CHAPTER 254: CHAPTER 254: I SWEAR I’LL FIND THE ANTIDOTE

She paused then continue "They’ll be here to protect and lead the way so you have nothing to worry about.."

"And what will you be doing?" someone asked, if she was separating from them where was she going to.

"I have something to take care of, back in zone 1. I will quickly get it done there and catch up with you guys. I’m also going on a supply run so I will take some time.."

Meng Nian stroked his chin "Since we’re all here, will you be going alone?"

Qingran shook her head "I’ll be taking Ruihuang and Fang Yuxi with me. For comic relief.."

-_-

Laughter erupted, Fang Yuxi could only sigh, her role had changed to a jester now.

"Now, it’s about 2 hours walk time, so I’ll be dropping enough water and food. You all should take at least 5-10 minutes to rest."

Turning to Rong, she walked to meet the elderly man.

"So what’s is it going to be, willing to merge your team with mine. I won’t force you if that’s not what you want.."

Rong hissed "Its not like I have a choice, living conditions are better where you are.."

Qingran smiled "Very well then, we’re all one big team now.."

A small comfortable silence had settled again. Then Qingran spoke up.

"Give me all futons and whatever you can’t carry.."

Rong gave a reluctant grunt and waved his hand for his people to start unloading. The survivors began placing rolled futons, blankets, spare pans, and mismatched supplies in a growing pile beside Qingran’s feet. Some looked unsure, others almost relieved to hand off the extra weight.

"You’re really planning to carry all this?" someone muttered, staring at the heap forming beside her.

Qingran crouched beside the pile and began sorting quickly, blankets into one space, pots into another, old shoes discarded without a second glance.

"I’m not carrying it. My system is."

That got another round of impressed murmurs.

Yu Song joined her with a few extra bundles. "You planning to stock the whole bunker?"

"That’s the idea," Qingran said, standing as the last of the items were added. "I want the place livable. The first floor will be cramped, but it’s dry and structurally sound. We’ll clear more levels as soon as we can or we can manage the first floor.."

She stored the final load and dusted off her hands. Her gaze swept over the group. Some were packing up water bottles, others adjusting their bags or resting against the shaded wall. There were more people now, too many for the current hotel space. They needed that bunker.

And she needed to move.

"Yu Song, Meng Nian," she called out. "Lead them out in five. Keep to the route I marked, and stop for rest once halfway."

Meng Nian nodded, slipping into the calm, capable stance he always wore when leading.

Yu Song stretched his arms behind his head and called out, "Alright people, if you still have shoes, make sure they’re tied. If you don’t, keep close to someone who does!"

A few chuckles rose as the group began to stir.

Qingran turned, Ruihuang and Fang Yuxi falling into step beside her.

"You ready?" she asked.

Fang Yuxi gave a mock salute.

"Always. Can I eat something on the way though?"

"You’ll live."

They split from the larger group and heading out of the convenience store first.

"Lingquan I know I’m asking a lot but help me out here.."

[-_-]

[Just this once, I’ll take pity on you. Opening the teleportation route to zone 1]

"Thank you.."

It felt as though the air stopped and a door appeared, Qingran smiled they shouldn’t spend more than one to two hours here.

"Lingquan the zombies wouldn’t die if they got drowned right?"

[Nah...zombies, they’re already dead..]

"Good, so it won’t be hard finding those things.."

She opened the door, zone 1 coming into view, she turned to face Ruihuang and Fang Yuxi.

"You ready?"

With that she stepped inside, they both looked at each other and followed her in.

The water had long dried but the whole zone was in silence. Lingquan was right, the zombies didn’t die and were loitering around the streets.

They landed on the roof of a building, she didn’t their help to catch a zombie so she asked them to wait for her there.

"I’ll be back in 5 minutes.."

Using the windows, she got down the building pretty fast. She caught the nearest zombie, tearing its clothes, she stuffed it inside it’s mouth.

"Can I put it inside the space?"

[Even if you could, yeah... I’m not going to allow that thing inside my space. I suggest you find a quiet space and take what you need.]

-_-

Qingran hissed as she turned to the building, there shouldn’t be anyone in the building right?

She dragged the zombie inside the building, she didn’t want to stress herself so she locked the door and got down to work.

"Its going to hurt. Do you feel pain though?"

"Grrr..."

Her lips twitched, she guessed not but that didn’t stop her from inserting it gently.

"Grr.. grrrr.."

The blood that flowed out was completely black, one would think it was ink at first glance.

"They changed your blood from red to black, I swear I’m going to find the antidote and make your heart beat again.."

Khreekk

Her head quickly spun to the direction of the sound, she saw a little girl staring at her behind the stairs.

Her eyes widened, then she smiled, she didn’t think there was still people alive in the zone.

She stood up as she stook a step, the girl quickly ran.

Qingran looked at the zombie and then at the space the girl had left behind.

She took the pint of blood and put it back in her space.

She bowed slightly "Thank you for your blood sir. I’ll make the most of it.."

After that she walked towards the direction she had gone.

"I didn’t think they’d still be people here.."

[Isn’t it a good thing?]

"I never said it wasn’t.." she looked around the house and then stopped.

Rather than wasting time here, it was best to take whatever she could find.