Night had fallen, and the temperature had plummeted below freezing. The cold was biting, a clear sign of the harsh environment this world was becoming.
Zhu Jiu, bolstered by the protective Shaoyang Energy, barely felt the chill. Unfortunately, the others weren't as fortunate.
He glanced back at the group trailing him, their bodies trembling from the cold, teeth chattering despite their best efforts to stay warm.
"Let's move!" Zhu Jiu commanded, his tone firm but encouraging.
Riding his wolf king, he led the group back to the school as swiftly as possible. Along the way, they encountered waves of infected, their frequency markedly higher than during the day.
More troubling was how the infected seemed impervious to the dropping temperature.
"These freaks aren't even afraid of the cold," Zhu Jiu muttered, cleaving an infected clean in half with a swing of his Xuan Iron Sword.
It wasn't just the infected's resilience—it was the implications. While humans grew weaker in freezing conditions, the infected remained as dangerous as ever.
"Another strike against us," Zhu Jiu thought grimly.
Still, he had no time to dwell on the problem. He focused on carving a path back to the school, eliminating anything that blocked their way. One particularly massive abomination even netted him a decent chunk of points.
As they stepped into the school's confines, a wave of warmth greeted them.
Zhu Jiu immediately noticed it wasn't the residual warmth of the building, but rather a concentrated heat source. He glanced upward and felt its presence emanating from the rooftop.
The others, drawn by the inviting warmth, eagerly followed Zhu Jiu up the stairs.
When they reached the top, the sight before them lifted their spirits—a blazing bonfire illuminated the conference room, where the group had gathered to ward off the cold.
The Fourth Squad rushed toward the flames, seeking its comforting embrace.
Fatty strolled alongside Zhu Jiu, glancing at the flickering firelight. "You know," he said with a smirk, "I used to think fire was overrated. But after facing that psycho back in the warehouse, I've changed my mind. Fire is a damn miracle."
Zhu Jiu chuckled softly but said nothing.
Fire held a special place in humanity's history. From the moment ancient humans first harnessed its destructive beauty, fire had been both a source of fear and a symbol of progress.
It was warmth, protection, and sustenance. The very foundation of civilization.
Watching the crowd huddled around the fire, Zhu Jiu raised his voice.
"Don't just warm your hands! Roast something to eat while you're at it!"
The Fourth Squad immediately sprang to action. Among the supplies they'd gathered earlier were two mutant rabbits Zhu Jiu had hunted, along with an assortment of vegetables like corn and sweet potatoes.
Under Zhang Xinyu's direction, the group divided tasks. Some prepared the rabbit meat, others cleaned the vegetables, while a few focused on managing the fire and arranging plates and utensils.
Satisfied, Zhu Jiu gave a nod of approval. "Looks good."
With the group occupied, he turned and left, heading straight for the lab to fetch Ruan Qingyan.
Zhu Jiu knocked on the lab door, his firm yet gentle raps echoing in the corridor.
Inside, Ruan Qingyan had wrapped herself tightly in a blanket, her slender frame curled into a ball. Seeing her like this sparked a pang of guilt in Zhu Jiu's chest.
"I'm late," he said softly.
Ruan Qingyan looked up and gave him a radiant smile. "No, you're early! I haven't even finished my experiments yet."
Before she could continue, she leaned in and gave him a light peck on the cheek.
"Foolish girl," Zhu Jiu muttered affectionately, pulling her into his arms. His hands wrapped protectively around her waist. "Leave the experiments for tomorrow. Let's go eat first."
Ignoring her protests, Zhu Jiu scooped her up and placed her on the wolf king's back.
The warmth from Zhu Jiu's body enveloped her like a shield. She let out a soft sigh, her usually strong demeanor giving way to a rare moment of vulnerability.
"Zhu Jiu, you're so warm," she murmured, resting her head against his chest.
Zhu Jiu smiled and adjusted his cloak to cover her. As they rode back to the conference room, the snow-filled air and icy winds faded into the background.
Ruan Qingyan looked up at him, her eyes filled with admiration. For the first time since the apocalypse began, she felt a profound sense of safety.
When they returned to the conference room, Ruan Qingyan was stunned by the transformation.
The once-cold space was now bustling with activity. The fire crackled warmly, and the aroma of roasting meat filled the air.
Zhu Jiu walked up to the fire, grabbed a knife, and carved off a chunk of rabbit meat. Without waiting for it to cool, he popped it into his mouth.
"Hot damn!" Zhu Jiu exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "This is incredible!"
The mutant rabbit meat was nothing short of divine. The crispy, golden-brown exterior gave way to tender, juicy flesh, bursting with rich flavors that melted on his tongue.
Not stopping at just the meat, Zhu Jiu pulled out a roasted corn cob from the ashes. The combination of the rabbit's savory richness and the corn's natural sweetness was nothing short of heavenly.
The sight of Zhu Jiu enjoying himself was all it took for the others to lose their composure. They abandoned any pretense of restraint and dove into the feast, carving and devouring the roasted rabbit with unbridled enthusiasm.
Zhu Jiu, however, claimed two rabbit legs, two corn cobs, a couple of sweet potatoes, and two bowls of steaming broth. With Ruan Qingyan by his side, he sat down to enjoy his meal.
At first, Ruan Qingyan maintained her usual grace. But after her first bite, her eyes widened with delight, and she quickly joined Zhu Jiu in wolfing down the food.
The room filled with laughter and the clinking of bowls, a rare moment of harmony in a world overrun by chaos.
For a brief moment, the howling winds and the lurking infected seemed distant. Together, they had created a sanctuary.
Fatty, sipping on a bowl of broth, glanced over at Zhu Jiu and shook his head with a smirk.
"Same old Zhu Jiu," he muttered to himself. "Always the one to lead, always the one to inspire."
His thoughts drifted to the past, to the Zhu Jiu who had once built an empire.
"This time," Fatty resolved, "things will be different. I'll make sure of it."
As if to snap him out of his thoughts, the next sip of broth burned his tongue.
"Dammit! Who made this so hot? Trying to kill me, huh?" Fatty yelped, drawing peals of laughter from everyone around him.
Even Zhu Jiu cracked a smile before beckoning Zhang Xinyu to step outside with him.
"You did well," Zhu Jiu said, clapping Zhang Xinyu on the shoulder. "I'm proud of you."
Zhang Xinyu straightened, his chest swelling with pride.
"But don't let your guard down," Zhu Jiu added, his tone serious. "We've only just begun. This is going to get worse before it gets better."
"Yes, Zhu Jiu-ge," Zhang Xinyu replied, determination shining in his eyes.
Satisfied, Zhu Jiu turned and headed toward another classroom—one that had been reinforced specifically for a certain prisoner.
Inside, Zhao Feng awaited.
Zhu Jiu's eyes narrowed. Tonight, he would get the answers he needed about the coming apocalypse.