Chapter Eight: Discovering the Secret Warehouse

After we returned to the room, only Xu Hanfeng and Jiang Li remained inside.

“Officer Xu, if you’re willing, you can join our security team. With your skills, you will definitely contribute greatly to the base’s safety,” Jiang Li said, his eyes flickering with a hint of hope as he looked at Xu Hanfeng.

Xu Hanfeng merely glanced sideways at Jiang Li without answering immediately. Then he nodded slightly, indicating he would consider it. In his heart, he was deep in thought; joining them might be the quickest way to get a clear understanding of the situation and escape sooner.

We were assigned to a simple dormitory. Although the conditions were modest, it was clean and tidy. I finally freed my hands and feet from the ropes that had bound me, stretching to relieve the soreness. Jiang Hanchuan and Luo Yucheng also looked exhausted and sat down on their beds to rest.

“Brother Feng, is this place really safe?” Luo Yucheng asked softly, a trace of worry in her eyes.

Xu Hanfeng sat on the edge of the bed, pausing in thought before saying, “This place seems safe, but we must stay vigilant. In this apocalyptic world, nothing is absolutely safe.”

“Rest for now. We’ll see what tomorrow brings,” Xu Hanfeng said as he stood up and turned off the lights.

In the darkness, lying on the bed, I was filled with complex emotions. Everything here was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. But if this could become my new home, how wonderful that would be. If only Mom and Dad were here too, maybe we could live happily ever after. Though, it would be a bit dull...

Lost in thought, I drifted off to sleep.

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight filtered softly through the window, warm and gentle. I slowly opened my eyes, savoring the long-lost feeling of peace. I had slept especially soundly last night—my first truly restful sleep since the apocalypse. The ‘companions’ around me were also waking one by one, all reluctant to leave this sudden calm behind.

“Ah, this feels great! Such a good sleep after so long,” Jiang Hanchuan stretched and rubbed his sleepy eyes, a satisfied smile on his face.

“Yeah, life here is simple, but at least it’s safe now,” Luo Yucheng said softly, warmth flickering in her eyes.

Xu Hanfeng was the first to get up. He had already taken the post of deputy captain in the base’s security team, responsible for patrols and maintaining safety.

Thanks to Jiang Li’s arrangements, each of us found our own role within the Jiang’s Survivor Base.

Jiang Hanchuan was in charge of mechanical repairs and equipment modifications. His skills were superb—he could transform discarded machines into useful tools.

Luo Yucheng worked in the hospital, her medical skills outstanding as she treated many injured survivors and security personnel hurt outside.

As for me, I was assigned to farming???

I had been pampered since childhood and never endured hardship or done such lowly work. Being made to toil in the fields every day was a shock. Couldn’t they give me a job that required some skill?

After returning to the room at night, my back ached, and my palms were blistered. I quickly found a mirror and looked at myself.

“Damn, I’m all sunburned!”

Seeing my condition, Jiang Hanchuan couldn’t help but mock me, “Rich kid, can’t even handle a bit of hardship. Pathetic!”

Anger flared inside me, and I argued back, “What do you know? Without this damn virus outbreak, I was somewhat famous in Star Harbor City. Plenty of people were trying to get close to me!”

Luo Yucheng hurried over to mediate, “Stop arguing, we’re all in the same boat. We must stick together!”

As our quarrel escalated, Xu Hanfeng returned with a stern expression.

“Enough. Quiet down. I have something important to tell you,” he said.

His words instantly silenced us. He scanned around the window to ensure no one was eavesdropping before speaking slowly.

“In the past few days, as deputy captain of the security team, I’ve been gathering intel—monitoring the guards’ schedules, shift changes, and escape routes.”

We listened, hearts pounding. We hadn’t expected Xu Hanfeng to have done so much behind the scenes.

Luo Yucheng added, “That warehouse we saw earlier might be the secret laboratory mentioned in the diary. Usually off-limits, but sometimes a few doctors go in and out. There’s definitely something suspicious. This place may not be as safe as we thought.”

A chill ran through me. Though life here brought comfort, Xu Hanfeng and Luo Yucheng’s words made me realize there might be greater dangers lurking.

Xu Hanfeng continued, “I’ve already drawn up an escape plan. It’s set for the night after tomorrow. We must act carefully and avoid raising suspicion.”

We all agreed after hearing the plan, but I felt uneasy. Though farming was exhausting, these peaceful days warmed me and reminded me of human kindness. The thought of returning to a dangerous, desolate world outside unsettled me.

That night, I lay tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The day’s labor had worn me out physically, but anxiety gnawed at my mind. I closed my eyes and recalled the simple yet hopeful life at the base.

“Do we really have to leave here?” I asked myself repeatedly.

Jiang Hanchuan and Luo Yucheng had fallen asleep, their breathing even and steady. Quietly, I got up and walked to the window, gazing at the night sky. The stars twinkled as if whispering of an unknown future. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the unease within.

...

Today was the day of the planned operation.

During the day, we busied ourselves with our usual tasks. I continued tending the fields, exhausted but tense.

Jiang Hanchuan worked in the machinery workshop, the clang of metal ringing out from time to time.

Luo Yucheng cared for patients in the hospital, her gentle smile accompanying her as she moved through the wards.

Xu Hanfeng patrolled with sharp, watchful eyes, seeming to see through everything.

We all tried to appear as normal as possible, to avoid arousing suspicion.

...

As night fell, the base grew quiet. After returning to the dorm, we began quietly packing. Xu Hanfeng glanced at his watch, his brow furrowed as he gave instructions.

“Listen carefully. The security team patrols every fifteen minutes. Once the time is set, I’ll go out first. At 2:15 a.m., I’ll reach Gate 3, pretending to check on the night guards and attempt to incapacitate them. You come out at 2:15, just after the patrol passes, and quickly head to Gate 3. You have only seven minutes—be quick!”

We exchanged glances and nodded. Xu Hanfeng checked his wristwatch; as the hour hand struck 2, he set off immediately. We waited silently inside for fifteen minutes. Though brief, the tension was suffocating, making it hard to breathe.

Suddenly, Jiang Hanchuan whispered, “2:15. Let’s go!” We hoisted our backpacks and moved out at once.

Under the deepening night, the base was shrouded in a heavy darkness. We slipped through the dormitory area toward Gate 3. Our hearts pounded loudly in our ears; every step felt weighted. We tried to soften our footsteps to avoid noise, but the anxious atmosphere hung thick in the air.

When we arrived at Gate 3, the scene before us was unexpected. A group of soldiers armed with guns awaited us. Above the gate stood a shadow—Jiang Li!

It turned out Jiang Li never fully trusted us. He deliberately left a security flaw at Gate 3 to see if we would take the bait—and we had fallen right into the trap.

Jiang Li stood high above, a cold smile curling his lips.

“This is classic Jiang Taigong fishing with a line, ha,” he sneered.

Everything was Jiang Li’s scheme, and we had blindly walked into the snare.

“Guards, bring them to the tribunal!” Jiang Li ordered. The soldiers dragged us to the so-called tribunal—a vast iron cage filled with white bones, evidence of many previous deaths. I looked up and saw the suspicious warehouse directly opposite.

“Clang, clang, clang,” the sound of bells rang out, and survivors from all over the base gathered.

Outside the cage, Jiang Li looked down on us with contempt.

“People of Zone 8, these outsiders, ungrateful for the new life I’ve given them, have tried to destroy our peaceful home. They are our enemies! Survivors, you will judge if they are guilty.”

“Guilty!”

“Kill them!”

Voices rose in chaos as survivors clamored, pounding on the cage. Jiang Li raised his hand for silence.

“Since you have judged them, we will proceed according to the rules.”

“If any survive, they shall be released without charge.”