Shouting, cursing, footsteps… Soldiers gathered from all corners of the tarmac towards the runway, voices echoing through the night sky, but Si Nan remained unmoved. Holding a submachine gun in one hand and the door with the other, his gaze passed over everyone, focusing only on the familiar, breathless figure in the distance.
That was Zhou Rong.
Zhou Rong’s backlit figure was sharp and slender. Though his features were indistinct, Si Nan knew Zhou Rong was looking back at him.
As if separated by an endless starry sea yet close at hand, the sea breeze passed through Zhou Rong’s fingertips and then swept across Si Nan’s eyelashes. Zhou Rong opened his mouth, his lip movements indecipherable. Si Nan shook his head at him.
The noisy voices grew closer, armed soldiers rushing onto the runway, collectively pushing the metal ladder towards the cabin.
Si Nan stood quietly at the cabin door, seemingly unconcerned by the soldiers quickly climbing the ladder. After what seemed like an eternity or just seconds, he saw Zhou Rong finally raise both hands and make a gesture against the backlight –
Go.
Si Nan exhaled softly, the breath condensing into a small, fleeting white mist, then “Bang!” closed the cabin door.”
Bang bang bang bang! Bang bang! Soldiers were pounding on the door. Si Nan locked it firmly, walked through the cabin to the pilot’s seat, and pressed the submachine gun against the pilot’s back of the head: “Take off immediately, don’t force me to turn your head into a tomato…”
Colonel Jin Hua tilted his head, making eye contact with Si Nan.
“…” Si Nan said in surprise: “What are you doing here?”
Jin Hua: “What are YOU doing here?!”
The outside commotion grew louder. Si Nan pondered for a moment, switching the submachine gun from automatic to single-shot mode, and pressed it against Jin Hua’s head:
“Take off immediately, don’t make me turn your head into a candied hawthorn stick.”
Jin Hua: “Is there a difference?!”
Helpless, Jin Hua was forced by the gun to press a series of buttons, slowly lowering the control lever. The small plane began to slide on the runway, throwing soldiers behind it.
“It wasn’t my business originally, but I wanted to do something for them, so I volunteered as a flight instructor,” Jin Hua said, focusing on adjusting the electronic map. “I haven’t flown for several years. This time I’m co-pilot, with another main pilot whom you threw down below. So later… if…”
The plane accelerated and suddenly roared into the sky, the sudden turbulence causing Si Nan to stagger and crash into the dashboard.
If we encounter strong air currents!
” Jin Hua shouted over the roar of the propellers: “You’d better pray! Pray to God or Buddha, it doesn’t matter!”
Boom— The plane shot up diagonally into the high sky, the runway and airport growing smaller, with swirling clouds rushing towards them.
Si Nan steadied himself, ejecting a bullet with a click: “I stopped believing in gods and Buddhas long ago.”
Jin Hua smiled bitterly, wagging her finger: “I advise you to believe temporarily. Unless a celestial immortal descends, you’re unlikely to return alive from this journey. Clutching at straws might not help, but it’s better than doing nothing at all.”
Si Nan shook his head without responding, turning to the rear cabin to inventory weapons and ammunition, beginning to organize his tactical backpack.
“I’m serious!” Jin Hua called back loudly: “The reconnaissance battalion from the Inner Mongolia base lost many people! The Hebei 8th Rescue Squad that went to the canyon suffered heavy casualties! You cannot complete this mission alone.”
The plane flew steadily through the sea of clouds, wing tips flickering with red lights. The rear cabin lights went out, leaving only halos of orange-yellow light.
Si Nan knelt on one knee beside the bullet box, propping his assault rifle on the ground.
He looked much younger than his actual age, so handsome, with a hint of scholarly gentleness.
Jin Hua felt something stir inside her, her voice involuntarily softening: “Listen, Si Nan. Only the rear is safe. Everyone is grateful you brought the antibodies. If you wish, you could even become a savior in people’s hearts after the war…”
“But if you go to the canyon, this life will no longer be your own,” Jin Hua said sincerely. “You’re still young, with a long road ahead. Don’t sacrifice your life on a momentary impulse… okay? Si Nan?”
Si Nan seemed to contemplate something under Jin Hua’s intense gaze. After a long moment, he finally picked up the ammunition belt, rattling it into his backpack: “No, ma’am. You don’t understand. I’ve experienced many life-or-death situations, but I only have five comrades I can entrust my life to.”
Jin Hua was instantly stunned.
Si Nan zipped up his bag, standing and slinging it over his shoulder, speaking softly:
“Four of them are waiting ahead, so I cannot not go.”
The plane passed through the ocean, drawing a blurry white line, with another military aircraft closely following behind in the distant high sky.
The two planes traveled north along the same route, with towering mountains and a vast canyon gradually revealing themselves ahead.
“Goodbye, Colonel,” Si Nan backed towards the cabin door, saying: “I’ll bring Ding Shi back for you.”
Under the cabin’s lighting, Jin Hua’s eyes reddened for a moment. But she said nothing more, taking a trembling breath and seriously responding: “Goodbye.”
Si Nan opened the cabin door, with howling cold wind rushing past, and then he leaped into the vast, dark, dense forest.
Although information suppressants had been administered, the fresh flesh of over twenty special forces soldiers was like a searchlight in the deep night for the zombies. Hundreds of meters away, zombies swarmed like evil spirits in the dark. Some soldiers not having time to put on night vision goggles hastily opened fire, with gun muzzles spewing flames and blowing off the skulls of the walking dead!
Zhou Rong steadily moved forward while firing, the zombies stumbling and falling along his path, their limbs crushed beneath his feet. He pressed the earpiece amplifier, and his roar echoed through the mountain forest: “Si Nan!”
“I know you’re here! I saw the parachute!”
One hundred meters away, Si Nan stopped.
“Come back! Move with the main group! You can’t do this alone!”
Si Nan remained silent, standing behind a rock, his silhouette seemingly half-merged with the shadows.
“…Come back,” Zhou Rong’s voice lowered: “Si Nan, come back to my side.”
His final tone sounded somewhat sad, with thick, unmistakable anxiety and worry. Si Nan listened intently for a moment, then suddenly shook his head and laughed: “You’re wrong, Zhou Rong.”
The gunfire continued, the zombies’ howls becoming increasingly sparse, with the airborne troops’ battle nearing its end. Si Nan no longer lingered, drawing his submachine gun and melting into the night.
Near five in the morning.
Through night vision goggles, countless pale green figures wandered aimlessly between the trees, while Si Nan swiftly traversed the towering tree canopy, leaping over zombie heads with the agility of a monkey.
Waterfall.
Si Nan swung from a branch, instantly locking onto the faint water sounds ahead. More flexible than a snake, he darted just above the treetops before zombies could surround him.
He recalled hearing the noise during the parachute drop – during Spring Grass’s conversation with Zhou Rong, a muffled rumbling of water.
As long as this damned canyon wasn’t dotted with waterfalls every few steps, following the water sounds would lead to the crashed campsite!
The water vapor grew heavier, and suddenly a thunderous waterfall burst through the rocky, layered forest.
Si Nan climbed to the treetop and pulled out military binoculars.
