Edge of the Apocalypse
Chapter 26 - 24: Save Me

Chapter 26: Chapter 24: Save Me

Day four of the apocalypse.

Yu Dong and Zhou Jian Country went to Liu Ye’ye’s apartment to cook.

After a full meal and a night’s sleep, Zhou Jian Country was in much better spirits. He had changed his clothes and still had the air of an old scholar about him.

He really was a teacher.

Most people who had struggled in society for twenty years wouldn’t have been able to maintain such an aura at Zhou’s age.

"Let me, let me. I know how to cook... You two can just wait."

When Zhou Jian Country saw Liu Ye’ye boiling water for porridge on a portable cassette stove, he immediately took over.

He knew he was old, not very strong, and timid. His profession as a teacher was of no help either. He was a perfect example of the saying, "a scholar is useless for a hundred tasks." If he didn’t do his best to contribute... he was afraid he’d be kicked out of the group.

He didn’t want to die yet.

Liu Ye’ye didn’t mind and handed the task over to Zhou, then sat down next to Yu Dong, hugging her stuffed dog.

"Senior, do you think... the government will be able to rescue us within half a month?"

"In an unprecedented, epic-scale disaster like this? In half a month... we’d be lucky if the government has even restored its organizational capacity. It’s highly unlikely they’ll come to rescue us. We should prepare for a long-term struggle."

Yu Dong was leaning against the sofa, reading a copy of the *Barefoot Doctor’s Manual*. He was already prepared for three years of isolation.

He was learning some basic medicinal knowledge to prevent himself from suddenly dropping dead from a common illness in the future...

There were no hospitals to fall back on now.

There wasn’t even a single doctor. Yu Dong only had the medicines he had stockpiled.

Hearing this, Zhou also felt that Yu Dong had a point, and his hands moved even more diligently.

He quickly finished making breakfast for the three of them.

A bowl of rice porridge, a fried egg, a ham sausage, and a banana.

Yu Dong didn’t hide the status of Liu Ye’ye’s supplies from Zhou Jian Country.

Since they planned to accept Zhou into their group, they should plan their resource consumption together.

"A great combination! Nutritious and flavorful!"

They could only enjoy such a simple breakfast for these first few days.

Once Liu Ye’ye’s fresh eggs and fruit were gone, they would only have their long-term storable supplies left to eat.

"Hehehe~ If you don’t mind, I’ll take care of all the cooking from now on. I’ll do my best to make sure you eat well and have full stomachs."

"Eating well and having full stomachs depends on... having enough food. Zhou, did you get the protective suit ready like I told you to yesterday?"

Yu Dong stood up.

"It’s ready!"

"Put it on. Take this. We’re going to work."

Yu Dong had brought an extra spear with him today, and he handed it to Zhou.

Zhou Jian Country took it and gave it a test swing. He could manage it.

"But... I’m not sure I can hit anything with it, Soldier-King."

"Just aim for the zombie. If one really charges you... brace yourself and hold it back. Wait for me to help you."

"Okay, I’ll definitely hold it back!"

Zhou didn’t hesitate. He knew that if he wanted to be part of this team, he had to contribute.

Besides, one look at the Soldier-King and you could tell he was reliable.

Liu Ye’ye asked, "Should we loot the apartments where no one is home first? I’ve checked these few with the drone, and there are no zombies."

"No, let’s deal with the zombies in Building One first. We eliminate the danger, then we can take our time looting."

Yu Dong preferred to solve problems before enjoying the rewards.

The three-person team officially set out, first heading to clear the nearest floors, the second and first floors.

According to Liu Ye’ye’s drone reconnaissance, the second floor was empty. There was only one apartment, and the residents happened to be out when the apocalypse began.

To be safe, Yu Dong went to the second floor and knocked on each door. There was indeed no sound of zombies.

The first floor.

"Senior, an old man who lived alone in 103 has turned."

"Angle grinder."

Liu Ye’ye, their walking treasure chest, promptly handed him the tool. Yu Dong cut through the security door and jammed the wooden door, repeating the same prep work for the door-jam kill they had used yesterday.

ROAR!!!

The old man zombie’s gravelly voice let out a hoarse roar. It then began clawing frantically at the door, leaving bloody handprints on the crack, but its strength was clearly less than the yoga pants zombie from yesterday.

It stared at the three people just out of reach, unable to get to them, a truly powerless zombie.

Yu Dong pointed at Zhou Jian Country. "Zhou, stab it to death."

"Can... can I do it?"

Zhou’s hands were trembling slightly, but seeing that the zombie really couldn’t get out, and seeing Yu Dong’s encouraging gaze...

He steeled himself and thrust the spear forward!

THUD!

It hit the door.

Yu Dong wasn’t worried. "Again."

Only after Zhou had stabbed more than ten times did he finally hit the right spot and finish off the powerless old man zombie.

Zhou wiped the sweat from his face. "Thankfully... thankfully the zombie couldn’t get out, or I’d be dead for sure. You really have to use your brain to kill these things."

Zhou now understood how Yu Dong and Liu Ye’ye had so easily taken care of the yoga pants zombie the day before.

’Yu Dong might be young, but his survival experience is beyond what an ordinary person could have... I’ve really latched onto a powerhouse this time.’

They pushed open the door.

Aside from the stench of the zombie, the entire room was filled with the thick smell of an old person.

It was a peculiar smell, one that couldn’t simply be described as fragrant or foul. It was just... the slowly decaying scent of old age.

"Older people don’t usually eat takeout or go to restaurants often. We should be able to find a good amount of food in here."

Since they were already inside, the three of them split up to take inventory of the apartment’s supplies.

"In the kitchen," Liu Ye’ye reported, "there’s half a bag of white flour, a bag and a half of millet, a bag and a half of rice, plus mung beans, red beans, soybeans, cowpeas... a bunch of jars with colorful assorted beans. There’s over half a barrel of oil, some various coarse and mixed grains, five cans of fish, and a full set of seasonings."

"Over here I found a bag of old-fashioned sponge cakes," Zhou Jian Country added, "two boxes of cookies, half a jar of honey, a large box of assorted medicines, and the fridge still has a lot of frozen meat, frozen wontons, eggs, vegetables, and pickles..."

"Hahaha~ This should be enough to feed us for half a month, right?"

Zhou started laughing as he spoke.

They had cleared out one old man zombie’s home, and the food stores were even greater than what Liu Ye’ye had in her own apartment!

"It’s a shame about the frozen meat, though," Liu Ye’ye said. "The power went out yesterday, so it’s already starting to thaw. I estimate it’ll all go bad in another two or three days."

The three of them would be lucky to finish the food in Liu Ye’ye’s fridge before it spoiled.

Now they had another whole fridge full of frozen goods.

"Take out the good meat to eat today and tomorrow. As for the rest... if it spoils, it spoils. The power isn’t coming back on."

Yu Dong’s own solar power setup could handle one small refrigerator for daily use, but adding several more... that was questionable. Especially since refreezing this already-thawing meat would consume a huge amount of electricity.

He also needed to charge their phones and Liu Ye’ye’s drone.

Liu Ye’ye picked through the freezer and pulled out a box of large shrimp and three boxes of mutton. They were well-packaged. Then, in the refrigerator section, she found fresh vegetables and noodles.

"I propose we have hot pot for lunch. How does that sound?"

"Great idea!"

"Sounds wonderful."

The three of them smiled in satisfaction at having gathered enough for a hot pot meal.

With that, much of the initial awkwardness and tension between them dissipated.

As they were enjoying the fruits of their victory, Yu Dong’s gaze drifted out the window... Across the way, in Building Three, he saw a figure jumping up and down.

Hmm?

"Binoculars."

Yu Dong took them from Liu Ye’ye, their walking treasure chest, and looked toward Building Three.

On the fifth floor of Building Three, a tall, sexy woman in pajamas was continuously waving and jumping, trying to get their attention.

"It’s the female workhorse... She saw us. What does she want?"

The female workhorse also took out a pair of binoculars. When she saw Yu Dong looking at her, she was overjoyed.

She held up a piece of paper. On it, a single line was written in large letters:

"Help me! I’m so hungry!"