Chapter 827 - 609: Underground Parking Garage, Spine-Chilling

But now that twilight is setting in, the sun’s rays have weakened considerably. The windows are shrouded in darkness, and without a flashlight, they can’t see anything in the stairwell.

The group descended quickly, but with extreme caution.

Just before they climbed upstairs, they had encountered three zombies on the first floor and didn’t have time to check for more.

They rushed downstairs, hearts filled with worry.

In less than five minutes, they descended from the 28th floor to the first floor.

The first floor was eerily silent, with only the sound of their footsteps breaking the stillness.

At the first-floor level, they slowed down significantly.

The five of them assumed a small circular formation, moving toward the main entrance.

A minute later.

They finally reached the entrance without incident.

"Dapao, go start the car," Li Yu said as he stood at the entrance.

As soon as he spoke, Dapao moved toward the corner of the parking lot.

When he reached the corner, for some unknown reason, he suddenly looked up and gazed into the underground parking lot.

A figure was quietly standing over there.

The underground parking lot was dimly lit; only a shadow could be seen.

Dapao focused, rubbed his eyes, and looked again.

The shadow had disappeared in an instant.

A chilling sensation ran down Dapao’s spine, from head to toe.

"Brother Yu, come here for a second," Dapao shouted to Li Yu.

Li Yu, hearing him, immediately ran over.

"Did you see someone?" Li Yu asked directly.

Dapao nodded, then shook his head and said, "I just saw a figure over there, but it quickly vanished. I don’t know if it was humans or zombies."

Upon hearing this, Li Yu’s eyes showed a hint of contemplation.

He said to Dapao and Dong Tai, "You two wait here. Third Uncle, Ju Tianrui, let’s go in and check it out."

He then ran inside, but after a few meters,

a chill of goosebumps rose all over his body; this sixth sense had kept him out of many dangers.

He stopped and didn’t proceed further inside.

The underground parking lot was pitch-black, with only the entrance illuminated by the setting sun.

The further in he went, the darker it became.

Li Yu stepped back slowly.

Behind him, Third Uncle’s eyes also turned serious, full of caution.

Ju Tianrui, oblivious to the peril, was about to step past Li Yu and rush inside.

Li Yu quickly stopped him, saying, "Don’t go in; there’s something inside. It’s not safe."

??

There’s something — he didn’t specify whether it’s human or zombie, only that there’s something.

So, Li Yu’s implication was the uncertainty of what’s inside.

Ju Tianrui couldn’t detect any of this, but seeing the serious expressions on Li Yu and Third Uncle’s faces made him anxious.

The fading sunlight cast eerie shadows over them as they stood by the underground passage.

"Let’s go," Li Yu said without hesitation, pulling Ju Tianrui away.

Third Uncle retreated as well.

Only when all three had returned to the surface did Li Yu feel the prickling sensation on his back vanish.

Dapao saw them come up and quickly asked, "Brother Yu, was it someone or something else down there?"

Li Yu shushed him and said to the group, "Get in the car, let’s leave first and talk later."

Everyone hurried to the car.

They were in the ground-level parking lot, and the spot Dapao chose was at the corner between the ground and underground sections, just outside the underground parking lot’s wall.

Li Yu reached the car but didn’t immediately get in. He crouched to check the chassis, then opened the trunk and hood.

Finding nothing amiss, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Third Uncle saw his actions and had a pensive look in his eyes.

Once in the car, Li Yu checked around thoroughly. Confirming everything was okay, he told Dapao, "Let’s go. Get out of here quick."

Dapao started the vehicle, asking no more questions, having noted the gravity on Li Yu’s face.

The car sped onto the main road, quickly leaving the area.

Three minutes later.

The building was no longer in sight.

Before Dapao could ask, Li Yu said, "I don’t know what’s in there, but I can sense the danger. I have a feeling going in would be troublesome."

"It’s too late now, let’s move on. We’ll revisit this when the main group arrives tomorrow. Besides, addressing Juzi Island’s issue is our top priority."

Then, turning to Third Uncle, Li Yu asked, "What were your impressions just now, Third Uncle?"

Third Uncle, reflecting on the earlier sensation, squinted and said, "It was violent, with a faint hint of murder."

Li Yu nodded. Earlier, he had caught a strange scent, unlike anything human.

Ju Tianrui listened quietly, feeling awkward.

He realized that in there, he failed to sense anything, foolishly ready to charge forward.

He couldn’t fathom why Li Yu and the others could perceive something while he could not.

This stirred a sense of inferiority within him.

Was he really just too weak?

But noticing the puzzled expressions on Dapao and Dong Tai’s faces brought him some solace.

Maybe it’s not about him being weak.

Maybe Li Yu and Third Uncle are just extraordinarily keen.

Racing against the sunset,

the car sped on,

Dapao navigating using the map, pushing the speed as much as possible.

The sun was setting slowly.

In this vast cityscape, occasional zombie growls could be heard.

After all, this was the city, where zombies abounded most.

And they were still in the city’s center.

They raced against the sunset, chasing it.

The sun dipped ever faster, with buildings behind no longer catching the light.

Soon,

in just over ten minutes, they had exited the city.

Looking ahead through the windshield, the sunlit forest and drifting mist laid ahead, with dappled sunlight dancing on the branches.

Behind them, the towering skyscrapers faded into darkness.

Li Yu’s eyes shone brightly, gripping his rifle tightly, lost in thought.

Five minutes later, the vehicle turned off the 320 county route.

At the intersection, they saw Xiao Jun standing anxiously awaiting at the crossroad.

Seeing Li Yu’s car approach, Xiao Jun’s face lit up with delight, waving vigorously.

Dapao drove in Xiao Jun’s direction.

Li Yu slowly lowered the car window.

"This way, follow me," Xiao Jun said to Li Yu.

By the roadside was a construction site, entirely encircled by blue iron panels.

But there was no way in through the crossroads.

Beside the crossroads was a small alley, into which they followed Xiao Jun.

After less than thirty meters, Xiao Jun stopped.

Leaning against the gate, he called inside, "Director Li and his group are back, open the gate."

The iron gate slowly opened, revealing Yang Tianlong and Wang Cheng as they saw the vehicle approaching.

"Come on in," Yang Tianlong urged.

The vehicle rolled through the gate.

Just after they entered,

Bam—

The iron gate was promptly closed by Yang Tianlong.

Beside the gate, there was a guard room.

Li Yu got out of the car, the sun having completely set, with only a faint afterglow allowing him to somewhat discern the surroundings.

This was an active construction site with two buildings under construction, barely a fifth completed.

Dust covered the various types of equipment scattered about, their functionality dubious after acid rain and high temperatures had likely taken a toll.

Yang Tianlong approached and said to Li Yu, "I was just about to contact you guys. As the sun set, I got worried sick with you all not back yet."

Li Yu took a cursory glance around the site, telling Yang Tianlong, "It’s a good spot you picked — large enough for our vehicles. And those iron panel walls — but have you searched the inside thoroughly?"

Yang Tianlong replied, "I’ve been guarding the gate since I arrived. I don’t know the exact inside conditions, but Tiezi and others went to check. There shouldn’t be any problems."

Li Yu nodded slightly, watching as the sky grew darker.

He slowly moved inward.

...