"Raise the drone a bit higher," Shao Ming said.
Lambert adjusted the drone, which soared higher, giving the three of them a full view of the town. It was a well-planned small town, and the residential buildings and commercial streets they had flown over were located along the main road that cut through the town. The side roads were lined with small houses.
The number of mutated creatures on the streets was minimal, most of them hiding inside houses. Getting from the residential areas on either side of the main road to the shops on the main street wouldn't be easy.
"Here," Shao Ming pointed to a narrow alley behind two rows of houses. "We can cut through this alley to get to the main street."
"It seems like there's nothing left," Lambert observed. "Do we really need to go inside?"
Shao Ming replied, "Let's check out the police station. Maybe there are still some supplies left in the other shops."
After Lambert stowed the drone, the three of them continued forward.
They crossed through a small grove, and soon the houses at the edge of the town appeared before them. Shao Ming raised his rifle and peered through the scope at the interior of one of the houses.
By what seemed like luck, there were no mutated creatures inside.
Shao Ming was the first to leap over the fence into the yard. He opened the gate and signaled for Feng Yusheng and Lambert to follow.
Shao Ming slung the rifle over his shoulder, drew a baseball bat, and approached the half-open front door. He pushed it open cautiously. The living room inside was eerily quiet, with no sign of any mutated creatures.
It seemed the family had left in a hurry when the mutations first began, as the house was in disarray with items scattered all over the floor.
Shao Ming moved to the window on the side of the house facing the street and looked out. The street was unnervingly silent—there wasn't even a bird chirping. In the house across the street, three mutated creatures could be seen—likely a family.
Lambert also moved to the window and scanned the street. "Over there," he pointed at a gap in the street ahead, "We can get to the alley you mentioned from there."
Unlike the two men, Feng Yusheng had walked into the kitchen to check the cupboards. She found two boxes of partially eaten cereal and stuffed them into her bag.
"So, how do we get to the alley without those creatures across the street noticing us?" Shao Ming whispered.
Lambert shrugged, signaling that he had no solution.
Shao Ming studied the street carefully. While there were a few abandoned vehicles, there was a large open space between the front door and the street. If they were to use their usual tactic of throwing something to distract the mutated creatures, it would likely just attract them to the street, with no other benefit.
"It looks like we won't make it through here," Shao Ming muttered as he stepped away from the window and pulled out a fruit knife from the kitchen. "Let's find another way."
The three of them left the house and headed toward the back of the next one. This house was likely positioned directly across from the alley, giving them the opportunity to bypass the mutated creatures across the street to some extent.
Shao Ming was the first to reach the back door. As he opened it slightly, he spotted a mutated creature standing inside.
Taking a deep breath, Shao Ming gently pushed open the door, praying it wouldn't make any noise.
As the door creaked open, the mutated creature slowly turned its head. Without hesitation, Shao Ming leapt forward and drove the fruit knife into the creature's chin, pushing it deep into its skull.
The creature had no time to make a sound before its body went limp. Shao Ming caught it before it could collapse and gently lowered it onto the sofa.
He wiped the knife on the couch and, holding both the knife and his gun, surveyed the room.
Once he confirmed it was safe, he gestured for the others to come in.
The three of them crouched down near the window. The house's front door indeed faced the alley across the street.
"We can use that garbage truck to cover our approach," Lambert pointed at the large garbage truck parked near the door. Its massive body blocked the view from the right.
"I'll go first," Shao Ming said, moving toward the door. He cracked it open just enough for a sliver of the setting sun to shine through. Shao Ming tried to push the door open a little more.
No sounds came from across the street, and Shao Ming took a quick jog to the back of the garbage truck.
Inside the house, Lambert gave him a thumbs-up, signaling that everything was clear.
Shao Ming peeked out from behind the garbage truck, surveying the right side of the street. This side seemed a bit safer than the left, where he could easily spot the three mutated creatures in the house across the street.
Lambert was ready and quickly made his way to the garbage truck as well.
Just as Feng Yusheng emerged from the house, the front door across the street suddenly crashed open, and two mutated creatures wandered out.
Feng Yusheng, who was standing right in front of the door on the lawn, had nowhere to hide.
The two mutated creatures immediately spotted her and began sprinting toward her with a deafening roar.
Feng Yusheng froze in shock. Though she was prepared with her kitchen knife, she wasn't in a proper fighting stance.
Shao Ming saw the danger and swiftly drew his handgun, aiming at one of the creatures.
Lambert acted just as quickly, leaping forward and kicking one of the mutated creatures.
Seeing the situation was still under control, Shao Ming holstered his gun and grabbed his baseball bat to charge at the remaining creature.
With a new target in sight, the two mutated creatures shifted their attention to Lambert. From inside the house, another mutated creature—this time a child—emerged.
Now, it was three against three.
Lambert swung his wrench at one of the creatures. While it stumbled from the blow, the second creature charged at him.
Without hesitation, Shao Ming swung his bat, smashing it over the creature's head.
Feng Yusheng rushed forward as well. She swung her kitchen knife at the creature Lambert had struck, aiming for its neck. However, the knife had become dull after repeated use and got stuck in the creature's throat.
Blood sprayed out violently, splattering Lambert's face.
"Ugh," both Lambert and Feng Yusheng recoiled in disgust. The mutated creature attempted to reach up and cover its neck but fell to the ground in a heap.
Meanwhile, Shao Ming hadn't yet finished dealing with his target. Though it hadn't gone down immediately, the creature had staggered forward a few steps. Lambert took advantage of this and kicked it down to the ground once more.