Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

The clamor of the chase gradually faded into the distance, until the last footsteps disappeared into the wind, and the two slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

"We can't go back the way we came; they might turn back," Xu Xiaoyan said in a low voice, speaking very quickly.

"Let's take a detour to the main road intersection and go from the east," Wang Xiao immediately interjected, pointing to the relatively open woods to the east:

"The intersection has a good view and no obstructions. In case of any situation, whether we fight or run, we will have the upper hand."

Without the slightest hesitation, the two sprang out of the bushes where they were hiding like arrows, no longer caring about the noise they might make underfoot, and rushed towards the woods at top speed.

The two ran as fast as they could, their lungs burning with pain, until they reached a relatively open intersection. Only then did they dare to stop, leaning against the wreckage of a rusted bus, panting heavily.

After waiting for about half an hour, Xie Yingtang still hadn't returned. Wang Xiao paced anxiously, his gaze constantly sweeping in the direction Xie Yingtang had left.

"Although Lao Xie is good at fighting," Wang Xiao finally couldn't help but say.

"But what if it's a large group like the ones by the river earlier? One against many is no match for two fists! No, I can't just sit here and wait; I have to go check it out!"

He was about to leave when Xu Xiaoyan grabbed his arm tightly.

"Calm down, Wang Xiao!" Xu Xiaoyan's voice was low but unusually firm. "Have you thought about why Brother Xie made us wait here?"

Because he is quick and discreet, he can more easily escape if trouble comes his way!

"If you rush in now, you'll be in an unfamiliar place. Not only will you not be able to help, but you might also expose him or get yourself into trouble!"

Xu Xiaoyan's words instantly dampened some of his impulsiveness. Seeing that Wang Xiao had calmed down a bit, he immediately pressed his advantage:

"Let's wait another half hour, just half an hour. If he hasn't returned by then, we'll find a safe place to hide the supplies, pack light, and go in to search together."

This way, Brother Xie's hard work won't be wasted, and it will make our actions more convenient, allowing us to look out for each other.

Wang Xiao remained silent for a long time. Finally, he let out a heavy breath and said in a hoarse voice, "Okay, I'll listen to you. Half an hour... just half an hour."

The two stopped talking, each taking up a strategic position and warily watching their surroundings.

Time ticked by, and just as Wang Xiao was becoming increasingly anxious, Xu Xiaoyan, with her sharp eyes, suddenly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "They're here!"

At one end of the town, several blurry figures were moving quickly toward the intersection. Xie Yingtang was walking in front, followed closely by three people, maintaining a safe distance.

Upon seeing this, Wang Xiao immediately rushed over to greet them.

Once both sides had stopped standing beside the wreckage of the abandoned bus, Xu Xiaoyan took a look at the three men in the last rays of daylight.

Xu Xiaoyan remembered one of the elderly men; she recalled he was selling dried bamboo shoots. She didn't recognize the other two middle-aged men. All three of them were carrying bulging bags.

Xu Xiaoyan silently went over the survival motto of "the more you say, the more mistakes you make, and the more words you utter, the more likely you are to make a mistake" in her mind, and kept her lips tightly closed.

He simply glanced quickly at the items the other person was carrying and where they might be hiding weapons.

At the same time, he subtly adjusted his position to ensure that he could observe the movements of Xie Yingtang, Wang Xiao, and the three strangers simultaneously.

Xie Yingtang first exchanged a few words with Wang Xiao in a low voice. Wang Xiao's tense expression relaxed slightly, and he nodded slightly.

Immediately, Xie Yingtang raised his head and broke the silence with his voice, "These two are my partners."

He then pointed to the three people behind him, "We're going to trade the lotus roots we found earlier with them for dried bamboo shoots, cornmeal, and salt."

His introduction was concise and to the point, without any unnecessary pleasantries. After he finished speaking, he put his arm around Wang Xiao's shoulder and walked with him to the front of the line.

At the same time, he subtly gave Xu Xiaoyan a look, his gaze quickly sweeping over the back of the group.

Xu Xiaoyan immediately understood and tacitly slowed her pace, falling to the back of the group.

Under the dim moonlight, the group walked silently for nearly two hours on the broken asphalt road. The surroundings were deathly quiet, with only heavy breathing and footsteps.

The long trek and the intense tension began to wear down the patience of the three strangers.

One of the middle-aged men, thin and with prominent cheekbones, finally couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up, his voice sounding particularly jarring in the silence.

"Hey! You surnamed Xie, how much longer are we going to walk? It's pitch black here, and you're just going around in circles. Are you guys playing us for fools?"

His slightly burly companion beside him didn't say anything, but his eyes also revealed the same suspicion, and his hand unconsciously touched the bulge at his waist.

Xie Yingtang's steps were perfectly steady, and he didn't even turn his head. He spoke in a calm voice:

"I made it clear to you before we set off that it would take at least four hours one way. The road is a bit long, but the stuff is definitely worth it."

The three extra lotus roots I promised to give you are compensation for the journey, and of course I keep my word.

He paused for a moment, then accurately reported the time: "We've only gone less than halfway. Conserve your energy and keep going."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man at the back of the line, who had been silent all along and whose hair and beard were completely white, let out a suppressed, heavy sigh.

He leaned on a thick tree branch he had picked up at random, his body slightly hunched and trembling, as if he would collapse at any moment.

He raised his cloudy eyes, his voice hoarse and short of breath, typical of old age, and pleaded:

"Gentlemen...young men, please have mercy and take a break. My old bones really...really can't keep up with your pace. Please take care of me..."

Under the moonlight, the old man's face was deeply wrinkled with weariness, and his seemingly genuine weakness added a subtle sense of solemnity to the tense atmosphere that filled the air.

Wang Xiao looked at Xie Yingtang, asking for his opinion with his eyes.

Xu Xiaoyan quietly observed the two middle-aged men's reaction to the old man's request from behind. A hint of impatience flashed across their faces, but they did not object.

Xie Yingtang stopped and quickly scanned the surroundings.

To the right was a relatively flat, open area with a decent view, while to the left was a natural shelter formed by the collapsed wall. He nodded, his words concise:

"Okay, take a ten-minute break. Do not light any fires, do not speak loudly, and remain vigilant."

The old man breathed a sigh of relief and, almost with Wang Xiao's help, slowly sat down on a relatively clean stone, rubbing his aching legs.

The two middle-aged men immediately found a spot to sit with their backs against the ruins, but their eyes remained wary as they scanned the area, especially lingering on Xie Yingtang and the other two.

The brief rest did not dispel the thick, unyielding suspicion that permeated the group; it merely gave their weary bodies a brief respite.