“I’ll take you to the medical room first. The shelter has doctors and nurses now,” Tang Ye said as she supported Jiang Yufeng and walked back into the shelter.
Leaning against her, Jiang Yufeng curled his lips into a faint smile in a place she could not see. A strange, indescribable sense of pleasure spread from deep within him.
Tang Ye helped him into the medical room. Seeing how serious his injuries were, the doctors quickly brought him into the treatment room for detailed care. There were not many external wounds, but they were deep. The wounds needed stitching and disinfection, and he also had to be checked for internal injuries.
Tang Ye waited outside. Jiang Yufeng still had more than ninety thousand energy points stored with her, so she directly paid his medical fees from that balance.
After a series of treatments, Jiang Yufeng was moved into a ward.
The ward was similar to those before the apocalypse, with five beds in a single room. Since the medical room had only recently recruited staff, the beds were still mostly empty.
Jiang Yufeng was lying on the bed by the window, receiving an IV drip. He had changed into a patient gown. His eyes were closed, it was unclear whether he was asleep or simply resting.
When he heard footsteps, he opened his eyes. His gaze seemed brighter, whether from the scenery outside or something else. “Yezi, you didn’t leave.”
“I’m not busy right now, so I came to check on you. How do you feel?” Perhaps because they had both been betrayed, Tang Ye’s guard toward him had lowered somewhat.
“The facilities here are very complete, and the doctors are patient. My wounds have all been treated,” Jiang Yufeng said.
“I’ve already deducted the medical fees from the crystal cores you gave me earlier, so you don’t need to worry about it,” Tang Ye added. “By the way, those family members who betrayed you, did you deal with them?”
Thinking of Jiang Chen and his mother’s mangled state, Jiang Yufeng nodded. “Yes, it’s all taken care of.”
Then, as if thinking of something, he looked at Tang Ye cautiously. “Do you think I’m cruel?”
Tang Ye snorted. “What’s cruel about dealing with people who betray you? Not skinning them alive is already merciful.”
Jiang Yufeng laughed softly, feeling even more pleased inside. He had known it, Tang Ye was different from others.
After sitting for a while, Tang Ye stood up. “Get some rest. I’ll head back, there’s still work to do in the shelter.”
“Alright.” Jiang Yufeng’s disappointment was obvious.
Tang Ye noticed his expression. She paused briefly, then still turned and left.
At that moment, Lin Miao and Lin Ke, along with a group of fifteen people, were following three survivors forward.
“Isn’t the shelter you mentioned here yet?” Lin Miao asked anxiously, looking at her brother’s increasingly pale face.
Lin Ke had been bitten by poisonous insects and had cut away some of his own flesh. There was still residual toxin in his body. If they did not find a place to rest soon, he might not last much longer.
One of the bald men in front turned back and smiled at Lin Miao. “We’re almost there. Is your brother injured? Do you need help carrying him?”
Lin Ke shook his head weakly. “No need.”
“Then let’s rest over there for a bit. That area was cleared before, there shouldn’t be any monsters,” the bald man suggested.
After fleeing their destroyed shelter, escaping from the pharmacy where Jiang’s father had turned, and traveling this far, the survivors were already exhausted. They desperately needed a break.
When they reached the place the bald man mentioned, everyone used their remaining strength to check the surroundings. After confirming there was no danger, they finally allowed themselves to rest.
The three bald men said they would go ahead to check whether there were zombies or mutated beasts further along the path, then left first.
Seeing no one around, Lin Miao whispered to a woman beside her, “I feel like something’s not right. Does a place like that really exist? Unlimited water and electricity, plenty of food. It all sounds too strange.”
“But they really gave us food just now. Didn’t you see that piece of meat? It was roasted, so delicious. I haven’t eaten meat in so long,” the woman replied.
Others also chimed in, still savoring the taste of the roasted meat.
They had encountered the three bald men while being chased from both front and back, with no way out. The men had offered to take them to their shelter, claiming it welcomed everyone. They had even shared a piece of meat on the spot.
Hungry and exhausted, the survivors had naturally grown more inclined to trust them. Coupled with the promise of such a wonderful shelter, even if it was a dream, they did not want to wake up.
Seeing this, Lin Miao said nothing more. Instead, she decided to leave with her brother. The three men were strong, while their group was mostly weak and injured. The difference was too great.
After confirming no one was watching, she helped Lin Ke quietly slip away.
“I still feel something’s wrong. My instincts are telling me staying isn’t a good idea. Let’s leave,” Lin Miao whispered.
When the three bald men returned, they found that two people were missing.
“They were too cautious and didn’t want to come with us. Let them go,” one of the survivors said.
The bald man glanced at the group and nodded. “Fine. The path ahead has mostly been cleared. Once we’re rested, we’ll continue.”
The remaining thirteen survivors nodded and followed them onward. Not long after, they saw an area enclosed by fencing, surrounded by thorny growth.
“This is it. Enter from over there,” the bald man said, pointing to an entrance nearby.
Exhaustion faded slightly as hope appeared on the survivors’ faces. They had finally arrived. They had heard each family would get a room. They wondered what it would be like.
The staircase leading downward was dim, but faint light could be seen ahead. Perhaps what they said was true.
Just as they felt relieved, footsteps echoed from within the shelter. A group of people emerged, each holding weapons, surrounding the thirteen survivors.
The smiles on their faces slowly disappeared, replaced by stiff fear.
“What do you mean by this? Why are you treating us like prisoners?” the survivors demanded angrily.
“Prisoners?” The bald man sneered, revealing his true nature. “You’re mistaken. Here, you’re nothing but stored food.”
The surrounding people burst into laughter, filling the survivors with terror.
“Oh, by the way, how does human meat taste?” The words exploded among them like a bomb.
Those who had eaten the meat earlier immediately began vomiting.
One survivor who had been sitting beside Lin Miao and Lin Ke felt deep regret. If only he had left with them.
Meanwhile, Lin Miao and Lin Ke had traveled for most of the day, hiding and moving cautiously, until by chance, they arrived outside Sunrise Shelter.
Looking at the newly built walls, they hesitated. But seeing Lin Ke’s worsening condition, Lin Miao gritted her teeth and supported him toward the entrance.
As soon as they passed through the gate, they saw several survivors building a fence in the courtyard. Nearby, Jiang Qing and Jiang Hong were handing out water.
“Have some water. The Administrator said it’s hot, don’t get heatstroke.”
“Thank you, thank you, and thanks to the Administrator.”
Lin Miao watched from the entrance for a while. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious, which eased her anxiety slightly.
Supporting each other, they stepped inside, quickly drawing attention.
Feeling everyone’s gaze, Lin Miao tightened her grip on Lin Ke’s arm.
“You’re new survivors, right? Why not come in?” Jiang Qing and Jiang Hong spoke gently, recalling their own journey here, their smiles warm and reassuring.
Lin Miao nodded. “Can we rest here for a bit?”
Even she, who was relatively uninjured, was exhausted after such a long journey and constant tension.
“Of course. Is he injured? Take him to the medical room quickly,” Jiang Hong said, noticing Lin Ke’s pale face.
Lin Miao froze briefly before nodding. “Alright, please lead the way.”
“Honghong, go inform the Administrator. I’ll take them to the medical room first,” Jiang Qing said, setting down the water jug before turning to them. “Come with me.”
Lin Miao quickly supported Lin Ke and followed. The process of entering alone left them speechless.
They had thought the bald man’s description was exaggerated. They had not expected there to be a shelter even more comfortable than that.
They took the elevator down to Basement Level 2. The medical room on the left was lively, with people seeking treatment and others simply observing.
In such a world, a facility like this might exist nowhere else.
“Alright, everyone move aside, don’t block the entrance,” Jiang Qing called out, clearing a path for them.
“Go get a number over there. There aren’t many people right now, so it won’t take long. There are two consultation rooms. A nurse will tell you which one to go to. You can get medicine here afterward,” she explained patiently.
“About payment, since you’re not from our shelter, we’ll need to ask the Administrator. The medical room has only just started operating,” Jiang Qing added. “Go ahead first. My sister has already gone to find the Administrator.”
Listening to her clear explanation, Lin Miao felt a bit more at ease.
After taking a number, she helped her brother sit and wait. Sure enough, within minutes, the nurse called their number.
Lin Miao quickly supported Lin Ke inside. They were assigned to Fang Zhong’s consultation room. Fang Zhong was a highly respected doctor, even before the apocalypse, he had held the position of chief physician.