RIACMET chapter 30

 

Both humans and zombies experienced extreme cold. Whoever could adapt and make the most of it would survive.

Gradually, more and more ability users formed teams and traveled together, creating small groups.

To avoid handing over the supplies they found, stronger groups of ability users gathered more supplies than before without any official assistance except for shelter at the resettlement site.

Some ordinary people suggested confiscating the supplies obtained by these ability users, but their proposals were rejected.

After conflicts arose between the two groups, the gap between those with abilities and ordinary people widened.

The authorities didn’t say much about it. This was only a temporary aid station, not a formal apocalypse rescue base. There were only basic rules in place, and it was impossible to force users of abilities to serve the public. All the authorities could do was encourage voluntary contributions.

Since the ability users didn’t have to hand anything over, they no longer consumed relief supplies, which reduced the strain on the entire resettlement site. Living in the shelter also improved their combat effectiveness, so it was a win-win situation.

In this kind of situation, more ability users began to band together for warmth and to improve their lives.

After all, it’s human nature to think of oneself first when faced with hardship.

Someone tried to win over Cheng Jing’s team, but Cheng Jing refused. These days, he went to the command office in the morning to provide support with his powers, and in the afternoon, he led the team out to search for supplies. Jiang Nian went out with them, too, and after an adjustment period, he wasn’t so afraid of the cold anymore.

Cheng Jing’s initial refusal led to their first conflict after reuniting.

Before the extreme cold hit, Jiang Nian felt that everyone had been in a rush. He didn’t want to cause extra trouble. All he needed to do was quietly offer Cheng Jing advice from behind the scenes. Now that things had settled down, however, it was the right time to slowly begin training.

After all, he was tall and had long legs, supernatural powers, and decent combat skills. He had once been a well-known figure at school, ruling the dark alleys and subduing people with force.

Now, however, Cheng Jing was overprotecting him like a giant baby, and he’d become useless sooner or later.

Cheng Jing’s only goal was to protect the person he loved, but he hadn’t expected Jiang Nian to be so stubborn.

The person who had always acted spoiled in front of him gave him the cold shoulder for two whole days and refused to listen. Jiang Nian didn’t even want to sleep at night, secretly slipping downstairs after Cheng Jing left.

Cheng Jing loved him deeply and though he was angry, there was nothing he could do. If he resorted to domestic violence, wouldn’t he just end up losing his wife? In the end, he could only compromise.

Once Jiang Nian was allowed to go out with the team again, he went back to being his usual self, able to rely on Cheng Jing and act spoiled. He was completely different from the stubborn man he’d been before, eliciting both love and hate!

“Brother Jing, are you still mad? You’re so fierce…”

Jiang Nian held his sore waist and lay on the pillow, complaining. After just two days of the cold war, Cheng Jing had turned into a mad dog. If this kept up, he’d be exhausted.

“No, I’m just not used to you ignoring me for two days.”

Cheng Jing massaged Jiang Nian’s back, calmly denying the accusation. His expression was steady and composed.

You couldn’t hit or scold a little one like this. Couldn’t he just be doted on a little?

“…”

Jiang Nian didn’t believe him, but there was no point in bringing up old grudges. He could only mutter under his breath and let Cheng Jing take care of him. Never mind—a man who holds a grudge should be pampered.

…

Since they had enough supplies, Cheng Jing stopped requesting supplies from the resettlement site once they started going out and handed over most of what they found to the supply center. Providing supernatural support became a voluntary contribution as well.

Zhou Li and the others in the command room were deeply grateful to Cheng Jing for this. Who wouldn’t like someone who is strong, wise, and considerate of the bigger picture?

Even before the apocalypse, he was someone worthy of cooperating with the authorities.

Because of this, Zhou Li took the initiative to tell Cheng Jing about the progress of building the rescue base.

He said that once the extreme cold ended, troops would be sent to various cities to search for survivors. The situation would gradually improve once they reached the base, and their efforts wouldn’t be forgotten by the authorities.

When Cheng Jing returned from the command room at noon, he shared the news with Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian wrapped himself up like a cricket cocoon and played with two automatic hot pots and rice. After listening, he nodded.

“Entering the base will mark the start of a drawn-out battle in the apocalypse. All kinds of recovery and rebuilding will ultimately rely on officials and the military to lead the way. It’s always wise to build good relations. After all, under any set of rules, there will be class divisions. The more perfect the rules, the stricter the hierarchy. These things form naturally, without needing to force them.”

“I think so too. Zhou Li’s a military man. I believe he’ll do what he says he will. In the end, any relationship is mutual.”

Cheng Jing followed his example, set aside the heater, and began eating with Jiang Nian at their small table.

Given their team’s current situation, if they gained support from official personnel, they would have a high chance of entering the central area when they reached the base later. Their safety would also be much greater than that of others.

After eating, Jiang Nian took out two apples, warmed them up in hot water, and ate them to replenish vitamins. Halfway through eating one, he asked Cheng Jing to roast the other over the fire. It actually tasted pretty good.

…

In such a harsh environment, going out meant taking risks. Outside, it was freezing and snowy, and there were zombies in areas that needed to be searched.

Furthermore, as time passed, the zombies slowly evolved. They adapted to the extreme cold and became faster and more aggressive.

It was especially terrifying when a mutant became infected and turned into a mutant zombie because if they used their powers unconsciously, it was even more frightening.

Every day, people went out and never came back.

“My husband went out last night and hasn’t come back. Please help me find him.”

“I’ll give you all my supplies. Please help me find him.”

“…”

A tall woman wearing a black coat, cotton pants, snow boots, cracked leather gloves, a gray wool hat, and a matching scarf held the hand of a little girl bundled up like a small dumpling. The girl had big black-and-white eyes, and both mother and daughter looked panicked as they begged the ability users who had just returned from outside.

An elderly couple in their fifties held hands and stopped the returning ability users. They asked each person they came across:

“Our son and daughter left the shelter a day ago. Did any of you see them?”

“They said they wouldn’t go far. Did any of you see them?”

The couple had sent their children out to search for supplies, hoping they would return, but they never did. Had they known, they never would have let them go.

Nearby, many others waited anxiously, just like them.

“My brother, too. He left with you. Why didn’t he come back with you?”

“Did you see my boyfriend? Wuwuwu…”

“My dad said he’d be right back. Wuwu…”

“…”

Every day after dusk, anxious people would linger in front of the command room entrance at the resettlement point on the first floor of Building 1, pulling at the ability users who had returned safely and asking about their family members—some humbly, some hysterically.

Those who went out tended to leave early and return late; many were only out for a few hours. If they hadn’t returned by nightfall, chances were they wouldn’t make it back at all—let alone those missing overnight.

Even if they went out as a team, the most their teammates could bring back to their families were a few supplies for some small comfort.