Chapter 1123 - 1111: Rescue Old Xu Plan (9)

Chapter 1123: Chapter 1111: Rescue Old Xu Plan (9)

After handling the four-person team barricading the door, the subsequent tasks became much easier. The Survivor Squad split into two groups again, searching each room individually. However, before the operation began, Hu Xiaodong specially reminded everyone to be cautious of any sounds in the corridor when entering and exiting rooms to avoid another encounter like the one on the 7th floor.

Fortunately, there were no zombies like "Runners" this time, and even the number of "Pacers" had significantly decreased, likely because most were eliminated during the barricading battle on the 7th floor.

Once all the rooms were completely cleared, Hu Xiaodong led Tang Xiaoquan to select a room for setting up the audio source.

Meanwhile, Duan Chengwu and Wei Dazhuang continued to guard and monitor the corridor.

As the saying goes, familiarity breeds skill, with the previous two floors’ setup experience.

The Survivor team set up with ease. In no time, Hu and Tang completed their tasks.

Afterwards, Hu Xiaodong contacted Hua Biao who had been waiting for a long time.

"Hello, hello, Brother Hu, how are things on your side? Has the danger been eliminated?"

Just a moment ago, in a time of urgency, Duan Chengwu was brief when confirming locations with his brother, only mentioning minor troubles on their side and asking Hua Biao to refrain from contacting via radio for the time being.

But Hua Biao was not fooling around. Having served in the same squad with Duan Chengwu for years and having survived numerous missions together, he could easily sense the danger hidden in Duan Chengwu’s words.

Yet, driven by the circumstances, he was unable to ascertain the exact peril his brother encountered. This state of obscurity was indeed hard for Hua Biao to bear.

Upon hearing the urgency in the voice on the phone, Hu Xiaodong turned to glance at Tang Xiaoquan nearby, and with a faint smile, pressed the communication button: "Hey, Hua, it’s Hu Xiaodong here, the danger is eliminated, I repeat, the danger is eliminated, you don’t need to worry! Over!"

"Ah!" A man’s sigh of relief echoed through the radio waves.

Hua Biao felt truly relieved. On the side, Wang Qiang also relaxed a body that had been tensed for a long time.

"Is there anything you need?"

"As per usual, eighth floor, seventh window, how about it, can you see me?"

"Yes, very clearly!" With the telescope zoomed in, Hua Biao could easily see Hu Xiaodong at the eighth-floor window of "Kanghui Mansion."

"Good! What’s the situation outside the building? We are preparing to evacuate."

Not daring to be careless, Hua Biao raised the telescope again, using the high-altitude vantage to scan the exit route of the team returning, then replied: "All clear, the route is still the same, no changes, proceed with caution. Over!"

After receiving the signal, Hu Xiaodong immediately called for Duan Chengwu and Wei Dazhuang to gather.

Once the four reunited, Hu Xiaodong briefly explained the objectives of the subsequent operations, also reminding everyone to be extra careful when descending the building to avoid zombie attacks.

Because, given the commotion made earlier, it’s hard to say that zombies intrigued by the noise wouldn’t be lurking in the stairwell.

Thus, if anyone let their guard down, they would only be inviting trouble.

Retreating via the original route, after the eighth floor, Hu Xiaodong once again tied a secure knot with hemp rope on the eighth-floor safety door as before.

After that, the team stepped downstairs and didn’t encounter any zombies blocking the way even when near the ground level.

And rightly so, since although the ground floor wasn’t cleared when they arrived, it was tightly bound with hemp rope, making it impossible for any zombies inside to launch an attack even with intent.

Exiting the mansion, the survivors unanimously moved full-speed towards the base.

With Hua Biao as a natural high-ground lookout, the Survivor Squad’s actions were evidently smoother.

After a while, Hu Xiaodong and the team actually spotted the silhouette of the camp buildings.

Turning into an alley, they continued for about ten meters, where two cars blocking the gate appeared in the team’s line of sight.

Nothing much to say, Hu Xiaodong moved away the cars, allowing everyone to pass through and then returned them to their original positions.

After returning to the fifth-floor room, Hua Biao and Wang Qiang had already opened the door, waiting for a long time.

"Thank you, thank you, please hurry and come inside," Hua Biao welcomed the bloodstained team, imagining what they must have endured in the building previously.

"Come, come on, Qiang, quickly, quickly bring the heated water we prepared for everyone."

Anyway, there was plenty of water available outside, so the Survivor Squad didn’t have to worry too much about a shortage of water.

After cleaning themselves, everyone changed into clean clothes found in the room and gathered in the living room.

Before the crowd could rest for ten seconds, Hua Biao suddenly felt a vibration in his pocket—a message had arrived.

Fetching his mobile, indeed a new message appeared on the screen.

"There’s a message from Old Xu."

"Quickly, check what it says."

Opening it, Hua Biao scanned casually, then responded: "Nothing much, just checking on your situation."

"Oh, is that all?" exhaled Hu Xiaodong, thinking there might be some issues from Old Xu’s side: "If there’s nothing, let Old Xu know we’re fine too, and tell him not to worry. Oh, and, inform them that we’ve already set up the audio equipment, so soon we might take action, ask them to mentally prepare themselves in advance."

Hu Xiaodong knew the subsequent reminder was unnecessary, as trapped in a building, both Hua Biao and Lei Tong were experienced and capable beyond Hu Xiaodong’s skills, hence they were likely already prepared.

Indeed, upon receiving Hu Xiaodong’s message, the concise reply from Old Xu came with two words: "Understood!"

Ending the call, Xu Renjie pulled over a chair and sat down.

Soon, an indescribable fatigue enveloped him.

Yes! Old Xu was tired! Though he couldn’t witness what had happened across the building, although the team feedback responded all was fine, Old Xu, surviving in this post-apocalyptic world, knew all too well the hazards of building operations.

From the stalled time in the team’s building, it was certain they faced zombie attacks.

But luckily, he counted the number of people during their retreat and they matched the number of arrivals.

This slightly eased the heart Xu Renjie had held in suspense for so long.

Yet, this was only the first step of the operation, genuine danger lay ahead in the subsequent rescue.

Therefore, until the entire mission concludes, Xu Renjie’s heart would remain tense.

"Captain, what did Xiao Hu say, did he mention when to take action?"

Shaking his head, Old Xu replied plainly: "No! Mainly waiting on weather and road conditions, might take action anytime once suitable, we must remain prepared at all times during this period."

"Understood, no problem. Oh, by the way, Captain, you’ve been on guard all night without sleep since last night, and now Xiao Hu has actioned, what do you think..." glanced at the inner bedroom, at this point, the teenager had gotten up. Lei Tong gestured Old Xu to go rest.

"Alright then! I’ll go have a short nap, if anything comes up, call me."

With imminent action, the necessity of rest was undeniable, Old Xu wouldn’t waste his energy on pointless anxiety fueled by worry.