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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 238: Countdown 7
Zeng Yadong and Wheat found themselves among a crowd of thousands, their basic needs temporarily met, with others nearby to look after them. In contrast, Jiang He and Song Yao were trapped in a high-rise building, beset by internal and external troubles. At least the four high walls provided some shelter from the elements, allowing both groups to maintain an unspoken agreement to avoid conflict. Meanwhile, Jin Bo and Shaoshan, stranded on Reef, seemed to have fallen into the depths of despair, their situation utterly dire.
Fortunately, the twenty or so individuals managed to survive the first night and welcomed the dawn. However, it was regrettable that they nearly perished collectively under the bright sky.
For four whole days, Jin Bo truly understood what it meant to endure the Northwest Wind, to dine on the wind and drink dew, and to feel that life was worse than death. This once invincible young swordsman had completely succumbed to the might of nature. Faced with the boundless ocean, he could only maintain his stance like a stone waiting for its husband, unsure of what else he could do.
The events that transpired were not particularly convoluted; after all, Reef was only as big as a palm. The portion above water barely provided enough space for these twenty people to stand, and even using the restroom required moving to a slightly lower area. Due to Jin Bo's violent confrontation with four individuals, this beleaguered group had little cohesion. Only two girls openly sided with Jin Bo; the rest made their positions clear, creating distinct divisions in this tiny space.
That night, Jin Bo "led" a group to dismantle part of the dry deck. The oil tank was submerged beneath the surface, and since Jin Bo was not a strong swimmer, he could not utilize it. Moreover, he did not want to expose the supplies hidden in the cabin. The opposing group did not voice their intentions but likely harbored thoughts of commandeering a yacht. When they saw Jin Bo boarding alone, they sent a few young men after him. Whatever Jin Bo did, they mirrored his actions while maintaining a safe distance, determined not to let him out of sight. Frustrated by this constant surveillance, Jin Bo abandoned his plans to sneak away in search of food.
Dismantling the deck was no easy task; starting a fire proved even more challenging. Among the Survivors were several smokers, but unfortunately, during their frantic escape by day, they had lost everything. Shaoshan was in poor condition; excessive blood loss made him appear on the verge of collapse. The Long-Haired Girl had been designated as Shaoshan's personal caretaker by Jin Bo; without him around, she dared not leave his side. By the time Jin Bo returned with a pile of firewood materials alongside those young men, dawn was already breaking on the horizon.
The fire was finally lit because there seemed little difference between day and night temperatures on the reef. Those who kept moving fared better than those who remained idle on the rock. Under Shaoshan's guidance, Jin Bo and his companions used the most rudimentary methods to ignite wood and cloth; two flames flickered on the ocean's surface, illuminating faces that resembled lost souls.
That night passed without incident as people huddled together for warmth in silence, leaving hope for dawn while refusing to dwell on an uncertain future. The flames crackled softly as their heavy breaths swayed gently; waves lapped at the rocks nearby, adding to the damp chill.
The next morning brought foggy seas as the Survivors guarded their extinguished fire pit amidst the thick mist.
By noon, as the fog lifted, the Survivors were thrilled to discover an island appearing not far from them. The previous night's darkness and anxiety had obscured their view of this small island that lay so close at hand. From their vantage point on Reef, they could vaguely see lush greenery on the island; though indistinctly visible, it was certainly preferable to the barren remnants beneath their feet.
The Survivors were ecstatic—what does it mean when one survives great calamity? This! Tears of joy flowed freely as they embraced and kissed one another, as if breakfast and warm baths awaited them on that island, ready for them to cross over and indulge in comfort.
Jin Bo watched everything with a cold gaze, internally cheering them on. He truly hoped those loud fools would swim over right now; that way, no one would be thinking about the food and drink in the cabin.
However, there were still a few sharp-minded individuals among the Survivors. After a brief moment of surprise, they returned to reality, huddling together excitedly to discuss something. After about ten minutes, two middle-aged men seemed to have been elected and stumbled their way toward Jin Bo, wearing smiles as bright as spring sunshine from a distance. The crowd behind them looked on with eager anticipation, whispering among themselves. Jin Bo felt a chill run down his spine; he had no idea what these two clowns were up to.
"Hey, brother, is it convenient for us to have a word?" Middle-Aged Man A stopped by the rocks and waved at Jin Bo, his face crinkling into a smile.
"Not convenient," Jin Bo replied coldly, turning his head away and ignoring them.
The two middle-aged men were met with a cold shoulder, their smiles fading somewhat. However, they didn’t leave; instead, they shuffled a few steps closer, seemingly weighing their words.
The Long-Haired Girl adjusted her sitting position; her thigh had gone numb under Shaoshan's weight. Seeing that Shaoshan seemed to have fallen asleep, she hurriedly cradled his head and passed it to another girl. They had previously stayed close to Jin Bo on the ship and knew that these individuals were not ordinary. After all, Shaoshan was an officer; his survival skills and experience were likely superior to those who only knew how to wail and complain. The two girls had no special abilities but instinctively felt safer standing with Jin Bo. Perhaps the scene of him beating up four people had left a deep impression on them. In any case, the two girls were determined to stick by Jin Bo's side.
"Cough, maybe you should go talk to them?" the Long-Haired Girl timidly nudged Jin Bo and whispered, "I have a feeling they don't mean well."
Jin Bo lifted his eyelids slightly, causing the Long-Haired Girl to immediately fall silent. In this dire situation, as a vulnerable woman, she dared not offend anyone. She couldn't quite gauge Jin Bo's temperament; she only knew that people with great abilities often had strange tempers and feared that her words might irritate him.
Jin Bo was not as complicated as she thought; he glanced at her and quietly asked, "Can you fight?"
"Uh?" The Long-Haired Girl was taken aback and stammered for a while without finding the right words.
"Have you killed a Zombie?" Jin Bo asked again.
"I... I have," the Long-Haired Girl steadied herself and added, "Not many."
"Where are the living?"
"None..."
Jin Bo nodded, looking thoughtful, his gaze drifting toward another girl. When she noticed him looking her way, she quickly shook her head and waved her hands. "I-I can't do it. I've never killed anything."
"Sigh." Jin Bo let out a disappointed breath, curious about how the two of them had survived this long. Given their frail appearances, they seemed even weaker than Wheat, let alone Zeng Yadong or Song Yao.
"They're coming..." the Long-Haired Girl pointed behind him, offering a warning.
Jin Bo turned his head to see the two men climbing up behind him. As soon as they noticed him looking their way, they quickly plastered on fake smiles. Jin Bo felt helpless and had no choice but to give the Long-Haired Girl a brief nod before jumping down.
"What’s going on?" Jin Bo asked sharply, casting a glance at the crowd that was pointing and whispering, feeling even more irritated. Initially, he had thought that saving them would be easier with so many people around.
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