Chapter 67: The Fading City (32)
They quickly washed up, had breakfast, and then set off again to reach the lab.
The street was a scene of chaos and abandonment. Dark streaks of dried blood were embedded deeply in the cracks of the pavement. Rotten stones, left behind by yesterday's rain, lay scattered across the road, now covered in a layer of grime.
As they passed through a residential area, they noticed pots and pans on windowsills catching rainwater. White tops with 'SOS' written on them flapped in the wind, and someone peeked through the curtains, waving desperately for help.
They did not stop. This decision angered those who had been waiting for rescue. The first item was thrown out, followed by a cascade of other objects.
One by one, people threw things out of the windows—china bowls, glasses, and singing dolls.
The noise drew the attention of nearby zombies.
In a world devoid of moral and legal constraints, the human heart is often the most terrifying element.
Ye Nianchu rolled down the car window and fired two shots at the window where the doll had been thrown.
The sound of breaking glass attracted the zombies, and some began to climb towards the source of the noise. Inside the house, people screamed and cursed in panic, but it no longer mattered to them.
A transparent barrier emerged around their vehicle, keeping the zombies at bay.
Ye Nianchu looked away and commented, “Not bad for a cheat.”
This ability is impressive.
Jealous.
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Three hours later, they arrived near their destination. The intersection was blocked by abandoned vehicles, so they had to get out and continue on foot.
This area was where the zombie virus had first appeared. When the outbreak occurred, it became a disaster zone, making it unlikely that any survivors remained.
The vehicles, weathered by time, were barely recognizable. Zombies trapped inside banged frantically against the windows, their attempts to escape resulting in shattered glass cutting them, while putrid pus and blood streamed down.
They needed to be cautious of both the zombies outside and the vehicles on the road, as zombies might emerge from them at any moment. The corpses on the ground might suddenly 'come to life' as well.
Avoiding danger was challenging, and a single mistake could be deadly.
The journey ahead promised to be even more difficult, and using their abilities in such a place was not practical if they wanted to conserve their strength.
Ye Nianchu drove her knife into the top of a zombie’s head. After about half an hour, they managed to get through.
The park was directly in front of them, with the lab entrance just behind it. The quickest route was through the park.
Exercise equipment lay abandoned on the ground, with zombies scattered every few steps, reacting swiftly to any movement.
The most dangerous areas often provided the safest paths.
Ahead of them was an ordinary small house, one of the entrances to the underground laboratory. Ye Nianchu poured gasoline over a car and ignited it to prevent the zombies from following.
The explosion caused a large number of zombies to be burned and blown away.
Inside the house, Qin Mubai revealed a hidden door.
They descended a short flight of stairs and arrived at a high-tech door that seemed out of place for the house.
Even though the city of Searle had lost power, this underground lab was still operational.
It not only had power but also internet connectivity.
Qin Mubai stood before the door, entering the password and using fingerprint and iris recognition. An electronic voice announced, “Identity confirmed.”
The silver door slid open automatically, and they proceeded inside.
This was just the first door of the lab. There were three more doors, and they continued down for about ten minutes.
Bright overhead lights illuminated the area, which was eerily quiet.
The silence was almost unsettling.
Ye Nianchu did not let her guard down. They entered the office area, which was surprisingly clean and orderly, contrary to their expectations.