Chapter 457: Chapter 453: Black Shadow Behind the Signpost (Part 1)

Just like when they arrived, the surroundings of the toll booth hadn’t changed much. In other words, over the past period, no new vehicles had likely passed through here.

Whether this result was comforting or worrying, they couldn’t quite tell.

However, for the survivors, making their way forward was the most important thing at the moment.

Xu Renjie steadily drove the car through the toll lane, followed closely by the middle and rear cars.

From this point, the survivor team officially bade farewell to the post-apocalyptic ruins that had given them so many thrilling experiences and painful memories.

What the future would hold was unknown to them, but regardless, they had to move forward.

Once on the highway, the speed of the vehicles noticeably increased.

The survivors no longer needed to maintain the high alert they did when navigating the city streets earlier. Especially the members in the middle car, to pass the boredom of the journey, even set up beds and began playing poker.

The men had poker to play, while as a woman, Wei Yang sang nursery rhymes with Fangfang.

For a while, the entire convoy was filled with lively air, unlike the deathly silence before leaving the city.

Listening to Wang Qiang and the others’ playful banter and swearing, they were not escaping disaster, but rather on a rural outing.

But unlike the noise in the middle car, the lead car responsible for navigating and scouting was unusually solemn inside.

Xu Renjie focused entirely, staring forward. Tang Xiaoquan occasionally pointed out directions, while the two warriors behind them held tight to their steel blades, expressionless, observing the surroundings to prevent any sudden incidents.

After the convoy had driven about 20 kilometers, the view became expansive.

Large fields and canals swept quickly past on either side of the highway. This return to nature’s beauty lifted everyone’s spirits, and the survivors’ mood improved along with it.

“Pair of 3!”

“Damn! Chaozi! Are you an undercover sent by the landlord family? Playing such small cards, are you holding back?”

“Cut the crap, guard your door! If you think I’m playing small, then pressure me with big cards!”

“Hahaha! Chaozi, don’t you know Wang Qiang? Since he’s saying this, he obviously has no ammo left at home!”

“Get lost! You landlord tycoon! Watch me finish you off! Pair of Aces!”

Wang Qiang and others yelled and cursed at each other. Their suddenly relaxed mood made them feel a rare sense of ease.

“Wei Yang sister, look at those houses over there, they’re so beautiful!”

Following Fangfang’s pointing direction, Wei Yang slightly lifted her pretty face and indeed found a few villas surrounded by mountains beside the road.

These were specifically designed for the wealthy, named ’Returning to Nature, Seeking Inner Peace’.

Yet everyone knew that anyone who could afford these expensive properties must have traces of capitalist blood behind their wealth.

“Fangfang, do you like it there?”

“Yeah! I like it!” Children are forever pure. They yearn for beautiful things.

In response, Wei Yang gently patted the little one’s head and said with a smile, “Since Fangfang likes it, how about sister takes you there in the future?”

“Great! Great!” Upon hearing this, Fangfang jumped up with joy, her smooth cheeks blushing with rosy hue: “Wei Yang sister has to keep her word, let’s pinky swear!”

Watching Fangfang raise her finger with a serious expression, almost everyone was amused.

Amidst this peaceful and joyful atmosphere, the survivors quickly advanced forward.

However, after driving another 10 kilometers, this was abruptly interrupted by an unexpected situation.

“Hello hello! Number 1, Number 1, what’s the situation? Over!”

“Zzz! There’s a blockage ahead, looking into it, please remain on standby! Over!”

From the microphone came Tang Xiaoquan’s slightly serious voice, and Lin Junfu immediately stood up, shouting at Wang Qiang and others who were still playing cards behind him, “Wang Qiang, Chaozi, stop playing, get your weapons, watch out!”

Upon receiving instructions, Wang, Wu, Wen, and Du immediately complied, taking up their weapons and guarding the front and rear doors, while their eyes vigilantly scanned around.

“What’s going on?” As he watched, Wang Qiang asked.

Regarding Wang Qiang’s question, Old Lin simply replied, “Not sure yet,” then directed his gaze at Hu Xiaodong, who held a bow, “Little Hu! Get on the roof to check the situation, and help keep watch for the lead car and Old Xu!”

“OK!” Hu Xiaodong didn’t waste time. With Wang Qiang and others’ help, he climbed onto the roof using a modified wooden ladder and stood alert with his bow.

“How’s it going? Little Hu! What’s outside?”

From a high vantage point, Hu Xiaodong could clearly see the situation 50 meters ahead.

And seeing everything clearly, his sword-like eyebrows couldn’t help but knit tightly.

“Not good! Everything ahead is blocked! I think we’ll have to detour!”

The same road blockage was noticed by those in the lead car, though it might have been psychological.

Compared to Xu Renjie, Tang Xiaoquan immediately recalled being chased by a horde of corpses upon seeing the situation.

Thus, without hesitation, he immediately expressed his opinion: “Captain Xu, this road is definitely a no-go. My suggestion is for us to turn back quickly.”

Xu Renjie pondered looking ahead before subconsciously nodding, then picked up the handheld radio to issue an order, “Second car, third car, please note, due to the blocked road ahead, unable to proceed, please turn around as needed! Over!”

After his words fell, Xu Renjie was about to return to the car, but as he was about to take a step, he suddenly noticed a shadow flash behind him, followed by a “clang” sound.

“Damn! What’s happening!” The loud noise made the middle bus tremble slightly.

Originally standing to fight, Hu Xiaodong also fell to the ground due to sudden shaking.

When he came to, after surveying, he couldn’t help but inhale sharply.

Half-crouched posture, slightly hunched back, ten claws like steel pincers, Hu Xiaodong instinctively knew the creature before him was entirely different from what they’d seen before, likely another new evolutionary species.

“Hu Ge! What’s the situation over there!”

Wang Qiang anxiously wanted to climb the ladder, but before he could act, Fangfang’s innocent face showed a trace of fear. Small hands pointed at the road’s marker, tremblingly crying, “Wei, Wei Yang sister, you, look there, there are, monsters! Lots of monsters!”

“Monsters?!” This remark undoubtedly alerted all survivors inside the car, as Old Lin was the first to approach the window, then stuck to it, looking out, and upon seeing the road side…

“Level 1 combat alert, everyone get into fight mode, Little Hu! Hurry down, we need to seal the door!!” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep