The lavish barbecue feast ultimately failed to soothe Lu Shiyan’s displeasure. He had a sullen face throughout the entire evening, his low pressure making everyone around him afraid to even breathe loudly.
Xiao Han was punished to stand guard at the farthest perimeter of the farm, only able to smell the tantalizing aroma of meat, cursing Lu Shiyan for his inhumanity while drooling in the cold wind.
Li Kui and Li Xinhu, the brothers, buried their heads in their food, trying to minimize their presence.
Su Wan, however, was not greatly affected. She had an excellent appetite and single-handedly finished more than half of a roasted pig’s hind leg, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Although the mutated beast meat was coarse, it contained extremely abundant energy. After eating it, warm currents flowed through her limbs, making her feel full of strength.
The little one in her belly also seemed particularly at ease, no longer having the restless energy fluctuations from before.
The remaining meat was all put into Su Wan's space. Wow, not bad, not bad, it was enough for them to eat for a while.
Early the next morning, the team once again embarked on their journey north.
A Mo suddenly spoke, "Brother Lu, going north, the winter there must be much colder than in A City, right?"
A City was located in the south. Although winter was also cold and damp, compared to the true north, it was like comparing a small witch to a great wizard.
The clothes worn by their group were still suited for A City's climate. If they really reached the freezing north, they might freeze into popsicles before even finding Su Wan's father.
"A Mo is right," Su Wan looked at Lu Shiyan. "We must prepare enough winter clothes and supplies before winter sets in."
Xiao Han's eyes lit up when he heard this. "We must get some thick clothes, and blankets! The more, the better!"
Li Kui and Li Xinhu also looked serious. Having traveled outdoors for many years, they naturally understood the severity of the weather.
Lu Shiyan scanned everyone's expressions in the rearview mirror and said in a deep voice, "Map."
A Mo immediately spread out the yellowed map again.
Lu Shiyan's slender finger moved across the map, finally stopping at a location not too far from their current position, but off the main road. It was a red dot marked as a large shopping center.
"Here," he pointed to the red dot, "'Global International Shopping Center.' Before the apocalypse, it was one of the larger comprehensive malls in A City. You should be able to find clothes, daily necessities, and maternal and infant supplies there."
Xiao Han's eyes lit up, "A mall is good! Clothes, shoes, blankets, maybe even canned food! But... a place like a mall has a lot of foot traffic, so there must be a lot of zombies inside. And, after so long, all the good stuff has probably been scavenged already."
Su Wan was also a little worried, "Yes, and this kind of large mall has a complex structure. If we encounter danger, it will be difficult to escape."
Lu Shiyan glanced at her and said indifferently, "If there's danger, clear it. If there's nothing, move to another place. This is currently the fastest way to acquire a large amount of cold-weather supplies. We don't have much time to waste."
Su Wan pursed her lips and nodded. Lu Shiyan was right; time waits for no one.
Under Lu Shiyan’s control, the off-road vehicle turned onto a relatively secluded path.
About an hour later, a colossal structure appeared before their eyes.
The giant sign of “Global International Shopping Center” was already crooked and covered in stains and holes, but its former glory could still be discerned. Most of the mall’s exterior glass was shattered, revealing numerous dark, hollow windows.
Numerous abandoned vehicles were haphazardly parked in the parking lot, covered in thick dust. Some car doors were wide open, their interiors empty, while others had tightly closed windows, revealing faint, congealed dark red bloodstains inside.
A faint stench of decay, mixed with dust and mildew, permeated the air, making it nauseating.
Lu Shiyan parked the car in a secluded corner about two hundred meters from the mall entrance and turned off the engine.
"Xiao Han, A Mo, scout ahead." Lu Shiyan's voice remained calm.
"Got it!" Xiao Han pushed open the car door, stretched his limbs, and his Wind Ability quietly activated as he stealthily approached the mall entrance. A Mo followed closely behind, his eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings.
Finally, Xiao Han and A Mo reappeared.
"How is it?" Lu Shiyan opened his eyes.
Xiao Han leaned close to the car window and whispered, "The mall's main entrance is blocked, probably by early survivors. We found a side door, the lock is broken, and we can get in. Inside... it's very quiet, no zombies found yet, but it feels off."
A Mo added, "There are many signs of fighting and scavenging in the main hall on the first floor, a lot of bloodstains, but they are all very old. We only looked at the outer perimeter, the situation deeper inside is unclear."
Lu Shiyan looked at Su Wan, "Stay close to me, no unauthorized actions."
"Mm!" Su Wan nodded vigorously. She whispered, "Keep up, keep up."
Lu Shiyan then looked at Li Kui and Li Xinhu, "You two, be responsible for external vigilance and support. If a large horde of zombies or other threats approach, immediately fire a warning shot."
"Understood!" Li Kui and Li Xinhu responded in unison.
After a simple division of labor, Lu Shiyan, Su Wan, Xiao Han, and A Mo stealthily moved towards the side door Xiao Han had mentioned.
The side door was a heavy fire escape door, its lock violently pried open, leaving a gaping, jagged hole.
Lu Shiyan led the way, a military knife shimmering with lightning appearing out of thin air in his hand as he stepped inside first. Xiao Han followed closely, gripping a sharp short blade. Su Wan followed behind Xiao Han, while A Mo was responsible for covering their rear.
Upon entering the mall, the light suddenly dimmed. Only a few broken holes in the high dome allowed faint slivers of daylight to penetrate, leaving most areas shrouded in shadow.
The first floor hall was a mess, various goods scattered everywhere, shelves toppled over, and the floor was covered in broken glass and debris.
The display windows of some luxury brand counters were shattered, and the valuable items inside were long gone. Many dried, dark brown bloodstains and drag marks could be seen on the ground, a shocking sight.
"It seems this place has been visited by others long ago," Xiao Han said in a low voice, his tone a bit disappointed.
"Let's go to the clothing and maternal-infant sections first." Lu Shiyan's voice echoed slightly in the spacious hall.
Su Wan perked up, trying to make out the signs. Her senses, nurtured by the energy stone, were much sharper than before, and even in the dim environment, her vision was better than an ordinary person's.
"This way!" She pointed in a direction. "The clothing section should be on the second and third floors, and the maternal and infant section on the fourth floor."
The four carefully avoided the debris on the floor and walked towards the staircase. The escalators had long stopped working, covered in dust and cobwebs.
Just as they were about to step onto the stairs, Lu Shiyan suddenly raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop.
"There's movement." He tilted his head, listening intently, his gaze sharply sweeping towards a certain direction on the second floor.
Su Wan and Xiao Han also held their breath, listening carefully.
Indeed, a faint rustling sound came from the second floor, as if something was moving quickly in the darkness.