Chapter 20: Pharmacies and Convenience Stores

Cui Lie stayed upstairs to watch the children, while a group of ten made their way to the underground parking garage. Passing the stairwell between the first and second floors, they saw the remains of their former colleagues, gnawed down to scattered bones.

Ren Cheng, who had been somewhat excited ever since hearing the news of the military's mobilization, felt his spirits dampen. The relative peace of the past half-month had caused everyone's initial anxiety to slacken, as if the danger had already receded.

While walking through the corridors, some light still filtered through the windows, but upon turning into the first basement level, it was pitch black. Rong Xianxian switched on her flashlight and signaled. Ren Tian took the lead with a blade in one hand and a shield in the other, while Rong Xianxian and Wang Lin guarded the flanks, with Wang Qirui and Jiang Jie bringing up the rear.

Suddenly, a sharp scream rang out—it was the man who had opted out of the fight. Everyone stopped and braced themselves, searching the surroundings, but found nothing unusual.

Seeing everyone staring at him, the man turned deathly pale. In the flickering light, he looked chilling. "Something just crawled over my foot."

His hollow voice echoed in the dark, empty underground space, the lingering sound making everyone feel a chill run down their spines.

"Don't scream like that, you sound like a woman, it's terrifying," Ren Cheng complained, looking visibly shaken and still unsettled.

"What's wrong with being a woman? Watch your mouth, Ren Cheng. If Sister Rong hadn't taken you in, who knows if you'd still be alive right now," Wang Lin said indignantly.

Seeing Jiang Jie and Wang Qirui glaring at him with hostile expressions, Ren Cheng immediately softened his tone and apologized. "I'm sorry, Sister Rong, I didn't mean it that way."

"It's fine. If no one is hurt, let's hurry out. Once we reach the parking area, there will be light." The corridor was narrow, dark, and eerie; if they truly encountered a monster, they wouldn't have room to maneuver. It was better to reach an open area.

The rest of the journey went smoothly. The group arrived at the parking garage, where the spaces were packed with vehicles. Occasionally, they saw marks on cars near the edges or corners where monsters had collided with them.

Rong Xianxian pressed her car key, and a white sedan lit up. She handed the key to Ren Tian. "The car was recently refueled. It’s not a fancy vehicle, but having the keys will make things easier."

"I was planning on just taking any car. If we take yours, what will you do?" Ren Tian hesitated, not reaching for the keys.

"I have another one in the garage. Stealing a car is easy, but without tools to break the glass, you'd be in danger if you ran into a tentacle-type monster. Besides, we don't know what the military’s policies are yet; it's better to keep a low profile. Your equipment is already conspicuous enough." Although the journey was only three kilometers, it would certainly not be easy. Rong Xianxian figured that since they had spent this time together, it was destiny; she might as well see them all the way through.

"Thank you." Ren Tian accepted the keys and handed them to Ren Cheng. Ren Cheng drove, while the others walked, and they set off together.

The exit of the underground parking garage faced the main gate, flanked by a commercial street. A convenience store was located in the second shop from the gate, and right next to it was a pharmacy. Rong Xianxian had often bought medicine there and was very familiar with the layout. Her decision to see them off was motivated not just by sentiment, but primarily by her goal of reaching the pharmacy.

"Watch out!" Rong Xianxian tilted her head just as a shadow streaked by with a "whoosh." A lock of her hair drifted slowly down. She touched her face and winced—a sharp pain stung her left cheek.

She had been caught off guard for just a split second and nearly ambushed.

"Where is the monster? Did you see what it was?" Rong Xianxian felt both lingering fear and irritation. If her senses hadn't been so sharp and her reflexes so quick, she would have been disfigured.

"No, I don't know where it came from; it seemed to appear out of nowhere," Wang Lin said, deeply frustrated.

"It's alright, everyone stay alert. Xia Kai, take this. We'll protect you; go get some supplies—grab some seasonings and snacks." Feeling that this was no place to linger, Rong Xianxian handed a large backpack to Xia Kai and signaled for everyone to keep a lookout.

"Ren Tian, we'll see you off here. Go ahead and load up your things." Ren Tian, still in a defensive posture, nodded to acknowledge.

The monster was cunning; having missed its first strike and seeing they were numerous, it retreated to lie in wait.

Ren Tian had no intention of staying. Seeing Liao Yong throw a large bag of supplies into the trunk, he signaled for everyone to retreat.

"I'm going next door to find something. You guys protect Xia Kai," she said, leaving without waiting for their response, and headed to the pharmacy.

Rong Xianxian carried a sachet and did not want to reveal her storage space to the others, so she had to act alone.

She selectively gathered antibiotics, fever reducers, nutritional supplements, rehydration salts, bandages, and gauze. If she weren't afraid of being discovered, she would have cleared out the entire stock.

On the other side of the pharmacy partition were various goods, a hidden area intended for customers with leftover medical insurance funds. It was stocked mainly with powdered milk, oatmeal, sesame paste, and toiletries, along with many unopened boxes. Since there were no windows, it was very secluded, and she quickly stored everything away.

As she exited the pharmacy, she heard a loud "roar." A monster covered in scales with two ram horns on its head was confronting Wang Lin and the others. There was a bloody gash on the monster's leg, and a wound on Wang Qirui's arm.

The monster dug its hooves into the ground and charged like a bolt of lightning. Jiang Jie thrust his spear toward the monster's neck, Wang Lin swung his heavy cleaver at its head, and Wang Qirui slammed his mace into its body.

The monster leaped violently, dodging the attacks. Just as the three prepared to strike again, the two horns on the monster's head suddenly began to glow brilliantly. Rong Xianxian shouted, "Run!"

Rong Xianxian utilized her Lightness Technique, rushing forward in a flash. She grabbed the stunned Xia Kai and sprinted toward the main gate, all while channeling her Soul-Suppressing Bell, waiting for an opportunity.

With a loud crackling sound, two bolts of lightning shot out from the monster's horns. After the trio dodged, the bolts struck the convenience store's entrance. The glass door, already cracked, shattered into pieces with a loud crash, and the frame collapsed to the ground.

"What the hell is that thing?" Wang Qirui shouted dramatically.

"Run! Do you want it to hit you again?" Seeing the monster starting to dig its hooves into the ground again, Rong Xianxian took the heavy backpack from Xia Kai and urged them to flee.

The Soul-Suppressing Bell was an indiscriminate weapon; if she used it while they were this close, she might accidentally injure her own allies without successfully eliminating the monster. Running was the safer choice.

Fortunately, her practice of the Lightness Technique hadn't been in vain. Aside from Xia Kai, who was a bit slow and had to be dragged along, the others moved like the wind. Surprisingly, Wang Qirui was the fastest, though Wang Lin had better footwork. He seemed to intentionally fall behind to cover the retreat. Seeing the monster wasn't chasing them, Rong Xianxian let him be.

"Head for the ground level!" Seeing Wang Qirui leading the way toward the underground garage entrance, Rong Xianxian shouted. They couldn't afford to go back down there—with only five people left and weighed down by supplies, and the dark stairwell likely filled with lurking creatures, it was too dangerous.

Luckily, Wang Qirui had used the ground-level entrance when they first arrived and knew the door wasn't locked. The five of them ran and kept guard, finally making it back into the hallway without further incident.

Confirming the monster wasn't following, Rong Xianxian released Xia Kai, who stumbled and nearly lost his footing.

"Sister Rong, thank you! Sob, if you hadn't been there, I would have lost my life," Xia Kai said, faking tears.

"Alright, that's enough. You slack off during training, and now you're putting on a performance."

"Don't let your guard down. Xia Kai, stand in the middle! We aren't safe yet!" Back in their familiar territory, their confidence returned. They moved cautiously, climbing the stairs step by step.

Just as they reached the tenth floor, the security door suddenly swung open.