Chapter 88 - 81: Off-Road Vehicle

Chapter 88: Chapter 81: Off-Road Vehicle

The floodwaters receded much more slowly than Xu Mo had anticipated.

The initial excitement from the water level dropping over a meter on the first day quickly faded, worn away by the almost stagnant pace of the receding flood over the next few days. Every day, Xu Mo could see the water’s edge retreat a little further, revealing more land covered in silt and debris, but the process was agonizingly slow. It was as if the murky yellow water held some sort of attachment to this land, unwilling to leave.

Five or six days passed quietly. When the turbid water finally withdrew completely from Cyan Pine Ridge Town, surrendering the ravaged land, the scene before Xu Mo was even more dilapidated and deathly still than when it had been submerged.

As far as the eye could see, there was only mud. A thick layer of yellowish-brown silt covered everything. Under the baking sun, the surface of the silt cracked into a pattern like a turtle’s shell, but the ground beneath remained slick and soft.

Along the streets, the abandoned cars that were once faintly visible in the floodwaters had disappeared. They had evidently been swept downstream by the raging torrent or completely buried beneath the thick silt, leaving not a single trace behind.

The shops and homes lining the street were an even more wretched sight. Low-slung roll-up doors had been smashed in, their dark interiors stuffed with silt, branches, broken furniture, and all sorts of indescribable trash.

Almost none of the windows on the town’s buildings were intact. They gaped open like vacant, despairing eyes. Clear water lines were left on the building walls. Below the line was mostly the color of mud, caked with aquatic plants and filth. Above it, the walls were covered in water stains, and large patches of plaster had peeled away, revealing the brick and stone underneath.

Sniffing the air, Xu Mo sensed a complex and pungent odor. The earthy smell of silt, the sour stench of rotting garbage, the scent of decaying plants, and the uniquely nauseating reek of highly decomposed protein—all these smells mingled together, creating a penetrating odor that assaulted Xu Mo’s nostrils from all sides.

Xu Mo frowned slightly, trying to identify the increasingly strong stench of decay. ’It’s familiar, like something I’ve smelled before... That’s it. Dead rats.’

Before he’d transmigrated, Xu Mo would occasionally smell this in old residential complexes or in corners that hadn’t been cleaned for a long time. But now, that smell was magnified a hundredfold, blanketing the entire town.

This was definitely not the kind of smell that could come from just one or two rat carcasses.

Realization dawned on Xu Mo. An astonishing number of rats must have failed to survive the great flood. Their bodies were now scattered in every corner of the town—under the silt, in the ruins, inside dilapidated buildings—silently rotting and stinking.

This wasn’t just an assault on the senses; it was a dangerous sign. So many decaying animal carcasses could easily breed disease. The risk of infectious diseases, which the Jiang City broadcast had warned about, was rising sharply.

Standing on the rooftop, gazing at the ruins shrouded in silt and the stench of death, Xu Mo’s desire to leave became stronger than ever.

Cyan Pine Ridge Town, the place where he had struggled to survive, built a shelter, and gradually cultivated his strength after transmigrating, had completely lost its value as a base.

The environment in Cyan Pine Ridge Town had become extremely harsh, filled with the threat of unknown pathogens, and was far too desolate. Staying here long-term was no different from waiting to die.

Xu Mo’s next destination was clear: the Jiang City Shelter.

It had a relatively established order and a larger population. More importantly, it might offer a more stable and secure base, allowing him to focus on increasing his strength without distractions to face this increasingly dangerous apocalypse.

But the road to Jiang City was not short, and the condition of the roads after the flood was unknown. Traveling on foot was by no means a wise choice. Xu Mo felt he needed a reliable vehicle.

"It’s time," Xu Mo muttered to himself. It was time to use his Golden Finger’s unique ability to acquire a vehicle capable of handling complex road conditions.

He turned and went downstairs. Outside the door, Xu Mo saw the assault boat in the corner. With the floodwaters gone, it was once again resting on the ground.

It lay there quietly, still brand new, as if ready to be launched at any moment to race across rivers and seas.

Looking at the assault boat, Xu Mo couldn’t help but feel a flicker of complex emotion.

"Not having to use it is for the best," Xu Mo exhaled softly, dispelling the faint trace of regret. Not using it meant the situation hadn’t worsened to the point where he had to risk taking to the water. It also meant he had safely passed through the most dangerous phase.

In the apocalypse, no advance preparation was ever in vain. Even if it wasn’t ultimately used, its mere existence provided a sense of security, an option for dealing with a crisis.

This assault boat might still come in handy in a water-based environment in the future.

After waiting a few more days for the ground to dry out considerably, Xu Mo went to the large door where he had acquired the assault boat. He stuck a marker on it and then pushed it open.

A spacious and tidy interior greeted his eyes. Tall shelves were neatly arranged, laden with various auto parts, maintenance supplies, and tools. The floor was clean, and the faint smell of engine oil and rubber seemed to hang frozen in the air.

’This is a good drop point,’ Xu Mo thought, pleased.

In the center of the space were a dozen or so vehicles of various models, including sedans and SUVs.

After surveying the vehicles, Xu Mo’s gaze quickly swept over the shelves. He first confirmed that they did indeed have the maintenance consumables he needed—diesel, engine oil, air filters, diesel filters, and so on—stacked in boxes in a corner.

Xu Mo walked over for a closer look and then chose a dark green SUV as his vehicle. This SUV had a tall body, a sturdy bull bar, exposed tow hooks, and a high chassis and off-road tires clearly designed for harsh road conditions.

Crucially, it was a classic diesel model known for being rugged, durable, structurally simple, and easy to repair—perfect for an apocalyptic environment.

’This is the one!’

Xu Mo quickly checked the fuel tank; it was almost full. But that wasn’t enough. He returned to the parts warehouse, found the fuel storage area where there were several standard-sized diesel barrels, and loaded them one by one into the vehicle.

Ensuring an ample fuel supply was the cornerstone of a long journey.

Then, without holding back, Xu Mo began loading several common repair kits, a few brand-new off-road tires, and even some sealed drums of antifreeze and windshield washer fluid into the vehicle. He took them all, as they were essential for ensuring the vehicle could handle a long journey.

When his preparations were mostly complete and the countdown ended, Xu Mo drove out of the door. As the scene behind the door changed, the SUV officially became his exclusive ride.

For the next three or four days, Xu Mo didn’t leave immediately. He remained in town, partly to wait for the ground to dry out more, and partly to get used to handling the SUV. More importantly, he wanted to observe the situation a little longer.

The town remained deathly still, but the potent stench from countless rotting rat carcasses grew stronger with each passing day. Even though Xu Mo tried to stay on the upper floors with the doors and windows tightly shut, the smell still seeped in from everywhere.

The sunlight on the silt accelerated the process of decay. Some of the flies also seemed to have undergone a subtle mutation; they were larger, their compound eyes glinted with an ominous green light, and they began to appear in swarms. They were BUZZING in the air, adding to the filth and unease.

"I can’t wait any longer," Xu Mo concluded. The environment was deteriorating rapidly. Every extra day he stayed increased the risk of contracting a disease.

At dawn on this day, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Xu Mo finally made up his mind.

He began his final packing, loading food, water, medicine, weapons, ammunition, and fuel into the vehicle, all sorted by category.

The physical anti-theft door to his personal storage space was also carefully secured to the SUV’s aftermarket roof rack, tightly wrapped in a waterproof tarp.

As for the assault boat, after careful consideration, Xu Mo ultimately decided to hide it in the town and leave it behind.

With everything ready, Xu Mo got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

The dark green SUV, like a silent, steel companion, let out a deep, powerful roar from its diesel engine. The sound was particularly jarring in the dead silence of the ruins.

He took one last, complex look at the three-story building that held most of his memories from the early days of the apocalypse, but felt no lingering attachment.

Shift into gear, release the clutch, lightly press the accelerator.

The SUV rolled over the considerably drier silt, leaving two deep ruts in its wake as it slowly drove out of Cyan Pine Ridge Town.

Destination: Jiang City Shelter.

The road ahead was bound to be rough and might even hold unknown challenges, but Xu Mo’s gaze was calm and resolute.

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, piloting the steel beast as he plunged without a second thought into the vast land that had been washed clean by the flood—a land where crisis and opportunity now coexisted. At this very moment, for Xu Mo, everything was just beginning.