Chapter 434: Cutting Off This Food Chain
Chapter 434: Cutting Off This Food Chain
“What do we do now?” An Ran can’t relax. She follows Zhan Lian outside and stands by the guardrail, her tone anxious. “Can we go around Xiangcheng and leave this place?”
With enemies pressing in on both sides—unable to retreat into Xiangcheng and unable to return to Tiesi Village—this is the only route An Ran can think of: skirt the edge of the city and head north.
Zhao Ru, who has finally finished moving the water zombie to the first floor, overhears her.
She stands on the staircase, looks up at An Ran, and shakes her head. “We can’t let them keep eating. The rats are their food source for evolution.”
Although the exact mechanism behind zombie evolution isn’t confirmed, Zhao Ru has spent time in Tiesi Village and knows a few people from the medical field. She has a vague understanding that someone there came to a conclusion: zombies evolve based on how much they consume.
In other words, the more they eat, the faster they evolve.
It’s somewhat similar to mutant animals and plants. Those creatures reproduce faster the more they consume, while zombies don’t reproduce—they level up.
“If we want to bypass the city, the only route is south,” Zhan Lian adds with a frown. “But heading south now isn’t a good option.”
An Ran, hopeless with geography, has no idea what roads surround Xiangcheng. But even without that knowledge, she understands what Zhan Lian means: going around the city means heading south—but the south… isn’t safe.
Rumor has it the cities in the south are overrun by zombies. And judging by the current rate of zombie evolution, entire southern cities could already be full of metal- and water-type zombies. There would be nowhere to run.
“Then let’s go all in and cut off this food chain,” An Ran says firmly.
If the apocalypse has pushed them this far, they might as well strike back in a big way.
Zhan Lian smiles at her and nods. He’s been thinking the same thing.
The “food chain” An Ran refers to is this: mice eat plants, reproduce quickly, and provide flesh and blood for zombies to feed on and evolve. If the zombies keep evolving, it’ll only spell disaster for humanity.
Since they can’t retreat or advance, they might as well stay put and sever the zombies’ food supply—starting by destroying the rat nest at the bus station. If they can slow or halt the zombies’ evolution, they’ll buy precious time.
But manpower is limited, and wiping out the rat nest won’t be a quick in-and-out task. Zhan Lian and Luo Feifan are essential to the plan. However, once they leave, there’s no way An Ran can hold off all the little zombies by herself—no matter how powerful she is.
And Zhan Lian will never leave An Ran and Doll unprotected.
“Then let’s all go together,” An Ran says, nodding with resolve.
She thinks she understands Zhan Lian’s concerns. The rat nest needs to be destroyed. She and Doll can’t be left behind in a place outside Zhan Lian’s reach. That leaves only one choice: move together as one unit. That way, their strength stays intact, and everyone remains within reach of protection.
The dim window glass reflects the flickering firelight outside, while the moon overhead casts a soft silver glow.
Zhan Lian looks at An Ran without a word. His gaze holds a mischievous glint—as if he’s plotting something he hasn’t said out loud.