Chapter 34 – To Jump or Not to Jump?

It’s actually quite understandable why this group of survivors retreated into this building. The reasons are probably the same as Ling Mo’s for choosing this place. Firstly, this building is the closest to the main gate. Secondly, its geographical conditions are the best. On one side is an artificial creek, on the other is a square with a fountain, and there is a certain distance between this building and the surrounding ones. This way, they wouldn’t be easily surrounded, and there are several escape routes.

It seems this group planned to use this building to buy some time and then escape from the other side.

However, just as they reached the second floor, there was a loud crash from below, indicating that the main gate had been completely broken through. The noise and their footsteps immediately attracted the zombies hiding in the building. Suddenly, the sounds of slashing and screams filled the air. Several times, the door of the apartment where Ling Mo and the others were staying was hit hard. It was unclear whether it was zombies or people crashing into it.

Ling Mo quietly walked to the door and peered through the peephole. He saw that these people had retreated into an apartment diagonally opposite and quickly locked the door. A large group of zombies was now tightly packed in the corridor, furiously pounding on the door. Hearing the sounds of tearing and chewing mixed in, Ling Mo guessed that there must have been casualties, and the corridor was likely filled with zombie corpses by now.

Retreating into the apartment wouldn’t stop the zombies. It seemed that the group planned to escape by jumping from the building. This wasn’t a bad idea—drawing the pursuing zombies into the staircase and then jumping out of the building. Even if they couldn’t completely shake off the zombies, they would at least buy some time to escape.

Jumping from the second floor was actually quite dangerous, but Ling Mo knew that the outside of the building was surrounded by grass. As long as they weren’t particularly unlucky, they shouldn’t break a leg. Besides, in such an emergency, it’s not easy to find a perfect solution. Thinking of using the building was already much better than just panicking and fleeing.

“What should we do, Ling Mo? Should we help them?” Liu Yuhao asked in a low voice, his face looking grim as he moved closer to Ling Mo, listening to the commotion outside the door.

Ling Mo gave him a sidelong glance and said, “There are at least thirty zombies outside. If we open the door, we’ll be trapped here. How can we help?”

Liu Yuhao was momentarily speechless, while Ling Mo silently shook his head. Liu Yuhao’s nature could be seen as kind-hearted, but on the flip side, it could also be seen as recklessly meddling without considering the consequences. Moreover, it seemed unlikely that this trait would change anytime soon…

However, hearing the increasing number of zombies outside the door, and even some starting to bang against their door, Ling Mo’s expression turned grim. “We can’t stay here any longer. Let’s go.”

The zombies banging on the door didn’t necessarily mean they had detected Ling Mo and the others. They had likely lost sight of their targets and, driven into a frenzy by the scent of blood, were reacting violently. It wasn’t just their door being hit; other doors were being attacked as well.

Wang Cheng had been scared stiff by the commotion outside and instinctively asked, “Which way?”

“Jump out of the window!”

However, despite his words, Ling Mo wouldn’t recklessly jump out without being sure of a safe landing. Injuring a leg would mean certain death. Fortunately, he had barricaded the door with furniture the previous night. Though the door was being pounded heavily, it wasn’t in immediate danger of being broken down. Even so, time was running out for Ling Mo and the others.

Ling Mo quickly rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a climbing rope he had collected from an outdoor gear store. He had originally intended to use it for extreme situations, not expecting it to come in handy so soon.

He made a loop and secured it, then had Ye Lian and Xia Na go down the rope first. The second floor wasn’t very high, and there was an air conditioning unit outside the window they could use for support. With their agility, far exceeding that of ordinary people, the two zombie girls quickly reached the ground and began clearing nearby zombies for Ling Mo and the others.

Though Liu Yuhao was pale with fear, he insisted on not going first. Ling Mo urged him twice before gripping the rope and jumping onto the air conditioning unit. Using it for leverage, he descended and let go of the rope when he was just over a meter from the ground, landing safely.

Wang Cheng followed closely behind. By the time Liu Yuhao jumped down, the door had been broken open, and several zombies rushed to the window and jumped after them without hesitation.

But zombies didn’t know how to use ropes, and their momentum caused them to fall upon landing. Ling Mo and Ye Lian didn’t give them a chance to get up, and Xia Na’s long knife wasn’t just for show. However, seeing her eyes begin to redden after she started attacking, Ling Mo felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly strengthened his control over her to prevent her from continuing.

“Let’s go, quickly.”

In no time, several zombie corpses lay scattered on the ground, and Ling Mo knew it wouldn’t be long before more zombies swarmed the area. He immediately led Ye Lian and the others in a sprint toward the side gate of the residential compound. They avoided the main gate because it was already swarming with zombies, drawn there by another group of people.

To their surprise, as they ran along the rear driveway of the building, they unexpectedly encountered that very group of survivors!

These people had also jumped from the building on the other side, aiming to escape through the side gate.

Seeing these survivors, Ling Mo felt extremely frustrated. With such a large group as a target, the zombies would surely follow them!

In the brief moment they had encountered them, it seemed like the group had already lost three or four members…

“You…” A young man at the front, likely leading the way, saw Ling Mo and the others and exclaimed in surprise. They clearly hadn’t anticipated running into other survivors in the compound, let alone so “conveniently.”

Ling Mo rolled his eyes. With the other group acting as a distraction, it was a perfect opportunity to escape. Whatever method the group had used, the zombies hadn’t appeared immediately. Ling Mo, with Ye Lian and the others, sprinted out of the compound, only hearing the distant sounds of zombies.

“Hey!” The young man from before wasn’t giving up and chased after them, shouting breathlessly.

Having been forced to abandon their hideout so early, Ling Mo wasn’t in the best mood. His tone carried a hint of irritation: “What?”

“Um…” The young man wasn’t foolish. He immediately apologized, “Sorry, we didn’t know you were here and caused you trouble. This isn’t the place to talk. How about coming back to our camp?”

Camp? These people actually had a camp?

Ling Mo’s expression showed a hint of surprise. He was about to refuse but then glanced at Liu Yuhao behind him.

Ling Mo himself had no desire to go to any survivor camp, and he didn’t particularly care about Wang Cheng’s fate. However, he had taken a liking to Liu Yuhao. Given Liu Yuhao’s nature, Ling Mo knew he couldn’t keep him around. The best outcome would be for Liu Yuhao to find a good place to stay.