Wasteland Survivalist: A Scientific Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Survival

"What are you planning to do next?" Gu Lang asked Wang Bin.

"What else can we do? Since we're still alive, we must take on the responsibility of our fallen comrades and continue the mission."

"Where to?"

"Taizhou, the Medical City of the Dragon Kingdom".

Why go there?

"Good question. That place is the only new vaccine and specific diagnostic reagent industrial cluster in China, and it has the largest vaccine factory in the country."

And it wasn't destroyed by a nuclear bomb. Do I need to say anything more?

Although Wang Bin was a military doctor, his style of doing things was even more decisive and efficient than that of Li Zheng, the squad leader.

"Put your air rifle away. Do you even know how to use it?"

He handed me a Type 95 short rifle, then took out a magazine and skillfully loaded it with bullets.

"I fired a Type 81 rifle in high school, but this is the first time I've ever touched this gun."

Gu Lang happily fiddled with the standard rifle in front of him.

"This is Song Zhong's gun. Now that you've picked it up, you have to take his place on missions."

Li Zheng raised his head and said through gritted teeth.

Upon hearing this, Gu Lang instantly felt the urge to put down his gun and was just about to refuse when he tried to speak.

But Li Zheng didn't give Gu Lang any time to hesitate and immediately started the Lynx assault vehicle.

The furious roar of the engine carried far into the silent night, as if shouting to all the raging beasts, "I'm here!"

Gu Lang was startled and glanced at the eight-wheeled chariot that was turning around in place.

He immediately realized that he no longer had the option of leaving alone.

Staying behind would mean facing the overwhelming tide of enemies alone, which would be tantamount to suicide.

The only remaining way out is now tied to this vehicle.

We either die together, or we charge out together!

"Damn it, we've been tricked!"

There was no time for complicated calculations of pros and cons; the instinct for survival simplified all options at that moment.

He charged towards the assault vehicle, braced himself against the side railing with one hand, and leaped into the empty seat in the back.

"Hold on tight!" Li Zheng roared and slammed on the gas pedal.

Like a wild beast breaking free of its cage, the "Lynx" used all eight of its large tires to accelerate, crushing gravel and debris as it suddenly burst out of the gate!

Behind them, where they had originally been hiding, numerous flashlights shone, illuminating the terrifying figures of countless berserkers.

Li Zheng drove the all-terrain assault vehicle without choosing the conventional road.

Instead, relying on its incredible off-road capabilities, it charged directly into a field behind the house, traversing the ridges as if walking on flat ground.

The only problem is that the passenger experience is not very comfortable when traversing complex terrain at high speeds.

When the assault vehicle landed, the inexperienced Gu Lang accidentally bumped headfirst into the load-bearing truss that held the heavy machine gun.

He almost passed out if he hadn't been wearing a helmet.

The assault vehicle bypassed the main street and sped towards the riverbank southwest of the town.

Fortunately, once the Lynx drove into the river, the ride became much smoother.

"Is this vehicle amphibious?"

"That's right, the tires provide the main buoyancy and also propel the vehicle through the water."

Li Zheng adjusted the car's gears and completed differential steering by controlling the different speeds of the two tires.

"Then I've really gotten myself on a sinking ship." Gu Lang smiled wryly as he carefully observed the other party's operating techniques.

After adjusting its direction, the assault vehicle rushed directly to the other side, completely shaking off the berserkers chasing behind.

"If we go this way and bypass the town ahead, we can save at least half an hour."

Wang Bin took out a military map and quickly planned out the route.

Li Zheng and Gu Lang were responsible for guarding the front and rear directions respectively. A brief silence fell over the car, with only the sound of the wind and the engine.

"After a nuclear war broke out... did the military respond?"

Seeing no signs of danger around him, Gu Lang broke the silence first, wanting to gather as much information as possible.

Li Zheng gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes constantly scanning every shadow ahead.

"As far as I know, the nuclear counterattack began almost immediately. Strategic duty forces executed the planned procedures before the first nuclear strike landed."

He paused, as if recalling that earth-shattering moment.

"Interception? I heard the military has interceptor missiles?"

"Yes," Li Zheng affirmed, but there was no trace of joy in his tone. "Kinetic interceptor missiles were indeed launched over some of our important cities, and even nuclear interception missiles were used."

"How's the effect?" Gu Lang pressed.

Li Zheng shook his head, a bitter smile curving his lips.

"It's a drop in the ocean. There were too many incoming warheads, and their flight profiles were different. We only intercepted a portion, but..."

He didn't say anything more; the heavy atmosphere said it all.

Then Li Zheng added a crucial piece of information: "Thanks to the strategic buffer zone formed by the Liaodong Peninsula and the Qilu Peninsula, plus the naval air defense forces, the capital withstood the main wave of attacks, and the damage was relatively controllable."

"But the cost was that almost all major cities along the eastern coast of the capital were wiped out."

Wang Bin coldly replied from the back row, still studying the military map spread out on his lap by the light of his flashlight.

"Then the rage disorder broke out," Gu Lang continued.

"Yes. The virus is spreading too fast. The higher command has issued orders to disperse and hold their ground. The army has dispersed, breaking up into small teams. Non-essential personnel are strictly prohibited from moving across regions. All areas have been instructed to organize defenses locally, preserve strength, and hold on..."

"Persist until the vaccine is successfully developed," Li Zheng completed the sentence for him. "Therefore, the Dragon Kingdom Medical City has become crucial now."

"That's right." Wang Bin glanced at the rearview mirror. "The Peace State was carrying out a training mission in the open sea at the time, cooperating with the destroyer and frigate flotilla. Luckily, it escaped the initial attack. Now we are one of the few mobile forces that can still carry out missions."

"How's the situation on the ship?" Gu Lang was filled with curiosity about the hospital ship.

"Medical supplies are relatively plentiful, and there are many medical experts on board. However, vaccine development is not progressing smoothly."

"What about the official shelters? They can't possibly put such a heavy burden on your shoulders, can they?"

"You don't understand the seriousness of the situation yet. Due to the impact of the virus, it is now almost impossible to distinguish friend from foe. Trust between different regions and between superiors and subordinates has been almost completely destroyed."

"Many infected people can fake and deceive. I ask you, how can you be sure that someone you're in long-distance contact with hasn't developed symptoms?"

Wang Bin's words silenced Gu Lang.

"And rage disorder has an incubation period. Even if someone is normal one second, will they still be the same person the next?"

"Damn it! We're intertwined, and that's where all the trouble in the world comes from."

Gu Lang immediately recalled what had happened on the Bohai Sea and cursed angrily.