Chapter 29: Survivors Trapped in the Supermarket

Chang Xingwen took two steps forward, unable to help but frown. "I haven't seen any people or zombies on the first three floors, but the floor is quite a mess, and there are a lot of items left over there."

It looked as if someone had been living there.

"It’s possible that some people were trapped here in the supermarket due to the heavy snow. Let’s go in and take a look first."

Meng Ran said this as she walked inside, pulling out a weapon for self-defense.

There were many daily necessities on the first floor. Meng Ran scanned the shelves; many sections were empty, and the areas displaying gift boxes of milk and cookies were particularly chaotic.

Chang Xingwen tore open a box of milk, his spirits immediately lifting.

"Sis, milk!"

He pulled out a carton and drank it without a second thought, a satisfied smile appearing on his flushed face.

"Can you show a little restraint?" Chang Yan felt embarrassed. She glanced at the milk cartons; most of what remained here was yogurt.

In these times, yogurt was certainly less effective than milk for quenching thirst.

Meng Ran and Chang Yan exchanged a look. It seemed that people were indeed living here.

Chang Yan packed some milk into her backpack, and Meng Ran took some as well. She had brought her bag out specifically for ease of carrying supplies.

There wasn't much they could use on the first floor, so they headed straight to the second floor.

"Most of the food is gone."

In this half of the area, there was no food left.

Although this supermarket wasn't as large as the one Meng Ran had visited before the apocalypse, it was impossible for so many things to have vanished all at once.

"Let's go check the third floor."

Chang Yan’s gaze settled on the third floor. Perhaps they would find the answer there.

They slowed their pace, letting Chang Xingwen scout ahead before they moved.

"I can't go on; I need to recover for a bit."

Chang Xingwen withdrew his gaze. His ability was not something he could sustain indefinitely; if he kept looking, his eyes would go blind.

"Then we’ll just have to be careful ourselves."

Chang Yan clenched her hands and let Chang Xingwen walk behind.

"Who are you people?"

Several men emerged from behind the shelves on the third floor, each brandishing kitchen knives or iron bars, staring at them with hostile, predatory eyes.

After sizing everyone up, the group opposite them grew confident.

Two women and a teenage boy; their strength was likely not even equal to theirs. They were completely unthreatening.

Meng Ran looked back at them. These people must have been trapped in the supermarket since the extreme cold began.

But being trapped in a supermarket was considered lucky; at least they weren't lacking in supplies.

Because of the deep snow, it had discouraged others from coming, which was why they had managed to survive in peace until now.

The men who had approached were strong and sturdy, though it was unclear yet if they possessed any supernatural abilities.

Chang Yan put some distance between herself and them.

"In this weather, to have people deliver themselves to our doorstep—how interesting."

One of the men walked forward, raising his hand as if to touch Chang Yan’s face.

Chang Yan spat on the ground and blocked him with her knife. "Show some respect."

The lewd gazes of these guys were unsettling. Chang Yan cursed her luck; it was almost dark, and this was the group they had run into.

"Peng Zucong, why waste words with them? Grab the two women and throw the boy out!"

Chang Xingwen’s eyes widened. "Sis, what do we do now?"

Even if they left, it wouldn't be easy to find another place to stay.

Chang Yan clenched her fists. "What else can we do? We fight."

Now it was just a matter of who was more ruthless.

Meng Ran set her bag down so it wouldn't get in the way.

"They can fight back; how spicy."

The men huddled together, laughing lewdly, their eyes fixed on various parts of the women’s bodies.

Chang Yan’s anger flared. As soon as the skirmish began, she made them all collapse face-first onto the floor.

Thorns tore through their clothes, and sharp spikes pierced their skin.

"Damn! It hurts, it hurts!"

They wailed, and Chang Yan kicked them a few times.

Meng Ran applied even more force.

"They have powers too? What is going on?"

Hearing what the man on the far right said, Meng Ran walked over. "Among you, who else has abilities?"

These people weren't resisting, so they were likely just ordinary people.

They all fell silent. Peng Zucong held his neck stiffly and shouted, "I advise you to let us go immediately, or Brother Xu will definitely not let you off!"

Chang Xingwen leaned against a shelf. "Listening to them, there are quite a lot of people in this supermarket."

He had thought they were early, but it turned out the locals had already claimed the place as their own.

But if it came to a battle of abilities, Chang Yan and Meng Ran working together wouldn't necessarily lose.

"Speak honestly: who has powers, and what are they?"

Chang Yan held her knife against their necks.

While she was interrogating them, she sensed something approaching. Meng Ran noticed several blades of wind heading toward Chang Yan’s direction.

She reached out and pulled Chang Yan back with a vine. The wind blades sliced through the thorns, freeing the men.

"Since we are all gifted individuals with abilities, there is no need to make things so tense. I am Xu Zhuoqun, the temporary leader of this team."

Xu Zhuoqun came down from the fourth floor, a kind yet hypocritical smile plastered on his face.

Chang Yan snorted, and Meng Ran remained silent. Both sides were sizing each other up.

"You must have come out to look for supplies. It’s not easy for anyone in this world, and I am willing to help and support each other with you."

The two men behind Xu Zhuoqun helped the others up. Peng Zucong leaned in and whispered something into Xu Zhuoqun’s ear.

Chang Xingwen also whispered, "Sis, I don't think he has good intentions."

Meng Ran picked up her backpack and crossed her arms. She had seen too much in their residential compound to trust this Xu Zhuoqun.

After listening to Peng Zucong, Xu Zhuoqun looked at the three of them. "What I said is true. It’s getting dark, and it won't be easy for you to head back. Why not rest here for the night? We can discuss whatever supplies you need."

His eyes flickered with calculated light. Meng Ran and Chang Yan were difficult to provoke because of their abilities. Among his own group, he was the only one with power, so he would make concessions for the time being.

Chang Yan pursed her lips; the light in the supermarket was already dimming.

They had set out at dawn, and so much time had passed.

"We’ll stay for now."

Chang Yan looked at Meng Ran. She was confident in her own abilities, and Xu Zhuoqun’s wind blades weren't that hard to deal with.

Meng Ran’s palms felt cold. "Fine."

She needed to recover her mental energy.

Xu Zhuoqun stepped aside, gesturing for them to go upstairs.

"We’ve been here for over half a month. Would you be willing to stay and wait for rescue?" Xu Zhuoqun extended the invitation.

"No need. We will leave tomorrow morning."

Supplies could be found elsewhere, but cooperating with these people was impossible.

Things had turned unpleasant the moment they met; it just wasn't suitable.

When they reached the fourth floor, the air was thick with a murky, foul scent. Meng Ran took out her flashlight and saw several women sitting on the carpet to the right.

Hearing footsteps, they looked up, and clear fear filled their eyes when they saw Xu Zhuoqun.

The fourth floor was divided between men and women, with several tents set up and separated only by simple partitions.

"The conditions are crude, but please make do."

Xu Zhuoqun signaled for Peng Zucong and the others to clear out a few spots.