Chapter Sixteen: A Fortunate Encounter with a Kindred Spirit

The car swerved to avoid zombies as it took another turn, finally arriving at a gas station—her first destination.

This was the closest gas station to her home, one she had frequented often before the apocalypse. Now, numerous cars lay scattered haphazardly within the station’s confines. Lin Qingqing had no choice but to park on the roadside, lock the doors, and cautiously approach with her weapon in hand.

There had to be zombies here, probably more than one, but at this moment, they were all already dead.

Lin Qingqing raised an eyebrow as she surveyed the scattered zombie corpses.

The methods used to kill them were clean and efficient—almost all dispatched in a single lethal move. It was clear this was no ordinary person’s handiwork.

“Who’s there?”

As she examined the bodies, a sharp voice suddenly called out from behind a gas pump.

Lin Qingqing quickly turned her head, gripping her weapon tightly in her right hand, her left poised to unleash her abilities at any moment.

“I’m just here to fill up one canister!” she called back loudly in the direction of the voice, signaling her peaceful intent.

After a long pause, the figure cautiously peeked out from behind the pump.

“Just you alone?”

There was a trace of disbelief in the voice, as if it was inconceivable that the person before him was a lone young woman.

Lin Qingqing took a better look and saw the man: clad in crisp camouflage, with dark skin and an upright posture—his bearing that of a soldier.

“You’re alone, too?”

She asked knowingly. If this person had killed the zombies here, his caution likely meant he was alone as well.

“Yeah, I’m here to refuel too,” he replied.

Just as she suspected, he stepped out from the shadow of the gas pump, appearing unwilling to start any conflict.

Only then did Lin Qingqing notice the gun in his hand.

She tensed, unable to imagine what might have happened if she had shown even the slightest resistance or hostile intent—she could have been shot on the spot.

“You’re... military? This is a gas station,” Lin Qingqing said, glancing at the gun, reminding him that this was no place to fire indiscriminately.

“Oh, sorry. Where are you from? Why are you alone?”

Perhaps sensing she posed no threat, he lowered his weapon.

Though he didn’t disclose his identity outright, Lin Qingqing felt relieved that communication was possible.

“I left the Furong Residential Complex two weeks ago to scavenge supplies. I hid in a kindergarten for half a month and only left today.”

Setting aside her abilities and past conflicts with Zhou Mang and others, she briefly recounted her post-apocalyptic experiences without hiding much.

“You’re also from the Furong Complex?”

Though the man appeared composed, he was young, and his surprised expression was unmistakable.

Noticing his odd expression, Lin Qingqing calmly inquired, “What about Furong Complex?”

“Oh, nothing. We’re planning to escort some civilians back to our base shortly—they’re from your Furong Complex too.”

“What do you mean?”

She had assumed he was alone like her, but it turned out he had a team.

“Here’s the situation: our squad was sent by the Rongcheng Base to Jin City on a mission. On our way back, we passed through Furong Complex and saw several civilians surrounded by zombies. They said they were from Furong and wanted to come with us to Rongcheng Base. The squad leader agreed.”

Lin Qingqing was surprised; she hadn’t expected anyone else from the complex to dare venture out.

But, thinking it over, it made sense. Only a third of the population survived the apocalypse. Residents should have had ample supplies, but the violent oppression by Zhou Mang’s group had caused growing unrest. Some would inevitably resist rather than submit.

Those unwilling to yield to Zhou Mang’s tyranny had no choice but to risk leaving the complex.

“Can I come with you?”

Her mind racing, Lin Qingqing made a decision.

Judging by the way he referred to civilians, she was almost certain he was a soldier.

Perhaps because the people of Huaguo held soldiers in high regard, and because he spoke politely and openly, she decided to follow them to the base—surely, there she could find the answers she sought.

Without hesitation, he agreed. “The squad leader already decided to take people back; one more won’t make a difference,” he thought.

Besides, a woman who had survived alone this long must be brave and capable.

“All right. Fill up your tank, and then follow me,” he said.

Relieved at his willingness, Lin Qingqing found this young soldier easy to talk to.

“By the way, I’m Lin Qingqing. What should I call you?”

“Just call me Xiao Lu.”

Xiao Lu scratched the back of his head and smiled.

With his help, Lin Qingqing quickly filled the car’s tank.

Xiao Lu drove a pickup truck, and since he was out alone specifically to find fuel, his truck bed was loaded with fuel cans.

Seeing this, Lin Qingqing decided to prepare a canister for herself as well.

Xiao Lu seemed accustomed to this routine. He led the way, driving ahead, while Lin Qingqing followed leisurely behind.

After a short distance, they stopped at a familiar intersection.

Staring at the gate of the residential complex at the road’s end, Lin Qingqing was speechless.

After all that driving around, they had ended up right back where they started.

“Report to the squad leader: mission accomplished,” Xiao Lu said as he got out and approached a military jeep.

By now, Lin Qingqing had taken stock of the team: twelve people, three vehicles—one military jeep, one military truck, and the pickup Xiao Lu had driven.

They all shared a similar aura—young, capable, and highly synchronized—making it easy to guess their true identity.

“A real military squad,” Lin Qingqing thought, feeling more at ease.

But what were they doing in front of her home?

Curious, she approached Xiao Lu after his report. “What are you doing here? Waiting for someone?”

“Yeah. The few who were going to come with us said they had to return for their families first.”

“I see,” she said, resigned, and decided to wait with them.

Perhaps sensing her boredom, Xiao Lu took the initiative to introduce the Rongcheng Base.

“Our Rongcheng Base was established half a month after the apocalypse, about 50 kilometers northeast of Rongcheng. It was originally a developing area of villas and upscale residences, surrounded by farmland and estates. With ample land and few people, after the base was set up, around 300,000 survivors gradually relocated from nearby towns.”

“What about the powered ones?” Lin Qingqing asked after a moment’s thought.

“There are about seven to eight thousand of them.”

“That many?”

“Not really. Compared to the 300,000 population, it’s not much. Most are first-level powered individuals. Only the squad leaders of the powered teams reach second-level. And only a small fraction can actually fight. Others mostly handle logistics, and many aren’t much stronger than ordinary people with good physical fitness.”

Xiao Lu probably assumed Lin Qingqing was ordinary, so he didn’t go into detail on powered individuals.

But the subject was exactly what Lin Qingqing wanted to know. She didn’t hide her own abilities and asked directly, “Comrade, do you know how powers are graded?”

Xiao Lu was surprised by the question and was about to answer when a deep voice from behind interrupted.

“You’re a powered individual, young lady?”

Though phrased as a question, the tone was more of a statement.

“Squad leader!”

Xiao Lu straightened up immediately upon seeing the newcomer.

“Miss Lin, nice to meet you. I’m Captain Xiao Pengfei.”

Lin Qingqing turned to see a middle-aged man with dark skin and a resolute face. Like Xiao Lu, he wore camouflage, stood tall, and carried himself with an almost rigid sense of discipline.

“Hello, Captain Xiao,” Lin Qingqing greeted him with a smile.

“I am indeed a powered individual, though I awakened recently and am still learning to use and train my abilities,” she said, offering a shy smile.

Her words caught not only Xiao Lu’s attention but also that of others, who turned to look at her.

This young woman was also powered? How come they kept encountering so many powered individuals on this trip?