Just two minutes… What exactly will happen after this brief moment passes…
The group navigated through a series of turns before stopping near a building. Ling Mo suddenly grabbed Xu Shuhan’s arm and said in a low voice, “This is far enough. You’ve memorized the route, right?”
“I’ve got it,” Xu Shuhan nodded.
“Now head back and quietly bring Yuwen Xuan and Skinny Monkey out. As for everyone else, have them stay inside and make sure someone keeps watch at the window. Basically, everything needs to appear normal. Also… tell them to prepare themselves. If all goes well, their rest time will soon be over. And trust me, it won’t be easy…” Ling Mo said.
“I understand.” Xu Shuhan agreed, internally calculating the timing. “Thirty seconds-plenty of time for a round trip… Wait, I need to factor in Yuwen Xuan and Skinny Monkey… Yuwen Xuan’s speed isn’t an issue, but Skinny Monkey’s endurance isn’t as strong. Even so, it should only take about a minute, right? Did he factor this all in? Is he planning to resolve everything within that minute?”
Xu Shuhan took a deep look at the building ahead. Although there was nothing outwardly suspicious about it, she couldn’t shake an inexplicable sense of unease. It was faint-so faint that even Xiao Bai hadn’t noticed it. If not for Xu Shuhan’s naturally cautious nature, she might not have noticed it either.
But if even someone like her, who was out of the loop, felt this way, it wasn’t surprising that Tang Hao had been so frightened earlier…
“Still, Ling Mo wouldn’t act without confidence… He must’ve thoroughly investigated this place before coming here, right?”
With that thought, Xu Shuhan decisively turned around, disappearing in a blur without hesitation.
“So fast…” Tang Hao muttered to himself in amazement. Although they already held a high opinion of Ling Mo’s team, seeing their capabilities firsthand made Tang Hao realize they had still underestimated them.
It wasn’t just the equipment; Ling Mo and his team’s biggest advantage wasn’t even their Superpowers-it was their extensive combat experience and…
“The leader’s composure…” Tang Hao stared at Ling Mo with a complicated expression. So far, he had only met two people from Ling Mo’s group besides him. But no matter who, he could sense something unique about them…
A sense of trust. Not the type that was purely based on strength, but something different, something unfamiliar…
“The competition for survival… it’s not just between humans and zombies, nor only between people themselves. Sometimes, it includes conflicts between companions, or even within oneself…”
Tang Hao squinted slightly, and a sudden look of realization appeared on his face.
“The reason people trust him isn’t just because he fights for his own survival, is it? It’s also about how he treats that little girl… or maybe even others. Heh, of course. With someone like that around, there’s always going to be people affected by his actions, right?”
But as he thought more, Tang Hao’s gaze turned venomous again, and he cursed bitterly in his heart, “But I despise people like you the most! You probably still have someone you love, don’t you? Or maybe family? But why… why do you get to keep that? No wonder! No wonder I find your face so detestable. It’s because you’ve never been as desperate as we are!”
“Heh, fine, fine! When you die, they’re going to be heartbroken… they’ll turn out just like me, they’ll become just like me…” For a moment, Tang Hao’s expression twisted into something almost deranged. But a second later, he let out a soft chuckle and returned to normal.
“You’ll die here…”
As he cursed silently, he slowly lowered his eyes.
A hint of fear flickered across his face again, as though a mask of terror had suddenly been pasted onto him…
Meanwhile, Ling Mo remained hidden behind a corner of a wall, quietly observing the building ahead.
A few seconds later, he stepped out from his hiding spot and waved his hand, “Let’s go.”
There were no zombies visible near the building, but that very absence of noise or movement made the atmosphere feel even more eerie. Adding to the oppressive surroundings were the tightly packed structures all around, giving the unsettling impression of being trapped. The dark, gaping windows of the nearby buildings felt like countless pairs of malicious eyes staring down at them. ᚱ₳ȰＢĚȿ
Ling Mo and Xiao Bai moved at a steady pace, not too fast but quick enough, closing in on the building.
However, before entering, Ling Mo did something that even Tang Hao found hard to comprehend…
Creak…
With the rear door secured and locked firmly, a faint, cold smile appeared at the corners of Ling Mo’s lips.
He clapped the dust off his hands and scanned their surroundings. “Now there’s no other way out.”
“It’s dangerous inside…” Tang Hao couldn’t help but warn him.
“I know,” Ling Mo replied nonchalantly.
“You don’t know sh!” Tang Hao cursed inwardly. At this moment, he appeared completely normal, no different from his usual self. Even the tiniest changes in his expression gave away nothing… This version of Tang Hao and the twisted, deranged one from earlier seemed like two entirely different people. Strangely enough, it was as if even Tang Hao himself was utterly unaware of this duality…
“Although the plan was leaked through me, I have no idea what Ling Mo plans to do with the intelligence he’s gathered…”
And now, Ling Mo’s actions were deviating even further from Tang Hao’s expectations.
He had assumed Ling Mo would at least wait for reinforcements to arrive, but instead, Ling Mo locked the second exit, shoved his hands into his pockets, and casually walked back to the main entrance.
“This guy’s seriously trying to get himself killed…” Just as Tang Hao felt a pang of foreboding, he watched in disbelief as Ling Mo boldly stepped inside.
Right behind him, Xiao Bai toddled after with its trademark wobbly gait, leaving Tang Hao no choice but to reluctantly trail toward the looming, dark doorway.
Creak…
As soon as they entered the building, an overpowering scent immediately assaulted their noses.
Ling Mo, who had only taken a few steps into the darkened lobby, appeared to step on something.
“A battery,” Ling Mo said as he bent down, picked the object up, and held it up for a closer inspection. “Looks like it was dropped here not too long ago.” Turning to Tang Hao, he asked suddenly, “Did you all bring a flashlight?”
“At night, yeah…” Tang Hao whispered.
Upon entering, his voice had instinctively dropped to a quieter tone, as if any loud noise might disturb something lurking within the darkness.
“In the middle of the night?” Ling Mo’s tone seemed laced with suspicion. Tang Hao opened his mouth to justify himself, but before he could string together a response, he saw Ling Mo pocket the battery and begin striding deeper into the lobby without hesitation.
“Where are they?” Ling Mo asked without looking back.
“They should be inside somewhere…” Tang Hao responded cautiously.
But as his words hung in the air, a faint sound suddenly echoed through the pitch-black lobby, as if something-somewhere-had stirred.