094 Zombies in the Basement!

But soon, Gu Xiaoqian concealed that feeling deep within herself. That side of her was reserved for Xue Feng alone.

"Of course, of course!" Tang Qiqiang nodded emphatically, completely oblivious to Gu Xiaoqian's subtle change.

Even drinking water in Tang Qiqiang's base was rationed with utmost precision. What shocked him most was where Xue Feng had managed to gather all these supplies.

Tang Qiqiang had heard of Riverbank Villas before. It was a neighborhood known for its concentration of wealthy residents, with lush greenery and property management ranked among the nation's best. The villas were spaced far apart, ensuring total privacy, and, of course, the most notable feature was the astronomical price of the homes—far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

After making his rounds, Tang Qiqiang finally arrived at District One. The first thing he noticed was row upon row of solar generators laid out on the ground.

"Is the entire villa complex powered by these?" Tang Qiqiang asked in surprise. He wondered if such solar generators could really supply the whole neighborhood, especially since there was an electrified wire fence outside. What would happen if there were several consecutive days of wind and rain? Would everything come to a halt?

"Of course, that's not all. There are other sources of power... You'll find out in time," Gu Xiaoqian replied. She had almost mentioned the special energy source inside the base—crystal nuclei extracted from zombie brains—but quickly thought better of it. That was not her place to reveal. Instead, she limited her introduction to what the eye could see.

"I understand," Tang Qiqiang responded, realizing there were secrets here he was better off not probing.

"The master is in the laboratory. He says you may enter," said Nie Xiaoxing, emerging from one of the villas at that moment.

This was now the laboratory, which had been moved from its previous location in the basement. "Very well, I'll leave it to you. I'll go introduce the rules to the newcomers," said Gu Xiaoqian, eager to begin drilling the new arrivals, ensuring they understood whose word was law here. If they wanted to survive, they had to know the rules of the base.

Led by Nie Xiaoxing, Tang Qiqiang entered the laboratory. Though the villa had been converted for this purpose, only two rooms were used, as there was still a shortage of equipment.

As soon as Tang Qiqiang stepped inside, his expression changed.

A guttural roar echoed through the space—the sound of a zombie.

"A zombie!" Tang Qiqiang tensed instantly, his hand instinctively reaching for his waist, only to remember he had left his firearm back in the villa. He dared not wander about armed and risk unnecessary trouble, especially since he was still unfamiliar with the situation here.

He also noticed that the base seemed to be populated entirely by women, and many of them looked at Xue Feng with clear admiration—evidently, their relationship with him was special. Tang Qiqiang resolved that his subordinates must tread carefully in District One, lest they see what they shouldn't and pay a heavy price.

"Don't worry," Nie Xiaoxing said quickly, "There is a zombie, but it's locked in the basement."

"In the basement?" Tang Qiqiang was startled. How could a seemingly safe villa complex have a zombie within? Was it someone's relative? He had once seen a man in his own base lock a zombie—his wife—in a bedroom, hoping for a future cure. But after two days, the zombie broke down the door and tore him apart. Not everyone could remain rational when their loved ones turned, and many died trying to save them.

"Yes, let's go in," Nie Xiaoxing said, leading the way down to the basement.

Tang Qiqiang followed, and soon saw a large iron cage in the center of the room. Inside was a male zombie—the source of the earlier roar.

Xue Feng stood beside a strikingly beautiful woman. She bore a strong resemblance to Tang Qiqiang's guide—perhaps they were sisters. Also present was one of the women who had welcomed him at the door, a formidable survivor who exuded a palpable sense of pressure. Tang Qiqiang suspected that only a man like Xue Feng could keep her in check.

"Tang Qiqiang, look at this zombie. Do you notice any difference from the usual kind?" Xue Feng asked.

Tang Qiqiang peered into the cage. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary zombie, not some grotesque mutant—save that it appeared more violent, with greater strength and quicker movements.

"This zombie seems stronger than the others," he said, drawing on his extensive experience fighting the undead. He knew well the importance of using long weapons to keep zombies at bay and never engaging in close combat, which was certain death. The key was to use open terrain to maneuver, for zombies were slow and easily outpaced—unless there were too many, in which case one could be surrounded and overwhelmed.

But this caged zombie was something else entirely. Its speed was nearly that of a human jogger, and it never seemed to tire. Against such a creature, a human would be doomed.

"Exactly. This was captured by my people—just an ordinary zombie, but now much fiercer than before," Xue Feng said gravely. He had already observed that zombies were showing signs of collective evolution, their speed and strength increasing. When Zhao Weisuo and the others went out to post signs, he had instructed them to capture a live one. Zhao Weisuo fulfilled her mission, and after careful analysis, Nie Xiaoyue confirmed that the zombies were indeed evolving, not just in their imagination.

"What!" Tang Qiqiang's eyes widened in shock. If ordinary zombies were already so numerous and difficult to deal with, what would survivors do if they evolved further? Would the mutants become even more powerful as well?

"That's right," Xue Feng said, his expression grave. "From now on, the dangers we face will only grow."