Chapter 49 What Kind of Freaks Are These

As the sky gradually darkened, Jiang Qiyu decided to return to the base first.

"Let's head back to the base," Jiang Qiyu said. "We only have one vehicle right now, so we might have to squeeze in."

Zhou Hang nodded with great effort. A glimmer of light flashed in his cloudy eyes as he spoke with difficulty, "I know a place. We might be able to find some vehicles there."

Jiang Qiyu looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Zhou Hang paused, licked his chapped lips, and said in a raspy voice, "Not far from here, there's an off-road vehicle adventure expansion base."

As he spoke, the cheekbones on his thin face twitched slightly, making his sunken cheeks appear even more hollow.

"If that place hasn't been overrun by zombies yet," Zhou Hang said with a trace of hope in his tone, "we might still be able to find a few usable vehicles."

He added, "It would be great if we could find a bigger vehicle so everyone wouldn't have to crowd together."

The moment Zhou Hang spoke, his cheekbones moved along, as if they were about to protrude right through his skin.

The base had already stockpiled a large quantity of firearms, ammunition, and food, but the shortage of transportation had always been a tricky problem.

The lack of vehicles made every outing exceptionally difficult. Being able to find a few off-road vehicles would undoubtedly greatly improve efficiency and safety during travels.

Especially after the completion of the lumberyard and the quarry, the demand for transportation would become even more urgent. Without sufficient vehicle support, the development of the base would be severely constrained.

Finding suitable vehicles would not only solve the current dilemma but also provide a solid guarantee for future expansion.

"Let's go take a look!" She called out to Lu Yao, Shi Chao, Lao Li, and Zhao Hu to get into the vehicle, and they drove toward the Water World.

The gates of the off-road vehicle adventure expansion base were tightly shut, the heavy iron gates covered in rust, as if recounting the passage of time. Bite and scratch marks left by zombies were clearly visible on the surrounding walls. However, the security system for this place, which stored high-value items, remained robust and had surprisingly not been breached.

"Shi Chao, go take a look," Jiang Qiyu turned to Shi Chao and said, her gaze carrying a hint of assessment. "See if you can open this gate." She paused and added, "It's also a good chance to test your skills." Jiang Qiyu looked at Shi Chao, intending to give him an opportunity to showcase his abilities.

Shi Chao's body quickly twisted and deformed, his bones emitting a slight cracking sound, and his skin turned grayish-white and dry, as if losing all vitality in an instant. Skillfully transforming into a zombie, he smoothly squeezed through the gap of the side door.

Before long, Shi Chao returned excitedly, "There are quite a few off-road vehicles inside! They were probably toys for people to drive before the apocalypse, and none of them are locked!"

"Good job!" Jiang Qiyu patted Shi Chao's shoulder in praise and led the group as they climbed over the wall. True to his words, over a dozen brand-new off-road vehicles of various models were parked inside the base.

Inside the gates of the off-road vehicle adventure expansion base, more than a dozen brand-new off-road vehicles were parked, gleaming with metallic luster under the setting sun. The vehicle types varied, with different performances, enough to meet the demands of all kinds of complex terrains.

A modified Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was particularly eye-catching, equipped with a powerful four-wheel-drive system and differential locks that could easily conquer all kinds of rugged mountain roads. Its high chassis and rugged tires demonstrated its exceptional off-road performance. The roll cage and winch added to the vehicle further enhanced its survivability in harsh environments.

Next to it was a Toyota Land Cruiser, renowned for its reliability and durability. Its spacious cabin and comfortable seats ensured that even long journeys would not feel exhausting. The powerful engine and advanced suspension system guaranteed stability and handling across various road conditions.

A Ford F-150 Raptor exuded the wild aura of an American muscle car.

Beneath its prominently raised hood hid a roaring V8 engine. The robust suspension and massive off-road tires allowed it to traverse deserts and barren lands as if traveling on flat ground.

In addition, there were several Mercedes-Benz G-Class off-road vehicles. Their square bodies and rugged lines showcased the exquisite craftsmanship of German engineering. The powerful four-wheel-drive system and differential locks handled all kinds of complex terrains with ease.

Apart from these common off-road models, the base also housed some specially modified vehicles. A Hummer H1 retrofitted with bulletproof steel plates and searchlights.

A snowmobile equipped with tracks, capable of handling extreme environments.

These vehicles not only boasted superior performance and excellent maintenance, but their fuel tanks were also fully filled, ready to be put into service at a moment's notice.

Jiang Qiyu raised an eyebrow and swept all the vehicles into her spatial storage in one breath, leaving behind only the vehicle with the largest space to drive back.

Zhou Hang: "What??"

Shi Chao: "You'll get used to it. She can just do that."

Jiang Qiyu raised her eyebrows slightly, a flash of mischievous light in her eyes, and with a gentle wave of both hands, she instantly stored all the vehicles into her personal space.

This spatial storage was like a bottomless pit; the brand-new off-road vehicles vanished without a trace just like that. She turned around, her gaze falling upon the vehicle with the largest space, patted the body of the car, and said, "Let's go home."

Zhou Hang's eyes widened and his mouth hung open, seemingly unable to believe what he was witnessing. "This... how is this possible?" he asked, stammering, his tone filled with shock and incomprehension.

Shi Chao remained completely calm, shrugging his shoulders as if he had long been accustomed to such a scene. "You'll get used to it. She just has that kind of ability," he said casually, a trace of pride and self-satisfaction evident in his tone.

On the return journey, they passed by the Green Field Farm near the park. After the apocalypse, no one tended to it, and weeds grew wildly, leaving the place desolate and barren.

"What is that? It looks so familiar," Zhao Hu muttered, his hands on the steering wheel as his eyes darted around.

Seeing those lush green vines, she instantly recognized them as sweet potato vines. She nodded slightly, understanding dawning in her heart. "They're sweet potatoes."

After the zombie virus raged in her past life, some plants had also mutated, and plant-type ability users could communicate with plants or even manipulate them to attack enemies.

If they could find a plant-type ability user, perhaps they could utilize these mutated plants to provide a stable food source for the base.

Jiang Qiyu decided to dig up the sweet potatoes and take them back.

"Everyone together, dig them up and take them back!"

Everyone followed orders, and soon a large pile of sweet potatoes was unearthed.

Along with several tender, green, and precious sweet potato vines.

Back at the base, Zhou Hang looked at everything before him and was stunned.

Bright lights, the aroma of steaming hot food, and spacious, comfortable beds... This was simply a paradise in the apocalypse!

"This... this is your base?" Zhou Hang rubbed his eyes in disbelief, afraid that he might be dreaming.

"How is it? Not bad, right?" Jiang Qiyu said with a smile.

Zhou Hang was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, choking with emotion and unable to speak. He had originally thought he would die in hunger and cold, never expecting to live a life like this. He dropped to his knees with a thud, tightly grasped Jiang Qiyu's hand, and cried uncontrollably as he said, "Thank you! Thank you! You are my second parents!"

Jiang Qiyu raised her eyebrows slightly, a faint smile curving the corner of her mouth, and her tone carried an unquestionable firmness: "If you are willing to follow the rules, you can stay here too."