At the Fuli Huang Grand Hotel, over a dozen fully armed security team members, led by Wang Ou, meticulously searched floor by floor, leaving no room unchecked.
Yet to their astonishment, they reached the top floor without finding a single soul!
"Damn it, did they grow wings and fly away?" Wang Ou roared in frustration.
A team member immediately reported the situation to Captain Wang Peng below.
Hearing the report, Wang Peng frowned deeply. "How is this possible? There are only a few exits in the building, and our people are guarding all sides. How could they have escaped? They must still be hiding somewhere inside. Are you sure you searched thoroughly?"
"Absolutely. I checked everywhere—there's no way I missed anything!" Wang Ou declared firmly.
Wang Peng knew that despite Wang Ou's brash and reckless nature, he never slacked in critical matters. But where could they have gone?
"Fine, take your team and search again. It'll be dark soon—whether we find them or not, we need to withdraw!" Wang Peng ordered.
"Got it!"
They began another thorough search, unaware that their targets had already emerged from a manhole cover a thousand meters away at a street corner.
Covered in black sludge and reeking of a nauseating stench—ironically masking their human scent—the three slipped out unnoticed by the Zombies nearby.
Leaning against the wall, panting heavily, Wang Han gasped, "That was close. Almost got torn apart by rats instead of Zombies. If not for your Flashbang, we'd have been done for today!"
Bai Wen's breathing remained steady. Even after nearly being swarmed by hordes of rat Zombies, he showed little panic. Having already died once, his calmness had ensured their safe escape from the sewers. The rat Zombies, startled by the Flashbang, hadn't pursued them, likely still wary of sunlight.
"We can't stay here. Let's move—we need shelter before nightfall," Bai Wen said grimly.
Wang Han's eyes flickered. Bai Wen's implication was clear: he wanted to go to Wang Han's secret hideout. But Wang Han wasn't foolish. Bai Wen's actions so far revealed a ruthless, cold-blooded nature—he trusted no one easily. If they led him to their supplies, he might kill them on the spot.
Keeping his tone neutral, Wang Han replied, "My hideout is too far. We won't make it before dark. We'll need to find another safe spot for tonight and head there tomorrow."
Bai Wen crouched low, observing the hotel in the distance, and asked without turning, "Can I trust you?"
"Of course. I, Wang Han, always keep my word. If I say I'll take you there, I will," Wang Han asserted.
"Hope you mean it. Follow me." With a wave, Bai Wen led them around the Fuli Huang Grand Hotel, evading or dispatching a few Zombies along the way. Just before nightfall, they finally reached the villa district.
After entering the villa and closing the door, Wang Han and his daughter collapsed onto the floor like overcooked noodles. The tension they had held throughout their journey instantly dissipated, and exhaustion and weakness flooded over them, leaving them unwilling to move a muscle.
Bai Wen turned and sat on the sofa, removing the Blood-colored Battle Blade and sniper rifle from his back and placing them on the coffee table. He then took off his pistol and dagger, leaning back on the sofa to rest with his eyes closed.
The SCV had quietly floated away to replenish Bai Wen's ammunition.
Despite his seemingly unguarded appearance, he was fully prepared. The guns he had laid out were all empty, while the small pistol hidden in his sleeve was fully loaded. If Wang Han and Wang Ya had any ill intentions toward him, he could kill them instantly—or perhaps spare the girl.
After all, his body at this time was still that of a virgin.
However, Wang Han's loud snoring completely shattered Bai Wen's vigilance.
Staring dumbfounded at the father and daughter who had fallen into deep sleep almost instantly, Bai Wen thought, They just... fell asleep? How carefree can they be?
After about half an hour, Wang Han suddenly jolted awake and immediately checked on Wang Ya beside him. Relieved to see they were both unharmed, he then noticed Bai Wen sitting on the sofa, staring at him unblinkingly. A wave of dread washed over him—had Bai Wen wanted to kill them earlier, it would have been effortless. Even if Bai Wen had wanted the location of their secret hideout, he could have easily restrained and tortured them for the information.
Yet he hadn't acted at all, which greatly surprised Wang Han.
Gurgle~ Wang Ya's stomach betrayed her hunger, and she woke with a start, clutching her belly as she sat up. When she met Bai Wen and Wang Han's gazes, she quickly lowered her head in embarrassment.
Wang Han hurriedly said, "Do you have any food left? Share some with us. Once we reach the secret hideout tomorrow, I'll pay you back double!"
Bai Wen pulled out a few packs of compressed biscuits from his pocket and chuckled. "No need to repay me. Once you've rested, just tell me everything about the Black Cloud Safe Zone. Deal?"
"You—what do you plan to do?" Wang Han stared at Bai Wen in disbelief.
"After the humiliation they put us through today, don't you think it's only fair to return the favor?" Bai Wen replied with a cold smile.
"You must be insane! They have so many people and so many guns—how could you possibly take them on alone?" Wang Han exclaimed.
"That's not your concern," Bai Wen said indifferently.
Wang Han nodded. He really shouldn't meddle. As long as Bai Wen didn't harm them, why should he care who Bai Wen went after?
Without hesitation, he grabbed the compressed biscuits, splitting them equally with Wang Ya, and the two wolfed them down ravenously.
After finishing their meal and drinking some water, Wang Han sent Wang Ya to rest in one of the bedrooms before sitting down with Bai Wen to discuss the Black Cloud Safe Zone.
The Black Cloud Safe Zone was located within S City, built around a large underground shopping mall. The mall housed a massive stockpile of supplies, and the leader was a man named Hei Yun—a former crime boss with a history of ruthless deeds.
When the zombie virus first broke out, he and his gang had immediately seized control of the underground mall, gathering survivors en masse. Later, they scavenged a considerable amount of abandoned military weaponry and equipment, making their forces exceptionally formidable.
Hei Yun acted like a tyrant within the Safe Zone, playing the role of a local despot. Apart from his guards, he treated other survivors as less than human. Women were nothing more than toys for him and his guards to vent their lust, while the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled were simply thrown outside to fend for themselves.
Hearing this, Bai Wen's eyes flashed as he looked at Wang Han and chuckled, "I suppose your position in the Black Cloud Safe Zone isn't low either?"
Wang Han nodded with a bitter smile. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you. I was the instructor who trained those guards—you could say I was Hei Yun's right-hand man. At first, my purpose in training the guards was solely to fight Zombies, but I never imagined I'd end up training so many executioners!"