Chapter 538: Unlock a New Map! (Happy National Day to Our Readers, Please Subscribe!)

"The Grape Valley area doesn't seem special at all—why are all the zombies gathering there… or did something happen later to cause this?"

Zhang Su pulled the quilt tighter; it was very late, but he couldn't sleep at all—his mind churned with thoughts, then he remembered the second piece of news.

Compared to the zombie swarm at Grape Valley, Zhang Su cared more about the second one, because this message came from a camp in the Beihé District, involving information about the sea!

Water bear survivor organization report: Dozens of kilometers off Pigeon Nest Beach, a strange spherical object floats, roughly the size of a regular SUV, emitting irregular blue arcs—each arc affecting an area over a hundred meters wide. During the day, it's barely noticeable; at night, it resembles a disco ball. Since the coastline has frozen over, it's impossible to sail out and determine its exact nature.

The message wasn't complicated—it simply stated that an unknown object had appeared outside Pigeon Nest Beach. Zhang Su didn't know what it was, but its location lay directly along the sea route from land to Fu Wei's laboratory.

If it were merely some human facility abandoned at sea, that wouldn't be a big deal—but if it's connected to this catastrophe, it's far from simple.

Although there's no solid evidence linking the zombification to another civilization, the vast majority of people on Tianma Island have largely reached a consensus: the catastrophe was triggered by another civilization, though no one knows where that civilization comes from.

It could be from another planet, or from the Earth's core—either way, it's certainly not humanity, and certainly not the technology of this era.

If it's a product of another civilization, that's incredibly rare!

Unfortunately, for people at this stage, sailing out is far too difficult—and even if they could sail, according to the intelligence, the arcs extend over a hundred meters of sea, likely harming ships and people. Getting close would require careful planning. Regardless, this is a vital piece of intelligence; from every angle, that sphere is a valuable asset—if an opportunity arises, they must find a way to obtain it!

"This information can't reach Fu Weijun—he'd go completely insane…"

Zhang Su couldn't help shaking his head, his fingers lightly tracing the notebook's pages.

Fu Weijun was already obsessed with the high-end equipment in his lab; if he learned a potential artifact of another civilization had appeared at sea, he'd probably crawl to the shore even in his wheelchair…

Setting aside Fu Weijun's impractical impulsiveness, Zhang Su himself had long been thinking about sailing out—whether to better utilize zombies or conduct deeper research against zombification, he needed high-precision instruments.

And the only place confirmed to have those instruments was Fu Weijun's island laboratory.

"A boat isn't hard to get—finding the opportunity is the problem…"

Zhang Su rolled over, then remembered the final special piece of intelligence.

Back when he first received radio signals from another city's survivor camp in Qingxian—the Tangcheng Zhengdao Society—he never expected Liao Youzhi had also contacted them from Qincheng.

A month ago, with no exact date recorded, a Zhengdao Society expedition team crossed regions from Tangcheng to Qincheng.

According to Liao Youzhi's recorded message, the Zhengdao Society team came to gather intelligence on Qincheng's survivor camps and also extended an olive branch, hoping Liao Youzhi would lead his people to join Zhengdao Society and completely abandon the Qincheng region. According to the expedition team's claims, Tangcheng was a long-established industrial city; for human technology to revive, industry was essential, so they hoped to attract people from surrounding cities to concentrate in Tangcheng for joint development—far superior to tourist cities like Qincheng or Chengcheng.

Since the Survivor Alliance still operated in Qincheng, it was clear Liao Youzhi had never accepted Zhengdao Society's invitation.

Without this upheaval, Zhang Su believed Zhengdao Society would have continued recruiting the various factions in Qincheng—but now, with the situation dire and hundreds of kilometers separating the two regions, reestablishing contact would be difficult.

As fellow humans, if Zhengdao Society's development philosophy was truly healthy and genuinely capable of creating a comfortable survival environment, Zhang Su felt conflicted—relieved, yet also a faint sense of irritation.

Unconsciously, his mindset had changed: from a small survival team of two or three, gradually growing into a group, then becoming the leader of four or five hundred people, earning respect and flattery from his subordinates—his achievements were truly forged by his own hands. To give it up…

It wasn't that he was reluctant—he was truly, deeply reluctant!

"Power really is a wonderful thing—addictive as hell."

Zhang Su wasn't the type to act without owning up—he knew his inner changes clearly.

"Bah, why think so much? Such needless worry!"

He comforted himself: judging from the information he'd received, Zhengdao Society was indeed massive, but Tianma Island's development was also going well. Rather than worrying about other factions' infiltration and erosion, the real challenges now were the rabid zombies and the monstrous, ox-strong giants!

"We need to update our methods for dealing with zombies—if Xiao Chen's special condition becomes common and can be controlled…"

"What the hell is that thing at sea? Fu's lab… no one's been there, right?"

"Tianma Island's energy system needs upgrading…"

"Hey, honey, what's going on with Xiao Chen? What did you two talk about?"

Zhang Su was lost in wild daydreams when a voice suddenly came from behind, startling him.

"Holy shit, weren't you asleep?"

He'd heard Zheng Xinyu breathing steadily and assumed she was asleep.

"I drifted off half-asleep, but then I remembered Xiao Chen called you away—I knew something was off with him. Can't you tell me? What did you two talk about?"

Zheng Xinyu turned over, slipped instantly into Zhang Su's quilt, and lifted her leg straight onto his stomach.

Zhang Su stared at the ceiling's stains, thought for a moment, then whispered: "He's got some physical issues…"

"Oh no, he's not turning into a zombie, is he?" Zheng Xinyu asked anxiously—this concern had nothing to do with romance, only pure care for a companion.

Zhang Su pressed his lips together, speaking low and steady: "No signs of zombification. Instead, he's gained powers that don't belong to him. From past experience, every rainfall affects him. How it'll develop later—hard to say…"

"Could these strange phenomena be tied to the timing of when he was first bitten?"

Zheng Xinyu pressed curiously.

"For now, that's the only conclusion we can draw—the timing was indeed suspicious. If we could find another similar case, we'd have a reference—but we haven't… Hey, don't tell anyone about this!"

"When have I ever spread gossip? Don't worry—I'll keep it locked tight!"

"I trust you…"

Zhang Su nodded—he shared this with Zheng Xinyu precisely because she kept secrets, and he also valued her predictions and analysis as useful references.

"Hey, honey, if Xiao Chen really does turn into a zombie, will he become one of those humanoid zombies—super strong like a zombie, yet still keeps his mind? Heehee, like that guy we met in the Qinglong Army?"

Zheng Xinyu fell silent for a moment, then suddenly had a wild idea.

Zhang Su turned his body, looked at Zheng Xinyu seriously, and said with exasperation: "Hope for the best for Chen Hanzhou…"

"I didn't say anything bad! I really think it'd be kind of cool if he did…"

"Cough cough cough… Hss! You call that 'cool'?" In the restaurant next to the sour cabbage fish place, Chen Hanzhou held a cigar between his fingers, coughing violently—his still-healing ribs throbbed.

Earlier, Pan Guoliang had given Chen Hanzhou a cigar, telling him it was a great thing—good for pain relief and calming the mind…

"You don't get it! Here, let me show you!" Pan Guoliang took the cigar from Chen Hanzhou, took a deep drag, let the smoke swirl in his mouth, then slowly exhaled.

"See? This isn't smoke—you don't inhale it into your lungs, you're not crazy! Try again…"

"No no no, don't torture me…" Chen Hanzhou waved his hands frantically.

"Not smoking?" Pan Guoliang's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Fine, then—tell me, when you fought earlier, how did you suddenly get so damn strong? Any secret?"

"No secret—practice more if you're weak! Gotta go to the bathroom…"

Saying that, Chen Hanzhou stood up, clutching his abdomen, eager to drop the topic.

Many couldn't sleep. On the rooftop of the air-conditioned room atop the Lègòu Mall, Wang Xin and Zhang Ya wore thick clothes, back-to-back forming a Kappa logo—one facing southeast, the other northwest, chatting under the night sky.

"What did you used to do for work? You always say programmers are boring—is that really true?" Zhang Ya hugged her rifle. Lovers' hearts burned even in minus twenty-degree cold—this topic had been discussed many times before, but their past lives were so nostalgic, they loved revisiting them from every angle.

"That's just a stereotype. Yes, our work is boring, but we ourselves aren't boring—we live rich lives. Constantly online, we get first-hand info. We see all the gossip before anyone else. The stuff you talk about? Just the leftovers we've already consumed!"

Wang Xin spoke cheerfully, his face glowing with happiness. Being on duty with his lover felt warm, yet he didn't forget his real job—his gaze swept the distance, occasionally shining his long-range flashlight.

"Sigh… now we don't even have leftovers…"

Wang Xin's joke didn't lift Zhang Ya's spirits. She sighed deeply, slapped the icy rooftop, full of nostalgia.

"I never told you—I used to work here for a while, about five or six years ago. Back then, I was a sales assistant at a clothing store. I'd just arrived in Qincheng—it was my second job.

I was so energetic then—running after customers, dragging piles of clothes for them to try on, just to sell one more piece. Then I got paid: 1, 00 yuan. Couldn't even afford a bottle of face cream. Now I think about it—those hard days felt incredibly happy…"

"Now it's not bad either—no need to moisturize anymore, haha, back to nature. But it's a bit dry. If you can, still take care of yourself."

Wang Xin touched his icy cheek—it was truly chapped.

"Yeah, dry… hey, Xiao Ya, what's wrong?" After rubbing his face for a while, Wang Xin noticed Zhang Ya hadn't spoken—he could feel her mood had dipped.

"Xin Xin… do we still have hope?"

Zhang Ya lowered her head, burying it between her knees—as if that made her safer.

Wang Xin pressed his lips, then suddenly grinned: "What kind of talk is that? Of course we have hope—we're together, safe and sound. You think I'd cheat on you? Or are you afraid I'll cheat on you? I didn't go out at night, you know!"

"You know what I mean. Don't dodge."

Zhang Ya wasn't in the mood for jokes. After the terrifying events of the afternoon, she remained uneasy.

Wang Xin inhaled the freezing air, flicked his cigarette butt away, and looked up at the ink-black sky. "Zombies are getting stronger, and so are we. Don't be so pessimistic—that's not like you. Snap out of it!"

As he spoke, Wang Xin stood up, bounced a little, then grinned mischievously, bent over, and climbed onto Zhang Ya's back, whispering: "Xiao Ya, look at this view—no one comes here. Let's… unlock a new map?"

Zhang Ya didn't respond, her face dark with exasperation: "It's this cold—what kind of dream are you having?"

"How's it a dream? I'm wide awake, hehe…"

"You're dreaming!"

Meanwhile, discussing dreams, the atmosphere between Yu Wen and Zhao Decol was far more tense.

"If it weren't for today's snowfall, things were getting better—I'd have no objection, even support, if you and Qingqing had a child. But under these conditions, I absolutely refuse!"

Coincidentally, Wang Xin and Zhao Decol both dreamed the same thing—but with a difference: one hadn't considered having a child, the other wanted one desperately…

When Zhao Decol subtly revealed his idea to Yu Wen, he was immediately scolded severely.

"I just… hehe, I didn't mean anything—I just…"

"From a human perspective, procreation is every survivor's unavoidable duty. But I don't want Qingqing to risk it. You can call me selfish, narrow-minded—I'm just warning you: when the future is unclear, don't do irrational things!"

Yu Wen had been half-reclining, but now sat upright, agitated.

"Got it, got it, Uncle. Don't worry—I won't be reckless. Qingqing won't either, I promise."

Zhao Decol deeply regretted bringing this up—he'd been stupid, and now got scolded.

"I'm sure Qingqing won't agree to such a risky request, right?"

Yu Wen asked.

"Mm…"

Zhao Decol nodded gloomily. Qingqing had indeed refused—that's why he came to Yu Wen, hoping he'd help persuade her. After all, being a grandfather had some appeal—but he hadn't expected such rationality.

Yu Wen softened his tone: "Xiao Zhao, your growth is obvious to all of us, and I'm very pleased. Qingqing often tells me about your progress—this is undeniable. But this… doesn't change the bigger picture. Look at what happened this afternoon… never mind that!"

The events of the afternoon had deeply shaken everyone left at Lègòu Mall—the sensation of touching death was hard to bear.

After a moment of silence, Yu Wen spoke again, earnestly: "I won't talk about anything else—I'll just say one thing. Remember this…"

Zhao Decol sensed his father-in-law's tone had turned serious—he immediately focused. "Yes, Uncle, I'm listening. I'll remember."

"First, I state my position: I hope to become a grandfather in my lifetime. But I absolutely won't let you risk it. Remember this: when Xinyu and Xiaoshan get pregnant, then you and Qingqing can… you understand?"

Knowing Zhang Su well, Yu Wen knew his decisions were the true barometer—only when Zhang Su decided to continue the bloodline would it be a stable foundation, for he'd make every effort to ensure stability.

Zhao Decol suddenly understood, slowly nodding: "I get it. I understand!"

Did you all understand?

In another restaurant, Pang Dakun held a lock core and was explaining lock-picking techniques to Wu Lue and Qi Xiaoshuai.

"Watching isn't enough—I think this requires practice!"

Qi Xiaoshuai rubbed his nose, took the lock core from Pang Dakun, and fiddled with it, feeling nothing—clearly, he wasn't cut out for this.

Wu Lue chuckled slyly, his eyes glazed like a lovesick fool: "I agree—only practice reveals true knowledge. After watching so many masters' work, tonight's practice finally showed me just how amazing it is—ah, life isn't wasted, I'd love to do it again."

Qi Xiaoshuai and Pang Dakun exchanged a glance—they realized this guy hadn't been thinking about lock-picking at all, but about keys sliding into keyholes.

"Brother Wu, I know I'm a few years younger than you, but I've got to warn you—some things, we can't go too far. My master once told me: there are oxen that die from overwork, but never fields ruined by plowing. We're draining ourselves too much every day—you mustn't go again!"

Pang Dakun spoke with the solemnity of an old man, earnestly scolding Wu Lue, making Qi Xiaoshuai snicker beside him.

"You little bird, scram, scram! I heard you finish in under three minutes—how dare you lecture me? I'm a first-timer too, but I held out for a full five minutes! What's wrong with doing it a few more times? I'm strong and healthy—do you think they'll suck me dry?"

Wu Lue straightened his back and patted his chest defiantly.

He had indeed grown much stronger since the disaster began—his dark circles were gone, his gaunt frame had filled out, and his entire spirit was vibrant! Qi Xiaoshuai waved his hand: "Luezi, don't bluff. You still need basic self-control. Sure, our bodies are good, but honestly? If those big sisters locked onto you just now, three of you wouldn't be enough. When you face zombies and your legs start shaking, look how Brother Zhang Su will cut you down!"

At this key point, Wu Lue's face twitched. He stopped boasting, forced a laugh, and muttered sullenly: "We were just talking big—no way we'd actually do it multiple times. At most once, just once—I won't let my legs give out!"

"You're serious? You're still going?"

Seeing Wu Lue's lingering hunger, Qi Xiaoshuai knew exactly what he planned.

"First taste, can't let go—just once. Let's go together. This chance won't come again—we leave tomorrow for Civilization Guard, then head back to Tianma Yu. There won't be conditions like this anymore!"

Wu Lue was too nervous to go down alone and wanted to drag Qi Xiaoshuai and Pang Dakun with him.

Qi Xiaoshuai glanced sideways at the pitch-black mall, hearing occasional whispers and coughs. He chuckled and waved his hand: "I'm tired—I'm not going. Hehehe…"

Pang Dakun was even more direct—he dropped the lock core on the floor and said: "Brother Wu, you can't go. If you do, I'll tell Uncle."

(End of Chapter)