Chapter 36: Purple Wind Building

Additionally, all the windows in this apartment had been sealed from the inside, making the light inside quite dim.

“For safety, the four of us slept together back then to look out for each other. It’s a shame now that only I’m left.” Ding Longyun’s expression turned slightly grim as he spoke.

Su Li understood that there were four living people here, including Ding Longyun. The other three had been killed by monsters, leaving only Ding Longyun. Seeing the four beds, Su Li’s mind stirred. He asked, “Brother Ding, were all four of you residents of this building from the start, or did some of you come from other places like us?”

Ding Longyun replied, “We were all residents here. One lived on the 30th floor, I live on the 31st floor, and the other two were a father and son who lived on the top floor. The apartment piled with supplies just now was theirs.”

Hearing Ding Longyun’s words, Su Li was deep in thought.

Ding Longyun asked, “What’s wrong? What are you thinking?”

Su Li said, “The building I lived in only had 30 floors, and I was the only survivor. Xu Xuehui’s apartment was also on the 30th floor. When the great flood hit, the only living people there should have been her and her father, though her father later…”

Fearing he would distress Xu Xuehui, Su Li didn’t finish the sentence about her father’s death. Ding Longyun understood what Su Li meant without having to ask. He nodded slightly and asked, “And what does that signify?”

Su Li said, “This building has 32 floors, with three floors exposed above the water, and it had four survivors. So, I’m wondering, for buildings with even more floors, would there be more survivors?”

Ding Longyun was taken aback by this reasoning. He acknowledged, “Hmm, hearing you analyze it that way, it does make sense. That should be the case. I remember the Purple Wind Building isn’t far from here, is it?”

Su Li confirmed, “That’s right. The Purple Wind Building has 38 floors. Following this pattern, when the great flood came, the Purple Wind Building should have at least eight floors exposed above the water. There might be quite a few living people on those eight floors.”

Su Li knew about the Purple Wind Building; it was a relatively iconic landmark in this area, about two or three kilometers away from their current location.

In the past, two or three kilometers was nothing. But now, with the area submerged by floodwaters, full of undercurrents and dangers, that distance felt unattainable. Therefore, although Su Li knew about the Purple Wind Building, he had never considered paddling a raft there directly. It was simply because a two-to-three-kilometer journey on the water was too dangerous for him, at least for now.

Ding Longyun mused, “The Purple Wind Building is about three kilometers from us. That distance is neither far nor truly close. For someone with motion sickness like me, it’s torture. But you make a very good point. The Purple Wind Building might have many survivors. We can try to figure out a way to check it out. If there are indeed many people there, there’s strength in numbers, and we’ll have found an organization of sorts.”

Su Li nodded. He had already been considering going to the higher-floored Purple Wind Building ever since he learned there were originally four living people here. The current problem, however, was the nearly three-kilometer stretch of water that lay before them.

The three of them then found a bed each and began to rest, conserving their energy for the night’s hunt.

Having had some liquor at noon, and feeling a greater sense of security being together, Su Li slept deeply and comfortably, finally being woken up by Ding Longyun tapping him.

Su Li opened his eyes and saw Ding Longyun standing by his bed.

Xu Xuehui, sleeping on the bed next to him, was sitting up, hugging a pillow, looking slightly groggy while rubbing her eyes.

Checking the clock on the wall, it was already past 5:00 PM. He had slept for a solid three or four hours.

“Did you hear the noise?” Ding Longyun asked quietly when Su Li woke up.

Su Li immediately became alert and asked in a low voice, “What is it?”

Ding Longyun said, “It’s nothing, just a few ‘zombies’ that have shown up. But they’re low-level, nothing to worry about. These monsters follow certain patterns of movement. Most of those that come out during the day aren’t strong, and their numbers are few. The powerful monsters mostly come out at night. Of course, there are exceptions sometimes; what I’m saying isn’t absolute, just a relative pattern.”

Su Li knew the “zombies” he spoke of were actually Corpse Beasts, but since Ding Longyun didn’t have the “Peering Rune,” he didn’t know their true name and kept calling them “zombies.”

Su Li walked to the security door. Looking through the peephole, he indeed saw several Corpse Beasts stumbling out from the stairwell on the other side of the corridor. They then began knocking on the apartment doors one by one, slowly approaching their location.

“I remember you saying the little girl is still an ordinary person. These Corpse Beasts are perfect for her to practice on.”

Ding Longyun pulled a steel shovel from under the bed and then opened the security door, quickly slipping out.

Su Li waved to Xu Xuehui, who was sitting on the bed. “Hurry up and come here.”

Xu Xuehui had just woken up and was still a little muddled. Hearing his voice, she cleared up a bit and quickly put down the pillow she was hugging.

Su Li handed the hammer he had used before to Xu Xuehui. He no longer needed the hammer now that he had the iron rod, so it was perfect for Xu Xuehui.

“Do I have to smash the corpse’s head again?” Xu Xuehui whispered, showing a slight resistance.

Su Li knew she was somewhat unwilling, but he said seriously, “Remember, if you want to survive, you must do this.”

Xu Xuehui pursed her lips when she heard him say this, but didn’t speak.

By the time Su Li and Xu Xuehui stepped out, five Corpse Beasts had already collapsed in the corridor.

The steel shovel Ding Longyun was using was a type of outdoor utility tool, about a meter long. This specialized steel shovel was of excellent quality and not light, giving it considerable destructive power when swung.

He used the shovel to break the arms and legs of the Corpse Beasts, leaving them unable to move but still alive, wriggling on the floor. Clearly, he was saving the final blow for Xu Xuehui.

“Little girl, come quickly. These ones on the ground are for you.” Ding Longyun said this as he rushed toward the last standing Corpse Beast.

Dealing with these low-level Corpse Beasts was easy with Ding Longyun’s skill. Su Li watched as he swung the steel shovel, smashing the Corpse Beast’s knee with one blow, which sent it crashing to the ground with a “thud.” He then swung the shovel at the monster’s limbs.

His movements were simple and brutal. Amidst the flying flesh and blood, he quickly incapacitated the limbs of the last Corpse Beast, leaving it unable to counterattack.

These Corpse Beasts did not feel pain and only possessed the simple instincts to attack and feed. Knocked onto the ground, they continued to writhe, but they couldn’t cry out. Their blank, vacant faces showed no expression of pain.

(End of Chapter)