Chapter 16: Escape Route 1

Thank God!

They had finally made it out. Song Kexin breathed a long sigh of relief and excitedly squeezed Song You’ai’s left hand. "Auntie, are you and my sister okay?"

"We’re fine, we’re fine." Song You’ai handed a long-handled kitchen knife directly to her and patted Song Kexin on the shoulder. "Kexin, take this for self-defense. Later, we’ll learn how to kill zombies with Xiao Ning."

"We need to toughen up fast. Look, your sister—an artsy girl—is already killing zombies. There’s no way we can’t do it too, right?" Song You’ai added encouragingly.

Over on the side, Xie Ning glanced back at the supermarket, then tugged at them. "Come on, let’s go! We can talk on the road."

"What’s this little truck for?" Song Kexin started to ask, but Xie Ning pushed her into the minivan with one hand.

Song You’ai, despite her plump figure, was surprisingly agile. She quickly hopped into the small box truck and followed right behind Xie Ning’s minivan. The two vehicles drove off, one after the other.

Song Kexin reached out and touched Xie Ning’s forehead, her eyes lighting up with relief. "Sis, you don’t feel as hot anymore."

"Yeah, my vision is a lot clearer. Don’t worry. Your sister is hard to kill."

Xie Ning floored the accelerator, driving straight out of the Ai Jia Supermarket gates. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw two burly men on the roadside frantically waving for them to stop, looking like they were about to rush forward and force the issue.

Xie Ning paid them no mind and sped away without a backward glance.

Song Kexin glanced back worriedly at the box truck following them.

She breathed a small sigh of relief when she saw her aunt speed up and catch up.

"So, where are we going?"

"The Song Family Pavilion."

"Grandma and Grandpa’s place?" Song Kexin sat up straight. "Hasn’t their area been contaminated by the virus?"

"The virus is indiscriminate. The entire world has been contaminated. So what do you think?"

Xie Ning glanced at Song Kexin. "But the countryside is wide-open and sparsely populated."

Compared to the crowded city, the Song Family Pavilion was the best option they had.

"Will the government help us?"

"They will," Xie Ning nodded firmly.

’If I remember correctly, the survivors in the Song Family Pavilion area were evacuated to a safe zone relatively early on, around the tenth day after the apocalypse began.’

"Okay, Sis. We’ll listen to you."

Xie Ning gave a slight nod, just as an out-of-place GRUMBLE echoed from Song Kexin’s stomach.

"You should eat something."

"I can hold out," Song Kexin said, a little embarrassed. "Food is scarce. We should save it."

"It’s okay." Xie Ning reached out and ruffled the girl’s messy hair. "Have some crackers to tide you over."

Song Kexin rubbed her growling stomach, then pulled a pack of chocolate cookies from her backpack. She took two bites before holding the package out to Xie Ning.

The car continued on its way out of the bustling downtown district.

They passed three pharmacies on the way. Each time, Xie Ning would jump out and, moving as quickly as possible, scavenge some common medicines, stuffing them all into the large black duffel bag.

The original contents of the bag—rice, flour, cooking oil, and other staples—were now piled high on the back seat.

Once out of the city proper, the trip via the elevated highway would normally take just over half an hour.

But Xie Ning knew it was too risky now. If the highway was completely gridlocked, it would be impassable, and turning around would be a nightmare.

"Let’s take Xishan Road." It was twenty minutes slower, but the safer bet.

The two vehicles were driving steadily in a line when an SUV suddenly swerved erratically from the opposite lane. With a loud BANG, it collided with Xie Ning’s minivan.

Xie Ning wrenched the steering wheel, swerving hard.