TWP 13: Explosion

Their military fortress was established by the largest external bridge in Gowei City. This bridge had a dual carriageway, but only one side was opened for refugees to pass through, allowing the military to enter and exit Gowei City smoothly.

Gowei City was situated by the riverbank, having originally thrived as a major canal thoroughfare. Although it was no longer an industrial powerhouse, it remained the second-largest industrial city in New Wozhou. The city was separated by the riverbank, with steep mountains behind it, and the only connections to other regions were through a series of bridges.

Perhaps this was why the epidemic in Gowei City had spread rapidly but could also be effectively controlled.

The virus had erupted in Gowei City for two days now. Even though only a day had passed, this terrifying strain of the virus had quickly infected the city.

They arrived at the bridge, preparing to enter Gowei City.

On the opposite side, evacuation efforts were still underway. The thoroughfare was jammed, filled with people trying to escape, the scent of food assaulting the senses of the zombies, and soldiers with desperate expressions on their faces attempting to rescue the fleeing populace. Gunfire and cries echoed in the air.

The desperate cries, the screams of women—these sounds, which could not be muffled even by bulletproof glass, seemed to pierce Lin You’s eardrums, simultaneously stabbing into his mind.

He irritably closed his eyes, his expression murky, unwilling to see the chaotic world outside the car window.

He couldn’t tell if he was dizzy or if it was his stomach pain making him feel nauseous; he couldn’t bear to hear the women’s cries, which truly made him feel out of control.

But the chaos outside was all his ‘masterpiece.’

He knew it, he knew it all.

The sky was a dull gray, with a fine drizzle falling continuously. As the car approached Gowei City, a foul stench wafted through the air.

Not long after they drove onto the bridge—

“Boom—!”

A deafening explosion erupted from behind them.

The bridge they had just crossed exploded, a cloud of dust obscuring their vision. The screams of the people intensified, accompanied by a strong ringing in their ears. Lin You turned back in shock, watching as the ground supporting the crowd began to collapse from the bridgehead…

Kai Yi was also startled by the sudden explosion, her emerald green eyes wide open, as if questioning whether it was just an illusion.

Lin You quickly reacted, kicking the driver’s seat forcefully, shouting like a soldier, “Hurry! Drive forward!”

The soldier was momentarily stunned, but after Lin You’s kick, he snapped back to reality, pressing the accelerator and charging ahead.

His hands gripped the steering wheel, trembling, but his training told him that if he let go now… they would all perish at the bottom of the valley.

The bridge began to crumble behind them, inching closer, and everyone could hear the sound of rolling stones plunging into the rushing stream, along with the desperate cries of people, each one like thunder.

People were pushing and screaming, trying to run towards Gowei City, but it was too crowded; they had no time to react, only able to pull one another along, continuously falling into the abyss.

The splashes outside—were they humans falling into the water or stones? Each person could not tell.

Originally, there was a high barbed wire fence separating the two lanes, and some even attempted to climb over it to cross the boundary, but they could only cling to the wire, falling together.

Kai Yi locked eyes with a man clinging to the barbed wire. His expression was a mix of fear and despair, his eyes filled with pleading as he looked at Kai Yi. He even had one hand gripping the wire and the other reaching towards her inside the car.

But just as he opened his mouth, he immediately fell into the abyss, still clutching the wire.

Another life extinguished before her eyes.

Kai Yi’s eyes widened, her lips turning pale, as she fell back weakly, collapsing into the passenger seat in a strange posture.

As if the bridge’s collapse wasn’t fast enough, more explosions followed behind their car.

“Boom—Boom—Boom—”

The deafening sounds of explosions continued from behind, shaking the car, the rising dust completely obscuring their view. Others could only hold their breath, hoping the soldier driving could keep going straight, anxiously praying for the car to move faster.

Just as they were about to drive off the bridge—

“Boom—!”

The final explosion struck just behind their vehicle, sending the car flying as if in a special effects movie, tumbling several times before landing on the roadside, crashing into the mountainside to finally stop.

Amid the violent shaking inside the car, Lin You could only clutch his stomach tightly, curling his body to avoid further injuries from the impacts, but due to the violent collision, he briefly lost consciousness.