Chapter 47: Unexpected Encounters and a Desperate Fight

Having gained experience from the premonition scenes, Qiao Xia and Li Lin Guan’s speed in collecting food significantly increased.

In less than five minutes, they had already emptied all the desk compartments in Class One of their hidden provisions.

When Li Lin Guan saw the bulging bag of food he was carrying, his expression was a sight to behold.

He felt that the surprises Qiao Xia brought him were endless, keeping him in a constant state of shock.

‘What exactly does Qiao Xia do in class normally?’

‘He can even uncover a few candies hidden in someone’s textbook; his observational skills are truly unparalleled!’

[We’ve collected enough; we can head back now.]

Qiao Xia hadn’t anticipated such a swift collection either.

He glanced at the time displayed on his wristwatch: only three minutes remained until the Red-Eyed Patient would appear at the classroom door.

A sudden thought struck Qiao Xia: he could simply leave with Li Lin Guan ahead of schedule.

This way, they wouldn’t have to confront the Red-Eyed Patient directly.

His previous inclination to acquire a weapon and eliminate the Red-Eyed Patient stemmed from his own tragic death in the premonition.

That experience had instinctively made him believe in striking first, yet he had overlooked the option of avoidance.

Qiao Xia fervently hoped that the fruit knife he had just acquired would never need to be used.

He wished it would remain untouched today!

With this thought, Qiao Xia didn’t delay further.

He quickly gestured twice to Li Lin Guan, and the two swiftly exited the Class One classroom door, heading towards the classroom where the Ye Dafeng brothers were located.

They encountered no Red-Eyed Patients along the way, which allowed Qiao Xia to breathe a sigh of relief.

Given a choice, he had no desire to fight the unkillable Red-Eyed Patients.

Such a confrontation could very well cost him his life on the spot.

Li Lin Guan, walking beside Qiao Xia, didn’t dwell on such thoughts.

Upon seeing that the Ye Dafeng brothers were safe and sound, and that both held bulging backpacks, Li Lin Guan was extremely pleased.

He knew their expedition had been quite fruitful.

‘The younger brothers on the rooftop won’t have to starve anymore.’

‘As for everyone else… hah, if they want food, they can go find it themselves. No one’s stopping them!’

‘They tried so desperately to stop us from coming down for food, insisting we wait for military rescue… Fine, then let them wait. We’ll see what they end up waiting for.’

Though Li Lin Guan typically preferred to let his fists do the talking, he wasn’t unintelligent.

After observing from the rooftop for half a day yesterday, he hadn’t seen a single police car, only the constant tragedies unfolding below.

The Red-Eyed contagion was spreading with alarming speed, infecting someone in less than ten minutes.

Such a rapid pace made containment impossible.

‘Under these circumstances, what did that signify?’

‘Rescue was out of the question!’

‘Now, they could only rely on themselves, not expect others to save them.’

Staying on the rooftop indefinitely was not a long-term solution.

Li Lin Guan intended to use this food-gathering expedition to gain experience, which would later aid his escape from the school and allow him to check on his family.

If his younger brothers downstairs were willing, they could follow him, forming a small group to survive the current chaotic situation.

[Brother Li, we found a lot of food, and even a case of mineral water!]

Seeing that Qiao Xia and Li Lin Guan were also safe, the Ye Dafeng brothers quickly gestured.

They then revealed a full case of water from behind them.

Upon seeing the case of water, Qiao Xia’s heart swelled with joy, knowing that their biggest challenge had now been resolved.

While he had found plenty of edibles in Class One, the other beverages only made one thirstier, unlike mineral water.

‘At this point, just having something to drink is good enough; why be picky?’

Nevertheless, the Ye Dafeng brothers had given Qiao Xia a pleasant surprise.

He immediately raised his hand, gesturing for them all to return to the rooftop.

They had been out for about half an hour, encountered no danger, and gained a substantial haul.

This was already an excellent outcome!

Of course, Qiao Xia’s eagerness to return was still driven by his apprehension of encountering the Red-Eyed Patient from his premonition.

[Let’s go, let’s go! We’ll have a good drink once we’re back.]

Li Lin Guan was also delighted by the sight of the mineral water.

After patting Ye Dafeng’s shoulder in encouragement, he didn’t linger but headed towards the stairs they had used to come down.

Although he had been the one to suggest coming down for food, it didn’t mean Li Lin Guan was foolish enough to actively leave a safe zone for dangerous exploration.

‘Unless forced, who would willingly do such a thing!’

[Outcome Reversal function activated. Limited to three uses within 24 hours. Would you like to use it?]

However, at that very moment, a strange voice suddenly echoed.

Qiao Xia froze for a moment.

Seeing no immediate danger ahead, he decisively turned his head to look behind him.

What he saw was a powerfully built Red-Eyed Patient, its long black hair matted with blood.

In one hand, it wielded a towering iron hammer, which it held aloft with apparent ease.

The Red-Eyed Patient’s blood-red eyes stared directly at the four of them.

Its other hand clutched a half-eaten thigh, from which fresh crimson blood continuously dripped, forming a small puddle on the floor.

Qiao Xia’s sudden turn prompted the other three to quickly look back as well.

They wondered what had startled Qiao Xia so abruptly.

Then, upon seeing the Red-Eyed Patient that had suddenly appeared, Li Lin Guan and the other two froze in shock.

‘Holy hell, where did this guy, who clearly has off-the-charts combat power, silently emerge from?!’

Not only were Li Lin Guan and the other two dumbfounded, but Qiao Xia himself had a string of curses he wasn’t sure whether to utter.

He utterly failed to comprehend where this muscular Red-Eyed Patient had sprung from.

Observing its overalls, which were clearly not a high school student’s uniform, Qiao Xia could rule out the possibility of a student suddenly mutating.

‘It must have come in from outside the school…’

Had he known they would encounter such a formidable opponent, Qiao Xia felt he should have stayed in the classroom.

Even a duel with the unarmed Red-Eyed Patient would have been infinitely preferable to facing this muscular one wielding a hammer.

However, just as Qiao Xia was silently regretting his choices, he noticed three more Red-Eyed Patients emerging from behind the muscular one.

They shuffled forward with stiff, dragging steps, heading towards the four of them.

One of them, seemingly unable to resist the lure of fresh flesh, quickened its pace.

It soon overtook the muscular Red-Eyed Patient, rushing to the front.

The muscular Red-Eyed Patient let out a furious roar.

With a single swing of its iron hammer, it utterly crushed the head of the Red-Eyed Patient that had dared to run ahead.

A splash of red and white immediately splattered across the pristine white wall.

This act created a considerable commotion, which would likely draw other Red-Eyed Patients soon.

Seeing this, Qiao Xia sighed.

He knew there was no avoiding this fight.

He could only hope his ‘cheat’ ability would prove powerful enough.