Chapter 700: The Gates Must Open

"You wanted proof," Chu Miao said. "It is on its way."

The frightened voices outside Red Maple Base grew louder.

Several survivors began pounding on the gate while demanding to be released. Others hurried back toward the inner district, hoping to collect more food or warn their families.

Zhou Qiang glanced at the crowd before turning to Ye Xuan. "How many zombies are moving?"

"At least forty-three thousand," Ye Xuan replied. "However, more groups were still arriving when the horde began moving."

"And you expect me to believe that your people counted every zombie from a distance?"

"No," Ye Xuan said calmly. "You can remain here and count them yourself when they arrive."

Zhou Qiang’s expression worsened.

One of the ability users standing behind him stepped forward. "Leader Zhou, we should send scouts northwest. If the report is true, we need to prepare the walls."

Zhou Qiang turned sharply. "Are you questioning my decision?"

The man hesitated before lowering his head. "No. I am only saying that we should confirm the situation."

"You no longer have time to confirm it," Chu Miao told them. "The horde will reach this base in less than five hours. If you send scouts now, they will meet the zombies halfway and probably lead them here faster."

Zhou Qiang looked at her coldly. "Then what do you suggest?"

"Open the gate."

"That is impossible."

"It isn’t. Your guards only need to move the locking mechanism."

Some of the soldiers behind Chu Miao lowered their heads.

Zhou Qiang stared at her. "If thirty thousand people rush outside at once, they will block the road. The panic alone could kill hundreds."

"Then organize the evacuation."

"Where will they go?"

Ye Xuan answered, "City A has prepared a temporary camp at the military outpost. The elderly, children, injured survivors, and ordinary people will leave first. Ability users and armed guards can remain to defend the base until the evacuation is complete."

Zhou Qiang gave a short laugh. "So that was your plan. You want to empty my base and take everyone to City A."

Gu Fan stepped forward. "Do you think we traveled all this way because City A lacks residents?"

Red Maple Base might have thirty thousand survivors, but City A and the Chu Sect already protected far more people. Accepting another thirty thousand would place greater pressure on their food, housing, and medical supplies.

They had come because those lives mattered, not because City A needed more laborers.

Zhou Qiang ignored him and looked at the survivors still gathered outside the gate. "Everyone will return to their homes. The base guards will handle the situation."

No one moved.

The elderly woman holding the little girl’s hand gathered her courage and asked, "Are you going to let us leave?"

"No one is leaving until the situation has been confirmed."

"You said there wasn’t a zombie horde," someone shouted from the crowd.

Another man raised his voice. "If you don’t believe the warning, why did you lock the gate?"

The questions came from every direction.

Zhou Qiang’s guards tightened their grips on their weapons as the crowd became increasingly restless.

The metal covering Zhou Qiang’s arms spread to his shoulders. "Anyone who creates disorder during an emergency will be detained."

The survivors quieted down, but their fear didn’t disappear.

Chu Miao looked at the armed guards above the gate. Most appeared uncomfortable. They had families inside the base too. Even if they obeyed Zhou Qiang, they could not be completely unaffected by the news of the approaching horde.

She took out the wooden sect token that Commander Shen had given her and raised it where everyone could see.

"Red Maple Base has received three warnings. Your leader refused to prepare, and he prevented survivors from leaving after hearing about the danger. City A will not force anyone to evacuate. However, anyone who wants to leave can travel with us to the military outpost."

Zhou Qiang’s face darkened. "This is my base. You cannot make decisions here."

Chu Miao put away the token. "Then make a useful decision yourself."

"You..."

Before Zhou Qiang could finish speaking, the ground trembled faintly.

The movement was so weak that most survivors didn’t notice it.

However, Chu Miao and Ye Xuan looked toward the northwest at the same time.

The horde was still far away, but tens of thousands of feet striking the ground could already be felt by those with powerful spiritual senses.

Ye Xuan’s communication device rang again.

The observation team leader reported, "Instructor Ye, the horde has divided into three groups. The largest group is using the main highway. The other two are moving around the eastern and western sides of the mountain."

Ye Xuan looked at the map on the device. "Are they taking separate routes toward the base?"

"Yes. If they continue in their current directions, they will surround Red Maple Base from three sides."

"What about the intelligent zombies?"

"Seven are traveling with the main group. We lost sight of the remaining four."

Ye Xuan’s eyes narrowed. "Withdraw from the observation point immediately. Do not use the mountain road."

"Yes, Instructor."

The connection ended.

Chu Miao looked at the walls. "The other four intelligent zombies may already be nearby."

Zhou Qiang finally lost some of his confidence. "Why would they come ahead of the horde?"

"To destroy your escape routes, interfere with your defenses, or enter the base before the attack," Ye Xuan replied.

Several guards exchanged uneasy looks.

One of them hurried toward Zhou Qiang and spoke quietly. "Leader, two patrol teams haven’t returned. We lost contact with them an hour ago."

Zhou Qiang turned on him. "Why wasn’t I informed?"

"We thought the communication equipment had failed."

"Both teams at the same time?"

The guard didn’t answer.

Zhou Qiang looked toward the open road beyond the convoy.

It was already dark, and the ruined buildings along the highway seemed far more threatening than they had a few minutes earlier.

Chu Miao extended her spiritual sense over the surrounding area.

It passed through the outer district, swept across the walls, and moved beyond the abandoned buildings.

She found the first intelligent zombie crouched inside a drainage tunnel less than a kilometer from the base.

The second and third were moving through a damaged residential district. Both wore torn human clothing, and one had concealed its gray skin beneath a hood and gloves.

The fourth was missing.

Chu Miao expanded her search and swept through Red Maple Base itself.

Thousands of frightened survivors had gathered in the streets. Some were packing their belongings, while others argued with guards stationed near the inner district.

She passed over warehouses, homes, workshops, and the administrative building.

Then she stopped.

A man wearing the uniform of a Red Maple guard was walking through the power station. His movements appeared normal, but his body was cold and there was no heartbeat in his chest.

He carried a canvas bag.

Inside it were several crude explosives.

"I found the fourth one," Chu Miao said. "It is already inside."

Zhou Qiang stared at her. "Where?"

"The power station."

"How could you possibly know that?"

Chu Miao looked at him. "You can question me after your base still has electricity."

Zhou Qiang turned to the captain beside him. "Contact the power station."

The captain raised his communication device and called the guards stationed there.

No one answered.

He tried again.

The result remained the same.

Zhou Qiang’s face changed completely.

"Send a team there now."

"There isn’t enough time." Chu Miao glanced at Ye Xuan. "Ah Xuan, could you handle the ones outside?"

Ye Xuan nodded. "Be careful."

"You too."

Before Zhou Qiang could ask what they intended to do, Chu Miao disappeared.

The people near the entrance froze.

A second later, Ye Xuan vanished as well.

Zhou Qiang looked at the empty space where the couple had been standing. "Where did they go?"

Pei Ming answered, "To fix the problem you claimed didn’t exist."

Inside the power station, the disguised zombie had already opened the canvas bag.

It removed one explosive and placed it beside the facility’s main control system. The explosives weren’t powerful enough to destroy the entire station, but they could damage the equipment and throw the base into darkness.

The zombie reached for the ignition device.

A hand caught its wrist.

It turned its head and found Chu Miao standing beside it.

The intelligent zombie’s eyes widened. "Human..."

"That is an impressive observation."

The zombie opened its mouth to release a warning roar.

Chu Miao tightened her fingers and crushed its wrist before it could make a sound. She struck its chest with her other palm and sent spiritual energy through its body.

The zombie flew backward and struck the wall.

Before it could recover, golden-red flames spread over its body.

It tried to suppress the fire with its ability, but the flames passed through its defenses and burned directly into its crystal core.

The zombie collapsed within seconds.

Chu Miao put the explosives into her space before examining the bodies of four guards hidden behind a generator.