101: Chapter 101 My younger sister, Su Yuling

[High-Efficiency Sunscreen ×5]

[Cooling Vest ×5]

[High-Temperature Resistant Gloves ×5]

These were prepared for potential actions outside the vehicle.

Though he hoped he would never need to step out.

But in the apocalypse, the more prepared one was, the higher the probability of survival.

After finishing this, he checked the route progress.

There were still two days of driving left until Ning City.

Su Yuran had become increasingly silent these past few days, often sitting by the window alone, staring blankly outside.

Qin Lin knew she was worried about her family, but he couldn't comfort her beyond saying, "We're almost there."

He hoped someone from the Su Family was still alive.

He hoped...

Qin Lin shook his head, no longer dwelling on those pessimistic possibilities.

He activated the autopilot mode, left the Drivers Cabin, and returned to the living room.

In the living room, Han Yurou was absent, Su Yuran was staring blankly by the window, Lin Wanwan was reading a book, and Han Qing was organizing medicine.

The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

"What's wrong?" Qin Lin asked.

"Nothing."

Su Yuran turned her head and forced a smile.

"I'm just... a little nervous."

Qin Lin walked over, sat down beside her, and took her hand.

"No matter the outcome, I'll be with you."

Su Yuran leaned on his shoulder. "Mm."

The two sat quietly, watching the snow of the eternal night outside the window.

In a few days, they would know the answer.

For better or worse.

...

Five days later, the RV entered the boundaries of Ning City.

The scene here was even more tragic than in Su City.

Because it was further south, the temperature had risen faster, causing the snow to start melting, only to refreeze and form a thick crust of ice.

Many buildings were encased in ice and snow.

There were no signs of life.

No lights, no cooking smoke, no traces of human activity.

Only a deathly silence.

Su Yuran stood in the Drivers Cabin, her hands gripping the handrail so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Her eyes were glued to the front, searching for familiar streets, buildings, and landmarks.

But everything had been altered by the ice and snow.

"Turn left... then go straight..." Her voice was trembling.

Qin Lin drove the RV according to her instructions.

The all-terrain mode allowed the RV to advance steadily through the complex road conditions.

The active defense System was ready at any moment to deal with potential threats.

But no threats appeared.

This city was already dead.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at a high-end villa district.

Even under the cover of ice and snow, the luxury here was evident.

Detached villas, wide courtyards, and exquisite landscape designs.

Of course, they had all turned into ice sculptures now.

"It's here."

Su Yuran pointed to a building at the very back.

"My home."

It was a three-story courtyard-style building with white walls and gray tiles; even amidst the ice and snow, its former elegance was visible.

The courtyard was large, with rockeries, ponds, and pavilions, but now everything was frozen solid.

The RV stopped outside the courtyard gate.

Qin Lin activated the scanning System.

[Scanning...]

[Target Building: Su Family Manor]

[Building Status: Main structure intact, some doors and windows damaged]

[Signs of Life: Weak ×1]

[Energy Fluctuations: None]

[Threat Assessment: Low]

Only one person.

Su Yuran's face turned pale instantly.

Her family originally had seven members: her parents, herself, her younger sister Su Yuling, and three long-term domestic workers.

Now the System only detected one sign of life.

"Maybe... maybe the others are in the basement, and the System can't scan them."

She muttered to herself, as if trying to convince herself.

Qin Lin took her hand. "Let's go down and take a look."

He looked at Han Qing. "Aunt Qing, you come too, and bring the medical kit. In case there are injured people who need first aid."

Han Qing nodded and quickly prepared.

"Yu Rou, you stay in the vehicle."

Qin Lin said to Han Yurou.

"I'll lock the door; no one will be able to get in."

"I understand."

Han Yurou said seriously.

Qin Lin then looked at Su Yuran and Lin Wanwan.

"Yuran will come down with me. Wanwan, you stay in the vehicle too and keep Yu Rou company."

"Okay." Lin Wanwan nodded.

The three of them put on cold-resistant suits.

It wasn't the "Ice Abyss Walker" set from before.

Instead, they were ordinary cold-resistant suits bought from the System Store, capable of withstanding -40°C, suitable for short outings.

Qin Lin also brought along the newly purchased [Environment Modifier].

The vehicle door opened, and cold air rushed in.

The temperature display read: -41°C.

It was much warmer than before, but still lethal.

The three stepped out, and the Environment Modifier automatically activated, forming a warm zone with a ten-meter radius around them.

The device showed the current area's temperature: -5°C.

While still cold, it was now bearable.

"Let's go," Qin Lin said.

Su Yuran took the lead, walking toward the main house's entrance.

The door was made of thick solid wood, covered in a heavy layer of ice.

Qin Lin used the thermal cutter to melt the ice, then gave it a hard push.

The door opened.

Inside was a complete mess.

The furniture in the living room was overturned, porcelain shards were scattered everywhere, and famous paintings on the walls had been pulled down and torn to pieces.

All the cabinets were open, their contents rummaged through haphazardly.

This wasn't caused by the disaster; it was man-made.

Looting.

Qin Lin's heart sank.

After the apocalypse broke out, he had seen this scene far too many times.

Survivors killing each other to fight for resources.

Wealthy areas were often the first targets to be ransacked.

Looking at the scene before her, Su Yuran's body swayed slightly.

Han Qing supported her. "Don't panic, let's find the person first."

"The basement... my house has an underground shelter."

Su Yuran forced herself to speak. "My father designed it; the shelter has independent power and heating Systems, coal for warmth, and at least three months' worth of food and water stored. If they're still alive, they must be there."

"Lead the way."

The three passed through the chaotic living room and arrived at the first-floor study.

Su Yuran walked to a bookshelf and felt around to find a hidden switch.

After she pressed it, the bookshelf slowly slid aside, revealing a metal door behind it.

There was an electronic lock on the door, but there was no power now.

"There's a mechanical backup switch."

Su Yuran felt around the edge of the door and found a concealed cover.

After opening it, there was a manual handwheel inside.

She turned it forcefully, and the metal door made a "clack" sound, slowly opening.

Inside was a staircase leading down, pitch black.

Qin Lin turned on his helmet's lighting and was the first to walk down.

The stairs were long, spiraling downward.

As they went deeper, the temperature gradually rose, reaching -15°C by the time they reached the basement.

It was much warmer than above.

The basement was large and divided into several areas:

Storage room, equipment room, and lounge area.

It was relatively tidy here, with no signs of looting.

Clearly, the looters hadn't found this hidden space.

"Yuling? Dad? Mom?" Su Yuran called out loudly.

There was no response.

Only her own voice echoed in the empty space.

The three split up to search.

Qin Lin checked the storage room; there was still plenty of food and water on the shelves, with empty packaging scattered on the floor.

The lounge area had several beds, but no one was there.

"Over here!"

Han Qing's voice came from the innermost room.

Qin Lin and Su Yuran ran over.

It was an even more hidden small room, the door slightly ajar.

Pushing the door open, there was only one bed, a nightstand, and a small storage box inside.

A person was lying on the bed.