Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Getting On the Bus – The Door to Post-Apocalyptic Rebirth – Full Book Online

Get on the bus!

“I thought you really had that much energy,” Method shook his head, then focused on scanning both sides of the road for any sign of the yellow minibus.

The car maintained its speed as it moved forward. After about an hour, he noticed that the cars ahead had all stopped, completely blocking the road.

“What’s going on?” Method muttered, slowly driving over and stopping as well. He instinctively glanced at Gu Ning beside him and saw her sitting there with her eyes open, having woken up at some point.

“When did you wake up?” Method asked in surprise.

“Just now,” Gu Ning replied, checking her watch. She had slept for less than an hour but was now wide awake.

“Something’s happened ahead; the road’s blocked. Wait in the car while I go check it out,” Method said cautiously, grabbing his knife and stepping out of the car.

He walked up to the nearest car and knocked on the window.

There was no response, as if no one was inside.

Method knocked on several more car windows, but still, no one answered. Then, he spotted a car—a large, bright red off-road vehicle.

The off-road vehicle was strikingly red, gleaming brilliantly under the sun. Its massive frame stood out prominently among the smaller cars. It was a Russian Kekh Predator?!

Method was genuinely impressed but decided to move on and knock on other car windows. Just as he was about to walk away, a voice called out, “Hey! That cop, wait up!”

Method turned around, startled, and saw the window of the red car roll down. Inside sat a beautiful young woman with long, curly red hair, looking particularly striking. He was momentarily stunned, his face showing confusion. She looked at him with some annoyance and said, “What’s wrong with you? I saw you asking around everywhere, but you skipped me. Do you think I’m like those cowards?”

Method felt a bit awkward and replied, “Sorry. Uh, hello. I just wanted to ask what’s going on ahead. Why has everyone stopped?”

“Roadblock robbery,” the red-haired beauty said disdainfully. “Some people blocked the road with their cars. They’ll let you pass if you hand over something.”

Method was confused. “Hand over what? What do they want?”

The red-haired beauty gave him a look that said, “Are you serious?” and then explained, “In this world, what else would they rob? Food, of course!” She frowned, clearly annoyed. “If it weren’t for all these cars blocking the way, I would’ve just driven through.”

“How many of them are there?” Method asked.

“Not many, but they have guns. What, Officer, are you going to arrest them?” the red-haired beauty teased.

Method frowned. As a cop, he was naturally sensitive to the word “criminal,” but he also knew full well what the world had become. Law and justice were now useless; it was all about brute force. As an enforcer of the law, he felt a deep sense of frustration. He thanked her and turned to leave.

The red-haired beauty rolled her window back up, bored.

“I found out what’s going on,” Method said as he got back into the car and explained the situation to Gu Ning. “There’s a roadblock ahead. You have to hand over something to pass.” He paused, then added, “And they have guns.”

Gu Ning asked, “How much do they want?”

Method hesitated. “I don’t know.”

Gu Ning then picked out a few small buns and sausages from her backpack, stuffed them into her pockets, and moved to the back seat to hide her backpack.

She then returned to her seat and said to Method, “If they ask for something, just say this is all we have.”

Method worried, “What if they search the car?”

“They won’t,” Gu Ning said. “This isn’t about money. Money can be earned again, and no one carries all their savings with them. But now, food is life. If someone comes to kill you, you won’t just stand there and take it. Besides, with so many cars, each giving a little would be enough for them. They wouldn’t risk pushing people to fight over a bit of food—it’s not worth it.”

Method nodded, agreeing with Gu Ning’s reasoning. “You’re right.”

“You don’t look so good,” Gu Ning said after a while, looking at him.

“Really? I’m fine,” Method forced a smile.

Gu Ning fell silent, unsure of what to say. She wasn’t good at comforting people.

Method broke the silence himself, saying, “Gu Ning, did you see that car? The red off-roader?”

Gu Ning nodded, having spotted it immediately.

“Do you know what that is?” Method’s tone was filled with awe. “A Kekh Predator! The best off-road vehicle in the world right now. It’s equipped with a full security armor system, seven centimeters of armor, and bulletproof glass. Driving that thing is basically like driving a tank—you can plow through anything without worrying about zombies. This is the first time I’ve seen one in real life. But Gu Ning, do you know how much that car costs? Nearly ten million! If only we could get our hands on one, that’d be great.”

“What about our car?” Gu Ning asked.

“Our car is decent compared to regular cars, but if we ever crash into a Kekh, we’d be the ones dying,” Method said.

Hearing this, Gu Ning glanced at the distant car and felt a pang of envy. She didn’t know much about cars, but after Method’s explanation, she started to think about getting a better vehicle.

“Though it’d be best to get a real armored vehicle,” Method added. “Hey, you know what? It might actually be possible now. Why don’t we head to the military base? Maybe we can even get some guns.” Method’s earlier gloom was replaced by excitement.

Gu Ning poured cold water on his enthusiasm. “I’m not going anywhere until I find my parents.”

Method fell silent.

About ten minutes later, there were only five cars left in front of them, and their car was now surrounded by a growing number of vehicles behind them.

Gu Ning glanced back and frowned. If a large group of zombies showed up now, their car would be stuck in the middle, unable to move.

“I’ll go check,” Gu Ning said, pushing open the car door and nimbly climbing onto the roof to look behind them.

More cars were continuously pouring in from behind.

There were no zombies in sight yet, but with so many cars and the noise they were making, it was only a matter of time before the zombies arrived.

Gu Ning looked ahead. A minibus seemed to be in conflict with the roadblock group, arguing endlessly. The roadblock group consisted of about ten men in their twenties, all armed with guns.

Many people who had grown impatient waiting in their cars saw Gu Ning and followed her lead, climbing onto their car roofs to see what was happening.

Suddenly, a loud “BANG!” echoed—someone had fired a shot!

Everyone on the car roofs immediately ducked, some even jumping down and rushing back into their cars.

Gu Ning didn’t move. She turned to look behind her. There were no zombies in sight, but the wind carried an unusual scent.

Gu Ning’s expression changed. She suddenly looked back and shouted, “Zombie horde incoming!”

She quickly jumped down from the car, opened the back door, and pulled out her backpack from under the seat, slinging it over her shoulder. She then said to Method, “Grab everything we need! The zombies will be here soon!”

Without asking any questions, Method hurriedly packed the essentials into Gu Ning’s backpack. Then, each armed with a knife, they rushed toward the entrance.

Some people heard Gu Ning’s shout and panicked, but someone on a car roof yelled, “It’s a lie! There are no zombies!”

“Gu Ning, what’s going on?” Method asked, trying to take Gu Ning’s backpack, but she refused. Gu Ning, carrying the backpack, quickly moved forward, saying, “I warned them. If they don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.”

“What about our car?! Are we just leaving it?!”

“Do you want the car or your life?”

Method immediately shut up.

Gu Ning walked up to the red off-road vehicle Method had mentioned and quickly knocked on the window. She said to the beautiful woman inside who was looking at her curiously, “There’s a zombie horde coming from behind. You should leave quickly.” Without waiting for a response or acknowledging the woman’s calls, Gu Ning led Method through the traffic.

They soon reached the roadblock, where Gu Ning emptied her pockets of food onto the hood of their car. She glanced at the body that had been dragged out of a car and casually discarded after being shot in the head, then prepared to leave with Method.

“Hey! Stop! Did I say you could leave?” a voice called out from behind Gu Ning.

Gu Ning and Method both stopped and turned around.

A man in his mid-twenties, standing on a car roof, pointed his gun at Gu Ning and said, “That backpack of yours looks pretty full. You’re only leaving this little bit? That’s stingy, sis.”

Method stepped forward angrily, “Don’t push it!”

Gu Ning frowned and pulled him back, not wanting him to provoke the men.

“Oho! Wearing a police uniform, are we? Officer, come on, arrest me! Take me to the station!” The man spat on the ground and looked down at Method with disdain. “You think it’s still the old days?” He pointed at the body on the ground. “See that? Keep yapping, and that’ll be you!”

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a loud “BANG!” rang out!

The red off-road vehicle plowed through the two cars blocking the road. The man who had been standing on the car roof was sent flying, landing at Gu Ning’s feet. He struggled to get up, but Gu Ning quickly stepped on his gun hand, snatched the gun, and tossed it to Method. “I don’t know how to use this. You take it!”

Method had just caught the gun when a terrified scream erupted from the back of the traffic!

Method shuddered and couldn’t help but look back. He saw at least fifty to sixty zombies emerging from both sides of the road and behind them!

Screams and cries followed, one after another!

The sounds of car engines starting and collisions filled the air! The cars were packed too closely, and in their panic, people had no sense of order. They started their cars and crashed into each other like headless flies.

Zombies frantically pounded on car windows, letting out hungry, excited growls.

Many people abandoned their cars and ran wildly in their direction, but just as many were tackled by zombies within a few steps, pinned down and savagely bitten.

The once-quiet area had turned into complete chaos, like a living hell.

Method stared in horror at the scene before him, his blood running cold.

Suddenly, someone yanked him hard and barked, “Run!”

He snapped out of it, drenched in cold sweat, and was pulled by Gu Ning as they sprinted forward!

They hadn’t run even thirty meters when the red off-road vehicle caught up and stopped in front of them. The red-haired beauty inside shouted, “Get in!”

Before Method could react, Gu Ning yanked him into the car. The red-haired beauty hit the gas, and they sped off. Behind them, the cars that had been blocking the road were now being driven through as people frantically followed the red off-roader!

The sounds of screams, cries, and gunfire continued behind them.

The red off-road vehicle soon disappeared into the distance.

Author’s Note: The timing of this post isn’t great. I could’ve made the rankings at 30,000 words, but now I’ll need 70,000 to 80,000… Feeling a bit down.

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