C95 When They Went out to Search in the Rain, the Sound of Gunshots Suddenly Appeared.(1)

The rain had let up a bit the next day, but it was still relentless. Liang Hui, having taken her medicine the previous night and under Sun Meng's attentive care, had fully recovered.

Outside, the streets were soaked as zombies shuffled about in the rain, drawn by the blaring car alarms.

"Bing, what's on the agenda for today?" Sun Meng whispered, peering out at the unyielding rain.

Tang Bing glanced at Liang Hui, lost in thought post-chestnut indulgence, and then at Zhao Dagang, who had covertly slid his portion to her. There was a hint of harmony between them now. Liang Hui's demeanor toward Zhao Dagang had softened since her illness the night before; she wasn't as curt as she used to be.

"Bing?" When Tang Bing didn't respond, Sun Meng gently nudged his arm.

He turned, locking eyes with Sun Meng, who quickly looked down, directing her question to his chest, "Bing, what are we doing today? Do you have any tasks for us?"

Tang Bing mused to himself, 'Are you speaking to my chest?' But she'd been acting this way for a couple of days, and he'd grown accustomed to it. "I mentioned yesterday, there's no work planned for today! This rain looks like it's going to last a while, so it's best we don't move just yet. But stay sharp; we could depart at any moment! If you're bored, you can play cards, snack, chat, or even read. I brought back some books yesterday and left them in the car—novels, comics, a bit of everything."

"Oh!" Sun Meng stole glances at Tang Bing's eyes, only daring when he wasn't looking her way. "Then why not join us for a game, Bing?"

"Me? I'll pass," Tang Bing shook his head. "I need a short break, then I'm heading out."

"What? You're going out in this weather?" Sun Meng's mouth fell open in surprise. "You shouldn't! Bing, you've been pushing yourself non-stop, always out in the thick of it. Why not take a break and relax with everyone today? They say the best productivity comes from a balance of work and rest... Ah!"

She stealthily watched Tang Bing speak, and when she noticed his gaze shift toward her, she panicked and quickly looked away, inadvertently dropping the bowl of chestnuts to the floor. She let out a startled cry and crouched down to gather the shattered pieces and scattered nuts.

Tang Bing instinctively bent down to help, but to his surprise, their hands met, and he inadvertently grasped hers.

He paused, taken aback by the unexpected encounter.

Sun Meng shivered and swiftly withdrew her hand, stammering, "S-Sorry! Bing, I'll clean this up right away."

Tang Bing was initially surprised, then thought her reaction was a bit much.

Was a simple touch of hands really such a big deal? It was as though she thought my hand was infected with a virus, the way she pulled away so quickly! Do they really see me as that frightening?

Sure, I've taken many lives, but I've never turned on my own teammates, have I?

Feeling irked, Tang Bing stood up and said firmly, "You clean up! I'm heading out, and make sure everyone else stays put at home!"

Sun Meng sneaked a peek at Tang Bing, noticing his sudden irritation. What's gotten into him? Could he be angry over a broken bowl? That seemed unlikely.

Oh! Did he remember to take an umbrella or a raincoat? He shouldn't be going out in the rain, should he?

She hurriedly rose and followed him, only to see that Tang Bing had already grabbed an umbrella from seemingly nowhere. He unlocked the door and stepped outside.

"Really... Where does Bing keep his stuff? It always just appears out of the blue. So weird!" Sun Meng mused, her eyes clouded with bewilderment.

Tang Bing left the factory, umbrella in hand, braving the streets.

The rain wasn't torrential, but the wind was strong, rendering the umbrella nearly useless. His pants were soaked from the knees down in no time.

The sensation was uncomfortable, but he wasn't about to turn back now.

Zombies were sparse in the area, mostly drawn away by the car alarms on the neighboring streets, making it easier for him to go unnoticed.

He continued down the street toward the supermarket, passing a four-story building that seemed to be in decent shape.

Due to the inclement weather, he had no intention of venturing too far. Being close to the factory meant he could easily head home if the rain intensified. Plus, with the factory just around the corner, he'd be the first to know if anything went awry and could rush back in no time.

The house's door was locked, yet in these circumstances, locks were hardly effective.

Tang Bing could have easily smashed through the door with his fire axe, but having crafted a grappling hook the night before, he was eager to test out his new gadget.

"How does this thing work?" Tang Bing pulled the grappling hook from his virtual backpack and quickly figured out how to use it after a brief examination.

Holding the coiled rope in one hand and the lower part of the hook in the other, he swung the hook lightly with his right hand, making it spin, then looked up at the second-floor balcony.

With a swift motion, he tossed the hook upward, and it snagged the balcony's sturdy iron railing with precision.

He gave it a firm tug to ensure it was secure.

Gripping the rope tightly, Tang Bing stepped onto the wall and ascended rapidly. The rope made it a breeze to reach the second-floor balcony without any hesitation.

Once on the balcony, he quickly stowed the grappling hook.

This tool was a game-changer! It would make scaling high-rises or steep inclines a breeze in the future—just hook on and climb with ease.

After scanning the surroundings from the balcony and seeing no issues, he pushed open the balcony door and stepped right into the second-floor room.

The door was unlocked, sparing him the trouble of breaking in.

The house appeared zombie-free, likely because the doors and windows had been secured, and it was unoccupied when the outbreak occurred.

Tang Bing conducted a thorough inspection of the second floor and found nothing amiss.

Assured of his safety, he began his search immediately.

The room adjacent to the balcony drew his attention instantly.

On the TV stand by the bed, there was a headlamp connected to a battery, seemingly brand new.

Tang Bing reached out, grabbed the headlamp, and flicked the switch. To his surprise, a brilliant beam of light pierced the darkness—the headlamp's battery was fully charged!

It was far brighter than any flashlight, and the battery promised a longer lifespan.

Naturally, he pocketed the valuable lighting tool without hesitation.

Next, he wielded a wrench to dismantle the large LCD TV on the wall, harvesting an array of parts and materials. He then slid open the drawers of the TV cabinet.

You've acquired a pair of red sunglasses!

You've acquired a pair of blue sunglasses!

You've acquired a silver necklace!

You've acquired a pearl necklace!

You've acquired a bulging wallet!

You've acquired a standard fruit knife!

You've acquired a camera!

You've acquired a pen!

You've acquired ink!

The drawer was filled with an assortment of odd items, leaving him somewhat underwhelmed.

The room's greatest treasure turned out to be a toolbox hidden under the bed, which contained several useful tools.

Wrench (Superior) - Attack 6, capable of inflicting damage, useful for repairing or reinforcing building materials, and dismantling machinery and home appliances.

Goat-Horn Hammer (Fine) - Attack 9, ideal for construction work.

Electric Saw Blade (Fine) - A crucial part for assembling an electric saw.

This superior-quality wrench was a significant upgrade from his previous one—its durability and efficiency in disassembly were unmatched!

He methodically stripped the room of its contents, leaving the wardrobe, bed, TV cabinet, and desk bare. The wood and other materials gleaned from the furniture were essential for Tang Bing's crafting endeavors.

Upon reaching the third floor, he continued his routine—rifling through drawers and stripping down the appliances and furniture, taking everything of value.

The furthest room on the third floor revealed a quaint study.

Inside, there was nothing but a desk, a chair, and a bookcase.

You've discovered the City A map!

Having obtained your first city map, the map function is now automatically unlocked!

You can now access the map via the virtual interface to pinpoint your current location and survey the nearby structures!

The map vanished from his hands in a flash, leaving Tang Bing momentarily taken aback.

He hastily summoned the system's virtual interface, located the map section, and tapped it.

"Shua!" A virtual display materialized before his eyes, showcasing the complete map of City A with a blinking red dot at its center—his current position.