Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

She took a few steps forward, approaching the area where Chen Yong and the others were, and lowered her voice, her tone unusually serious, "Chen Yong, put the firewood aside for now, listen to this noise..."

She gestured in the direction of the wailing, "So many people have been bitten by rats. I'm really worried. Rats are filthy. Who knows if they carry diseases?"

In ancient times, a plague could wipe out a city or a country... I'm afraid that if... if there really is a plague and it spreads, we won't have anywhere to hide in this cave. That would be truly deadly!

Her words were like a block of ice, striking the slight warmth that Chen Yong and his group had just felt after temporarily repelling the rats. The corner, which had been filled with the sounds of fighting, instantly quieted down.

The other two people who were cleaning up the rat carcasses also stopped what they were doing and looked over, a new layer of gloom creeping onto each of their faces.

Chen Yong's facial muscles twitched, clearly realizing the seriousness of the situation. He glanced around at the mess, at the bloodstained rat carcasses and the direction of the injured, and his voice became low and somber:

"You're right. We've been so focused on killing rats that we haven't considered this aspect. If this thing really spreads, it's a million times more terrifying than rats."

Xu Xiaoyan stood at the cave entrance, her gaze passing over the settlement in front of her and landing on the distant, rolling mountains. It would be best to find a place far away from the crowds to hide away.

The thought was strong and clear, but the cold touch of reality made her sigh deeply.

The cold wave has arrived, and the temperature is dropping day by day. Is it time to dig a new hole?

Putting aside the enormous physical exertion, the time commitment alone is immense, and during this period, there are too many variables.

The weather, the potential spread of the plague, and even the covetousness of other desperate survivors—not to mention, without readily available shelter, one could freeze to death in the wild overnight.

"So much time has passed, why is there still no sign of the military?" she muttered to herself.

This statement is less a complaint and more a recognition of a harsh reality: the fact that rescue has not arrived after so long can only mean that the situation outside is worse than here.

The military is likely suffering heavy losses and is struggling to cope with its own situation. If they have any strength left, they will not give up any possible settlement. Relying on external forces seems increasingly unlikely.

Just then, Chen Yong and the others finished cleaning up the rat carcasses in the cave and dragged their tired bodies out.

In the oppressive silence, the young man known as "Glasses Guy" pushed up his cracked glasses and hesitated before speaking, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"How about we go take a look at the chestnut grove?"

The terrain there is high, far from this messy place, and there are many chestnut trees with thick layers of fallen leaves. Maybe we can find a ready-made ravine or steep slope, which would save some effort when digging?"

This suggestion drew everyone's attention to the chestnut grove in the distance, which had once been an important source of food for them.

Chen Yong looked up at the leaden sky, which seemed ready to snow at any moment, and frowned deeply. "Going up the mountain means we're far away, but we're also completely out of the military's protection, and..."

He paused, then stomped hard on the frozen ground:

"In this weather, digging a tunnel is hard work. If you sweat, a gust of wind could easily make you sick. What if, I mean what if, we haven't finished digging the tunnel yet, and the snow comes down..."

He didn't say anything more, but everyone understood what it meant: on the exposed mountain, a single snowfall would be enough to bury them.

Another dark-skinned man, who had been silent all along, added in a deep voice:

"There's no more plague on the mountain, but what will we eat? Just the little bit left over? We'll have to chop firewood from scratch, it's all a hassle."

Is it to stay put and gamble that the plague won't break out on a large scale, or that the military will eventually come, but then face an increasingly imminent outbreak and the possibility of renewed chaos?

Or should we risk going up the mountain, exchanging short-term extreme hardship and risk for a safer space that may be more isolated but also more vulnerable?

Faced with this difficult choice, everyone fell silent.

Xu Xiaoyan asked, "Are there any caves or similar karst caves around here?" The bespectacled man thought for a moment and replied, "There's a place called Yinggou Ridge in Beishan. There's a very large karst cave there."

"Eagle Ridge..." Chen Yong repeated the name, his brows furrowing even more. He subconsciously rubbed his numb, frozen fingers, as if sketching a map in his mind:

"That's right, I know that place. It used to be a pretty famous scenic spot. The cave is big and deep, and there seem to be some remnants of facilities that were developed in the past inside."

If you can really get there, let alone rats, you'll probably have a hard time finding even people. It's definitely a good place to escape disaster.

But then he sighed heavily, his voice filled with helplessness, "But Xiaoyan, do you know where we are in the gold market right now?"

It's Qingshui Mountain Villa at the southernmost point! Where is Yinggou Ridge? It's at the northernmost point, separated from the entire Jinshi City! Before, when we had cars, it would take almost two hours to drive there.

He pointed to the hazy, seemingly endless horizon, his voice hoarse.

"Nobody knows what the situation is on the road right now. Abandoned vehicles probably block the road completely. Are there any more dangerous animals lurking around?"

We have to walk on our own two legs, and drag along the little food and water we need to survive. With just a few of us, it's questionable whether we can even make it through the entire ruined city. In this awful weather, we might freeze to death on the way before we even get halfway there."

The guy with glasses adjusted his glasses and weakly added, "Besides, I only went there once before as a tourist. I vaguely remember the direction, but I've long forgotten the specific route. Now there's no navigation, no road signs, what if I get lost..."

Another boy, who had always been quiet and had a scar on his forehead, spoke up in a low voice:

"Even if we could actually get to that place, such a famous tourist spot would probably be packed with people by the time the cold wave started. It's hard to say whether going there now would be a blessing or a curse."

His words reminded everyone that in such severe weather, what may seem like an ideal refuge often means potential competition and conflict.

As Xu Xiaoyan listened to their analysis, the glimmer of hope that had just risen within her upon hearing the word "cave" quickly cooled down.

It's too far. This is no longer a road trip during peacetime. With just a few people and so few supplies, facing an unknown, long journey, harsh weather, and various potential threats, their chances of success are extremely slim.

Just as Xu Xiaoyan, Chen Yong, and the others were caught in a dilemma, a muffled but continuous electronic loudspeaker sound broke the deathly silence of the settlement as it grew closer.

The group immediately fell silent and listened intently. The sound played repeatedly, though it was mixed with static, but the content gradually became clearer.

"Attention... All injured personnel! Attention all personnel bitten or scratched by rats! Please proceed immediately to the temporary medical point set up in the underground parking garage of Qingshui Mountain Villa!"

Please proceed immediately to the underground parking garage of Qingshui Mountain Villa! Due to limited medical supplies, treatment may take a considerable amount of time. Those seeking medical attention must bring all personal belongings and be prepared for long-term accommodation!

Residents who have not been bitten are urged to stay in their current residences as much as possible, avoid the cold, and stay indoors to reduce the risk of infection! Disinfection will be carried out in the area this afternoon; please cooperate and refrain from wandering around!