Chapter Thirteen: The Leader! Setting Off for the Mall!

The comfortable penthouse life didn’t last long. That very night, the villa suddenly lost power without any warning.

In the darkness, Da Lin cursed under his breath and fumbled around for a lighter. The flickering flame illuminated his panicked face. “Damn it, what’s going on? It’s only been a few days, and the power’s already out?”

Qi Yu calmly pulled a backup generator from her space and connected it to the villa’s power supply. The moment the electricity was restored, she glanced out at the pitch-black city and murmured softly, “The water will run out soon too.” Her tone was as calm as if she were commenting on the weather.

The apocalypse had broken out prematurely, throwing her plans into disarray. Fortunately, she had already stockpiled most of the necessary supplies.

For now, the villa area was relatively safe. Qi Yu decided to continue stocking up the next day, targeting a small shopping mall within the villa compound. Besides the mall, there were plenty of trees and a sports field under construction nearby—perfect for collecting wood and stone to upgrade their territory.

She emptied her portable space and moved the supplies from the basement storage up to the main floor.

First came boxes of instant noodles, self-heating rice meals, biscuits, chocolates, and candies—various snacks she had bought at very low prices before the apocalypse, all close to expiration but enough to last her several years.

Next were staple foods: rice, flour, noodles, vacuum-packed steamed buns, as well as various beans and grains. These she had purchased in tons at wholesale markets, enough to feed a small shelter for months.

Then came daily necessities: boxes of toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, and so on. In the apocalypse, these everyday items were hard currency, worth more than gold or jewels.

After that, a wide array of medicines: cold remedies, anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, fever reducers, treatments for wounds, bandages, gauze, and medications for chronic illnesses. These medicines were lifesavers in the apocalypse, priceless treasures.

In addition, there were massive amounts of bottled mineral water, purified water, and various drinks like milk and juice—vital supplies for survival.

She also gathered various tools: diesel generators, gasoline cans, lighters, flashlights, entrenching tools, kitchen knives, axes—tools essential for generating power, providing light, self-defense, and chopping firewood.

Finally, she moved some books, movies, TV series, and games—spiritual nourishment to pass the time, relieve stress, and maintain a good mindset during the apocalypse.

Looking at the mountain of supplies inside the space, Qi Yu nodded with satisfaction. These resources would sustain her for a long time in this catastrophic world.

The satisfaction from stockpiling brought her a fleeting sense of security, but the harsh lessons of the apocalypse reminded her that this was no time to relax.

At dawn, Qi Yu gathered the survivors in the villa to assign tasks.

She left six people to guard the house. Three were assigned to the breeding team, tasked with converting the swimming pool into a small fish pond and building chicken and duck coops in the yard, preparing to raise the fish fry and poultry stored in the space. Lin Xiaoxiao, who usually kept a low profile, was sent with two others to organize the warehouse, sorting supplies by expiration date and creating a daily food distribution plan.

“Today’s main goal is to secure the small mall in the villa area. Collecting resources from the sports field and forest will be postponed for now,” Qi Yu said, scanning the group with a steady voice. “Right now, I’m the only one who can fight. To survive in this apocalypse, we must be able to protect ourselves.” She paused before assigning tasks. “Da Lin, Wu Ning, Zhang Qiang, Wang Yu, Zhao Hu, the five of you come with me to the mall. Remember, our targets are food, water, medicine, and all daily necessities. Be careful when gathering supplies—keep noise to a minimum to avoid attracting zombies. If danger arises, retreat immediately; don’t linger.”

Turning to the other three, her tone softened a bit. “Lin Xiaoxiao, take Liu Mei and Sun Fang to the warehouse to organize supplies by expiration date and prepare a detailed daily food distribution plan. Food is our lifeline; we must record carefully to avoid waste and spoilage. Also, the warehouse holds a wide variety of items—you must classify and register everything properly for easy retrieval later.”

Finally, she looked at the breeding team. “Chen Ping, Li Ming, Yang Tao, you three are responsible for transforming the pool into a fish pond and building chicken and duck coops in the yard. The fish fry and poultry are in the warehouse, just bring them out and start raising them. Breeding is a long-term project that requires patience and care. The fish pond must be cleaned regularly, and the coops kept sanitary to prevent disease. Remember, we’re not just surviving—we want to live well. Keep track of what breeding supplies are missing and tell me promptly. We’ll bring what’s needed.”

Da Lin, who had been on watch at the penthouse the night before, along with Wu Ning and two other survivors, accompanied Qi Yu to the mall.

“Miss Jiang, do we really need to go now? We still have enough supplies, right? Maybe… it’s too dangerous outside,” Wang Yu, short and stocky, rubbed his hands nervously, his face full of worry.

Qi Yu shot him a cold glance. “We have enough now, but what about later? When you finish these supplies and the zombies outside multiply, what will you live on? Do you want to starve or get bitten by zombies? Choose one.”

Wang Yu shrank back, not daring to say another word.

“Old Li, distribute the weapons,” Qi Yu said, ignoring him as she turned to Da Lin.

Da Lin was experienced and the main combat strength of the group. Qi Yu handed him an HK416 assault rifle and a Glock 17 pistol. “Old Li, you cover assault and close combat. Use the rifle to suppress zombies and the pistol for self-defense at close range.”

Wu Ning was small but agile, suitable for long-range attacks. Qi Yu gave him an AWM sniper rifle and a USP pistol. “Little Wu, you handle long-range sniping. Prioritize taking out special zombies and dangerous targets. Conserve ammo.”

Zhang Qiang was tall and strong but lacked combat experience. Qi Yu gave him an M249 light machine gun and a Desert Eagle pistol. “Zhang Qiang, you provide fire suppression. The machine gun is effective for controlling zombie hordes. Use the pistol for close defense, but watch the recoil.”

Wang Yu was timid but strong. Qi Yu gave him a Remington 870 shotgun and a Glock 18 pistol. “Wang Yu, you handle close-range defense. The shotgun can keep zombies at bay; use the pistol for emergencies.”

Zhao Hu was young and vigorous but impulsive. Qi Yu gave him an MP5 submachine gun and a P226 pistol. “Zhao Hu, you’re energetic—handle mobile support. The submachine gun suits close combat; the pistol supplements firepower. Remember, don’t act rashly; coordinate with the team.”

Qi Yu herself carried an M4A1 carbine and a custom dagger. The carbine was for mid-range combat, and the dagger for close self-defense. She also carried a tactical backpack filled with spare magazines, first aid supplies, and special tools.

“Check your weapons to ensure they’re in working order,” Qi Yu instructed solemnly, scanning the group. “Remember, we’re a team. We must cooperate to survive the apocalypse. I will direct based on the situation. Everyone must obey orders—no acting on your own.”

The group looked at their weapons, exchanging uncertain glances. Except for Da Lin, who had some knowledge, the rest were novices. Wang Yu fiddled with the shotgun, unable to find the trigger, and asked with a troubled expression, “Miss Jiang, how do you use this thing?” Zhang Qiang shook his head, struggling to carry the heavy machine gun. “This is way too heavy! I’m not sure I can even hold it up.”

Qi Yu sighed, realizing she had to start from scratch. “Put them down.” She picked up her M4A1 and skillfully disassembled and reassembled it while explaining each part’s function. “The principle is simple: gunpowder gases propel the bullet out. Always prioritize safety, stability, and accuracy.”

“Safety means never pointing the muzzle at anyone; stability means balancing your body and resting the stock against your shoulder; accuracy means aligning sight, target, and eye, and gently squeezing the trigger.” She demonstrated the shooting stance, and the group practiced along. Under her guidance, Wang Yu finally fired a shot, and Zhang Qiang gradually controlled the machine gun. The others also began to get the hang of it.

“Very good, you’re learning quickly,” Qi Yu nodded approvingly. “There’s no time for live-fire training now, but remember: safety first, and work together.”

“Let’s move out!” Qi Yu gave the order. The group immediately set off toward the small mall in the villa area, maintaining vigilance and ready to respond to any emergencies along the way.