Approaching his hometown, Ye Fan felt an increasing sense of nervousness. His concern lingered on the fear that his parents might depart from this world before he could reciprocate the love and care they had showered upon him. The desire to rush back home intensified, fueled by the urgency to assess the situation.
However, upon reaching the outskirts of the city, he quickly realized that the situation was far from straightforward.
The Qin and Han region, with its staggering population of 15 billion and an expansive area of hundreds of millions of square kilometers, boasted cities marked by their sheer magnitude. In this vast expanse, even a seemingly smaller prefecture-level city like the coal city in Ye Fan's hometown spanned over 100 kilometers, housing a bustling urban population in the tens of millions, not to mention the numerous counties, towns, and villages below.
To gain entry into the coal city, one had to navigate the Qixing River, crossing a bridge that served as the sole access point. As Ye Fan's vehicle approached the bridge, he encountered an unexpected hurdle.
The bridge, typically congested under normal circumstances, had become even more impassable in the wake of the apocalypse. The absence of any discernible gaps on the entire bridge was not the primary concern; rather, the daunting sight awaited him on the other side. Countless vehicles formed an impenetrable barrier, virtually blocking the end of his field of vision.
Even if Ye Fan's mining truck could successfully traverse the Seven Star Bridge, the formidable challenge lay ahead on the congested expanse beyond. The post-apocalyptic chaos had transformed the once-traversable route into a formidable obstacle, casting doubt on his ability to navigate through the vehicular maze that awaited him.
Under no circumstances should the road be opened up here in the short term.
In order to reach the town where Ye Fan's home is situated, one must navigate through the urban area—a challenging feat given the current zombie-infested environment.
Despite his impatience, Ye Fan found himself at a loss, grappling with the complexity of the situation before him.
Standing on the Seven Star Bridge, Ye Fan observed a relatively sparse population of zombies along the riverbank. The turbulent flow of the river seemed to act as a deterrent, preventing the undead from approaching the water.
"Sir, what should I do?" Xu Haoran, standing beside Ye Fan, expressed his uncertainty. As members of a combat unit, strategic thinking outside their usual domain proved to be a challenge.
Ye Fan recognized the urgency of the situation and understood the need to devise his own plan, as relying on the red police soldiers was no longer a viable option.
"How long will it take to unblock this bridge?" Ye Fan inquired.
Xu Haoran assessed the situation, stating, "Nearly a thousand vehicles, including heavy ones, are obstructing the bridge. We can use mining trucks to push them into the river, which should take around three hours. The real challenge lies in the road after crossing the bridge—no rivers on both sides to utilize, and the vehicles are tightly packed, impeding progress."
With limited options, Ye Fan reluctantly decided to prioritize unblocking the bridge.
"Then let's commence construction without further delay. This river stretches for thousands of miles, and circumventing it is not an option. We have to open the bridge and find a way through," Ye Fan instructed.
Accepting the order, Xu Haoran promptly led Luo Fei onto the mining truck to begin the challenging task at hand.
Originally, Wang Hu had been assigned to control the machine gun, given his status as a three-star conscript with no plans for an upgrade. Ye Fan intended to give others the opportunity for advancement.
However, Wang Hu's report prompted a change of heart.
"Sir, three-star soldiers are immune to biochemical viruses, so I can take on the responsibility of vigilance," Wang Hu confidently reported.
This revelation momentarily stunned Ye Fan, but soon he was filled with joy.
"You mean you won't get infected again?"
"Yes!"
At that moment, Nana provided an explanation to Ye Fan.
"Sir, in the game, three-star units have the ability to automatically restore health. In the real world, adjustments have been made, and this health-restoring ability is utilized to resist biochemical viruses. All soldier units possess this feature."
Ye Fan recalled that in the game, if a three-star soldier wasn't swiftly eliminated, their health would automatically replenish, transforming them into a formidable adversary.
Of course, such a concept was implausible in the real world. Flesh and blood beings required treatment for injuries; there was no automatic increase in blood pressure.
When Wang Hu achieved three-star status, Ye Fan hadn't paid much attention, but the unexpected revelation brought a pleasant surprise.
Three-star soldiers could be defeated, yet they remained immune to infection, alleviating one of Ye Fan's concerns.
As long as one avoids infection, facing a fully armed warrior with zombie claws is no easy feat.
This unique characteristic promised to conserve vitality for Wang Hu in the future, bringing a sense of relief to Ye Fan.
Happily, Wang Hu took his position to guard. Accompanied by four mobilization soldiers, he skillfully shot down zombies emerging from abandoned vehicles, delving deeper into the vehicles to collect gold and silver jewelry for Ye Fan.
However, the bridge exhibited a surprisingly low zombie population. The presence of rivers on both sides seemed to discourage zombies from lingering, forcing them to move to the opposite bank. Some unfortunate ones were trapped in vehicles, struggling to break free.
As soldiers took action, Ye Fan contemplated future plans. Despite his eagerness to return home, a swift crossing seemed impossible. After clearing the bridge, finding a nearby refuge became imperative.
Selecting a foothold required careful consideration. It should be spacious, less infested with zombies, and preferably located in a prosperous area.
Before, when Wang Hu achieved three-star status, Ye Fan hadn't paid much attention. However, the unexpected revelation that three-star soldiers were immune to infection proved to be a pleasant surprise, alleviating one of Ye Fan's worries.
Two and a half hours later, Xu Haoran completed the work ahead of schedule. The last BMW, easily pushed into the river, opened up the road on the bridge.
"Sir, what should we do next?" Xu Haoran inquired.
"When everyone on my side boards the bus, drive the mining truck straight towards Shengshi Jiangshan to attract some zombies. My warriors will then enter the community, and we'll meet inside, eliminate the zombies, and secure the area."
"Understood!"
Wang Hu's soldiers retreated, anticipating the arrival of zombies once they rushed into the community. Fortunately, all soldiers had their ammunition refreshed, making it relatively easy to handle the incoming threat.
"Sir, these are supplies," Wang Hu handed over a small package of jewelry, adding a few hundred dollars to Ye Fan's existing 4,500 dollars.
After accepting the money and conducting a telescope check, Ye Fan ordered the convoy to move forward, ensuring no mutants like armored zombies were present.
The mining truck led the way, clearing a path through the left side of the road towards the Shengshi Jiangshan Community. Zombies, attracted by the mechanical sounds, slowly crawled out of nearby congested traffic.
"Follow up!" Wang Hu accelerated the Warrior, following the mining truck towards the community. The car swayed but did not roll over.
Upon reaching the community gate, the warriors knocked open the metal crossbar, and the vehicles rushed into the yard. Covering ten square kilometers, the community appeared relatively empty, bringing relief to Ye Fan.
The mining truck dealt with chasing zombies from behind, ensuring the group's safety.
"Turn the corner and head to Villa No. 66." Villa No. 66 belonged to Gao Dongliang. If Gao Dongliang's family was gone, Ye Fan knew there was a gold ornament in his home, a coming-of-age gift from his father. Acquiring this item would enable the activation of the radar.
At Villa No. 66, Ye Fan instructed the soldiers to be on alert while he knocked on the door. Silence prevailed, raising concerns about the fate of his good friend.
The security door proved difficult to open, and Ye Fan had to wait for Xu Haoran to arrive with the fire ax from the mining truck.
As the Su sisters joined Ye Fan outside, the mining truck arrived, having successfully rid itself of pursuing zombies.
"Xu Haoran, come and open the door." Ye Fan called.
Xu Haoran, a skilled scout, used his lockpicking tools to unlock the door, allowing access to the villa.
Inside, a voice spoke, surprising Ye Fan. "Who?"
It was unmistakably Gao Dongliang's voice. He was alive!
Overjoyed, Ye Fan announced, "Gao Dongliang, it's me, Ye Fan!"
The door swung open, revealing Gao Dongliang with a rice cooker on his head, a military coat, and a sword—an antique from his father's collection. Excitement filled the air as old friends embraced.
"Ye Fan, you're a god! You're even good at picking locks!" Gao Dongliang exclaimed, marveling at Ye Fan's unlocking skills.
Ye Fan, modestly responding, said, "It's okay."