Chapter 7: Settling In

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Settling In

Looking at the dazzling array of supplies before him—a cardboard box stuffed full of snacks, two heavy bottles of Coke, life-saving amoxicillin, and even a set of clean bedding—Xu Mo took a deep breath. An indescribable sense of exhilaration washed over his entire body like a warm current.

This feeling was completely different from the relief he’d felt when he’d luckily found a scrap of food before. This was a confidence born from his own abilities, from a tangible advantage he now held.

’I can survive now...’

The thought surfaced clearly in his mind. It was no longer a desperate attempt at self-comfort, but a calm judgment based on reality.

This door, connecting him to the ordinary world of the past, was his greatest asset for establishing a foothold in this apocalypse. As long as he used it properly, he could get food, medicine, tools... everything he needed to survive!

This intense exhilaration dispelled the gloom that had plagued him for days, making Xu Mo feel the urge to shout at the top of his lungs. But he quickly restrained himself, merely clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His lips, however, curled up uncontrollably into a smile that was a mixture of exhaustion and hope.

He gathered all the supplies into the driest corner of the room and concealed them slightly with a few items. Although the town seemed to be free of zombies, caution was still necessary.

After doing all this, Xu Mo’s gaze fell on the broken sofa, which was nothing more than springs and a wooden frame.

Before, he’d had no choice but to endure it. But now...

He picked up the bedding he had scrounged up. The sheet had a simple light-blue checkered pattern, and the duvet cover was an elegant off-white. It still carried the faint, fresh scent of having been dried in the sun, a smell completely out of place in this dusty, apocalyptic room.

Xu Mo carefully spread the bedding on the sofa. Though the process was a bit clumsy, when a soft, clean-looking "bed" appeared before him, an indescribable sense of satisfaction and the nascent feeling of a "home" welled up inside him.

This wasn’t just laying down some sheets. It was a declaration. A declaration that he, Xu Mo, was going to truly "live" here, not just "survive."

He lay down, his body sinking into a long-lost softness. Although the "bedboard" underneath was still lumpy, it was worlds apart from the cold, hard floor or the bare wooden frame.

Xu Mo sighed in satisfaction. His tense nerves relaxed in a way they never had before.

...

In the afternoon, as if on a precise schedule, the familiar scorching heat began to spread from deep within his body again.

Xu Mo knew the effects of the fever reducer had worn off.

This time, however, he didn’t panic. Instead, he calmly felt his temperature rise, even paying close attention to how it differed from before.

The heat was still there, but it lacked the violent, overwhelming intensity that felt like it would boil his brain and incinerate his consciousness. The headache had become bearable. The soreness in his joints persisted, but it was no longer accompanied by the extreme weakness that made him want to collapse on the ground. The itchy dryness in his throat had also lessened considerably.

’As I thought, the peak has passed.’

Xu Mo judged calmly. His body was fighting back, relying on its own immune system to clear out the virus and build up its defenses step by step. He could already see the Dawn of victory in this war against the illness. What he needed now wasn’t to rely on medicine to suppress it again (that would waste precious pills), but to provide his body with enough "ammunition" and "logistical support" to finish the cleanup.

Of course, if his temperature rose to a dangerous level again, Xu Mo would still take one of his few remaining pills without hesitation.

He took a vacuum-sealed pack of braised beef and a small bag of nuts from the cardboard box. Then, he opened the large, already-opened bottle of Coke and took a careful sip. The cold sweetness exploded in his mouth, bringing a moment of refreshing relief.

Xu Mo ate the beef and nuts slowly, feeling the high-protein and high-fat food convert into energy, feeling the sugar counteract the potential hypoglycemia from his fever. He was no longer eating just to fill his stomach as he had before. Now, he was like a shrewd commander, methodically allocating the most needed supplies to his body.

After eating, a wave of exhaustion washed over him—a sign that his body was concentrating its energy on repairs. He didn’t fight it. He lay back down on the sheet-covered "bed" and pulled the thin blanket over himself.

The soft fabric of the duvet cover against his skin had a strangely comforting effect. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm patches of light on the floor. In the corner were enough supplies to sustain him for several days.

The discomfort from the high fever remained, but Xu Mo’s heart was calm, even filled with a sense of certainty. He closed his eyes, no longer anxious about the zombies’ movements or afraid of the uncertain future.

All he had to do now was eat, sleep, and recover. He would save up every bit of strength to prepare for the coming migration.

His body’s repairs proceeded in silence, and hope, like the tangible supplies in the corner, became something he could almost touch.

「In the middle of the night.」

Xu Mo woke up to an intense thirst.

He touched his forehead. It was still undeniably warm. Although it was much better than when it was at its worst, the persistent low-grade fever was still draining his stamina and energy, preventing him from getting any truly deep rest.

Xu Mo lay quietly for a few minutes, feeling the embers of the fever stirring restlessly inside him. He knew that if he didn’t intervene, he would likely spend the rest of the night in a cycle of shallow sleep and nightmares, and would wake up mentally exhausted. At this stage, maintaining a clear mind and sufficient energy was just as important as conserving his physical strength.

’I can’t just tough it out anymore. I have to ensure I’m in good condition for the daytime.’

In the darkness, Xu Mo fumbled in his inner pocket and took out the precious blister pack of ibuprofen. By the extremely faint starlight, he popped out a single pill and swallowed it with some water. The pill slid down his esophagus, carrying with it a rational compromise—it was worth the price of one pill to trade for a few hours of peaceful sleep and a good state of mind for tomorrow.

While waiting for the medicine to take effect, Xu Mo moved silently to the window.

The night sky was still clear, the galaxy vast. Its cold light spilled over the dead-silent town, outlining the crumbling ruins and abandoned vehicles in blurry, distorted silhouettes. His vision was much worse than during the day; distant objects melted into the darkness, and he could only make out the general shape of the nearby streets.

Holding his breath, he carefully scanned every area he could see: the empty intersection, the gaping doorways of shops, the space beside the twisted railings...

Nothing.

There were no moving "things."

No shambling figures, no sound of horrifying, dragging footsteps or low growls. The entire town seemed to have truly become a massive, abandoned tomb. Even last night’s bizarre westward-marching procession had not returned.

This complete and utter silence didn’t reassure him. Instead, it felt like a heavy stone pressing on his heart. Where on earth had the zombies gone? What force had summoned them? Would they come back?

The unknown is often more terrifying than a known danger.

The medicine slowly began to take effect. A familiar coolness spread through his body, dispelling some of the feverish heat and bringing with it a heavy drowsiness. Xu Mo took one last look at the unsettling silence outside the window before retreating to the sofa and lying down again.

This time, with the help of the medicine, he quickly fell into a deep sleep, and the nightmares did not return.