Ch 127: Opening a Survival School Before the Zombie Outbreak

“Mom, I’m scared.”

Pei Man lowered her head. Her daughter clung tightly to her arm, her expression timid.

“Zhaozhao, don’t be afraid. Mommy’s here.” Pei Man gently stroked Pei Zhaozhao’s hair. “If we run into infected on the way later, don’t scream or cry, okay? Just run with Mommy. We’ll be fine.”

Zhaozhao nodded obediently.

She carried her own little backpack on her back, filled with some clothes and daily necessities. The more important items, along with their last remaining food, were packed in Pei Man’s larger bag.

If Zhaozhao hadn’t insisted on helping carry part of the load while they packed, Pei Man would have taken everything herself.

These things were too important.

Pei Man had little money. She had fallen out with her family to get married, and after her divorce she raised her daughter alone, surviving on wages from waitressing. What the mother and daughter carried with them now was nearly everything they owned.

Their food had run out two days ago. Although there was a supply drop point two streets away where food was distributed at fixed times each day, it was too far and difficult to reach.

Pei Man had tried teaming up with neighbors from the same residential complex to go together. But by the time they finally arrived, the supplies had already been taken by people living closer.

Only then did they learn that to get supplies, you had to leave before dawn and wait there early in the morning.

Pei Man simply didn’t dare leave her daughter home alone in the dark. Besides, the round trip took hours each time. Though the distance was short, every step was dangerous, and she feared what would happen if something went wrong.

While she hesitated, news arrived that shelters were opening.

Though the emergency shelters had poor conditions, they became the greatest hope for survival for the mother and daughter.

Pei Man hurriedly packed. Besides clothes, drinking water, and medicine, she stuffed the remaining toothpaste, soap, and other household items into her bag as well. She thought that once they reached the shelter and had food and water provided, perhaps she could trade these for extra snacks to treat Zhaozhao.

After observing the minute of silence, they watched as the zombies in the neighborhood were indeed drawn away one by one by the sirens, leaving chaos behind.

The siren sounded for thirty-six seconds, followed by a twenty-four-second pause. At first Pei Man didn’t understand the purpose of this pattern, but after listening for a while, she figured it out.

If the alarm sounded continuously for too long, human ears would gradually grow accustomed to it. If zombies behaved similarly and began subconsciously ignoring the sound, they might suddenly turn back toward fleeing survivors. That would be disastrous.

Besides, the noise was unbearably loud. Since it would continue for an entire hour, pauses were necessary to prevent hearing damage. Predictable interruptions were far better than sudden, unpredictable silence.

Those twenty-four seconds were just enough time to let hearing recover.

Seeing the zombies leave, Pei Man felt a surge of relief. Translated on Hololo novels. She waited another five minutes, then decisively took her daughter’s hand and left the rented apartment they had lived in for years.

Before even reaching the residential gate, they encountered more than ten other people.

Like her, they carried large bags and moved silently toward the assembly point, faces tense but filled with anticipation for a new life.

As the group grew larger, the unease on people’s faces eased somewhat. Some even began chatting quietly.

Pei Man, with her child beside her, remained vigilant, frequently scanning their surroundings.

Once they reached the main road, the number of people increased sharply, gradually forming a small stream of evacuees.

Every few dozen meters stood a riot-control vehicle or a military-green armored car, armed soldiers positioned in front, providing immense reassurance.

For the first time, Pei Man no longer felt constantly on edge. She almost wanted to cry.

At every intersection or building entrance, small groups emerged and joined the procession.

Watching the crowd grow larger, Pei Man suddenly felt uneasy and whispered, “Zhaozhao, let’s walk faster.”

Mother and daughter subtly quickened their pace, Zhaozhao’s short legs pumping rapidly.

In moments, they had passed several people.

Just then, a flare shot into the sky with a sharp hiss.

A streak of green smoke stretched upward like a long dragon, lingering before slowly dispersing. The crowd immediately stirred.

Since it was impossible to broadcast real-time passenger counts for buses heading to the shelters, officials had announced in later broadcasts that different colored signal flares would indicate different stages:

A green flare would be launched when buses reached 50 percent capacity.

An orange flare at 80 percent.

A red flare when buses were completely full.

Within three minutes of a red flare, the buses and escort teams would depart the assembly point. Anyone still far away upon seeing an orange flare was advised to give up and return.

After all, the sirens lasted only one hour. Including the return trip, many people would spend more than that just traveling.

So when the green flare appeared, panic spread through the crowd.

“How is it already half full?”

“This is bad. What if there’s no space when it’s our turn?”

Some people began running forward. Others shoved those ahead of them. A nearby soldier quickly shouted to restore order.

“Don’t run!”

“The assembly point isn’t far. You’ll make it. Slow down and keep walking!”

Many people had gone days without eating and had little strength left. One push could knock someone down. If the chaos continued, a stampede was inevitable.

After several shouted warnings, someone suddenly yelled, “Quiet! You’ll bring the zombies back if you make too much noise!”

The crowd fell silent in fearful obedience.

Pei Man glanced sideways. She clearly heard that the warning had come from the girl beside her.

The girl looked under twenty, wearing a grimy jacket. Two exhausted, haggard middle-aged adults followed closely behind her, like a family fleeing together.

Though they didn’t resemble one another very much.

They hadn’t been near Pei Man and her daughter earlier. When the crowd became chaotic, they suddenly appeared, likely pushed over by the shifting mass of people.

Even in a moment like this, she could stay calm and help maintain order. Pei Man could not help admiring her. “You’re really impressive.”

The young girl smiled at the compliment. Noticing Zhaozhao pressed close beside her, she said with feeling, “You’ve taken such good care of her.”

Zhaozhao’s hair was tied into two neat little pigtails, carefully combed, and her clothes were clean.

With water rationed for so many days and no chance to bathe, staying clean meant wiping down little by little with a damp cloth, a task that took patience and effort.

And since the apocalypse began, many adults trapped at home had suffered emotional breakdowns from hopelessness. Yet Zhaozhao neither cried nor made trouble. Though she clung fearfully to her mother, her eyes curiously scanned their surroundings, a clear sign that she felt secure. That kind of calm could only come from careful care by her family.

Pei Man felt a little embarrassed.

Then Song Rushuang pulled a lollipop from her pocket, peeled off the wrapper, and handed it to Zhaozhao. “This is for you.”

Pei Man hurriedly refused. “No, that’s too precious.”

“It’s fine, I still have more,” Song Rushuang whispered, patting her pocket.

Pei Man immediately fell silent, afraid of attracting attention and causing trouble for her. She even stepped closer to shield her slightly from view.

Then she gently nudged Zhaozhao and whispered, “Say thank you to your sister.”

Imitating their hushed tone, Zhaozhao said softly, “Thank you, big sister.”

Song Rushuang grinned at the girl.

She withdrew her gaze and looked up. Through a gap in the crowd, her eyes met Su Huaijin’s from some distance away.

Su Huaijin was dressed similarly to her, standing beside an ordinarily dressed middle-aged woman.

But a closer look revealed the faint outline beneath the woman’s coat.

She was carrying a gun.

The pocket Song Rushuang had taken the candy from also held a knife.

Not just the two of them. Translated on Hololo novels. Other members of the elite team were scattered throughout the crowd. Under the cover of soldiers disguised in civilian clothes, they blended among the evacuees, positioned close enough to support one another quickly. With silent understanding, each of them had chosen to walk beside elderly people, women, and children.

Pei Man’s feeling that Song Rushuang had suddenly appeared was not imagination. It had been intentional.

During the earlier chaos, she had moved closer to block people behind them, afraid Zhaozhao might be knocked down.

She had done it subtly, her expression natural, as if she had simply been pushed along by the crowd.

The other students were equally convincing actors. Only the occasional sharp glint in their eyes when they scanned their surroundings betrayed them.

Song Rushuang chatted casually with Pei Man as they walked when an uncertain voice suddenly called from behind.

“Hey, aren’t you…?”

Someone tapped her shoulder. Song Rushuang turned around. A young woman stood there, vaguely familiar.

She held the leash of a very eye-catching large white dog.

The moment she saw Song Rushuang’s face clearly, the girl cried out excitedly, “It really is you! I’m Zhao Tingting!”

“Don’t you remember? The barbecue restaurant a year ago. You saved me and my dog!”

At the mention of the barbecue place, Song Rushuang remembered, along with the fruit gift set she had received from Zhao Tingting afterward.

Zhao Tingting. A grateful and wealthy girl.

“So it’s you. What a coincidence.” Song Rushuang stepped aside to make room.

Zhao Tingting and her family joining them made the group livelier.

Song Rushuang looked her over. Probably out of fear of being bitten, Zhao Tingting was dressed heavily, but compared to a year ago, her physique and spirit had clearly changed. “You seem… different?”

“You noticed? Thanks to your principal, I’ve been training in sanda for a whole year.” Zhao Tingting rolled up her sleeve to show off her muscles. “If I hadn’t trained, I probably would’ve died on the first day of the outbreak. Meeting you back then was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me.”

She spoke sincerely.

Song Rushuang was happy to hear it, but worried Zhao Tingting might start talking about Fangzhou and attract unwanted attention, so she quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, did you get a new dog?”

The large white dog circling her legs wagged its tail wildly. Hearing this, it suddenly froze, as if it understood, then lifted its head in shock. Its black bean-like eyes filled with a complicated mix of hurt, accusation, and disbelief.

Zhao Tingting pretended to be angry. “That’s so rude! This is Maomao!”

“This is Maomao?” Song Rushuang was stunned.

Looking at the agile, muscular, energetic white dog at her feet, she could hardly connect it with the round, fluffy Samoyed she remembered. “Did you shave its fur?”

Maomao looked utterly devastated.

“It lost weight! Lost weight!” Zhao Tingting explained helplessly. “Maomao’s been training with me for a year. Now he’s an outstanding student at a dog training school.”

Afraid Maomao might be bullied again, she had sought out a top trainer after leaving Fangzhou, supposedly a former police dog trainer. After a year of intense training, the once chubby little dog had completely transformed, moving with lightning speed.

The only frustrating part was that whenever she took Maomao outside, everyone assumed she had changed dogs.

Song Rushuang quickly apologized to Maomao.

After receiving forgiveness, she straightened and hesitated. “You’re heading to the shelter, right? Are dogs allowed there?”

“No. We were out traveling when the outbreak happened and got stuck downtown. There happens to be an apartment near the assembly point, and there’s a car in the underground garage. We’re planning to rest there first, then drive back to our villa.”

Zhao Tingting said cheerfully, “The road to the assembly point is guarded by soldiers. Much safer than going on our own.”

Her explanation left Song Rushuang and the others momentarily silent.

An apartment just happened to be near the assembly point…

That word “happened” stung a little.

As they drew closer, the crowd slowed significantly. Registration and boarding ahead were clearly taking time.

Streams of people from different roads merged together. Though Song Rushuang still joked outwardly, the smile at her lips faded, and her heart gradually tightened.

She discreetly confirmed the positions of Su Huaijin, Qin Yufei, and the others again.

As she scanned the area, sudden barking erupted beside her.

Zhao Tingting struggled to hold the leash. Maomao’s fur stood on end as he bared his teeth and barked fiercely at a man not far away, a low growl rumbling in his throat.

People nearby grew nervous.

“Hey, make your dog quiet!”

“Who brings a dog here?”

“You’ll attract zombies!”

“Maomao, Maomao, stop!” Zhao Tingting flushed red, whispering sharp commands, but Maomao refused to listen. His tail lowered, and if not for Zhao Tingting’s strength, he would have broken free.

“I don’t understand,” she said anxiously. “He’s trained. He’s well behaved. He never barks like this… Maomao, quiet!”

Song Rushuang frowned, exchanging a glance with the two teammates beside her disguised as a middle-aged couple while watching the restless dog standing protectively before his owners.

Maomao suddenly lunged forward again, teeth bared. His usually cute appearance vanished, replaced by the imposing presence of a true large dog.

People backed away in fear, the crowded mass opening into an empty circle. Only the man Maomao had locked onto remained standing still.

He wore a baseball cap and said nothing, yet Maomao sensed danger.

Afraid he might bite, Zhao Tingting bent down to grab him. “Maomao, what’s wrong? Why are you barking at this brother—”

She followed Maomao’s gaze upward.

Beneath the brim of the cap were cold, unfocused eyes.

The man stared at her without emotion, then suddenly split his lips into a grin, revealing rows of sharp, gleaming teeth.

Zhao Tingting collapsed to the ground in terror.

Before anyone else could react, Song Rushuang shoved Pei Man aside.

“Run!!”

The shout shattered the silence like a signal.

In an instant, barking exploded, screams rose from every direction, and the Hidden Believers concealed within the crowd tore away their disguises.

Waiting for them were countless dark gun barrels and blades flashing toward them head-on.

₊˚.🎧📓✩