NOVEL NEXT Chapter 552: Everything is Regressing!
Nightfall descended.
The gentle evening breeze carried away the sweltering air of the day.
It brought a hint of coolness, but only relatively speaking.
The temperature at night was ten degrees lower than during the day, but it was still over thirty degrees.
Second Uncle stood atop the tallest Observation Tower behind the wall, using a telescope to watch the area where Xiao Jun and the others were.
The night was obscure, that patch of darkness undefined.
Only faintly could one make out a few figures in the yard.
After a long pause, Second Uncle put down the telescope, pondering what Li Yu had just told him, instructing Xiao Jun and his team, as well as He Chao and the others, to head to the northeastern part to deal with the issue at the steel factory.
Bang bang bang—
From within the Inner City of the base, a series of subtle construction noises were heard.
It was the sound of digging tunnels.
Ding Jiu and Second Uncle had synchronized Li Yu's opinions to excavate and construct bunker tunnels in the two mountains within the base.
Second Uncle's gaze became contemplative as he stared blankly at the mountains and forests outside the base, his mind evidently elsewhere.
Only when the wind blew the cigarette in his hand and sparks burned his fingers did he snap out of his reverie.
The population inside the base was growing, but it paradoxically felt like they were more short-handed than ever.
Right now, the unpredictable weather—if it goes by last year's pattern—would still see a rise in temperature, but what lies ahead is uncertain.
Over at Juzi Island, the situation was even less clear.
It always felt like a storm was brewing, that something significant was looming.
Seeing Li Yu's recent mood and the pace of his arrangements, Second Uncle couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.
Swoosh—
The sound of a Crossbow being fired refocused Second Uncle's attention on the wall.
It was Li Hang.
Li Hang, holding a Compound Crossbow, aimed and shot an arrow at a spot thirty meters away highlighted by the searchlight.
The arrow precisely pierced through a Zombie's skull, and it slowly collapsed.
Li Hang put down the Compound Crossbow and, seeing Second Uncle atop the Observation Tower watching him, grinned and said, "I'm a bit rusty. I'm practicing my aim."
Second Uncle smiled and replied, "It's not your turn to keep watch today. Go back early; your wife is pregnant now, you need to take good care of her."
Li Hang nodded and said, "I know, I'll shoot a few more arrows then head back."
Ever since Ding Qingqing became pregnant, the Li Family had been taking extra care of her, for she was carrying the first of the fourth generation of the Li Family.
Perhaps it was because he was about to become a father, but recently, Li Hang had also become much more grounded.
.....
Outside the Big Camphor Tree Base.
Two hundred meters away, a small courtyard near a country road.
There were some Zombies gathered around the courtyard.
But not many.
The Zombies howled outside the metal gate, while inside the courtyard, Xiao Jun said to Zhou Tian and the others, "Alright, get some rest. We'll be busy again tomorrow."
Zhou Tian thought for a moment and said, "Commander, I saw Li Yu and his team using drones today. See if we can ask Director Li tomorrow to lend us the drones.
After all, He Chao and the others said there are many Zombies at the steel factory. If we can use the drones to lure some Zombies away, it could ease our pressure."
Xiao Jun considered and replied, "Fine, I'll talk to Director Li before we set off tomorrow."
Huang Zheng, squatting by the well, stared into it blankly.
Xiao Jun, seeing him like this, walked over and asked, "What are you daydreaming about?"
Huang Zheng remained lost in thought, seemingly not hearing Xiao Jun speak.
Xiao Jun pushed him lightly and asked again.
Huang Zheng snapped back to reality, exhaling deeply, "It's just... so much has happened these past few days, it all feels like a dream."
Hearing his words, Xiao Jun also felt a stir of emotion.
He, too, felt the same.
These recent days, every morning he awoke, he would find himself in a different place.
"Alright, stop thinking about it. Go rest up; you still have to take your turn on duty later," said Xiao Jun.
In this post-apocalyptic year, he and his followers had faced life and death together, their comradeship surpassing that of fellow soldiers.
Not related by blood, but closer than brothers.
Therefore, oftentimes their communication lacked the separation of ranks.
Amidst the night.
The howling of Zombies outside the wall was a sound to which they had grown accustomed.
...
Juzi Island.
After nightfall, Gan Shang had yet to see Xiao Jun or Gan Gaojie and the others appear.
Xiao Jun and his team had been gone for two days, but up until now, there was no sign of them.
According to the travel time, they should have already returned.
Gan Shang, with a fierce entourage, sought out Ju Tianrui.
Ju Tianrui, seeing Gan Shang and his people approaching, thought to himself that he knew they would return, but didn't expect them to be so urgent.
These past two days, he had been taking stock of the weapons, ammunition, food, and other resources at his disposal.
Preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Gan Shang, leading his men into Ju Tianrui's quarters, skipped any preamble and directly asked, "Why haven't they returned yet?"
His tone was icy, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, barely containing his temper.
Ju Tianrui also appeared anxious, saying, "I'm worried, too. Xiao Jun and his team haven't returned yet. It's just that I don't know if they've run into some trouble. Sigh..."
He then pointed to a subordinate at his side and continued, "I was planning to send more people out to search for them today, but now it's too late, we'll have to wait until tomorrow morning. Dong Tai, get ready tonight. We'll head out as soon as it's light. Make sure to find Xiao Jun and them, um, and the research personnel like Gan Gaojie."