Chapter 178: We Need to Leave Quickly
Chapter 178: We Need to Leave Quickly
The zombies collapse to the ground, crawling toward Anran with jerky movements. She takes full advantage of the terrain, darting forward and luring the horde toward the seasoning aisle. Reaching the end of the shelf, Anran turns abruptly, glancing at the zombies stumbling after her. Without hesitation, she places a hand on the shelf and shoves it hard.
With a loud crash, the shelf topples over, sending bottles of seasonings scattering across the floor. Glass shatters, spilling powders and liquids everywhere, while the heavy structure pins several zombies beneath its weight.
Anran doesn’t waste a second. She climbs on top of the fallen shelf and systematically begins stabbing the trapped zombies one by one, ensuring none can rise again.
Outside, the first rays of dawn break over the horizon. The sunlight brightens the world above, but inside the underground supermarket, the dim lighting feels even gloomier in comparison. Behind the truck wedged into the wall, zombies continue to press and push against it with relentless force.
By the time Anran finishes dispatching the last zombie, she efficiently extracts the crystal cores from their brains. As she approaches the vehicle, she notices the pickup truck being shoved further into the supermarket by the horde.
The front of the pickup truck is already severely deformed from the earlier collision. Anran rushes to the back seat and knocks urgently on the window. The little girl inside hesitates briefly before opening the door, clutching Doll tightly in her arms.
"We need to leave now. We can’t stay in the car!"
Anran quickly picks up Doll, securing it in the sling across her chest. With one hand holding the little girl, she opens the driver’s door with her other hand. Her eyes land on Yun Tao, his face pale and lifeless. Reaching out, she presses her finger lightly under his nose to check for breath. A wave of relief washes over her when she confirms he is still alive.
Turning to Liu Yuan in the passenger seat, Anran instructs, "Sister Yuan, carry Brother Tao. We need to get out of the car now."
Liu Yuan’s hands are stained with blood, her face strained but determined. She nods, quickly lifting Heng Heng from the car before maneuvering around to Yun Tao’s side. Balancing her injured son in one arm, she carefully hoists Yun Tao onto her back and follows Anran.
The supermarket is vast, sprawling across the first underground level. When Yun Tao drove here, he took the entrance from the underground parking garage. Above them are two additional floors, comprising a large shopping mall. The first floor houses cosmetics, clothing, and a car showroom, while the second floor features toy stores, a children’s playground, and maternal and child supply shops. The third floor is home to upscale restaurants.
From the sounds echoing through the building, it is clear that the underground parking lot outside has already been overrun by a large number of zombies. It is only a matter of time before the supermarket itself is breached. Anran knows they have no choice but to head upstairs.
Carrying Doll strapped to her chest and holding the little girl’s hand, Anran moves quickly. As they pass shelves, she grabs supplies—snacks, biscuits, anything they can eat. She knows that if they don’t take these now, returning for them later will be impossible once the supermarket is swarming with zombies.
"Push the shopping cart over here," Anran calls out to the little girl, letting go of her hand.
The little girl nods, her bare feet padding softly on the cold floor as she wraps a sheet around herself for warmth. She walks to the shopping cart near the shelf and begins pushing it back toward Anran.
Meanwhile, Liu Yuan, struggling under the weight of Yun Tao, turns to Heng Heng and urges, "Heng Heng, go help the sister collect supplies."
Despite the large bump on his head, Heng Heng obeys without complaint. He eagerly throws food into the shopping cart, his small hands grabbing whatever he can.
Anran doesn’t stay idle either. She grabs another cart and continues down the aisle, throwing supplies into it as she makes her way toward the supermarket escalator. Reaching the base of the escalator, she turns back and calls to Liu Yuan, who is still carrying Yun Tao.
"Sister Yuan, take Brother Tao upstairs first, then come back to help move the shopping carts."
The group’s urgency is palpable as they work quickly, knowing every second matters.