Chapter Nine: Transporting Supplies

Exiting through the entrance as before, Xiao Han was already waiting impatiently and asked, “Well, how is it? What’s the situation down there?”
Wu Jue smiled and replied, “It’s perfectly safe below, and I even met a new friend. Let’s gather the others and try to move that machine over here. After that, we’ll need to head to the nearby supermarket and bring back some supplies.”

They spoke as they hurried along, making their way back to their hiding place in the pit. On the way, they saw several people rushing out. Wu Jue was surprised, not understanding where these people were headed.

Xiao Han stopped a few and asked, “Uncle, where are you all going?”

The man looked a bit embarrassed and said, “Just now, two police officers came and said they’d received a signal from the government. We’re supposed to gather at the airport in the north of the city—everyone’s going there for rescue.”

Wu Jue was momentarily stunned; he hadn’t expected rescue to arrive so soon—this was quite unexpected.

Xiao Han asked what they should do—should they go with everyone else? Wu Jue thought briefly and said they should go get supplies first, just in case.

After all, in times like these, whoever has supplies will survive longer—there was no time to lose.

They returned, intending to take the equipment, only to find it was already gone. Upon asking around, they learned two young men had taken advantage of their absence and moved the machine.

Xiao Han found this amusing—in times like these, everyone was desperate to escape, so who would bother hauling such a cumbersome thing? It was just asking for trouble.

Wu Jue, however, remained calm. The two wouldn’t have moved the equipment for no reason; something was off. He told Xiao Han, “They couldn’t have carried it off on foot—they must have prepared a vehicle. Let’s hurry and catch up.”

They quickly left the pit again, asking those who hadn’t yet departed if they’d seen anyone drive off with the machine. But in these panicked times, no one noticed such details; everyone they questioned knew nothing.

Wu Jue had no choice but to put on his headset and contact Xiao Yang, asking him to check the nearby surveillance footage for any clues.

At the same time, he searched the area around the pit for signs of vehicles. It seemed several cars had left in a hurry—likely people who had found transportation and returned to pick up family and friends.

Just as they were running out of leads, Xiao Yang replied—he’d found something. Just over ten minutes ago, a silver van had stopped near the pit. Two people had loaded a strange machine and driven away, heading southwest.

Wu Jue knew he had to recover it; there was crucial information within that machine about dealing with the Celestial Executioners. He couldn’t just let it be taken.

He and Xiao Han parted ways—Wu Jue sent Xiao Han to the outskirts to join the rescue, while he went after the two thieves.

Before Xiao Han could protest, Wu Jue was already gone, moving faster than before—every second counted if he was to intercept them.

He sprinted ahead, and before long, saw a van stopped in the middle of the road, its door wide open.

On the ground lay a corpse, sprawled in a pool of blood, its face twisted in a hideous death mask. Inside the van, another body slumped over the driver’s seat, also drenched in blood, lifeless.

Wu Jue drew a sharp breath—the way they died suggested they’d been suddenly betrayed by someone they knew. The killer’s methods were brutally vicious, almost beastly. Inspecting the bodies, Wu Jue’s instincts told him—this was not the work of a human.

Could the Celestial Executioners be back?

He hesitated, when behind him, Xiao Han’s excited voice called out, “Caught up! I finally made it! What happened here?”

Xiao Han wobbled up on a battered electric scooter, only to be startled by the grisly scene.

Wu Jue called him over to help remove the corpses from the van and searched inside—but the machine was nowhere to be found.

“Looks like someone coveted our equipment badly enough to kill these two,” Wu Jue said. “It’s dangerous here—we have to leave, now. Xiao Han, why did you come back? Never mind, get in the van. Let’s go.”

Without hesitation, Xiao Han loaded the scooter into the van, climbed into the driver’s seat, tore some clothes from the dead to wipe off the blood, and quickly started the engine.

Once on the road, Xiao Han asked where to go.

Wu Jue thought quickly—something about the situation felt wrong. “Head to the supermarket in the east. We’ll stock up first, then check on the airport.”

“Got it, hang on!” Xiao Han replied, flooring the pedal. In just a minute or two, they reached the eastern commercial street. What was once bustling was now eerily empty.

Earlier, because of rampaging zombies, those who’d come looking for food had been too frightened to linger. Even now, zombies still wandered near the supermarket.

“Don’t stop—just charge straight in and grab as much food as we can,” Wu Jue ordered.

Xiao Han, now emboldened, aimed straight at the supermarket’s glass doors and accelerated.

With a crash, the doors shattered, and the van barreled inside. Xiao Han slammed on the brakes, staring at the chaotic interior—it looked like the aftermath of a robbery.

Shelves were toppled, goods scattered, foul smells wafted in the air, and at least seven or eight bodies lay on the ground. Wu Jue quickly got out and said, “Hurry, just grab anything edible.”

They left the van, searching the supermarket. Wu Jue grabbed two mops, broke one and tossed it to Xiao Han. “Take this—for protection.”

He then grabbed two steel knives from a shelf and tucked them into his belt as they moved on.

Finally, he found a shelf stacked with snacks. Xiao Han cheered, “There’s instant noodles and chocolate drinks—let’s take it all!”

Wu Jue wasn’t familiar with these kinds of foods, so he left the choice to Xiao Han, instructing him to focus on filling, nutritious items. At the far end, Wu Jue saw a display of vegetables—most already wilted.

He examined them: cabbage, potatoes, cucumbers, and many other foods he’d never seen before—most of them spoiling. He picked out what could still be eaten, loading up a large box. Behind a door left ajar, he discovered piles of sacks—rice and flour, from the looks of it. Delighted, he called Xiao Han to help move the most precious food supplies.

After loading some of it into the van, Xiao Han returned, marveling at the amount of grain left in the storeroom. “But there’s not enough space in the van—what do we do?”

Wu Jue weighed their options. “Take a few sacks now. If we can, come back for more. See if there’s fresh water too—grab as much as possible. Leave the less important stuff for now.”

They carried supplies to the van until it was packed full. Xiao Han, wiping sweat from his brow, was about to say something when Wu Jue saw a shadow behind him.

A zombie—no idea where it came from—was gasping, arms raised, lunging at Xiao Han. Without a word, Wu Jue yanked Xiao Han aside and plunged his broken mop handle into the creature’s face.

Blood gushed out, the zombie’s pale features twisting in agony. Wu Jue dodged back, giving it a fierce kick, then shouted, “Get in the van! More zombies are coming!”

Only then did they notice several zombies pouring down from the second floor, while more pressed in through the shattered entrance, drawn by the commotion.

Wu Jue and Xiao Han scrambled into the van, locking the windows. Xiao Han started the engine, slammed it into reverse, and with another crash, burst through what remained of the doors.

Two zombies blocking the exit were struck and sent flying, torn and bloodied.

With a sharp turn, Xiao Han steered them out of the supermarket, spun the van around, and sped away.

End of Chapter Nine: Transporting Supplies.