Chapter 200: Disappearing in the Rain

"Brother Huang, do we have anything to eat in the carriage?"

"Yun Tian chatted with a group of people for a while, and his stomach growled."

"He hadn't eaten anything all day, not even a bite of Zhang Tie's canned food."

"Huang Haitao didn't look up, just concentrating on writing something in his notebook, and casually replied:"

"Ask Tang Shao Hua; he has plenty of food in his backpack and likes to..."

"Who is Tang Shao Hua?"

"Yun Tian stood in the shaking freight carriage, his face full of doubt."

"Tang.."

"Huang Haitao heard the voice, lifted his head, put down his pen, but found he couldn't say that name no matter what."

"What Tang?"

"Who was I just about to say?"

"He frowned, looking at the three people inside the carriage."

"Yun Tian, myself, and Zhang Li — where is there a Tang?"

"Nothing... I have a few compressed biscuits here, take them and eat."

"Huang Haitao hesitated, then softly replied, and took out a biscuit from his pocket to hand to Yun Tian."

"Pat—"

"As the carriage turned, a jolt shook it, and the backpack on the side seat slid onto the floor."

"Whose backpack is this?"

"Yun Tian tore open the packet, eating biscuits while looking at the backpack at his feet, which was bulging."

"He curiously bent down, then opened it."

"Clatter—"

"The latch opened, revealing a whole pack of snacks and self-heating military rations neatly stacked together."

"Brother Huang, is this yours?"

"He picked up the backpack, looking puzzled."

"Who left the backpack here?"

"Huang Haitao took the backpack, furrowed his brows, and hesitantly replied:"

"Maybe it's Zhang Teng's?"

"There's a lot of food in the pack; this ration could only belong to an Awakened One member."

"But Jing Tian had repeatedly told them at the base that during outdoor operations, food, ammunition, and weapons — these three items must always be carried unless there are special circumstances."

"If an accident occurs, they might get separated or be trapped by zombies."

"These things are lifesavers."

"He rummaged through it twice but didn't find any identification tag inside."

"Zhang Teng? Is this backpack yours?"

"Huang Haitao turned his head to look at the Awakened One in the corner."

"No one was there."

"Brother Huang, who are you talking to?"

"Yun Tian's voice rang out, echoing in the empty carriage."

"A bone-chilling cold made Huang Haitao almost instantly feel his hairs stand on end, a chill running up his spine."

"He struggled to move his throat, unable to speak for a moment, his face full of terror."

"After a moment, his expression suddenly relaxed:"

"Oh, nothing..."

"I forgot that there were only the two of us on the vehicle."

"He gave a self‑mocking smile and casually put down the backpack at his feet."

"I don't know who was so careless; if Captain Jing Tian were here, he'd definitely scold them to death."

"Forget it, Yun Tian. Why don't you eat the food in the pack first?"

"My backpack is with Lord Lin An; when its owner returns, I'll compensate him."

"Yun Tian, curious, took out a pack of self‑heating ration:"

"Brother Huang, who is Jing Tian again? Is he strict?"

"Jing Tian is the person brought by Squad Lin..."

"The rain outside lashed like waves, repeatedly striking the carriage in the fierce wind."

"The sudden weather change lowered the temperature inside the carriage considerably."

"Yun Tian lowered his head, finished the self‑heating ration, and let out a satisfied burp."

"Torn packaging lay piled at his feet."

"During this time, he hadn't eaten his fill at all."

"That group of elderly folks, usually weak as could be, eat with surprising vigor, even more than the youngsters."

"He and Yun Lin also felt embarrassed to snatch their food."

"Moreover, Awakened Ones burn far more calories than ordinary people; feeling hungry, he had to eat three portions before he was full."

"Shh—"

"The pouring rain hammered the metal sheet behind him, and the faint mist smelled somewhat unpleasant."

"Brother Huang? Would you like a portion?"

The taste is indeed not bad.

After finishing the last bite in the box, he subconsciously asked Huang Haitao beside him.

No one responded, the carriage interior was quiet, only the rustling rain could be heard.

Plop.

The lunch box fell to the ground, he widened his eyes in terror, looking at the empty space beside him.

Obviously! Obviously Brother Huang was with me in the car!!

He hurriedly turned his head back and forth, searching for Huang...

Like a spring that has been wound and stopped.

Yun Tian suddenly stiffened in place, his face full of suspicion.

I...

What am I looking for?

The vehicle body swayed, vibrating as it rolled over stones.

He stood there dazed, at a loss, looking at the scattered backpacks inside the carriage.

I...

Is it someone sitting in this vehicle?

Muttering to himself, self-questioning and self-answering.

After a while, he resentfully sat back in his seat, somewhat boredly looking around the carriage.

That's right, after joining the team and setting out, I'm the only one in this vehicle.

Oh, plus the driver.

Sigh, it's so boring. I still wanted to ask some questions on the road.

In the dim carriage, he sat upright.

Inside the armored vehicle, Lin An suddenly opened his eyes, his breathing irregular.

For no reason, the palpitations in his chest grew worse.

Damn it, where exactly did something go wrong?

He couldn't help but spread out his mental power; a strong mental wave instantly swept across the entire convoy.

After a while.

Lin An dejectedly withdrew his mental probe, his brows tightly furrowed.

Nothing... nothing at all.

Everything is normal.

In his perception, the convoy's drivers were focused on driving; some, fearing drowsiness, played music to stay alert.

Other base members inside the carriage were chatting and laughing; some even secretly opened self-heating hot pots for a meal.

Except for Yun Tian alone staying in the carriage, which is somewhat strange...

Didn't I have someone follow him?

Lin An muttered to himself, then shook his head.

Probably not; maybe I forgot to arrange it.

Seeming somewhat uneasy, Lin An turned his head to look at Wen Ya on his right:

You... do you feel that something is off somewhere?

Wen Ya doubtfully put down the pen in her hand, hesitantly shaking her head.

Lin An, what's wrong with you?

I feel like you don't seem very comfortable.

Haven't you been resting well lately? Want to go sleep for a bit?

We still have some distance to the destination, and we also need to search.

Zhang Tie had his legs up, lying at the other end, looking slyly at the pale-faced Lin An:

Team Leader Lin, are you suffering from kidney deficiency?

Lin An glared angrily at Xiong Hanzi; the originally tense atmosphere was eased somewhat by his joking.

After thinking to no avail, he could only shake his head.

I'm fine; perhaps I was just overthinking.

Lin An gave a bitter smile; perhaps it was the demon described by Yun Lin that made him uneasy.

It seems foreseeing the future has no advantage.

Not to mention it's hard to change, it also easily influences one's thoughts continuously before the event occurs.

Just like a bomb, one always worries whether it will explode in the next second.

Forcibly suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind, Lin An leaned against the vehicle box and closed his eyes, weary from thought.

Half-asleep, half-awake, not knowing how much time had passed.

Boom!

Suddenly, a loud noise came from outside the vehicle, followed immediately by the sound of trucks colliding and overturning in succession.

Lin An suddenly opened his eyes, his body tensed.

Lin An! There's been an accident behind us!

Wen Ya reacted at the same time, her face solemn.

One driver has disappeared from my mental link!

In the heavy rain, the overturned truck was empty of anyone.