C8 When He Saw the News on the Internet, He Felt a Strong Desire to Kill.

While Sun Meng busied herself with cooking, Tang Bing thoroughly scoured all four or five floors.

In the process, he dispatched three survivors who had become zombies after drinking tainted water.

Accumulating 100 experience points, he leveled up to level 2 and earned five skill points.

Upon examining the skill panel, Tang Bing decided to forgo learning creation technology for now. His priority was to bolster his own physical abilities! With scarce resources in the early stages, only a robust physique could ensure survival in this perilous post-apocalyptic world.

As a construction worker accustomed to earning his keep through strenuous labor, Tang Bing had great confidence in his strength. He wasn't quite a super strongman, but he was significantly stronger than the average person. His strength was sufficient to cleave a zombie's skull with a fire axe.

Agility, however, was his shortcoming. Had his reflexes been quicker, he wouldn't have sustained injuries from zombies in the elevator and within buildings.

Tang Bing's base agility was a mere 5 points, with the skill panel offering the chance to increase this attribute up to 100 levels. Each skill point could be traded for a one-level boost in agility, granting an additional point to the attribute.

In essence, with enough skill points, Tang Bing could push his agility to level 100! Coupled with his innate attributes, he would possess a total agility of 105 points!

He couldn't fathom the swiftness of 105 points of agility, but it was sure to be unimaginable!

After much deliberation, he invested all five skill points. His agility attribute shot up from 5 to 10 points, effectively doubling it!

Yet, post-upgrade, he detected no peculiar sensations. It was as if nothing had changed at all.

Surely the system wasn't deceiving him?

Pondering briefly, Tang Bing decided to put his new speed to the test with a sprint.

Positioned at one end of the corridor, he dashed at full tilt towards the opposite side.

The experience was transformative!

Previously, Tang Bing's running pace wasn't so swift. Now, the wind whistled past his ears, and in a flash, he reached the end of the fifth-floor corridor. The sensation of the wind chasing him was exhilarating! His reaction time had also improved, becoming quicker and more nimble. Where he once might have crashed into the wall, now he could effortlessly brake and stabilize his stance.

Indeed, his speed and reflexes had doubled, and a thrill of excitement spread across Tang Bing's face.

The next level-up required 150 experience points. If he continued to progress at this rate, maxing out all attributes, he would become a veritable superhuman, possessing strength, agility, and stamina beyond the reach of ordinary people. Zombies wouldn't stand a chance at catching him!

Not to mention the various spoils he'd gain from slaying monsters, including weapons, gear, crafting materials, medicine, and food!

This mysterious game system was incredibly potent! With it at his disposal, Tang Bing felt he could achieve great things in this apocalypse.

Back on the sixth floor, the aroma of cooking vegetables filled the air.

Sun Meng was still diligently at work in the kitchen, oblivious to Tang Bing's return. It wasn't until he unlocked and opened the kitchen door that she realized, exclaiming, "Ah! You're back?"

"Yes!" Tang Bing nodded, entering the kitchen with two bottles of soda and several bags of chips. "There wasn't much food in the hospital, so I managed to find just this."

He was understating the truth; these were only a fraction of his loot. His virtual backpack was actually brimming with an astonishing variety of food.

Sun Meng didn't question him, simply glancing at the food he'd brought and smiling as she continued to cook. "Nice! I'm glad we have drinks, and I really like chips. Could you watch the stove for me while I serve these dishes?"

"Sure!" Tang Bing promptly took her place by the stove as Sun Meng cheerfully arranged the savory dishes on a nearby table.

Once Sun Meng had set the table, she scampered back, beaming, "All done! I've got this now. You can go ahead and eat something!"

"Can we really finish all this food?" Tang Bing asked, concerned about waste.

"It's fine!" Sun Meng giggled, a bit sheepishly. "I'm just so hungry! Let me have a full meal today, and I promise to conserve from here on out."

Tang Bing wasn't worried, knowing his virtual backpack held ample supplies. As he turned, he noticed Sun Meng wearing the green scarf he'd discarded and a fetching red short-sleeved shirt.

He was momentarily taken aback, having been preoccupied with the stove and missing her wardrobe change.

"How do I look?" Sun Meng twirled, catching Tang Bing's gaze. "Pretty, right? I just found it over there!"

"You're not worried it was worn by a zombie?" Tang Bing asked with a deadpan expression.

"No way!" Sun Meng replied with a smile, "The clothes and scarf are spotless—I've checked them thoroughly. Plus, they're clearly brand new. If a zombie had worn them, they'd be blood-soaked and in tatters! Let's switch it up, switch it up! I'll keep an eye on the last batch of soup; it's almost ready. Why don't you step out and grab a bite?"

"Got it!" Tang Bing nodded and headed out.

"Hold on!" Sun Meng called out to him suddenly, passing him her phone.

"What's up?" Tang Bing looked at her, confused.

"Could you charge it for me? It's about to die," Sun Meng said with a grin, pulling out a charger from her other pocket and handing it over as well. "Who knows when we'll be living without power? Might as well make the most of it now! And your phone—do you still have it? Charge it up if you can. It's a good idea to check the news online, stay updated on what's happening."

Tang Bing accepted her phone and charger, leaving the kitchen for the dining area. He plugged in the charger and set her phone aside.

He then connected his own phone to charge.

"What's the Wi-Fi password here?" he asked, powering on his phone.

Sun Meng rattled off a string of numbers and letters. After Tang Bing entered them, he successfully connected to the hospital's Wi-Fi network.

Upon opening the browser, he found most sites were down with a 404 error. "You said there was internet access, right? Why can't I connect to anything?"

"Try the Central News Network," Sun Meng suggested, not even glancing up. "Most local news sites are probably shut down by now. Half their staff have likely turned into zombies—how could they keep things running? Still, some sites might be hanging on. You might get lucky and find something."

Tang Bing navigated to the Central News Network and, sure enough, got through. But the site was unrecognizable from the one he remembered. The news page was devoid of its usual categories, now solely focused on apocalyptic updates, organized by domestic regions and cities.

He selected his current city, A City, and a prominent message caught his eye: "The military in the southern part of A City is holding back the zombie onslaught, creating a secure haven. We have ample food and water, and over a thousand armed soldiers stand guard. Nearly three thousand survivors have already found refuge here. Search and rescue teams patrol the area daily. If you see this message, bring whatever supplies you can and join us! In these harsh times, we humans must band together to fight the zombie threat and forge a new world of our own..."

The message was stirring. Had Tang Bing not acquired the game system, had he not been preoccupied with thoughts of Qin Mengyao, he would have rushed there in search of protection.

But he had no such intention now. Confirming whether Qin Mengyao was alive or dead at the Bluestar Branch was his top priority.

Beyond the shelter's announcement, there were pleas from survivors across A City—calls for teaming up to improve chances of survival, messages to friends and family sharing locations for potential reunions, and desperate requests for military rescue.

One particular message made Tang Bing's eyes light up: "Survivors at A City's Bluestar Branch need assistance. Is there any military or police nearby, or anyone who can lend a hand? We're trapped in a building, short on food and water." The message was from Zhang Tao, the very person Tang Bing despised. He was relieved to know Zhang Tao was still alive—there was a score to settle.

Yet, Tang Bing's primary concern was Qin Mengyao's status. Was she safe? Had she become one of the undead?

After a moment's thought, Tang Bing responded anonymously: "I'm the military officer in charge. How many survivors are with you? Please upload all their details so I can register them. Once I verify the information, we'll organize the rescue."

He was desperate for news of Qin Mengyao and eager for revenge on Zhang Tao and his cronies, so he didn't hesitate to fabricate the story.

The other side took the bait, and within minutes, they uploaded the names, ages, and roles of all the survivors.

"Qin Mengyao!" There she was, the woman he'd silently loved for over four years.

She was alive, and a weight lifted from his heart.

Zhang Tao, Zhao Dali, and Jiaang Hefei—the trio of scoundrels—were also among the living. Perfect. Tang Bing resolved to thoroughly search the hospital building today, stock up on medical supplies, and then head straight for the Bluestar Branch the next day.

But first, he needed to strategize how to deal with Zhang Tao and his henchmen. They had nearly beaten him to death before the apocalypse; surely, they were expecting retribution. Now, in this lawless new world, nothing would hold him back.

A dark intent flickered in Tang Bing's eyes, fueled by the deep-seated grudge he harbored within.