So before the night of the apocalypse outbreak, it would be best for them to stay at home. The next morning, if both of them woke up unharmed, they would head to Nancheng City as soon as possible.
During the full outbreak period, neither Yuning nor Nancheng would be safe.
If they spent some time on the road, fought some scattered zombies to build courage, then the survivor base in Nancheng should already be established by then.
Ideal plans were always perfect. Reality, however, was harsh.
Where exactly was this Cangsong Base located in Nancheng City? The novel hadn’t even given a landmark!
She just hoped that when they arrived, there would be some kind-hearted “zombie brother” to give directions.
After everything was prepared, the next morning, Shi Ran took Ye Shuyao and drove her unsold small car to scout the route.
“Ranran, you’re not planning to sell me off, are you? I’m not worth much money.”
Ye Shuyao sat in the passenger seat, talking nonsense, yet comfortably leaning back in her chair. She studied the map in her hands, legs crossed, casually trying to create a sense of tension.
“Eat your snacks. You even brought snacks—what do you think this is, a vacation?”
Shi Ran focused on the road while observing the surroundings.
“You drive, I trust you. After your drifting practice these past few days, you’re practically a pro. My dear genius girl.”
“Ew, stop being so greasy. Look at the map properly—we need directions.”
After several hours on the mountain road, although it was rugged, both of them had practiced driving this month, so handling it wasn’t too difficult.
After confirming that this small road was passable, Shi Ran prepared to turn back.
At that moment, a small dog actually came down from the mountain, slowly approaching their car.
It looked like a Chihuahua. It walked up to the passenger window and let out soft, ingratiating whines, as if begging for food.
Ye Shuyao didn’t think much of it and assumed it was a lost pet. She was about to roll down the window to feed it a little—at least enough so it wouldn’t starve, maybe even survive until it found its owner again.
“Wait, Yao Yao—”
Before she could move, Shi Ran, who suddenly stood up in alarm, grabbed her hand.
“Look at its eyes…”
Ye Shuyao looked closely at the Chihuahua.
From a distance, she hadn’t noticed anything. But now she saw it clearly.
Its protruding eyes were cloudy, pale, and bloodshot. Drool hung from its mouth. The skin around its lips trembled, faintly revealing sharp teeth. Its body was stiff, its head twitching unnaturally as if it might fall off at any moment.
“Ugh…”
Ye Shuyao covered her mouth tightly, afraid she might scream and distract Shi Ran.
The Chihuahua, seeing no response, began ramming the car with violent force, each hit strong enough to shake the vehicle.
Shi Ran didn’t hesitate. She floored the accelerator, turned the wheel sharply, and sped down the mountain road.
“Yao Yao, put on your jacket and grab the weapons. Be ready at any time.”
Hearing Shi Ran’s calm voice, Ye Shuyao finally steadied herself and quickly grabbed their weapons.
Suddenly—Shi Ran slammed the brakes.
The small car nearly flew forward from inertia, the screech of tires piercing the air. Ye Shuyao was jolted so hard she almost lifted off her seat.
She swore she would never ride this car again.
Blocking their path was a mutated zombie deer. Its massive body made it certain—if they hit it, both car and people would be finished. They were now sandwiched between the deer and the zombie dog.
“One each. I’ll deal with the deer. Don’t get bitten. Aim for the head. Be careful.”
With that, Shi Ran put on her jacket, grabbed her weapons, and stepped out of the car.
She was genuinely angry.
Getting transmigrated into this broken world was one thing. Being given a useless background role was another. But weren’t animals supposed to only mutate deep in the mountains?
This mountain road was even closer to Yuning City than the deep forest was.
Why not just have the animals come straight to her house and bite her while they’re at it?
Seriously—this was just ridiculous.
Shi Ran gripped her twin blades and stared at the deer, whose fur was riddled with holes and rotting flesh hung from its body.
Suddenly, the zombie deer charged like an arrow released from a bow.
Shi Ran sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the fatal strike, and used the momentum to slash both blades into its body, leaving two long gashes.
But the deer felt no pain. It immediately turned and attacked with its antlers.
She blocked with her left blade, spun to its right side, and kicked hard—but the deer only staggered slightly and did not fall.
“Damn it!”
So brute force wouldn’t work. She needed strategy.
Shi Ran quickly retreated behind a tree, preparing to ambush it as it approached.
One step. Two steps. Closer…
She was about to strike—
Suddenly, a fireball shot out from the side and slammed into the deer with overwhelming force, sending it flying two meters away. It screamed as it burned.
Shi Ran froze.
Wait.
Did she see that correctly?
Fire-type ability??
Wasn’t the script broken again? Where did an ability user come from at this point?
Was she offline? Or had a few hours in the mountains turned into decades outside?
Countless absurd thoughts flashed through her mind.
“Shocked?”
A cold voice rang out—low, but magnetic and pleasant.
Just not very friendly.
Shi Ran turned toward the voice.
A man stood not far away, arms crossed, lazily leaning against a tree. His features were strikingly sharp—high nose bridge, thin lips slightly pressed, deep-set eyes filled with amusement as he looked at her.
Shi Ran wasn’t someone easily captivated by looks, but she had to admit it:
The moment she saw him—and the fire ability—she immediately recognized him as the male lead of the novel.
Zhou Nuocheng.
Behind him was a black off-road vehicle, and several people were stepping out.
The man looked at her carefully. Fine beads of sweat clung to her delicate face. After the fight, her bright eyes still shone like stars, her cheeks slightly flushed, dimples faintly visible.
When he first saw her, her eyes held shock and confusion—but not fear.
Not even a trace of panic facing a zombie deer alone.
She was probably not an ordinary girl.
Meanwhile, Ye Shuyao had finished dealing with the zombie dog and rushed over. Seeing four unfamiliar men, she raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise.
“Boss, this deer really ran. If we weren’t worried it would harm civilians, we wouldn’t have chased it all the way here from the mountains.”
Xu Zimo said this while glancing at the fallen deer.
Shi Ran: “……”
They chased it down?
No wonder.
So it wasn’t her underestimating the situation—the thing really didn’t belong here.
Of course. She was just a background character. Why was she even getting caught in protagonist-level chaos?
Sigh. Bad luck it is.
She hugged herself internally.
“Ranran, are you okay? Are you hurt?” Ye Shuyao rushed over anxiously, checking her from head to toe.
“I’m fine. Thanks to them. Let’s go thank them and leave quickly.”
Shi Ran said this with absolute forced politeness.
Because honestly, the deer was theirs, and she could’ve handled it herself.
Now she even had to thank them.
Did she look like a sucker or something?