Purple Maple Tower

Additionally, all the windows in the house were sealed from the inside, casting a dim light over the room.

"Back then, for safety, the four of us slept together, keeping watch over one another. Unfortunately, now I am the only one left." As Matthew Long spoke, his expression darkened slightly.

Simon understood that Matthew Long had once shared this space with three others who had since been killed by the monsters, leaving him the sole survivor. Seeing the four beds, Simon's curiosity was piqued. "Brother Ding, were the four of you originally living in this building, or did some of you come from elsewhere like we did?"

Matthew Long replied, "We were all residents here. One lived on the thirtieth floor, I lived on the thirty-first, and the other two, a father and son, lived on the top floor. The room filled with supplies belonged to them."

Simon pondered this information.

"What's on your mind?" Matthew Long asked.

"My previous building had only thirty floors, and I was the sole survivor. Lily Grace's building was also thirty floors high. When the flood came, the only survivors were her and her father. Of course, her father later..." Simon trailed off, not wanting to upset Lily Grace with the mention of her father's death. Matthew Long nodded, understanding his implication.

"So, what does that signify?" Matthew Long inquired.

Simon continued, "This building has thirty-two floors, with three floors above water, resulting in four survivors. I wonder if higher buildings might have more survivors."

Matthew Long was taken aback, then nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. I recall that the Purple Maple Tower isn't far from here."

Simon nodded, "Yes, the Purple Maple Tower has thirty-eight floors. According to this pattern, when the flood came, at least eight floors would remain above water. There might be quite a few survivors there."

Simon knew the Purple Maple Tower, a prominent landmark in this area, located about two or three kilometers away. While this distance was trivial before the flood, it now seemed insurmountable given the treacherous, turbulent waters.

Matthew Long mused, "The Purple Maple Tower is roughly three kilometers from here. It's not too far, yet not close enough either. For someone like me who gets seasick, it feels like a death sentence. However, you're right; the Purple Maple Tower might harbor many survivors. If we can reach it, we might find a larger group to join, and there's strength in numbers."

Simon nodded. Ever since learning about the four survivors here, he had considered heading to the taller Purple Maple Tower. The main obstacle was the nearly three kilometers of dangerous water separating them.

The three then each found a bed to rest on, preparing for the evening hunt. The midday drink, combined with the newfound sense of safety in numbers, allowed Simon to sleep deeply and comfortably, a stark contrast to the past two days. He was eventually awakened by Matthew Long.

Simon opened his eyes to find Matthew Long standing beside his bed. On the adjacent bed, Lily Grace was sitting up, hugging a pillow with one hand and rubbing her eyes with the other, looking somewhat groggy.

A glance at the clock on the wall showed it was already past five in the afternoon; he had slept for a good three to four hours. "Did you hear that noise?" Matthew Long asked softly when he saw Simon awake.

Simon immediately became alert and whispered, "What's happening?"

Matthew Long replied, "It's nothing serious, just a few zombies. These zombies are relatively low-level and not much of a threat. Their behavior follows a certain pattern; the ones that come out during the day are generally weaker and fewer in number. The more dangerous creatures tend to appear at night. Of course, there are exceptions, but this is the general trend."

Simon knew that Matthew Long referred to the creatures as zombies, but in reality, they were corpse beasts. Matthew Long, without the ability to perceive sigils, was unaware of their true nature and continued to call them zombies.

Simon walked to the security door and peered through the peephole. Indeed, he saw a few corpse beasts staggering along the corridor, emerging from the staircase at the other end. They were slowly making their way toward his door, banging on the other doors as they passed.

"I remember you said the girl is still an ordinary person. These corpse beasts will be good practice for her," Matthew Long said as he retrieved a steel shovel from under the bed and slipped out the door.

Simon gestured to Lily Grace, who was still sitting on the bed. "Come over here."

Lily Grace, still a bit groggy from sleep, put down her pillow and walked over. Simon handed her the hammer he had previously used but no longer needed since acquiring an iron rod.

"Do I have to smash their heads again?" Lily Grace asked in a low voice, a hint of reluctance in her tone.

Simon knew she was hesitant but firmly said, "Remember, if you want to survive, you must do this."

Lily Grace pursed her lips and said nothing.

When Simon led her outside, five corpse beasts were already lying on the corridor floor. Matthew Long's steel shovel, a robust outdoor tool about a meter long, had proven quite effective. He had disabled the creatures by breaking their limbs, rendering them immobile but not dead. It was clear he intended the final blow for Lily Grace.

"Little girl, come here and finish these off," Matthew Long called as he moved toward the last standing corpse beast.

With his skill, Matthew Long easily dispatched the low-level creature. Simon watched as he swung the shovel, striking the beast's knee with a thud, causing it to collapse. He then swiftly disabled its limbs with brutal efficiency.

The corpse beast, devoid of pain, continued to writhe on the ground, its face expressionless and incapable of making a sound, reduced to a mere shell of its former menace.