023 The First Sign of a Supernatural Ability

Shen Shiwei was in the restroom again, scrubbing her entire body with a full pack of disinfectant wipes.

When she emerged, her gaze had become exceptionally firm. "I want to go find supplies."

Shen Heng found this sudden shift in her attitude baffling. "Weiwei, what’s gotten into you?"

Shen Shiwei replied calmly, "I’ve just found a new goal, that’s all."

She seemed to have matured in an instant. Shen Heng’s expression softened, watching her with the gentle, protective look of an aging father.

Lu Sui’s intention in all this had merely been to curb Shen Shiwei’s willfulness. Eventually, under her insistent urging, he led them to the supply storage area on the fourth basement level.

There was a cold storage unit there—a spacious room stocked with enough food to sustain nearly a hundred people for half a year—as well as a warehouse filled mostly with dry rations and bottled water.

Lu Sui and Song Yingjun headed to the fifth basement level to retrieve weapons, while Shen Shiwei and the others went to the fourth.

As soon as they descended, the mouse in Wei Qing’s pocket began to stir restlessly.

"It stinks, it stinks! Help me, I’m going to be suffocated by this stench!"

Knowing they shouldn't linger, Shen Shiwei told Shen Heng, "Let’s quickly move some food and water upstairs."

"Right."

Opening the warehouse, they found it still fully stocked. Water, in particular, lined an entire wall, along with five or six dozen 10-liter jugs.

Shen Shiwei’s eyes lit up. "Brother, hurry and move these."

Wei Qing immediately hoisted two cases of compressed biscuits. Shen Heng, possessing strength far beyond the ordinary, carried three cases of biscuits while effortlessly lifting a 10-liter jug of water in his other hand. Wei Qing blinked, looking from Shen Heng to himself, feeling a sudden sense of inferiority.

Shen Shiwei told them to go on ahead. Once they were gone, she turned and swept all the supplies in the warehouse into her space. That wasn't enough; she opened the cold storage unit and cleared out all the frozen meat as well. Although she wouldn't eat the frozen meat herself, there was no harm in taking it—who knew when it might come in handy!

With everything cleared, she closed the doors to the storage rooms and headed down to the fifth basement level. Lu Sui and Song Yingjun had already taken a crate of weapons and left. Shen Shiwei walked in, glanced around, and immediately tucked several handguns and two boxes of ammunition into her space.

Feeling the space filled with supplies, she was immensely satisfied.

"What are you doing here?"

The sudden voice startled her. She turned to see Lu Sui standing behind her, his posture tall and imposing, providing a profound sense of security.

"I... I was just looking around."

"Let’s go." Lu Sui, carrying a crate of weapons, gestured for Shen Shiwei to walk ahead of him.

As they reached the fourth basement level, Shen Shiwei was hit by an intense, putrid stench. She grabbed Lu Sui’s hand and hurried toward the stairs.

"What’s wrong?"

"Can’t you smell that?"

When they reached the landing of the third basement level, Shen Shiwei stopped for some reason, glancing through the glass door. Wei Qing and the others had just come down. The door at the end of the corridor was shaking. At the same time, the mouse in Wei Qing’s pocket grew increasingly frantic.

Sensing something was wrong, Lu Sui shouted, "Hurry up!"

Hearing the command, Song Yingjun moved aside, letting Wei Qing and Shen Heng run up first. Shen Shiwei was slower, so Lu Sui bent down, hoisted her onto his back, and took the stairs in long, rapid strides.

Seconds later, the locked door was breached. Countless zombies surged forward like a frenzy. Those in front were trampled by the wave behind them, their feet never stopping. They slammed against the glass door, and in the chaos, they accidentally triggered the electronic lock, causing the door to slide open. The horde poured out, moving with terrifying speed toward their targets.

Upon reaching the first floor, Lu Sui set Shen Shiwei down. "Get to the car, quickly!"

"But..." Song Yingjun looked at the crates sitting in the center of the lobby, appearing reluctant.

Lu Sui replied, "We can find weapons anywhere."

Shen Heng said nothing; he simply shouldered two large boxes of ammunition and ran outside without stopping. By now, the zombies had caught up. Lu Sui, bringing up the rear, fired a few shots at the encroaching horde.

But these zombies were abnormal. They were swift, no longer just aimlessly pursuing; they dodged, and they targeted the weakest among them. Without exception, they were all dressed in military uniforms.

Lu Sui couldn't help but feel a moment of disorientation. The appearance of zombies didn't mean all hope was lost—they still had their country, their organizations, and their army.

But now, the zombies were appearing sporadically, and it wasn't just through bites; they were turning uncontrollably.

"Brother!"

Shen Shiwei was knocked to the ground by a zombie. Just as it was about to bite her leg, a transparent barrier suddenly materialized in front of her. No matter how the zombie pushed, it could not reach her.

Shen Shiwei stared ahead, unblinking. Wei Qing was gritting his teeth, reaching a hand toward her; a faint white light emanated from his palm.

*An ability?*

Shen Shiwei had no time to ponder this. She shouted to Wei Qing, "Watch out behind you!"

Wei Qing’s eyes widened, and he instinctively turned to shove away an attacking zombie. The barrier in front of Shen Shiwei vanished instantly.

Just then, Shen Heng rushed over, smashing the zombie away with a single punch. He quickly helped Shen Shiwei up. "Are you alright?"

Shen Shiwei’s face was pale, her mind reeling. "I'm... I'm okay."

More and more zombies swarmed in. Lu Sui threw a grenade toward the stairwell. A loud blast shattered a group of zombies, sending severed limbs flying.

Song Yingjun gunned down the closest ones. "Run outside!"

Shen Heng scooped up Shen Shiwei and sprinted into the blue tent, running toward the exit without looking back. Wei Qing followed, glancing back at the zombies periodically. Lu Sui and Song Yingjun retreated while firing. Once they ran out of ammunition, they pulled out combat knives for close-quarters fighting.

Their vehicle was parked on the roadside. Shen Heng helped Shen Shiwei inside, while he and Wei Qing stood by the car, peering back anxiously.

"Should we go help them?" Shen Heng asked, torn.

Wei Qing looked down at his own hands. What was that earlier? It seemed he could stop the zombies.

"It’s an ability!" Shen Shiwei poked her head out and told Wei Qing, "It felt like a barrier—it can protect people."

Wei Qing clenched his fists. He didn't have time to overthink it. "I’m going to help. We wouldn't have made it this far without them."

With those words, he ran back in with determination. Shen Heng turned to Shen Shiwei. "Weiwei, wait here for your brother."