Gazing upon the deceased, one truly comprehends the value of life.

Yang Mu and Chu Hong found themselves playing PUBG on their phones, quickly growing weary after just one round.

The weight of pressure descended upon them like a mountain, and even Yang Mu struggled to maintain his composure.

“Yang Mu, may I make a request? Please don't bully me in the future; I'm quite easy to take advantage of,” Chu Hong said.

“……”

Yang Mu couldn't help but admire Chu Hong; she truly knew how to play the victim. After all this time, it was she who had been bullying him.

“Do you think we might actually die here?”

After feigning vulnerability, Chu Hong began to voice her concerns about their situation.

“It’s somewhat perilous,” he replied.

“I understand that you are capable. What do you think we can do now?”

“Survive,” he stated simply.

Yang Mu could only place his hopes on the outside world, praying that Ye Lian would not abandon her daughter and that the army would not forsake the War Tigers.

As for himself, it was evident that no one would care.

Chu Hong lost her desire to converse, sinking into silence on the lower bunk.

Yang Mu glanced at Xiao Yao, who had once again fallen asleep.

With no space left on the upper or lower bunks, Yang Mu shrugged off the notion of fairness and lay down on the floor, placing his backpack and axe beside him.

The room fell silent, and gradually everyone drifted off to sleep, the night deepening until dawn arrived.

The door swung open, and Yang Mu instinctively opened his eyes, spotting Xiang Ru.

There was only one bathroom among the three rooms, located in the common area. It was a squat toilet, inconvenient for use, especially since they lacked toilet paper, leaving them to tear up their clothing instead.

The room's light was still on as Xiang Ru walked softly. Upon seeing Yang Mu sprawled on the floor, she furrowed her brow and locked eyes with him.

After a moment's hesitation, Yang Mu stood up to let Xiang Ru pass.

The situation felt somewhat awkward; typically, when a girl needed to use the restroom, the boys would step outside, but everyone was fast asleep now.

The room was silent. Not long after Xiang Ru entered the bathroom, sounds began to emanate from within.

When she finally emerged, her face was flushed, and she dashed away like a gust of wind.

Yang Mu watched her retreating figure, smirking slightly. She was a soldier; what was there to be embarrassed about? Everyone consumed grain; who didn’t have the occasional urgent need? Even urination produced some noise.

After the door closed, Yang Mu began to ponder how to resolve their predicament.

He had obtained a golden opportunity, receiving apocalyptic prompts and discovering two raw stones—one blue, the other golden.

However, after integrating these stones into his body, there was no reaction; not even an increase in strength or agility, let alone any magical energy.

No matter how much he thought about it, he remained at a loss.

Around seven in the morning, he finally fell asleep again, slumbering until noon.

This marked the fourth day of their entrapment. Many in the room had gone without food since the previous day, leaving only Yang Mu and Chu Hong with provisions.

Hu Die had also saved some food but had given it to Gu Da Sen.

Chu Hong managed to conserve food by learning from Yang Mu.

She ate only small portions, four times a day, and occasionally exercised, spending most of her time lying still.

Outside, the military had already attempted action twice more.

They initially aimed to lure the zombies away using sound but failed miserably.

Nearby, a hulking zombie commanded the others, preventing them from dispersing.

Later, they deployed an armored vehicle with a machine-gun team, which succeeded in clearing a portion of the undead.

Yet, after being besieged, the armored vehicle became immobile, trapping several hundred soldiers inside, surrounded by zombies.

The situation grew dire, and the hope of escape diminished to nearly zero.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Yang Mu rose, wiped his body down, and changed his underwear.

He was undoubtedly the most well-kept among them; others hadn’t changed their undergarments in four or five days.

He recalled seeing threads on apocalyptic forums where some readers criticized characters for worrying about laundry during the end of the world—such leisure.

The reality was clear; those who didn’t change clothes knew all too well.

Outer garments were one thing, but going without clean underwear for four or five days was uncomfortable.

The feeling of damp fabric clinging to his legs and backside was more painful than death itself.

Seeing Yang Mu boldly strolling around in his underwear, the others began to lose patience.

Song Ren, too, shed his underwear, opting to wash them while wearing just his outer pants.

Surprisingly, not wearing underwear felt much more comfortable and freeing, though the odor in the room became increasingly noticeable.

Consequently, everyone began considering the necessity of bathing.

Yang Mu was the first to stand by the sink and wash himself, followed by the other men.

Xiang Ru could no longer bear to watch; she ushered all the men into the monitoring room while she and the women took their showers in the dining area, washing their underwear as well.

Eventually, Xiang Ru decided to separate the dormitories by gender. Since using the restroom was already complicated for the women, they all moved to the lounge that had a toilet.

Yang Mu could only pout in resignation; at this point, he didn't wish to stir up trouble.

As the evening approached, everyone felt exhausted and weary, settling down for an early night. Those who awoke hungry in the middle of the night found no food and could only roll over to continue sleeping, comforted by the thought that if they fell asleep, they wouldn’t feel so hungry—perhaps they might even dream of food.

Thus, another day passed, and Chu Hong’s remaining food was finally consumed, leaving Yang Mu as the last with provisions.

He had been eating very little each day.

The human body holds many mysteries, and even with the advancements in medicine, we have yet to fully comprehend them.

Yang Mu is evidently neither a scientist nor a doctor, but he has survived through years of practical experience.

He understands that as long as one consumes a little food each day and ensures that the body undergoes two normal cycles, human endurance can be sustained for a long time. One should never underestimate a simple steamed bun; astonishingly, Yang Mu once recorded a feat of surviving on a single bun for ninety-three days. Thus, he appreciates the value of gradual sustenance, remaining in a state of hunger daily, allowing his body to adapt to this regulation of function.

After the separation of the male and female dormitories, Yang Mu and his companions shared a room with the remaining three male special forces soldiers.

Two of the soldiers perished, while one was infected with the zombie virus.

Curiously, the two carriers of the virus have yet to transform into zombies.

However, their appetites have notably shifted.

For the past two days, they have shown little interest in human food, craving meat instead—perhaps a precursor to their eventual transformation.

Now, they appear lethargic, and although they have not yet transformed, they seem to lack their former essence.

Previously, Xu Ru had sent an update to headquarters regarding the zombie data, noting that the incubation period for the virus might extend over a significant duration, potentially lasting several days.

As daylight faded into twilight, the monitors revealed the encroaching night outside, displaying a sea of densely packed zombies.

Seated in a corner of the dining room, Yang Mu reached into his backpack to retrieve a piece of candy and a spicy snack.

At that moment, Chu Hong sat beside him, finding comfort in his presence.

Having consumed very little over the past few days, she felt weak today from hunger.

Leaning against the wall in a curled position, she gazed at Yang Mu with a furrowed brow.

“What a tiny piece of candy.”

“Do not underestimate it; sugar is remarkably easy for the gastrointestinal tract to digest. When a person is in a state of hunger, consuming a piece of sugar can essentially bypass the digestive system, entering the bloodstream directly. This elevates the previously lowered blood sugar levels back to normal, quickly alleviating the sensation of hunger.”

As Yang Mu spoke while savoring the candy, Chu Hong couldn’t help but lick her upper lip in anticipation.

After finishing the candy, Yang Mu began to munch on the spicy snack, which was also quite small, probably costing around fifty cents per bag.

Noticing Chu Hong’s eager gaze, he smiled faintly and asked, “Have you ever tried this?”

“No, my snacks are all prepared by the butler, and he wouldn’t procure such junk food.”

“Indeed, spicy snacks are not particularly healthy, but right now, they are a treasure.”

“True, they are food.”

“That's not my point. Snacks like these, without even a production date on the packaging, are undoubtedly made by small workshops and may carry a significant bacterial load during production. Consuming them could lead to bacterial infections, causing gastrointestinal inflammation, resulting in vomiting or chronic constipation—there are numerous cases in hospitals of individuals who haven’t been able to relieve themselves for weeks. This indicates that it can diminish gastrointestinal function and slow down digestion. Would you still call it a treasure?”

“Yang Mu, you really know a lot…”

“There’s nothing to boast about; those who have experienced hunger truly understand the value of food. Over the past two years, I’ve extensively studied food. Otherwise, do you think my mother-in-law constantly asks me to cook for her? My skills have long surpassed those of a regular chef.”

“Impressive! I want to eat…”

Chu Hong’s voice dropped for those last three words; it was unclear whether she desired Yang Mu’s cooking or the spicy snack.

Yang Mu assessed how much food he had left and estimated it would last him about ten more days.

This was mere persistence, implying that his food supply was actually limited.

After a moment of hesitation, Yang Mu pushed the half-bite of the spicy snack he had just taken towards Chu Hong's lips.

“Go ahead and eat.”

“You’ve already bitten it…”

“If you don’t want it, then forget it.”

Seeing the snack being pulled away, Chu Hong hurriedly leaned in, her body climbing onto Yang Mu’s shoulder, which made him acutely aware of her graceful and soft form.

“Yang Mu, why don’t you let me try it? I’ve never had anything like this before. Do you think that if I died and ended up in hell, my ancestors would mock me for never having tasted spicy snacks?”

“Hahaha, possibly! Open your mouth!”

Chu Hong obediently opened her small mouth, and Yang Mu placed that tiny piece directly inside.

“Mmm… your fingers! How annoying!”

“It’s fine, I washed my hands.”

“Even so, you shouldn’t shove it into my mouth!”

“Quit fussing; do you still want to eat the spicy snack?”

Chu Hong moved her mouth slightly, then pouted, “The spicy snack is too small; it vanishes the moment I place it in my mouth.”

“Then I’ll give you another piece.”

Yang Mu picked up another spicy snack, this time biting off just a small piece.

“Yang Mu, do you have to give me what you’ve bitten?”

“Here I am, sharing food with you in such a critical situation. You must let me find some amusement in this!”

“Alright, then I’ll eat.”

Chu Hong leaned in closer, opening her mouth once more, allowing Yang Mu to feed her the spicy snack again.

This time, Chu Hong chewed thoughtfully, her eyes widening after swallowing.

“Wow… this spicy snack…”

“How is it?”

“It’s so delicious! Why has no one ever told me about this before?”

“Hahaha…”

“Yang Mu, Yang Mu, I want more…”