Chapter 119

On the fourth-floor restaurant, the air was filled with thick humidity.

Waves of putrid stench made one want to vomit.

Dim light filtered through layers of blue sky‑curtain glass into the interior, revealing corpses gnawed down to white bones everywhere.

The upscale restaurant's walls were smeared with dark‑red handprints, and the skulls on the tables had empty eye sockets.

No one could have imagined that humans would one day be served on a plate, becoming a tasty delicacy for zombies and monsters.

After stepping onto the fourth floor,

Gao Tian nervously followed behind Lin An with his bow drawn, his whole body tense, ready to attack at any moment.

"You don't need to be so tense."

Lin An's voice was calm as his mental power scanned and spread into the unknown area.

"Aside from a few zombies trapped in the restaurant, there should be no other mutants here."

Gao Tian dared not relax, his eyes continually sweeping the surroundings.

"Brother Lin, you said this is the origin of the spider eggs; shouldn't it be the place with the most monsters?"

Lin An picked up the flyer on the ground, examined it carefully, and casually replied:

"That's what I said, but do you still remember those people who died?"

"They had been hiding in that small building near the mall, and they couldn't even handle a single marrow‑sucking spider."

"If there were other mutants in the mall, why would they stay there? It would be better to leave early."

"The Awakened One who just died had come here many times before; if there were any danger or mutants on the fourth floor, he would have known."

"With his strength, he should have died long ago; how could he still be alive now?"

"Moreover, under Mo Ling's summon‑the‑dead skill, any monsters would have been dragged out as well."

"Even if the monster occupying this place could resist the summoning, with so many of us inside the mall for nearly two hours, it would have rushed out to attack us by now."

"No monster would let a group of 'food' wander freely in its lair."

After hearing Lin An's explanation, Gao Tian finally relaxed his nerves and gave an embarrassed smile.

Lin An slightly shook his head, not caring about his reaction.

Actually, it's not Gao Tian's fault; he's not lacking brains.

It's just that their experiences differ.

In his past life, Lin An struggled for three years during the Apocalypse, while Gao Tian was merely a student before the Apocalypse broke out.

Moreover, they possess different information, so Gao Tian naturally cannot think of many things.

Asking questions is a good thing; at least it shows he's thinking and learning.

"Let's go, we're heading to the restaurant at the very back."

"If nothing unexpected happens, the secret of the spider eggs is likely inside."

Lin An's gaze fell on a restaurant around the corner, its pitch‑black door half‑closed.

【cambodia-restaurant】

On the deliberately aged wooden sign hung fresh‑green decorative leaves, and the small text below read: Cambodian Specialty Restaurant.

On the yellow bus, seven students crowded together, their eyes somewhat uneasy as they looked toward the mall.

A boy in a red jacket looked despondent, tightly gripping a necklace in his hand.

It was left by the boy who died beneath the human‑faced crab's claws, his skull pierced through.

The mood of several people grew gloomy because of their companion's death.

"Zhang Ting died too horribly… how are we supposed to tell his girlfriend…"

Outside the bus, a rainstorm hammered the windows, and lightning occasionally sliced through the dark clouds.

"Just say it like that; what else can we do?"

"Let's gather some extra food to leave for her girlfriend."

"Damn monster!"

The sturdy‑built boy hung his head in dejection and slammed a fist into the sack of rice behind him.

"Coming out to scavenge for supplies—who isn't risking their life?"

Everyone gave a bitter laugh.

Indeed, the rewards for going out to scavenge are high, but the danger is equally greatest.

Today, following Lord Lin An out, already counts as their luckiest outing.

In previous outings, more people died, and total annihilation has happened before.

"Yeah… let's not talk about that."

"You guys say..."

"Lord Lin An and his team have been inside for a long time; why haven't they come out yet…"

A dark‑skinned boy crouched on a sack of rice, and the bus with its seats removed was filled with supplies.

The bus originally meant for 24 people could now hold only seven; the rest were in the blue truck beside it.

"I don't know; it's almost three hours now—didn't the lord say we should leave first if we can't wait for him?"

"Really leave? That doesn't feel right…"

The other boy with a crew cut hesitated a bit, but Lord Lin An had indeed said that.

"Then what do you suggest? Keep waiting?"

"What if the little girl in the lord's party runs out of mental power later? She's terrified over there."

As they spoke, the group looked toward the distant dense corpse horde—thousands of zombies piled together into a corpse mountain, and Mo Ling's frail body was once again buried at the very bottom.

The questioning boy's eyes held fear.

If the time comes and her skill fails, we'll all die.

I think Lord Lin An considered that and therefore let us go first.

After all, they're Awakened Ones and aren't afraid of zombies. We aren't!

Yeah...

But if we leave, what about Lord Lin An? What if something happens to them inside?

Before the red-coated male student could finish speaking, others snorted in derision.

How could anything go wrong?

With the Lord's strength so great, he must have discovered something.

Didn't he say hello to us earlier? He could be delayed for a long time!

Besides, if something truly happens that could threaten the Lord, staying here would also be suicide.

In my opinion, we should just follow Lord Lin An's words and head back to base when three hours are up.

Our food is still waiting for us at the base.

Reasonable and well-founded, the male student's words earned everyone's agreement.

Most importantly, the rainstorm grew heavier, and they instinctively felt uneasy.

His face twisted, mouth dry, the red-coated male student still couldn't help voicing his thoughts.

I think we should ask the people in the other vehicle.

If we go, we'll definitely go together.

He turned his head to look at the blue canvas truck beside him; rainwater dripped down the metal and pooled.

Below the blue car door was written in small characters: Load capacity 6 people.

We seven people, they...

The male student's words stopped halfway; a sudden fear welled up on his face, and his original words got stuck in his mouth, unable to come out.

Boom-crack—~

A bolt of lightning flashed, deafening and inspiring terror from the depths of one's heart.

His expression was illuminated by the lightning, mouth agape, his whole body trembling, as if he had thought of something.

Several people, seeing his expression was off, asked doubtfully.

What about them? Why stop speaking halfway?

Pat—

The necklace fell to the ground; the red-coated male student struggled to speak, his whole body trembling.

On their vehicle...

There are 6 people!

He clearly remembered that when the group set out, there were only sixteen people.

The heavy rain poured down; the truck beside them was silent and still.