After emerging from the convenience store, Liu Liu didn't rush to escape towards the outside immediately. Instead, she first surveyed her surroundings.
Confirming that the area was safe, she cautiously poked her head out.
She looked towards the place where the zombies were gathered, a hidden thought arising in her heart. For some reason, she found herself walking in that direction.
Liu Liu's reasoning was simple: someone who would use a bomb at a time like this was likely not an ordinary person.
She thought that if she could go there and act opportunistically, it would be better than wandering around aimlessly like a headless fly.
With this in mind, Liu Liu gathered her courage and quietly followed behind the zombies.
When she came out, she had gone to a nearby garbage disposal station and found a plastic sheet used for wrapping trash. She endured the unpleasant smell and draped the foul-smelling cloth over herself.
Although she smelled terrible now, the effect was quite significant.
A zombie suddenly appeared from Liu Liu's right side, but as it passed by her, it even detoured as if disgusted.
Liu Liu's body stiffened for a moment as she sensed the zombie's presence.
But after realizing the zombie had left on its own, she found it rather amusing.
Liu Liu inwardly lamented, "Even the zombies would shake their heads at me now."
However, it was precisely because of this disguise that Liu Liu managed to reach the small building where Xu An was located.
Unfortunately, there were far too many zombies surrounding the building.
After observing for a while, Liu Liu finally found a place to hide in a very narrow gap.
Liu Liu was from the south and had a petite build, making her perfect for hiding there. Even if discovered, the zombies wouldn't be able to squeeze in for a while.
This gap was not only strategically placed but also very low.
The bodies of zombies, after changing, did not possess the same flexibility in their joints as humans, allowing them to climb up and down with ease.
After crawling inside, Liu Liu used the foul-smelling cloth to block the entrance, adding an extra layer of security.
After a day of struggling, she was utterly exhausted.
Before long, she fell into a deep sleep.
In the morning, Liu Liu was awakened by the howling of zombies.
After a night of immersion, Liu Liu had completely adapted to the stench and could breathe normally.
Liu Liu lifted a corner of the plastic sheet, and from her vantage point, she could see the activity in Xu An's building.
It was precisely then that Liu Liu saw people on the opposite building, two women in fact. Due to the distance, Liu Liu couldn't discern their faces clearly.
However, she could clearly see the tent and the campfire erected on their rooftop.
Liu Liu, who studied weapon manufacturing, immediately noticed the firearms holstered at the women's waists.
Her heart couldn't help but rejoice. Seeing the guns, Liu Liu knew they were safe. These two women were definitely not the type to just pose with guns; they were capable.
Liu Liu had been contemplating whether to approach them if the people who appeared were all men.
After all, in this peculiar situation, human nature was the most unreliable thing.
She didn't want to be treated like a rag to be used and discarded for a mere, uncertain chance of survival.
Now that she realized the opposing group was just a small team of two women, Liu Liu's intentions became more active.
She was not someone who could not defend herself. As long as she had a suitable weapon, she could at least ensure her own safety.
Meanwhile, Xu An and Zhou Haimei had already woken up and were preparing breakfast, completely unaware that they had been targeted by a young girl not far away.
"Are we still waiting here today, or are we planning to go down?" Zhou Haimei asked, sipping her milk and biting into a piece of bread.
Zhou Haimei noticed that all the food Xu An took out, regardless of what it was, was not produced by the Lighthouse. Almost all of it was from brands and dates pre-apocalypse.
Yet, when taken out to eat, none of the food had spoiled or had a strange texture.
Once, when they were on land, Xu An even produced a can of fruit. The production date clearly indicated it was over a year past expiration, but upon opening, the contents were not spoiled at all.
Zhou Haimei was naturally curious, and Xu An could only offer an awkward smile, attributing it to preservatives.
But Zhou Haimei knew it wasn't just preservatives.
Xu An stood up, walked to the edge of the balcony, and looked at the zombies below, who were still howling and flailing their limbs.
"We can't stay here forever, but we still need to deal with these things below. I've surveyed the surroundings; the floors are too high, making it difficult for us to move between them."
Zhou Haimei quickly finished her breakfast and stood up, dusting herself off.
"Are we using bombs again?"
This was something they had discussed the previous day.
Xu An nodded. "Let's blow them up, consider it doing a good deed."
"But we need to gather all these zombies in one spot, and we need to move to the building across the way. This building is too short, and this balcony isn't that sturdy. If the explosion affects us here, we'll be like sheep thrown to the wolves."
As she spoke, Xu An casually pointed to a sturdier-looking tall building nearby.
When Zhou Haimei saw that building, her eyes showed a momentary hesitation.
"But how will we get across?"
Xu An, however, smiled. "Don't worry, leave it to me."
With that, Xu An retrieved the climbing rope she had prepared beforehand. She then searched the balcony for a while until she found a stone that looked quite heavy.
She tied one end of the rope securely to the stone, ensuring it wouldn't slip off. For extra security, Xu An added a stainless steel rod.
After completing these preparations, Xu An forcefully threw the climbing rope towards a gap she had already scouted.
It had to be said, Xu An's aim was truly excellent; the rope landed perfectly in the gap.
Xu An then proceeded to wrap the other end of the rope around a pillar behind her.
After tying it securely with several loops, she let go.
She tugged forcefully on the rope a few times to ensure its safety.
"This is it. After we throw the bombs, we can climb across. By the time this side is mostly detonated, we'll have already reached the other building."
Zhou Haimei, who had watched Xu An busy herself the entire time, was stunned.
"Did you plan this all along? An'an, sometimes I suspect you have foresight. How do you have every tool on you?"