Chapter 63: Growing Strength

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Xie Han led Chen Liu into his own bedroom, pulled up a chair, and smiled wryly. “There isn’t really anywhere suitable to talk here. The conditions are a bit rough.” Chen Liu sat down in a relaxed manner, unconcerned. “In a world like this, just being able to survive is already a blessing. Who can still hope for good conditions? But if you really wanted, it wouldn’t be hard to find you a luxurious apartment in the smart district.”

“No, no…” Xie Han laughed. “That kind of life isn’t meant for me—I couldn’t bear to enjoy such luxury.” He took out some herbs he’d brought from the modern world, brewed a cup each for Chen Liu and himself, blew the tea leaves floating on the surface, and took a careful sip before speaking in earnest. “The reason I invited you here today, Brother Chen, is that there are some things I want to discuss with you.”

In Chen Liu’s experience, Xie Han was rarely so serious. Usually, he wore a carefree grin. Now, hearing this tone, Chen Liu knew it was no trivial matter. “Go on, if there’s anything you need from me, just say the word. As long as it’s within my power, I’m not one to be stingy.”

Xie Han sipped his tea again, then asked calmly, “Brother Chen, what’s your opinion of the base?” The question was broad. Chen Liu pondered for a moment, unsure where to begin. “In three and a half years, I’ve been to three bases. The first, during the early outbreak of the XR virus, gathered over three hundred thousand survivors. But in those chaotic times, the base lasted only a month and a half before internal strife and food shortages sparked violence, and the zombies breached the defenses. I fled west with the brothers who were willing to follow me, seeking shelter in a second base.”

“There were many people in the second base, and it covered a vast area, but it had the same lack of management and constant internal power struggles. With no defensive perimeter and no proper measures, I only stayed half a month before leading my people further west, eventually arriving at this base. Later, I heard on the radio that almost no one escaped the second base—half died in internal conflicts, the rest were lost to the zombies.”

Recalling his flight from disaster, Chen Liu’s tone grew somber. “As for this base, I’ve lived here for over two years. I know it fairly well. You could say it’s capable of holding its ground, but not of mounting an offense. Its proximity to Wangtian City gives it a unique advantage in food supplies, sparing us the threat of hunger and cold. The leadership is split among three factions, but all belong to the same government, which keeps their power struggles in the shadows and prevents them from destabilizing the base.”

Xie Han pressed on, “Then, Brother Chen, do you think the base is built to last?” This time, Chen Liu didn’t hesitate. “No. Relying solely on raiding food from the zombies is no long-term solution. Right now, humanity is at a severe disadvantage. As time passes, we’ll simply exhaust every resource we have. I can’t even imagine what the future holds for us.”

Xie Han nodded in agreement. “That’s actually why I asked you here today.” He stood up and walked to the window, gazing outside. The sun was gone, leaving only a faint afterglow. The street below was almost deserted, cold and quiet. “Like you, I want to believe that humanity can have a better tomorrow. But with the base in its current state, is that possible? And you must realize, Brother Chen, the zombie horde is almost upon us…”

At the mention of the horde, Chen Liu fell silent, then finally asked, “So what are you getting at?”

Xie Han replied, “Based on calculations, the zombies will reach us within a month. We must be prepared.”

Chen Liu exhaled, gulped down a mouthful of herbal tea, and said, “What preparations can we make? We can’t break away from the base. All we can hope is that the leadership will take this seriously and come up with a plan.”

“Brother Chen, in this world, we can’t rely solely on others.” Xie Han’s voice was firm. “We must make our own preparations.”

Chen Liu studied him. “So what’s your plan, Xie?” No one wanted to die—Chen Liu was no exception. He began to sense Xie Han’s true purpose in bringing him here today.

Xie Han said, “In fact, we started planning our evacuation a week ago.”

Chen Liu was stunned. “Evacuation?”

“That’s right. Brother Chen, do you really think the base, as it stands, can withstand the endless tide of zombies from Wangtian City? And with the rate we’re burning through ammunition, there’s no way we’ll have enough to sustain a prolonged fight.”

Chen Liu fell silent again. Xie Han’s analysis made him realize how dire things actually were. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Even if we evacuate, where can we go? A year ago, there were already very few surviving bases.”

Xie Han chuckled. “Haven’t you ever thought of founding your own base, Brother Chen?”

Chen Liu was taken aback. Such a simple question from Xie Han sent his thoughts spinning. Xie Han tempted him further, “Brother Chen, if we had our own base, we could build it into a city of the apocalypse, develop our own agriculture, fortify our own defenses, research cures for the XR virus, and reclaim cities lost to the zombies. Have you ever imagined standing before endless wheat fields, or taking part in the growth of a city with your own hands?”

It was true—of all temptations in this drifting, devastated world, Xie Han’s vision was the hardest to resist. Of course Chen Liu was moved. Who wouldn’t want to build something of their own in this wasteland? Who wouldn’t yearn for a real, stable life? He drew out a cigarette, lit it, and smoked in silence.

Xie Han, knowing Chen Liu was considering, didn’t disturb him. He sat back down and quietly sipped his herbal tea.

Chen Liu finished his cigarette quickly. He exhaled the last plume of smoke and stubbed it out with resolve. “Alright. I admit it—you’ve convinced me.”

Xie Han breathed a sigh of relief. Though he had expected this answer, he’d still felt tense until the moment it came. He smiled easily. “Actually, Brother Chen, my plan is quite simple.” He took out a map of Wangtian Province and explained his strategy in detail. At the end, he added, “You know what I managed to acquire today. I want us to clear out the Yong’an Depot before we leave, then set up a temporary camp near the military restricted zone. Once that’s done, we can gradually transfer everything we need from the base.”

Chen Liu nodded. “I can gather about three hundred trustworthy brothers here—men who won’t let us down. We can split them into two groups to work on constructing the camp. In the military restricted zone, apart from the area near the military base itself, there shouldn’t be many zombies, so safety won’t be a big issue.”

Xie Han nodded in agreement. “I suspect others in the base have noticed the situation too. Many must be making their own arrangements in secret. Let’s just hope the zombies give us enough time.”