103: Chapter 103 On the Eve of Departure

Xiao Lang's body stiffened slightly. He cast a quick glance at Qi Yin, then quickly lowered his head, his voice somewhat muffled.

"I… I think I'd better not go."

Immediately after, he raised his eyes and swept a glance across everyone. "Um, as long as you all are fine, then I… I'll head back first. You all, take care."

Xiao Lang clenched his fists and turned to head down the mountain.

The setting sun stretched his shadow out long, and his retreating figure looked inexplicably lonely.

Xiao Sinian poked Qi Yin's elbow and pursed his lips toward the direction where Xiao Lang had disappeared.

"He's a talent. I don't think he actually doesn't want to go."

Qi Yin spread her hands, knowing the situation clearly in her heart.

Xiao Lang's elderly mother was still paralyzed in bed. He had risked his life earlier just to ask for solar panels; how could he possibly abandon her to go with them now? His sense of responsibility was too heavy.

In this Apocalypse, it isn't easy for anyone.

The sky gradually darkened. The dining room of the hilltop villa was very lively; it was that mealtime everyone looked forward to again.

Everyone sat around the long dining table, their eyes fixed intently on Lu Yanxiu and Chen Quan in the kitchen, their noses twitching in unison.

"It's coming, it's coming! The last dish!" Lu Yanxiu walked out carrying a large tray, grinning.

Instantly, an appetizing aroma gripped everyone's stomachs.

Even the usually ethereal Xiao Sinian couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

"Dongpo Pork is served!" At this moment, Chen Quan placed a heavy clay pot right in the center.

The moment the lid was lifted, the rich aroma of sauce mixed with the scent of meat exploded into the air.

Square pieces of pork belly were stacked, trembling slightly, displaying an enticing sheen.

Just the aroma alone was enough to make one drool.

Lu Yanxiu chuckled, tugging at Chen Quan's elbow, and gave a light cough. "Ahem, today's menu is Hangzhou cuisine. I hope everyone gives the two chefs a five-star review."

Qi Yin chuckled and stepped forward, placing a plate of fruit cucumbers that emitted a mysterious fragrance onto the table.

"Qi Yin-brand fruit cucumbers. Have one before the meal, and I guarantee you'll be full of energy all day."

Xiao Sinian was the first to show support, picking one up and taking a big bite.

Amidst the laughter, the fragrant fish soup, golden tofu skin rolls, sweet and sour West Lake vinegar fish, and plump, tender Longjing shrimp were all devoured.

"Oh my god, this is even more delicious than the restaurants before the Apocalypse." Zhou Le shoveled rice into his mouth, not forgetting to praise.

"Exactly, this cooking skill is just amazing." Qian Hao couldn't help but chime in.

Qi Yin curled her lips. If it weren't for the time they had spent together, she wouldn't have believed that these few people, who had initially seemed like demons crawled out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, were actually so lively and unrestrained in private.

She glanced at Lei Jun, who was sitting upright. She had originally thought this girl was steady, but it turned out she was a complete airhead.

This contrast was truly something.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Lu Jinwen wiped her mouth and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Sister, what did you mean when you said 'go with them' to Xiao Lang and the others earlier? Where are we going?"

Once this was asked, the dining table suddenly went quiet, and everyone looked at Qi Yin.

Xiao Sinian, sitting right next to her, took a sip of rich tea without a word.

Qi Yin put down her chopsticks and looked around at the companions sitting around her.

The boisterous Wenwen, the steady and reliable Uncle Chen and Wang Tianyu, the often chuunibyou Brother Yan Xiu, as well as Yang Zi and Brother Xu—every one of them was a comrade who had fought side-by-side with her.

Taking a deep breath, she decided not to hide it any longer.

"Xiao Sinian has established a base in the north called Xiyin. The conditions there are better than here in every way. Professor Zhou and Dr. Chen are going there to continue their research."

Qi Yin's tone was calm. Her gaze swept across every face as she pointed to Xiao Sinian beside her.

"He has invited us to go with him. As for whether or not to go… I won't force anyone. Those who want to stay, the supplies here are enough for you for a very, very long time. Those who want to leave, pack your things, and we will head north together. However, I must state in advance that the journey will not be peaceful."

After all, the journey is too long, and no one can guarantee that it will be safe and sound the whole way.

An indeterminate number of zombies, potential mutants—each one is a threat.

As soon as she finished speaking, the dining table erupted.

Lu Jinwen was the first to jump up, her eyes sparkling.

"Go? Why wouldn't I go? Where you are, I am. I haven't even seen what a base leader looks like yet. Since Brother Si Nian created it, it definitely won't be bad."

Having only hung out together for a few days, her way of addressing Xiao Sinian had already changed from President Xiao to Brother Si Nian, which was enough to show how powerful Xiao Sinian's ability to win people over was.

"I'm the same as Wenwen." Lu Yanxiu raised his hand, his mouth stuffed with rice, speaking indistinctly.

"Anywhere is fine, as long as I'm with you all."

Chen Quan and Wang Tianyu stared straight ahead; they would listen to whatever Qi Yin arranged.

Xu Yongning and Wen Yang clapped their hands together: "If there are fights to be had and food to eat, following Sister Yin, we certainly have no problem."

Watching everyone make their choice without hesitation, Qi Yin felt a warmth in her heart, and the bit of uncertainty about the future seemed to have been washed away quite a bit.

She stood up and slapped the table.

"Alright, once Li Shi and Li Yun wake up, we'll ask them what they think. If there's no problem, we'll set off early the day after tomorrow."

"Yeah!" Everyone cheered.

Meanwhile, in the cave on the mountainside, the Old Professors, upon hearing that they could go to a safe base to continue their research, were so excited they almost shed tears of joy. Ignoring their rumbling stomachs, they all cheered together.

Professor Moran grabbed Yu Wenyu's hand: "Go, we must go. Even without compensation, we must go. This is what we ought to do!"

At the same time, the mountainside villa complex was not peaceful.

Fire Wolf had suffered a huge loss at Qi Yin's hands and was full of pent-up anger. Plus, with his supplies running low, he set his sights on the Li couple.

Right now, he was bringing people to their door to coerce them into giving up food.

The Li couple glanced at Xiao Lang standing on the balcony of the second floor next door, and their spines stiffened a bit.

"We don't have any food, get lost!"

Upon hearing this, Fire Wolf was furious; a fiery red fireball was about to burn the Li family's front door.

Xiao Lang frowned, and a fierce jet of water shot out, drenching Fire Wolf into a drowned rat.

"That was once last time, and this counts as once this time. If there's a third time, just try me!"

After all, he was a special forces soldier; the aura on him was no joke. Even though Fire Wolf was angry, he could only suppress it.

With his tail between his legs, he unwillingly retreated back to Villa No. 1.

Watching their retreating figures, Xiao Lang knew this was not a long-term solution.

A slight movement came from inside the room; Xiao Lang's expression changed, and he quickly ran inside.

"Mom, it's okay. Your son drove the bad guys away."

With his comfort, the heartbeat frequency of his elderly mother on the heart rate monitor gradually calmed down.

In the middle of the night, two black figures quietly snuck to the mountainside.

Qi Yin and Xiao Sinian hid in the shadows, staring straight at the entertainment plaza in the center of the villas.

Right now, Fire Wolf and his group were gathered there.

"Damn it, hand over all your supplies to me. Be obedient, and you'll suffer less physical pain. Hahaha..."