Chapter 36
Xiang Tiange and Wang Qingyue were struck dumb, momentarily forgetting how to react.
After a few heartbeats, Wang Qingyue managed to ask, “How… how did it heal so fast all of a sudden?”
On the other side, Su Xinge’s eyes were also wide with shock. She hadn’t forgotten how yesterday the woman couldn’t even stand steady while leaning on crutches.
Chen Rusheng smiled. “When you sleep well, you naturally recover faster. Besides, who are you looking down on? I’ve been lying in bed for quite a few days now, after all.”
Su Xinge observed her closely, her eyes brightening with realization. Chen Rusheng’s ability was very likely related to Self-Restoration, with the trade-off being an extreme need for sleep to fuel the process. This kind of ability was an exceptionally rare find among the Awakened.
Lin Yuxuan continued eating her food with an impassive face, but her peripheral vision caught Su Xinge’s every move. This woman… she really can’t look away the moment she sees a beautiful Omega.
An Le reached out to tug on Lin Yuxuan’s sleeve and whispered, “Sister, are you very hungry?”
Lin Yuxuan stopped and looked at An Le, puzzled. “Why do you ask?”
An Le lowered her hand and replied, “Otherwise, why did you eat the half you promised to save for me?”
Lin Yuxuan’s expression didn’t flicker. She replied, “I was a bit hungry today so I ate a little more. Did you have enough with what was in your hand?”
An Le nodded. “I’m full.”
Hearing their conversation, Su Xinge’s attention was drawn over. She asked Lin Yuxuan, “Are you still hungry? There should be more food in the backpack.”
Lin Yuxuan looked up and offered a smile. “No, thank you. I’m full.”
Chen Rusheng approached the group with steady steps. Though her gait still looked a bit uncoordinated, she could finally walk. The members of the team all turned to stare in awe.
“I’ve heard everything from Tiange,” Chen Rusheng said. “Thank you all for your help during this time. If we were poor hosts in any way, please forgive us.”
Zhang Tian waved a hand. “Nothing to forgive. We’ve eaten quite well these past few days.”
Ye Hai nodded. “Indeed. We appreciate the hospitality.” He noted that while the teacher’s ability helped her survive, it didn’t offer much utility to the team’s combat strength.
Chen Rusheng smiled. “Since we’ve decided to leave, we might as well finish off most of the food here. Carrying too much is just a burden anyway.”
Xiang Tiange looked down and said nothing. Teacher really tells it like it is the moment she comes out.
Wang Qingyue remarked, “I honestly thought Teacher had awakened a vision-related ability.”
“My vision was always good,” Chen Rusheng replied simply.
Ye Hai raised a concern. “If we move out, we likely won’t just be walking. We might have to run at points. Can your body handle it?”
Chen Rusheng nodded. “It shouldn’t be a problem.”
Su Xinge, thinking of a solution, added, “If it comes to it, we can take turns carrying her. As long as she can walk, the rest is manageable.”
Lin Yuxuan turned to Su Xinge and asked, “How is your wound? Is it mostly healed?”
Startled by the abrupt topic shift, Su Xinge answered instinctively, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Lin Yuxuan turned her head away and stopped talking.
“Su Xinge is right,” Xiang Tiange said. “Since Teacher has given the word, let’s pack up.”
Chen Rusheng instructed, “Just bring food, medicine, and weapons.”
Xiang Tiange nodded. “I’ll go to the second floor to pack the weapons and meds.” She turned and headed upstairs.
Wang Qingyue asked, “What about those people we brought back yesterday?”
Zhang Tian waved a hand dismissively. “Leave them here to fend for themselves.”
Chen Rusheng said to Wang Qingyue, “Where are they? Take me to see them.”
Wang Qingyue pointed the way. “In the small dining room.” The two walked inside and closed the door.
Seeing the situation, Ye Hai addressed the group. “Everyone, use this time to pack your things. Take what you need and don’t leave anything important behind.”
Su San and the others immediately sprang into action. Some packed their personal belongings, while others searched the shelves for useful items. After all, Xiang Tiange had said they could take what they needed; if they could scavenge something valuable to bring back to the base, they might be able to trade it for more food.
Su Xinge walked over to Lin Yuxuan. “Do we have anything we need to pack?”
Lin Yuxuan shook her head. “Everything else is in the backpack. Just keep your weapon ready.”
Su Xinge nodded. The three of them—two adults and one child—remained where they were, waiting.
In a corner of the shelves, Su San cried out in delight, “I found some candles! I wonder if I can take them?”
Zhang Tian looked over. “Ask Xiang Tiange when she comes down.”
Before long, Xiang Tiange descended with a large pack on her back, carrying several bows over her shoulder. Su San stepped forward. “I found candles on the shelf. Is it okay if I take them?”
Xiang Tiange nodded. “Go ahead. the three of us can’t carry everything.”
Ye Hai added from the side, “Try not to carry too much. We don’t know the situation outside; staying alive is the priority.” He understood the plight of ordinary people in the base, but if they carried too much and it became a burden that cost them their lives, that would be the real tragedy. Besides, this mission was essentially a massive success; if they made it back alive, they wouldn’t have to worry about survival for a long time.
Xiang Tiange looked around the hall and asked, “Where is Teacher?”
Su Xinge pointed toward the dining room. “In there.”
As Xiang Tiange started to head over, the door opened. “Everything in there is settled,” Chen Rusheng said. “Let’s go.”
“What about those people?” Xiang Tiange asked.
Chen Rusheng walked into the center of the hall and replied, “Don’t worry about them.”
Xiang Tiange tried to peek into the room, but saw nothing. Wang Qingyue walked out carrying a large box. “There are a few cans left. Everyone take one.” She was already carrying a full pack and couldn’t manage the rest.
Su San and the others were overjoyed, hurrying forward to claim their cans. Su Xinge took three and tucked them into her backpack.
Once everyone was ready, Ye Hai said, “If we’re all set, let’s head out.”
Only then did Zhang Tian saunter over to the right shelf to grab his pack and weapon. “Let’s go.” He paused after a few steps and turned to ask, “Your wounds—none of them are bleeding anymore, right?”
Lin Yuxuan beat the others to the answer. “Su Xinge’s stopped, and her bandage is wrapped quite tight.”
Chen Rusheng also replied, “My leg stopped bleeding a long time ago.”
The group opened the doors and stepped outside. Ye Hai took the lead, with Zhang Tian in the middle. “Same rules as before,” Zhang Tian said. “I can handle small groups of zombies; stay close to me if we’re attacked. If it’s a horde, stay away from me.”
Su Xinge brought up the rear. There were no zombies immediately surrounding the building, but scattered silhouettes could be seen in the distance. As they moved forward, the number of zombies increased, but they rarely posed a threat; either the monsters smelled Zhang Tian and steered clear, or they were cut down by Ye Hai at the front.
When they passed the lake, everyone couldn’t help but gasp.
“I didn’t think there were that many monsters in this lake,” Zhang Tian remarked. “That’s a lot of bodies.”
An Le looked at the water and whispered thoughtfully, “I think I dreamed about this lake before.”
Lin Yuxuan asked calmly, “What specifically? What did you dream?”
An Le tilted her head to think, but eventually shook it. “I don’t really remember.”
Watching the surroundings, Lin Yuxuan said softly, “If you don’t remember, don’t worry about it.”
An Le’s eyes suddenly lit up. “I think I dreamed I was looking for pearls in here for Sister.”
Zhang Tian, walking ahead, overheard and chuckled. “There are no pearls in a lake like this.”
Su Xinge looked thoughtful but said, “It’s just a child’s dream. Why are you being so pedantic?”
“Just a casual comment,” Zhang Tian replied. “I’m not being pedantic.”
Ye Hai called from the front, “Stop dreaming and keep your voices down. If you get eaten by a monster, that’s when you’ll really be dreaming.”
The group fell silent, moving forward with bodies tense. Just as they exited the branch campus gates and began to breathe a sigh of relief, a massive BOOM echoed through the air.
“Crap! What was that?” Zhang Tian cursed.
Thick billows of smoke rose from the distance, piercing the sky. Xiang Tiange’s expression shifted slightly. “That direction… it looks like the hideout those guys mentioned.”
Wang Qingyue nodded. “It is. I just don’t know if it’s a trap or something else.”
“A trap only triggers if the prey walks into it,” Ye Hai noted. “We’re still this far away; it shouldn’t be a trap for us.”
Su Xinge speculated, “Could it be another base’s doing?” She recalled the details of the situation and had a suspicion forming.
Zhang Tian grinned. “If so, I can only say ‘nice job.’ Someone mentioned wanting to gather more intel; well, here’s our chance. Should we go check out the show?”
Ye Hai shook his head. “Safety first. We can gather intel later. Let’s move.”
Su Xinge took one last look at the branch campus gates before turning to follow the group. This was her first stop—thrilling, dangerous, and a total mess.
At the entrance of the passage, the group came to a halt. Su Xinge walked to the front to scout.
Seeing her frowning, Zhang Tian urged, “Well? What is it?”
Su Xinge was silent for a moment before answering, “We can pass, but the situation inside is different from when we came.”
Ye Hai also frowned. “I can already smell it.”
Su Xinge looked at An Le; the little one’s nose was also scrunched up in a grimace.
Zhang Tian pressed, “What specifically is the situation? Stop speaking in riddles!”
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