new suitable shelter.
Everyone decided to do it along with their newly elected leader, Ye Chen. He was the one left to carry such heavy burden since Yue Zi and Cheng Xianguo stayed in the base.
In a slope not that far from the base.
The weeds and the other types of vegetation were cleared out along with the dirt to form a hole. A cinerary casket was inside1.
The sun was not that hot but Chen Xianguo was profusely sweating. His skin had turned darker and he even got slimmer than before. He used a shovel to cover the casket with soil as he slowly started to fill up the hole, pa.s.sing up Yue Zi`s pleads to let him help Chen Xianguo.
Yue Zi stood aside and looked at him. He did not know how to comfort him.
Several hours had gone by. Chen Xianguo was now soaked with sweat due to the hard labor of covering the pit with soil until it formed a dirt mound. He sat on the ground, quietly looking at the mound. Cheng Xianguo`s emotions were currently very turbulent. He did not make a stone tablet since he felt he would not come to this place ever again. Cheng Zehao was his only remaining family member, and now he even died, leaving him without any family left. Having no family members left especially in this so called City of Death was not a trivial matter. Having someone who worships you was nothing compared to the warmth family could offer.
"He must have been killed by Mu Ye." Yue Zi suddenly said, "It must be him."
"I know." Cheng Xianguo`s voice was tranquil, without any trace of remorse or anger.
Yue Zi was speechless. Cheng Xianguo was calm when he saw Cheng Zehao`s dead body. An expression of peacefulness could be seen on his face. Yue Zi was worried that Xianguo could not bear it.
"You should go." Cheng Xianguo suddenly said, "Leave a gun for me."
In a hotel in the most scenic spot of Tong City.
Looking from such high elevation, several of the roads below were now a lot different from what it used to be. The cement road could no longer be seen as the roads were now dotted with countless beings, looking like a huge antler of a monster that seemingly kept on moving as if alive.
It was a zombie tide.
The thousand survivors on the hotel were now very scared. What they saw outside their windows was akin to a nightmare. Why have so many zombies gathered here? Where did they come from? Why are they rushing towards here?
The base that should have been very quiet was now very noisy as ceaseless crying filled the entire place. A lot of the people there just chose to stay in their rooms, shutting their doors. They kept praying that may the hotel protection be good and that may they be safe. They also prayed that zombies would just not enter. Many people went to the topmost level of the hotel. They then went and kicked the doors of the base` leaders` room.
"Get out! We know that you are in there!"
"Get out and stop those zombies!"
"Come out and help us!"
No one responded to their pleas as the door simply did not budge.
Five days later, August 15, 2015.
Chu Han and his group had been travelling for five days already. Luckily, they had sufficient food so they did not need to stop by to restock. Besides, they were already extremely near Shi City and very soon, they would arrive there.
However, Chu Han and his group did not go straight to the city as they veered off the highway. They came to an abandoned place. What lay ahead was a straight road. Because it was not part of the highway, the road was b.u.mpy and very hard to access especially after the outbreak. All kinds of obstacles like the wreckage of cars lay in the road. The weeds on the side of the road grew crazily, reaching the height of a sugarcane stalk. Unlike the other gra.s.ses, they grew tall and lush.
The G55 was being driven in high speeds, crashing onto everything that lay on its path. Hugh booming sounds echoed out as the road got cleared of the obstacles one by one, leaving a clear path for the others who would use it.
And it was just what the van Chen Shaoye was driving needed, although Chen Shaoye himself was feeling very nervous. He felt dread every time the sound of vehicles clashing reached his ears.
Chu Han`s group drove quickly, reaching a s.p.a.cious building before the sun had set. It was the only building in the vicinity. If you looked on, you`d find the extent of the empty landscape, the building the only thing left standing.
They then drove towards the building as some zombies came rushing out from its corners. Chu Han just drove the G55 and crashed it onto the incoming zombies. Dark blood and rotten meat flew everywhere.
It was an abandoned factory. It gave off a depressing atmosphere. Blood littered the walls, from both humans and zombies. They had already dried so it was hard to completely distinguish it clearly. Several broken bones scattered along the ground. There were even several heads rolling on the ground with hair still on it.
They parked the vehicles near the entrance as Chu Han and his group then went out the cars.
"It`s so strange." Luo Xiaoxiao frowned, "Why is there only a few zombies?"
"Are you addicted in killing zombies?" Chen Shaoye said, his voice full of scorn, "The Tong City tide before was just a special situation, how many zombies would you think are there in these kind of desolate place?"
"Fatty Chen is correct. There wouldn`t have been a lot of people in this factory even before the outbreak. Besides, this place is in the middle of nowhere so we should probably be safe." Shang Jiuti said as she then asked Chu Han, "Why are we here?"
Chu Han looked back towards the G55 as he calmly explained, "This place has a refinery that I could use to modify my weapon." Even since he opened the power talent, the axe in his hand was no longer up for the task. He needed a larger and more deadly weapon. Not only could a good weapon reduce time and effort, it would also undoubtedly help him avoid crises that might threaten his life.
Besides...
Chu Han also cast his eyes on the G55, intending on also modifying it.
"Brother is really great!" Luo Xiaoxiao cast her eyes full of worship towards Chu Han. Chu Han only needed one hand to use the axe. Lou Xiaoxiao could not even push it just a bit.
"Where is Bai Yun`er?" Shang Jiuti was searching for their ever so enigmatic companion, "Where did she go?"
Chu Han looked at the entrance of the refinery, finding out that there were no lights inside, "She`s already inside."
"She really is such an unruly person!" Lou Xiaoxiao simply catches every chance she could to voice out a complaint against Bai Yun`er. However, she simply had no choice but to put up with her even when she was always disappointed of her being with them. Although she felt it was hard for them to put up with Bai Yun`er, she at least listened to Chu Han.
"Load your guns." Chu Han distributed some bullets as he took on his axe and tightly held on it, "We`re going to go and check."
1. The word cinerary should mean that Cheng Zehao was cremated but it also says casket, which should mean that Cheng Zehao`s intact body was inside a casket. "A casket" should be the most appropriate but I can`t just delete a word so I just left it at that as I am not the one who translated it.