strictlysupreme Chapter 81 Off-road Vehicle
Chapter 81 Off-road Vehicle
The floodwaters receded much more slowly than Xu Mo had anticipated.
The initial excitement of the water level dropping more than a meter on the first day was quickly worn down by the almost stagnant receding speed over the next few days. Every day, Xu Mo could see the edge of the water recede a little further, revealing more land covered in silt and garbage, but the process was agonizingly slow. It was as if this muddy yellow water had some kind of attachment to this land, unwilling to leave so easily.
Five or six days passed quietly. When the murky water completely receded from Qingsongling Town, returning this ravaged land to its rightful owner, what appeared before Xu Mo was a scene even more dilapidated and desolate than when the land was submerged in water.
Everywhere you look is muddy, with thick, yellowish-brown silt covering everything. As the sun blazes down, the surface of the silt cracks into patterns like a tortoise shell, but underneath it remains wet, slippery, and soft.
Along the streets, the abandoned cars that were once faintly visible in the floodwaters have vanished. They were clearly swept downstream by the raging floodwaters or completely buried under thick layers of silt, leaving not a trace.
The shops and houses along the street were in even worse condition; the low roller shutters had been washed away and were filled with dark mud, branches, broken furniture, and all sorts of unidentifiable garbage.
Almost none of the windows on the town's buildings were intact; they lay open, hollow, like desperate eyes. Clear waterline marks were visible on the building walls. Below the waterline, the ground was mostly muddy and covered with weeds and grime, while above the line, water stains covered the walls, and large sections of plaster had peeled off, revealing the bricks and stones underneath.
Sniffing, Xu Mo sensed a complex and intense stench permeating the air. The earthy smell of silt, the sour stench of rotting garbage, the odor of decaying plants, and the nauseating stench unique to highly decomposed protein—these smells blended together to create a penetrating odor that relentlessly assaulted Xu Mo's nasal passages.
Xu Mo frowned slightly, carefully discerning the increasingly strong stench of decay. It was familiar, as if he had smelled it somewhere before. Yes, it was a dead rat.
Before transmigrating, Xu Mo could occasionally smell this odor in old neighborhoods or long-neglected corners. But now, the smell was amplified a hundredfold, enveloping the entire town.
This is not just the smell of one or two dead rats.
Xu Mo understood—there must have been an astonishing number of rats that hadn't survived the flood, and their corpses were now scattered throughout the town, quietly rotting and stinking in the mud, in the ruins, and in the broken buildings.
This is not just a pungent odor, but also a dangerous sign. The decomposition of so many animal carcasses greatly increases the risk of disease outbreaks, and the infectious disease risk warned of on Jiangcheng radio is rapidly rising.
Standing on the rooftop, looking at the ruins shrouded in mud and the aura of death, Xu Mo's desire to leave became stronger than ever before.
Qingsongling Town, the place where he struggled to survive after transmigrating, built a shelter, and gradually cultivated to become stronger, has completely lost its value as a base.
The environment in Qingsongling Town has become extremely harsh, fraught with the threat of unknown pathogens, and utterly desolate. Staying here long-term is tantamount to waiting to die.
Xu Mo's next target is clear—Jiangcheng Shelter.
There, order is relatively well-established, and a larger human population is gathered. More importantly, it might provide a more stable and secure base, allowing him to focus wholeheartedly on improving his strength and dealing with this increasingly dangerous apocalypse.
However, the journey to Jiangcheng was not short, and the road conditions were unknown after the flood, so walking was not a wise choice. Xu Mo felt that he needed a reliable means of transportation.
"It's time," Xu Mo muttered to himself. It was time to use the special features of his cheat ability to acquire a vehicle capable of handling complex road conditions.
Turning around and going downstairs, Xu Mo saw the assault boat in the corner as soon as he stepped out the door. As the floodwaters receded, the assault boat landed on the ground again.
It lay there quietly, still brand new, as if it could be launched into the water at any moment and roam freely across rivers, lakes, and seas.
Looking at the assault boat, Xu Mo couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.
"It's best if it wasn't used." Xu Mo let out a soft breath, dispelling the faint regret. Not being used meant that the situation hadn't deteriorated to the point where he had to risk going into the water, and it also meant that he had safely passed the most dangerous stage.
In the end times, no preparation beforehand is in vain. Even if it is not ultimately used, its very existence is a source of confidence and an option for dealing with the crisis.
This assault boat may come in handy in some aquatic environment in the future.
After waiting a few days until the ground had dried out considerably, Xu Mo arrived at the gate where he had obtained the assault boat, affixed the tag, and then pushed open the gate.
The interior is spacious and clean. Tall shelves are neatly arranged, displaying various car parts, maintenance supplies, and tools. The floor is gleaming, and the air still seems to carry a faint smell of engine oil and rubber.
Xu Mo was slightly pleased; the landing point was good.
In the center of the venue, there were more than a dozen vehicles of different models, including sedans and SUVs.
After inspecting the vehicle, Xu Mo's gaze quickly swept over the shelves, first confirming that the maintenance consumables he needed, such as diesel fuel, engine oil, air filters, and diesel filters, were indeed there, stacked in boxes in the corner.
Xu Mo strode over and examined the vehicle closely before choosing a dark green SUV as his vehicle. This SUV featured a tall body, sturdy bumpers, exposed hooks, and a high chassis and off-road tires clearly designed for rough terrain.
Crucially, this is a classic diesel vehicle known for its ruggedness, durability, simple structure, and ease of maintenance, making it ideal for post-apocalyptic environments.
That's it!
Xu Mo quickly checked the fuel tank; it was almost full. But that wasn't enough. He returned to the parts warehouse, found the fuel storage area, where there were several standard-capacity diesel fuel drums, and carried them into the truck bed one by one.
Ensuring sufficient fuel is the foundation for long journeys.
Then, without any hesitation, Xu Mo began to put several commonly used repair tool kits, several brand-new off-road tires, and even several well-sealed cans of antifreeze and windshield washer fluid into the car. He took all of these into his possession, as they were all essential for the vehicle's long-distance journey.
After the preparations were basically completed, Xu Mo drove out of the gate when the countdown ended. As the scene behind the gate changed, this SUV officially became Xu Mo's exclusive vehicle.
For the next three or four days, Xu Mo did not set off immediately. He stayed in the town, partly to wait for the ground to dry out further, partly to get used to operating the off-road vehicle, and more importantly, he wanted to observe the situation further.
The town remained deathly silent, but the stench, originating from countless rotting rat carcasses, grew stronger day by day. Even though Xu Mo tried to stay on the upper floors and keep the doors and windows tightly closed, the smell still permeated everything.
Under the sunlight, the silt accelerated its decay process, and some flies seemed to have undergone subtle mutations, becoming larger and their compound eyes flashing with an ominous green light. They began to appear in swarms, buzzing in the air, adding to the filth and unease.
"We can't wait any longer." Xu Mo made the judgment that the environment was deteriorating rapidly, and every extra day they stayed increased the risk of contracting the disease.
That morning, just as dawn was breaking, Xu Mo finally made up his mind.
He began the final sorting, categorizing and loading food, water, medicine, weapons, ammunition, and fuel into different types onto the vehicle.
The physical security door that was his own storage space was carefully secured to the roof rack of the SUV and tightly wrapped with a waterproof tarpaulin.
As for the assault boat, after much consideration, Xu Mo finally decided to hide it in the town and not take it with him.
With everything ready, Xu Mo got into the driver's seat and started the car.
The dark green SUV, like a silent steel companion, emitted a deep and powerful diesel engine roar, a sound that stood out starkly against the desolate ruins.
Xu Mo took one last look at the three-story building that held most of his memories from the early days of the apocalypse. His gaze was complex, but he showed no lingering attachment.
Shift into gear, release the clutch, and gently press the accelerator.
The off-road vehicle rolled over the dried mud, leaving two deep ruts, and slowly drove out of Qingsongling Town.
Target – Jiangcheng Shelter.
The road ahead was destined to be bumpy, and there might even be unknown challenges, but Xu Mo's eyes were calm and firm.
He gripped the steering wheel, steer the steel beast relentlessly into the vast, desolate land ravaged by the flood, a place where crisis and opportunity coexisted. For Xu Mo, at this moment, everything was just beginning.