Chapter 72: The Surviving Squad of Yangcheng University

A motorcycle sped along the concrete road, carrying a man and a woman. Although the crops on both sides of the road were growing in a highly abnormal fashion, the pair on the bike seemed not to notice, showing no intention of evading them.

Shen Lie had ultimately failed to shake off Xia Ke. Though he knew full well that keeping her along would be a significant burden, he was not a cold-blooded man; he could not simply abandon a fragile woman who had saved his life in the wilderness.

"Are you sure we won't attract monsters by being so brazen?" Xia Ke asked, clutching Shen Lie’s jacket nervously from the back seat. Seeing him plow ahead regardless of the danger, she couldn't help but gently suggest he keep a lower profile—after all, this was the apocalypse.

Shen Lie did not reply; instead, he twisted the throttle harder. The motorcycle left a trail of exhaust smoke on the concrete, causing Xia Ke to roll her eyes fiercely behind his back.

"Hold on tight!"

A small bridge appeared ahead, destroyed by some unknown force. Shen Lie shouted, jerked the handlebars upward, and the motorcycle soared into the air, leaping over the water amidst Xia Ke’s scream.

Beyond the bridge lay a dilapidated village. It appeared to have been swept by large monsters; rows of brick houses had collapsed, and even the village trees had suffered varying degrees of damage.

The entire village was deserted, devoid of bloodstains or corpses. Shen Lie was already accustomed to this sight; he had encountered many such villages along the way. Since they were close to Yangcheng, the inhabitants had undoubtedly all evacuated there. Furthermore, food was scarce in any village or township now, as most supplies had been carried away during the evacuation, and whatever remained had either spoiled or been ransacked by later survivors. Dongfeng Town had been a rare exception.

After a cursory check revealed no signs of human life or edible supplies, Shen Lie took Xia Ke and resumed their journey.

Qingshui Town, one of the major townships under the city's jurisdiction, was located thirty kilometers from the city and one hundred kilometers from Yangcheng. After half a day of travel, Shen Lie finally encountered a larger township and his first group of survivors.

Qingshui Town was even larger than Dongfeng Town. Observing no monsters in the vicinity, Shen Lie decided to enter and scavenge for supplies; his spatial gourd was not yet full and could still hold plenty.

However, instead of supplies, he encountered a group of survivors fleeing from Yangcheng. The group consisted of over forty people led by two Awakened ones. Through conversation, he learned they were teachers and students from Yangcheng University.

The mention of Yangcheng University stirred Shen Lie. His cousin, Wen Wan, was a graduate of that institution. He immediately pulled out his phone, scrolled to her photo, and began asking around. Since he carried a generator in his gourd space, his phone remained charged. Yet, after questioning them for a long time, his hopes dimmed—no one recognized her.

"Dinner time! Everyone sit down, no talking, and absolutely no snatching! Whoever snatches doesn't eat today!" A mechanical voice rang out, followed by a gaunt, middle-aged man who walked out from an inner room, struggling with a large bucket.

They were in a spacious, well-decorated restaurant lobby. However, four months had passed since the catastrophe, and with the mutation of microorganisms, very little food remained edible. Even packaged goods were rarely unspoiled.

Although the bucket was large, there were many people. Each person was rationed a single thin bowl of porridge—so watery one could see the bottom. Even so, the pair received nothing. The server merely cast a cold glance at Shen Lie and Xia Ke before pouring the last of the porridge into a large bowl and presenting it with a fawning expression to a young man with short hair.

The young man was unremarkable, with hideous patterns etched across his face. In peaceful times, he would have been considered a typical loser, and even touching a woman’s hand would have been a miracle. But now, he not only ate the best food but was surrounded by three beautiful girls. The reason was simple: he was an Awakened one, and the strongest in the squad at that.

Xia Ke looked indignant at receiving no food. She did not know about Shen Lie’s spatial gourd and assumed he, too, was low on provisions. Though the porridge looked barely palatable, it was food, and she truly feared the gnawing sensation of hunger.

Shen Lie, however, was indifferent. It was clear the group had formed a tight-knit circle, and their exclusion was natural. Besides, his gourd space was stocked with all sorts of food; he lacked for nothing.

He had entered for two reasons: to try his luck in gathering information about Yangcheng—specifically about his cousin—and to see if he could settle Xia Ke with this group, sparing him the distraction of looking after her.

But the current scene made him abandon that thought. With resources so scarce, it was unlikely they would accept another survivor. Seeing no point in staying, he signaled to Xia Ke, and they began walking toward the door.

"Stop right there. Who gave you permission to leave?" A cold voice suddenly rang out just as they reached the exit.

It was the short-haired young man, the leader of the squad. Shen Lie glanced at him dismissively and continued walking, reaching for the door handle. Xia Ke, though nervous, followed closely.

Seeing Shen Lie’s actions, the young man’s face twisted in rage, his hideous facial patterns contorting further. His name was Wang Liguo. Born into a poor rural family, he was the type of person who blended into the background, possessing no special talents. At Yangcheng University, he had always been a social outcast, a typical "loser."

But the apocalypse had changed everything. When the gray mist first appeared, Wang Liguo’s body underwent an awakening. Despite the terrifying patterns that covered his face and body, he gained superhuman abilities. He became a prized asset overnight; classmates who once looked down on him now fawned over him, and even teachers and administrators dared not raise their voices to him. At a mere wave of his hand, beautiful girls would offer themselves to his bed.

For others, it was the apocalypse, but for Wang Liguo, it was paradise. It gave him a sense of dignity and a life he had never dared to imagine.

As time passed, his personality shifted. Once timid and cowardly, the constant fawning and fearful gazes caused his confidence to swell. After the fall of Yangcheng, this arrogance peaked; he could tolerate no one defying his will.

Having swung from one extreme to the other, how could Wang Liguo endure such defiance? In his eyes, Shen Lie’s behavior was a blatant sign of disrespect that made him lose face before his followers. He had to make the man pay; he would use the man's blood to reclaim his honor.

"Whoosh!"

Wang Liguo gave a cruel smile, flicked his hand, and a green, vine-like growth as thick as an arm shot out, lashing toward Shen Lie.

Though Shen Lie had ignored the people in the room, he had remained vigilant. Sensing the disturbance behind him, he shifted sideways, dodging the attack and pulling Xia Ke out of the way.

"Plant ability?"

"An Awakened one!"

Shen Lie and Wang Liguo exclaimed simultaneously. Shen Lie was surprised to encounter a plant-based ability for the first time, while Wang Liguo was shocked to find that Shen Lie was also an Awakened one—a normal person could not have dodged his attack. However, because Shen Lie showed no external physical changes, Wang Liguo had misjudged him.