Turning back was no longer an option. This area was far too dangerous to stop in, with the constant risk of falling rocks. It would be safer to leave as soon as possible.
After discussing it briefly, everyone agreed to keep moving forward.
Chen Qingzhou told Xia Tian that their vehicle was parked a little farther back and that he and Gu Nuan would go retrieve it, asking the others to wait where they were.
“How’s your stomach? Does it still hurt?” Chen Qingzhou asked as he helped Gu Nuan walk back.
“I’m fine now. It doesn’t hurt anymore. I took a miscarriage prevention pill earlier.”
After rounding a bend, Gu Nuan took the RV out of her System Space.
The moment Xia Tian saw it, his eyes widened in amazement.
“My goodness, your vehicle is incredible!”
He walked around it excitedly, touching it here and there in admiration.
Chen Qingzhou lowered the driver’s side window.
“Let’s get moving. I’ll lead the way.”
He handed over a large bag of food.
“Take these.”
As soon as they got into the RV, Chen Qingzhou had asked Gu Nuan to prepare a bag of food for Xia Tian and his companions. That way, they would no longer have to hide what they were eating in front of them.
“Thank you so much!”
Xia Tian accepted the food gratefully.
“Oh, by the way, I’m twenty nine this year. Since you said you’re both university students, that means you’re younger than me. From now on, I’ll call you Brother Qingzhou.”
He was genuinely moved.
In the Apocalypse, food was the most precious resource of all, yet Chen Qingzhou had generously given them so much.
“Sure.”
Chen Qingzhou smiled.
“Then I’ll call you Brother Tian. What about the two of them?”
“My name is Sun Zecheng. I’m twenty eight. Just call me Brother Cheng.”
The tall, thin man standing behind Xia Tian smiled.
“I’m Lu Qingshan.”
The dark skinned, stocky young man scratched the back of his head shyly.
“Heh… I’m twenty seven.”
“Brother Cheng, Brother Shan.”
Chen Qingzhou nodded politely.
“I’m Chen Qingzhou, twenty two years old. This is my wife, Gu Nuan. She’s twenty two as well.”
“We’re both university students. Our destination is Haicheng because my family is there. We’ll have somewhere to stay once we arrive.”
Gu Nuan also greeted them warmly.
“Alright.”
Xia Tian nodded.
“You lead the way and we’ll follow.”
“The three of us are all ability users. I’m an ice ability user, while both of them have earth abilities. Don’t worry, we’ll protect you.”
“I have a lightning ability.”
Chen Qingzhou replied,
“Just don’t drive too close together. There are plenty of zombies along this road, but being near the mountain is even more dangerous because rocks could fall at any time.”
“Understood.”
The three men climbed into their off-road vehicle.
The convoy slowly set off along the rugged mountain road.
As Chen Qingzhou drove, he remained constantly alert.
Suddenly, a group of zombies rushed out from the roadside, baring their claws as they charged towards the vehicles.
“Hold on tight!”
Chen Qingzhou shouted as he slammed down on the accelerator.
The RV shot forward while he simultaneously released his lightning ability, sending several bolts crashing into the zombie horde.
On the other side, Xia Tian raised both hands, launching sharp icicles that instantly froze the approaching zombies.
Meanwhile, Sun Zecheng and Lu Qingshan used their earth abilities to raise walls of soil, blocking the zombies attacking from the sides.
Gu Nuan tightly gripped the handrail, but she still found time to throw several homemade explosives out of the window.
Boom!
Several loud explosions rang out as zombies were blasted in every direction.
After eliminating the group, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
However, they had not travelled much farther before a deafening roar echoed through the mountains.
The mountainside collapsed.
Countless rocks tumbled down towards the road.
“Reverse!”
Chen Qingzhou shouted immediately.
Everyone quickly backed their vehicles away just in time, narrowly escaping disaster.
After surviving yet another close call, they became even more aware that every step of their journey through the Apocalypse was filled with unpredictable danger.
“This is bad.”
Chen Qingzhou got out to inspect the landslide.
“The road is completely blocked today. We won’t be able to get through. Let’s find somewhere to rest first.”
“I think we should head back.”
Xia Tian looked around before pointing towards a flat platform farther down the road.
“That open area is suitable for parking.”
“The road behind us has collapsed, and the landslide is blocking the way ahead. Once we’re parked there, nobody else will be able to reach us from either direction.”
“Alright.”
The group drove to the platform and settled down to rest, planning to wait until morning.
However, none of them had expected what happened that night.
A fierce blizzard suddenly swept in.
While sleeping, Chen Qingzhou felt Gu Nuan trembling violently in his arms.
He woke instantly.
Why was it so cold?
He pulled the blanket tightly around her before walking to the front of the RV and lifting the window shade.
His eyes widened. It was snowing.
No wonder the temperature had dropped so dramatically.
Because the two vehicles were parked close together, he could clearly see Xia Tian and the other two men curled up inside their vehicle, shivering uncontrollably.
His expression immediately changed.
This was bad. They didn’t have any winter clothing.
Chen Qingzhou gently shook Gu Nuan awake.
“Nuan Nuan… Nuan Nuan.”
“Mmm…”
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and instinctively pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
“What’s wrong, Qingzhou?”
“How is it this cold?”
“It’s snowing outside.”
Chen Qingzhou replied.
“We need to get some winter supplies out, and we have to prepare some for Xia Tian and the others too.”
“What?”
Gu Nuan immediately became fully awake.
“Quick.”
She opened the System Space and took out thick quilts, hand warmers, electric heaters, a small generator, cotton padded coats, winter boots, and several containers of hot water.
Carrying everything, Chen Qingzhou walked over and knocked on Xia Tian’s window.
“Brother Tian! Brother Tian! Wake up! It’s snowing outside! I’ve brought supplies.”
Half asleep, Xia Tian vaguely heard someone calling him.
Forcing himself awake, he opened the door while shivering violently.
“Qing… Zhou…”
“Hurry and put this on.”
Chen Qingzhou stuffed a hand warmer into his hands while helping him into a padded coat.
“Brother Shan, Brother Cheng, wake up.”
Sun Zecheng and Lu Qingshan also woke up, their teeth chattering uncontrollably from the cold.
Chen Qingzhou quickly dressed them in warm clothing, gave each of them a hand warmer, started the generator, connected the electric heater, and poured them cups of warm water.
Gu Nuan had secretly mixed some of the System Space stream water into it.
Only after drinking did the three men finally begin to recover.
“Qingzhou…”
Xia Tian tightly grasped Chen Qingzhou’s hand.
“You’ve saved all three of our lives.”
“From now on, we’ll follow your lead.”
“I’m just glad you’re alright.”
Chen Qingzhou smiled.
“The snow won’t stop anytime soon, so we won’t be able to leave.”
“I’ve been thinking.”
“We should set up tents around the outside of the vehicles. It’ll help keep the warmth in.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Xia Tian nodded.
“But… where are we going to find tents?”
“I’ll get them.”
Chen Qingzhou smiled.
“We found several tents in the town we passed earlier.”
He returned to the RV, brought them out, and everyone worked together to set them up.
They secured each corner with large rocks, making sure the wind couldn’t blow them away.
“There.”
Chen Qingzhou attached two small bells between the windows of the tents.
“If anything happens, just ring the bell.”
“Alright.”
Xia Tian nodded gratefully.
“You should get some rest too.”
By now, he was deeply grateful to Chen Qingzhou.
Without him, the three of them would likely have frozen to death.
Before returning, Chen Qingzhou also brought them extra fuel for the generator.
When he climbed back into the RV, Gu Nuan had already found him a thick set of cotton pyjamas.
“Change into these.”
Chen Qingzhou looked down at himself, covered in snow.
He removed his overcoat, then his jacket, and finally his T-shirt, revealing his broad chest and well defined eight pack abs.
“Oh…”
Gu Nuan hurriedly covered her eyes.
“You…”
Chen Qingzhou chuckled.
“My wife has already seen every part of me. Why are you still so shy?”
“You…”
Gu Nuan immediately pulled the blanket over her head.
She was so adorable.
After quickly changing into the warm pyjamas, Chen Qingzhou climbed onto the bed and gently pulled the blanket away from her face.
“Come out now.”
“You’ll suffocate under there.”
Gu Nuan pouted as she looked at him.
“My wife is too cute.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace.
“This snow won’t stop anytime soon.”
“We’ll probably have to stay here for a while.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Gu Nuan rested against his chest, absentmindedly playing with the buttons on his pyjamas.
“We have more than enough supplies.”
“Oh, right.”
She suddenly looked up at him.
“I’ve been wondering about something.”
“You refused to team up with anyone before.”
“So why did you decide to travel with Xia Tian and the others?”
Chen Qingzhou smiled faintly.
“In my previous life, they were my subordinates.”
“Xia Tian once saved my life.”
“I never expected to meet them this early in this lifetime.”
His gaze drifted into the distance as memories resurfaced.
“I see.”
Gu Nuan nodded in understanding.
“No wonder you treated the three of them differently.”
Meanwhile, inside the other vehicle, the three men huddled together beside the heater.
“Brother Tian.”
Lu Qingshan spoke earnestly.
“Today was all thanks to Brother Qingzhou.”
“We have to repay him in the future.”
Lu Qingshan had always been a straightforward man who spoke his mind.
“Mmm.”
Xia Tian nodded firmly.
“You’re right.”
“We must properly repay our benefactors.”