Chapter 95 I didn't sleep all night

Upon hearing Lu Nange's shout, Chi Yanzhou roared and unleashed a thunderous strike from his palm. Purple electric snakes surged wildly through the vegetation, electrocuting the pursuing vines until they convulsed.

He Zhuo and Ji Xian stood on either side, forming an earthen shield to protect everyone from the oncoming heatwave.

Seizing this fleeting opportunity, the group raced away before the plants could regroup and launch their attack.

"Zhuo-ge, Ji Xian, I'm going to throw a grenade!"

Lu Nange spun around and threw out a wind blade, sending the grenade into the densest part of the sea of ​​fire.

"boom--"

Amidst the deafening explosion, the earthen shield rose up behind everyone in time. Although it was some distance away, a few broken plants still hit the shield.

In a daze, everyone felt as if they heard a collective wail coming from the plant community.

The towering flames tore a crimson rift through the night, turning half the sky into a twilight-like glow.

As the vegetation receded, the four-lane highway finally reappeared.

Only wriggling vines and broken branches remain on the road, like the tentacles of some living creature, still silently lurking.

With a flick of her finger, Lu Nange unleashed a sharp wind blade that instantly severed several vines blocking her path.

However, the next second, several new vines rustled out from the dark forest, seemingly endless.

"Sure enough, these things are symbiotic," she said coldly. "If we drive over them, they will attack indiscriminately. We can only try to avoid them, otherwise just fighting our way out of this road tonight will exhaust all our strength."

He Zhu cursed under his breath, "No wonder—we made it through a section just now, but then we got surrounded again in a wider area. It turns out these things are the culprits."

The group shone their flashlights, the dim beams swaying and intertwining among the dense foliage.

They kept their heads down, carefully avoiding the vines creeping on the ground. Some of the branches were thick and stretched across the middle of the road, which even Lu Beiye couldn't cross.

Lu Xici bent down and scooped the child into her arms.

Lu Beiye wrapped his arms around his neck and sighed in a low voice: "When will you finally grow taller?"

I'm going to tell my sister I'll drink three bottles of milk a day tomorrow! Maybe I can even jump up and chop off zombie heads? It should have the same effect as playing basketball!

......

Seeing Lu Xici carrying Lu Beiye, Lu Nange asked Youyou as they walked: "Youyou, do you know what's going on with these plants?"

[Nan Nan, you can go check out the city center of Chiayi City!]

Is there any way to get rid of these plants all at once?

[Nan Nan, I suggest you check out the city center!]

[...]

***

The group walked for most of the night, until the sky began to lighten.

Suddenly, the surrounding branches seemed to stretch, rustling as they retreated into the shadows.

The road surface, which was originally covered by vines, gradually came into view, and the abandoned vehicles buried under the branches and leaves also emerged one by one.

Lu Nange: "Like zombies? Slow-moving or dormant during the day, active at night?"

Chi Yanzhou nodded: "It should be!"

"Let's get out of here." She took the car out of her spatial storage: "Staying in this godforsaken place for even a second longer is bad luck!"

With engines roaring, the two vehicles sped away from the eerie dense forest.

Amidst the static on the walkie-talkie, Gu Qi's voice came through: "Should we just leave the city during the day and head to the next city?"

Lu Nange pondered for a moment, thinking about what Youyou had said: "Let's go to the city first and then decide."

Half an hour later, the outline of Chiayi City gradually came into view.

The exterior walls of the buildings on both sides were covered with tree branches and vines.

After continuing for about ten minutes, a sudden roadblock forced the vehicle to brake abruptly.

Lu Nange awoke with a start from her light sleep, her spiritual power instantly spreading out—living people! And quite a few of them!

"A survivor base?" Gu Qi asked.

He Zhuo leaned against the car window, sitting ramrod straight: "A survivor base? This is the first time I've ever seen one."

Gu Qi glanced at him: "Am I not?"

A uniformed guard tapped on the car window with his knuckles, his voice deep and formulaic: "Chiayi City Base Entry Rules: Ten Level 1 Crystal Cores per person, registration of identity information, abilities, and levels. Ability users may drive in; ordinary people should use the right-hand passage."

He Zhuo rested one hand on the car window, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What if you can't produce the crystal core?"

The guard looked up at him: "Two options—turn around immediately, or work to pay off your debt." He pointed to the dusty work sheds in the distance: "Food and lodging included."

Lu Nange: "Shall we go in and take a look?"

Chi Yanzhou and the others nodded in agreement.

Everyone got off the car and readily handed over 110 crystal cores.

During registration, Chi Yanzhou and Lu Xici filled in "Level 2" in the ability level column, while the others only wrote "Level 1".

"Two vehicles, plus ten more," the guard added suddenly, fiddling with the crystal core with his dagger.

Lu Nange handed over the crystal core, thinking it was better to avoid trouble.

Level 1 crystal cores are not a necessity for them at present.

Guard: "After entering, follow the signs to the parking lot; someone will take you there."

The armored gate slowly rose, revealing the interior of the base.

At each intersection, there are signs with striking red and green arrows.

We arrived at the parking lot.

A number of people stood outside the gate, and the guide in charge of showing them around mechanically repeated the regulations: "Level 1 ability users reside in the outer area, Zone C, and vehicles must be parked in designated areas."

He Zhuo slammed the car door shut: "Must I park in the designated parking lot?"

The guide seemed not to hear.

Lu Nange jumped out of the car and handed over a crystal core.

The guide's blank expression instantly came to life.

"Level 2 ability users can rent detached houses," she said, rubbing the crystal core with a fawning smile. "Each house comes with its own parking space, and family members can also come along."

"Tour fee." Lu Nange tossed out another crystal core.

The guide rubbed his hands together: "This... needs to be added..."

"Five." Lu Nange interrupted her, "Explain the situation at the base clearly, and then help us complete the rental procedures."

"Deal!" The guide's face was beaming with a fawning smile. "Just call me Ahe, this way please!"

She rubbed her hands together and added, "But the car has to stay here first. We can only drive it away after we've completed the rental procedures and got the necessary documents."

Chi Yi immediately stepped forward: "Young Master, Miss Lu, please go and complete the formalities. I'll stay here and watch the car!"

Ji Xian also stepped forward: "I'll stay too."

Finally, after hearing the news, Luo Xingyou also stayed in the car.

The rest of the group followed Ah He through the noisy streets to a drab, gray building.

A crooked iron sign that reads "Housing Management Office" hangs on the mottled wall.

The long queue at the entrance suddenly stirred, and dozens of pairs of eyes stared at them.

Having not seen so many people in a long time, He Zhuo and the others felt quite excited.

"Another level two ability user has arrived?" A thin young man nudged his companion.

"Of course, didn't you see we went straight through the VIP lane?" his companion replied sourly.

The woman in the middle of the line sighed, "I'm so envious..."

"Shh! They're looking over here!" someone whispered nervously.

......

"Uncle Hua!" Ahe greeted him familiarly, "These are the new survivors; two level-two ability users want to rent a room."

The middle-aged man, known as Uncle Hua, casually tossed a few sheets of paper over: "The last five sets, take a look yourself."

He pointed to the paper: "Red marks indicate the core area of ​​the safe zone, blue marks indicate the outer areas, and the price difference is three times."

Lu Nange took the paper, and He Zhuo and the others immediately surrounded her.

After mentally calculating their remaining crystal core reserves, the group finally chose a two-story building.

The monthly rent is 200 first-level crystal cores.

After getting the keys, everyone returned to the parking lot to retrieve their car and followed Ah He's directions to their newly rented residence.

Lu Nange handed the agreed-upon crystal core to Ahe, who happily accepted it and took her leave.

He Zhuo: "We almost couldn't even afford to rent a place. Don't you guys think we're terribly poor?!"