Without further ado, Xu Anran first steamed the rice, then started frying various chicken cutlets, steaks, eggs, etc. She also opened another pot to blanch and cook shrimp and green vegetables, then took out bread to re-toast. After preparing all the ingredients, she used rice and bread with various ingredients to make rice balls and sandwiches.

After preparing the food and getting ready, it was already 8 p.m. We decided to stay here for the night and set off at dawn tomorrow.

At 5 a.m., before dawn, Xu Anran got up, dressed and put on her cotton boots, carried a hiking backpack for cover, put on gloves and a mask, took her hiking sticks, ate breakfast, drove to a place close to the mountain, parked and locked the car.

As dawn broke, she first sent the message she had edited the night before to the group chat, and then set off.

I just received news that all countries have decided to bomb cities infected and locked down in six days. These cities are now heavily guarded. People in these cities, please evacuate as soon as possible. Good luck to everyone.

After sending the message, Xu Anran silently prayed that these people would see it and leave those dangerous areas as soon as possible.

Leaving aside the excitement of receiving the message in the group chat, Xu Anran had already started hiking.

H province is a central city. The weather is not too cold, with the temperature around zero degrees Celsius. It has not snowed or rained yet. The mountain road is not too difficult to walk on, but it has not been artificially mined and there are no steps, so you have to be very careful when walking. Along the way, she watched her step carefully to avoid slipping.

She walked along the slope of the mountain all morning, not going too high. She would rest every now and then, drink some water, and check the map on her phone to make sure she hadn't gone the wrong way.

At noon, she took out two rice balls and ate them with ginger tea from her thermos. After eating, she didn't rest and continued on her way.

At 4 p.m., looking at the map, she realized she had already covered more than half the distance, but judging from the sky, it would get dark in another hour or two. She would have to spend the night in the mountains, but she should be able to get out before dark tomorrow. With these thoughts in mind, she quickened her pace.

As evening approached, the sun gradually sank in the west, turning the sky a breathtaking orange-red. Xu Anran stopped to admire the beautiful sunset for a while before continuing on her way. Night fell, and the temperature in the mountains plummeted, a chill settling in. Xu Anran took out her flashlight and illuminated the path ahead.

The mountain forest was exceptionally quiet at night, with only the occasional chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the distance. Xu Anran walked cautiously, afraid of encountering any danger. Suddenly, she heard a deep roar coming from not far away, and her heart skipped a beat. She gripped her flashlight tightly and looked warily in the direction of the sound. After a while, the roar disappeared, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Anran found a place to stay, took out a portable gas stove, lit it, cooked porridge in a small pot, heated rice balls on top, finished eating, cleaned up the trash, checked the surroundings again, and put a safety rope with a bell attached around the perimeter so she could notice anyone who approached.

After finishing her meal, it was already dark, and she opened her phone to check the messages in the group chat.

Because her previous prediction of a disaster had come true, there weren't many questions in the group. Most of the passengers wanted to leave the city but saw that it was heavily guarded. Some were observing the situation, some were forming teams to figure out a way out, and some suggested that players in the same city gather together, grab weapons, and rush out together.

Today, a five-man squad from City S, after receiving intelligence, attempted to break out by driving through barbed wire and fire, relying on their firearms. However, their tires were blown out by soldiers, leading to a firefight. Outnumbered, they suffered a fatal accident, with one soldier killed and two others injured and captured. This news shocked and unsettled everyone.

Xu Anran couldn't help but sigh with regret. She thought to herself that if these people had been more cautious, perhaps this tragedy wouldn't have happened. But she also understood that when people are plunged into despair, they often make impulsive decisions. The situation was becoming increasingly complex, and leaving the city was becoming more and more difficult.

Because of this situation, everyone decided to try to find a weak point and sneak out of the city. After all, no one wanted to sit idly by, waiting for rescue or getting infected by the virus. So, some people began looking for other ways out of the city.

Lan Jie and her team shared the same thought. They felt that following the main group was too dangerous and would easily expose their position. Moreover, they were very confident in their abilities and believed that as long as they found the right time and place, they could successfully escape the city.

Therefore, instead of joining the main group, they followed the navigation to the sealed-off entrance of the small path Xu Anran had found. However, when they arrived there, they found that the guards were much tighter than Xu Anran had seen a few days ago; it was practically heavily guarded.

Seeing this, Lan and her group felt a chill in their hearts, knowing that a direct assault was impossible. But they didn't give up and decided to search for weak points in the surrounding area that night to escape.

Fan Yunfei saw the news in his safe house, but unlike the others, he didn't panic. Instead, he calmly considered the situation and made a bold decision—to stay put. His safe house had strong fortifications that could withstand artillery fire. He believed that as long as he stayed inside, he would be safe. Therefore, he decided to remain there and wait for the situation to develop.

Xu Liang found a multi-person squad in H province through a group chat. They decided to find a sparsely populated blockade and break out by force. Xu Liang expressed his willingness to join their team and provided some useful information and suggestions. After some discussion, they finalized their action plan: prepare weapons and maps, and set off by car.

After reading the message, Xu Anran prepared to go to sleep. Although it was still early, the area was in the wilderness, and the potential dangers were unpredictable.

Just in case, she needed to ensure she got enough sleep and had plenty of energy. So, she first covered herself with many heat patches, then found a large, leafless but incredibly sturdy tree, intending to climb it to rest.

In this way, one can not only avoid the dampness and cold of the ground, but also easily observe the surrounding situation to ensure one's safety.

After successfully climbing the tree, she put on a sleeping bag and used a safety rope to secure herself tightly to the trunk to prevent herself from falling while asleep.

All night long, the constant noises from the mountains kept her awake, leaving her in a semi-conscious state. She woke up around three or four in the morning, turned on the outdoor light, and carefully climbed down from the tree.

She first poured a cup of steaming hot water from the thermos and drank it all in one gulp. Then she wiped her face with a towel, feeling refreshed. She stretched her arms and moved her body around. Since it was early morning, she didn't have much of an appetite, so she only drank a cup of coffee to perk herself up. She also took out a small sandwich to fill her stomach before continuing her journey at daybreak.