Chapter 75: Head Straight for the Airport

The car sped along the road leading to the city. Even though there were zombies along the way, they posed little obstacle to Du Yun and her companions. The ordinary zombies trailing behind couldn't keep up, while those already on the road were sent flying when the car barreled through.

Sitting in the car, Du Yun enjoyed the passing scenery as she absorbed the energy crystals, feeling utterly at ease. With the car, a journey that once required several days on foot could now be completed in just two, saving precious time and ensuring they wouldn’t miss the opportunity to catch a small starship at the spaceport.

Because the city teemed with zombies, they chose to skirt its outskirts, heading straight for the spaceport. Avoiding the hordes that once populated the city—a place now overrun by millions of the undead—was a relief to everyone.

A slight smile appeared on Du Yun’s lips. If they could just reach the vicinity of the spaceport in their car, deal with any zombies that followed, then find a relatively secure building nearby, clear it out, and settle in, all they’d have to do was wait safely for the starship’s arrival. Hope, it seemed, was almost within reach.

Everyone else was in high spirits, too. Apart from the few who took turns at the wheel—nervous about the possibility of blocked roads—the group's overall mood gradually relaxed.

Du Yun considered themselves lucky. This planet was at a developmental stage similar to Earth's 1980s. While there were advanced products from other worlds—nutrient solutions, energy weapons, and small starships—for ordinary people, life was still rooted in a small-scale, self-sufficient agricultural economy.

In such times, cars were rare treasures, seldom seen even along the highways. There was no risk of the city being locked in a traffic jam at the first sign of disaster. This, in turn, made their journey to the city much easier.

Other than stopping once to refuel at a gas station they cleared out, the group traveled day and night toward their destination. After two days and two nights, they reached the edge of their target city, where the density of zombies rose sharply.

“Only fifty kilometers ahead—the spaceport,” Dazhuang announced excitedly, map navigator in hand. Having been stranded on this bizarre zombie-infested planet for so many days, even these well-trained soldiers found the environment stifling. The prospect of escape filled him with joy.

“Yes, the spaceport has a garrison, and there are starships coming and going. We must stay alert,” the leader said, glancing at Dazhuang and Skinny Monkey's elated faces, noting the sparkle in Du Yun’s eyes, and seeing the broad grins on the others. He frowned, for once uttering a long sentence.

His words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly sobering everyone.

Indeed, what awaited them at the spaceport? The hardships of the road might be over, but the real battle—the greatest challenge—would take place inside. If they became too complacent now and stumbled at the final hurdle, would their lives end in the darkness just before dawn?

“Check your weapons and prepare for combat,” the leader commanded, his voice deep and powerful, pulling everyone back from their anxious thoughts.

“Yes, no matter how many zombies are at the spaceport, as long as we can fight our way through, there’s still hope for survival,” Du Yun responded, swapping out energy cartridges in her weapons and doing the same for the heavy arms stored in her compartment. When everything was ready, she gripped her Tang sword, slowly wiping its blade.

“Eat something.” Seizing the last few moments, the leader approached Du Yun, handing her a bar-shaped ration in its packaging.

“Alright.” Du Yun recognized it from when she first met the leader—an energy bar they used for resupply. It tasted better than nutrient solutions and was richer in energy and nutrition. Most importantly, its flavor was just tolerable, unlike the nutrient solutions that tasted like chewing on bland energy bread.

Du Yun chewed her ration in silence while the leader watched her with gentle eyes. A subtle tenderness lingered between them, but with so many people present, there was no room for sentimental words. Their feelings were exchanged only through glances.

Time ticked by, tension quietly winding tighter in every heart. What would the spaceport be like? How many powerful zombies awaited them? No one could say.

“Boss, I see the spaceport!” Skinny Monkey, observing beside Dazhuang, called out suddenly. His quiet voice nonetheless brought an abrupt hush over the previously noisy vehicle.

Had they finally reached the spaceport? Was this journey’s end finally within sight? These questions swelled in everyone’s hearts, quickly followed by new anxieties—what would happen next? Could the small starship really take them all away?

“Prepare for battle!” The leader nodded, wasting no words. He released the safety on his heavy machine gun—metallic clicks signaling that he was ready for combat.

As they drew closer to the spaceport, the number of vehicles on the road increased. At first, they could maneuver around parked cars or those driven off the road. But soon, the wreckage of multi-car collisions started to block their way, and their bus could go no further.

Finally, at a scene where four or five large trucks had crashed together, the bus came to a halt. The road ahead was completely blocked by the massive vehicles, far too heavy for them to move by hand. There was no way forward by car.

“We’re still two kilometers from the spaceport,” Dazhuang said quietly. There was no emotion in his voice, but his words landed in every heart like a heavy hammer blow.

“We proceed on foot. Clear a base before nightfall,” the leader ordered. Though resigned, everyone understood this was the only sensible course left.

Fortunately, it was still midday, with plenty of daylight. Shouldering their packs, they disembarked, leaving behind the bus that had carried them for hundreds of miles. Uncertainty and apprehension about the future weighed on them as they set out on foot.

Du Yun looked up at the gray sky ahead, adjusted her pack, and gripped her bow tightly. Her pack was light—most of her belongings had been quietly stowed in her storage compartment. She was well-armed, well-supplied, and protected by the leader and his team. Yet a vague sense of confusion and unease lingered in her heart.

“What on earth is it?” Du Yun frowned in silence, questioning herself. What was the source of this persistent anxiety? Had she overlooked something crucial—something that could pose a great danger? Was her subconscious issuing a warning she had yet to understand?