Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Capital City Base One

Zhuang Chen, with a face mask on, stepped onto the deck. Last night, she had a thorough bath, scrubbing off layers of dirt that could have been rolled into a ball, and her hair, which had been matted, was now clean. After changing out of the foul-smelling clothes she had worn for over half a month, she put on the clothes and shoes Gu Ning had brought over as per her request. She felt cleaner than ever, stretching out comfortably on a lounge chair, watching the sunrise over the sea, with waves crashing and the sea breeze brushing her face. Zhuang Chen thought life was just too damn good!

Yi Shaoqing was standing ahead, teaching Xia Yu the tricks to improve bullet accuracy. Liu Mei and the mute boy were also standing by, listening intently. Both showed great enthusiasm for firearms, taking notes diligently in their little notebooks.

“These two have potential,” Zhuang Chen squinted her eyes, commenting to Gu Ning, who had just come up from the cabin.

Gu Ning glanced over and said, “We’ll see about that in time.” Then she asked, “How are the others doing?”

Zhuang Chen peeled off her face mask, patting her face as she replied, “They seem fine, spirits are high. Once they finish packing and have something to eat, we can set off. Base One is the closest from here; if all goes well, it should take about an hour and a half. But we’ll have to cross the World Trade Center, which used to be a zombie hotspot. However, with our current firepower, even if a few high-level mutated zombies show up, we can blast them with rocket launchers. No need to fear.”

Yi Shaoqing had requested a small arsenal, and Gu Ning had brought everything without fail. Additionally, on Ji Jiuzhe’s advice, she brought a large number of cold weapons produced by the manufacturing bureau, distributing one to each person, far sharper than the axes and machetes on the ship.

After a day of rest and a change of clothes, the women, who had looked haggard the day before, now appeared much more vibrant and energetic. The excitement of a new lease on life temporarily overshadowed their past traumas, and they eagerly practiced with their newly acquired weapons.

Gu Ning paid special attention to a fourteen-year-old girl named Wenwen, who hesitantly picked out a delicate short knife. Last night, Zhuang Chen had spent several hours talking to her, providing psychological counseling, which seemed to have worked. Although she still didn’t smile, her eyes had regained some sparkle. Her previously messy hair was now tied into a low ponytail, making her look much more spirited. Zhuang Chen took extra care of her.

Below, about twenty zombies had gathered. Yi Shaoqing used them as practice targets for Xia Yu, constantly adjusting her posture. Everyone else gathered on the deck, curiously watching to see if Xia Yu’s first shot would hit a zombie.

“Bang!” The bullet sparked off the cement ground.

The onlookers all sighed in disappointment.

Xia Yu’s face turned red, and she exclaimed, “You all staring at me made me nervous! Wait, let me try again; this time I’ll definitely hit!” She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and entered the state Yi Shaoqing had described, aiming at a zombie’s head and decisively pulling the trigger—

“Bang!”

The targeted zombie fell instantly.

This time, applause and laughter erupted.

Xia Yu scratched her head, feeling a bit embarrassed, then noticed Liu Mei and the mute boy staring intently at her gun with fervent eyes.

Xia Yu glanced at Yi Shaoqing, who gave her a look, so she handed the gun to Liu Mei, saying, “Want to try?”

Liu Mei was taken aback, feeling both honored and flustered, waving her hands, “No, I’ve never held a gun before, I might waste bullets.”

“We’re not worried about wasting bullets, don’t stress. Give it a try!” Yi Shaoqing encouraged.

Xia Yu pushed the gun forward, “Come on!” Liu Mei then carefully took the gun from Xia Yu, feeling its weight.

“First, release the safety,” Xia Yu reminded.

Liu Mei clumsily released the safety, then mimicked the gun-holding posture she had just learned from Xia Yu, aiming at a zombie’s head below. It was her first time holding and firing a gun, and she nervously licked her lips before gritting her teeth and pulling the trigger—

The recoil numbed her entire forearm, but she immediately looked down. The zombie she had aimed at was still standing, roaring at her, while her bullet had flown off somewhere. She felt a wave of disappointment, then embarrassment, her face turning red.

“Try a few more shots,” Yi Shaoqing suggested.

This time, Liu Mei didn’t refuse, gripping the gun seriously. Yi Shaoqing pointed out a few mistakes, advising her to relax. Liu Mei took a deep breath, then pulled the trigger—

“Hey! You hit it!” Liu Xin exclaimed excitedly!

Liu Mei was thrilled, seeing the bullet had hit the zombie’s chest, causing it to stagger back but not fall. However, she wasn’t disappointed, knowing she couldn’t master it all at once, and continued adjusting her stance.

Meanwhile, Gu Ning handed her pistol to the mute boy, “You try too. If you can take down a zombie with three shots, the gun’s yours.”

A look of surprise flashed across the boy’s usually expressionless face, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the gun in Gu Ning’s hand, then at her encouraging gaze, before reaching out to take it.

Gu Ning noticed the boy’s hand trembling uncontrollably. She reached out, holding his hand steady, saying, “Relax, aim, and don’t think about anything. Imagine these aren’t heads but balloons. Three shots to pop a balloon, and you get a prize. It’s just a little game.”

The boy’s eyes lit up, recalling the balloon-popping games at the amusement park, though the gun in his hand was much heavier than the plastic ones. He found his focus, aimed, and without hesitation, pulled the trigger. After the shot, he didn’t mind the numbing recoil but eagerly looked down.

“You hit it! You’re amazing, mute boy!” Liu Xin grabbed his arm, excitedly shouting.

The boy looked again, confirming his target zombie had been headshot and fallen. His usually blank face flushed with excitement, then he turned to Gu Ning, looking nervous, as if afraid she might take back her offer.

Gu Ning was also surprised, then smiled at him, “The gun’s yours.”

“Ah! Ah!” The boy opened his mouth, only able to make sounds.

“You’re welcome. You earned it,” Gu Ning said. Yesterday, the boy had shown courage by carrying her out of the room, choosing to trust her. Gu Ning reciprocated his kindness, naturally rewarding him.

After Xia Yu, Liu Mei, and the boy had their turns, they relaxed more. Subsequent shots proved the boy’s earlier hit wasn’t just luck. Out of over twenty zombies, he hit about ten, not every shot a bullseye, but within two shots, he could headshot them. Though they were close to the zombies, making it easy for seasoned fighters like Gu Ning and Zhuang Chen, for a first-timer, his performance was commendable. Even Liu Mei showed above-average skill. It was a testament to Zhuang Chen’s sharp eye.

The zombies were quickly dispatched, leaving the trio wanting more, but it was time to move on.

After loading all the luggage onto the bus and everyone settling in, Yi Shaoqing started the engine, driving away from the port.

The women, who had been imprisoned in the ship’s containers for so long, looked out at the fleeting scenery with a sense of having survived a catastrophe. They felt both anticipation and fear for what lay ahead. Every time the ship had docked for supplies, not everyone who went ashore returned, and the ship’s population had changed over and over, instilling a subconscious fear of the land. Yet, compared to the torment and despair they had endured, these fears seemed trivial. They would rather die now than return to the dark, rotting containers.

Gu Ning, however, was more anxious than anyone on the bus. She gazed out at the rapidly passing greenery, sincerely praying for a smooth journey.

The road was littered with abandoned cars, some containing the mutilated bodies of their owners. Corpses in various states of decay were scattered everywhere, and occasional zombies wandered aimlessly, drawn by the noise but quickly left behind by the speeding bus.

No one felt like chatting, the atmosphere unusually silent. When Gu Ning asked the boy his name, he wrote “Wu Shu” on a notepad. He sat in the back, cleaning his gun, occasionally aiming it out the window.

The journey was surprisingly smooth. Even the zombie-infested World Trade Center, which Zhuang Chen had warned about, only had a few hundred zombies. Before they could surround the bus, it had already sped down another street, leaving them in the dust.

As the bus’s front wheels crossed the yellow line marking Base One’s perimeter, even Zhuang Chen and Yi Shaoqing marveled at how smoothly the trip had gone.

A white drone hovered in front of the bus. Yi Shaoqing slowed down, and Zhuang Chen opened the window, waving at the drone.

About ten seconds later, in a monitoring room within the military base, the image of Zhuang Chen waving at the drone appeared on a screen. Someone exclaimed, “It’s Zhuang Chen from the First Squad! Quick, inform Seventh Brother!” He then picked up the walkie-talkie, “Gate, gate, this is monitoring room. A red bus will enter in five minutes, let them through.”

“Gate received, gate received.”

The sturdy iron gate came into view, flanked by endless gray high walls. The imposing sense of security didn’t pressure them but instead gave them a feeling of safety.

Zhuang Chen looked at the iron gate with a smile, saying to Gu Ning, “Gu Ning, welcome to Capital City Base One.”