Luo Xiaole leaned over, offering Lin Xia a cereal bar. "Do you want to eat more?"
Lin Xia blinked, turned her head, and forced a smile, accepting Luo Xiaole's kindness.
"Thank you," her tone was still very commanding.
Luo Xiaole's impression was that every time she saw Lin Xia, she was either bravely confronting villains or was extremely heroic, saving them from rain or other troubles. This was the first time she had seen such a dejected expression on Lin Xia's face.
"Did something happen?" Luo Xiaole was curious, but afraid of intruding on Lin Xia's privacy. "But I'm just asking casually. You don't have to say if you don't want to. Everyone has their own secrets." Just like her, burdened by some doubts, some heaviness, and many secrets.
"Xiaole, have you ever tried the feeling of losing a loved one?" Lin Xia looked at her blankly.
Luo Xiaole froze. Then she clenched her fists. She nodded. Honestly, her parents had passed away when she was very young. She felt as if she hadn't even grasped what true sadness was before she lost the chance to feel happiness. After that, her life was only darkness, and she had grown accustomed to it. But ever since she heard her aunt say that her parents had been murdered, a fire from the depths of her bones would surge up uncontrollably. The few images of her parents from her childhood would vividly reappear in her mind, again and again. That was why she had to use all her strength to survive, even if it meant dedicating the rest of her life to finding the truth. If she felt this way, how much more so with the sudden apocalypse. Many people present had experienced the pain of separation from loved ones. Luo Xiaole looked at Lin Xia's expression and knew she had likely gone through something similar.
"Xiaole, actually, the first time I saw you, to be honest, I found it unbelievable."
"Everyone would see your physique and wouldn't associate you with combat power. But you were right in front of me then, blocking an attack that I myself couldn't withstand." Lin Xia, for some reason, felt a desire to confide.
"Are you talking about the ambush upstairs?" Luo Xiaole suddenly understood.
"Exactly. Seeing your swift moves, I couldn't help but wonder if, if I had practiced my skills diligently before, I could have protected my father..." A tear slowly slid from Lin Xia's eye, falling into the shadows where no one could see.
"Your father..." Luo Xiaole couldn't bear to ask further.
"He was the leader of a gang. But after the apocalypse broke out, he was betrayed by those closest to him. To save me, he died tragically in the horde of zombies..." "At that time, I hadn't awakened my powers yet, nor did I have the skills to protect him..."
"No one could have predicted something that had never happened before..." Luo Xiaole said slowly.
"But I will avenge my father's death. If it weren't for that person, he wouldn't have met this end..."
"That person? Where is he?" Luo Xiaole's eyes widened.
"Qinglong Gang..." Lin Xia gritted her teeth and slowly uttered the words.
...
Meanwhile, in the luxurious office building opposite.
"Sir, it's bad!" a soldier at the door panted. "The men we just dispatched for external patrols have returned, reporting that a number of scattered zombies are heading towards the base."
"What? We've swept this area many times. There shouldn't be many zombies nearby!" Cheng Ge's senior brother frowned, puzzled.
"Go call A Cheng here and have him check the protective shield."
"Understood!" The soldier rushed towards Cheng Ge.
And Cheng Ge, in the bedroom converted from his office, was having a very good time.
"Cheng Ge, you're amazing! You can actually use a protective shield. I've never heard of anyone else having such an ability!" Zuo Ran nestled in Cheng Ge's arms, looking very obedient.
"Of course. This is a secret technique passed down to my brother and me by our master. Most people can't even see what a protective shield looks like, and all abilities will be nullified." Cheng Ge was quite pleased with Zuo Ran's praise.
"No wonder. I can't see it either. But I heard the discussions outside, and indeed, everyone's abilities have disappeared..." Zuo Ran's smile held a hint of calculation.
"Cheng Ge, Cheng Ge! Something terrible has happened!" A subordinate suddenly rushed in, banging on the door.
"What is it? You're always so flustered!" Cheng Ge put down his champagne and adjusted his pajamas.
"The officer sent me to report that a lot of scattered zombies are gathering here, and several zombies have already hit the protective shield!"
"What?" Astonishment flashed in Cheng Ge's eyes. Where did these zombies come from out of nowhere? "Let's go, reinforce the protective shield!"
After Cheng Ge left, Zuo Ran revealed a cold smile. The previous night, she had pretended to sleep and inadvertently overheard Cheng Ge telling his subordinate about a cracked area in the protective shield. The energy flow in that area was unstable, and the shield was at risk of breaking. But that location happened to be the building where Luo Xiaole and her group were. Zombies are coming, are they? She was thrilled, thinking it was truly heaven-sent. Since that group of people couldn't discern people, couldn't protect her, a pearl among them, why not let them suffer a little! She curled her lips and signaled for someone to bring Da Beitou over.
"Can you do me a favor, my good brother? After this is done, you'll be well rewarded."
...
On the second floor of the dormitory building, in a large dormitory room.
"That's what happened. Do you think those women are crazy, insisting on bringing this sick person along! Isn't that asking for trouble!" someone exclaimed, gesticulating wildly to others in the dormitory, cursing Luo Xiaole and her group. It was the same person who had been shouting on the bus, only demanding that people get off, and being utterly unhelpful. Ever since Luo Xiaole arrived and clearly distanced herself from Zuo Ran and Da Beitou, driving them away, he felt that following the group of "bean sprouts" might lead to him being infected and turned by the feverish person! So, upon hearing that the base would be sealed off for several days, he directly applied to the soldiers to be transferred to another floor. With his bedding, he moved to the large dormitory downstairs with the remaining people.
"Don't you think they're harming themselves and others!" he said righteously.
"Exactly! Anyone showing signs of fever should be immediately thrown off the bus!" others agreed. After all, they had abandoned countless companions and acquired their supplies to get here and live. Abandoning companions had long been commonplace for them.
"But I still don't think it's enough..." the person rubbed his hands, an idea gradually forming in his mind. "They aren't afraid of that person turning? Then let them stay in the same room. I want them to experience for themselves the consequences of their self-righteousness." Unexpectedly, the others chimed in, "Hahaha, you're full of wicked ideas!" "They should be taught the道理 of survival in the apocalypse! Brother, we'll help you." Since there were no soldiers patrolling this building anyway, the few of them sneaked their way to the room where the bus's shivering man lived alone.
"You... what... what are you going to do..." The person felt a chill and heat alternating through his body, completely devoid of strength. Then, the group of people before him looked at him with malicious smiles. He felt a sharp blow to his neck and instantly fainted.