Chapter 59

Zhang Xiang and Nangong Xiong had a good relationship; he was one of those who had survived the escape from last night and made it into the church. Now, he was also willing to act together with everyone else.

The other people in the church were roughly divided into two groups. One group of more than fifty people was preparing to flee the city together, while the other group temporarily stayed in the church, using it as a base to wait for the right moment to act, gradually grow stronger, and send people to search for food around the church.

Some of the leaders planned to slowly clear the area and grow stronger, eventually gathering enough strength to seize the Life Stele.

As Chu Nan and his seven companions left, many people looked at them with the eyes of those watching the dead depart.

Just eight people, and they were not choosing the nearest route to escape the city, but instead heading deeper into the city. What was the difference between this and courting death?

"Based on my observations over the past few days, there's no need to worry about the fog and skeletons for now. They should stay quiet for a day or two after appearing once," Jiang Lao's words slightly reassured Chu Nan and the others.

"Jiang Lao, why are you willing to act with us? You should know that many people see our actions as courting death," Shen Mo suddenly asked with a teasing tone.

Jiang Lao smiled slightly and said, "That's just the view of others, not mine."

He paused and then continued, "In the church, we suddenly fell asleep, and two people were killed. It's still a mystery. Don't you find it strange?"

This matter was what Chu Nan was most concerned about. Hearing Jiang Lao's words, he said, "Yes, I even suspected the Jesus statue before, but you persuaded me. Maybe I was just being overly sensitive."

"No," Jiang Lao suddenly said seriously, "Your suspicion is not without reason."

Hearing this, Chu Nan suddenly stopped, looking at Jiang Lao with a shocked expression.

Jiang Lao's face also turned grim, and he said in a low voice, "The fog and skeletons deliberately avoided that church. Could it really be a coincidence? There must be a reason... Perhaps there is something in that church that they fear, so they avoided it..."

Chu Nan's face turned grim, and he said, "Jiang Lao, do you mean the Jesus statue... If so, why did you stop me... Those who stayed behind..."

He thought of a terrifying fact.

Jiang Lao raised his head and said, "If those skeletons really fear the Jesus statue, do you think we can deal with them?"

Chu Nan was shaken.

"So, no matter what secrets the church holds, our best choice is to leave without getting involved or touching anything, pretending we don't know."

The others understood Jiang Lao's words, and everyone felt a chill. Tang Sanli said, "That's not good. Many people stayed behind, using the church as a base. Isn't that dangerous? Shouldn't we warn them?"

Jiang Lao shook his head and smiled bitterly, "We can't warn them; they won't listen. Moreover, if everyone decides to leave, perhaps no one will be able to escape."

Chu Nan fell silent, understanding the meaning of Jiang Lao's words. Since many people had voluntarily stayed behind, the mysterious force in the church allowed them to leave safely.

Once the truth is revealed, perhaps no one will be able to leave.

A chill ran through Chu Nan's heart, and he shook his head, showing a bitter smile.

It was truly frightening that Jiang Lao could think so much in that moment. This seemingly kind old man was not simple at all.

"No wonder you're willing to follow us. It turns out you had this consideration," Shen Mo looked at Jiang Lao, not knowing what to say.

Jiang Lao said, "That's one aspect. The other, and more important, reason is that I have high hopes for you, especially you."

He looked at Chu Nan and said, "Survival of the fittest. This place has become a jungle where the strong survive and the weak die. I think following the strong gives a better chance of survival..."

Jiang Lao smiled and said, "Those people are too blind. Mixing with them, even if you have multiple lives, it won't be enough. And I alone clearly can't survive. After much consideration, following you gives the best chance of survival."

In the church, the people were mainly divided into three groups. One group decided to stay in the church. Since Jiang Lao suspected something strange about the church, he naturally couldn't stay. Another group planned to escape while it was still light, but Jiang Lao believed they couldn't escape, so he wouldn't follow them. In the end, he had no choice but to follow Chu Nan and his group.

Nangong Xiong asked curiously, "Jiang Lao, why do you believe the city is cursed and that no one can escape unless they find the Life Stele?"

Jiang Lao said, "Don't believe me? Just wait and see."

The eight people stopped and saw a group of dozens of people rush out of the church, heading in another direction. That was the fastest way to escape the Daxiu District.

Watching this group disappear in that direction, Chu Nan and his companions began walking toward the Changjiang Road Fuchun Garden, as Su Yao had mentioned.

The church was about five to six kilometers from Fuchun Garden, where Su Yao lived. Many buildings had collapsed, blocking the city roads. A distant overpass had collapsed, and many vehicles were destroyed, scattered everywhere.

Some vehicles that had fallen from the overpass were on fire, burned to a pile of blackened scrap metal.

Perhaps due to the fog and the walking skeletons, there were no active zombies or undead in this area, making it unusually quiet.

The air was filled with the stench of decaying bodies, causing everyone to wrinkle their noses.

Chu Nan and his companions carefully climbed over piles of rubble. Nangong Xiong leaped and landed on the roof of a car, stomping down. The car roof couldn't withstand his force and caved in, shattering the surrounding glass.

"Damn, I've always dreamed of driving a Porsche Cayenne. I used to think it would be so cool to drive this car and pick up girls, but now it's just a pile of scrap metal, and I can destroy it at will!"

He stomped again, causing the car roof to collapse further.

Shen Mo frowned and called out, "Nangong Xiong, what are you doing? Are you trying to create trouble for us?"

Nangong Xiong laughed, jumped down, and suddenly let out a heavy kick, causing the entire Cayenne to shake violently, though it didn't roll over.

Shen Mo felt his behavior was abnormal and grabbed Nangong Xiong, shouting, "What are you doing?"

Nangong Xiong smiled, took out a cigarette, and put it in his mouth, saying, "Nothing, I just lost my composure for a moment. I'm really sorry."

Everyone looked at him strangely. Zhang Xiang, who was close to Nangong Xiong, couldn't help but say, "Brother Xiong's ex-wife was very beautiful, but she left him for an older man with a Cayenne. So, Brother Xiong..."

"Shut up!" Nangong Xiong suddenly snarled at him.

Zhang Xiang immediately shut up, looking embarrassed.

Chu Nan and the others understood.

Shen Mo patted Nangong Xiong's shoulder, showing understanding, and said, "Alright, you've vented. The world is almost at the end. Let's focus on how to survive."

Nangong Xiong, with a cigarette in his mouth, grinned and said, "What's wrong with me? I just don't like the Cayenne. Zhang Xiang, do you think I'm that kind of person? Do you think I still care about that woman?"

"Of course not, Brother Xiong wouldn't care. Ha, ha, ha," Zhang Xiang laughed nervously.

Nangong Xiong took out a cigarette and said, "Who wants to smoke? Come, have one." He passed out cigarettes to everyone.

Tang Sanli, a heavy smoker, took one, lit it, and took a deep puff, saying, "The earthquake destroyed all the roads. No matter how good the car, it's just a pile of scrap metal now."

Nangong Xiong grinned and said, "Yes, just a pile of scrap metal..." His gaze became distant.

Is that damn woman still alive? If she is, has she realized that the Cayenne she fell in love with is now just a pile of scrap metal?

Nangong Xiong blew out a smoke ring and, through it, looked at the city turned to ruins. Suddenly, he felt that this apocalypse wasn't entirely bad. At least, many of the city's evils had been destroyed by the earthquake.

No matter how rich you were, what difference does it make now?

Suddenly, a piercing scream jolted Nangong Xiong out of his reverie.

He woke up and turned to look behind him.

Chu Nan, Su Yao, and everyone else's faces showed strange expressions.

In the distance, one after another, came terrifying and desperate screams. That direction was where the group of dozens who had run out of the church had gone to escape the city.

Jiang Lao sighed slightly, "Was my guess wrong? They can't escape."

Chu Nan, Su Yao, Tang Sanli, and Shen Mo's faces turned unbearably grim, and everyone tightly clenched their hands.

Could it be true, as Jiang Lao said, that they can't escape alive unless they find the Life Stele?

"Jiang Lao, what evidence do you have for saying that?" Chu Nan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, then asked.

Jiang Lao said, "You should first ask me what the Gaia Stele, which glows at night, is."

Chu Nan was shocked and said, "Jiang Lao, do you know?"

Jiang Lao smiled slightly and said, "Of course not, but I have some guesses."

Chu Nan looked at him and said, "I'd like to hear more."

Jiang Lao pointed ahead and said, "Let's talk while we walk. We don't have much time to waste. I hope we can reach the Fuchun Garden the little girl mentioned before nightfall."