C16 The Gas Station Stopped for a While, and Sun Meng Was Terrified.

Indeed, the city was overrun with zombies. As Tang Bing sped through the streets, the noise attracted hordes of them, surging toward the car like a tidal wave. Zombies on rooftops leaped off, plummeting to their deaths, while those inside buildings scrambled to find exits, eager to join the chase.

Tang Bing floored the accelerator, leaving the undead in the dust. Zombies were slow on their feet, no match for a speeding car. A few zombie dogs, however, were exceptionally fast, keeping pace with the vehicle and barking ferociously at Tang Bing and Sun Meng.

Sun Meng shivered with fear.

Using the rearview mirror, Tang Bing spotted the zombie dogs. He swerved sharply, crushing them under the car's wheels and dispatching the persistent creatures.

Once they had escaped the city center, the zombie population thinned. Some streets were so infested that plowing through was not an option. For safety's sake, Tang Bing opted for a longer route.

They drove past a gas station, noting it was nearly zombie-free. Tang Bing pulled over and said to Sun Meng, "I'm going to refuel. Stay in the car, okay?"

"Bing, I... I need to use the restroom," Sun Meng mumbled, embarrassed.

Tang Bing considered telling her to wait until they reached the Bluestar Branch, but seeing her discomfort, he relented. "Alright, follow me. I'll check it's safe first."

"Ah! You're going into the women's restroom?" Sun Meng gasped.

"Would you rather take a weapon and fend off zombies yourself?" Tang Bing raised an eyebrow.

"You lead the way," Sun Meng quickly conceded.

A few zombies, clad in gas station uniforms and casual tourist attire, spotted Tang Bing and charged. With his hospital battle experience, he wielded the fire axe with ease. Despite a bite to the shoulder, he eliminated the threat.

"Bing, you've been bitten again..." Sun Meng's voice quivered with concern. She knew her survival hinged on Tang Bing; she couldn't face the zombies alone.

"I'm fine," Tang Bing assured her, popping an antibiotic and a painkiller, washing them down with bottled water. "I've got meds for the infection. No worries."

Sun Meng watched Tang Bing struggle to bandage his shoulder. "Let me help," she offered.

Tang Bing could have managed, but to keep his system a secret from Sun Meng, he let her carefully wrap his wound.

After treating the injury, Tang Bing looted the zombies and led Sun Meng to the gas station restroom. He dispatched a few more undead inside, then, fire axe in hand, entered the women's restroom. He checked each stall for safety before telling Sun Meng, "Go ahead and use the restroom, then get straight back to the car."

"Okay!" Sun Meng waited for Tang Bing to leave before quickly handling her business.

Tang Bing considered refueling but decided to use the men's room first, just in case there were no stops ahead. After ensuring it was clear of zombies, he relieved himself.

Sun Meng was still in the restroom, so Tang Bing scoured the station's office for supplies, finding snacks and drinks. He also pocketed the fire axe and extinguisher from the wall.

"Bing!" Sun Meng emerged, looking relieved. "I'm done!"

"Get in the car," Tang Bing instructed, heading toward an outdoor vending machine.

"Bing, what are you doing?" Sun Meng asked curiously.

"We can't afford to pass up any supplies," Tang Bing replied, feeding bills into the vending machine and emptying it of drinks.

Sun Meng's eyes sparkled as she helped load the beverages into the car, admiringly saying, "Bing, you're so clever! I never would have thought of that!"

Tang Bing was at a loss for words. Was there really any need to think it over?

After clearing out the vending machine, Tang Bing ushered Sun Meng into the car and began refueling. He was on high alert the entire time, scanning the area for any sign of zombies. Letting his guard down wasn't an option; that would be a surefire way to meet an untimely end.

Fortunately, his luck held up. He finished refueling without a single zombie sighting and hurried back to the driver's seat. But then, he paused, stepped out of the car again, and headed toward the back of the gas station with a fire axe in hand.

"Bing, what's going on?" Sun Meng asked, confused, thinking they were finally on their way out.

"We'll need this car down the line," Tang Bing said as he closed the door behind him. "Stay put. I'm going to grab a barrel of gasoline to take with us!"

"Okay!" Sun Meng nodded obediently, settling into the passenger seat.

Once Tang Bing was out of sight, a wave of fear washed over Sun Meng, and she slid down, concealing herself under the seat to avoid any zombies that might pass by.

Inside the warehouse, Tang Bing was greeted by a mountain of oil barrels of various sizes. Delighted, he stashed them all into his virtual backpack—127 large barrels, 300 medium, and 523 small ones, taking up just three slots but offering a vast quantity of fuel.

With this stockpile, he wouldn't have to worry about gas for years to come. Still, he had to keep up appearances, so he carried two medium-sized barrels out of the warehouse and quickly made his way back to the car.

Sun Meng watched as Tang Bing loaded the barrels into the trunk. Once he was back in the driver's seat, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"What's the matter?" Tang Bing asked, noticing Sun Meng slumped over in her seat like a limp noodle.

"Nothing, nothing..." she stammered, straightening up with an embarrassed flush on her cheeks.

Without dwelling on it, Tang Bing buckled up, started the engine, and they left the gas station behind, heading toward the Bluestar Branch.

They drove on without encountering a single zombie. The road was likely too remote, sparing them from the usual traffic and pedestrians.

This rare tranquility allowed Tang Bing and Sun Meng to relax and savor the quiet moment.

Out of boredom, Sun Meng's gaze drifted to Tang Bing's injuries on his left leg and shoulder. He had been driving in silence, and she couldn't help but worry.

Tang Bing had assured her that he had antibiotics that could cure the zombie virus, preventing any transformation. But Sun Meng was skeptical. These zombies had come out of nowhere, descending from a meteorite that struck Earth. Tang Bing had been in the hospital at that time; how could he have access to such a cure?

It seemed like he was just trying to reassure her. Unless he was an alien, it was impossible for him to have an antidote for this sudden outbreak.

This meant that Tang Bing, already bitten, was likely infected. Sun Meng knew from her online searches that the virus could take effect within minutes or days, depending on the individual. But most turned within two to three hours.

Considering it had been about two hours since they left the hospital, and they had spent a good half-hour at the gas station, Tang Bing's time could be running out. If he turned, what would she do? Could she really make it to the military sanctuary on her own if she managed to escape a zombified Bing?

The more she thought about it, the more her fear grew. She trembled, instinctively leaning against the car door, gripping the handle tightly. If the door hadn't been locked, she might have been tempted to jump out.

Initially, Tang Bing didn't notice her distress, but when he caught a glimpse of her state out of the corner of his eye, he asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'm scared..." Sun Meng's voice quivered.

"There's not a zombie in sight. What's there to be scared of?" Tang Bing glanced at her before focusing back on the road.

"I'm scared of you..." Sun Meng admitted. "You've been bitten. If you turn, I don't know if I can get away. And even if I do, if you die, I doubt I'll make it to the military sanctuary alone."

Tang Bing was dumbfounded. He had told her about the antibiotics, but she didn't believe him.

Then again, he thought, he might not believe it either if their roles were reversed. Without knowing about his mysterious system, how could anyone believe that an ordinary person had a cure for a virus that came from outer space?

He couldn't blame Sun Meng for her distrust. In such a situation, anyone would have the same doubts.

After giving it some thought, he decided to temporarily park the car and then turned to Sun Meng, saying, "Move to the back seat."

"Ah?" Sun Meng was momentarily taken aback. "Why?"

"Even though I'm fine and there's no chance I'll turn into a zombie," Tang Bing explained, "I want you to feel safe. So please, take a seat in the back. That way, if the unthinkable does happen, you'll have enough time to get away. Here's a spare key for the car; in case of an emergency, you can let yourself out. Does that put your mind at ease?"

Hearing his words, Sun Meng felt a surge of gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Bing..."