Apocalypse Cockroach

Chapter 127: It’s starting!

Zhang Xiao Qiang hoisted his rifle and came down. He thought for awhile and decided to place it back. It was useless to take it along. He was still lacking his aim, hence it was no better than a bat when it came to killing. He pulled down the Steel Beast Horn Spear from the roof and slung the Jing Wei Sword on his back. 12 3-point darts hung by his waist in a pouch. After checking his military knife, he walked towards Brother Long and his men.

Brother Long saw Zhang Xiao Qiang fully equipping himself and was smiling widely until he saw that they were all melee weapons. He didn’t even bring along the .81 rifle. Brother Long was shocked, and his gaze changed, those who used melee weapons to deal with these zombies were truly a vicious bunch.

However, his reaction was further exaggerated when he saw the women behind Zhang Xiao Qiang. Other than Shangguan Qiao Yun whose hands were empty, the rest were all using melee weapons as well. Yang Ke’er held a large and powerful mace, the steel caps covering the head shining brightly under the sun. As she walked in front, she casually placed the mace down onto the ground, but at that moment, everyone felt the ground shudder.

Yuan Yi and Su Qian were wielding blades on their right hands and shields on their left. Although the large machetes didn’t seem pretty, when the 2 beauties held them, it gave a different atmosphere. Especially Yuan Yi, whose killing intent was practically leaking out of her. Other than Zhang Xiao Qiang, it was as though she was ready to tear into anyone else. Although Su Qian was careful around Zhang Xiao Qiang, in front of the rest, she had also gathered her spirits, and even as Chen Yi was evaluating her, she was oblivious to him, as though he was just a passerby.

Seeing how Zhang Xiao Qiang had managed to turn these women into powerful and fierce warriors, he wanted to find out his secret. However, looking at the cold expression on Zhang Xiao Qiang’s face, he opened his mouth but the words could not come out. He knew that if he were in Zhang Xiao Qiang’s position, he also would not tell anyone. After all, their relationship was purely transactional.

He kept his mouth shut, and Zhang Xiao Qiang did not bother wasting small words. He raised his binoculars to observe the granary. The construction was old, and only a few of the storage houses looked new. However, this only applied to some of the buildings. Most of the walls and their colorings seem to suggest from the 80s, and there were even a few old-fashioned brick houses around the granary. The walls were old but sturdy. From his binoculars, he could even see the tiles of the roofs, which seem large enough to be used as shields. If they used them to smash someone, it would definitely result in a grievous injury.

His gaze traveled away from the granary and came to a small town. The town’s development had not been fast, as there were still some brick cottages and cement buildings mixed together. The whole town was about four to five square kilometers, and it should have housed about 20 – 30,000 people before the apocalypse. There were rice fields and fish pools, and even some scattered houses along the main road. The granary was at the end of the small town, and only about 1km away from the town. There weren’t many zombies around the town, instead, there was an orange forest behind, the majority of the leaves turning red and mostly beginning to drop to the ground.

There were no zombies around the granary, and through the open doors, Zhang Xiao Qiang could see the few Landrovers stopped inside. One of them was flipped upside down leaning against the door. From outside, one could only see the back wheels. There were no zombies around, but Zhang Xiao Qiang knew, no sign of them didn’t mean they weren’t there. That day the moment Brother Long had lost 2 men in there, the scent of blood had drawn all the zombies within a certain radius. There was no way that they would have been lured away by something else.

Zhang Xiao Qiang turned around to face his women, as he asked seriously: “Which of you has ‘that’?”

Other than Yang Ke’er, the rest were clueless. They didn’t understand what he was talking about, and Yang Ke’er yelled: “My husband is asking, which of you has your ‘time of the month’, if you have, hand over the ‘thing’!”

Other than Yuan Yi, both Su Qian and Shangguan Qiao Yun instantly turned beet red. They had not expected Zhang Xiao Qiang to ask such an embarrassing question. Furthermore, he actually wanted the tampon?!

His gaze was strict as he asked again: “Who has it? It’s important!”

Su Qian muttered: “Mine came last week.” After that, she lowered her head after looking at him.

Shangguan Qiao Yun’s fair face was turning extremely red as she secretly glanced at Zhang Xiao Qiang, before speaking with hesitation: “Mine’s tomorrow.”

At first, seeing her face flush, plus her hesitation when she spoke, Zhang Xiao Qiang thought hers was here. Who knew that it was only to come the next day, and his excitement was doused in cold water.

He knew that it would be impossible to make use of his tactic today. How could he find someone to release blood? Brother Long might be able to do it, but Zhang Xiao Qiang could not. If he harmed someone who had no grievances with him, he couldn’t live with himself. As his principles went: “If there’s no trouble, don’t go seeking trouble, if there’s trouble, there’s no need to fear.”

Zhang Xiao Qiang led Yang Ke’er, Yuan Yi and Su Qian towards the granary. Shangguan Qiao Yun followed behind but from a distance. He didn’t want her to stay behind, as the experience in the car had somewhat changed his perspective of her. He was still reluctant to accept her as his own, but he was of a slightly broader mindset towards her. Not because of anything, but that sweet dream being with her had allowed him. That was why he would try his best to take care of her now, of course, he had to take care of himself first and foremost.

When they arrived near the huge doors, he gave a hand signal for Shangguan Qiao Yun to stay behind, while he led the rest into the granary. The overturned Land Rover was in front of him, its body still intact, only the windshield shattered. One of the doors was opened, although it was slightly twisted at the hinge, hanging off the car body. The window had shattered on the ground, amidst a patch of blackened blood and cloth.

The 4 other Land Rovers were all squeezed to the roadside, one of them full of scratch marks. On the left side, there was an unassuming alleyway. The rest of the place were black walls, and past a few off-road vehicles, one could see 3 other storage facilities, one of them had its door forced open. Even if it was pitch black inside, one could see a few bags of rice.

Zhang Xiao Qiang got Yang Ke’er to move the flipped Land Rover to the small alley. He then climbed up with her while Yuan Yi and Su Qian stood behind watching their backs.

Not long after, a few zombies stuck behind appeared. He didn’t move, what he was preparing against were the evolved zombies. Although Brother Long said there were a few zombies, and no S-types, Zhang Xiao Qiang didn’t dare to be careless. After the S2 incident, he wanted to be pre cautioned against everything.

“Peng…” The sniper crossbow in Yang Ke’er’s hands let loose, and Zhang Xiao Qiang was suddenly reminded that he had left house for close to 2 months. However, it felt more like a few years. He had almost forgotten the feeling of laying on his own bed. His soul felt old, as he touched his house keys. He swore to himself silently, that if he had the chance, he would try to make a trip home.

The zombies walking right in front were taken down by the crossbow, while there was no response from the rest, as they continued to shamble over. Yang Ke’er kept the sniper crossbow and kept it in her back. She treasured it very much and only allowed Zhang Xiao Qiang to touch it. The rest could not even touch it, especially Yuan Yi.

Soon after, a group of them came shambling past the corner and arrived right in front of the vehicle. Zhang Xiao Qiang did not bother about this cannon fodder in front, keeping a lookout for any S-types and D2s.

“Pa-ta…” One of the zombies had its head blasted apart, its brain matter splattering everywhere. Yang Ke’er raised her mace lightly and she swung it once more. The other zombie in front had its head explode like a watermelon. The bright and shiny mace was turned black and yellow, black being the infected blood, yellow being the dead brain matter.