Xiao Qi and An Qing quietly approached the vending machine.
*Smash!* Xiao Qi used the iron rod in his hand to break the glass! In the silence of the building, the sound of shattering glass was exceptionally jarring.
*Roar~* The Zombies near the first floor heard the noise from this direction and instantly let out low growls as they moved closer.
Seeing that he had already disturbed the Zombies, Xiao Qi smashed the vending machine a few more times, completely shattering the glass.
"Quick! An Qing, grab the things and go back fast!" Xiao Qi shouted as he pulled items out of the vending machine.
Actually, An Qing had already resolved to grab the supplies and return after hearing Xiao Qi's words on the stairs, but standing here fighting side-by-side, she changed her mind—she couldn't abandon him!
"An Qing? What are you doing? Hurry up and go!" Xiao Qi asked, watching An Qing standing still, staring blankly at him.
"Brother Xiao Qi, you are a man of responsibility and commitment. If this weren't the apocalypse, how wonderful life would be!" Saying this, An Qing put down the food in her hand and took out the fruit knife she carried.
"An Qing, what are you doing?"
"I'm coming with you to deal with those things."
As soon as the words fell, several Zombies had already arrived in the hall and were running toward the two of them.
Xiao Qi couldn't worry about anything else and rushed forward, grappling with the Zombies.
"Brother Xiao Qi! Waaah~" Watching Xiao Qi fight fiercely with the Zombies, An Qing also rushed forward.
Thud, thud, thud! A Zombie fell in front of An Qing.
"Crouch down!"
A human voice sounded from the distance.
An Qing looked back instinctively. There stood four fully armed people. She immediately burst into tears. It had been so many days; hope had turned into despair. Just when she thought they were all dead, she suddenly saw the army.
"Hurry and crouch down!"
The voice came again from the distance. An Qing finally reacted and immediately dropped to the ground.
Rat-a-tat-tat! Another burst of gunfire, and all the Zombies in the hall had been shot dead.
"Hoo! We weren't too late," Wang Zhi said, dropping his empty magazine.
"Are you Dr. Yang Liu?" Wang Zhi asked as he helped the deeply crying An Qing up from the ground.
"Gentlemen, please save us, save us!" An Qing said emotionally, grabbing Wang Zhi.
"Are you alright, Xiao Qi?" Old He asked, helping him up from behind her.
"I'm fine. Thank you all for the rescue. Are you looking for Dr. Yang Liu?"
"Yes, we were tasked with getting Dr. Yang Liu out," Old He replied.
"That's wonderful," Xiao Qi murmured weakly.
Wang Zhi looked at the increasingly weak Xiao Qi and stated, "We were a step too late; he's wounded!"
Seeing Wang Zhi suddenly raise his rifle, An Qing snapped back to reality and shouted, "What are you doing?"
"He's wounded. In a short while, he'll turn into a Zombie. There's nothing we can do," Wang Zhi explained.
Xiao Qi froze, only then realizing the excruciating pain in his shoulder. Looking at the wound, someone who specialized in research like them knew clearly: he was beyond saving.
Xiao Qi managed a relieved smile: "Give me a quick death."
After speaking, Xiao Qi lay on the ground, closed his eyes, the corner of his mouth curving up slightly. Perhaps he was glad Dr. Yang was saved, or perhaps he was relieved he wouldn't have to become one of those inhuman Flesh-and-Blood Corpses.
Wang Zhi, his expression complicated, looked at Xiao Qi on the ground and pulled the trigger.
"Miss, please take us to find Dr. Yang Liu." Wang Zhi turned around and said.
An Qing acted as if she hadn't heard. She slowly walked over to the vending machine and began slowly picking up the water bottles and food that had spilled onto the floor.
"Xiao Qi! Why were you so foolish! None of the others came out, only you did, risking your life to find food for them! *Sob*~"
An Qing murmured to herself as she gathered the food.
Wang Zhi stood to one side watching An Qing. At this moment, Su Muying couldn't stand it and prepared to step forward to confront her, but Wang Zhi stopped her.
"Miss, isn't the most urgent matter right now saving people first?" Wang Zhi approached An Qing and asked.
"Save people? You won't save Brother Xiao Qi, but you want to save that bunch of cowardly, selfish ghosts? They all deserve to die!" An Qing furiously shouted at Wang Zhi.
Wang Zhi did not get angry, speaking kindly, "Miss, no matter how much those people deserve to die, we still must save Dr. Yang. I ask that you consider the bigger picture."
Hearing Wang Zhi's persuasion, and remembering the purpose for which she came out with Xiao Qi, An Qing calmed down. She wrapped everything up in her coat, and without a word, walked towards the second floor.
Wang Zhi and his three companions exchanged glances, then followed closely behind her.