bookbashuk Chapter 17 Return Chapter
Chapter 17 Return Chapter
Lu Chen's gaze swept across the line and finally landed on Aunt Wang.
Aunt Wang was the second zombie he had taken in, and she had contributed a lot to his efforts so far. However, in her previous life, she had the physique of an ordinary middle-aged woman. Although her strength increased after becoming a zombie, her original physique remained the same, and she did not have an advantage compared to other ordinary zombies.
"This is it!"
Lu Chen didn't hesitate much; in the apocalypse, efficiency was paramount.
He had Tiezhu drag Aunt Wang into the bathroom of room 401 and close the door. Then he walked up to the bound new zombie, squatted down, and placed his hands on its waist.
Supernatural power activated.
Ten seconds later, control was complete.
Lu Chen stood up, handed the weapon that Aunt Wang had used to the new zombie, and then took out a thick coat from room 401 and put it on.
The new zombie stood up, taller and broader than the ordinary zombies next to it.
Lu Chen glanced at the bathroom door, where he heard Aunt Wang making unconscious gurgling noises and the faint, frequent scratching sounds of her fingers on the door.
"Tiezhu, get rid of him!"
Tie Zhu pushed open the bathroom door and went inside. After a short, muffled thud, silence fell.
With that, all the zombies on the fourth floor had been dealt with, and the two headed back.
Looking at the corpses in the corridor, Shen Qingci asked, "What should we do with these zombie corpses?"
"It would be best to burn it down," Lu Chen said after thinking for a moment. "But we don't have that option right now. There are still several floors in the building that haven't been cleared, so we can't stop to deal with the bodies."
"Wait a few more days until we've completely cleared out all the zombies in the neighborhood, then we'll figure out a way to burn them all together."
Actually, the easiest way is to just throw the body out and leave it alone.
Unfortunately, that's not possible.
According to official announcements, zombies do not normally devour each other. However, there are exceptions.
If a zombie is on the verge of evolution, with just one step away from its energy reserves, but can't find any living creatures to prey on, it will devour the corpses of its own kind to replenish its energy and complete its evolution.
Therefore, leaving the corpse there is like giving other zombies experience points, which is equivalent to aiding the enemy.
Shen Qingci nodded. "Okay! I will organize people to gather the bodies together and find a place to keep them safe. We will cremate them when conditions are right."
Lu Chen was undoubtedly very satisfied with such a chief steward who took the initiative to handle all logistical matters.
He doesn't need to worry about these trivial matters and can focus all his energy on clearing out zombies and rescuing survivors.
The two led the zombie horde back to 403. The door was still open, and the zombie that Lu Chen had left to guard the door was still standing in the same spot, like a real stone statue.
Xu Wan has already packed her things.
She sat on the sofa in the living room, holding Yingying in her arms, lost in thought.
Hearing footsteps at the door, she immediately stood up, her movements quick but steady, without startling the baby in her arms.
Lu Chen glanced at her, and then realized that Yingying was awake.
The other person's big, dark eyes were wide open. She didn't make a sound or cause any disturbance; she just quietly looked at Lu Chen.
Lu Chen also noticed that although Xu Wan was holding her daughter, her right hand was always placed near Yingying's lips, her palm loosely covering them, less than a centimeter away.
In that position, she can immediately cover the baby's mouth if the baby shows even the slightest sign of crying.
In the end times, a single cry can mean annihilation.
She was able to survive for three days in a zombie-infested room with a baby, probably thanks to this kind of caution.
Lu Chen noticed this detail and felt both relieved and saddened for her.
"Have you packed everything?" He looked away, surveying the living room.
The things in the living room were basically all packed up, and there were two large travel bags on the sofa, with the zippers fully zipped up.
There was a bag on the coffee table filled with baby bottles, diapers, wet wipes, and baby powder, and a case of mineral water and two cans of formula were piled up in the corner.
"It's all packed up." Xu Wan said, pointing to a folding crib in the corner.
"Also, I'd like to bring this crib along, is that alright? Yingying is used to sleeping in this bed, and I'm afraid she'll fuss if we change it."
The crib is quite large.
"What's wrong with that?" Lu Chen glanced at it and asked, "Are there only two cans of formula? How long will that last?"
"I mainly breastfeed now, and only supplement with formula occasionally," Xu Wan quickly said. "Two cans are enough."
Lu Chen nodded, turned around, looked at Xu Wan, and his expression became serious.
"Before I leave, I want to ask one last question."
Xu Wan noticed the change in his tone, and subconsciously hugged Yingying in her arms tighter and straightened her body.
"Once you join our team, you must obey our orders unconditionally."
Lu Chen spoke slowly and clearly, saying each word, "If it comes to a critical moment, even if you are asked to perform a dangerous mission, you cannot refuse. Otherwise, you will be immediately expelled from the team."
He paused.
"Would you like to join?"
In the apocalypse, when recruiting teammates, obedience is the most important thing. A person who does not follow orders is a huge hidden danger.
Xu Wan pursed her lips.
She looked down at Yingying in her arms. The baby was looking at her curiously with her big, dark eyes, her mouth slightly open, blowing out a tiny bubble.
She looked up. "I'm willing to join."
The sound wasn't loud, but it was very steady.
She had no choice. Staying here meant she and her daughter were simply waiting to die.
Following them offers at least a glimmer of hope. As for dangerous missions, in this world, does staying indoors and never going out mean there's no danger?
"Okay!" Lu Chen's tone softened. "Let's go! Don't worry, I won't send you on any dangerous missions unless it's absolutely necessary."
He waved into the corridor.
Several zombies filed in, and under Lu Chen's command, they each headed towards the items that needed to be moved.
Many of the items that needed to be moved weighed over a hundred pounds, and it would be difficult for an ordinary person to carry even one. But the zombies carried them with ease, showing not only immense strength but also complete tirelessness.
In less than two minutes, all the supplies found on the fourth floor, along with the belongings of Xu Wan and her daughter, were completely looted by the zombies.
The zombies lined up in a row, each carrying large and small bags, like a silent transport team.
Tie Zhu, who was walking at the front, carried a box of water on his left shoulder, a bundle on his right shoulder, and a bag of rice under his arm. His whole body was piled with supplies, but he did not slow down at all.
"What a perfect laborer!" Lu Chen couldn't help but think to himself.
Xu Wan carried Yingying at the very back, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the zombies carrying supplies. Her expression was complex, a mixture of fear and relief.
What frightens her is that so many zombies are so close, but what's fortunate is that these zombies are now on her side.
The team went up the fire escape stairs. When they reached the fifth floor, Lu Chen opened the fire door and let the team into the corridor.
"Put the things by the door."
The zombies obeyed orders and stacked bundles of all sizes in a row in the corridor in front of room 502.
Lu Chen glanced at his watch; exactly one hour had passed since he went downstairs to clean the fourth floor.
Lu Chen was naturally somewhat dissatisfied with this speed and wanted to increase it further.