"Fellow survivors, at 8 PM sharp, the China Anti-Biochemical Command Center will broadcast the latest updates. Please ensure your surroundings are secure, wear headphones or keep the volume low to avoid attracting biochemical infected, repeat, wear headphones or keep the volume low..."
...
"This is China Anti-Biochemical Radio, broadcasting the latest news.
First, research reports on biochemical infected and the C-type mutant virus.
One, today, the National Biochemical Research Group found that the mutant virus within biochemical infected is evolving at an accelerated pace. Current observations indicate that major organs in most biochemical infected individuals used for research are undergoing changes. However, as these changes are not yet significant, the final evolutionary direction remains unknown and requires further study.
Two, according to the latest research, individuals first infected with immunity are experiencing physical changes. Fungal spores within the body are being absorbed at an accelerated rate by the human body. Known effects include a slight increase in strength, a slight increase in appetite, a slight enhancement of metabolic capacity, or self-healing abilities, and improved eyesight. The peak of this increase cannot yet be determined and requires further research. Preliminary judgment suggests the enhancement is limited.
Three, research indicates that tap water and external water sources in cities, as long as they do not show abnormalities such as blackening, foreign objects, white flocculent matter, or floating corpses, can be used for external cleaning and will not cause infection. However, we still advise survivors to use boiled water when conditions permit, to prevent infection from other pathogens.
In light of this, we issue a warning to everyone: do not face one or more biochemical infected without any precautions, even with enhanced physical fitness. This is an extremely dangerous act. Do not panic about increased appetite; ensure daily energy intake, and appropriately increase exercise intensity and daily food consumption if conditions allow.
We encourage survivors to venture out, use their intelligence to combat biochemical infected, obtain more resources, and find more survivors. In this crisis-ridden doomsday, unity is strength!
Here, major safe zones issue a warning to survivors in dangerous zones and biochemical infected zones: as long as others do not threaten your survival or that of your companions, do not engage in bullying or actions that endanger others. Any verified offenses will be dealt with severely!
Next, we will broadcast the construction progress and routes of major safe zones...
"
Warnings?
Alas, in the current situation, these can only serve a psychological purpose.
Lin Yuan listened to the rest of the content, but it was all irrelevant, at least for them who were in an infected zone.
Based on the known information, things seemed to be developing for the worse.
The virus in the zombies was mutating at an accelerated rate, and its final form was unknown. However, it shouldn't evolve into super monsters like Lickers or Tyrants from biohazard movies.
Apart from human intervention, natural evolution would not produce such buggy species. If there were any, they would only be a few individuals, not in large numbers.
Thinking this, Lin Yuan couldn't help but indulge in conspiracy theories. Perhaps some company in a beautiful country was doing the same thing as the Umbrella Corporation in the biohazard movies.
Such wandering thoughts only lasted a few minutes. After all, even if such a thing were true, it had nothing to do with him, an ordinary citizen.
After finishing his internal world war, Lin Yuan went about his business.
He wiped the bowl clean as usual. To his surprise, the cat ate very cleanly, basically not needing him to wipe anything.
Strange, weren't cats said to make a mess everywhere when they eat, getting food all over themselves? This cat could be crowned a model of the "clean plate campaign" among felines.
Next, he planned to use his free time to do some light exercise to aid digestion.
Suddenly, Lin Yuan had a whim. He used the spare pillows, unused clothes, and wooden strips and iron wire from the utility room to make a simulated dummy for practicing his knife skills.
It was called a simulated dummy, but it was essentially a scarecrow, without even arms. Initially, he practiced with an ordinary fruit knife, focusing on accuracy and precision.
According to the explanations in the bayonet fighting techniques, specifically for daggers, there were three most vulnerable points on the human skull. First, the crown of the head. As a person grows, the skull gradually fuses, and the crown is the last place to seal, being thin, even with gaps. Second, the temples. The bone thickness in the temple area is also relatively thin. Third, the back of the head, which is the part the skull cannot protect.
The temples were relatively difficult to target, and the back of the head was hard to reach. Thus, Lin Yuan made two markings on the "head" made of the pillow: the crown of the head and the neck. Holding the knife in a reverse grip with his right hand, he practiced stabbing the crown. With a regular grip, he practiced stabbing the neck.
Comparing the text and graphical movements of the stabbing techniques, after practicing for a while, Lin Yuan gradually grasped some basics. To better simulate combat situations, Lin Yuan also wore the somewhat tight tactical gloves and continuously practiced stabbing. When he got tired, he would rest, using a rubber mallet to beat his muscles to prevent excessive lactic acid accumulation from affecting his actions the next day.
He practiced like this for about two hours. His stabbing accuracy had improved significantly, but Lin Yuan knew this was just a temporary feeling. To maintain accuracy consistently, long-term practice and actual combat were necessary.
After relaxing his muscles, he checked his phone. There was still no news. Major apps no longer sent advertising messages as usual. Only 6 people were online. Besides his parents and Wang Xiaoxin, he was not familiar with the other 3. He only knew a little: one was a female student trapped in a dormitory building at university. The remaining two were at home, one in the countryside and one in the city. Apart from the initial greetings, they hadn't contacted Lin Yuan, nor had Lin Yuan sought them out for a chat. They were probably busy surviving and didn't have time to talk to him.
17:06
Wang Xiaoxin: Picture.jpg
Wang Xiaoxin: It's drying quite well. Bring it inside and air it out.
Lin Yuan took a look. Good heavens, it was indeed the sun of Chongqing. After an afternoon of sun exposure and wind, the jerky had initially taken shape. Now, it just needed to dry completely.
22:03
Lin Yuan: Just finished practicing knives. You hung the meat out to dry, and it wasn't eaten by birds?
The girl clearly hadn't slept yet and replied quickly.
22:05
Wang Xiaoxin: I just washed the bowls. I didn't see any birds flying. Besides, I'm on the 32nd floor. Why would those birds fly so high for no reason? It's not like there are no insects to eat. Most of them are concentrated on the lower and middle floors. Even if there were birds, it's fine. This meat will spoil anyway if left out, so whatever can be dried is good.
That makes sense!
High floors do have their advantages.
My 11th floor is considered a high floor, hahaha.
Lin Yuan then discussed with her how to deal with the zombies at her door tomorrow, what kind of traps would be best for the stairwell, what offensive methods would not put them in a passive position, whether the feinting tactic was feasible, and so on. They chatted until past eleven o'clock.
After bidding his parents goodnight, he fell asleep.
At 4 AM, before dawn, Lin Yuan was woken up by his alarm. This was set specifically to allow time for defrosting and marinating.
He sat on the bed for a while, ignoring the Siamese cat energetically playing with a ball of yarn. He got up, got dressed. His body was a bit sore, but it didn't affect his actions. He took out all the frozen meat from the freezer to defrost. The weather was hot, so it would take at most an hour to defrost, but Lin Yuan couldn't wait. He boiled water and used it to defrost the meat. While the water was boiling, Lin Yuan began to mix seasonings: five-spice powder, star anise, chili, Sichuan pepper, dark soy sauce, and light soy sauce.
He worked until five o'clock, and it was almost dawn when he finished cutting the meat into strips and marinating it. After waiting for 20 minutes, it would be ready for braising.
Although the electric pressure cooker was not small, even the defrosted meat weighed around 27 catties. One pot would not be enough; he could only divide it into three batches to barely fit it all.
He added water and the remaining braising spice packets, then put in the marinated meat strips. The rest would be left to time.
He glanced at his phone. It was just past 5:23 AM. It was too early. He planned to catch up on sleep but was still worried about the meat cooking in the pot. So, he sat on the balcony, looking out the window, enjoying the morning breeze, playing with the cat, and reading about combat techniques.
As he watched, something scorched landed on his hand, then was blown away by the wind, turning into dust in the air.
This was not the end. More and more ashes drifted over. In the faint morning light, Lin Yuan saw that the sky looked like it was snowing, with ash particles everywhere.
Where did all this come from? Had somewhere caught fire?
It wasn't completely light yet, and he only knew the smoke was coming from the left. The living room balcony didn't offer a complete view, so he had to go to his parents' bedroom. Some ashes had already blown into the bedroom.
Looking out the window, he saw that a part of the old city across the moat was on fire, and the flames were intense. However, there were no firefighters around to put out the fire. He didn't know what the consequences would be.
Lin Yuan was powerless and could only silently pray that the fire would not spread further.