"Pop!" The beam vanished without a thunderous explosion, yet the creature's life force was instantly annihilated by that highly concentrated purifying energy! All movement ceased abruptly. The red glow in its eyes extinguished, and like a puppet whose strings had snapped, it crashed heavily to the floor, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The battle ended abruptly. Dead silence enveloped the supermarket, broken only by the three men's labored breathing, heavy as bellows, and the faint crackling of embers after the flames died down.
Gu Xun staggered, grabbing the nearby shelf to steady himself. His face was drained of all color, cold sweat soaking his hair at his forehead.
Lu Zhao scrambled up from the shelf, his heart still pounding wildly as he stared at the rapidly charring and shriveling corpse of the mutant on the floor.
Jiang Jin gasped for breath, extinguishing the flames on his arm. White steam rose from his bronze-colored skin, overheated. His gaze first fell on the weakened Gu Xun, lingering briefly on the hand trembling as it gripped the shelf. Then it shifted to Lu Zhao, still shaken by the ordeal. Deep within his eyes churned a complex, indescribable emotion—concern, lingering fear, and perhaps a hint of stinging resentment at that astonishing, unspoken coordination.
He said nothing, merely turning silently to stuff several scattered meat cans into his already bulging backpack.
"...Let's go." Gu Xun's voice was hoarse, almost inaudible.
The walk back to the dorm felt like each step was treading on nerves.
Gu Xun leaned heavily on Lu Zhao, his breath shallow and ragged. Cold sweat matted his bangs to his pale skin, each step an agonizing struggle. Lu Zhao could feel the uncontrollable tremor in his arms, weighing heavily on his heart—Gu Xun was their anchor. If he faltered, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Jiang Jin led the way, like a beast seething with suppressed fury. Any living thing that entered his field of vision—whether a staggering zombie or a startled stray cat darting past—was instantly consumed by his savage flames. He didn't look back, nor did he urge them on, but his silent, violent silhouette alone exerted an invisible pressure.
Finally, they reached the familiar dormitory door once more. Jiang Jin brutally melted the lock (the previous one had been destroyed when they left), and the three of them darted inside, immediately barricading the door with heavy objects.
Only when the last glimmer of outside light was sealed out, leaving just faint daylight seeping through the curtain slits, did the taut tension seem to ease slightly.
Gu Xun collapsed instantly, sliding down to sit against the cold wall. Eyes closed, his chest rose and fell weakly.
Lu Zhao also sat down against the door, gasping for breath, feeling as though his limbs were filled with lead. He glanced at the supply backpack in the corner, then at the weakened Gu Xun and Jiang Jin, who radiated a low-pressure aura. A profound exhaustion washed over him—not just physical, but mental as well.
Jiang Jin didn't sit down. He paced restlessly across the small dormitory before abruptly stopping in front of Gu Xun. His voice carried suppressed anger: "How are you?"
Gu Xun didn't open his eyes, merely shaking his head ever so slightly, seemingly too drained even to speak.
Jiang Jin clenched and unclenched his fists, staring at Gu Xun's pallid face. The agitation of wanting to draw near yet not knowing how became almost tangible. Finally, he spun abruptly, strode to the supply backpack, roughly ripped open the zipper, pulled out a bottle of water, unscrewed the cap, then walked back to Gu Xun's side, practically shoving it into his hand.
"Drink!" His tone was as harsh as a command.
Gu Xun's eyelashes fluttered slightly before his eyes slowly opened. He glanced at Jiang Jin, his gaze calm and unreadable. He did need water. Without refusal, he took the bottle and began drinking in small sips. The liquid soothed his parched lips and restored a sliver of strength.
"Thanks," he murmured, his voice still hoarse.
Jiang Jin seemed stung by the gratitude, turning his head away as he growled, "Don't mention it! Next time, don't be such a damn hero!" The words were harsh, yet the underlying concern was impossible to fully conceal.
Lu Zhao watched the scene in silence, his emotions tangled. Jiang Jin's concern for Gu Xun was obvious, though his way of showing it was always awkward and oppressive.
After drinking the water and pausing to catch his breath, Gu Xun finally turned to Lu Zhao. "Lu Zhao, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Lu Zhao shook his head. "Just a bit drained."
"Your Wind Blade technique is getting more and more polished," Gu Xun murmured, a hint of subtle praise in his voice.
Lu Zhao froze, a subtle warmth flitting through her heart. Before she could respond, Jiang Jin let out a dismissive snort.
"Proficient? If not for my punch, you two would've been that monster's snacks by now!" Jiang Jin crossed his arms, his tone dripping with acidity as his gaze swept between Gu Xun and Lu Zhao. "You two work together quite seamlessly, don't you?"
Gu Xun frowned but remained silent, closing his eyes again. Clearly, he had no desire to engage in pointless arguments at this moment.
Lu Zhao also lowered his head, unwilling to escalate the tension. He sensed Jiang Jin's dissatisfaction stemmed not merely from having his moment in the spotlight stolen during the fight, but from something deeper—Gu Xun's starkly different attitudes toward him and Jiang Jin.
The atmosphere grew tense once more.
After resting for about half an hour, a faint flush finally returned to Gu Xun's face. He forced himself to stand and began taking inventory of the supplies they'd brought back: several bottles of water, a dozen or so cans of food, and some high-energy chocolate bars and compressed biscuits.
"Ration carefully. We've got four or five days left at most," he assessed calmly. "We need to find a more stable location with richer resources."
"Where?" Lu Zhao asked.
"The last broadcast mentioned the government setting up a temporary shelter at the sports stadium west of the city," Gu Xun mused. "But it's too far, and the road conditions are unknown."
"Then we fight our way there!" Jiang Jin perked up instantly. "We have special abilities—what have we got to fear?"
"Our abilities aren't limitless," Gu Xun looked at him, his tone serious. "Another battle like today's, and I might not hold out. Plus, the monsters out there... seem to be evolving."
That last sentence sent a chill through both Lu Zhao and Jiang Jin. They recalled the mutant in the supermarket—far faster and stronger than ordinary zombies.
"We need more intelligence, and we need... more practiced coordination." Gu Xun's gaze swept over the two men once more, finally settling on Jiang Jin with pointed meaning. "Personal bravery won't get you far in the apocalypse."
Jiang Jin's expression shifted, and he opened his mouth to protest. But when he met Gu Xun's gaze—weary yet unwaveringly resolute—the words died on his lips. Instead, he ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
The night deepened.
The three took turns keeping watch. Lu Zhao was on the first shift, sitting by the doorway. He listened to the occasional faint sounds outside, feeling the wind-element energy slowly recovering within him, yet his thoughts drifted far away.
He recalled the water curtain Gu Xun had instantly conjured to shield him from the mutated creatures, remembered the pallor on his face after overexertion, and the quiet praise he'd offered him. Truth be told, without Gu Xun, he and Jiang Jin might have perished in the initial chaos or just now in the supermarket.
Then there was Jiang Jin's possessive gaze and volatile temper. Fear still lingered, but it seemed... mixed with something else. A hint of subtle understanding for Gu Xun's predicament?
When Jiang Jin rose to take his shift, he saw Lu Zhao's profile, gazing out the window with a complex expression. Jiang Jin frowned but said nothing, simply taking his place and sitting down silently. A tiny flame flickered on his knuckle in the darkness, casting an uncertain light on his impenetrable face.
In the dormitory, Gu Xun appeared to have fallen asleep, his breathing steadying.
Yet the undercurrents churning within the three hearts ran deeper than the night outside. The path ahead depended not only on external dangers but also on the fuse within this confined space, ready to ignite at any moment.
Each of them retreated to their corners, lost in thought.
Outside, the world was falling apart. Inside, three young men prepared to step into the unknown—bound by powers they barely understood, and a bond that might not survive the journey.