[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-zombie-apocalypse-creation":3,"chapter-zombie-apocalypse-creation-zombie-apocalypse-creation-chapter-576":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Zombie Apocalypse: Creation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1887532,2510,"Chapter 576 576: Story of A Refugee (12)","zombie-apocalypse-creation-chapter-576",576,"\u003Cp>The preparation for Changsha was surprisingly easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dad and I learned how to ride a motorbike after a day of trial and error. And we planned out our route beforehand using the map at the village leader's place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all the foods smoked and packed into cans and bottles filled with water, we hit the road with the two motorbikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After driving for a day around the outskirts of Nanyang, we stopped at a rest stop that had been abandoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, we hit the road again. Riding uninterrupted, as the highway was surprisingly empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no traffic, and all the abandoned cars had been shoved aside. Who did it? I wouldn't know. But we were more than happy to continue down the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything was just smooth sailing as we reached our second stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An abandoned gas station that we intended to fuel up at. Unforunately, none of the gas pumps were working, nor were there any spare gas cans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than continuing with our half-empty bikes, Dad and I decided to ride on our own for a bit, trying to find another nearby gas station that had gas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After adventuring deeper into Xiangyang, we finally found a gas station that had a spare gas can inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We weighed our options as several zombies stood outside. In the end, we went in gun blazing, shooting my precious ammo before rushing inside the store.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the gas can in hand, we bolted out back onto our bike, riding off into the sunset as we headed back to the abandoned gas station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loading the gas into the motorbike, we quickly realize we could make the journey in one single swoop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the next day arrived, it was exactly what we had attempted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We just kept on driving on the highway, flooring the gas as we sped down the empty road. Along the way, I noticed a few tank track marks on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It became clear to me that the reason for the emptiness was that, at some point, some sort of army had traveled on the same road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After half a day of driving, we finally made it out of Hubei and into Hunan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We could see a large sign that said Changsha is 70 miles away—just a few more hours from reaching our destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can we take a break for a bit? My butt hurts.\" My younger sister complained as we reached the skirt of Yueyang city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay, okay... Dad! Let's take a break soon.\" I yelled as I began to slow down my motorbike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay... How about that hotel over there?\" Dad yelled back as he pointed his finger into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we both began driving off the highway exit and towards the hotel pitstop, all five of us immediately noticed some human activity at the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lights were on inside, with barbed wire and wooden spikes blocking the front entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shit, should we look for somewhere else?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. Let's check and ask... They should know where that big settlement in Changsha is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I agreed with Dad's statement as the two of us hopped off our motorbike, parking it before the barbed wire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello? Anyone in there? I just wanted to ask a question!\" I yelled as the two of us waited outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After standing there for a few minutes, a man soon came out of the hotel. His rifle in hand immediately alerted both me and Dad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who the hell are you? Why are you here?\" The man yelled back as he stood behind a pillar, noticing the rifle I had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are refugees from the North. We just wanted to ask if there really is a big settlement at Changsha.\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Changsha? That's a city filled with zombies... You're probably looking for Zhongxiong's settlement. It's in Huarong County further south.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we hopped back onto the motorbike, I quickly took out the map before finding Huarong County to be south of Changsha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dad, do you think we can make it before the sun sets?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hell yeah. I ain't trying to sleep out here for one more day.\" My Dad answered as he started up his motorcycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's see then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the moon rose in the sky and the time reached nine, we finally reached Huarong County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the man had promised, there was indeed a big settlement, albeit much different from what we had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no large wall of any sort. Only fences and guard towers every few blocks away from each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive swarm of farmland was filled with crops, with even people still working on the land despite it being so late at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Driving closer and closer to the entrance, we were soon stopped by several army men armed with rifles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop right there. Drop your weapon and identify yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly dropped my rifle before hopping the five of us all hopped of our bikes. We all raised our hands before Dad spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are refugees from the North. We are just looking for a better life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Refugee... Then, where did you get this gun from?\" One of the soldiers questioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My son was a part of the army before we were forced to flee Pingdingshan.\" My Dad answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of the soldiers' eyes looked towards me for a second before they finally lowered their rifles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You must be a soldier after the outbreak, aren't you?\" A senior-looking soldier murmured as he picked up the rifle from the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded before he handed the rifle back into my hand. Patting me on the shoulder before signaling me to follow him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked over to Dad, who waved at me to just go. So I started following the senior soldier in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How's the situation in the North?\" The soldier asked as we entered some sort of military compound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I answer back with everything I know, from the Fujian soldiers to the collapse of Pingdingshan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's a shame... Anyway, do you want to continue being a soldier, or do you want to live a normal life?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the soldier turned around, my mind went blank. I never really thought of what I was going after arriving at the settlement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the hesitation on my face, he patted me on the back before handing me a piece of paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is your contract. You can come back to me if you want to join... Remember to return the rifle next week if you are planning to stay here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded as another soldier came in to lead me back out of the compound, meeting up with the rest of my family, who stood next to a soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello. I'm your guide. Think of me just being here to help you around. I'm Chun Lin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm Zhaoxun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next few days, we learned about all the different jobs and places in the villages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notice I used the word 'villages', not village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that Zhongxiong's settlement was a connection of villages all around Changsha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Chun Lin best put it, a strategy of \"surrounding the cities from the countryside\" of the 21st century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were eventually assigned the newer villages that they had secured. One that had a whole rural hospital after hearing my Dad's request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two motorbikes were also sold off to the army, landing us a hefty amount of money. Enough to buy a plot of land and new clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a brand new start—a fresh start for all five of us. There was even a school for my younger sister to attend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything was going great. Nothing could possibly ruin this moment for us... But there was one more thing I needed to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You sure you want to join the army?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded. I handed the signed contract over to the senior soldier before I strapped my rifle back to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't have anything else to do, sir,\" I answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You sure? How about your parent? Have you asked them about it? And how about that girlfriend of yours?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They are fine with it,\" I answered again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After checking the signature, the senior soldier puts the paper back into a drawer before handing me an insignia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome aboard, private. Private First Class Wang Ding will show you around.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was quickly led out of the compound, heading inside a vehicle before being driven off to a hilly road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, I could see more and more people working in the fields. Some even wore soldier uniforms with their rifles still strapped to their back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud sound quickly caught my attention, only to see a tractor flipping the rugged dirt over for farming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further into the distance, I could see a faint outline of a massive city. Almost twice as big as what I had ever seen in any part of my journey so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I soon learned it was the city that Zhongxiong's forces had been fighting for. The city that my family and I initially intended to head towards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city where I soon encountered the most painful memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Changsha.\u003C\u002Fp>",1531,"2026-06-10T06:59:52.732Z",1,"novelbin.me","2e6e5dc550294201a522a86c0950d02f8679975f7e7f5dcebd667a305dc29bee","zombie-apocalypse-creation-chapter-577","zombie-apocalypse-creation-chapter-575",829,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fzombie-apocalypse-creation-cover.jpg"]