The hour was late, darkness had completely enveloped the outside, and the downpour showed no signs of stopping.
"No one is to mention what happened today. Let's head back for now." That escaped corpse king would be their greatest threat going forward.
Gu Shangse let out an "Mm," and left with Su Ling.
Returning to their original position, Gu Shangse placed a hand on Su Ling's shoulder. "I'll go first."
Su Ling glanced at Gu Shangse, her voice icy. "No need."
Leaving Gu Shangse with those words, Su Ling grabbed the climbing rope. With a swift and stylish move, she climbed out the window and landed on the lifeboat.
Outside, the heavy rain poured down, the world a canvas of black. Su Ling's vision was unaffected by the darkness.
As soon as she emerged from the building, the rope, now secured around her waist, was pulled taut, allowing the lifeboat to shed its accumulated water.
After completing this, she finally settled onto the lifeboat.
The moment she stood firm, she sensed a dangerous aura emanating from beneath the lifeboat.
Meanwhile, Gu Shangse followed closely behind, landing on the lifeboat just after her.
Without a word, they rowed the lifeboat to the opposite building. After securing it, they grabbed the climbing ropes and began to ascend.
As Su Ling climbed, she sensed a pair of eyes watching her.
Only when Su Ling reached the rooftop did the eyes, which had been unyieldingly fixated on her, reluctantly shift away and vanish without a trace.
Su Ling stood at the rooftop railing, looking down. Under the torrential rain, the entire city had transformed into an aquatic metropolis.
If her senses were not mistaken, the eyes that had been watching her must belong to the zombie Gu Shangse had mentioned.
It seemed they needed to arrange for sentries.
Tonight's dinner was prepared by Sister Na.
Spicy and sour shredded potatoes, tomatoes and eggs, pickled radishes, smashed cucumbers, the last of the meat made into a generous basin of braised pork with eggs, spicy fish, boiled preserved meat, duck stew with dried bamboo shoots and mushrooms.
Each dish was served in a large platter, a feast befitting the apocalypse.
Su Ling carried a large bag of spoils and placed it in front of the supplies that could last until the rain stopped. After washing her hands, she sat down at the dining table with Gu Shangse.
She and Gu Shangse were genuinely famished, and they picked up their bowls and ate without a word.
Everyone had been busy all day, exhausted and hungry. They all held their bowls and ate their fill, not a single word spoken.
Despite the silence at the table, the atmosphere was genuinely harmonious.
After a whirlwind of eating, everyone was full, the dishes and rice completely cleared.
Su Ling and the others, having eaten their fill, sat on their chairs to rest.
While everyone was resting, Su Ling seized the opportunity to speak. "Gu Shangse and I went to the opposite building and encountered a very powerful zombie. It managed to escape. We don't know where it went for now. We only know it's likely still lurking nearby."
"My suggestion is that we need to arrange for people to stand guard to ensure our safety."
Su Ling was the linchpin of this temporary team; what she said went, and everyone listened to her.
"I'll do it tonight," Li Yunlong stepped forward first. He knew he and Zhang Miaomiao had benefited from Su Ling and the others' protection, allowing them a safe haven. At a time like this, when his help was needed, he would not hesitate.
Su Ling nodded, acknowledging Li Yunlong's words. However, she added, "Let's have one more person. We'll have two people assigned each night, one for the first half, one for the second. Having one person responsible for the entire night is exhausting and would also affect the next day's supply scavenging and other tasks."
"I'll do it," Xu Lin said at the opportune moment, looking at Su Ling. "Yunlong for the first half, me for the second."
Fatty and Skinny were not to be outdone. Fatty interjected, "Then tomorrow night, it'll be the two of us."
The third night would be Su Ling and Gu Shangse.
The fourth night would be Jiang Jiang, Sister Na, and Zhang Miaomiao.