I jumped down from a piece of iron plate at the old cement factory site. This was part of a mountain workshop. I didn't know what happened to the others. It was daytime, and if they were still alive, they would probably breathe a sigh of relief like me.
Since I hadn't found the root cause Guo team mentioned, I had to go back and find the Punishment Squad. I walked on the road during the day. This time, there weren't many people on the roads and streets. It was estimated that they almost all died last night. There were still many corpses on the road. Some family members were crying and wailing for their dead loved ones. I could only pretend not to see them because there was nothing I could do to help in the current situation, unless we found the source of the plague.
I returned to the place where we had separated earlier, searching everywhere, but I couldn't find anyone. I became increasingly scared, worried that I would discover the corpses of my companions lying on the ground when I got there.
I arrived at a hotel and found that the owner was still alive. I asked about my team. When I mentioned the police, the plump hotel owner said, "You mean those police officers? My hotel was surrounded by rats at the time. Fortunately, they hid inside. With flashlights, sulfur, and other things for lighting, the rats didn't manage to loot the place. After that, they stayed put in the hotel, afraid to move. During the process, a female police officer mentioned someone named He Sheng, saying she was very worried about him. After everyone comforted her a few words, she fell silent. Later, I vaguely fell asleep in fear. When I woke up, I found that the rats had retreated, and they were gone."
"What time was the last time you saw them?" I asked.
The auntie recalled, looking at her watch, "It should have been around 4 AM!"
"4 AM," I muttered. I remembered I was still looking for the generator in that small room. Since they were able to leave, they were probably still alive, but I didn't know where they went. Actually, I had used my phone, but there was no signal here at all, and the radio communicator couldn't be used either. It was probably interfered with by something. Even the screen of my bracelet was a mess.
This meant I couldn't even contact He Xin. I had to keep looking. I took some batteries from the landlady and installed them in my flashlight. Then, I passed by a convenience store and got more batteries. Although the owner was dead, I still scanned the QR code and paid for the batteries.
With so many batteries, I figured they would last for a long time. However, for convenience, I took some more flashlights from the convenience store, then a backpack. Inside, it was filled with large flashlights and batteries. Of course, there was also some food and drink. Now, besides light, the other important thing was sustenance.
After eating some bread and drinking some water, I felt much better, and my spirits recovered considerably. I observed the road and noticed that there were footprints all over the ground, but they were chaotic. These footprints were mixed with the shoes of the townspeople. It was definitely not just our Punishment Squad.
But with the help of the footprint lamp (I had my inspection kit with me, so everything was inside), I could distinguish a special type of footprint. It was Liu Yuning's. Because she had a habit of looking around every few steps when she walked, the footprints she left would be slightly deeper in some places. Of course, ordinary people wouldn't be able to see it, but she and I...
However, no matter what, she is my wife. If I didn't know these things, then I, as a husband, would be too incompetent.
With that thought, I followed the footprints that seemed to spell out Liu Yuning's name, walking all the way, passing many corpses, until I reached an underpass. I was a bit taken aback. Why would it be this kind of place?
Had they gone mad? At a time like this, they still wanted to reach such a dark place, weren't they afraid of being attacked by rats?
With fear, I walked into the underpass. As soon as I entered, I took out my flashlight and shone it around. But there were no rats here, only some sewage flowing everywhere. Above my head were some dazzling lights. It turned out there were lights here too, no wonder there were no rats.
I walked carefully in the underpass. There were fewer footprints here, making it easier for me to distinguish Liu Yuning's footprints. I continued to walk, bypassed the underpass, and reached another area. There was a staircase leading down, and there were also Yuning's footprints nearby. I was surprised at that time. They had actually gone into the sewer? Wasn't that seeking death?
To know that entering the sewer in this situation, that place was where rats were most concentrated. Although I didn't understand, I knew they were all rational. If it wasn't for a last resort, why would they choose this path? So, I didn't think much of it at the time, and just went down with my flashlight. I thought they must have bought a lot of flashlights and batteries like me, after all, this daytime was a good opportunity.
I climbed down with all my might. The iron ladder was quite long, as if it led to an endless abyss, but I still climbed down recklessly, completely unafraid. My mind was filled with thoughts of everyone's safety, and at the same time, with curiosity. I didn't even have time to be afraid.
After coming down, I felt my shoes get wet. This proved that the water level had risen. As soon as I came down, my shoes made splashing sounds, and the water naturally reached my shoes. I held my flashlight and felt around. There was too much water here, so I couldn't distinguish whose footprints they were. But they must have come down. As soon as I came down, I found that many rats were hiding in the gaps of some water pipes. These guys were indeed ambushing here. It was daytime, and most of them were sleeping, but upon seeing me pass by with my flashlight, many rats opened their red eyes.
They smelled the scent of humans and crawled out from the gaps, gradually gathering on the ground near me, crowding in the water. I noticed that after I walked forward a distance, some rats had already fallen to the ground. This proved that Liu Yuning and the others had passed through here just now. I felt that I was close to finding them, so I quickened my pace. I deliberately wore a spotlight on my head, which I had also bought at the store earlier. Its use was now extensive. This beam of light shone forward, and basically, the rats dared not approach. Moreover, the entire sewer was illuminated!
Of course, there wasn't much light behind me, but my flashlight was tied to my waist and pointed backward. This way, I was basically safe all around. With so many pieces of equipment now, I didn't hesitate to use them. Based on the inventory in my backpack, these flashlights and batteries should last for more than a week.
Thus, it seemed I walked to the end of the sewer, but at this moment, I suddenly heard dense gunfire nearby...