Chapter 142: Arrival

Linjiang-Wangjiang Expressway.

Under the Sinopec gas station sign, several trucks slowly started moving.

"Come! Hurry over and lend a hand!"

"Also block the gaps here!"

At the service area entrance, a bare-chested, well-dressed sturdy man stood on the truck roof, shouting at the drivers below to block the entrance.

"Move more sandbags! This isn't enough!"

"Is this useful?!"

"I don't see any zombies around here; what's the point of doing this?"

"From now on, we won't be able to get out."

Several porters in olive-green work uniforms, wearing rubber shoes, some dissatisfied, stacked the sandbags on their backs.

The bags were found on the trucks; sturdy burlap sacks can hold a lot of sand each.

Stacked up, even adults can't push them.

"Why are you worrying about so much?!"

A middle-aged man holding an iron shovel gave a flattering glance to Boss Liang on the truck roof, then shoveled dirt into the burlap sack.

"Boss Liang is doing this for our safety!"

"If we block the entrance and start a vegetable garden, isn't this a safe zone?"

The truck driver in charge of blocking the road poked his head out, looking at Boss Liang on the roof and spoke cooperatively.

"Just like that so-called Lin An, he set up a safe zone, didn't he?"

"Once we get this done, maybe that genderless voice (the system) will also praise us, Boss Liang second!"

Liang Shaoguang laughed heartily, satisfiedly watching the gradually forming "wall" beneath his feet, then waved his hand.

"Not comparable, not comparable!"

"This isn't a safe zone; haven't you read the task description?"

"That thing requires killing lots of monsters; at best we're just a doghouse."

"And they even broadcast it; going out would be embarrassing."

Everyone laughed heartily, but it wasn't mockery.

These few people all know each other; they're all truck drivers running from south to north.

The man called Boss Liang is one of the two Awakened Ones among them.

Inside the modest highway service area, a crowd of nearly thirty or forty refugees had squeezed in.

Food was fairly sufficient, and the leaders were warm-hearted, so everyone got along very harmoniously, with no incidents.

The survivors here.

Some were stranded here when the apocalypse broke out; others had driven here to escape these past days.

Inside the small service area were two Awakened Ones holding the fort; plus, the highway service area already had little traffic, so these days have been peaceful.

"Big shots, time to eat!"

Soon, a matron walked out of the service area, hands on hips, shouting loudly; a few kids quickly scrambled out from every corner.

"Aunt Zhou, what are we eating today?"

The children chattered around her, and someone mischievously left a handprint on her apron.

"What else do you want to eat, you little glutton!"

"We have porridge and steamed buns, and we even opened two packs of beef today!"

Zhou Fengling chuckled, tapped the little boy's head, and casually wiped off the dirty handprint on her apron.

She loves children; looking at these kids reminds her of her son who died in the zombies' jaws.

Lively, mischievous.

The men called over to eat always slightly bowed as they passed her, calling out "Aunt Zhou."

Zhou Fengling is the second Awakened One in this group.

Inside the original service area restaurant, the tables and chairs were dismantled, leaving only a table at the edge.

The rest were hauled outside to serve as obstacles to block the zombies.

A group gathered around the steaming big pot, habitually squatting on the ground to gnaw on steamed buns; the atmosphere was lively.

"What kind of person is that Lin An, and how did he set up a safe zone?"

"I read up there, it's truly awesome—they even came up with human hope and a sanctuary."

A dark-skinned, muscular man took a bite of the steamed bun in his hand and looked at Boss Liang.

"Boss, do you think that place is especially safe?!"

Boss Liang swallowed a bite of steamed bun and gave him an annoyed glance.

"Uncultured! That's called a sanctuary!"

"I reckon that Lin An is definitely an Awakened One, and a particularly powerful kind."

The well-dressed man squatting on the ground drinking porridge's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked Liang Shaoguang:

"Boss, is he stronger than you? Stronger than Auntie?!"

Liang Shaoguang widened his eyes, glared at him, and suddenly stood up.

He stuffed the steamed bun into his mouth, then made vague gestures with his hand.

"If I were as strong as an ankle, they'd at least have gotten this!"

Boss Liang placed his hand on his neck, gestured for a while, indicating that Lin An is much stronger than him.

After swallowing a mouthful of steamed bun, Liang Shaoguang continued with a face full of admiration:

Didn't you see the words on that bright, shiny surface? You have to kill 50 monsters! And you still need 100 people like me under you to be able to build it!

He can at least take on 100 of me!

50 monsters!?

100 Liang Dage!?

Inside the cafeteria, someone sucked in a breath of cold air; the man squatting on the ground eating rice had eyes full of disbelief.

In the corner, several men in dirty, old shirts sat upright at the dining table; seeing their exaggerated appearance, they couldn't help but let out a scoffing laugh.

A bunch of country bumpkins...

The bespectacled man beside him slapped the companion who had let out the scoff.

Shh, keep it down.

What's there to whisper about?

The young man in a white shirt gave a cold, indifferent snort.

They're just country bumpkins, with a voice that's neither male nor female. That so-called system doesn't even know!

As for Lin An, look at their limited insight.

I think Lin An isn't anything special; our country has plenty of people capable of building a Safe Zone.

I reckon he just got lucky, blundering into meeting the mission requirements and snagged first place.

He might even be a lowly grunt who blew up the monster nest with a single shot, just like what we saw a few days ago...

The bespectacled man couldn't help but let out a light sigh after hearing that.

He had pretty much figured out the temper of the person beside him.

Before the Apocalypse broke out, this guy was the boss of some internet startup company, looking down on everyone with his nose in the air.

Six days ago, when they fled the fallen shelter, a few people formed a small team and, escaping all the way, ended up here.

The bespectacled man lifted the somewhat cooled congee, took a sip, and said softly:

Even if what you say is true, that Lin An, even if he's just lucky, he still has to be an Awakened One—no weaker than you and me.

He has at least 100 Awakened Ones under his command!

The shirt-wearing man let out a nasal snort and glanced contemptuously at the few people squatting on the ground eating.

Awakened Ones are nothing—just a bit stronger. I'm telling you, to really deal with these monsters, you still need modern weapons!

One blast and those damn mutant Awakened Ones are all trash!

I don't even know what those officials above are thinking!

If it were me! One nuclear bomb dropped and all problems would be solved!

The shirt-wearing man's face was full of resentment; his company was in the midst of expansion, originally poised for a smooth IPO and to become a life winner.

Who would have thought the sudden Apocalypse would reduce him to a stray dog.

What's more hateful is.

He glanced enviously at the coarse‑spoken Liang Shaoguang wearing rubber shoes, and at Zhou Dazhen, who looked like a rural woman.

How come people like them can also become Awakened Ones!?

Why am I, a social elite, not one!? Why do I lack power!?

Why do I have to stay with this bunch of mud‑legs and do hard labor!?

Liang Shaoguang glanced at the shirt‑wearing man with his 'elegant' eating manner, but showed no particular expression.

I heard this guy is also a big boss, yet his talk is sour and not trashy.

He couldn't be bothered with the white‑collar workers at that table, and continued to gesture animatedly with his brothers.

How about it? Isn't Lin An awesome!

His eyes shifted, and he added mysteriously:

And he's been acknowledged by that strange voice!!

He's our nation's hope! In the whole world he's the most badass! He's got to be this!

He gave a thumbs‑up, then squatted back down on the ground.

If we ever get a chance to go there, it'll definitely be better than this dog‑hole of ours.

I'm just afraid they'll look down on us, thinking we lack culture...

We can't be of any help.

If there's a safe place to go, it's surely better than this!

The driver with an iron shovel at his feet hurriedly spoke up:

Boss, you're so formidable. That Boss Lin will surely look up to you!

Besides, I think our situation is pretty good. A gold nest or silver nest can't compare to our dog‑nest, right?

He turned his head to look at the few people squatting, a cheerful smile on his face.

Liang Shaoguang burst out laughing at the words, though a flicker of worry passed through his eyes.

He turned his head toward the fields behind the service area, wondering what he was thinking.

That monster...

It really hasn't come, has it?

Why... I'm smelling its scent again...