Inside the warehouse, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense. The group huddled in the corner while zombies relentlessly pounded on the iron door. Each metallic clang felt like a death knell.

“We don’t have much time,” Jiang Ye said quietly, his eyes scanning everyone in the room.

The short-haired woman, gripping a metal rod, asked anxiously, “What’s that noise at the back door? Could it be more zombies?”

Jiang Ye shook his head. “I’m not sure, but we need to take a chance. If the back door leads to another way out, we have hope. If we stay here, that door will break, and we’re finished.”

“Then let’s move quickly!” Wang Han wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face full of nervous energy.

“I’ll check the back door first,” Jiang Ye said. He looked at the short-haired woman. “Come with me. The rest of you, hold your positions here.”

She nodded, tightening her grip on the weapon, and followed Jiang Ye as they carefully made their way to the back door, each step deliberate.

As they approached the back door, the knocking sound grew louder. Jiang Ye gestured for the short-haired woman to stand aside. He leaned his ear against the door, listening carefully.

The knocking was rhythmic and slow, unlike the frenzied attacks of zombies.

“Could it be a survivor?” the short-haired woman whispered, a flicker of hope in her eyes.

“Maybe, but stay cautious.” Jiang Ye gripped the Lingfeng Sword tightly in one hand and slowly turned the doorknob with the other.

The moment the door creaked open, a figure darted inside. The short-haired woman yelped and raised her metal rod, but the figure wasn’t a zombie—it was a frail man.

“Don’t hit me! I’m not a zombie!” the man cried, raising his hands in panic.

Jiang Ye quickly stepped in front of the short-haired woman, his eyes fixed on the man. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“I’m Michael, a worker from this supermarket! I heard your voices and knocked to ask for help,” Michael explained hastily, his face pale with fear.

Jiang Ye scrutinized him for a few seconds, ensuring there were no visible signs of infection, before relaxing slightly. “Is it safe out there? Are there more of them?”

Michael shook his head. “It’s safe for now. There’s nothing outside.”

Jiang Ye and the short-haired woman brought Michael back to the group. The others stared at the newcomer with surprise.

“Who’s this?” Wang Han asked, gripping his fire axe protectively.

“Michael. He’s a survivor. The back door is temporarily safe, but we need to rest before making a move,” Jiang Ye explained succinctly.

The long-haired woman clung to the glasses-wearing man’s hand, muttering, “I hope he’s not trouble.”

Michael looked at the group, his gaze filled with both gratitude and awe. “Thank you for saving me. I know this area well; I can guide you.”

Jiang Ye nodded. “Good. Gather your supplies. We’ll rest for ten minutes and then prepare to break through.”

Taking advantage of the brief reprieve, everyone leaned against the walls to recover. Wang Han handed a bottle of water to the short-haired woman, sighing, “When will this nightmare end?”

“Focus on staying alive first,” Jiang Ye replied. Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes to meditate. His inner energy circulated faster than usual, a subtle change he noticed but didn’t have time to analyze.

The short-haired woman inspected her weapon to ensure it wouldn’t fail at a critical moment. The long-haired woman and the glasses-wearing man quietly ate some biscuits, their eyes fixed on the warehouse door, ready for any sudden attack.

After ten minutes, Jiang Ye opened his eyes and said firmly, “Time’s up. Let’s move.”

The group gathered at the back door. Jiang Ye took the lead, with Michael close behind. Wang Han and the short-haired woman flanked the rear, while the long-haired woman and glasses-wearing man stayed in the middle.

Jiang Ye pushed open the back door, revealing a narrow alleyway. The walls were streaked with grime, and the air was thick with the stench of decay.

“Go left along the alley. About two hundred meters ahead, there’s an abandoned parking lot with an exit,” Michael whispered.

“Follow his lead. Stay quiet,” Jiang Ye said, glancing back at the group before stepping forward.

The alley was littered with garbage and scattered clothing. Occasionally, they passed the decaying remains of corpses, adding to the suffocating tension. Suddenly, a low growl echoed from ahead.

“Zombies!” Wang Han whispered urgently, gripping his fire axe.

Jiang Ye signaled for the group to stop. He tightened his hold on the Lingfeng Sword and scanned the direction of the sound.

A group of ordinary zombies staggered out of the shadows at the end of the alley, their numbers exceeding ten. Though their movements were slow, their sheer numbers made them a formidable threat.

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“Too many. We need to break through quickly,” Jiang Ye muttered, his brow furrowed.

“What’s the plan? Just charge through?” Wang Han asked nervously.

“Spread out. Draw their attention and take them down one by one,” Jiang Ye ordered decisively.

The group pressed against the walls, trying to avoid the zombies’ direct line of sight. Still, the growls and shuffling footsteps filled the alley with an oppressive sense of danger.

Jiang Ye led the charge. The Lingfeng Sword flashed coldly as he executed “White Crane Spreads Its Wings,” decapitating one zombie. He spun gracefully, using “Cloud Hands” to deflect the clawing strike of another, shoving it into the wall.

Wang Han swung his fire axe clumsily but managed to cleave through a zombie’s shoulder. His movements were awkward, and he narrowly avoided being grabbed multiple times.

The short-haired woman darted behind one zombie, striking its head with her metal rod and taking it down efficiently.

The long-haired woman and glasses-wearing man stayed at the back, avoiding direct combat while guarding their supplies. They followed the group cautiously, their eyes darting around nervously.

“Don’t stop! Clear a path!” Jiang Ye shouted.

The zombies’ numbers dwindled gradually, but the narrow alley made the fight exhausting. After a series of swift strikes, Jiang Ye plunged his sword into the last zombie blocking their way.

“Move!” he commanded, waving the group forward.

The group finally emerged from the alley into a dilapidated parking lot. Rusting car parts were strewn across the ground, and the fading sunlight bathed everything in a desolate orange hue.

“The sun’s setting,” Wang Han said, glancing at the sky and panting heavily.

Jiang Ye turned to check on the group. “Is everyone okay?”

“We’re fine, but we can’t stop now,” Jiang Ye said firmly, his gaze unwavering. “We need to reach the dorms before dark.”

Michael added between gasps, “There’s a small path behind the parking lot that leads to the dormitory area, but there might be more zombies.”

Jiang Ye nodded. “All right, let’s pick up the pace and stay alert.”

As the group set off again, their figures cast long shadows in the dimming light. Despite the lurking dangers, a determined resolve burned in their hearts as they marched toward survival.

The sun gradually disappeared below the horizon, leaving the campus shrouded in dim light. The air was thick with the stench of decay and dampness.

“It’s getting dark. The dormitory is our only option,” Jiang Ye said, catching his breath while scanning their surroundings.

Michael pointed to a narrow path ahead. “If we take this path and go around the teaching building, the dormitory is just a short distance away.”

“The problem is that zombies might become more active after dark,” the short-haired woman whispered, unease evident in her eyes.

“We don’t have time to hesitate. We must find shelter before it’s completely dark,” Jiang Ye said firmly. His grip tightened around the Lingfeng Sword, his determination unwavering.

The group quickly adjusted their gear. Michael led the way, Jiang Ye and Wang Han took the rear, ensuring the group’s safety.

“What if we run into more zombies on the way?” Michael asked nervously. “We might not be able to handle it.”

“We’ll deal with it when it happens,” Jiang Ye replied calmly. “Stopping now is not an option.”

After taking the narrow path, the group finally arrived outside the teaching building, only to find a troubling sight.

The main entrance was locked, and more than a dozen zombies were wandering outside. Their staggering movements and guttural growls filled the air, their rotting bodies glowing faintly in the sunset.

“Where did these zombies come from?” Wang Han asked in a hushed tone, his face tense with worry.

“They were probably drawn here during the earlier chaos,” Jiang Ye said, carefully observing the zombies’ positions as he formulated a plan.

“Can we go around them?” the long-haired woman asked anxiously.

Michael shook his head. “This is the only path to the dormitory. If we try another route, we might not make it before dark.”

Jiang Ye nodded. “Fine, we’ll clear these zombies. Remember, be quick and efficient.”

The short-haired woman glanced at the second-floor windows of the teaching building and suggested, “Could we climb in through the windows? That way, we can avoid direct confrontation.”

Jiang Ye shook his head. “It would take too long, and the windows are too high. Anyone climbing in would be vulnerable. The safest option is to fight our way through.”

Jiang Ye charged forward first. Using a technique called “Cloud Hands,” he blocked an attacking zombie, then swung his blade in a horizontal arc, cleanly severing its neck. As the zombie fell, a foul stench filled the air.

Wang Han followed closely behind, swinging his fire axe at another zombie. His movements were clumsy, and the axe got stuck in the zombie’s shoulder. He kicked the zombie away and yanked the axe free, sweat streaming down his face.

The short-haired woman used her metal rod to strike a zombie’s knees, toppling it to the ground. She followed with repeated strikes to its head until it stopped moving. Each blow sent a shock through her arms, but she gritted her teeth and pressed on.

Michael, trembling at the back of the group, clutched a knife with both hands. It was clear he had never faced such a situation before. His breathing was rapid, and his legs refused to move.

“Don’t panic! Just focus on keeping yourself safe!” Jiang Ye called back to him while stabbing another zombie through the skull with his sword.

“How are you all so fearless…” Michael muttered under his breath, clutching the knife tighter, though his legs were still shaking.

After a fierce battle, the zombies in front of the teaching building were finally cleared. The group stood at the entrance, panting heavily, their clothes stained with blood.

“Let’s go. No time to stop,” Jiang Ye said, pushing open the doors to the building.

The interior of the teaching building was eerily quiet. The broken windows let in faint streaks of twilight, illuminating scattered books, overturned desks, and dried bloodstains. A faint smell of rot lingered in the air.

“This is too quiet. Something’s wrong,” the short-haired woman whispered.

Michael walked cautiously in the middle of the group, stepping lightly to avoid making noise.

“Stay in formation. Make as little noise as possible,” Jiang Ye reminded them, his eyes scanning their surroundings, the Lingfeng Sword raised slightly.

Just as they were about to cross the hallway, a piercing scream echoed from the second floor. It was followed by the frenzied growls of zombies, sending chills down everyone’s spine.

“Move! Faster!” Jiang Ye ordered in a low voice, leading the group toward the dormitory.

The commotion upstairs grew louder, and it sounded like the zombies were heading down to the first floor.

“Can we really make it out of here?” Michael gasped, his voice trembling. “They’re right above us!”

“Shut up and keep moving,” Jiang Ye snapped, not slowing his pace.

After several close calls, the group finally made it through the teaching building and reached the dormitory.

“Lock the doors and check all the windows,” Jiang Ye instructed.

Wang Han and the short-haired woman quickly piled debris against the door to create a barricade. They hauled desks and chairs into place, using all their strength to secure the entrance.

The long-haired woman peered out through a window, speaking softly. “It looks clear for now. No zombies outside.”

Jiang Ye stood in the center of the dormitory and addressed the group. “We’ll rest here for tonight and plan our next steps tomorrow. After dark, no one makes any noise. Stay alert.”

Michael sat in a corner, still gripping his knife tightly. His face was pale, and he seemed shaken by the earlier fight.

“At least we survived,” Wang Han said, collapsing onto the floor with a sigh of relief.

The short-haired woman looked down at her blood-streaked arms, gritting her teeth. “It doesn’t feel over yet…”

Jiang Ye scanned the group, his expression calm but his mind heavy with worry. He knew this was just the beginning. Greater dangers were looming ahead.