Apocalypse: After Being Reborn, I Stocked Up on All Supplies

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Cruel Enough!

Shallow Bay had become a perfectly secure and enclosed space.

Now, Jiang Yan was about to leave this safe area alone.

On her way down the stairs, she encountered a few scattered people carrying basins and thin quilts.

Jiang Yan’s outfit made her look like a large, moving, conspicuous package.

However, everyone was already hot and tired, their faces red, necks thick, and breaths heavy.

Despite their surprise, they were too exhausted to say anything, only managing to give her a thumbs up as they gasped for breath.

Perhaps because she had spent a long time in Space these past days, Jiang Yan felt her physical condition had considerably improved.

Although she was wearing slightly heavy insulation clothes and a hat,

the air around her was stuffy and hot.

Yet when she descended the stairs, it didn’t seem too uncomfortable.

However, when she encountered people entering, she deliberately walked slowly.

Half an hour later, Jiang Yan finally reached the first floor.

It was only around five o’clock at that moment, but in the garden outside, she could already see Blood Mosquitoes occasionally flying by.

After the appearance of the Blood Mosquitoes, Jiang Yan specifically searched for scientific information about them.

Normally, male mosquitoes live only one to three weeks, while females can live up to one or two months.

After mutation, the lifespan of these mosquitoes increased overall.

But one thing hadn’t changed:

Female mosquitoes must feed on blood for their ovaries to develop and to reproduce.

Experts claimed that only when the temperature exceeds seventy degrees Celsius could Blood Mosquitoes potentially self-destruct.

This likely meant that at seventy degrees, the external sources of blood for female mosquitoes, whether humans or other animals, would all be dead.

The remaining humans and animals had already taken good cover.

Gradually, lacking food and conditions to reproduce, the mosquitoes would finally starve to death.

However, this process seemed somewhat lengthy.

Jiang Yan didn’t think too much, opened the door, and quickly headed towards the residential complex entrance. @@novelbin@@

The air was filled with visibly rolling heat waves.

The plastic road in the garden had deformed due to the high temperature, and the ground temperature was much higher than the air temperature.

Walking on it, Jiang Yan could feel the burning and soft surface through her eight-centimeter-thick insulation shoes.

In some areas, it even formed a candy-floss effect with the soles of her shoes.

Fortunately, it was not an asphalt road.

She guessed the vehicles that came to deliver supplies must be special vehicles; otherwise, with the current temperature, the water in the vehicles’ radiators would have boiled.

Moreover, the entire garden in the residential complex looked ghastly and smoky.

Several more hideously distorted mummies had been added to the flower beds.

They were likely thrown down by family members in broad daylight, and their blood had already been drained by the mosquitoes.

The lawns were long dried up, and the ground was densely littered with dead earthworms and various insects.

Many of the shrubs and flowers were also wilted.

The water in the central pond in the garden had dried up, and the silt at the bottom was completely cracked.

The previously dense water lilies and the aquatic plants within had withered, along with some dried small fish and shrimps.

In view, there was a dense array of various colored garbage bags and pull-tab cans, and liquor bottles.

Some likely contained human waste, which, baked by the high temperature, emitted bursts of intense, foul odor.

However, the property management no longer had the energy to clean these up.

No one in the community group complained either.

After all, from morning till now, the temperature continued to slowly rise.

Everyone was struggling to survive, let alone act as moral custodians.

In the group, it went from righteous indignation to silence in just half a day.

Jiang Yan also saw many dead birds and wild cats.

She even saw two dried squirrels.

Without exception, one could see wrist-sized blood holes on their bodies.

Both humans and animals, not only died from the extreme heat but also suffered secondary destruction from Blood Mosquitoes.

In just a short distance, the sights Jiang Yan encountered were startling.

Moreover, the garden was really too smelly.

The stench of corpses, feces, kitchen waste…

Even though she was covered with herbs and wearing an insulation hat,

the waves of foul smells still drilled into her nostrils.

She didn’t dare to linger and quickly walked towards the gate of the residential complex.

It was only at the gatehouse that she discovered, after the power outage, the access control had failed, and the gate was locked with a U-shaped lock.

The gatehouse was open and equally empty.

This situation was expected by Jiang Yan.

In broad daylight, she couldn’t possibly sneak out an electric saw to break the door.

She had to hide in the gatehouse, take out her cellphone, and send a message in the owners’ group.

This message was really meant for others to see.

A-3201: “[@Property Manager One: I am going to the nearby official shelter, please unlock the main gate of the complex, thank you.]”

Property Manager One: “[@A-3201, dear owner, I haven’t seen you file a report, and if you file now, you can only go tomorrow. The chances of being rejected if you go now are very high.]”

A-3201: “[No need to file, I have my own way of solving it, just open the gate for me.]”

Property Manager One: “[Alright then…..please wait a moment, someone will be sent over shortly.]”

A fully equipped security guard from the property management soon walked out from the underground parking entrance.

“Miss, how are you going?” he clicked the lock open.

Jiang Yan gave him a glance and said calmly, “I’ll walk.”

“…” The security guard looked incredulous for a moment, then said:

“Miss, the official supply vehicle is about to arrive, actually, if you wait and see, maybe you can take their vehicle back? That one seems to be specialized and can withstand high temperatures. The other few who registered to go to the official shelter are also taking that vehicle.”

“Thank you, no need,” Jiang Yan smiled politely, declined, and then stepped out of the complex.

The security guard watched her retreating figure and her strange attire, internally giving her a huge mark of respect.

Just after locking the gate, he saw Director Zhang Qiming and Manager Liu Dahong coming over with a group.

They were also tightly covered, wearing electric motorcycle helmets on their heads.

“Manager Liu, Director Zhang,” the security guard politely greeted.

Liu Dahong glanced outside the complex, frowning slightly:

“Hey, hasn’t the official car arrived yet? Wasn’t it supposed to be here by five? If it doesn’t come soon, and the Blood Mosquito swarm arrives, it’ll be disastrous.”

“Why don’t we first take shelter in the gatehouse? The sun is too harsh.” Zhang Qiming suggested.

The few did not object and filed into the gatehouse.

After closing the door, they took off their helmets.

“It’s really Manager Liu who’s capable. The authorities have now given you such a big responsibility,” Zhang Qiming said as he took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, and handed it to Liu Dahong.

It was too hot, and they dared not smoke.

However, that didn’t prevent them from holding it to their noses and momentarily relieving their “yearning.”

“Ah, Brother Zhang, you flatter me too much. Speaking about it, it’s quite bothersome. Look at these over fifteen hundred people; having to arrange them all into the underground parking within a day.

The timeframe is tight, and the task is heavy.

Not to mention, the work environment is already severe. My men below have been bedridden several times in these two days.

There aren’t enough people, and they’re not giving us enough money!

Damn, the authorities just keep assigning tasks and painting big pictures!

The key is whether it’s really the apocalypse like the internet says, so you can’t just outright refuse and stop working!

And then, these owners, always being so picky. Watch, tonight, with so many people crowded together, who knows what might happen!”

After cursing and complaining, Liu Dahong’s tone suddenly changed, and he gently patted Zhang Qiming’s shoulder, saying:

“So, Brother Zhang, from tonight to the next few days, we’ll really need to rely on our community’s most authoritative homeowners’ committee!”

The two exchanged compliments, and the other subordinates felt it wasn’t their place to chime in.

Zhang Qiming’s brow furrowed slightly, he sighed and kicked the metaphorical ball back:

“Ah, handling so many people is indeed difficult. We in the homeowners’ committee are too weak to make our voices heard; we can only rely on the property staff to manage the scene.”

The two silently sighed for a while.

“Heh, big brothers, this isn’t simple,” Zhang Qiqi, who had been standing silently next to Zhang Qiming, suddenly spoke in a low voice.

Everyone’s gaze sharply turned towards her.

Zhang Qiqi’s expression was calm, and she chuckled coldly: “If there are too many people, just reduce them by killing with a borrowed knife.”

Everyone: “…”