Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

She scratched her graying temples with the tip of a needle and continued, "The army is leading the way, taking us in the northwest direction."

They would clear away dangers on the road, such as man-made roadblocks or bandit dens that blocked the way; that was their responsibility.

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of resigned indifference, "As for the rest? Well, you'll have to rely on yourself. Food?"

Find it yourself, bring it yourself. Their military rations aren't even enough for their own people, so why would they share with us who have followed in their footsteps?

The same goes for water; when you see a stream or ditch, you should quickly fill it yourself.

Xu Xiaoyan's heart sank, and she pressed, "Then... what if someone steals something, or causes a fight? Will the military intervene?"

"Causing trouble?" The auntie seemed to have heard a joke, and she twitched her lips, revealing a bitter expression. "As long as you don't fight into their ranks and don't interfere with their path-clearing, who cares about you?"

Just two days ago, two groups of people fought tooth and nail over a bite to eat.

The soldiers just stood by and watched. After the fighting was over, they went over and casually dumped the wounded on the roadside to fend for themselves. They said, "Take care of your own business and don't cause them any trouble."

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her heart.

The so-called "following the troops" did not mean finding complete shelter.

They only gained a relatively clear direction of travel and a certain degree of safety buffer; the pressure to survive was not reduced at all.

Because they are part of a large crowd, the competition for limited resources can be even more naked and brutal.

"Thank you, Auntie," Xu Xiaoyan said sincerely, her mind already racing with calculations.

She returned to Xie Yingtang and Wang Xiao's side and whispered back what she had learned. Wang Xiao couldn't help but mutter a curse, and Xie Yingtang's expression became even more serious.

"I understand," Xie Yingtang said in a deep voice. "In other words, we've simply changed from facing danger alone in the wilderness to facing danger among a crowd. The rules haven't changed; it's still survival of the fittest."

Xu Xiaoyan nodded and added, "Moreover, because there are many people around, we need to be more careful and not easily reveal too much food."

As darkness fell, the massive migrating caravan came to a halt, but the stillness did not bring peace.

Some people, taking advantage of the last rays of daylight, hurriedly ventured into the woodlands or ruins along the roadside, hoping to find some wild fruits or vegetables to fill their stomachs, or perhaps, by chance, catch a field mouse.

Others skillfully gathered dry branches and leaves, marked out a small clearing in their respective areas, and lit a campfire. The orange flames leaped up, illuminating faces etched with weariness and vigilance.

Even worse, some started bartering, with hushed voices haggling all around: "Half a compressed biscuit, in exchange for your pinch of salt, wanna go?"

"Would you like to exchange this thick coat for anti-inflammatory medicine? Just one box will do!" This is a transaction that still retains some traces of civilization.

But more often than not, it's blatant bullying of the weak.

Not far away, the cries of a woman and the screams of a child could be heard. A cloth bag that a thin man was desperately protecting was rudely snatched away by several burly men. Inside was the only food his family had left.

The man tried to resist but was punched to the ground and could only watch in despair as the robber walked away and disappeared into the darkness, with no one daring to stop him.

Similar scenes played out in different corners of the camp.

The air was filled with shouts of anger, pleas, and gloating laughter. The entire camp was permeated with an anarchic, savage atmosphere of the survival of the fittest, a chaotic mess that made one's heart ache.

Xu Xiaoyan, Xie Yingtang, and Wang Xiao sat in an inconspicuous corner, silently watching everything unfold.

The flickering firelight on their faces reflected the solemnity in their eyes and an indescribable sense of heartache. Was this the "order" they had so painstakingly caught up with?

Wang Xiao couldn't help but lower his voice and suggest with annoyance, "It's too chaotic in the back! Everyone's fighting and grabbing, it's impossible to rest in peace. How about... we squeeze to the front?"

"The closer we get to the army camp, the more the troublemakers should behave themselves, right? The soldiers can't just stand by and watch something happen right under their noses, can they?"

The suggestion sounded logical. Xie Yingtang pondered for a moment and nodded. "Yes, it's not peaceful here. Let's go check it out."

The three of them immediately got up and packed their belongings.

Carefully avoiding the crowds lying or sitting haphazardly on the ground, they tried to move towards the front of the column, which was the core area where the army was stationed.

However, the further they went, the denser the crowd became, and by the middle of the line, it was almost completely jammed.

It seems that everyone shares the same idea as Wang Xiao: the closer you are to the army, the safer you are.

Many people, in order to secure a better spot at the front, even gave up the idea of ​​lighting a fire for warmth and simply sat there in the cold night.

Curled up, clutching their luggage tightly, they used their body heat to fight the cold, unwilling to give up the "safe distance" they had finally managed to secure.

People were shoulder to shoulder, and it was hard to even find a place to put their feet.

The air was thick with the stench of sweat and dust. Xie Yingtang tried to push his way forward, but was immediately met with disapproving shouts and wary stares.

"Stop pushing! There's no room left!"

"Go wait in the back!"

"Take another step forward, and don't blame me for being impolite!"

Seeing that the road ahead was completely blocked and impassable, the three had no choice but to exchange a glance and give up their plan to move forward.

"Never mind, let's go back," Xie Yingtang said in a low voice, his tone revealing no emotion.

They went against the flow of people and struggled back to the relatively sparse middle and rear of the queue.

Although it was chaotic and dangerous, at least there was a small space where they could light a fire and stretch out a bit.

They found a relatively sheltered spot with their backs against a dilapidated earthen wall.

Wang Xiao silently gathered some firewood, which Xie Yingtang lit with a lighter, and a small bonfire rose again, dispelling the darkness and chill in the surrounding area.

The three sat around the fire, silently roasting corn while listening to the faint cries and arguments that could be heard in the distance.

Approaching the army they had been longing for day and night did not bring the sense of security they had imagined. Instead, it made them see more clearly the naked laws of human survival after the collapse of order.

As the campfire continued to burn, the unique, sweet and smoky aroma of roasted corn permeated the camp, which was filled with the smells of sweat, dust, and despair.

This aroma is nothing short of a powerful stimulus for many hungry people.

Soon, several malicious gazes were cast from the shadows.

Three filthy, burly men exchanged glances, their faces bearing smiles that were a mixture of greed and savagery, and slowly approached Xu Xiaoyan and her two companions.