Chapter 286: Running

【System detects safe zone New Year atmosphere concentration meets the standard, suggests host perform moderate exercise】

When the cold mechanical voice sounded in Lin Chen's mind, he was standing at the edge of the square, watching the last firework explode in the sky, scattering into starlike light. Xia Nuan had already been pulled by team members to help tidy up the bowls and chopsticks in the cafeteria,

waving at him before she left. The people in the square gradually dispersed, leaving only a few children still chasing and playing, their laughter carrying very far in the empty night.

Lin Chen did not respond to the system's prompt. He just looked at the residual firework debris on the ground,

looked at those footprints trampled into a mess, and a desire to move suddenly arose in his heart. He turned and walked toward the wall of the safe zone, his steps very light, stepping on the clean road surface, making a faint sound. The warning lights on the wall were still flashing, red and green lights alternating, illuminating the road under his feet.

【System prompt, moderate exercise can reduce blackened personality awakening probability, improve host's physical function】

Lin Chen walked to the wall, stopped, and exercised his wrists and ankles.

He raised his head, looked at the high wall, looked at the flag fluttering in the wind on the wall, and took a deep breath. Cold air poured into his throat,

carrying a trace of coolness, but it made his mind much clearer. He adjusted his breathing, took a step, and ran toward the other end of the wall.

At first, the speed wasn't fast, just running at a steady pace, the sound of the wind whistling in his ears,

carrying the chill of the night. His steps were very steady, one step at a time landing on the road, making a regular sound. The streetlights in the safe zone were on,

pulling his shadow very long, casting it on the ground, growing long and short with his running. When passing those houses with lights on, there would occasionally be a few dog barks and the sound of people talking, but it didn't disturb his rhythm.

【System detects host's heart rate gradually rising, current value is in the normal exercise range】

Lin Chen accelerated his speed, the frequency of his legs alternating growing faster and faster, and the amplitude of his arm swinging growing larger and larger. The wind scraped across his cheeks,

carrying the fresh breath after the snow, blowing up the broken hair on his forehead. His breathing became hurried, his chest rising and falling slightly, but he didn't stop his steps.

He ran circle after circle along the wall, not knowing how many circles he had run, only knowing that the road under his feet grew more and more familiar, and the sound of the wind in his ears grew louder and louder.

When passing the infirmary, he subconsciously slowed down his steps,

and glanced at that tightly closed iron door. There was no sound inside,

only the light of the streetlamp reflecting on the iron door, leaving a long shadow. He didn't know how Lin Hao was, didn't know if those zombies had been repelled,

didn't know if that last bullet had been fired. He didn't stop, just accelerated his steps and ran toward the front.

【System prompt, host's exercise duration has reached one hour, suggests appropriate rest and replenishment of water】

Lin Chen ignored the system's prompt. His steps still didn't stop,

just the speed slowed down a bit, turning into a slow run. Fine cold sweat seeped from his forehead, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto his collar, bringing a trace of coolness. His clothes had been soaked with sweat, sticking to his body, but he didn't feel cold; instead, a heat was rising from his body continuously.

The lights in the safe zone gradually went out, leaving only the warning lights on the wall still flashing. The laughter of the children had disappeared, replaced by silence, only his footsteps and breathing echoing in the night. He ran past the square, past the cafeteria, past those familiar houses, past those places where he had once left footprints.

【System detects host's physical function state is good, blackened personality awakening probability dropped to below 5%】

Lin Chen's steps gradually slowed down, changing from a slow run to a fast walk, finally stopping in the center of the square. He leaned on his knees, gasping for air, his chest rising and falling violently. He raised his head, looked at the sky, the snow had stopped, revealing a few stars, twinkling in the dark sky. His breathing gradually stabilized, the exhaustion and relaxation in his body intertwined, making him feel unprecedentedly comfortable.

He didn't leave immediately, just stood in place, looking at those stars, looking at the outline of the distant mountains. After a while, he adjusted his breathing, took a step again, and ran toward the front. This time the speed wasn't fast, but very steady, one step at a time, running toward the depths of the night. ===== CHAPTER 287 =====