Everyone’s expressions were tense as they looked out the car windows at the streets that kept receding behind them—streets filled with ruin and deathly silence. Each person felt uneasy.
Cai Yan drove according to their original plan, heading toward the city outskirts.
Traffic was terrible. Cars were stalled, and many drivers had turned into zombies.
After driving only a short distance, they encountered another traffic jam. Lu Jingze and the others had no choice but to get out and help; otherwise, they wouldn’t leave the city that day.
Tian Le had initially wanted to get out and assist, thinking he could use his spatial-type ability to transport cars to another location.
“No need.”
Ji Heng had realized while practicing in the living room yesterday that the energy in their bodies was limited. Relying solely on Tian Le’s supernatural ability would have little effect.
It was better for him to stay in the car, conserve energy, and care for Ji Tianyi.
Except for the driver, Tian Le, and Ji Tianyi, everyone else got out to help.
“Everyone, be careful. Watch out for zombies suddenly appearing.”
“Okay.”
The group heightened their vigilance, pairing up to move blocked vehicles.
After becoming ability users, their strength had increased, and their senses were sharper.
Jiang Lijia poured water on the road while Cai Yan created a thin layer of ice on top. Lu Jingze controlled the metal objects on the car, and Wang Facai tried to flip over soil clumps on the road.
With teamwork, they moved fairly quickly.
Ji Heng and Qiao Xia remained alert for zombies in Western Zhou. When they spotted any, they quickly struck them down to prevent them from approaching.
Half an hour later, Ji Heng felt that his supernatural ability had been used almost to its limit, and his mental energy was declining.
He noticed more zombies gathering in Western Zhou and realized that the two cars behind them were following.
“Everyone get back in the cars for a break. Restore your energy and supernatural abilities.”
Once everyone returned to the vehicles, the people who had been following noticed the lead cars had stopped. Some grew anxious.
“What’s going on? Why aren’t we moving?”
“Cai Yan, Sun Ye pulled the car to the side and stopped.”
Ji Heng wasn’t that kind-hearted. His team members had been clearing the road, yet the people behind hadn’t gotten out to help. Now they stopped and complained?
Lu Jingze and the others quickly noticed the problem; none of them were fools.
Those in the following vehicles, seeing the lead cars pull over, realized they weren’t going to proceed. Some, desperate to leave the city, had no choice but to get out and call for help.
As expected, many responded. It was only the second day of the apocalypse, and many people wanted to escape this hellhole as quickly as possible.
With help from those ahead, the convoy continued moving.
Ji Heng and his group relaxed. They were already behind the convoy, moving slowly.
Gripping iron rods in hand, they restored their supernatural abilities while occasionally striking approaching zombies.
“Ji Heng, have you noticed that the zombies seem a bit faster than yesterday?”
Tian Le suddenly remembered a report he had read: zombies didn’t need vision and had an advantage at night.
As dusk approached, he realized that if they couldn’t leave the city today, they would need to find a place to rest.
Many people, having seen the chaos from their homes, didn’t dare to step outside yet. The hotels were all closed.
Ji Heng glanced at their surroundings and spoke into the walkie-talkie to Sun Ye: “Check if there’s a hotel nearby where we can rest.”
Sun Ye activated his vision-based supernatural ability. Within moments, he pointed in the right direction.
The hotel was actually quite close; the road congestion and disorder had obscured the sign.
“Let’s get out and walk there.”
Tian Le carried Ji Tianyi out of the car and folded the two vehicles into his spatial ability. Following the formation they had used when leaving the building earlier, the group quickly moved toward the hotel.
“Daddy, I need to pee.”
“Hm? Aren’t you wearing a diaper? Just go ahead.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Okay, we’ll be there soon. Be a good boy~”
Ji Heng saw Tian Le skillfully soothing his son. The child didn’t cry but snuggled obediently on the young man’s shoulder.
Ji Heng felt a twinge of emotion. This was still his son, who had cried so loudly in his presence before.
He had misunderstood Ji Tianyi earlier; the baby, barely a few days old, had limited bodily control. Driven by instinct and hunger, he had naturally cried.
After a night of eating and resting, the baby was much more comfortable and calm.
Most importantly, the baby preferred the soft and gentle scent of Daddy, rather than the stern presence of Dad.
Ji Heng didn’t know how his son rated him, but by now they had arrived at the hotel entrance.
The doors were closed. Lu Jingze knocked for a long time with no response.
“President Ji, I guess they don’t want to open the door.”
“Then break it down.”
Ji Heng was not a kind man. Since they refused to open a perfectly good door, he decided to smash it.
Lu Jingze thought the same, but out of respect for Ji Heng, he asked first.
From inside, someone seemed to have been observing them. Upon hearing their plan to break the door, it opened.
A man in a uniform looked at them with displeasure.
“What are you doing? You can’t just smash things! Leave now, or I’ll call the police.”
“Oh?”
Lu Jingze glanced at the man’s name tag.
“Manager Liu, if calling the police helps, go ahead.”
Lu Jingze pushed past him and opened the door for Ji Heng’s group. Once inside, he closed the door behind them.
“Any vacant rooms?”
There were indeed empty rooms, but the hotel staff feared outsiders would turn into monsters, just like before.
Inside the lobby, several staff members in uniform kept their distance, intimidated by the group’s aura.
Manager Liu quickly said there were a few rooms on the second floor.
Ji Heng wasted no time and led the way upstairs.
Passing the corridor, they heard noises from several rooms—likely the previous guests who had become zombies.
Finding a clean room, Ji Heng let Tian Le and his son go in first.
He then told the others outside: “Arrange yourselves, eat something, and adjust. Come here in half an hour.”
“Understood, President Ji.”
Tian Le helped Ji Tianyi with peeing and gave him a bottle of milk. Only then did he have time to eat. Ji Heng had already finished washing up and saw him eating hungrily.
“Eat slowly.”
“Dad, you should eat too, or you’ll get hungry.”
Ji Tianyi’s soft, childlike reminder lifted Ji Heng’s slightly irritable mood.
The little brat knew how to act cute, and sometimes it actually worked.
Sitting beside Tian Le, Ji Heng picked up the bread Tian Le had prepared for him and began to nibble.
Tian Le watched Ji Heng eat. Even with something as simple as bread, Ji Heng moved calmly and deliberately, as if savoring a gourmet meal.
Indeed, handsome men even look better when they eat.