Evening descended quickly.
Luo Xiao Le finished her small biscuit and, in the dim light, silently watched the sunset glow that had finally appeared in the distance.
Her heart was heavy.
So many things had happened these past few days that she couldn't understand.
Especially after the appearance of the high-fever zombies, the unusual behavior of Li Xiao Tian and Zhu Hui made her faintly sense that something was about to happen.
Yet, she couldn't find a single clue.
She felt an immense anxiety within her.
Li Xiao Tian and his group were clearly not to be trifled with.
Seeing the increasing number of zombies surrounding them, she had no choice but to trade with them, quickly upgrading her defensive skills to ensure her escape.
She propped her chin on her hand, earnestly contemplating their escape route.
Now, the defense system of their clothing, once activated, would only give them 30 minutes to flee.
Considering the time spent maneuvering through the horde, where could they reach in 30 minutes...
It seemed only the clock tower, on the way to the back door, was a viable option.
Luo Xiao Le concentrated, drawing a large circle on the location of the clock tower on the map given to her by Luo Shu.
"Buzz."
At this moment, the crescent moon-white finger on her right hand suddenly began to vibrate violently.
Luo Xiao Le was startled.
The location of the other ring had finally reappeared!
She quickly turned her back, leaning against a blind spot in the pillar, and let the ring's light shine.
The light spot, shaped like a ring, was slowly moving out from the five-pointed star-shaped Yang Tao Building.
Judging by the direction, it seemed to be heading towards the school's back door!
Concurrently, Luo Xiao Le heard something not far away outside.
There seemed to be a few very faint gunshots...
She revealed half an eye, peering out through the small window.
In the dim twilight, it looked like someone was suppressing the zombie horde with weapons.
Immediately after, the faint silenced gunshots were drowned out by the successive roars of countless zombies!
Luo Xiao Le only heard the gunshots growing more distant...
Then, there was no more sound.
She clenched her fist. Though she couldn't see clearly in the darkness, she might have just brushed past Qin Ming Yang, who had the ring!
The situation outside was dire. It might be better to let Qin Ming Yang and his group clear the path ahead.
She decided. Tomorrow morning, they would act, leave this place, and chase after them!
...
Midnight.
It wasn't yet Luo Xiao Le's turn to stay awake on guard.
At this moment, she should have been sleeping soundly.
But for some reason, she found it hard to sleep tonight.
Perhaps it was the impending departure tomorrow that made her nervous, a sense of unease she couldn't articulate.
She retrieved her backpack from the corner and placed it under her head, using it as a small pillow.
She sighed and was about to lie down again when she heard furtive footsteps from behind the pillar.
Turning in confusion, she discovered that the people assigned to guard duty had vanished!
Her heart sank. She quickly tried to get up.
Suddenly, she realized the damn stiffness had triggered!
It happened just as she was bending at the waist.
She froze in a bizarre, contorted posture, suspended in mid-air.
"Holy crap, she sleeps in this position at night?" A shocked male voice came from behind the pillar. "This twig's taste is too peculiar!"
That voice was undeniably Li Xiao Tian!
Why had they crept over stealthily?
"Boss, don't say it, it actually looks a bit... impressive. This angle to freeze is not simple..." his subordinate exclaimed in awe.
"Alright, enough chatter, let's get to business!" Li Xiao Tian's voice was already growing impatient.
At his command.
Luo Xiao Le heard several subordinates rush towards her.
She was tied up tightly and securely.
Then, she was roughly lifted up.
"Ha... it's not even shift change time yet, what are you making so much noise about?" Luo Shu, disturbed from his sleep, mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Xiao Le! You... what are you doing..."
Before Luo Shu could even finish his sentence.
"Swish!" A toilet plunger whizzed past his ear.
Half of his already sparse hair was instantly shorn off!
Immediately after, Li Xiao Tian's subordinates tied him to the pillar as well, rendering him immobile!
Luo Xiao Le recognized her own weapon instantly.
She had actually considered this possibility and intended to flee immediately after their trade.
She hadn't expected them to move so quickly!
And judging by their ruthless actions just now, this group was serious!
Without giving them much time to react.
Mo Chen suddenly woke up from his dream.
Seeing the scene before him, he narrowed his eyes.
The next second, his long saber was unsheathed, and he swung it towards Li Xiao Tian.
But to his surprise, Li Xiao Tian, as if prepared, quickly grabbed the still-frozen Luo Xiao Le, who was bent over, and used her as a shield.
Mo Chen's sharp blade stopped abruptly and swiftly curved in mid-air! It narrowly bypassed Luo Xiao Le.
Witnessing this heart-stopping scene, Li Xiao Tian's lips curved into a smirk.
"You do care about this twig," his lips mouthed silently, provoking Mo Chen.
Li Xiao Tian and his group then brazenly dragged Luo Xiao Le to the central bonfire.
Luo Xiao Le felt the tip of a sharp fruit knife pressed directly against her throat.
"If you want to save your companion, hand over all your weapons," Li Xiao Tian's voice was triumphant.
"And as for this Mo Chen... I need to have a good chat with you," he grinned, a smile of absolute certainty.
The reinforced weapon in Luo Xiao Le's hand was not ordinarily sharp.
Luo Xiao Le's neck was not protected by any defensive clothing.
The knife tip merely moved forward a millimeter.
Her neck, almost instantly, began to bleed uncontrollably.
Smelling the blood, Li Xiao Tian turned to look at her.
He couldn't help but be taken aback.
To his surprise, Luo Xiao Le remained silent even in this situation.
She didn't even bat an eye?
This girl was indeed more resilient than anyone he had ever met.
However, Luo Xiao Le's blood enraged everyone in their team.
They began to curse Li Xiao Tian as despicable!
"Using the weakest and most defenseless person in the team as a hostage! Li Xiao Tian, are you even a man!"
Except for Xu Yan Ling, who had asked her to guard the night watch but then went to chat with Zuo Ran.
At this moment, she felt an immense sense of schadenfreude, looking at Luo Xiao Le with an expression that seemed to say, "Who can protect you now?"
Seeing the blood on Luo Xiao Le's neck, Mo Chen's gaze towards Li Xiao Tian filled with piercing coldness.
A thumbtack gradually slid from his cuff into his palm. He grasped it without hesitation, ready to strike.
However, he failed to notice a figure from his own team stealthily approaching him from behind.
"Zzzzzz"
A piercing electric current crackled through the air.
Mo Chen, who suddenly collapsed, shocked everyone.
"Hahahaha, well done, brother," Li Xiao Tian said, looking at Li Wen, who stood behind Mo Chen holding an electric baton, with an expression of immense relief and satisfaction.
This was their plan.
The most difficult to deal with and the most sharp-witted in their team were seemingly Luo Shu and Mo Chen.
By using Luo Xiao Le as bait, they could take care of these two, and the rest of the team would be rendered powerless.
Then, obtaining their weapons would be a simple matter.
And they could also take Mo Chen back to create weapons for them.
In the apocalypse, wouldn't they live a life of unimaginable comfort?
"Li Wen! You! You actually..." Zhou Xiao Jun exclaimed in disbelief.
Although they hadn't known each other for long, they had saved Li Wen's life outside the convenience store!
How could he be so treacherous!
In an instant, the gazes of the team members towards him were filled with disdain.
With their objective on the verge of being achieved, Li Xiao Tian temporarily lowered his guard.
The abducted Luo Xiao Le's long eyelashes blinked lightly.
"Ah!" Li Xiao Tian cried out in shock.
He felt a sharp sting on his arm!
Luo Xiao Le's hands were tied behind her back, but she had somehow grabbed something and fiercely slashed him.
Then, she tried to run!
A horrific gash immediately appeared on his arm.
"You slut, do you really think I wouldn't dare to hurt you?" Li Xiao Tian roared in anger, raising his knife to stab at Luo Xiao Le!
From afar, Luo Shu, who was also tied up, saw their captain being bullied like this, his eyes turning red with fury.
He struggled and, with his right hand, which was still mobile, laboriously fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a reinforced wrench.
He swung it fiercely at Li Xiao Tian!
"Boom!"
However, just as the wrench was about to hit Li Xiao Tian, it abruptly stopped.
"How could this be..." Even Luo Xiao Le was stunned for a moment.
A ball of fire had materialized out of nowhere in Li Xiao Tian's hand!
The wrench seemed to be under control, firmly sucked into the ball of fire, unable to move.
This was... a superpower?
Luo Xiao Le inwardly thought, "This is bad, Li Xiao Tian has awakened his superpower first?"
Li Xiao Tian's lips curled up arrogantly. "Now you know, you shouldn't oppose me."
Then, he violently flicked his hand backward.
The wrench, propelled by the fire he controlled, was flung outwards, smashing through the small window leading outside!
The smell of blood in the room instantly wafted out through the open window...