Chapter 57
“Ahhhh—”
Early in the morning, at only 7 AM, the sun was rising late. It was still only faintly light when a scream shattered the morning quiet of the 16th floor.
These past few days, her mood hadn’t been very good. Even Song Xun had lost the will to cause trouble with Ji Tang. She had been obediently sleeping, holding her wife and daughters. She had just groggily opened her eyes when she was startled awake by Chang Wan’s voice from outside.
Ji Tang, who had been rubbing her eyes in her arms, also sat up reflexively. Even the two cubs were startled awake. Perhaps they were used to falling asleep between their Mama and Mommy and waking up on the other side, with their Mama or Mommy in the middle. The two cubs hid in Ji Tang’s arms.
“What’s wrong outside?”
“I’ll go take a look. You guys stay in the room and don’t move.”
Song Xun grabbed a jacket, put it on, and rushed out the door. Unlike the dimly lit room with the curtains drawn, the living room was much brighter.
When she came out, Shi Tou, Chang Fei, and Ji Chao had also come out. Wang Qingyao’s room was near the window, and being the closest, she was the first to hear the sound and come out. When she reached Chang Wan and pulled the startled woman back, she almost couldn’t help but scream herself.
And then, when everyone rushed out to see, this was the scene before them. The curtains were drawn back. That was nothing. It was normal to open the curtains in the morning.
But it was precisely because the curtains were drawn back that they saw several snakes hanging outside the window.
Their tails were either attached to the rooftop or wrapped around something. They could only see a portion of the snakes’ bodies hanging down, their tongues flicking against the tempered glass.
Unlike the golden python they had encountered before, these were thin snakes, only as thick as an arm, but they were quite long.
To see such a scene so suddenly was beyond terrifying.
For a moment, no one spoke.
But seeing that there was no movement in the living room, Ji Tang, feeling uneasy, couldn’t help but put on her clothes, huddle the two cubs under the quilt, and quickly walk out herself.
“Song Xun, what’s wrong?”
But as soon as she looked up, she saw the snakes hanging on the window and immediately stopped. Song Xun turned around and took her hand, which was clenched into a fist. “Go back and stay with the children.”
Ji Tang shook her head.
She couldn’t always hide behind Song Xun.
Ji Chao and Shi Tou, the two boldest, had already walked to the window. Alright, the snakes on the window were nothing. But when they accidentally looked down, the two Alphas almost screamed, their bodies stiffening, their faces pale.
“What did you see?”
Chang Fei also walked over, and a curse subconsciously escaped his lips. “What the—!”
It wasn’t because of the snakes…
Alright, looking down, there were swarms of snakes in the floodwaters, scrambling up from all directions…
Wasn’t that a bit too scary?!
When they had checked their surroundings before going to bed last night, they hadn’t seen anything. Where did this swarm come from overnight?
She took out her binoculars and looked outside. She could see many more swarms of snakes moving in the floodwaters of the complex.
When they encountered a building, they would climb up. The building opposite was covered in a dense mass of snakes. Although they couldn’t see their own building, building 12, they imagined it wasn’t much different.
“Fuck!”
Ji Chao really couldn’t help but curse. If it weren’t for the fear that the snakes were venomous, or that too many would swarm in, he would have opened the window and chopped them up.
But unfortunately, he couldn’t do that.
Well, now they were really trapped in the building. She just didn’t know if the snakes were only in the complex or if they were everywhere.
“There are too many to kill, and they can’t get in. Close the curtains, turn on the lights, and let’s just go about our business.”
Staring at them would only make them feel worse.
Seeing Song Xun say this, the others looked at each other and then dispersed, going back to what they were doing, though their faces were all grim.
Song Xun took Ji Tang and also went back to their room.
The two cubs were placed on the bed. The two sisters sat obediently together, holding hands, waiting for their Mama and Mommy to come back, not crying or making a fuss.
Seeing the two of them come in, a smile appeared on their chubby little faces.
“Mama, Mommy…”
But Ji Tang really couldn’t smile. Her face was uncontrollably pale. Song Xun stood next to her, her head leaning over to touch her forehead.
“Don’t overthink it. Don’t be afraid. If the sky falls, I’ll be here to hold it up.”
Her low voice was full of seriousness and solemnity. “I’m not dead yet.”
As long as I’m not dead, I will definitely protect you…
Ji Tang understood the meaning behind her words. She should have been moved, but for some reason, a wave of anger rose from her heart.
“What’s with all this talk of dying? Can’t you say something auspicious?”
Seeing that Song Xun was still smiling, Ji Tang bit her lower lip, not feeling happy at all. She pushed away her approaching head and went over to pick up Ji Jinning.
“Little Ning, Mama will take you to wash up. Little Yu’er, go find your Mommy.”
“Okay.”
Ji Jinyu didn’t understand why her Mama and Mommy were fighting again. Seeing Song Xun slowly walk over with her hands behind her back, she obediently climbed out of the quilt and went to the edge of the bed, holding out her hands for Song Xun to carry her to the bathroom.
As she was being held, the little girl couldn’t help but lean into her ear, her little eyes peeking at Ji Tang, and she asked quietly, “Mommy, why is Mama angry?”
Song Xun thought for a moment and then answered her seriously, “This… you’ll understand in 20 years.”
Ji Jinyu still didn’t understand. “Why 20 years?”
“Because in 20 years, you’ll be in your twenties, a big girl.”
If you differentiate into an Alpha, you’ll marry a wife. If you differentiate into an Omega, you’ll get married. Of course, the opposite is also possible.
But that wasn’t important. Just thinking about that scene made Song Xun feel uncomfortable, even more so than the oppressive feeling the snakes had given her.
She held Ji Jinyu up by her little arms and told her in a solemn tone, “Little Yu’er, Mommy is telling you, no early love, you hear me?”
Then, under Ji Jinyu’s bewildered gaze, she turned to look at Ji Jinning. “Little Ning, you too. Of course, if you marry a wife, that’s another matter.”
Ji Jinning looked at her with a stern little face. “I don’t want to. I just want Mama.”
Song Xun’s eyes widened. “No, she’s my wife.”
“My Mama…”
“My wife.”
Song Xun gritted her teeth. “To think I thought you were a sensible, obedient child. If you keep being so stubborn, you’ll be sleeping with your Auntie Wang tonight.”
Ji Jinning was not happy. “I don’t want to. I want to sleep with Mama.”
Song Xun was so angry her eyebrows were about to stand on end. But listening to the mother-daughter squabble, Ji Tang’s heart actually relaxed a little.
The snake-infested building, they really couldn’t go out now. This situation was much more serious than the white moths.
Song Xun had faintly heard a wolf howl before, but it had only been once. If she could describe that as a delusion, then these past few days, she had really been hearing it often.
Not just her, but everyone else had heard it too.
But for the 16th floor, not being able to go out was not a big deal. For now, it didn’t have much of an impact. After all, they had enough food and didn’t lack anything.
And so another week passed.
Early one morning, gunshots rang out. Not just one or two, but a dense volley, and even a few loud booms that sounded like a battle from a war movie.
The curtains in the room were not drawn. The adults were mentally prepared and not afraid, but they were worried about the cubs. So other than occasionally peeking out to check the situation, the curtains were always drawn.
After breakfast, with nothing to do, the group was gathered around playing mahjong. They hadn’t even finished one round when they heard the gunshots from outside.
The game immediately broke up.
With a look from Song Xun, Ji Tang understood and immediately took the two cubs, who had been playing with the dogs, into the room.
The curtains were drawn back, but because of the angle, even with binoculars, they couldn’t see the entire situation outside the complex. But even just that one area, they could see many boats passing by, with soldiers holding guns standing on them.
Bang bang bang…
The gunshots were incessant. It seemed they were clearing out the mutated animals in this area.
A few boats entered the complex. It wasn’t until they got closer to building 12 that Song Xun and the others could see clearly. They were indeed large military assault boats, with military markings on them.
A total of three assault boats came in, with about 20 soldiers. These soldiers cooperated well. Some were shooting at the approaching swarms of snakes, while others seemed to be casting nets to catch them.
There were also people shooting at the snakes that had climbed up the building.
Although they were indeed mutated animals, these snakes were perhaps not highly mutated, or perhaps this was their level. Even if they wrapped around a soldier, their teeth couldn’t pierce the combat uniforms they were wearing.
Song Xun was envious of those combat uniforms. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get her hands on military-grade ones. If she had them, she wouldn’t have had to make those ugly iron sheets last time.
The snakes were probably not venomous. And these soldiers had probably done this many times before, as they cooperated with exceptional skill. In a little over an hour, probably less than two, the visible swarms of snakes in the entire complex had been cleared.
Of course, there were definitely still some in hiding, but at least it was much better than before.
Shi Tou sighed. “The officials are really reliable.”
But Chang Fei was quite puzzled. “I see their main action is to capture. Is there any use for these snakes?”
No one knew the answer to that.
The soldiers spent a full five days clearing the mutated animals in this area. Only then was it clear on the surface.
Then on the sixth day, a loud speaker announcement came from outside.
The officials were going to establish the nation’s first base on Dongshan. They were now looking for able-bodied people to volunteer. It would be a temporary three-month period, which could be extended in special circumstances. Food and lodging would be provided, and at the end of the work period, they would be rewarded with an equivalent amount of grain.
As soon as this news came out, hearing the shouts from outside, a large group of people were immediately shocked. The soundproofing in the apartment was too good. Song Xun had to open a small crack to hear the outside, and then she heard…
Some were asking the soldiers how to sign up, while others were cursing them. The state had food, so they should give it to them for free. Why did they have to work for it?
Song Xun was speechless. At a time like this, how could there still be such self-righteous fools?
The loudspeaker was at the entrance of the complex, not too far, but not close either. The voices from outside were not very clear, but the voices from the rooms where the refugees were staying were the loudest, and very unpleasant.
But no matter what they said, the soldiers, having made their announcement, left.
In two days, assault boats would come to each complex to select people. Those who were suitable would be taken away directly and brought back together at the end.
Since the matter was settled, there was nothing anyone could do. But no one knew if this base was a good or bad thing.
The 16th floor was also thinking about the notice.
In the end, it was decided that Shi Tou and Ji Chao would go in two days. If anything happened, they could look out for each other, and it would be best if they could find out more about the base.
They would be gone for at least three months. Although the officials would provide food, it probably wouldn’t be very good. Song Xun packed a hiking backpack for each of them.
She couldn’t put in cooked food, but she packed plenty of instant noodles, self-heating rice, self-heating hot pot, chocolate, candy, and some cured meat and sausage, things that were simple, filling, and could provide energy.
She also packed some simple medical supplies, antibiotics, alcohol wipes, etc. If it weren’t for the lack of space, she would have wanted to pack a set of quilts and things like that.
She also packed some water. Now with the flood, there was no drinkable water source. Basically, everyone was using the water they had stored during the torrential rain, boiling it before use. This was the best they could do.
Some even used the floodwater directly after boiling it. The official side should be better off, but Song Xun still prepared a few extra bottles.
In the end, she packed a full medium-sized hiking backpack with all sorts of things. She had a large one too, but she was afraid it would be too conspicuous, so she decided against it.
Two days later, assault boats arrived at each complex, calling out. Some people went, some didn’t want to. But since it was for work, the frail and the sick were naturally not selected.
To avoid attracting attention, Shi Tou and Ji Chao deliberately wore old clothes and even messed up their hair a bit. After all, with no water or electricity now, everyone else was disheveled and smelly. If you were clean, wouldn’t you attract hate?
When you’re out, in special times, you have to be more careful.
It was no surprise that the two of them were selected. Three months was indeed a long time. By the time they returned, it would be December.
Although the weather in the apocalypse couldn’t be compared to normal times, and it might not be extremely cold in December, the timeline in Jingbei City was not completely in sync with the Xifeng City in her memory, so Song Xun was still quite worried.
With Shi Tou and Ji Chao gone, she and Chang Fei were the only two Alphas left in the house. Although the dogs were there, Song Xun still didn’t feel safe going out.
So she just stayed put.
She sat at home, accompanying her wife, comforting her children, planting and harvesting, and watching batch after batch of vegetables, fruits, and grains grow. The sense of accomplishment was immense.
The only thing that was still annoying was that the little ball of light was always flitting around her, pestering her for spiritual energy. Song Xun just brushed it off.
She couldn’t go out now anyway. What else could she do besides brushing it off?
And she had already made plans. The jewelry and antiques were now basically soaking underwater, with very few in high-rise buildings. In the future, when the base was established and the salvage teams started focusing on the underwater areas, she could use them to trade with the base.
Once everything stabilized, she could also go out and hunt mutated animals for crystal cores. But the prerequisite for that was awakening an ability.
After all, mutated animals had varying strengths. The weak were fine, but the strong were truly ridiculous. Song Xun didn’t want to risk her life.
In the blink of an eye, three months had passed.
