The night was as dark as ink, and the desolation of the surroundings made the place eerily unsettling at first glance.
A chilly breeze blew through, prompting Ruan Ning to rub her arms before quickly adding a few more sticks to the fire beside her.
The men were busy pitching tents nearby, and with nothing else to do, Ruan Ning sat by the fire, heating water for everyone.
The temperature had dropped significantly over the past few days, especially at night. Her thermometer showed that B City’s temperature had fallen to single digits. If it continued this way, it might drop below freezing soon.
She wondered if it would snow.
It was then that Ruan Ning realized her tolerance for cold had improved significantly in the apocalypse. In this chilly weather, a thick jacket was enough to keep her warm.
Before, she would’ve needed an extra sweater underneath just to step outside, or she’d be shivering uncontrollably.
Yet, the night wind carried a damp chill, and the environment’s gloom seemed to creep into her mind. She couldn’t tell if the sensation was physical or psychological.
Tomorrow, they planned to head into B University. Except for those assigned to keep watch, everyone went to bed early after preparing for the next day. Rest was essential; they needed full energy to face what lay ahead.
The university campus was too dangerous, particularly at night. Ideally, they would locate Jiang Jingyang and leave before nightfall to avoid staying overnight there.
Since Ruan Ning was the only girl in the team, she slept alone in her tent.
Perhaps the thought of facing hundreds, if not thousands, of zombies the next day weighed on her mind. At precisely 4 a.m., she woke up and couldn’t fall back asleep.
Since she was already awake, she decided to step out for some fresh air.
She unzipped the tent, put on her coat, and walked outside.
The sky was still dark.
The nearby construction site was enclosed by fencing, which they had pulled aside upon arrival the previous evening. The zombies that had been trapped inside since the apocalypse were weak and easily dealt with by the team.
The tents were set up inside the construction site, with their three vehicles parked nearby.
Guard duty rotated every three hours.
The current watch had started an hour ago, which meant Gu Yicheng was now on duty. He was the only one in the vehicle, but his capabilities made him more than enough for the task.
“Brother,” Ruan Ning called softly, her smile gentle as she approached him.
Gu Yicheng, already alert to her footsteps, looked up toward the tents. Seeing it was her, his sharp, deep gaze softened slightly. His lips curved upward as his magnetic, low voice carried through the quiet night, bringing a sense of security. “Why are you up so early? Couldn’t sleep longer?”
“… I couldn’t sleep,” she admitted honestly.
The early morning was chilly, and seeing her in just a jacket, Gu Yicheng stood up, opened the car door, and gestured for her to sit inside.
“Is it because you’re worried about going to B University today?” he asked, his tone tinged with concern, like that of a caring older brother.
“A little,” Ruan Ning replied softly. “I just hope we can find him smoothly today.”
She was indeed worried. Navigating an area teeming with zombies without fearing for her safety was impossible. However, with Gu Yicheng nearby, she felt somewhat reassured. As long as she stayed close to him, things should be fine—she had a life-saving ability, after all.
Gu Yicheng noticed her bowed head and pale neck. With a natural, casual gesture, he removed his coat and draped it over her shoulders. His voice was warm as he said, “It’s getting colder. Make sure to dress warmly in the mornings. Even ability users can fall ill.”
Under the dim interior light of the car, Ruan Ning watched as he leaned closer to adjust the coat on her. His features were sharp yet gentle, with dark eyes focused intently on the task. When he caught her looking, a subtle smile flickered in his gaze.
For a moment, Ruan Ning was dazed.
Her initial impression of him had been shaped by the original host’s memory—a rebellious, arrogant boy who mistook her for an illegitimate child and bullied her. But that person seemed to belong to a distant past.
Since their first proper meeting in the apartment building, Gu Yicheng had hidden much of his sharpness, presenting himself as calm and collected. Though more approachable, he exuded an air of danger that made him unpredictable.
Back then, Ruan Ning had clung to him out of sheer desperation, hoping to survive in the apocalypse. Now, she sat beside him with a peaceful mind, even feeling cared for.
Despite their rocky start, Gu Yicheng had treated her well over time. Whether or not he saw her as a younger sister, his actions showed genuine care and consideration.
As an only child, Ruan Ning had often envied others with older siblings. Thinking about it now, having someone like Gu Yicheng as an older brother didn’t seem bad at all.
Every time Ruan Ning looked in the mirror, she felt a mix of happiness and resignation.
Her appearance didn’t match that of someone surviving in an apocalypse.
Even though she shared the same routine and harsh conditions as the rest of the Morning Light Team, the difference was clear. The others, while not unkempt or dishevelled, had developed a noticeably rougher and more weathered look. Their demeanour and appearance reflected the trials they had endured.
The only exception was Gu Yicheng.
However, his sharp features exuded an aura that demanded attention and deterred provocation. Unlike Ruan Ning’s soft, delicate appearance, which made her seem vulnerable and easy to bully, his gaze alone carried an intimidating weight.
Ruan Ning decided to stay in the car with Gu Yicheng for the remainder of the night.
—
Soon, dawn broke, and the camp stirred as others emerged from their tents. With their schedule tight, the Morning Light Team quickly finished breakfast and prepared to depart.
As usual, Gu Yicheng stored the vehicles and tents back into his spatial space before they left.
Ruan Ning walked in the middle of the group as they approached B University. Instead of entering through the west gate, they opted to climb over the wall at a carefully chosen spot.
Their plan was clear: to search the key locations Ruan Ning had memorized from the map the previous day.
Scaling the wall would lead them directly to the rear of the second cafeteria. Entering through the west gate would require a detour, costing them several more minutes.
In the pre-apocalypse world, a few extra minutes wouldn’t matter. But now, in zombie-infested areas, every minute carried the risk of encountering danger.
To minimize risks, they abandoned the seemingly easier option of the west gate and took the less obvious route over the wall.
B University’s wall was quite high.
For ordinary people, climbing it barehanded would be no easy feat.
Fortunately, Lin Yang, the team’s earth ability user, made the task effortless. In less than a minute, he manipulated the soil to create a makeshift staircase, allowing the team to climb over without incident.
They crossed to the other side without alerting any zombies.
Splitting up would have been the fastest way to cover the campus, but given the sheer number of zombies at B University, it was too dangerous. Sticking together was the safer choice.
The map seller hadn’t lied. On the other side of the wall stood the second cafeteria, a three-story red-brick building.
Behind the cafeteria were several trash bins.
The garbage inside had been left untouched for over a month, emitting a foul stench of decay. However, compared to the smell of rotting corpses, it was bearable.
The apocalypse had begun at 3:30 p.m., between lunch and dinner hours. As a result, the cafeteria likely housed fewer zombies than other parts of the university.
Apart from the two main entrances for students, the cafeteria had an unassuming back door used for delivering supplies and disposing of waste. The back door was now ajar.
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