Dealing with so many walkers without using firearms could definitely be considered a tough battle.
But after traveling together for so long, everyone had developed their own skilled methods of killing.
Blades rising and falling—it was all surprisingly efficient.
It felt similar to how, in the old world, people would shout at the top of their lungs or go bungee jumping just to vent pent-up emotions.
But in this twisted world, the way we vent has changed.
We can’t yell—that would attract unnecessary trouble.
But when trouble comes on its own and threatens our safety, that becomes our chance to vent.
All the pressure built up inside us was released in the process of hacking through walkers.
It took quite a while to finish off the ones nearby.
Leaving some people behind to keep killing the walkers continuously pouring in from other streets, the rest of us rushed into the store.
It was a small wholesale shop stocked with tons of goods.
Judging by the number of walkers wandering around this town, there probably weren’t many survivors left—if any at all.
Otherwise a shop like this wouldn’t still be so full of merchandise.
Because we only had a few days of travel left, we didn’t pack as much as before.
Instead of filling entire vehicles, we only took enough supplies for about three days before heading back to the cars.
Anyone who’s lived in a town knows that shops are laid out without any pattern: one sells snacks, the next might sell shoes, and the one after that could be for agricultural goods.
The shop we looted was right next to a shoe store.
I looked down at everyone’s feet—aside from the black-clad men wearing their special boots with no issues, the rest of our shoes were in terrible condition.
Even someone like Uncle Gazi, who usually didn’t care about such things, kept glancing toward the shoe shop.
We all exchanged a knowing look.
After quietly informing Suo Tian, he lowered his eyes toward my shoes.
Before he could say anything, I took it as his approval and followed the others, daggers in hand, into the shoe shop.
With all the noise we’d caused outside earlier, any walkers inside would’ve already come out.
The main entrance was wide open.
Shoes were scattered all over the floor.
After making a quick sweep and confirming the place was basically safe, we all hurried to pick out a pair that fit.
Throwing off my battered old shoes and putting on a new pair, I felt so light on my feet it was like I could fly.
Everyone else finished quickly as well.
Han Xue went to ask Lili’s size; I grabbed a pair the same as mine for her.
Only after handing the shoes over and walking out together did we all feel truly satisfied.
Suo Tian and the others were already waiting in the cars.
We hurried back and got in.
Once everyone settled in, I took Tingyun into my arms and helped Lili change into her new shoes.
Only then did the vehicle officially start moving.
As the car pulled out, Suo Tian glanced down at my shoes, then turned to look out the window with a faint, amused expression.
Feeling confused by his look, I asked, “What are you laughing at?”
Without taking his eyes off the road, he replied, “Laughing at your good taste.”
Hearing that, Uncle Gazi burst out laughing from the back seat. “Chen girl’s got good eyes indeed! Look at those pink little sneakers—don’t they look nice?”
Xiao Hu also looked down, pointed at my shoes, and said in his soft baby voice, “Not nice.”
……
I couldn’t help twitching at the corner of my mouth.
I patted Xiao Hu’s head and turned toward the window, silently thinking:
Hmph, what do these mortals know!
Yes, the style is a bit tacky, but this pair was clearly the best quality in that whole store.
In times like these, what good is something pretty?
A walker won’t spare you just because you’re dressed like a pretty flower.
Thinking that, I felt much better.
After we truly got back on the road, Uncle Gazi took out the food we’d gathered and handed it out.
Since Suo Tian was driving and couldn’t eat easily, I opened a pack of biscuits and held them up for him before eating chocolate bear cookies with Xiao Hu—one bite for him, one bite for me.
As I ate and watched Xiao Hu giggling with his sweet little face, I suddenly froze.
Back when we were still in the county town, right after we had brought Rongrong back, she would laugh just like this every day—those bright, cheerful giggles.
In the early days of the apocalypse, when all of us were panicked and overwhelmed, she used her innocent childlike nature and surprising thoughtfulness to bring us endless comfort and joy.
She missed her parents, but never once showed it in front of us.
She was so small, yet she knew to show us only her happiest side to soothe our tense hearts, while leaving all the sadness to her tiny self—crying alone every night where no one could see her.
How much helplessness and pain had she endured, pain that no child should ever have to bear?
Xiao Hu didn’t seem to understand why I suddenly fell silent.
He lifted his head to glance at me twice, then turned around and carefully took the bear-shaped cookie from my fingers.
With a face full of satisfaction, he stuffed it into his mouth and savored it slowly.
Once my thoughts began to drift, they could no longer be closed off.
Rongrong had left behind so many memories.
Over the next stretch of time, I sank completely into my longing and recollections of her, losing all interest in chatting or joking with the others.
We had plenty of food, so there was no need to stop for supplies.
After we got back on the road, we only stopped once at a gas station in the late hours of the night to fill up every vehicle.
Without resting, we continued driving.
Each of the other cars had at least two people who could drive.
We originally thought that Suo Tian was the only driver in our vehicle.
But early the next morning, after sleeping through the night, Lili woke up and volunteered to drive so Suo Tian—who hadn’t rested in a long time—could take a break.
I stared at her in surprise and asked, “You can drive?”
“Mhm.” Lili nodded with a smile. “I got my license in college.”
Suo Tian glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Get some rest. This is a mountain road—I’ll drive.”
“But you haven’t slept in so long.” Lili insisted softly.
“It’s fine.”
After Suo Tian politely refused, Lili didn’t argue further.
Probably because she hadn’t been resting well lately, she soon leaned her head to the side and fell asleep again.
I took off my jacket and handed it to Uncle Gazi in the back seat so he could cover her.
Then I turned back to look out the window.
Xiao Hu and Tingyun had gone to bed very late the night before, so they didn’t wake up until almost noon.
After feeding them, the two kids soon drifted back to sleep in the gently rocking car.
It wasn’t until nighttime that our convoy finally made it out of the mountain road and back onto a proper highway.
While refueling, Lili woke up again and insisted on switching with Suo Tian.
I felt bad for him as well—he had gone two days and two nights without any sleep.
Probably because the rest of the route seemed safe enough, and because we had arranged for the Big beard’s vehicle to lead, Suo Tian didn’t argue with her this time.
After the car was fueled, he went straight to the back seat to rest with his eyes closed.
To avoid disturbing him, I moved Tingyun and Xiao Hu to the front passenger seat.
Each of them sat on one of my legs, playing happily.
Lili was probably just rusty from not driving in a long time.
At first the car was a bit unsteady, but after driving for a while she gradually regained her sense of control.
The vehicle became much smoother, and she looked noticeably less tense.
Uncle Gazi sat beside her, constantly offering gentle reassurance:
“Girl, don’t be nervous. Take it slow. We’re not in a hurry. If you get tired, just say the word—we can get someone from another car to come over and help.”
……
Lili was the type who could grit her teeth and push through anything.
After taking over for Suo Tian, she kept driving nonstop until early the next morning.
Even I had dozed off several times.
Though she was physically weak and one arm was still injured, she forced herself through the entire night.
By dawn, she could no longer hold on.
She flashed the headlights twice and honked once to signal the vehicles ahead and behind, then pulled the car over to the side of the road.
At some point, Suo Tian had already woken up.
He stepped forward and switched places with Lili again.
After giving her an approving look, he stepped on the gas and continued driving.
Lili needed to rest, so I kept holding the two kids.
After they ate, a sudden thought struck me—if Suo Tian’s earlier estimate was correct, then… wouldn’t we be reaching the so-called headquarters today?
Thinking of this, I turned my head and lowered my voice to ask him, “Will we arrive today?”
Hearing this, Suo Tian thought for a moment and then nodded. “We’ll get there by evening.”
I froze for a second, my heartbeat picking up unnaturally.
A strange excitement rose in me—yet when my gaze unintentionally swept across the rearview mirror, I paused slightly.
After a moment, I turned back to Suo Tian and asked, “Then… what about the people behind us?”
I meant Wang Jun and the others.
Hearing this, Suo Tian glanced at me. “What do you think?”
I was stunned again and shook my head. “How would I know?”
Uncle Gazi in the back suddenly cleared his throat a little awkwardly.
I instinctively turned around to look, only to realize that Lili had already opened her eyes at some point.
Her gaze was drifting uneasily between me and Suo Tian.
When her eyes met mine, her slightly pale face pulled into a small smile before she looked away again.
After so many years dealing with people, Uncle Gazi was much better at saying the right things.
He glanced at Lili twice, then chimed in at just the right moment with a cheerful voice:
“Come on now—do you really think a place like that won’t have room for one or two more people? Once we get there, they’ll definitely arrange everything nice and proper for all of us.”
His words didn’t address the real issue, but they comforted Lili just the same.
Seeing her expression ease a little, I sat back properly in my seat.
Family… no matter how excessive their actions are, you can never completely cut ties.
Feelings bind you together—especially when it’s your own flesh and blood.
……
Around noon, the convoy stopped on a wide, empty stretch of road.
Suo Tian got out and gathered with the group of black-clad men.
I didn’t know what they were discussing, but the whole group talked together for a long time.
— The end of the Chapter–
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