Thanks to the rural renovation plans in recent decades, the infrastructure of the counties, towns, and villages under Qin City have improved considerably, especially the roads. The self-built rural roads extending from the provincial roads to the villages are all cement-based, bearing the weight of two RVs without stress.

Leading the way was still the Mercedes-Benz VS RV driven by Zhang Su, slowly heading towards the village. As the view expanded, they could finally see the situation at the village entrance through the trees, causing a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs.

Barrier horses, barbed wires, tires, farm tools, overturned farming tractors—cluttered objects stretched fifty to sixty meters north to south, completely blocking the path from the village to the outside. The village name on the stone stele was also obscured, but the bloodstains on it indicated a brutal battle had occurred here.

Looking into the village through the barriers, streets were strewn with dismembered limbs and broken corpses, with zombies wearing thin garments wandering slowly down the streets, depicting a hellish village scene.

“It’s too tragic…”

Quiet all along the way, Zhang Ya spoke softly, a heavy expression on her face.

Seeing part of the situation reveals the whole picture—a scene in a single village representing the condition of countless others…

“Rural houses lack the defensive strength of apartment buildings. They are mostly courtyard bungalows, and in some less discreet areas, people don’t even like to close their gates. Zombies can easily break in…”

Zhang Su parked the car next to the roadblock. Some nearby zombies, sensing the sound, started walking toward them, only to be blocked by the barriers, mechanically waving at everyone like a call from death.

Whoosh, pop!

Zhang Su took out a crossbow, solving the zombie lying on the barrier with a single shot. He didn’t want a howling mess acting as a sound effect while they worked.

“Come on, park the car over here!”

A particularly grand fertilizer store stood outside the village entrance, Zhang Su directed everyone to park the vehicles next to the store’s entrance. This way, even if a car passed by on the provincial road, they wouldn’t be spotted with binoculars.

Busy, a dozen people disturbed the village’s zombies, and just in the time it took to park, about a dozen zombies gathered on the other side of the barrier, eager to feast on fresh flesh.

“Wait a second!”

Zhang Su stopped several people preparing weapons to deal with the zombies.

Zheng Xinyu and others looked back at Zhang Su in confusion, wondering what was worth waiting for…

“Wu Lue, Yu Qing, Pei Lan, Zhang Ya, you four, go deal with the zombies.”

Zhang Su nodded toward a few people.

These were the ones huddled at the back of the group, showing a lack of enthusiasm.

With Zhang Su’s order, Wu Lue and the others dared not dawdle, each grabbed their weapon and approached the barriers. Due to insufficient distance, they had to either move some piled-up objects or squeeze through certain obstacles to reach the zombies.

“Can I go too?”

Zhao Xue whispered beside Zhang Su.

“You want to get some practice too? Sure, just be careful.”

Zhang Su didn’t doubt Zhao Xue’s enthusiasm for fighting. Training was not only for skills but for survival instincts and battle spirit, both of which were crucial. He addressed everyone, “We keep saying we need to encourage their practice, so just not training when there’s such a good opportunity would be reckless. What if they get ambushed in a skirmish?”

Watching the clumsy movements of Wu Lue, Yu Qing, and Pei Lan, he shook his head internally. These guys needed more intensive training, but Zhang Ya seemed decent, using her hiking stick expertly, stabbing zombies without hesitation.

Needless to mention Zhao Xue; since leaving Yi Rewen, she had killed at least seven or eight zombies, and no one in the team underestimated her anymore.

“Brother Su, Zhang Ya’s quite skillful, isn’t she?”

Lu Yubo edged up to Zhang Su, teasing in a tone that only men would understand, suggesting she might be worth bringing into the fold.

“Her skills won’t matter!”

Zhang Su smiled, saying something Lu Yubo couldn’t comprehend.

Through his observations along the way, Zhang Su had identified issues with Zhang Ya. But as nothing escalated yet, he chose to remain passive, curious about what she would reveal in due course.

After five or six minutes, Wu Lue and the others finally cleared the zombies attacking the barriers and then moved aside some debris, exposing a large stone engraved with the village name.

Shuwa Village…

An unimpressive name, becoming one of countless villages to suffer under the disaster.

Dusk was falling, and everyone used the fertilizer store as a temporary base, tidying up the mess a bit to clear an area. Except for Chen Hanzhou, watching with binoculars from the rooftop, everyone gathered together, discussing a name for the dog.

“Though the little Corgi just woke up half a day ago, she’s already made many significant contributions. I think she’s entitled to be a member of our team and deserves a name!”

Zhang Su petted the Corgi that was lying beside him eating from a can of dog food.

The Corgi, hearing Zhang Su’s words, eagerly rubbed her head against his leg before continuing her meal.

Everyone was in strong support of Zhang Su’s proposal. In the span of half a day, they had all witnessed the Corgi’s amazing abilities, far beyond just running fast or jumping high.

“Let me start—see the big ring of white fur around her neck? Let’s call her ‘Little Yellow’.”

“Boo!~~~”

“Get lost…”

Lu Yubo’s suggestion met unanimous rejection, even eliciting a side-eye from the Corgi herself as she chomped away.

“She’s got such a robust spirit, with the vitality of a tiger! How about ‘Tiger’?” Yuwen adjusted his glasses and eagerly joined the discussion.

Yet again, many opposed. They felt the name was awkward and didn’t roll off the tongue smoothly.

“Naming a dog isn’t hard; let’s call her ‘Doggy’!” Zhao Dezhu waved his hand. But then he remembered something and added, “Ah, but she’s a female dog, so she can’t be called ‘Doggy… Doggy…’ He chuckled and stopped.

Everyone knew what he was hinting at and gave him a sidelong glance.

Oooh!

The Corgi growled lowly at Zhao Dezhu in dissatisfaction.

“We found her at Phoenix International. How about naming her ‘Phoenix’? She was unconscious for over ten days before waking up, like a rebirth from the ashes, right?”

Tan Huajun suggested with a smile.

“Phoenix?”

“That name’s not bad.”

“But is it really okay to name a dog ‘Phoenix’ …?”

Zheng Xinyu raised a hand and said, “Hey, hey, I was the one who discovered her, let me come up with a name!”

“Sure, say what you’re thinking…”

Zhang Su looked at the earnest Zheng Xinyu with amusement.

“Didn’t you say I was lucky? It was my luck that led me to find her, and she will inherit my good fortune, so let’s call her ‘Good Fortune’. How about it?”

Silence fell over the group.

“Sis, that name… it’s hard to say.”

Wu Lue meekly pointed out.

“Hmm, ‘Good Fortune’ is indeed a bit cumbersome. Then let’s make that her full name, and call her ‘Lucky’ for short—it incorporates even more luck. How about that?”

Yu Qing proposed, aligning with Zheng Xinyu’s idea.

“Good Fortune, Lucky, Lucky, Good Fortune. I think it’s great.” Yuwen voiced his approval, strongly supporting his daughter.

“Good Fortune, come with me. I’m the owner of Good Fortune. Lucky, go, bite him!”

Zhang Su tried using the name in a scenario and his eyes brightened, addressing the Corgi: “You’ll be called Good Fortune from now on, and your short name will be Lucky. Good Fortune is you; Lucky is you too, got it?”

Woof, woof!

The Corgi seemed to quite like the name as well, even pausing her meal to nod at Zhang Su with a wagging tail.

“Hey, I’m the true owner of Good Fortune. I named her, why are you taking credit…”

Zheng Xinyu pouted at Zhang Su, appearing quite aggrieved under the dim lights.

“Alright, alright, you too…” Unbothered by the small matter, Zhang Su generously said, “Good Fortune, she is also your owner, so be obedient, got it?”

Woof, woof.

The Corgi spun around in circles by Zheng Xinyu, charming everyone present.

Seizing the opportunity presented by naming the Corgi, everyone started sharing interesting stories, some from before the apocalypse and others about finding humor amidst the chaos post-apocalypse. Laughter reverberated, easing the group’s strained nerves.

Such rare moments of joy in the apocalypse were cherished by all.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep