Chapter 51: Rats are Coming.
In the classroom,
Lu Nange and the others huddled around an open map, their fingertips hovering over the locations of several hospitals and pharmacies marked with red circles.
The walkie-talkie suddenly crackled, and Ji Xian's hushed voice came through: "Da Ge and Wei Hao are here."
Lu Xici slowly stood up: "Shall we go take a look together?"
Wei Hao and Da Ge stood at the top of the stairs, looking up at Lu Xici and his group with a hint of anticipation in their expressions.
"Brother Ci, brothers..."
Wei Hao rubbed his hands together, his voice filled with excitement.
"Ning City is located at a high altitude. During the last heavy rainstorm, except for the low-lying sections that were flooded, the rest of the city survived!"
Especially the Huaihai Road area—"
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the group, before continuing, "That's the highest point in Ning City."
There's a large inland storage yard, filled with containers piled high with supplies.
Lu Xici raised an eyebrow: "Haozi, stop beating around the bush, just say what you want to say."
Wei Hao and Da Ge exchanged a glance.
Wei Hao stepped forward: "We went to scout the way before."
There were so many containers, but…” He swallowed hard.
"The zombie density there... is even more terrifying than a train station during the Spring Festival travel rush. So I'd like to invite a few of you to come along. We'll lead the way, and we'll all try our luck."
Da Ge suddenly interjected, "Don't worry, brothers. If anything happens... just retreat, don't worry about us!"
Lu Xici turned his head and met Chi Yanzhou's gaze.
The latter shook his head almost imperceptibly, and Lu Xici, understanding, pondered for a moment and said, "We need to discuss this matter."
Da Ge and Wei Hao nodded simultaneously. Da Ge said, "Then let's go back and wait for news from the older brothers."
The footsteps disappeared around the corner of the stairs, and Lu Nange and Gu Wan opened the classroom door and came out.
He Zhuo leaned against the wall: "Brothers and sisters, shall we go?"
Gu Qi sneered, "The fat meat that all the survivors in Ning City know about, and it still hasn't been devoured?"
Lu Xici: "So, it will only be more dangerous than the shopping mall we went to the day before yesterday."
He Zhuo turned to the tall, slender figure by the window: "Brother Yan, should we take this risk?"
Chi Yanzhou lifted his eyelids slightly: "Ning City is located at a high altitude, so it may be the only place where the supplies have been preserved in the best condition!"
A cacophony of sounds erupted:
"go!"
"Of course I'll go!"
Lu Nange: "My brother and Gu Qi still need to familiarize themselves with their superpowers, and Chi Yi and Ji Xian's injuries haven't healed yet!"
How about we continue collecting supplies as planned for the next couple of days, and then head to the inland storage yard on Huaihai Road on the day we leave Ning City?
He Zhuo turned to look at Lu Nange: "Whatever Nan Nan says goes! But I want to ask, why do you want to go on the day you leave Ning City?"
Gu Qi raised his hand and slapped He Zhuo on the back of the head: "Human hearts are unpredictable! Such a big piece of fat meat, who knows how many people are eyeing it?"
What if we move our things and then get attacked by the mob?
Gu Wan rolled her eyes at He Zhuo: "Exactly, sometimes people are scarier than zombies!"
He Zhuo rubbed the back of his head, gritting his teeth... Damn it, God, can't you give me any other extra qualities besides good looks?
Chi Yi: "Young Master, Miss Lu, my injuries have almost healed!"
Ji Xian chimed in, "Me too!"
Chi Yanzhou lowered his eyes and said calmly, "We will leave Ning City in three days."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
For the next two days, Ji Xian, Chi Yi, and Gu Wan remained at the kindergarten.
Lu Nange and her companions went out early and returned late to collect supplies.
According to Lu Beiye, both he and Chi Yanzhou have reached level three in their superpowers.
After two days of practical training, Lu Xici and Gu Qi have become increasingly adept at using their supernatural abilities.
Tomorrow is the day I've arranged to go to the inland storage yard on Huaihai Road with Da Ge.
Lu Nange and the others deliberately stayed home today to conserve their energy for tomorrow.
***
In the shadows of the alley behind the kindergarten, several furtive figures were lurking.
"Damn it! Didn't you say their car was parked here? Where is it?" The leader suddenly kicked the shifty-eyed man next to him, sending him staggering a few steps.
"Xuan, Brother Xuan..." The shifty-eyed man clutched his stomach and gasped for breath.
"We've been watching them for days, and that group really does park their car here every day, carrying big bags and small packages as they head into the kindergarten!"
Xuan-ge narrowed his eyes, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists: "Ah-Ren, are you sure that kindergarten is full of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people?"
Ah Ren nodded quickly: "Brother Xuan, it's absolutely true! Only Brother Da is somewhat capable of fighting."
There were about twenty men in total; the rest were either elderly people or women with children.
"A woman?" Brother Xuan suddenly perked up, a lewd glint in his eyes: "Why the hell didn't you say so sooner?"
"This..." Ah Ren rubbed his hands: "Those women are all old, and besides, when I was around, they were so poor they were practically eating tree bark..."
"Bullshit!" the shifty-eyed man suddenly interrupted, "Brother Xuan, ask Old Xu. We saw it with our own eyes, that girl was absolutely gorgeous!"
Ah Ren's expression changed: "It's probably because after I left, the new guy..."
Xuan licked his chapped lips: "Let's go back and get the brothers. We'll go and meet these 'poor bastards'."
He added with a sneer, "Get that girl back for me!"
***
The midday sun slanted in through the shade of the trees, casting dappled light and shadow on the first-floor corridor.
A few wisps of smoke swirled in the light and shadow.
As Wei Hao turned from the courtyard into the corridor, he caught a glimpse of several figures leaning against the corner.
"Brother Ci! Brothers!" Wei Hao jogged forward.
Lu Xici slightly raised his head, the light illuminating half of his sharply defined face: "Haozi."
Wei Hao: "Brother Ci, five of us will be going tomorrow!"
Lu Xici exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze piercing through the smoke: "Hmm."
The air suddenly froze.
Wei Hao's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice unconsciously lowered: "Brother Ci... if something happens tomorrow, without burdening you all..."
"You risked your life to come to us that day," Lu Xici suddenly stubbed out his cigarette, the metal lighter spinning in his palm.
"We remember." He looked up, a cold glint in his eyes: "We won't stand by and watch when we need a helping hand."
Wei Hao's tense shoulders visibly relaxed: "Thank you, Brother Ci and the other brothers! Brother Da said that the supplies we found..."
"It's up to you to find what you need," Lu Xici interrupted him. "Whatever you find, it's yours."
Wei Hao opened his mouth as if to say something, but suddenly—
A fierce glint appeared in Chi Yanzhou's eyes as he looked towards the door: "Something's trying to get close."
The cigarette between Gu Qi's fingers suddenly fell to the ground, sparks flying across the concrete: "Brother Yan, is he alive or a zombie?"
"There are quite a few living people," Lu Nange's cool voice came from the stairwell.
She carried Lu Beiye slowly down the steps with one arm, and held a Tang sword in the other.
Behind them were Chi Yi and Gu Wan, who were holding weapons.
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