Volume One: Entering the City Chapter Sixty-Four: Reunion

A rat was rummaging for food amidst the chaos of a small alley, suddenly lifting its head to cast wary glances around before darting into the sewer at the corner. Soon after, a group of people entered the alley cautiously—they were Xu Lanxuan and her companions.

It was now the third day since the incident had occurred.

By this time, Lu Ningyu and the others had come to accept this as reality, no matter how Xu Anxuan insisted otherwise. They refused to believe it was merely a dream.

“Why hasn’t anyone come to rescue us yet?” Lu Ningyu gripped a baseball bat, her face clouded with disappointment.

“Don't worry, maybe help is already on its way,” Xu Anxuan turned encouragingly to the group.

As her words faded, the roar of helicopter blades suddenly echoed overhead.

“That’s wonderful,” Lu Ningyu finally managed a smile, but it quickly gave way to worry. “But we’re in this alley—how will they see us?”

“All survivors within the city, listen: we have reclaimed the East Station. All survivors are urged to converge at the East Station immediately. We will hold the location for three days.”

The voice from the helicopter reverberated through the city, causing even the usually apathetic zombies to look up toward the sky.

“Let’s go, we’re heading to the station,” Xu Anxuan said, turning to lead the way out of the alley. “Wait for us!” The stragglers hurried after her.

Upon leaving the alley, they found that the street’s zombies had been lured away by the helicopter’s loudspeaker. The emptiness of the street brought them a measure of relief.

Seeing the group’s low spirits, Xu Anxuan rallied them, “You’ve all seen it—they haven’t abandoned us. They’ve drawn the zombies away for us. If we’re brave and move quickly to the East Station, we’ll be safe.”

“But the journey is dangerous. What if we can't make it? Why didn’t they send troops to clear out the zombies?” Jia Jun clung nervously to the alley wall.

“Yes, why haven’t they come to clean up the zombies? Why can they only hold the station for three days? Is the world already lost? What’s the point in running there?” Xiao Wen slumped against the wall in despair.

“Don't be like this,” Li Xinran spoke up, looking at everyone. “Humanity has guns and cannons—once we steady ourselves, isn’t it always a glorious victory for mankind?”

“If that’s the case, why bother? Why not just find somewhere safe to hide?” someone suggested opportunistically.

Xu Anxuan snorted, “You want to be trapped in the city? How do you know when the army will liberate us? What about water? Electricity? Food and clothing? Who’s going to find them? Will you?”

---

Xu Anxuan pointed at Jia Jun, who quickly shook his head, then at Xiao Wen, who hurriedly hid to the side.

Xu Anxuan let out a cold laugh, “Since none of you have confidence to survive in these conditions, why not hurry to join the others and stick together for warmth?”

Under Xu Anxuan’s half-coaxing, half-threatening guidance, the group reluctantly made their way toward the rendezvous point.

Elsewhere, Lu Yi lay on his bed drenched in sweat, his expression restless as he shook his head repeatedly. After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes, gasping for air.

He reached for his chest—no wounds, but the ordeal in his dream had been perilous; he had barely escaped death at the hands of the monster there.

Wiping his brow, he glanced at the other two in the room.

Yet a sense of impending doom stirred inexplicably within him, as if something terrible would happen unless he acted now.

“Hey, isn’t the sound of the helicopter gone?” Jia Jun whispered behind Xu Anxuan.

Xu Anxuan raised her eyebrows, glanced back, and asked impatiently, “What is it this time?”

“I just mean, since the helicopter’s gone, won't the zombies come back? The helicopter's so fast, there’s no way zombies could keep up,” Jia Jun explained, waving his hands.

“That’s not so quick,” Xu Anxuan was about to retort when, from the distant street, came a sudden shuffle of footsteps.

She turned to see a group of zombies staggering toward them.

“This is the fastest route to the station—get ready, we’re charging through,” Xu Anxuan said, gripping her weapon.

“That’s not a good idea. Maybe we should take a detour. How could we possibly get through so many?” Li Xinran suggested anxiously.

“No, I fear it’s too late to detour. If there are zombies here, there are bound to be others elsewhere. We should quickly find somewhere to hide,” Jia Jun said, turning around.

But at the other end of the street behind them, another dense horde of zombies appeared.

Sensing the presence of the living, the zombies front and back let out guttural howls, their pace quickening.

“We’re doomed. It’s all your fault for insisting we go to the rendezvous. Now we’re trapped like dumplings.”

---

Should have listened to me and found a safe place to hide. If you’d listened earlier, none of this would have happened,” Jia Jun complained again.

“Yeah, it’s all your fault. You got us killed,” Xiao Wen and Lu Ningyu echoed in their complaints.

Xu Anxuan ignored them. Her hands were now surrounded by a strange energy, her mind calculating the chances of making it through.

The outcome was hard to accept. If she went alone, she could cross safely without a scratch.

But with the others, it was much harder—even just bringing Li Xinran would multiply the difficulty several times.

The zombies on both sides were closing in, and her companions were of no use. Xu Anxuan had precious little time to decide.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and raised her right hand, “We’ll take the detour—”

But before she could finish, the sound of shattering glass rang out nearby. Xu Anxuan instantly summoned a blade of light and turned to the source.

Several oil drums had been thrown out the window, and a familiar figure appeared there, weapon raised.

As gunshots rang out, the oil drums exploded midair, spraying flaming gasoline over the zombies.

The zombie horde erupted in flames.

Lu Yi leapt down from above, looking at Li Xinran and Xu Anxuan. “I’m here.”

Xu Anxuan smiled and nodded, “I knew you’d come.”

Li Xinran looked at Lu Yi in confusion, “I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

Lu Yi glanced at her helplessly, knowing she’d forgotten again in the dream, but this was not the time for conversation. He produced two machine guns and shouted, “Stay close! I’ll get you through.”

Xu Anxuan brandished her light blade and moved to his side. “I’ll help you.”