Chapter 33: Territorial Instinct

“I feel like something’s off.” Chang Xingwen looked carefully and spotted several others hidden in the shadows. “There are still zombies lurking.”

They watched quietly, observing what was unfolding nearby.

Chang Yan didn’t hesitate at all and acted first. Meng Ran cooperated with her, ready to take down the four or five zombies before them.

But at that moment, a figure darted like lightning, launching a sneak attack on Chang Yan.

Chang Xingwen’s eyes caught the movement of that zombie; he grabbed the stick in his hand but missed.

“Sis, watch out!”

Chang Xingwen shouted at the top of his lungs. Chang Yan immediately shifted her body’s gravity.

The zombie, pressed and twisted into a bizarre posture, fell into the snow.

“What incredible speed.”

Drawing her knife, Chang Yan cautiously approached. This was likely a mutant zombie.

Their naked eyes couldn’t track such speed, only Chang Xingwen’s ability could.

This guy came too fast, and Chang Yan nearly got caught.

Under the force of gravity compression, the speed-type mutant zombie was immobilized, helplessly awaiting Chang Yan’s attack.

Xu Zhuoqun was startled as well, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. “Damn zombies, there are so many.”

Not only were there many, but some were mutant zombies too. He was quite relieved to have found Meng Ran and the others to help; otherwise, their own group would have been wiped out by now.

“Chang Xingwen, how many zombies are nearby?” Meng Ran asked softly.

Chang Xingwen’s face darkened. “Quite a few are moving this way. It doesn’t look good.”

If so, using their powers would be too draining. Xu Zhuoqun was a coward who just wanted to watch from the sidelines.

Meng Ran smiled faintly. “The more, the better.”

They were already far from the supermarket. Meng Ran and Chang Yan exchanged a glance and began their planned operation.

Xu Zhuoqun only heard the crunching of snow beneath their feet. Before he realized it, the zombies had surrounded them.

Zombies guarded every escape route.

“No matter how smart they are, it shouldn’t be like this.” Xu Zhuoqun was baffled. But for Meng Ran and Chang Yan, this number should not be a problem.

“Brother Xu, what do we do?”

Peng Zicong anxiously asked.

Surrounded by corpses, anyone’s mental defenses would break down.

“Aren’t we still with them? Why panic?”

Everyone shared the same goal. Xu Zhuoqun looked toward Meng Ran and the others, only to see the three of them simultaneously strike, forcefully tearing open a gap from within.

Their movements were agile. Seeing the opening, Xu Zhuoqun immediately wanted to lead his people through, but soon more zombies blocked the way.

Meng Ran and the others escaped, and Xu Zhuoqun realized they had been tricked.

A few zombies chased after Meng Ran’s group. Chang Yan glanced back.

“These few seem ordinary.”

Chang Xingwen was searching nearby residential blocks and streets. “I feel like these zombies all came from one place.”

They emerged orderly from that single source, then surrounded Xu Zhuoqun’s group from every corner.

To organize this, it must be a clever mutant zombie; otherwise, it couldn’t command dozens of zombies to obey.

Meng Ran considered this too. “Let’s keep our distance.”

They feared the large-scale zombie movement was because they had entered the zombies’ territory.

Highly intelligent ones might have a sense of territoriality.

The snow ahead was untouched. They stopped to deal with the few zombies in pursuit.

After Chang Xingwen buried their bodies in the snowdrift, they watched Xu Zhuoqun’s direction closely.

“Will they survive?” Chang Xingwen’s eyes were wide.

“Hard to say. The only way to survive is for Xu Zhuoqun to exhaust his mental energy using his powers. But they originally banded together because of similar wretchedness in this apocalypse. Once Xu Zhuoqun loses his strength to resist, even if he survives, those people won’t let him leave peacefully.”

Meng Ran had a good grasp of their motives, and if the supermarket went smoothly, the supplies should have been taken by Zhuang Qingqing and the others.

There was little more she could do.

Chang Yan nodded in agreement. “You’re right. It’s like this. These people cling to Xu Zhuoqun, and he’s wary of them.”

In such a relationship, if imbalance occurs and Xu Zhuoqun becomes the weaker side, the backlash will be even fiercer.

The three huddled in a corner, listening to the sounds ahead—cries and roars mixed with the stench of decay and blood drifting their way.

Xu Zhuoqun stood in the center, hearing someone complain resentfully while hiding.

“It’s all because you trusted those three. Now they can use their powers to escape, leaving us to die!”

Xu Zhuoqun turned and pointed at him. “Don’t forget I’m trapped here too! What’s the use of saying this now? If we can’t get out, we’re all dead!”

The zombies were far from dealt with, yet they were already arguing.

Chang Xingwen watched clearly and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Look, the big guys behind haven’t come out yet, and they’re already fighting among themselves.”

Chang Yan smacked his head. “Enough, don’t waste time here. We don’t want to get targeted.”

“Next, let’s head to the mall. We need supplies too,” Meng Ran suggested. “We can take a detour. With our powers, dealing with those zombies won’t be a problem.”

Supplies were naturally better in abundance. In Nian Nian’s dreams, although she only saw the following months, the apocalypse’s total duration was still unknown.

She started with limited funds and could only buy so much. While there was still a chance to find food, she had to prepare for herself and Nian Nian.

“That works.”

Chang Yan’s original goal was to find supplies, so naturally, they would head there.

They bypassed Xu Zhuoqun’s group. Chang Xingwen led the way, using a snow shovel to clear the path.

“Sis, will there be people like Xu Zhuoqun at the mall?”

Chang Xingwen was still a bit worried.

“Hard to say. We’ll have to see.”

If they couldn’t find anything at the mall, they’d try elsewhere.

“Before the apocalypse, many people went to malls. Seeing the heavy snow, those smart enough to stay behind must be there.”

This wasn’t like a small supermarket; the situation could be more complicated.

But the mall was still the best option.

“Let’s check it out first. Even if we don’t get supplies, there should be a place nearby to rest.”

Meng Ran quickened her pace. Only the three of them were clearing snow, so progress was slow.

By one in the afternoon, the three finally reached the mall entrance.

It was on this road that Meng Ran had met the old man who gave her the space ring.

She looked down at her gloves; without that space ring, things would have been much more difficult.

Good deeds are rewarded—Meng Ran now seemed to understand the meaning of that saying.