Chapter 20: Three Drones!

The next morning, Huang Ming was jolted awake by his alarm clock. He had set it for 6 a.m. the night before. At the same moment, Liu Shuang'er's eyelashes fluttered slightly—she too had been roused by the alarm. But there she was, coiled around Huang Ming like some serpent spirit, clinging tightly to him. 

Recalling her wild antics from the previous night, Huang Ming couldn't help but shake his head. He pried her limbs off him, got up, and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. He stretched, yawned, and pulled open the curtains. Outside, the sky was still a dull gray, with no hint of sunlight.

Huang Ming checked his phone and glanced at the group chat. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm, and his buddies had already been chatting away since 5 a.m. Most of them had eaten breakfast and were now gathered in the lobby, waiting for daybreak to start their mission.

Suddenly, Huang Ming thought of Li Chang'an. That fat guy better not have stumbled out of bed and joined them. He quickly sent a text: 

"Hey, fatso, you didn't go with them, did you?" 

"Relax, Ming! No way I'm moving today. I'm staying right here in bed." 

"Alright, get some rest then." 

It seemed yesterday's activities had really worn the guy out. He'd probably be lounging in bed all morning.

By then, Liu Shuang'er and Gu Anqing had finished washing up and emerged. Liu Shuang'er, her hair disheveled, looked radiant, while Gu Anqing seemed a bit off, her eyes casting a faintly resentful glance at Huang Ming. 

Huang Ming, sensing something, quickly averted his gaze and rubbed his nose awkwardly. 

"Uh, let's eat breakfast first. We'll check the situation outside afterward. It's still dark, so they haven't started yet." 

As he spoke, he laid out breakfast on the table: three bowls of century egg and lobster porridge, three fried dough sticks, three cups of vintage soy milk, a plate of pickled vegetables, and a dish of peanuts.

"Wow! If I weren't living this, I'd think I was dreaming. Even back in the day, I wouldn't dare eat like this for breakfast!" Gu Anqing stood by the table, her eyes wide, her throat moving as she stared at the spread.

Liu Shuang'er, now used to such luxuries, casually took her seat and started eating. Huang Ming sipped his vintage soy milk and joked with Gu Anqing, 

"Senior, don't just stand there. You'll need energy to help me make ammunition later. You haven't forgotten, have you?" 

"Of course not. It's just... this feels like a dream." 

As she spoke, Gu Anqing sat down and began eating, her reactions mirroring Liu Shuang'er's from before. 

"If we eat like this every day, you'll be living in a dream forever," Huang Ming teased. 

Gu Anqing didn't reply, quietly eating her breakfast. Huang Ming knew her mind was racing.

"By the way, do you remember yesterday, when we checked the area downstairs so carefully, but just as I was about to jump back into Building 10, a zombie popped out of nowhere? What do you make of that?" 

Liu Shuang'er and Gu Anqing were caught off guard by the question. They furrowed their brows, deep in thought. 

"Things are getting weirder by the day. I flew the drone around Building 10 multiple times yesterday and didn't spot a single zombie," Liu Shuang'er said, shaking her head. It was beyond her understanding. 

"According to physics, the drone's thermal imaging might not be 100% effective against zombies. That could explain why some slipped through," Gu Anqing offered after a moment of reflection. 

"That makes sense, Senior. But Chang'an and I also checked the area below the windows and didn't see anything suspicious. Unless..." Huang Ming trailed off, his thoughts stretching beyond logic and into the unknown. 

"Are you saying that zombie could turn invisible?" Liu Shuang'er interjected. 

Huang Ming sighed and shook his head. 

"I'm not sure. It's beyond what we know. If it had some ability, I'd guess it was more like a chameleon, blending into the darkness. Just a visual trick. I don't want to believe in something as absurd as invisibility." 

Liu Shuang'er and Gu Anqing felt a chill run down their spines, as if some monster were lurking behind them. 

"This is insane. Smart zombies, invisible zombies... it's a living nightmare out there," Gu Anqing muttered, munching on her fried dough stick and sipping her vintage soy milk. 

Having the girls around was a blessing. When problems arose, discussing them with others often led to clearer conclusions. Last night's mission had made Huang Ming realize that the outside world wasn't just filled with mindless zombies. There were other, more mysterious creatures lurking in the shadows. It was a stark reminder to stay vigilant—one misstep, and they could be done for.

As luck would have it, just as they finished breakfast and approached the window, the sky began to lighten. The guys in the lobby were gearing up to move out. 

"Each of you take a drone. Senior, you handle Building 5—you know it well. Shuang'er, you take Building 1. I'll track the guys heading to the cafeteria. We're bound to gather some crucial intel today." 

Huang Ming pulled out two more drones from his dimensional space. Liu Shuang'er and Gu Anqing's eyes lit up with excitement, eager to get started. 

Just as the three of them powered up the drones, commotion erupted downstairs. Wang Gang and Ma Tao led a group of 45 people. This time, Li Chang'an had heeded Huang Ming's advice and stayed behind. The group marched toward the cafeteria, with Huang Ming's drone trailing them from above. 

Wang Gang roared, 

"Take this, you bastard! I'll slice your head clean off!" 

Gripping a machete, he sprinted, leaped into the air, and kicked a zombie to the ground. In one swift motion, he brought the blade down on its skull. 

Huang Ming couldn't help but whistle at the sight. Liu Shuang'er and Gu Anqing rolled their eyes at him, focusing on their own drones. 

Wang Gang and his crew cleared out several more zombies along the way, with multiple people ganging up on each one. They reached the cafeteria without much trouble.