Chapter 270 - 147: Gas Station

Chapter 270: Chapter 147: Gas Station

’They’re alive! Survivors!’

Xu Mo’s gaze swept quickly over the three of them.

Two men and a woman, none of whom looked very old—probably in their twenties or early thirties. But their condition... was terrible. Or rather, it perfectly matched the image of low-level survivors who had been struggling to get by for a long time.

Even though it was a hot midsummer afternoon, all three were wearing thick, ill-fitting, and grimy jackets and long pants. One could even see traces of a sweater worn underneath on one of them.

It was a form of crude protection against zombie scratches and bites, but it looked both bulky and suffocating.

Each of them carried a bulging backpack, stuffed to the brim. Judging by the shapes, they were likely filled with various items scavenged from a convenience store.

All three had the sallow, weary complexion of the long-term malnourished. Their eyes held a mix of vigilance and fear, but upon seeing Xu Mo—and especially the filthy but clearly sturdy and reliable SUV behind him—a near-scorching light burst forth from their gazes. It was the light of hope, the light of a possible escape.

They were visibly startled when they saw Xu Mo’s guarded stance, saber in hand. The tall, thin man at the front hurriedly raised his hands, signaling that he was unarmed and had no ill intentions. His voice was hoarse and trembling. "Don’t, don’t attack! We’re survivors!"

The woman beside him quickly followed suit, raising her hands. Her face was filthy, but her large eyes were now filled with terror and pleading.

The other, stockier man instinctively pulled the woman behind him, also raising his hands. He watched Xu Mo nervously, his eyes fixed on the Mountain-Cutting Saber gleaming coldly in his grasp.

Xu Mo didn’t lower his saber immediately, but his tense muscles relaxed slightly. He maintained a safe distance, his gaze shifting between the three of them and the convenience store entrance. In a low voice, he asked, "You’ve been here this whole time? In the town?"

"Ye-yes!" the tall, thin man stammered, nodding quickly. He spoke in a rush, as if afraid Xu Mo would turn and leave at any moment. "A small group of us have been hiding in a shelter we made from a basement on the west side of town. We heard the car engine, and then that terrifying roar and the gunshots. We hid for a long time. When it seemed to get quiet, we dared to come out to take a look and maybe grab some more supplies." ℴ

His gaze couldn’t help but drift back to Xu Mo’s SUV. "Big brother, are you from the outside? Can you take us with you? We can work for you! We’ll do anything! Please, get us out of this godforsaken place!"

The woman’s eyes also filled with anticipation. Her lips moved, but she seemed too afraid to speak.

Xu Mo was silent for a moment before slowly sheathing his Mountain-Cutting Saber. The gesture didn’t entirely put the three at ease. He shook his head, his tone calm but firm. "Sorry. I’m on a mission. I can’t take you with me."

The light in their eyes instantly dimmed, and the disappointment and despair were almost palpable.

Xu Mo continued, "Why have you stayed in town all this time? There are so many zombies here. Why haven’t you tried to leave?"

This time, the woman spoke, her voice choked with tears and deep, lingering fear. "We tried. Five of our companions tried to sneak out from the south side of town to find another way out. They hadn’t gotten far before they were chased down by a few terrifyingly fast monsters. The two who made it back said they saw Old Wang and the others get tackled almost instantly... It was horrible!" As she spoke, her body trembled slightly. The stocky man beside her placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her, his own expression grim.

The tall, thin man picked up the story. "After that, we didn’t dare to wander around anymore. There are a lot of zombies in town, but at least we know some of the hiding spots, and the basement is pretty concealed. There are about twelve of us left, just barely scraping by. We don’t know where to go or what it’s like outside. When we heard the noise just now, a few of us who are a bit braver decided to risk coming out to get more supplies."

Xu Mo understood. They were a group of survivors trapped in isolation. They lacked weapons, organization, and, more importantly, the courage and information needed to face the outside world. That failed escape attempt had completely destroyed their confidence in breaking out on their own.

"Now’s your chance," Xu Mo said, pointing toward the direction of the faint roars. "I just led a huge horde of zombies over that way. The area around the gas station is relatively safe for now. If you want to leave, you should take this opportunity. Go back to your shelter, pack what you can carry, and then pick a direction with fewer zombies and get out."

The three of them exchanged glances, their faces showing a mixture of conflict and hesitation.

"But at night... it’s more dangerous outside at night," the stocky man said in a thick voice, his eyes filled with a fear of the unknown darkness. "We don’t have a car. If we go on foot, what if we run into those fast things, or get surrounded by a horde..."

The tall, thin man hesitated as well. "Yeah, Big brother, this is too sudden. We need to go back and discuss it with everyone. Besides, all our belongings are in the shelter..."

The woman looked at Xu Mo timidly and whispered, "Big brother, why don’t you come to our place to rest for a bit? Have some water? We have some food, and everyone could meet you and hear your advice." Her invitation was clearly meant to curry favor, laced with a subtle, almost imperceptible hope of pulling this powerful outsider into their group.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Xu Mo shook his head again. "No. My mission is urgent, and I can’t afford any delays. I’m leaving as soon as I’m done refueling." He paused, looking at their disappointed and lost faces, then added, "If you do decide to leave, try heading northwest. About six hundred kilometers from here, there’s a large shelter called Jiang City. It has order and walls. As long as you’re willing to work, you can survive. It’s much better than living day-to-day, never knowing what will happen next, like you are here."