Chapter 81

Chapter 81: The Hospital

The frenzy of killing zombies to harvest crystal cores had slightly subsided due to the 30% mortality rate. Yesterday, there were still people in their forties and fifties mixed in, but today, it was mostly young adults. Those without vehicles couldn’t help but envy Gu Ning and her group as they boarded the military truck. A few brave souls even approached, hoping to hitch a ride.

“We can hand over supplies, just take us near Huangtu Bridge,” a young man mustered the courage to approach Third Brother, who seemed to be in charge. Their group of five, four men and one woman, all in their twenties, carried mostly dulled blades, their faces a mix of anxiety and faint hope.

They made this request because the area between Huangtu Bridge and here was nearly devoid of supplies and zombies. Walking to Huangtu Bridge would take at least two hours, with the risk of encountering danger along the way. Seeing Third Brother’s truck, they decided to try their luck.

Third Brother initially wanted to refuse outright, but seeing their disheveled state and pleading expressions, he thought of his own soldiers and hesitated. He took a piece of bread from the young man and said, “Get on, we’ll give you a ride.”

The group, who hadn’t held much hope, was overjoyed and quickly thanked him, scrambling onto the last military truck as if afraid he might change his mind.

Luo Long, puzzled, asked Third Brother, “Why take the bread? We don’t need it.”

Third Brother glanced at him, “It’s to let them know we’re not charity. Don’t want them clinging to us like straw. Stop yapping and get on.”

Luo Long scratched his head and followed Third Brother onto the truck, his simple mind not as calculating as Third Brother’s.

The five newcomers, wearing clothes that hadn’t been changed in who knows how long, reeked of sour sweat. Their exposed skin, except for their faces, was caked in thick grime. In contrast, Gu Ning, Method, Cheng Ming, and others on the truck wore clean clothes, looked refreshed, and the cabin was tidy and odor-free. As soon as they boarded, the cabin filled with their stench. They felt awkward and anxious, fearing Gu Ning and the others might kick them out.

To their surprise, Gu Ning and the others remained composed, showing no signs of disgust, not even a slight frown, as if they couldn’t smell the stench. The newcomers gradually calmed down.

The drive to Huangtu Bridge took about twenty to thirty minutes. With the presence of strangers, Zhang Xiaobai and the others were less talkative, and the atmosphere grew heavy. The newcomers exchanged glances, swallowing their self-introductions.

Upon reaching Huangtu Bridge, the truck stopped to let them off and then drove away.

“I wish we could join their team,” one young man said enviously, watching the truck speed off.

“Dream on,” another mocked, but also with envy, “I heard they eat three meals a day. Did you see that big truck parked in their yard? It’s loaded with supplies. Just look at their clothes—they’re in a different world from us…” He forced a bitter smile, “Let’s work hard, maybe we can be like them once we become ability users.”

The others felt a surge of motivation.

Many shared their thoughts, forming groups to search for crystal cores, their last hope in this world.

Parking on the outskirts of the bustling district, they were likely the first to arrive, as no other vehicles were there yet.

Their mission today was to delve deeper into the bustling district, targeting the central hospital.

Since they were venturing further, soldiers like Zhang Yang, who hadn’t developed abilities, stayed behind at the gathering place. Here, it was Gu Ning, Third Brother, Method, Cheng Ming, Zhang Xiaobai, Huang Mengyao, Jia Daozhang, and Xiang Xu, with Xiang Yi insisting on coming to protect Xiang Xu. Gu Ning, considering that in danger, no one could protect Xiang Xu better than Xiang Yi, approved his request. Though subconsciously resistant, Gu Ning found herself taking on more responsibility in the team.

Everyone except Gu Ning and Xiang Yi carried two spare crystal cores for emergencies.

Given the high consumption of Gu Ning’s healing ability, they avoided using it unless absolutely necessary, hence the need for a large supply of medicine. Third Brother had mentioned recruiting Dr. Gao to the team, which Gu Ning supported. Since Dr. Gao performed surgery on Gu Ning’s father, Gu Ning had trusted her. Dr. Gao’s calm and rational demeanor during their interactions left a good impression, and the team indeed needed a doctor.

Thus, they planned to scavenge the central hospital and use the supplies to recruit Dr. Gao.

The central hospital, the largest public tertiary hospital in Jinyong City, was nationally renowned, located between Jinmen Avenue and Eleventh Square.

Jinmen Avenue had more foot traffic than Eleventh Square, and weekends were the busiest at the hospital. Those infected and fainting from the zombie virus were immediately taken to the hospital, where they turned into zombies, creating a hellish scene for the unprepared medical staff and patients.

But no matter how horrific the imagination, reality was more shocking.

The hospital’s glass doors were half-open, with unrecognizable corpses at the entrance—some missing half their bodies, others with severed limbs. The ground was stained with dried blood and desiccated organs.

Gu Ning asked, “Xiang Xu, what’s the situation inside?”

Xiang Xu, whose spiritual power had already covered the entire building, frowned slightly, “Only a few zombies… Could there be that kind of monster again?” She referred to the mutated zombie that could block her spiritual detection last time.

The central hospital had nine floors. If there were only a few zombies, it was strange.

Everyone, including Gu Ning, found it unlikely, but they were unwilling to turn back without knowing what was inside. After a brief hesitation, they decided to investigate, ready to retreat if anything seemed amiss.

With their escape route planned, Gu Ning stepped over the dried, blackened blood and entered the hospital hall.

The others followed suit.

The hospital was eerily quiet, only their footsteps echoing in the vast hall. The floor was littered with countless corpses, most missing limbs, some disemboweled, their brains spilled and dried. The most chilling were the faces frozen in fear, some with eyes wide open. The dense array of severed limbs made walking a challenge, stepping only in the gaps between bodies. Huang Mengyao accidentally stepped on a severed hand and screamed, startling everyone.

“Still nothing?” Gu Ning asked again.

Xiang Xu just shook her head, her expression grave.

Method, standing by the elevator’s notice board, called out, “Come look, there’s a hospital layout here.”

They gathered around. The notice board indeed had a detailed hospital layout.

Their main targets, the pharmacy and operating rooms, were on the first floor.

“Hey?! Strange, this elevator still works?” Jia Daozhang suddenly said, pressing the down button, which lit up.

The others looked over, seeing the red light on the down button.

Method said, “Probably the hospital’s backup power.”

Jia Daozhang added, “We should get a few generators. It’s so inconvenient without electricity.”

As they spoke, the elevator’s screen showed it descending from the fourth floor.

Gu Ning suddenly signaled for silence. The others instinctively looked at the elevator door. Gu Ning listened intently, then her expression changed, “Be careful!”

The next second, the elevator dinged.

The door opened silently before the tense group. It was too late to retreat. Everyone held their breath, abilities ready for whatever might emerge.

But the elevator was empty except for bloodstains and a half-eaten corpse in the corner—nothing threatening.

The door closed again after a brief pause, seeming like a false alarm. Everyone relaxed, the tension from Gu Ning’s warning dissipating. Zhang Xiaobai even gave Gu Ning a reproachful look, “Gu Ning, do you know how scary that was?!”