Chapter 190: Nothing to Be Sad About
Chapter 190: Nothing to Be Sad About
Zhan Lian frowns and lowers his binoculars. He isn’t sure if his ex-wife is in the east or the west, but one thing is clear—ignoring the zombies immediately surrounding him, the ones in the east seem far less aggressive. They have been summoned but don’t seem to know exactly where their prey is.
The zombies in the west, however, move with clear intent. That means the olfactory zombies have locked onto a human target.
Taking a deep breath, Zhan Lian decides to head west first.
At this time, the sky is still dim, the air cool with the lingering chill of dawn. In the western part of the city, a group of human survivors is setting up a safe zone—a temporary refuge located on high ground at the edge of Xiang City, near the Xiangbei Highway.
This location is chosen wisely.
Highways are typically built on elevated ground, and toll stations are often positioned just outside the city, near sparsely populated suburban areas. The survivor group has taken over an old park next to the highway, which is already enclosed by iron railings.
The hill within the park isn’t natural—it was artificially raised by the government before the apocalypse. Trees are planted along the slopes, a winding path leads to the top, and at the summit stands a tea house, originally built for both business and scenic views.
When the apocalypse struck, it was late at night, and the weather was cool. Few people had been present in the park at the time, making it an ideal location to establish a temporary base.
Inside the survivors’ defensive perimeter, more people have gathered—some have come on their own after hearing rumors of safety, others have been brought back by scouting teams searching for supplies. Many have been personally rescued by the team leader himself.
But even with all these new arrivals, the number of survivors isn’t high.
Before the last supply run, there were about a hundred people in the camp. Then the Green Dragon tattooed man—one of their key leaders—took more than twenty ability users and a dozen ordinary men on an expedition. Adding in those who have fallen victim to zombies over the past few days, the remaining survivors now number around fifty.
It’s just the reality of the apocalypse. No matter how strong a team is, people die every day.
Survival is cruel.
In a world like this, natural selection is at play—those who can be easily eaten today won’t last until tomorrow anyway.
There is nothing to be sad about.
That’s just the way things are.
Despite their losses, the survivors have managed to secure a strategic high ground. They have also reinforced their defenses—several sturdy vehicles are positioned outside the iron railings, creating a makeshift barricade. Just beyond the barricade, they have dug a trench, leaving only a single entrance at the park’s main gate.
Now, countless zombies have already fallen into the trench, their decaying bodies piling up. More and more undead gather around the perimeter, and soon, the trench will be full.
The team’s leader is no fool.
He understands the zombies' hunting patterns—how they primarily rely on hearing, how their calls trigger massive hordes, and, most importantly, how they instinctively take the easiest route forward.
Most zombies don’t bother climbing unless absolutely necessary. If they encounter an obstacle, their first reaction is to move left or right, searching for a path around it.
This is working to the survivors’ advantage.
The zombies in the trench don’t immediately think to climb out, scale the barricade, and jump the iron railings to get inside. Instead, they mindlessly shuffle along the trench walls, searching for an easier way to reach their prey.
That gives the survivors time.
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Author’s Note:
Anran: I’m in the east. Which way are you headed?
Zhan Lian, stubborn as ever: The olfactory zombies in the east haven’t caught any human scent, which means there’s no one alive there.
Author’s Bonus Question: “Why is that?”
Readers collectively roll their eyes: Because you’re up to something again, Baozi!