Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

As the campfire gradually died down, Wang Yuming added a few more pieces of thick firewood to keep it burning longer.

Then he lay down fully clothed on the still-warm ground and almost instantly began to breathe heavily.

Weng Beiyan checked on her younger sister and tucked the thin coat she was wearing under her.

He lay down next to her, one hand unconsciously resting on his sister's body, as if afraid she would disappear in her sleep.

Xu Xiaoyan found a spot that was neither too close nor too far from the fire, where she could feel some warmth but wouldn't feel too much of a temperature difference after the fire went out.

The entire camp fell into a deathly silence, except for the occasional sound of footsteps and the faint whispers of the patrol team in the distance.

In the middle of the night, Xu Xiaoyan woke up with a start, not because of a nightmare, but because of a sudden throbbing pain in her head.

At first, she only felt a dull throbbing pain in her temples. She thought it was just because she hadn't slept well, so she turned over and tried to continue sleeping. But she found that the pain spread rapidly like vines.

In just a short while, the pain escalated into a hammering agony, as if an iron awl was repeatedly pounding inside my skull.

She suddenly opened her eyes and, through her blurred vision, walked toward the nearest old locust tree.

The rough bark hurt her, but the pain was insignificant compared to the storm raging in her head.

Cold sweat poured out from every pore like a floodgate had been opened.

She bit her lower lip hard, her hands trembling as she pulled a bottle of mineral water from her backpack and gulped down a large mouthful. The icy liquid slid down her throat, but it did nothing to relieve the excruciating pain.

She huddled beside the tree roots, her fingernails digging deep into the bark. By the time the sky finally began to lighten, Xu Xiaoyan was so weak that she didn't even have the strength to lift her hand.

The excruciating pain that lasted all night had drained her of all her strength. Her soaked clothes clung to her body, and the morning breeze made her shiver.

As dawn broke, Wang Yuming and Weng Beiyan anxiously looked around at the embers of the fire—Xu Xiaoyan was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Sister Xiaoyan?" Weng Beiyan's voice was hoarse from just waking up, but it couldn't hide her unease. The two split up to search the camp, and Wang Yuming was the first to find her.

"Here!" His voice suddenly tightened.

Xu Xiaoyan leaned against the old locust tree, looking as if she had been pulled out of the water.

Her hair was wet and clung to her forehead and cheeks, her face was as pale as paper, her chest heaved violently, and every breath she took was trembling.

Those usually bright eyes were now dull and lifeless, filled with pain and exhaustion. Weng Beiyan gasped and hurriedly turned to call the team doctor.

The team doctor rushed over with his medical kit, squatted down to examine her carefully, opened her eyelids, checked her pulse, and asked her a few questions.

Finally, he put away his stethoscope, his brow furrowed. "His vital signs are relatively stable, but he's extremely weak. And this headache... I really can't figure out the cause."

Looking at Xu Xiaoyan's weak appearance, and then at Weng Nanque who was still unconscious on Weng Beiyan's back, Wang Yuming gritted his teeth and said, "I'll carry Xiaoyan. I can manage."

Xu Xiaoyan shook her head. "No need," her voice hoarse. "Everyone is carrying a heavy burden. One Nan Que is already enough to make you all suffer, let alone me..."

She paused, gathering her strength, and said, "Let me rest for a few days. When I feel better, I'll come back and catch up with you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the air froze, and both Wang Yuming and Weng Beiyan fell silent.

In this perilous wilderness, everyone knew what it meant to be separated from the group and left alone. This parting, with mountains high and rivers far away, could very well be a farewell forever.

Just then, Old Wang walked over, his bronze face grave. "What happened?"

Xu Xiaoyan lifted her heavy eyelids and said in a weak voice, "Squad Leader Wang, I have a terrible headache... I really can't walk anymore. You guys go ahead, I'll rest for a few days and won't be with the team for now."

Old Wang squatted down, his usually sharp eyes now filled with worry. After a moment of silence, he suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying:

"Listen, girl," he said in a voice so low that only the two of them could hear, "keep heading northwest to Linchuan City. Once you get there, find a way... to enter the underground city."

He stared intently into Xu Xiaoyan's eyes, each word carrying immense weight: "What I just said must remain a secret! You can't mention it to anyone, not even the two of them."

He gestured with his eyes to Wang Yuming and Weng Beiyan beside him, "Telling you the final destination of the relocation is already a serious violation of discipline. If word gets out, I, Old Wang, will be unable to face anyone, understand?"

A sour, hot sensation suddenly rushed into Xu Xiaoyan's nasal cavity.

At this critical moment of life and death, this stranger, whom she had just met, took such a huge risk to point out a path that might allow her to survive.

Xu Xiaoyan nodded with all her might.

"Squad Leader Wang..." she choked up, looking deeply into Old Wang's eyes, "Thank you... I will remember your kindness."

Old Wang patted her shoulder heavily, stood up, and resumed his usual taciturn demeanor, as if the brief moment of tenderness and the leak of secrets had never happened.

After Lao Wang left, Weng Beiyan's emotions, which he had been holding back, finally broke down. He turned his face away abruptly, his shoulders trembling slightly, and a suppressed sob escaped his throat.

At this moment, Wang Yuming silently squatted down. He didn't say any words of comfort, but instead took off the black watch on his wrist that was still warm from his body.

He gently placed the watch into the side pocket of Xu Xiaoyan's backpack, his movements delicate and solemn.

"This watch is solar-powered," he said in a deep and steady voice, as if he were stating something very ordinary, yet with an unmistakable concern. "If it runs out of power, you can put it in the sun to dry and it will still work."

He paused, then continued, "Now all signals are cut off. Its main functions are directional guidance and map search. Fortunately, I had the urge to download offline maps of the whole country before."

He pointed to the small screen and said, "Although the global earthquake destroyed many landmark buildings, as long as you can still find road signs, you can at least locate a general position on the map by entering keywords."

After he finished speaking, he looked up at Xu Xiaoyan, trying to force a relaxed smile, but he didn't quite succeed.

"We're following the troops now, and our direction is clear, so this watch isn't very useful anymore. I'm giving it to you, hoping... we'll meet again someday."

Xu Xiaoyan endured the throbbing pain in her head and turned around with difficulty to open her backpack.

She started rummaging around inside, first taking out a bag of persimmons, then pulling out more than ten compressed biscuits, and stuffing them all into Wang Yuming's hand.