Chapter 252: Going on the National Highway
Chapter 252: Going on the National Highway
"The captain's target isn’t that guy Yun Tao," Zhou Xiang mutters, his gaze sharpening with understanding. "He’s after the woman holding the child."
"The woman? What kind of beauty would be worth spending so much food to get?" The man beside Zhou Xiang looks puzzled, grumbling under his breath.
Zhou Xiang doesn’t bother explaining. Remembering what Zeng Fan mentioned last time about the 'mobile granary' — and how Lei Jiang led 20 superpowers to search for it — Zhou Xiang can guess what’s so special about the woman with the child.
But Zhou Xiang has no intention of sharing that knowledge. A mobile granary is far too valuable. The fewer people who know, the better. It’s like discovering a gold mine — only a fool would broadcast its location.
With that thought, Zhou Xiang sends someone to inform Lei Jiang while he gathers a few men, jumps into a car, and starts following Yun Tao and Anran.
It’s late at night, with the moon and stars casting a faint glow. Yun Tao drives carefully, steering his car past several zombies. Glancing at the two headlights trailing them in the distance, he says to Anran, who is quietly coaxing green ivy to sprout in the car,
"Don’t rush to use your powers. There aren’t many zombies on this road. Someone’s following us."
Anran looks back, her gaze narrowing at the distant lights. A small bundle of green ivy rests on her lap. She considers the situation, then guides the ivy to coil protectively around Doll’s car seat.
"Should we head straight to the highway to northern Hubei?" she asks.
"No," Yun Tao replies firmly. "We’d have to pass their camp to get to the highway entrance. We’ll take a detour — circle two streets, then join the national highway."
Turning the wheel, Yun Tao drives away from the highway toll station, taking a different route. The suburbs are nearly deserted, with most of the zombies drawn away by Lei Jiang’s survivor team. The farther they drive in the opposite direction, the smoother the roads become.
Before long, Yun Tao successfully loses Zhou Xiang's car.
By three or four in the morning, they reach a fork leading to the national highway. Yun Tao parks the car, grabs a straw and an oil can from the trunk, then smashes the gas cap off a nearby vehicle. He begins siphoning gasoline, refilling their car's tank.
While Yun Tao works, Doll stirs and whimpers after finishing its milk. Anran picks Doll up and walks under the quiet night sky, gently rocking and soothing the child.
They haven’t walked far when the distant roar of an engine breaks the silence. Two headlights wobble through the night.
"Get in, now!" Yun Tao curses, slamming the gas can down as he rushes back to the car.
Anran frowns. It feels as though Lei Jiang’s people are chasing them with a desperate resolve, as if they intend to fight to the death. Standing still, she looks at Yun Tao and says coldly,
"Don’t run anymore. If you keep running, they’ll keep chasing you."
Under the pale moonlight, a chilling resolve hardens in Anran’s eyes. Yun Tao turns, noticing the shift in her expression. He scowls.
"If we want them to stop chasing us... we have to kill them."
"Then kill them," Anran says flatly.
Over the past few days, she has quietly accepted the grim reality of their world. Sometimes, cruelty leaves no choice — it’s either you or them.
If they keep running, how long can they really last? Even if they reach northern Hubei, as long as Lei Jiang’s people keep pursuing them, they’ll never know peace.
It’s better to deal with the threat now — finish off their pursuers, then head for northern Hubei.