Chapter 36: Seeking Aid

"The snow seems to have stopped." Meng Ran said this while turning her back to the wind.

Chang Yan looked up and replied, "It has indeed stopped."

They both wore expressions of regret; if the snow had stopped a week earlier, they might have been able to wait for rescue in their residential complex instead of ending up in their current state.

The street was silent now. Aside from the three of them, they hadn't encountered anyone else—or rather, if they did, it was a zombie. Chang Yan knew the route, so she was responsible for leading the way to the police station.

Chang Xingwen observed their surroundings. "Before we reach the station, we need to find a place to rest for the night. Otherwise, if we stay out in this wind all night, we’ll turn into freeze-dried corpses."

Even a tent wouldn't hold up in these conditions; they had to find shelter before proceeding to the police station. Meng Ran nodded. Going to the station could wait for another day; slowing down was fine, but staying alive was the priority.

The road was lined with various restaurants and shops, but the doors were all locked, and it was highly likely that those inside had long since returned home. Chang Xingwen leaned against a door and peered inside.

"Nobody here."

Chang Yan said with some resignation, "Let's keep moving. This is still too far from the police station." If they had to go back and forth, they might as well have stayed at the shopping mall and set out from there.

Chang Xingwen had no choice but to take the lead again. Whether due to the weather or the low residential density in this area, they didn't encounter many zombies along the way.

As they neared the police station, Chang Yan picked a restaurant, unlocked it, and they went inside. It was empty, and a layer of dust had settled on the tables.

"Let's stay here." There was nowhere else to choose from, and it was only meant to be a temporary refuge. "Let's hurry over and take a look."

If they could find people at the police station, they might be able to get more information. The three continued forward, leaving a mark on the restaurant they intended to return to. The wind was just as fierce as when they had first set out, and Meng Ran felt as though the wind was searching for every crack in their armor to sink into their bodies.

When they reached the police station, the iconic building came into view.

"I don't see anyone," Chang Xingwen said, shaking his head.

The interior was completely empty; there was no sign of anyone at all.

"Let's go inside and check."

They pushed the doors open and then shut them again, sealing out the wind and snow. Chang Xingwen continued to scan the area; his ability allowed him to see through certain objects, though his current power was limited, and he hadn't had much time to cultivate it.

Meng Ran brushed her gloved hands over every surface. A cup and several scattered documents sat on a desk. She picked them up and read them; the documents were about the extreme cold disaster. She checked the date—it was the day the catastrophe began.

"They knew about it on that very day, too."

It wasn't that they had known in advance; this meant the information they had received was effectively the same as everyone else's. Chang Yan took the papers to look.

"That is indeed what the document says." She was still unwilling to give up. "Let's look for something else." Even if they couldn't find people, if they didn't find critical information, it would be hard to decide where to go next. They had come seeking help, but things had turned out this way.

Meng Ran walked further inside and pushed open an office door. The room was even more chaotic, with items strewn across the floor and a few footprints visible. She crouched down to examine them; they were reports on meteorological disasters mixed with accounts of hospital assault incidents.

"Hospital assault?"

Meng Ran saw the attached photos. The background was clearly a hospital, and in the captured images, it was obvious that the attackers were no different from zombies. Their physical traits were identical. Meng Ran read the accompanying data, which detailed what had happened at the local hospital. People who had lost their vital signs suddenly rose up to attack other patients. After being bitten, the patients' conditions worsened, and they were undergoing further treatment.

"Isn't that just a zombie bite?" Chang Xingwen’s voice came from behind her.

Meng Ran nodded. "This was happening even before the apocalypse began."

The date of the hospital incident was marked earlier than the arrival of the extreme cold. Meng Ran suddenly recalled Xiang Yajing mentioning the flu, and her colleague in HR saying that more people had been getting sick lately. This matter hadn't been publicized; it had been suppressed. The zombies hadn't appeared suddenly.

Meng Ran rubbed her temples. A trip to the police station only made things feel more complicated.

Outside, the sound of doors opening and closing echoed—that was Chang Yan searching for supplies. Meng Ran gathered the documents, intending to take them out to show Chang Yan. Chang Yan was busy picking the lock of the archives room. Seeing them approach, she waved. "Help me smash this door open; otherwise, we can't get in."

Meng Ran called Chang Xingwen to help and handed the files over. "Take a look at this first." She turned to join Chang Xingwen in breaking down the door.

Chang Yan flipped through the materials; it was much as she had suspected. "I already knew about this."

Meng Ran looked back at her.

"I work at a hospital. I heard about this when I returned from a business trip. The director held a special meeting telling us not to spread it to avoid panic."

However, Chang Yan hadn't known the specifics back then—it was all hearsay from colleagues. Only now, after seeing these files, did she understand exactly what had transpired.

With a loud boom, the archives room door was smashed open, accompanied by a gasp of surprise.

Chang Xingwen’s eyes widened. He hadn't used his ability, yet it turned out someone was hiding in the innermost archives. The room was scattered with bedding and food. The person living there was terrified when he saw them.

"How did you find this place?" He cleared his throat, trying his best to maintain his composure.

The man didn't look like he belonged to the police station. Chang Yan narrowed her eyes, studying him. "Who are you?"

Three against one, the man decided to be sensible. "I’m just hiding here to rest."

"You aren't with the police, are you?" Meng Ran asked directly.

The man’s eyes flickered. "I don't think I need to tell you that."

Meng Ran didn't want to waste time with him. She glanced at the archive shelves and went to search them. Seeing their actions, the man finally asked, "What are you looking for?"

None of the three paid him any mind. The man grew anxious and stepped forward. "I’ve been staying here for over half a month. I know this place like the back of my hand. Why don't you ask me?"

Only then did Meng Ran look at him. "Who exactly are you?"

"I’m Fei Wenbin. I live nearby. I came here that day looking for help, but I found that everyone was gone. By the time I realized the snow was too deep to go home, I just stayed here."

With a mix of truth and lies in his explanation, Fei Wenbin adjusted his glasses.

Chang Yan pulled something out of a bag. "Do you know anything about this disaster?"

Fei Wenbin smiled and casually pulled a box out from the side. "I’ve compiled and organized this myself. You can take a look."