Chapter 20: Searching for Supplies

Before anyone could speak, he added in a leisurely tone, "I'll say this upfront: I don't keep freeloaders here. Anyone who stays must contribute. Whether you're a guy or a girl, don't expect any special treatment."

Jiang Yao’s heart stirred. She finally understood why Chi Xing commanded such respect; beyond his absolute strength, he possessed a keen sense of leadership. In the panic-stricken apocalypse, this was exactly the kind of backbone people needed.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Yao agreed, "Fine, we’ll join."

Chi Xing curled his lips and glanced at Wei Kai. "Give them some food."

The three of them each received a bottle of mineral water, a loaf of bread, and a bar of chocolate.

Wei Kai scratched the back of his head. "That’s for one meal. We hand out two meals a day, and if you don't contribute, you don't get anything."

Jiang Yao nodded to show she understood. Given the harsh environment, this ration wasn't bad; if one was careful, it could last a day. It seemed that although Chi Xing was overbearing, he was quite generous to his own people. She chewed on the dry bread while observing her surroundings. There were at least a hundred people in this lecture hall. Managing the food supply for so many was no easy feat; if he weren't ruthless enough, things would easily descend into chaos.

Zhao Xiaoting shuffled over, clutching Ji Yuanyuan’s violin. "Here, Brother Chi said you can keep the instrument."

Since the violin was neither edible nor drinkable and posed no threat, it was just taking up space. Considering Ji Yuanyuan’s skills might prove useful, Chi Xing had mercifully returned it. Ji Yuanyuan hugged her precious violin, inspecting it carefully to ensure it wasn't damaged before letting out a sigh of relief. Heaven knows how her heart bled earlier when she saw those jocks tossing her instrument around!

Zhao Xiaoting leaned toward Jiang Yao and lowered her voice, "You can't get your wrench back just yet."

"It's fine," Jiang Yao said with a faint smile. She knew she could get it back whenever she needed. She was just used to the wrench, but if the opportunity arose, she wanted a better weapon. Truth be told, there was already an item in the system mall she had her eye on, though it was expensive and she still needed to save up.

***

Chi Xing’s efficiency was truly remarkable. After lunch and a brief rest, he woke everyone up to get moving. Because the group was too large and made for an easy target, he only selected thirty people, including the four of them from the dormitory. Zhao Xiaoting had been on a run before and didn't strictly need to go, but she was too worried about Jiang Yao and the others, so she volunteered to tag along.

A Red Flag Supermarket stood one kilometer away from the teaching building, which was their destination. Before setting off, Chi Xing had already mapped out the route. On the way, they would pass the Science Building, the tennis courts, and a camphor-lined avenue before finally reaching the supermarket. There was almost no cover or hiding space along the way.

Chi Xing issued his orders immediately: "If we encounter lone zombies, we’ll handle them together. If we run into a swarm, we split up and coordinate." He pointed to fifteen people. "The supermarket probably has a lot of people, so there might be a large concentration of zombies. You all are responsible for drawing them away."

The remaining group, including Jiang Yao and her friends, were tasked with scavenging for supplies. "Remember, our main goal is food. Try to pick items with high calories that don't take up much space. As for other daily necessities, take them if you can carry them."

With his orders clear and concise, Chi Xing prepared to lead the group out. Jiang Yao took a few steps forward and stood before him. "Can I have my wrench back for now?"

Chi Xing arched a brow. "The reason?"

"I'm used to fighting zombies with it," she replied honestly.

Perhaps it was hard to associate her with killing zombies, but his gaze turned intrigued. "Fine, give it to her."

Just like that, Jiang Yao successfully reclaimed her weapon. The other three were also issued defensive tools: Ji Yuanyuan and Xiang Yu were given baseball bats, and Zhao Xiaoting held a crowbar.

Once they exited the teaching building, a few scattered zombies charged at them, only to be effortlessly dispatched by the jocks. Jiang Yao didn't get to see Chi Xing in action, which was somewhat disappointing; she was curious about his true ability. She had seen Xie Huaili’s combat style before and was confident she could hold her own against him, but Chi Xing remained an enigma. She had heard he could take on ten men at once, but she thought that sounded like an exaggeration.

Chi Xing led the jocks at the front, clearing the path. They passed a bush, and when he heard a rustle from within, he simply smirked and kept walking. As Jiang Yao’s group passed by, a zombie suddenly lunged out of the brush, its claws nearly raking across Ji Yuanyuan’s face!

The attack was sudden, and since the group in front had passed by safely, Ji Yuanyuan was caught completely off guard, her mind going blank. Jiang Yao, standing next to her, yanked her backward and drove the wrench into the zombie's face with a ferocious, calculated force.

She kicked the zombie away, pulled the wrench free, and brought it down heavily onto its skull again. After a few strikes, the zombie stopped moving.

Xiang Yu steadied the shaken Ji Yuanyuan. "Are you hurt?"

Zhao Xiaoting wanted to rush over but held herself back, her eyes filled with worry. Ji Yuanyuan’s face was deathly pale as she shook her head.

From up ahead came a sharp whistle. Jiang Yao looked up to see Chi Xing, hands in his pockets, glancing back at them. "Nice moves."

She narrowed her eyes, her temper flaring. "Did you do that on purpose?"

Chi Xing lifted his eyelids and chuckled dismissively. "Hey, am I your hired bodyguard?" He cast a glance at Ji Yuanyuan and curled his lip. "If you don't even have that much vigilance, you're going to die sooner or later."

He turned and walked away, leaving behind only an impossibly arrogant silhouette. Jiang Yao froze, realizing he was right. In the apocalypse, relying on others is never as good as relying on oneself, and he truly had no obligation to protect them.

She turned to look at Ji Yuanyuan, who had already pulled herself together and offered a big, sloppy smile. "I'm fine. It was my fault for being distracted. Thanks to Yaoyao."

"What's going on? Be more careful next time!" Zhao Xiaoting snuck over while no one was looking, whispering with a pained expression, "Look how scared our beautiful Yuanyuan was. What's he so smug about? Damn jerk. I hope his instant noodles never come with seasoning packets!"

Xiang Yu asked in surprise, "Is that a curse? Isn't that actually a blessing?"

I mean, look at the conditions—they were lucky to even have instant noodles in the apocalypse!

Zhao Xiaoting slapped her own forehead. "Then I hope he never gets to eat any at all!"

Ji Yuanyuan burst into laughter.

For the rest of the journey, no one dared to let their guard down. Jiang Yao habitually observed their surroundings and suddenly noticed a dozen people trailing them, looking suspicious. She looked closely and recognized the girl named Duan Yiren among them.