After passing through a stretch of ruins, Lin Yuan and Cao Yuwei finally found the shelter. It was a temporarily built complex of buildings, mainly consisting of several semi-destroyed high-rise buildings and the surrounding fences. After the guards at the entrance interrogated the two of them, they were allowed to enter.
As soon as Cao Yuwei entered the shelter, she noticed that the atmosphere around was somewhat oppressive. People seemed busy organizing supplies and fixing defenses, but the anxiety and exhaustion on their faces showed there was a hidden crisis.
"The people here... seem to be hiding something from us," Cao Yuwei whispered.
Lin Yuan looked around and his gaze stopped on a tall tower in the shelter. There were several people in uniforms talking in low voices, and they occasionally used binoculars to observe the distance.
"Anyway, let's rest for one night first," Lin Yuan replied, but he became alert in his heart.
Just as Lin Yuan and Cao Yuwei found a place to settle down, they suddenly heard cheers not far away. It turned out that a mother and son, who were survivors trapped by zombies, had been successfully rescued by the rescue team. The mother held her child and cried happily. People in the shelter took turns bringing some snacks and drinking water.
Cao Yuwei said with emotion, "Even in such an environment, people's kindness still hasn't disappeared."
Lin Yuan didn't respond, but as he looked at these people in the shelter, he felt a strange touch in his heart.
At this moment, Xiaohei suddenly ran over from a distance, wagging its tail excitedly, and directly pounced in front of Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan was taken aback and casually stroked its head.
"Xiaohei! Don't run around!" Jiang Yulian's voice came from behind. She ran up panting. Seeing Lin Yuan, she was stunned briefly, then smiled and said, "Sorry, Xiaohei's been really excited lately. Maybe it's 'cause we've finally found the shelter."
Jiang Tianming also arrived soon after, walking over with the help of a crutch. He glanced at Lin Yuan and said, "Little brother, are you okay? I'm really sorry. Xiaohei has been a bit naughty recently."
Lin Yuan looked at the siblings, and Cao Yuwei smiled slightly and took the initiative to speak, "Are you two okay? Xiaohei, it... it must really like you two."
After a brief exchange, the atmosphere gradually became more harmonious. However, Lin Yuan was secretly observing Xiaohei's dog tag in his heart. He always felt there were some strange fluctuations on it.
Just as Jiang Yulian and Cao Yuwei were chatting merrily, the Jiuchong Ring suddenly spoke coldly in Lin Yuan's mind, "Host, this isn't the time to make new friends. There's something wrong with the dog tag on Xiaohei. There's something hidden in it."
Lin Yuan frowned and silently replied in his heart, "I've also vaguely sensed some energy fluctuations."
The Jiuchong Ring snorted, "The dog tag has a small formation that can boost the creatures touching it. There's also a hidden map inside."
"A map? What kind of map?"
"I've already copied it. I'll show you the specific content later. However, you'd better not act rashly. This thing has quite a strong energy fluctuation and might cause trouble."
On the surface, Lin Yuan remained calm, but in his heart, he had a bit more goodwill towards the Jiang siblings and Xiaohei.
At the same time, the shelter's high officials were having an emergency meeting. The atmosphere in the conference room was more oppressive than outside.
"The zombie horde is approaching us at an astonishing speed. According to observations, the number may exceed 5,000," said a captain in military uniform with a solemn expression.
"And... they seem to have some kind of organization, completely different from ordinary zombies," someone else added.
"If they really attack, our defenses simply won't hold!" Someone started to pat the table nervously.
The captain took a deep breath and said coldly, "Now's not the time to quarrel. We have to evacuate as many civilians as we can or strengthen the defenses before the zombie horde gets here."
Outside the shelter, the night gradually fell. Leaning against Xiaohei, Jiang Yulian stood by the window, looking at the distant ruins and the faintly flickering red light, and said softly, "I hope tomorrow will pass safely..."
And through the perception of the plants, Lin Yuan saw that something seemed to be slowly emerging from the distant water. Although it was too far away to see clearly, his intuition told him that it definitely wasn't a good thing.
As time went by, the shelter began to gradually feel the crisis from the outside world. Many reconnaissance teams reported that they often came across groups of zombies while searching for supplies, and there were even some mutated zombies.
During one operation, Lin Yuan and Cao Yuwei happened to be nearby and witnessed a rescue team being besieged by a zombie horde. Those zombies moved swiftly and could even climb walls and use tools.
This made Lin Yuan wonder if someone or some zombie was secretly directing these zombie hordes...
====================
林远和曹雨薇在穿过一片废墟后,终于找到了避难所.这是一个临时搭建的建筑群,主要由几栋半毁的高层建筑和周围的围栏组成.守卫在入口盘查了两人后,允许他们进入.
曹雨薇一进避难所,就注意到周围的气氛有些压抑.人们表面上忙碌地整理物资和修补防御工事,但脸上流露出的焦虑和疲惫,透露出隐藏的危机.
"这里的人...看起来像是有事瞒着我们." 曹雨薇低声说道.
林远环视了一圈,目光停在避难所的一处高塔上,那里有几个身穿制服的人正在低声交谈,偶尔还拿望远镜向远方观察.
"无论如何,先休息一晚再说." 林远回了一句,心里却警觉起来.
就在林远和曹雨薇找到一处安顿的地方时,突然听到不远处传来欢呼声.原来,一对被丧尸围困的幸存者母子被救援队成功救了回来.母亲抱着孩子泪流满面,而避难所里的人纷纷送来少许零食和饮用水.
曹雨薇感慨地说道:"即使是这样的环境下,人们的善意还是没有消失."
林远没有接话,但他看着避难所里这些人,心里有了一丝异样的触动.
这时,小黑突然从远处跑了过来,激动地摇着尾巴,直接扑到了林远面前.林远一愣,顺手摸了摸它的头.
"小黑!别乱跑!" 江玉莲的声音从后方传来,她气喘吁吁地追了上来,看到林远时愣了一下,随后笑了笑:"抱歉,小黑最近特别兴奋,可能是因为我们终于找到了避难所吧."
江天明也随后而至,拄着拐杖走过来,打量了林远一眼:"小兄弟,你没事吧?真不好意思啊,小黑最近有点调皮."
林远看着兄妹二人,曹雨薇则微微一笑,主动开口道:"你们没事吧?小黑它,它一定是很喜欢你们."
几人简单交流后,气氛渐渐融洽起来.林远心里却在暗自观察小黑的狗牌,他总觉得上面似乎有些奇怪的波动.
就在江玉莲和曹雨薇聊得正热闹时,九重戒突然在林远脑海中冷冷出声:"宿主,现在可不是认识新朋友的时候.小黑身上的狗牌有问题,里面藏着东西."
林远皱了皱眉,在心里默默回应:"我也隐隐感觉到一些能量波动."
九重戒哼了一声:"这狗牌里有一个小型阵法,能让接触它的生物增强,还藏着一张地图."
"地图?什么地图?"
"我已经复制了,具体内容等会儿再给你看.不过,你最好别轻举妄动,这东西能量波动不小,可能会引来麻烦."
林远表面上不动声色,但心里已经对江家兄妹和小黑多了几分善意.
与此同时,避难所的高层正在召开紧急会议.会议室里,气氛比外面更加压抑.
"丧尸群正在以惊人的速度靠近我们,根据观察,数量可能超过5000." 一个穿着军装的队长开口,脸色凝重.
"而且...它们似乎有某种组织性,完全不像普通的丧尸." 另一个人补充道.
"如果它们真的攻过来,我们的防御根本撑不住!" 有人开始慌张地拍桌子.
队长深吸一口气,冷冷地说道:"现在不是争吵的时候,我们必须在丧尸群到来前,尽可能转移平民,或者加固防御."
避难所外,夜色渐渐降临.江玉莲靠在小黑身上,站在窗边,看着远处的废墟和隐约闪烁的红光,轻声说道:"希望明天能平安过去..."
而在林远透过植物们的感知里,他看到远方的水域中,似乎有什么东西正在慢慢浮现.虽然距离太远看不清楚,但他的直觉告诉他,那绝对不是什么好东西.
随着时间的推移,避难所开始逐渐感受到外界的危机.不少侦察小队开始报告,他们在搜索物资时,频繁遭遇成群的丧尸,甚至还有一些变异丧尸的身影.
在一次行动中,林远和曹雨薇恰好在附近,亲眼目睹了一支救援队被丧尸群围攻.那些丧尸行动迅猛,甚至能爬墙和使用工具.
这一场景让林远猜测,这些丧尸群,该不会背后有人或丧尸在指挥着吧...