Chapter 60 Moving Back to the University Student Quarter

Looking at the utterly exhausted boy before her, Jiang Qiyu sighed and said in a deep voice, "You all wait here for a moment. I need to head back to the base and bring people over."

Hearing this, the others hurriedly grabbed her wrists, their eyes filled with panic and pleading, "No, no... It's dangerous here, you can't leave us behind!"

"This is no time to be stubborn." Jiang Qiyu frowned slightly, her tone remaining steady. "Look at your condition; you won't be able to make it very far on your own. I move faster alone, and staying here to wait for my rescue is your best option."

She turned her gaze to Li Dalin nearby and instructed him, "Old Li, I'm counting on you. Stay here and look after them. These students' condition won't hold up through a long wait, so keep a close watch and don't let any zombies get near."

"All right, don't worry, I'll keep an eye on them," Li Dalin muttered, smacking his lips.

Turning back to the boy, Jiang Qiyu said, "Once I bring people and supplies back, we'll take all of you safely back to the base. Remember, no matter what happens, do not wander off."

The boy opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something more, but ultimately could only nod with a trembling motion. Jiang Qiyu swept a glance over the frail and helpless students, quickly scanned the surroundings once more to ensure no zombies were in sight, and then decisively turned to leave in the direction of the base via the fastest route.

The cold wind of early dawn whistled past her ears, yet Jiang Qiyu's heart felt heavier than ever before. She knew that in this wasteland, no one survived easily—not even these students who had been lucky enough to cross paths with her.

When Jiang Qiyu returned to the base, the sky was already turning pale. A thin morning mist draped over the empty courtyard, and a few early-rising birds fluttered overhead. However, this rare and peaceful scene did not grant her a moment of rest. She strode toward the courtyard and kicked Li Dalin awake as he dozed against the compound wall.

"We have a mission," Jiang Qiyu's tone was as calm as if she were discussing the weather, but her sharp gaze and commanding aura made it immediately clear that this was no ordinary matter. "Wake everyone up, bring four vehicles and enough fuel. I'm going to rescue a batch of students, and I want them alive."

Zhou Yun scrambled up from the stone steps in a daze, rubbing his eyes. Once it registered, a look of excitement spread across his face. "Students? No problem! I'll wake everyone up right now." Without another word, he sprinted off, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Brothers and sisters, wake up! We've got a mission—"

Several survivors who had been repairing weapons under the eaves immediately snapped to attention at the call. Hurriedly packing away their tools, they quickly gathered together. Wu Ning, the chubby one, was the first to squeeze his way to the front of Jiang Qiyu, panting as he asked, "Rescue? How many people? Is it far?"

Jiang Qiyu cast a glance at him, her tone slightly cold, "The exact number isn't confirmed yet, but they're students on a walking drill, so there are probably quite a few injuries. The incident happened on the highway to the southeast. If we don't rush over, a horde might surround them at any moment."

The awakening group was instantly shocked into full alertness by her words; no one dared to disobey. Complaining about what kind of ungodly morning mission this was, they skillfully climbed into the off-road vehicles, while others immediately began inspecting engines and tires.

Lin Xiaoxiao crawled out half-asleep, stunned by the spectacle. Noticing that Jiang Qiyu was currently cocking a pistol as if ready to move out at any second, she couldn't help raising an eyebrow and asking, "Students? What kind of students?"

"The kind that can run," Jiang Qiyu answered casually. She swung her leg over the field motorcycle parked by the roadside and stated without looking back, "Enough talking. Get in the vehicles and keep close to me."

Revving the motorcycle, Jiang Qiyu uttered decisively, "Watch out for the wounded; we'll assess the rest when we reach the site. Move out."

Before the last word faded, the motorcycle surged out of the gates, leaving behind a roaring trail of sound. Immediately following it, four off-road vehicles roared to life, driving out of the base gates and kicking up a cloud of dust from the ground.

Half an hour later, Jiang Qiyu and her team arrived at the scene of the incident. This stretch of highway had clearly witnessed a chaotic stampede; the guardrails on both sides of the lanes were smashed askew, and a few stray zombies wandered among the jumbled wreckage of cars, their dripping blood pooling into small rivulets that drained into the roadside ditch.

Before the convoy had even come to a complete halt, Jiang Qiyu was the first to dismount from her motorcycle. She looked down at a few scattered, tattered books on the ground, where mud and blood stains still obscured the titles.

"Stay alert, everyone," she said coldly, her wrist flicking as she drew her pistol.

The air was heavy with the pungent stench of blood, and several zombies still roamed not far away. The team quickly spread out to search for the surviving students. The headlights of the off-road vehicles illuminated the roadside bushes, where a figure was curled up and shivering violently.

"Over here, there's someone!" Lin Xiaoxiao called out, running over immediately. It was a girl who looked no more than eighteen or nineteen years old, covered in dirt and tear-streaked. Upon seeing people approach, she hugged herself tightly in terror.

"Don't be afraid, we're here to rescue you," Lin Xiaoxiao softened her voice, approaching slowly and holding out a bottle of water. "Drink some water."

The girl hesitated for a moment before finally taking the water and drinking it in small, hesitant sips.

The search lasted for nearly an hour, ultimately uncovering twelve surviving students, several of whom had sustained minor injuries. Jiang Qiyu had them board the vehicles first while the rest of the team continued searching. Once certain no one was left behind, the convoy headed back the way they came.

Upon returning to the base, the students were settled into clean rooms. Jiang Fengmian, the base doctor, carefully examined their conditions and treated their wounds. Meanwhile, Zhou Yun and Liu Mei bustled about in the kitchen, preparing steaming hot meals for the students.

"Here, child, eat a little more," Zhou Yun said, handing a bowl of fragrant meat soup to a pale-looking little boy. "Don't be scared, you're safe here."

The little boy timidly accepted the bowl, lowered his head to take a sip, and his eyes reddened. "Thank you, auntie."

"It's nothing, eat slowly, there's plenty more if you need it," Liu Mei said, gently stroking his head to comfort him.

After eating their fill, the students' emotions gradually stabilized. They gathered in the courtyard, looking at the busy people around the base with eyes full of gratitude.

"Thank you for saving us," a tall boy stepped forward and bowed deeply to Jiang Qiyu. "If it weren't for you guys, none of us would have survived."

"Yes, thank you so much," other students chimed in agreement.

Shedding her blood-stained clothes, Jiang Qiyu stepped into the bathroom and turned on the hot water valve.

A cascade of warm water showered down, washing away the fatigue and the smell of blood clinging to her skin. Steam filled the bathroom, blurring the mirror and softening the coldness in her eyes.

She closed her eyes, letting the hot water envelop her entire body, feeling every inch of her muscles relax. The water cascaded down her hair, carrying away the grime and washing away the restlessness in her heart.

The hot shower cleansed her of gore and exhaustion, washing away the murderous aura within her. Changing into clean and comfortable loungewear, she walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazed at the tranquil night view outside, and took a deep breath.

The night breeze brushed past with a hint of chill, making her feel exceptionally comfortable. She stretched her limbs, letting her muscles fully uncoil. At this moment, the world seemed to fall quiet, leaving only herself to enjoy this fleeting moment of peace.

Having soaked in a hot shower, her entire body was relaxed, and the day's fatigue had melted away. She walked to the window, looked out at the brightly lit base, and a smile touched the corners of her lips.

From the students' accounts, Jiang Qiyu learned that they had fled from the school grounds after a giant zombie appeared there. They had intended to escape for their lives, but unfortunately met with a car accident along the way.

Early the next morning, Jiang Qiyu changed into a neat, crisp athletic outfit and stepped out of her room. The base had already begun its bustling day; people moved back and forth in an orderly fashion. The students were gathered in the courtyard, and upon seeing her approach, they stood up somewhat timidly.

"How did you sleep last night?" she asked, her gaze sweeping over the group, her tone unhurried yet carrying a trace of authority.

"I... pretty well, thank you, sister," a petite girl whispered, still clutching a piece of bread in her hand.

"I heard you escaped from the school. Can you tell me the specific details?" Jiang Qiyu cut straight to the point, her voice calm yet compelling.

The tall boy looked at the others before finally stepping forward, lowering his head with a look of lingering frustration. "We were originally hiding inside the school, but then..."

"A giant zombie appeared in the school!" a short-haired girl interrupted anxiously, horror instantly washing over her face. "It was terrifying, much bigger than ordinary zombies, and it was smart. It spotted us from far away!"

"Yeah, and it led a whole horde of zombies to chase us. We couldn't stay at the school anymore," a bespectacled boy added, his voice trembling with unease. "We initially tried to run through the back gate, but we ran into a runaway truck on the road..."

"The truck crashed right into us, and several people were sent flying on the spot," another girl sobbed. "We had no choice but to desperately hide in the bushes. Later on, we didn't know where that horde of zombies went, so we... we managed to survive by sheer luck."

Hearing this, Jiang Qiyu furrowed her brows slightly. "Can you describe what the giant zombie looked like?"

The short-haired girl nodded, trying hard to recall. "It must have been three or four meters tall. It looked almost as if several people had been fused together, with exceptionally long arms and immense strength, and... and its eyes were red. It was terrifying when it stared at someone."

"Also, it moved much faster than ordinary zombies, and anyone it bit was infected almost immediately," the tall boy added.

Jiang Qiyu lowered her gaze in deep thought for a moment before lifting her head to look at them. "You were very brave, and naturally, it's best that you survived. From now on, you can rest easy here at the base and no longer need to worry about your safety."

A series of past scenes flashed through her mind—small bases being ruthlessly assaulted by high-level zombies, their orderly buildings shaken to the brink of collapse, sharp howls and people's terrified screams weaving together into an unforgettable nightmare. A heavy weight settled in her chest, and that familiar sense of powerlessness crept over her once more, leaving her with an enduring chill that seemed impossible to shake off.

The school was not far from the base, and the emergence of the giant zombie made this hidden threat glaringly obvious. If allowed to roam freely, it would not only jeopardize the safety of the base but could potentially shatter the fragile order they had worked so hard to build.