Wasteland Survivalist: A Scientific Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Survival

The beam of the flashlight drew a swaying trail of light in the seawater ahead, illuminating the concrete pipe walls that were constantly rushing backward.

The oxygen in his lungs was being consumed rapidly, and all Zhao Xun could hear was his own violent heartbeat and the roar of the water. The last 200 meters seemed like an endless distance.

Just as he was about to exhaust himself, a glimmer of light appeared ahead, and the current became even more rapid.

"That's the tunnel exit!" Zhao Xun was pleasantly surprised.

Before he could even turn around to see where Xu Ran was, the next second his body was swept out of the pipe by the surging seawater and plunged into the turbulent ocean.

His survival instinct prompted him to pull the tab on his inflatable life jacket.

With a "pop," the orange-red airbag rapidly inflated, providing powerful buoyancy.

Dragging Zhao Xun's body, they rose towards the sea.

As the sea broke through the surface, the icy air rushed back into the lungs, causing violent coughing and wheezing.

Zhao Xun breathed in the seawater greedily, wiping it off his face with his hands.

Opening my eyes, the massive outline of the Yushan Power Plant stood like a silent tombstone in the dim light.

He looked around anxiously, but couldn't see his companion anywhere.

On the sea, the waves began to rise and fall under the renewed strength of the wind.

All he could hear was the sound of the waves.

"Xu Ran? Xu Ran!" he called hoarsely, searching in vain on the murky sea.

Zhao Xun took a breath and plunged into the water again.

Opening my eyes, stung by the salt water, I saw only a dark, blurry, yellowish hue below; I couldn't see anything.

"Am I all alone now?" The belated sadness and exhaustion finally overwhelmed him like the icy seawater.

He floated on the sea, letting himself rise and fall as he pleased.

The wind has noticeably picked up again; the eye of the typhoon is moving away, and another storm is about to hit.

Zhao Xun snapped back to his senses and took one last look in the direction of the tunnel.

Gritting his teeth, he began to swim with all his might towards the faintly visible black reefs in the distance, using his numb arms.

Just before the eye of the typhoon left, they finally climbed onto a reef and escaped safely.

The wind was still blowing on the beach of Xizhai Island.

Zhao Xun's voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible as he spoke.

He plunged his hands deep into the sand, his body trembling slightly, as if he could feel the cold seawater from that day again.

"After the typhoon passed, I re-established contact with the fleet."

After being rescued, he was awarded the title of combat hero for his steadfast defense of the power plant and his fight to the last man.

Zhao Xun tugged at the corners of his mouth, a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"The troops eventually recaptured Yushan Island, and the power station has now been restarted."

But the rest of the elite squad never came back, and I couldn't even find their bodies..."

Zhao Xun raised his arm and wiped away his tears.

"After settling back at the temporary camp, I couldn't sleep all night."

Under the current circumstances, it's impossible to apply for a psychological evaluation, and requesting discharge from the military is not permitted.

He looked up at Gu Lang, his eyes filled with unfathomable weariness.

"Once the fleet resolves the energy issue, all that's left is to wait for the vaccine to be developed."

There's no new battle needed for the time being, and there's nothing I can do by staying there.

Every day was torture, and all I could think about was escaping to find my family.

I don't know if they are dead or alive, but I at least want to know the outcome.

So, I "borrowed" this gyroplane.

I know this is against the rules, but I can't control that much anymore.

"Then why did you land here?" Gu Lang asked.

"When we flew to this area of ​​the sea, the engine started to vibrate abnormally, and the instruments also showed a problem."

I saw that this island had a beach, so I thought I'd make an emergency landing to check it out, and then... I met you.

After Zhao Xun finished speaking, he let out a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"My story is finished, Comrade Song Zhong."

Now, are you going to enforce battlefield discipline, or let a deserter who just wants to find his family go?

The sea breeze blows, and all that can be heard is the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

The gun in Gu Lang's hand had been pointed downwards at some point.

He looked at the old soldier who had crawled out of hell and remained silent for a long time.

Zhao Xun's story is full of details. It would be impossible to fabricate it in such a short time if one had not experienced it firsthand. Its authenticity is very high.

Although memories inevitably contain subjective embellishments, they are enough to know his character.

In addition, Zhao Xun's upcoming search for his family was enough to sway Gu Lang, leading him to include Zhao Xun in his list of potential companions.

"Sergeant Zhao, tell me, where are you from?" Gu Lang handed the shoes back to him.

"Hu Jiansheng, from Zhangzhou." Zhao Xun took the shoes and put them on right there.

"From Zhou Shan to Zhangzhou, that's over a thousand kilometers. Your gyroplane's range isn't enough, is it?"

Upon hearing Gu Lang's words, Zhao Xun breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the other party was ready to let him go.

"Yes, we'd definitely need to use a boat for that distance. I only used the gyroplane to escape."

Upon hearing this, Gu Lang looked puzzled.

"As far as I know, further south, many islands along the coast have also established security zones."

"If you're sailing, how will you get through the sea blockade?"

"There are special methods, of course. You just need to let me leave."

"That won't do. I want to know the exact plan." Gu Lang made a funny face.

"Your gyroplane has two seats, would you like to find someone to travel with?"

Zhao Xun looked up, first with a look of astonishment, then relief, and finally burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, so you were faking it all along, waiting for me here all this time..."

Zhao Xun laughed for a long time before he finally calmed down.

"Xiao Song, where are you from?"

"I'm from Guangdong, so you can give me a ride along the way."

"Your accent doesn't sound like it, are you faking it?" Zhao Xun stared at Gu Lang's face with suspicion.

"I left home when I was very young, and I've long forgotten the local dialect." Gu Lang lied without batting an eye.

"Your change of heart is too sudden. You need to give me some time to process and think it over." Zhao Xun stood up and brushed the sand off his clothes.

Here's a pack of cigarettes for your travel expenses.

"You have a whole carton of cigarettes? Really? I don't believe it."

"Two! If you don't want them, fine!"

"Deal!" Zhao Xun immediately gave Gu Lang a lightning-fast change of expression.

"Now you can tell me your plan, right?"

"No, I need to see the smoke first," Zhao Xun said decisively.

Left with no other choice, Gu Lang led him to the location of his own camp.

"Wow, what kind of bandit stronghold is this? It's even a plastic greenhouse." Zhao Xun looked around curiously.

"Wait, it's just two packs of cigarettes. I don't smoke this stuff. I'll give it to you now."

It's lunchtime anyway, why don't you grab a bite to eat here?

Gu Lang rummaged through the pile of supplies and found two packs of cigarettes and a bottle of wine, which he placed on the table. Then he started a fire and began roasting dried fish.