The driving duties were currently shared by Song Qi and another guy named Li Cheng. Zhu Ran sat in the middle with Xiao Chongyan and Li Yun, while four girls occupied the back.
She was seated in the middle, so everyone in front and behind could hear what she said.
Song Qi, who had just switched from the driver's seat, quickly responded, "We will, Miss Xiao, don't worry."
The others also expressed their agreement.
They all understood that no one would help them for no reason, and even if someone offered a helping hand, they couldn't rely on it solely. Moreover, in the apocalypse, there would be times when even the strongest couldn't protect them. True strength came from within.
A slightly timid boy next to Zhu Ran gathered his courage and said, "Next time we encounter zombies, we will all fight."
Because Xiao Chongyan was now a zombie without body temperature, Zhu Ran sat between them to prevent them from noticing any peculiarities. The three-seater bench was relatively spacious, and since none of them were overweight, there was plenty of room. Liu Yun even curled up his body to avoid touching Zhu Ran, partly out of respect for the women and partly out of fear.
Zhu Ran nodded, "I've collected some weapons. You can choose whatever feels comfortable for you when we encounter them. Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."
With Xiao Chongyan beside her, and considering how these people had previously stood up to Xue Jingjing for him, he would help protect them.
"Okay, can I have one of those swords from before? That one looked so powerful."
The image of Song Qi effortlessly slicing through zombies with that sword was still vivid in their minds. While it was a bit gruesome, they all had to admit that the feeling of cutting through them as easily as slicing watermelons was exhilarating. If they could also easily cleave open zombie heads, they wouldn't be afraid of them at all.
"Of course, and there are more."
Someone curiously asked, "Miss Xiao, why do you have so many swords? Did you..."
Xiao Chongyan's heart skipped a beat.
"Your family used to run a martial arts school."
Xiao Chongyan: "..."
Zhu Ran replied calmly, "Something like that. But these swords are specially made and quite sharp."
"No wonder they're so powerful!"
"I've read in novels that the awakening of special abilities is related to physical fitness. Miss Xiao is so capable, so it's natural that she awakened her abilities so quickly. We need to train harder too."
"Right, I wonder when that damned red rain will come again. Once the red rain falls, the zombies become even more powerful. If we don't become stronger, we'll die one day."
Someone added with a touch of dark humor, "Even if we become stronger, we'll still die one day, hahaha."
"That's not a funny joke at all."
"Where are we now? Who has the map? Let's check."
"It looks like we're close to Qing Feng Town. Are we resting there tonight?"
Traveling on the road was dangerous. If they encountered the red rain, the car roof wouldn't withstand the corrosion, and they'd be stranded.
"Let's check first. If the town is full of zombies, we won't have time to rest, will we?"
"It can't be that bad, there are usually a few survivors."
"Who knows? Haven't you seen a zombie siege?"
"Stop that bad omen talk!"
"I'm just making a reasonable inference..."
The group chatted and laughed, their words filled with a mixture of fear of the unknown and hope for the future. Under a strikingly brilliant red sunset, their vehicle drove along the still intact national highway towards the small town.
Perhaps due to the severe corrosion from the red rain in the past two days, they encountered a landslide midway. Although Zhu Ran's powerful vehicle didn't require them to clear the road, they still had to take a detour of nearly two kilometers on a muddy path.
As a result, by the time they reached the town, the sun had completely set. The sky above was dark, occasionally pierced by an eerie red glow. The former dark clouds had now become red clouds, which was why such strange red rain fell.
Their vehicle drove directly into the town. The streets were as silent as a graveyard, with no lights and no signs of life. Compared to its former bustling and cheerful appearance, the place seemed to have become an empty city within days.
"Is there no one left?"
"This place used to be a famous tourist attraction. I visited once during peak season. It was said that the town had over a hundred thousand people; it was so lively then."
"Peak season? Isn't it just this time of year? Logically, there should be many people here. They can't all be dead, can they?"
"Open the front window a bit."
Song Qi complied without question and lowered the window slightly. The air that wafted in was filled with the stench of decay, tinged with the smell of blood. As the car slowed down and the windows opened, they could hear screams and commotion in the distance.
"There are people."
"Close it. Let's look for hotels around here and find a suitable place to stop."
A girl in the back spoke eagerly, "I know a good place. There's a famous guesthouse here called Xun Chang Xiang, named after the line 'Old court's swallows of Wang Xie, now fly into common homes.' It's very retro and popular!"
Another girl chimed in sarcastically, "It was popular when there were people. Now there are more zombies."
Song Qi asked, "Miss Xiao, should we go there?"
"Yes, let's go."