The Absolute Favorite in the Apocalyptic Rebirth

The supermarket, though small, was secure enough to accommodate ten more people if necessary. Qiurong's claim that there wasn't enough space was merely a polite refusal. While the supermarket offered safety, staying there would be disadvantageous for her group.

Wang Xin had his own calculations. Seeing her insistence, he didn't press the matter further, wanting to gauge their abilities to survive in the zombie-infested city. Of course, if they were forced to return seeking shelter, Wang Xin would have leverage over them.

Upon exiting the supermarket, they saw zombies wandering in the distance. The creatures clearly craved what was inside, yet for some unknown reason, avoided the area. Qiurong and her group sensed something unusual. Being newcomers and unaware of the situation, they decided to settle down first and investigate later. As for Wang Xin and his people, both sides knew the prior conversation was a mere probe, filled with empty words.

Leaving the supermarket's vicinity, nearby zombies lunged at them, but were swiftly dispatched before they could get close. The group quickly entered a shop next to the supermarket and slammed the metal gate shut.

Wang Xin and his group observed from the supermarket's second floor. Seeing them effortlessly eliminate the second-tier zombies, they realized these people possessed considerable strength, justifying their confidence in refusing the supermarket's protection and seeking their own shelter.

The shop had been a clothing store before the apocalypse. Now, the merchandise was gone, leaving only bulky items like cabinets. Everything else had likely been looted by survivors. This made it convenient for Qiurong’s group, requiring minimal preparation for settling in.

After clearing the shop, they used the cabinets as seats. Two people stood guard at the entrance while the others sat in a circle, discussing the previous encounter.

Zhao Wen commented, "That Wang Xin is definitely hiding something. I don't believe a word he said. I just don't know what's really going on with this supermarket! And those people with him were clearly up to no good!" As Qiurong's second-in-command, her position relied not only on competence but also on sharp observation. She had noticed the unconcealed greed in the eyes of those around Wang Xin.

Qiurong's expression turned serious. "Regardless of their intentions, my priority is finding Lou Shang." She glanced at Lou Dian.

As the team leader for this mission, Qiurong made most of the decisions. Although Lou Dian was capable, he was used to doing things his own way and had comfortably taken a backseat, not interfering with her commands. However, despite his silence, he had already thoroughly assessed the supermarket's situation.

Seeing Qiurong's look, Lou Dian said, "The supermarket situation is quite simple. There's an underground warehouse beneath it, and the anomaly is within that warehouse."

Qiurong and the others were startled. Perhaps the mutated goat incident the previous night had impressed upon them Lou Dian's formidable strength. Their first reaction wasn't to question how he knew so much, but to believe him.

Lou Ling couldn't help but glance at him. He called it an anomaly. Could it be that even his mental power couldn't discern its nature? This thought made Lou Ling feel the situation was rather tricky.

Lou Dian didn't give them time to overthink. He said directly, "Rest for now. I'll go check the situation tonight."

Hearing this, everyone knew that instead of speculating, it was better to investigate directly. However, fearing danger, Qiurong wanted several people to accompany Lou Dian. After all, they were still struggling to comprehend the situation, and no matter how powerful Lou Dian seemed, he was only one person. They didn't know what dangers lurked in the supermarket's warehouse, and having more people would provide support.

Lou Dian reached out and pulled Lou Ling, who was quietly listening beside him, closer. He readily agreed, "Since you're worried, let Xiao Ling go with me."

Everyone: =_=! Lou Ling's ability is only first-tier…

Faced with his blatant favoritism, Qiurong could only agree. He could do whatever he wanted with his sister. Knowing his personality, he would probably rather die himself than let Lou Ling get hurt. Since he was taking Lou Ling, he likely deemed the risk minimal.

Darkness fell quickly. Being on the road, they didn't fuss over meals, simply eating some dry rations to fill their stomachs.

As the sky grew darker, stars appeared, plunging the city into darkness. Strange sounds occasionally drifted from the distance.

Lou Ling carefully placed several mutated vine seeds in her pocket for easy access and adjusted the Tang Dao she carried. Seeing that Lou Dian was also ready, she signaled to Qiurong and the others, who provided cover as she and Lou Dian slipped out.

Lou Dian held her hand, his grip firm but gentle. Although Lou Ling's senses had heightened after becoming an esper, it was too dark to see clearly. She relied entirely on Lou Dian to lead the way, practically stumbling through the darkness. Fearful of alerting those in the supermarket, she was extremely cautious, her mental power highly focused. The darkness, while hindering vision, also provided the best camouflage, preventing those in the supermarket who were monitoring them from noticing their departure.

Wang Xin's surveillance didn't escape Qiurong and the others. Qiurong merely sneered and ignored it. With the situation unclear, it was every group for themselves. They harbored no ill intentions, but they couldn't afford to be unguarded, especially in these morally bankrupt times. Carelessness was a luxury they couldn't afford.

Lou Dian led Lou Ling around to the supermarket's back door, which was locked. He simply forced the lock open. To avoid alerting those inside, Lou Dian extended his mental power, enveloping the entire supermarket and muffling the sound.

After opening the door, they descended the back stairs to the supermarket's basement level, which housed a parking garage and the warehouse.

Lou Dian took a solar-powered flashlight from his spatial storage. The bright light revealed the basement's interior. Several delivery trucks were parked, empty of cargo. Dark red bloodstains, seemingly human, were scattered on the floor. Otherwise, the area was clean, devoid of zombies or anything else, clearly having been cleared out.

They reached the warehouse door, locked from the outside. Lou Dian once again forced it open. A wave of cold air rushed out.

Lou Ling shone her flashlight inside and jumped, startled by the sight of a pale, gaunt face. Fortunately, having experienced much, she didn't scream. Instead, she reacted swiftly, kicking the person and sending them flying.

Lou Dian pulled Lou Ling inside and casually stepped on the chest of the person Lou Ling had kicked. Shining the flashlight, he revealed a very thin man with a gaunt, pale face. He wore a white lab coat, likely worn for a long time, now stained with various colors and looking extremely dirty.

Lou Ling had expected some danger in the warehouse, but she hadn't anticipated kicking the supposed threat upon entering. The man looked frail and ordinary, defying her expectations.

With his foot on the man's chest, Lou Dian waited until the initial pain subsided before the man started cursing. "Bastards! Who let you in here? Where's that bastard Wang Xin?! Let me go! If you don't, I'll make you suffer, I'll summon the zombies to eat you… Agh!!!" Another stomp to his chest cut off his rant with a scream.

Ignoring the man beneath his foot, Lou Dian continued to survey the underground warehouse, grinding his heel into the man's chest until he coughed up blood. The warehouse had been emptied and converted into a makeshift laboratory, filled with crudely arranged equipment.

After her experience at the research base, Lou Ling felt a sense of aversion towards so-called scientists, especially upon seeing the dissected human corpses on the table. Even without knowing the man's identity, the warehouse's layout suggested another mad scientist.

The man, realizing the intruders were formidable, stopped his defiant shouting after spitting up blood. He looked at them with terror, lying on the ground, not daring to move.

Lou Dian, after scanning the room, walked towards an inner chamber. He pushed the door open, and a wave of putrid, nauseating odor assaulted them. Lou Ling nearly vomited, quickly covering her nose with her sleeve. The smell was far worse than the stench of zombies.

But Lou Dian seemed unfazed. He stepped inside and, from the pile of bodies on the floor, picked up a person. He checked for a pulse and, finding a faint one, quickly carried the person out.

Lou Ling's gaze swept over the room. She saw not only human corpses but also dissected zombie remains. Thankfully, the zombies were dead. The human corpses were a gruesome mess of severed limbs and organs, strewn across the floor. The lack of ventilation amplified the horrific stench.

Seeing Lou Dian carrying someone out, even without seeing the person's dirty face, Lou Ling knew that anyone he would touch, despite the filth, must be the missing Lou Shang. Ignoring the stench, Lou Ling asked urgently, "How is he?"

"He's still alive." After carrying the person out, Lou Dian glared icily at the man on the floor. Seeing him cower and try to inch backward, Lou Dian said to Lou Ling, "Xiao Ling, tie him up and bring him with us!"

Without hesitation, Lou Ling summoned a mutated vine, binding the man. To prevent him from shouting, she gagged him with a piece of cloth and dragged him along.

Leaving the warehouse, Lou Ling carefully closed the door, restoring it to its original appearance to avoid attracting Wang Xin's attention.

Under the cover of night, they returned to their previous location.

Author's Note: Today's Goals:

Lou Ling's Goal: Rescue!

Lou Dian's Goal: Kill!

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