Chapter 10: Grim Situation

"Heh, we are currently in a doomsday-like environment. The old social rules have collapsed, and it's gradually becoming a dog-eat-dog world. If you aren't ruthless, you won't survive." Liu Feng smiled nonchalantly. He didn't deny Han Ning's words; instead, he spoke even more bluntly. "You are a strong person, and I respect you. Only those with ability have the right to an equal conversation."

Although the other party was blunt and explicit, Han Ning didn't deny it.

Liu Feng naturally walked over to an overturned low cabinet, brushed the dust off with his hand, and sat down. He smiled and asked, "Brother, how should I address you?"

"Han Ning." Han Ning didn't sit. He stood in the center of the living room, maintaining a distance of about two meters from Liu Feng, and asked, "Mr. Liu, do you have any more information?"

"Over the past ten days, we've done three things in total. First, I already told you about the water level." Liu Feng took a pack of Furongwang cigarettes from his pocket and offered one to Han Ning.

After Han Ning waved it away, Liu Feng lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and said slowly, "Second, we recorded the monsters' activity patterns.

"Their numbers have clearly increased, and their range of activity is expanding. Initially, they mostly stayed on the lower floors and areas close to the ground. Now, traces of them are appearing more frequently on the middle and upper floors.

"I suspect that the higher the water accumulates, the faster they will breed and grow." He pointed at the endless rainstorm outside the window before continuing, "Third, we took a head count and contacted survivors."

Liu Feng's voice grew a bit deeper. "In this apartment building, including you, there are currently about forty confirmed survivors spread across different floors and rooms. As for the others... some were dragged away by monsters while scavenging for supplies. Others starved to death, died of illness, or died from... despair-induced suicide.

"The situation in the nearby buildings is even worse. Some apartments don't have any Awakened, and being in relatively low-lying areas, there's hardly anyone left alive."

Han Ning lived in a hotel-style apartment. It was close to the seaside and situated on low-lying ground, which ironically made it an extremely dangerous place now.

"In short, after my investigations over the past few days, I've only managed to contact three Awakened, and that includes you." Liu Feng raised his eyes, looking directly at Han Ning with a sincere and solemn expression. "This is the current situation. The rainstorm outside is pouring relentlessly. If we remain Scattered, minding our own business, the final result will be us getting swallowed up one by one by the flood or the monsters."

"So, you want to organize everyone to leave here?" Han Ning finally asked.

"Exactly!" Liu Feng replied decisively. "The core force for our departure will be the Awakened. Ordinary people facing Crocodile Lizards outside would just be throwing their lives away.

"I need an elite squad to scout the surrounding environment, especially the routes leading to the nearest pier or places that might harbor boats. We also need to assess the distribution and strength of the monsters. If possible, we'll try to secure a usable boat. This squad must be composed of the strong." He paused, looking at Han Ning. "Qiang described your abilities to me. We need strong people like you."

"Do you have a specific destination in mind?" Han Ning continued.

"Bailu Port," Liu Feng spat out the three words. "This port is roughly a straight-line distance of five kilometers from our apartment building. It's the closest port. There are definitely boats there, and more than just one. Although the risk is high, it's also the place with the greatest hope."

Five kilometers... normally, it would just be a few minutes' drive. But in this submerged city, amidst the rain patrolled by countless Crocodile Lizards, these five kilometers were no different from the Yellow Springs Road.

"When do we make a move? Have the other two Awakened agreed?" Han Ning's voice betrayed no emotion.

"I won't hide it from you. One has already agreed, and the other is still considering. As for the time of action, naturally, the sooner the better." Liu Feng's tone carried a sense of urgency. "The rainstorm won't stop just because we wait. My preliminary plan is the morning after tomorrow. Even if that person doesn't agree, we still need to set out and first try to scout the situation along the route leading to Bailu Port.

"I've said everything I need to say. What are your thoughts?" Liu Feng looked into Han Ning's eyes.

"I'll think about it." Han Ning didn't reply immediately.

"Alright, but I hope you decide quickly. Time waits for no one." With that, Liu Feng turned and left the room.

After he left, only the relentless sound of the rainstorm remained in the empty living room of Room 801. Han Ning stood in place, not leaving immediately, but falling into deep thought. He had a conflict with that buzz-cut man, and he couldn't quite figure out what kind of mindset the other party harbored.

There were only two paths laid out before him. He could either remain trapped in this isolated building, facing the flood and monsters in despair once his supplies ran out; or he could take a gamble, cooperate with Liu Feng, and fight for a slim chance of survival before the flood completely submerged the building.

The former was a slow death; the latter might be a quick death, but it carried a glimmer of hope.

Han Ning couldn't help but walk to the window, gently lifting a corner of the curtain to look into the distance. Murky rainwater dripped among the dead silence of the city's buildings. The accumulated water on the ground had already submerged the roofs of some vehicles.

Several Crocodile Lizards, noticeably a full size larger than the juveniles he had encountered before, swam slowly beneath the ripples caused by the heavy rain. Their jagged dorsal spines sliced through the water's surface, leaving trails of wakes behind them.

"I can't wait any longer," he said, dropping the curtain and letting out a long sigh.

***

Returning to Room 803, Han Ning carefully put away the supplies he had brought from Room 703. He then sifted through the pile of rotting fruits and vegetables, picking out some useful seeds.

He found several types of fruits and vegetables that could be planted:

1. Tomatoes. Although a few tomatoes were already rotten, some seeds were still wrapped in pulp that hadn't completely decayed. By slicing them open, scooping out the seed clusters, and washing away the pulp with Qingshui, they could still be used.

2. Peppers. Even if the skin had softened, the inner seeds remained hard.

3. Pumpkins. The seeds were relatively large. By scooping out the rotten pulp, rinsing them in water to separate the seeds, and drying them in the sun, he obtained plantable seeds.

Conversely, the green leafy vegetables had no seeds and could not be planted for the time being.

Since he had separated out quite a lot of seeds, the flower pots and soil were somewhat insufficient. He had to temporarily use washbasins and buckets as crop-cultivation vessels and planted them all inside.

After finishing all this, he sat in the living room, closed his eyes, and felt the flow of Spiritual Power within his body.

With a thought, ten vines extended like limbs, performing various movements such as entangling, whipping, and piercing. He repeatedly practiced the most basic summoning and manipulation of the Vine Technique, striving to further enhance its power before they set out.

[Vine Technique (Middle Level) Skill Level +1, Current: 2/200]

[Spiritual Power: 14/15]