novelden Chapter 41 The Survivors
Chapter 41 The Survivors
The last rays of the setting sun lingered reluctantly beneath the outline of the distant mountains, leaving only a magnificent hue transitioning from orange-red to indigo on the horizon. On the rooftop platform, Xu Mo slowly finished his practice. The qi and blood within his body, which had become exceptionally peaceful and serene after absorbing the "evening glow of the setting sun," flowed back to his dantian like a tide, leaving his mind clear and serene.
After finishing his cultivation, Xu Mo habitually took out his binoculars and walked to the edge of the platform to conduct his last routine observation of the town for the day. Then he went downstairs to prepare dinner and his evening cultivation.
Xu Mo's gaze, like radar, swept across the silent ruins below, shrouded in deep blue twilight and pristine white snow. Streets, houses, abandoned vehicles... everything seemed just like countless evenings before: deathly still, desolate, devoid of any sign of life.
However, just as Xu Mo's gaze was about to shift to the blurry mountain shadows in the distance, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his movements froze instantly.
On the edge of town, at the end of the road leading to the outside world, covered in thick snow, a series of... moving black dots appeared.
It wasn't the stiff, unsteady movement of zombies, but rather living beings with a clear purpose, steadily advancing towards the town.
Xu Mo's heart began to race uncontrollably. He immediately adjusted his focus, clearly locking onto the black dots, wanting to see if those creatures were really people.
As Xu Mo adjusted the focus, he could see more clearly that the black dots in the distance were indeed people, living people!
The group consisted of about twelve or thirteen people, forming a loosely organized column. Each person was dressed in bulky, worn-out winter clothing, with thick hats or scarves covering most of their faces. Each of them carried bulging, seemingly heavy packs, and some even used makeshift trailers to haul more supplies.
What's most eye-catching is their footwear—each person has a flat, fan-shaped object strapped to the sole of their foot, which looks like it's roughly made of rattan, planks, and scraps of cloth! It's thanks to these simple yet practical "snowshoes" that they can walk on soft snow more than a meter deep without easily sinking into it, greatly saving their energy.
This is a team of survivors, a team of survivors who have trekked a long way through the harsh winter of the apocalypse.
Xu Mo put down his binoculars, took a deep breath of the cold air, and tried to calm his somewhat agitated emotions. This was the first time since he had transmigrated to this apocalyptic world that he had seen a survivor other than himself.
A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me: a vague excitement and curiosity at the sudden discovery of "kindred spirits" after a long period of loneliness, but more than that, a deep sense of vigilance and scrutiny.
In the apocalypse, human nature is unpredictable. Xu Mo had read too many novels depicting bloody conflicts sparked by a piece of bread or a bottle of water. This group looked weary from their journey, clearly having endured a long trek. What was their condition? What was their purpose? Were they benevolent wanderers or predatory bandits?
Xu Mo's gaze followed the group closely. They weren't moving fast, but their steps were firm, clearly indicating a clear destination. They were traveling along the snow-covered road, heading towards the heart of the town. Judging from their direction and slightly weary appearance, they most likely intended to spend the night resting in this relatively sheltered town.
"What should we do?"
A pressing question confronted Xu Mo: should he take the initiative to make contact, or continue to hide and observe the situation?
Taking the initiative to make contact might yield valuable information, reveal the situation outside the town, and even potentially obtain some useful supplies or knowledge, but the risks are equally enormous. The other side has a large number of people, and although his strength has greatly increased, he is no match for them. Moreover, he doesn't know if they are armed with firearms or other firearms. Showing himself rashly could very well put him in danger.
Continuing to remain hidden is undoubtedly the safest option. Their shelter is well-hidden and their supplies are plentiful; they can safely spend the night without alerting their pursuers, and even until they leave.
Xu Mo's brain was working at lightning speed, weighing the pros and cons.
"It's getting late, and visibility is poor. If we make contact rashly, both sides will become more tense." Xu Mo looked at the town gradually being swallowed by the night. "Moreover, they have just arrived and are at their most vigilant. If I show up immediately, giving them the feeling that I've been watching them all along, their first impression will be terrible, and they might even be seen as a provocation or threat."
Xu Mo recalled Liu Ning's diary entries about the hardships of queuing to enter the shelter in the early days of the apocalypse, and the potential for internal strife. This made him instinctively wary of the unfamiliar group of survivors.
"They've just arrived in town, and they'll definitely be looting tomorrow, looking for any usable supplies and a safe place to spend the night," Xu Mo pondered. "My shelter is in a good location, relatively independent and sturdy, so they'll likely find it in the vicinity."
An idea gradually became clear.
"Perhaps we should... wait patiently and wait for the enemy to tire themselves out."
Xu Mo decided not to actively seek them out, but to continue to conceal himself and observe their movements. Once they actually searched the vicinity and even discovered his shelter, he would then decide whether to make contact, trade, or engage in a conflict based on their attitude.
In this way, he could maintain a certain degree of initiative. Waiting for the opponent to come to his "home turf" gave him a psychological advantage. Moreover, after a night of rest and observation, Xu Mo could also make a more preliminary judgment on the team's discipline and intentions.
"That's what we'll do," Xu Mo decided.
He finally used his binoculars to carefully confirm the group's location and general direction—they were entering the town's main road, seemingly heading towards the relatively intact cluster of buildings in the town center. It seemed their lodging for the night was likely there.
Xu Mo quietly retreated from the rooftop and returned to the main room on the second floor. He carefully checked the coverings and reinforcements of all the doors and windows to ensure that there was no indication of anyone living there from the outside. Then he dimmed the fire in the stove slightly to avoid too much light and smoke being too conspicuous at night.
Xu Mo sat on the sofa, not lighting a candle, letting the darkness envelop him. His ears, however, were perked up, listening intently for any unusual sounds outside. His cleaver and loaded TT-33 pistol were within easy reach.
The slight excitement of discovering a kindred spirit had long been replaced by calm and vigilance.
Xu Mo knew that after this night, the days would never be as peaceful as before.
The arrival of the survivors from afar broke the town's silence and brought with it unknown variables.
The night grew even deeper.