Chapter 328, Section E...

Inside the gate, there was a cacophony of voices, with all sorts of stalls lined up densely, stretching to the horizon.

The air was filled with a mixture of smells: the metallic rust, a faint odor of blood...

The shouts of the vendors, the sounds of bargaining, and the occasional arguments blended together to create a noisy background.

Yangyang withdrew her gaze: "I live in Zone E and can't get into Zone C... I can only take you this far. Take the stamped map to the guards, and they will take you in."

Lu Nange nodded slightly: "Thank you, Yangyang."

Yangyang scratched his head a little embarrassedly: "I... I already received the money, no need to be polite... I'll be going now."

Seeing Lu Nange and the others nod, Yangyang turned around and ran away quickly.

After Yangyang's figure disappeared around the street corner, Lu Nange and her group, holding the stamped map, headed towards the barbed wire gate opposite the trading market.

A uniformed guard stood inside the door, looking serious.

Lu Xici: "Hello, we'd like to find room 1002 in building 6."

The guard remained expressionless and did not respond...

Lu Nange gently ruffled Lu Beiye's hair.

The little guy understood, ran over, and stuffed a level-one crystal core into the guard's hand.

The guard calmly slipped the crystal core into his pocket, his tone still indifferent, but with a hint of softening: "Come with me, I'll take you there."

Upon entering Zone C, the surrounding scenery immediately changed dramatically.

The road surface had clearly been carefully swept, with no debris or stains visible, and you could even see the damp marks left from the street cleaning.

Surprisingly, rows of plants were planted on both sides of the road, their shapes peculiar and their heights varied, likely grown using wood-based supernatural abilities, adding a touch of life to the area...

Streetlights are installed at intervals, and the lampposts have a brand-new paint job, indicating that they have been well maintained.

A patrol team passed by the wall, their steps orderly and their equipment complete, a stark contrast to the chaos in areas E and D.

"The trading market right inside the entrance is where you can find daily necessities and some rare items... You can go and have a look around after you get familiar with the area..."

Lu Xici nodded and replied, "Okay, thank you."

A short while later, the guards stopped in front of a tall building: "This is Building Six. You can go up there yourselves!"

Lu Nange and her group climbed the stairs to the tenth floor and found room number 1002 at the end of the corridor.

The room was empty, with only basic water and electricity, three bare bed frames, and not even a table.

Shi Xu stood at the doorway, his spiritual power silently spreading out, enveloping the entire room like a fine net: "There's nothing wrong!"

Lu Nange and the others quickly dispersed, opening all the windows in the room...

The stuffy air, thick with dust, rushed in, and Gu Qi immediately frowned: "There's too much dust. You guys wait by the door, I'll take care of it, it'll be done in a minute!"

Lu Nange and the others retreated to the corridor. Gu Qi raised his hand and conjured water, carefully washing every corner before instantly removing all the moisture.

Gu Qi: "Nan Nan..."

Lu Nange's fingertips twitched slightly, and a gentle breeze swept through the room, taking away the last bit of moisture from the air.

After closing the door, Lu Nange took out several folding chairs from her space and handed each person a bottle of drink.

The group sat in the empty living room. Gu Wan clicked her tongue twice, "It's truly easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality..."

He Zhuo: "It's not your fault. Even rats would shake their heads and sigh if they came into this place."

Ji Xian: "No wonder they sent us to the trading market; it turns out this was just a rough draft."

Gu Qi: "At least they gave us three beds..."

Luo Xingyou: "Although the mutation rate is extremely fast after being bitten or scratched by a zombie... the Mu family base didn't even do the most basic wound inspection upon entry. The management is too lax."

Lu Nange: "After slaughtering us 'easy targets,' they're in a hurry to divide the crystal cores, so they naturally become lax."

Luo Xingyou: "No wonder... I knew there were testing rooms right outside, but they didn't give us any tests. Turns out they were just after money..."

Ji Xian: "Yan-ge, Nan-nan, what are your plans next?"

Chi Yanzhou: "The management is chaotic and there are no rules or regulations... It seems we'll have to find people ourselves."

Lu Nange: "Okay, then in these seven days, we'll search through all three districts, C, D, and E. If we still can't find anyone, we'll go to Wang Xi and try to move them into district B or district A."

Chi Yanzhou stood up: "Shall we go to Zone E now?"

Shi Xu: "There aren't many people at home in Zone C right now... I estimate that the survivors who went out to work won't be back until evening."

The group walked out of the gate of Zone C again.

The guard who had previously taken their crystal cores glanced at them and suddenly spoke up: "Wait."

He turned and walked to the guard post next to him, took out a stamp, and stamped it on the armbands they received when they entered the base: "With this stamp, you can freely enter and exit Area C."

Lu Xici nodded: "Thanks."

Following Yangyang's directions, the group headed towards Area E.

The closer you get to Zone E, the more desolate and dilapidated the surrounding scenery becomes.

The low, tin-roofed shacks were crammed together, their rusty exteriors covered in stains and graffiti...

The narrow passageway was piled with discarded debris and garbage, and the air was filled with a faint smell of mildew and sewage.

Occasionally, a few thin, pale-faced children would run through the shacks, their clothes so dirty and worn that their original color was unrecognizable, and patched crookedly...

The faint sounds of arguing and children crying in the surrounding area added to the chaos and unease.

Lu Nange and her group walked in silence, each step landing on the uneven ground.

The living conditions here stand in stark contrast to the cleanliness and orderliness of Zone C.

Lu Beiye suddenly stopped and stared blankly at the distance for a few seconds...

Lu Nange bent down: "Aye, what's wrong?"

Lu Beiye: "Sister, they're eating bugs..."

Upon hearing this, everyone stopped and followed Lu Beiye's gaze to the roadside—where several thin children were squatting, mechanically stuffing something they couldn't see into their mouths.

Wen Qing, Luo Xingyou, and Gu Wan opened their mouths, but said nothing.

They all simultaneously recalled the sweet girl who bit Gu Wan, and realized that this wasn't Yanxin, but the Mu family base...

Lu Beiye's voice was so soft that only Lu Nange could hear it: "This kind of insect... tastes the worst, it's bitter and astringent."

Lu Nange ruffled his hair: "Aye, do whatever you want."

Lu Beiye paused, as if he hadn't remembered his former weak and helpless self for a long time...

He looked up, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes: "Is it okay?"

Lu Nange opened her backpack, revealing it full of small bread rolls, and said softly, "Of course. I'll always be with A-Ye, and A-Ye can do whatever he wants."