Chapter Seven, Mutual Support in Adversity

He washed his head and face with the bottled water from the car. Although he had just escaped death, the search must continue, and he drove forward

The yard's main gate stood wide open as he walked in carrying an axe. Wang Wang sniffed around everywhere, while Tang Ao went to look for a flashlight, as such items are typically found in an ordinary household

However, at this moment, there was no time to care about anything else; in a life-and-death situation, it was either you die or I die. In any case, I will not die; whoever wants to die can do so. He snorted coldly, recalling the scene in the supermarket just now, where zombies were gathered in droves. Even though he was not afraid of death, he could not help but feel a lingering fear. Perhaps after the outbreak of the virus, everyone rushed into the supermarket to grab food, which turned the supermarket into a zombie concentration camp

As night approached, he reinforced the door with iron bars. The door frame, which originally had two hidden locks, was further secured with numerous bolts, firmly braced with iron bars. Finally, he also nailed security bars onto the windows

Hai Momo stood right in front of him, watching him. He let out a threatening low growl and lunged towards Hai Momo. His movements were already swift, yet Hai Momo remained completely still. As he pounced in front of her, she firmly grasped his head with both hands, turned it thirty-six degrees, and then lifted it up again

Heaven does not disappoint those who are determined; he found several large bags of candles. Wang Wang was barking incessantly in the kitchen. Tang Ao rushed over to see that it had discovered a basket of eggs, which were too small for it to move, and was in a state of anxiety.

He carefully got up and placed Hai Momo on the bed. Hai Momo smacked her lips, her small hand still clutching the collar of his shirt. Tang Ao pried her hand open and went downstairs himself

Tang Ao first started the car, pressed down the clutch, and the vehicle began to move. A person outside the window reached out with one hand, wrapped their elbow around his neck, and forcefully brought it towards their mouth

The surroundings were enveloped in silence, and Young Master Tang San let out a sigh. ... If only Yang Yingying were in his arms at this moment ... . ... It's better not to think about it; the last incident with the cola bottle had left him with a psychological shadow.

His eyes were filled with red veins, with even the whites of his eyes barely visible. His limbs clung to the car window, remarkably strong and powerful

By the time the autumn sun had completely sunk below the horizon, he was so exhausted that he hardly wanted to move a finger. Hai Momo had prepared dinner, and after the two of them had eaten, the surroundings were already pitch dark, leaving nothing else to do.

Hai Momo assisted Tang Ao in moving the items down. A zombie heard the noise and staggered over. Tang Ao asked Hai Momo to help move a box of iron bars into the house, and then he smashed the zombie's head with a hammer in one blow

Tang Ao turned his head to glance at the car, where Hai Momo had her face pressed against the window looking at him. He said in a low voice: "I will first take her to another place"

The aroma of food makes the world more beautiful, as Hai Momo blows on the golden-brown fish she has grilled to cool it down before handing it to Tang Ao. Tang Ao takes a bite and gestures for her to eat it herself. She is particularly happy and breaks off half to feed Wang Wang.

Not far from the entrance of the supermarket, on the road, a dark object is lying on the ground, beneath which is the body of a man in a security uniform. He is holding a mixture of red and white brain matter in his hands, continuously stuffing it into his mouth

"You stay here and lock the door. No one is allowed to open it, not even me." Tang Ao changed his clothes and checked that the door was sturdy enough before giving this instruction. Hai Momo nodded, understanding that Tang Ao wanted to take refuge here, and began to clean up.

Then it barked wildly, and Tang Ao looked over with the car lights, only to see a group of "people" coming down from the steps of the supermarket. They moved slowly, clumsily, and stiffly, a dense mass.

It has lost its hands and feet, cannot walk, and is very angry, Hai Momo said softly

That person fell like a kite with a broken string, and Tang Ao certainly did not look back—if he got entangled with that group of fellows, it would truly be a hopeless situation

The chamber contained only dark green mucus, and the horde of zombies behind was already approaching. Hai Momo discarded the head and quickly left the place

Hai Momo, however, was not asleep. Tang Ao's arm was wrapped around her shoulder, and she was nestled entirely in his embrace. Her exceptionally sensitive hearing allowed her to distinctly perceive the sound of his heartbeat and the flow of his blood. His embrace was truly warm, completely different from the cold instruments in the laboratory. She gently stroked his stubbled chin with her fingertip, finding it quite amusing

Hai Momo let out a sound and sleepily went downstairs. Wang Wang followed Tang Ao out the door. Tang Ao stood outside, listening to her close the door properly, and then reminded her again: "There is noodles in the kitchen, eat before you sleep"

Wang Wang found a can of coconut milk, brought it back while wagging its tail in delight. Hai Momo rewarded it with half a bowl of crab roe porridge

It seemed as though something was pulling him down, and he struggled incessantly. Taking advantage of the moment, Tang Ao swung an axe, striking him squarely on the head with a loud thud, splattering blood all over him.

Hai Momo responded with a sound, and Tang Ao turned around and got into the car. Wang Wang finished using the bathroom on the nearby lawn and jumped from his lap to the passenger seat. He drove out, and the small shop was hidden in the darkness before dawn

After he left, Hai Momo certainly did not remain idle. There is a small kitchen behind the shop, and she only stood at the door to take a careful look inside. The small kitchen is quite simple, yet there are a few packets of instant noodles, water flowing from the pipes, and most surprisingly, there is still gas in the gas cylinder

The sky gradually brightened, though the sun had yet to show its face, the red clouds had already spread across the horizon. The golden-red glow of dawn cast its light upon the grass and trees, with the dew resembling precious pearls. Tang Ao stopped at a small courtyard after refueling at a gas station—he heard the crowing of a rooster.

Tang Ao did not have time to take a closer look and shouted loudly: "Woof woof, run!" Then he turned and ran towards the car. Wang Wang, while barking frantically, also jumped into the car.

Such a person indeed has very little compassion left, yet upon witnessing this scene, he still sighed—Saints, if this is truly your doing, you should descend into hell

Tang Ao drove out. Wang Wang wanted to follow but was sent back to the small shop: "Watch over your master!" he shouted, although he knew full well that the dog probably did not understand. He went to the hardware store he had noted down last time and loaded useful items such as iron wire, iron bars, and aluminum alloy security bars into the car.

Hai Momo scraped off the fish scales and began to start a fire. Tang Ao cleaned and prepared the fish, just in time for the fish to be grilled as the porridge was ready. Wang Wang rummaged around in the nearby car. There was no one around, and as long as there was no "large wave of zombies approaching," the threat was minimal. He did not close the car door, allowing the smoke to disperse, while also keeping an eye on Wang Wang.

The small shop has two floors, with the lower level filled with fishing rods, fishing lines, baits, and so on, while the upper level is presumably a living space. There is a small escalator, wide enough for only one person, that leads directly to the upper floor

Just as he had taken three steps, a snowball suddenly came rushing in. Tang Ao shouted, and the snowball quickly leaped past him, charging up the stairs— it was Wang Wang

By the time Tang Ao returned, she had already cleaned up all the blood upstairs. Her movements were indeed swift, and Tang Ao finally patted her head in praise, which made her beam with joy.

At that moment, a "person" suddenly sprang out from the horde of zombies, moving at an incredible speed, and immediately pressed against the car window. Illuminated by the headlights, Tang Ao clearly saw its face. It was a middle-aged man, dressed in a security uniform, presumably a security guard from the supermarket

He did not speak, but simply took a step forward and leaned up from the small ladder

At this moment, they could not care about much, as the two sat amidst a pile of clothes. Tang Ao found a thick garment to put on himself and wrapped another thick cotton coat around Hai Momo, saying: "Sleep!"

The weather was slightly cool, yet his clothes were completely soaked with sweat, and his hair was dripping wet. However, the results were ultimately quite satisfactory

He went to the kitchen, where there was a restroom in the partition. He first washed up and then prepared two packets of instant noodles before calling Hai Momo. Hai Momo was still rubbing her eyes, so Tang Ao helped her find her clothes: "Get up first, close the door properly before going back to sleep"

After lunch, Tang Ao drove around to observe the nearby terrain. Thirty kilometers ahead is Bailuzhou, a famous attraction in City E. This area is quite remote, and usually, very few people come here. Therefore, there is only a small shop nearby that rents fishing gear

The autumn breeze arrives gently, the sky is a deep blue, and the late-blooming yellow flowers sporadically open among the grass. The world remains beautiful and tranquil. Tang Ao serves the crab roe porridge, while Hai Momo begins to spread salt and oil on the fish, as the two of them grill the fish

It should be that the adult in the family suddenly fell ill and consumed the child

Tang Ao certainly knew that if she went, it would allow for more flexible actions. However, as a grown man, how could he allow a child to take such risks

The next morning, although sleeping amidst a pile of clothes, the feeling of the bed was much better. Tang Ao opened his eyes; it was still dark outside, and Hai Momo was still sound asleep in his arms. Meanwhile, at the staircase, Wang Wang yawned.

Behind the security gate of the zoo, a man kept watching him. Seeing that he seemed hesitant, he continued to persuade: "A grown man shouldn't be indecisive. You know I am right. You came to me because you think I have ample resources and should be in need of help, right? It's just one daughter; a man like you shouldn't worry about not having more in the future."

The upstairs is extremely narrow; he can touch the ceiling with his head while standing. There is only a bed and a bedside table placed above. The bed is covered in blood, and an old man lies on the ground, covered in blood, with both hands and feet missing.

Sleep, it is a rare night when one does not have to worry about having their neck bitten off in a dream. He closed his eyes, and the sounds of the wind passing over the roof and the gentle breathing of the sea filled his ears

Tang Ao searched along the suburban road, where all the streetlights had gone out. With the light from the car headlights, he could faintly see the storefronts on either side. Finally, he unexpectedly found a Hualian supermarket. He parked the car by the roadside and took the axe down. Wang Wang was still running ahead, just about to enter, when he suddenly became agitated.

A gust of wind blew in, bringing a chill that penetrated to the bone. Tang Ao took a piece of clothing from the rope and draped it over himself, then tossed a small cotton jacket to Hai Momo— the day was gradually getting cooler, and they could not continue bathing in the river.

What on earth is that thing? It is much faster than a zombie and far more ruthless. Could it be a person who has gone insane?

Hai Momo playfully crawled over and nestled into his arms. He initially intended to push her away, but being close together felt quite warm, so he did not move again

Tang Ao got into the car without saying a word, and Hai Momo was also very quiet. Only Wang Wang was looking around in the car. Tang Ao drove back to the banks of Bai Li River, where the view was open and the population was sparse. Moreover, food and water were relatively easy to obtain.

The man in the zoo had a sly look in his eyes: "You are always welcome to come back here, of course, if you don't..." He made a zombie-walking gesture, "come back like this."

Wang Wang seemed very angry, growling and pacing back and forth. Tang Ao shooed it away, wrapped the old man in a blanket, tightly bound him, and then threw him down the small staircase

There is a bed upstairs, which is certainly much better than the cold car compartment. Tang Ao let Hai Momo go up, thinking that it would be pitch dark up there, and fearing that she might be scared, he followed her up. Wang Wang lay at the small staircase entrance, alertly pricking up its ears at the slightest sound, like a diligent little guard.

Tang Ao found some rice flour, cured meat, and dried wild chickens and rabbits, which he loaded onto the vehicle one by one. When he searched the bedroom last, the horrific scene inside was too much for him to bear. There were the dismembered bodies of two children, and on the bed, there were the small feet of an infant. Only two small feet remained

Tang Ao nodded slightly: "That makes sense"

Tang Ao struck the kitchen knife with an axe, and immediately a strange sound of laughter came from above, yet no one descended. Could it be that this one is indeed smarter than the others? Does it understand the principle that one man can hold off a thousand?

He muttered to himself, and Hai Momo slightly curled her lips: "They will think it is food"

Tang Ao entered the small shop holding an axe, while Hai Momo had also run over at some point. She followed closely behind Tang Ao like a tail, holding a kitchen knife in her hand

She made fragrant rice and hastily stir-fried some fish. Her cooking skills were not very good, but at this moment, being able to eat such food was truly a rare treat

Hai Momo kept an eye on the commotion outside, but Tang Ao did not allow her to look. He found a place to bury the old man himself. Hai Momo was very obedient and did not ask anything.

Hai Momo held him back: "It's small here, Momo will go."

Something vaguely approached, and it raised its head alertly. It was a boy of about ten years old, his entire body had turned dark green, but his eyes were white. His mouth was torn open to the roots of his ears, resembling a gaping maw.

Tang Ao furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice, "I will go up to take a look, you stay here and do not move."

Tang and Tu Shu followed closely behind, the upper floor was shrouded in darkness. He was startled, only to see Wang Wang pounce fiercely, biting down on something. The strange "he he" sound ceased. It was only then that he struck a match.

After speaking, he walked to the riverbank, filled an iron basin with water, and prepared to make crab roe porridge. Hai Momo looked at him for a moment, then suddenly rushed over and gently kissed his forehead. Only then did she happily take the fish out of the car and scrape off the scales. Tang Ao wiped off the saliva from his forehead in disgust, as two zombies slowly approached. He effortlessly chopped off their heads with an axe: "If I hang their heads on the front of the car, I wonder if their companions will learn a lesson."

The store is indeed very small. Outside, there used to be a large umbrella propped up, but now it has been severed at the base. It seems that someone attempted to climb up during an escape, but clearly, they failed.

Everything on the bed has been thrown away, and it has been cleaned very thoroughly. Tang Ao moved all the clothes out of the truck when he left during the day, and now they are all piled on the bed

The vehicle came to a stop, and two zombies, hearing the noise, staggered over in this direction. Only they welcomed the arrival of the two individuals. Tang Ao got out of the car first, looked around to ensure there was no movement, and then signaled for Hai Momo to come down: "Prepare to cook"

Tang Ao cursed softly, his right hand continuously groping for the axe. Wang Wang jumped over, biting fiercely at the opponent's elbow. Tang Ao was surrounded by a flurry of white dog fur, but this was preferable, far better than that disgusting monster. He finally grasped the axe, and the creature that was about to bite him suddenly let out a strange cry.

President Tang, in his sleep, held Hai Momo's hand and thought to himself that this girl was truly remarkable; at such a young age, she already knew how to take advantage of him in a sneaky manner

Hai Momo effortlessly lifted the fallen gas cylinder with her right thumb and middle finger. After trying for a long time, she finally figured out how to use it—although she had lived as a human for more than half a year, she was still regarded as a child and understood very little

A human head is already in hand

The stars are sparse and the moon is bright outside, and occasionally one can hear the chirping of insects. The cool fragrance of autumn flowers melts in the wind, bringing a sense of tranquility. Tang Ao took a deep breath; today's objective is lighting equipment. It would be best to find a generator, but the noise of a generator is too loud and is likely to attract more zombies. Being more cautious, it is better to look for a flashlight or something similar; finding pure vegetable oil would also be good.

Parking the car on the cobblestone road outside the small shop, Tang Ao had not yet exited the vehicle when Hai Momo had already opened the door. Wang Wang darted out like an arrow and jumped into the car. After sniffing around and discovering that there was nothing edible inside, it walked away with a look of disdain.