Moments later, the engine roared to life, and the other three leaped onto the truck bed. At the instant the zombie gorilla appeared at the other end of the corridor, the truck suddenly burst forward!
Zhou Rong looked at him suspiciously, and Si Nan returned a calm and clear gaze.
“King Kong is an ancient mutated giant ape. Little Comrade Si, have you seen Skull Island?”
Si Nan shook his head.
“Resident Evil?”
Si Nan shook his head again.
“…At least you’ve played Counter-Strike, right?”
Si Nan said: “I don’t play games.”
Zhou Rong seemed to have discovered a new continent: “As a youth who grew up in the 21st century, you don’t watch TV series or play games? Little Comrade Si, where did you waste your student years? Do you have any pain or unspeakable secrets you want to confide to the organization?”
Chun Cao lazily said: “You don’t understand, Brother Rong—someone like Si Xiao Nan during student years was busy falling in love. Or watching movies and riding bicycles hand-in-hand with a sweet school flower during self-study class—totally different from you military school nerds, hehe—”
Si Nan said: “I’ve never been in love.”
Zhou Rong: “…”
The air suddenly fell silent, with only the rhythmic bumping of the garbage truck.
After a while, Zhou Rong slowly said: “Although early romance isn’t good… Little Comrade Si, one should occasionally have some entertainment, otherwise mental stress can cause problems… After saying this, don’t you want to find a quiet place to whisper with Brother Rong? Proper relaxation is necessary.”
“I have entertainment,” Si Nan replied. “Sleeping.”
After a long time, Chun Cao covered his nose and moved closer to Zhou Rong, whispering: “I think when he says sleeping, he means actually sleeping.”
Zhou Rong: “I think so too.”
The garbage truck turned in the empty isolation layer and roared westward, passing the generator set and substation, with a staff-only elevator in the corner sealed with yellow and black caution tape.
When the truck stopped, the three jumped down. Zhou Rong carried dozens of kilograms of equipment while running and said: “You know what? I finally remembered what Little Comrade Si reminds me of. White Eagle Force, the ones who fought us last year with a 19 to 8 casualty ratio…”
Zhou Rong couldn’t help but look up and say, “Daughter, although your student days sound miserable, I was always a top student in military school.”
“I was first in the whole school for four years and even received a medal upon graduation. I’ll show it to you someday.”
Chun Cao remained silent for a long time, her expression as if struck by lightning.
With a splash, Zhang Yingjie emerged from the bottom, laughing, “Alright, Rong Ge pulled me up! I’ll go up and detonate again.”
Zhou Rong adjusted his position with difficulty, spreading his legs wide and bracing against the side walls, bending down to pull Zhang Yingjie, who was half-submerged in the water. Just then, a series of bubbles suddenly rose to the surface, quickly growing larger, as if something was rapidly ascending.
Zhou Rong’s eyebrows jumped: “Get up quickly!”
Zhang Yingjie also sensed something ominous and grabbed the rope. But at the moment he was about to exert force and rise, several pale, swollen hands suddenly stretched out from the black water and grabbed him!
“Yingjie!”
“—Zombies!!”
Zhang Yingjie drew his gun and fired, but the bullets couldn’t hit the target underwater. In panic, he was pulled down by the zombies!
Bang! With a loud noise and water spraying, Zhou Rong didn’t hesitate, reaching back to draw his submachine gun and jumping into the water.
☆ Chapter 19
He swam up twice to loosen his muscles, and by the light of his helmet, he saw two large, pale shadows of Zhang Yingjie entangled not far below, struggling unsuccessfully against the zombies’ grip.
Zhou Rong, afraid of hitting Zhang Yingjie, only fired after carefully aiming at the zombies, but the underwater shot caused the bullet to deviate, only hitting the zombie’s back!
The intense movement accelerated oxygen consumption, and Zhang Yingjie finally couldn’t hold his breath. Air was squeezed out of his lungs in a series of bubbles, and he sank silently.
Zhou Rong cursed inwardly and decisively dove down, with one zombie returning to grab him, while another chased Zhang Yingjie downward.
After a while, Zhou Rong finally stopped coughing miserably, breathing heavily and hoarsely saying: “Ying Jie he…”
Zhou Rong looked up to see Si Nan kneeling beside him, silently falling backward the moment he heard the words “okay”.
Zhou Rong was startled and hurriedly reached out to catch him, only to see Si Nan completely soaked, pale-faced, and unconscious.
“Exhausted from physical exertion,” Chun Cao’s face was full of fatigue: “We took turns giving you two artificial respiration and cardiopulmonary resuscitation for over ten minutes.”
Zhou Rong leaned against the wall corner, resting Si Nan’s head on his abdomen, exhaustedly surveying the surroundings. They had reached West B area, seemingly in a staff office, with blood splattered on the concrete walls, scattered papers on the floor, and the alloy door tightly closed. Muffled, hollow roars of zombies echoed from the corridor.
Zhang Ying Jie lay motionless beside him, looking dead at first glance, but careful observation revealed a slight, rhythmic chest movement.
Zhou Rong opened his mouth and coughed twice, his throat painfully burning after choking on water, barely asking: “What happened?”
After sending the satellite communication, it is estimated that we can transfer to Area E within two hours. The Biological Virus Research Institute is located here… This is a high-risk area. Do not linger in battle. Once it is confirmed that we cannot break through, immediately retreat. Follow the evacuation route we previously calculated, gathering at the central area’s light rail station entrance. If Yan Hao’s team hasn’t been completely wiped out, we can take the new armored vehicle when we return. Zhou Rong waved the tablet: “—Any questions?”
No one raised their hand.
Chun Cao struggled to drag Zhang Yingjie, whose legs could only be dragged on the ground.
Si Nan sat cross-legged, rubbing his eyes, which were turning red, clearly not fully awake.
“Not bad, everyone is full of fighting spirit!” Zhou Rong clapped his hands enthusiastically: “Next, follow me towards the dawn of victory!”
Zhou Rong turned around, and suddenly Si Nan’s voice came from behind: “Rong Ge.”
Zhou Rong turned back, and before he could say anything, he was tightly embraced. Si Nan’s face was almost buried in Zhou Rong’s neck, saying nothing and making no movement. He maintained this position for more than ten seconds before finally lifting his head, relievedly patting Zhou Rong’s back.
“Thank goodness you’re not dead.”
Si Nan took a step back, looking into Zhou Rong’s eyes seriously: “I won’t let any of you die.” Then he bent down to pick up the tactical backpack, bypassing Zhou Rong’s motionless body and walking away.
The air remained frozen for a long time, and Zhou Rong’s eyes finally blinked, as if coming to life like a switch being turned on.
“…Cao’er,” he seemed to be floating in the clouds: “Dad gives you one last chance… Yan Hao or Dad, who are you standing with?”
However, Chun Cao looked at him sympathetically and slowly shook his head.
Zhou Rong’s eyes narrowed as he focused on the marks, the atmosphere thickening with tension. “We need to move quickly,” he commanded. “Whatever made these marks, it’s not something we want to encounter.”
As they pressed on, Zhou Rong felt a mix of dread and adrenaline. Chun Cao kept his weapon ready, scanning corners and shadows while Si Nan carefully adjusted Zhang Yingjie on his back.
