Chapter Eleven: Searching for Supplies at the Gas Station

Chen Yi stood before a field of ruins, casting a glance at the corpse lying on the ground. In his eyes, there was a flicker of memory. The vengeance of his previous life had finally been repaid in this one.

"Let's go," he said.

He could see zombies beginning to gather nearby. Any further delay would only drain more of their strength. Chen Yi had no intention of lingering here to admire Pei Yurou's lifeless body.

Chu Yunxi followed closely behind him, her face devoid of unnecessary expression. In her heart, she believed Pei Yurou had brought this upon herself. Though she couldn't understand why Chen Yi seemed to harbor special feelings toward Pei Yurou, she was smart enough not to probe such private matters.

"Chen Yi, where are we headed next?" Chu Yunxi asked softly as she kept pace.

Chen Yi paused, recalling experiences from his past life. A memory flashed across his mind.

"The Eastern District," he replied. "There's a settlement there, established in the early days of the apocalypse. A trustworthy friend of mine is there."

Chu Yunxi nodded, her tone full of trust. "Alright, wherever you go, I'll follow."

They made their way to the street and discovered an off-road vehicle, which appeared to be in excellent condition. Both the front and rear had makeshift guard rails, offering some resistance and the ability to break through obstacles. Such a vehicle was an invaluable mode of transport in the apocalypse.

Chen Yi surveyed the area, confirming there was no immediate danger. He picked up a stone and smashed the car's window.

Chu Yunxi glanced nervously around, afraid the noise might attract zombies.

"Hurry, be careful," Chen Yi urged, prompting her to get in.

He deftly opened the door and slipped into the driver's seat. With no key, Chen Yi quickly detached a few wires to start the car—a skill he had learned during his survival in the underworld of his previous life. In no time, the engine roared to life.

Chu Yunxi gazed at him with admiration. "You're amazing!" she exclaimed.

Chen Yi smiled faintly, but his expression soon grew serious. He checked the fuel gauge and frowned. "We're almost out of gasoline. We need to find a gas station first."

Chu Yunxi thought for a moment. "I remember there's a gas station not far from here. We can go there first."

"Alright, let's head out," Chen Yi said decisively.

He pressed the accelerator, steering clear of places where people might be gathered.

Thanks to Chu Yunxi's excellent memory of the map, they made their way to the gas station smoothly. Her contribution during this journey left Chen Yi thoroughly satisfied; he had indeed saved the right campus beauty.

Finally, they arrived at their destination. Outside the gas station, a few scattered zombies lingered, but there were not too many.

"You refuel the car, I'll take care of the zombies," Chen Yi instructed.

Chu Yunxi nodded and took up the fuel nozzle, operating it expertly to begin refueling. Meanwhile, Chen Yi advanced on the zombies, twin blades in hand. His movements were swift, slicing through the undead, blood splattering with each blow.

"Almost done, just a bit longer," Chu Yunxi said anxiously, keeping an eye on their surroundings as she refueled.

After dealing with the last zombie, Chen Yi turned and asked, "Is it full?"

"Yes, it's full," Chu Yunxi replied, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

"There are fuel cans in the trunk. Let's stock up more," Chen Yi said, opening the trunk and taking out two cans. He stood guard as they were filled, then stored them away.

He was curious, though—fuel nozzles typically had restrictions, so how had Chu Yunxi managed to refuel for free? Chu Yunxi explained that she'd forgotten about the limitation, but surprisingly, the fuel flowed with just a press. It was likely due to a damaged electrical system, which prevented the valves from fully closing.

Chen Yi didn't dwell on these details. He glanced toward the gas station's convenience store.

"Get in. We'll block the entrance with the car, then go inside to find some food and tools," Chen Yi directed.

They parked the vehicle at the supermarket entrance, using it as a barricade to prevent more zombies from flooding in. Then, they entered the store from the other side of the car.

Upon entering, they discovered several zombies inside had already been dealt with.

"Someone's been here," Chen Yi murmured, scanning the area warily.

Chu Yunxi's nerves tightened. "Could it be an enemy?"

"Not necessarily, but we can't drop our guard," Chen Yi replied, gripping his twin blades as he advanced.

Suddenly, a figure darted out from behind a shelf—a middle-aged man, knife in hand, equally alert. He stared at Chen Yi and Chu Yunxi in surprise, but quickly lowered his guard.

"Who are you?" the man asked, his voice hoarse, exhaustion evident on his face.

"We're just passing through, looking for some food and tools. What about you?" Chen Yi tried to sound friendly, despite the lingering aura of violence about him. He could easily deal with the man, but with no animosity between them, as long as there was no sign of threat, he had no intention of doing so. He was not eager to become a bloodthirsty monster.

The man sighed and introduced himself. "My name is Li Qiang. I'm here for supplies, too. Alone. I won't be a threat to either of you."

Hearing this, Chu Yunxi relaxed a little. "Then let's each take what we need and not disturb one another."

Li Qiang nodded, agreeing to the proposal.

The three began searching the supermarket for useful items. Chen Yi found canned food, bottled water, and some basic tools like screwdrivers and tape. He also made sure to pick up some medicines—nothing rare, but enough to treat minor ailments if needed.

Chu Yunxi discovered some dry rations, drinks, and several thick pieces of clothing, neatly stacking them in the back of the off-road vehicle.

"Is this enough?" she asked.

"Yes, it's about right. We need to leave as soon as possible," Chen Yi replied, sensing that the number of zombies outside was growing.

Just then, Li Qiang approached, his expression grave. "It looks like more zombies are coming from outside. We need to figure out a way to break through."

Chen Yi had no intention of concerning himself with this man. Breaking through was his own problem; all Chen Yi needed was to leave.

"Let's go," Chen Yi called, ushering Chu Yunxi into the car.

Li Qiang looked puzzled. "What do you mean, man? Shouldn't we help each other and leave this place together?"

But Chen Yi's gaze remained icy. He had already noticed Li Qiang's abnormal behavior—the way his greedy eyes lingered on Chu Yunxi as she packed supplies. That kind of look could never deceive him.

If it were just a stranger, Chen Yi could ignore him and let him fend for himself. But for someone who dared covet his woman, it was nothing short of courting death.