Chapter 32: Snow

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Snow

With a mountain of ammunition backing him up, Xu Mo could finally go all out, elevating his afternoon firearms training to a whole new level.

He no longer needed to count every round he spent, allowing him to focus more on honing his technique and improving his accuracy. Live-fire practice was the best teacher. Fueled by a massive supply of bullets and combined with the theoretical knowledge he’d learned from online videos, Xu Mo’s marksmanship improved by leaps and bounds.

The AK-47 had become quite tame in Xu Mo’s hands. His quick-aiming and short-burst accuracy at short to medium ranges had improved significantly, and his hit rate on moving targets was steadily climbing. His use of the TT-33 pistol had also become more proficient. Although its effective range was limited, his series of movements—drawing, aiming, and firing—had become fluid and confident for close-range emergencies.

The biggest surprise came from the AWM sniper rifle. As he grew more familiar with the ballistic properties of the .338 Lapua Magnum rounds and gained a deeper understanding of the high-power scope’s reticle, Xu Mo’s hit rate on stationary targets at distances of three to four hundred meters had become quite impressive.

He even began experimenting with more advanced techniques, like estimating for windage and bullet drop. Although he was still far from the level of a professional sniper, the beginnings of this long-range precision strike capability already gave him an unprecedented strategic advantage in these ruins.

Besides the ample ammunition, what enabled him to withstand such high-intensity training was his own formidable physique.

The effects of the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Cross Training were becoming more and more apparent. His powerful core strength and shoulder stability allowed Xu Mo to maintain a steady shooting stance for long periods, recover quickly from recoil, and line up his next precise shot. A virtuous cycle and a tacit coordination were forming between his body and his weapons.

However, changes in the external environment were a constant reminder to Xu Mo that the challenges of survival weren’t limited to combat.

The weather was turning colder at a visible rate.

The cold wind grew increasingly bitter, feeling like a knife against his face. The most obvious change was the daylight hours—by just after five in the afternoon, the sky would already begin to darken noticeably. The ever-lengthening period of darkness meant the safe window for outdoor activities was drastically reduced, and it also meant heating and lighting would consume more resources.

Facing the impending harsh winter, Xu Mo dared not delay. After another forty-eight-hour cooldown ended, he decisively created labels for "Outdoor Supplies," "Emergency Gear," and the like, and began a targeted supply run.

A few "door-opening" explorations proved very fruitful.

He found two wood-burning stoves. They were simple in construction, durable, and highly heat-efficient. As long as he had firewood, they could provide a continuous source of heat—a perfect tool for surviving a winter without electricity.

In addition, Xu Mo also collected several sets of professional-grade, thick thermal underwear, fleece jackets, down parkas, and fleece-lined winter boots. The material and craftsmanship of these clothes were far superior to ordinary garments, effectively trapping body heat to ward off the bitter cold.

Furthermore, in the warehouse of what appeared to be a security supply store, Xu Mo also found a few stab-proof vests and tactical vests. Although their defensive capabilities were limited, they were better than nothing. They could offer a degree of basic protection against zombie claws or human-wielded Cold Weapons.

Xu Mo also swapped out his old, ordinary backpack, which could no longer meet his needs, for a larger, 70-liter hiking pack with a more professional suspension system. This new backpack distributed weight much better, allowing him to carry more supplies over long distances.

As for other miscellaneous items, Xu Mo found even more. He collected high-intensity flashlights and spare batteries, a multi-tool military knife, water purification tablets, paracord, waterproof matches, and more. These items seemed minor, but in a wilderness survival situation, every single one could play a crucial role.

After carefully sorting and storing all these newly acquired supplies, the interior of Xu Mo’s shelter was transformed. Neatly stacked ammo boxes were piled in a corner, next to stacks of warm clothing and gear. The two dark cast-iron stoves sat in the center of the room, waiting to be lit when needed. Although the space was still crude, it was filled with the reassuring sense of being prepared for winter.

Xu Mo walked to the third-floor window, gazing out at the increasingly dim sky and feeling the bone-chilling cold in the air. Armed with better weapons, more proficient skills, and ample winter supplies, the uncertainty of the future still lingered in his heart, but it no longer filled him with the same panic as before.

Amidst the ever-shrinking daylight and the increasingly biting wind, time itself almost lost its meaning. Finally, on a leaden-gray afternoon devoid of any sunlight, the heavens, which had been brewing for so long, finally made their move.

At first, only a cold drizzle fell from the sky. Then, fine, almost invisible white particles began to mix in with the rain. The particles tapped against the broken glass and wooden boards of the window, making a soft, rustling sound.

Hearing the rustling, Xu Mo stopped his Posture Stance and went to the roof to survey the area. The world between heaven and earth was a hazy gray. A mixture of drizzle and snow fragments fell, adding a damp, cold desolation to the already deathly silent town.

But this was only the beginning.

Before long, the drizzle and fine ice crystals gradually vanished, replaced by increasingly dense and distinct snowflakes. They fluttered down from the gray-white sky, seeming hesitant and sparse at first, but they soon became resolute and generous.

Huge, feathery flakes spun and drifted down silently, blanketing the ruins, the streets, and the abandoned vehicles, as if trying to bury all past scars and chaos beneath their pristine, cold whiteness.

By evening, it was a full-blown blizzard. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but a vast expanse of white. A dense curtain of snow obscured distant scenery; only the outlines of nearby buildings were barely discernible amidst the swirling flakes. The entire world seemed to have had its mute button pressed. Even the sound of the wind seemed to be absorbed by the thick blanket of snow, leaving only a boundless, heart-stopping silence.

That night, Xu Mo did not sleep soundly. The warmth from the fire and the silent, immense power outside the window formed a stark contrast.

When he awoke and habitually peered through his observation hole, he was deeply shaken by the sight before him, even though he had been mentally prepared.

The entire world, as far as he could see, was a realm of ice and snow!

The town, which had been a picture of decay and gloom just last night, was now completely covered by a thick, flawless white blanket of snow. Rooftops, streets, abandoned cars, collapsed walls... everything was draped in a uniform silver mantle. The snow was almost calf-deep, completely burying much of the low-lying debris and wreckage.

The sky was still overcast, but the reflection from the snow made the outdoors brighter than usual. It was a cold, lifeless brightness, however. The taller buildings in the distance stood like giant white tombstones, silent in the snowfield. There were no tracks of birds or beasts, not a single wisp of smoke, only a pure, absolute silence that seemed to freeze everything in its grasp.

Xu Mo took a deep breath of the frigid air, pulled on a thick down parka and his winter boots, and went up to the third floor. He hadn’t insulated this area, so its temperature remained close to the outside. An old thermometer he had hung there now clearly showed the mercury column at minus seven degrees Celsius.

"Minus seven degrees..." Xu Mo muttered to himself, his breath instantly turning into a puff of white mist. ’And that’s just indoors. With the wind chill, the real-feel temperature outside is probably even lower.’

A wave of relief washed over Xu Mo as he gazed out at the silver-clad, yet peril-filled world of ice and snow.

’It’s a good thing I prepared all this in advance.’ Xu Mo thought, glancing back toward the room downstairs where the warm clothing, fuel, and food were piled. Without the continuous heat from the two cast-iron stoves and without this professional cold-weather gear, he probably wouldn’t have lasted more than a few days in this temperature, dressed in the flimsy clothes he had when he first arrived and the scraps he had scavenged. Even if he didn’t freeze to death, he would have likely fallen gravely ill, which in this apocalypse was tantamount to a death sentence.

The heavy snow was like a natural barrier, completely cutting the town off from the outside world and "locking" Xu Mo securely inside his small shelter. But he felt little panic; instead, there was a sense of calm that came from being well-prepared.

Xu Mo went downstairs and skillfully added a few pieces of dry wood to the cast-iron stove. He watched the dancing flames, feeling the warmth gradually spread. Outside was a frozen world; inside was the leaping fire and the will to survive.

This winter was destined to be a long one.