Chapter 239: They Are Also Calling Their Companions
Chapter 239: They Are Also Calling Their Companions
The car that drives past seems to be searching for someone. It enters from one end of the long street, moving alongside a wave of zombies, then turns left at the end of the street and heads toward the park.
The construction site is littered with steel bars and cement debris. Anran carries a bucket of water in one hand while using the other to support Doll strapped to her chest in a sling. Behind her, Little Mint leads the stumbling Hengheng. An adult and three children—waiting quietly as the afternoon stretches on.
The sun blazes, its heat almost suffocating. Doll, wrapped snugly in the sling, is drenched in sweat. Anran loosens the fabric slightly to let some air in, exposing the child’s small head. She turns back to check on Little Mint and Hengheng, both of whom are flushed red from the heat.
"It should be safe now. Let's go back," Anran murmurs.
Yun Tao will likely return soon. If he arrives at the motel and finds them missing, he will be worried. She decides to take the children back—until she notices Little Mint’s face turning pale with shock. His eyes are wide, staring at something behind her.
Hengheng lets out a frightened whimper, only for Little Mint to swiftly cover his mouth.
Anran spins around—
A few rats stand behind her.
Each one has red eyes, their bodies about the same size as the garbage dump rats she has seen before—but these are even fatter, grotesquely bloated. Their fur is patchy, some areas lush, others bald and slick with grease. But their appearance is the least of her concerns.
What matters is the way they are staring.
At her.
At Little Mint.
At Hengheng.
And they are squeaking—calling for their companions.
Anran grips the bucket tighter and slowly positions herself between the children and the rats. She frantically reaches for her ability, willing the plants around her to respond. But anxiety gnaws at her—she regrets not bringing even a single lily seed from the mall.
What can she do now?
The five elements of nature restrain and support one another.
This is a construction site, but the ground beneath the cement is still soil. And where there is soil, there are roots—however deep or small.
Anran remains still, silent, but she pushes her energy outward, searching. Beads of sweat roll down her temple as she finally senses it—there! A single root buried beneath the earth. She latches onto it, urging it to grow, to spread, to break through the ground.
But at that moment, the rats lunge.
As if they have just found fresh, delicious meat, they charge at her and the children.
The roots aren’t ready yet. Anran’s heart pounds as she grits her teeth and hurls the bucket of water at the oncoming rats.
The bucket hits the ground with a crash. The clear water spills across the dry earth, soaking it. The sudden impact startles the rats, drenching their greasy fur and sending them into a brief, squeaking frenzy.
Anran doesn’t waste a second. She turns sharply and shouts—
"Go upstairs!"
How fast can a person run at full speed?
Not faster than a rat.
Little Mint grabs Hengheng and bolts toward the cement staircase nearby. It has no guardrails, no finishing—just rough, unfinished concrete steps. But that doesn’t matter. Little Mint rushes up, holding onto Hengheng tightly.
The rats are already at Anran’s feet. One lunges at her—
She kicks it away with all her strength.
Without hesitation, she reaches behind her back and pulls out her saber.
A gray-black shadow darts toward her—
She swings.
The blade slices clean through.
A squeal.
Blood splatters.
The rat, mid-leap, falls to the ground—dead.