Shao Ming finally managed to engage the first gear. He pressed the accelerator, and the two mutated creatures in front of the bus were instantly swept under the vehicle.
Although Shao Ming had never driven such a large vehicle before, the situation now didn't require him to worry about traffic rules or minor accidents. All he needed to do was get the bus moving.
The bus made a right turn and merged onto the main road.
While steering the wheel, Shao Ming took out his phone and searched for the address of 28B Everett Road.
It would take no more than ten minutes to reach there since there were no traffic jams and no traffic lights to stop him. The road conditions were excellent, to say the least.
Opening his call history, Shao Ming dialed Feng Yusheng's number.
"I found a vehicle. I'll be there in ten to fifteen minutes."
"Okay, okay," Feng Yusheng replied quickly, "I'll get ready right away."
Shao Ming placed the phone aside and took a quick glance at the central console. There was a USB port, but unfortunately, he didn't have a compatible charger.
He had been so focused on finding a vehicle that he'd forgotten to bring a charger with him. Now, he only wished he could slap himself. At least, as long as the signal tower was still functioning, his phone was more than just a brick for the next few days.
And it was still early enough today that he hadn't had the chance to contact his family.
By coincidence, just as Shao Ming was thinking about where to find a charger, a mobile phone accessories store appeared on the side of the road.
Unfortunately, as the bus approached the store, two mutated creatures heard the rumbling sound of the engine and charged out from the shop.
Without hesitation, Shao Ming jerked the wheel to the side, driving directly onto the sidewalk and ramming into the two creatures.
With a harsh jolt, the bus shook as it ran over the mutated creatures.
Shao Ming quickly engaged the handbrake and opened the bus doors. The accessories store was right beside him, and although the street was clear of mutated creatures, a loud roar came from the upper floors of the building.
From the sound, it seemed that everyone in that building had mutated.
Shao Ming swiftly jumped out of the bus, dashed into the store, grabbed two boxes of chargers off the shelves, and ran back to the bus.
The entire process was smooth and fast, and within less than a minute, he was back behind the wheel.
Just as he was about to start the bus, a dull thud came from above.
Then, a mutated creature fell directly onto the windshield. Followed by another, and then a third.
Shao Ming realized just how foolish it was to stop the bus and run into the store. The loud noise from the engine had attracted the attention of every creature inside. Those with windows open were jumping out, while those trapped inside were desperately smashing against the glass, eager not to miss the rare "party."
A few days ago, he had been telling himself not to act impulsively, but now he found himself charging around like a reckless fool.
Shao Ming slammed the accelerator again, knocking over a garbage bin on the side of the road as he accelerated back into the street.
In his rearview mirror, he saw more than a dozen mutated creatures leaping from the building.
Just as he thought he had escaped, another noise came from the top of the bus.
Shao Ming looked up to see a mutated creature clinging tightly to the roof, climbing forward. Even though the bus was moving, it wasn't enough to shake the creature off.
The creature reached the front and tried to shove its head through the slightly open sunroof.
Shao Ming quickly glanced back and saw the creature forcing its way inside.
Reacting swiftly, he pulled out his handgun and, while keeping the wheel steady with one hand, began shooting backward.
Firing while twisting his body was difficult, especially with the recoil of the gun, and with the narrow streets outside, he could barely keep the vehicle under control.
After missing a few shots, Shao Ming decided to slam on the brakes, bringing the bus to a complete stop in the middle of an intersection.
The sudden stop helped the creature, its momentum pushing it through the sunroof.
It landed heavily on the ground, and before it could even rise, Shao Ming shot it in the head.
With the immediate threat eliminated, Shao Ming quickly restarted the bus. He was now very close to Feng Yusheng's location.
The navigation system finally showed the destination, and Shao Ming stopped the bus, pulling out his phone.
Before he could make the call, a young woman came running out from a nearby building.
This must be Feng Yusheng. She looked to be in her twenties, with a high ponytail, and seemed sharp and capable, not the fragile type.
Opening the door, she quickly jumped in. As soon as she stepped inside, she saw the two bodies on the floor.
"If you feel like throwing up…" Shao Ming started.
"No, no," Feng Yusheng reassured him, patting her chest as she dropped her backpack on the seat next to her. "I've taken care of a few myself."
Shao Ming closed the door and set the navigation to Manchester Airport before driving off again.
"Thank you," Feng Yusheng said, catching her breath. "I don't think I caught your name?"
"My name is Shao Ming," he replied.
"Ah, thank you, thank you." Feng Yusheng said, then added, "Are there any other survivors?"
Shao Ming moved his backpack aside and said, "Actually, there's a contact list I got from the consulate. You can try calling other people while we still have a signal."
"Alright, I'll try." Feng Yusheng took the backpack and fished out the list.
She glanced at Shao Ming's outfit and asked, "Are you a police officer?"
"Can a police officer speak Chinese this fluently?" Shao Ming couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm a student at the University of Manchester."
Feng Yusheng seemed to realize how silly the question was and laughed. "Sorry, it's been a while since I've had a proper conversation."
As Shao Ming swerved to avoid two cars stuck in the middle of the road, he pressed down on the accelerator again.
One mutated creature was knocked over and left only a streak of blood on the windshield.
Shao Ming turned on the wipers and cleaned the glass.
"A while?" Shao Ming asked. The mutation had only started about a week ago.
"I was sick," Feng Yusheng explained. "I had been lying in bed for nearly half a month. I just got better when the world turned upside down."
When Shao Ming heard "sick," his expression immediately shifted to one of concern.
Noticing his sudden tension, Feng Yusheng quickly clarified, "It's not residual symptoms. Just some arthritis."