Chapter 197: Zombies and Outing.
Bai Li had not forgotten that. She had already noted where that zombie was wandering, and because of that, she was not willing to slow down or get careless now. Both of them carried large backpacks. They were not filled with extremely heavy items, but the weight was still noticeable. Bai Li, however, barely felt anything because of her enhanced physique. Her steps stayed firm, her back straight, her breathing even. Yan Cijin, on the other hand, felt the weight more clearly and had to adjust her shoulder once or twice as they moved. She did not complain, though. She just kept up and stayed focused on the route ahead.
The two of them climbed upward with a careful kind of speed, taking the stairwell step by step. Bai Li’s eyes kept scanning the corners, the landings, and the dark areas where zombies might be hiding. The fire escape was still unpleasant, with the smell of rot and old blood lingering in the enclosed air, but they had already gotten used to that smell by now. It was almost impossible not to in this world. Their shoes touched the concrete softly, and every movement was controlled so they would not make noise that might attract unwanted attention. Bai Li stayed in front, and Yan Cijin kept just behind her, close enough to react if something happened, but not so close that they would trip over each other.
When they reached the second floor, they encountered a zombie. It moved out of the stairwell corner too quickly to be called slow, but not quickly enough to actually surprise Bai Li. The moment she saw it, Bai Li kicked him over without hesitation. The zombie’s body hit the wall, then slid down in a crooked motion. Bai Li did not even give it enough time to regain balance. She shifted her weight, moved past it, and kept climbing with Yan Cijin right behind her. There was no point wasting time on something that was already neutralized and no longer able to block their path. In situations like this, Bai Li’s efficiency mattered more than anything else. She did not fight just to look impressive. She fought because every second counted.
Yan Cijin glanced at Bai Li from behind and found herself feeling strangely reassured by the way Bai Li handled everything. Bai Li’s presence was not noisy, but it was very hard to ignore. There was something about the way she stood, the way she moved, and the way she treated danger that made her look unusually dependable. It was the kind of aura that made people unconsciously want to follow her. Yan Cijin was not the type to cling to others easily, but at times like this, she had to admit that walking behind Bai Li made her feel much safer than she would have by herself.
The climb continued. The stairwell was quiet except for their breathing and the faint sound of their shoes against the steps. On the third floor, they still did not meet any other zombies, which made the whole thing feel slightly easier, though neither of them let their guard down because of it. Bai Li already knew that empty spaces could be dangerous too. A cleared hallway could hide a threat just as easily as a crowded one. Still, the route stayed smooth enough that she and Yan Cijin moved upward quickly. By the time they reached the next stretch of stairs, both of them had settled into a fast, quiet rhythm.
The rest of the way was smooth for them, and they did not encounter the other three zombies. Bai Li guessed that the other zombies were probably still lingering on the upper floors, wandering around in some corner or blocked off in another stairwell section. She did not spend too much time on that thought, because the climb was already carrying them higher and higher. Soon, she and Yan Cijin entered the twentieth floor fire escape through the large white door, returned to the twentieth floor stairwell, and then entered the second large white door connecting their apartment to the stairwell, finally arriving at their front door.
The hallway at this level felt different from the lower floors. It was still quiet, but it carried a more enclosed and lived in feeling, the kind that came from residents who had been holding out behind their own doors for days. Bai Li stood still for a second and listened before moving again. There was no obvious sign of danger, but she still checked carefully, because being too relaxed this close to home would have been stupid. Her eyes moved over the door area, the floor, and the nearby corridor in a quick scan before she finally nodded to herself.
Bai Li thought for a moment and said, "Let’s go, let’s go to your apartment first."
"Okay." Yan Cijin quickly unlocked the door.
....
The little one saw her mother and aunt come back and her eyes lit up right away. She had just been sitting on the sofa for a while, listening to the adults talk in bits and pieces, and the second she caught sight of them she forgot all about the cartoon she had been watching. Her little feet patted across the floor in a hurry as she toddled over with both arms stretched out, ready to throw herself into her mother’s arms first and then probably cling to Aunt Bai Li too. But Yan Cijin lifted a hand and stopped her before she could crash into them.
"Wait a minute, LiLi, you can’t hug me. Stay with Grandma. Your aunt and I went outside, and we’re not clean, so we can’t hug you."
The little girl had already run halfway over when she heard that, and she froze for a second with her mouth slightly open. Then she lowered her head in a very obedient way and let out a tiny, soft "Oh." She did not make a fuss, did not roll on the floor, and did not cry about being denied a hug.
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TO BE CONTINUED.
