After a short rest, Lin Chen planned to go out again to collect more supplies. The food and water they had stocked up were limited, and after careful calculation, it would only last for two more days for the three of them. In this apocalyptic world where resources were scarce and danger lurked everywhere, running out of supplies meant facing hunger and even greater risks, so he had to act quickly.
He checked his steel pipe carefully, making sure there were no cracks or damages on it. This pipe had become his most reliable weapon, helping him defeat two mutated beasts already. He adjusted the backpack on his shoulder, which was still empty and ready to be filled with new supplies, and then walked towards the door.
Just as his hand was about to touch the doorknob, a faint, weak cry for help drifted through the crack of the door and into the room. It was a trembling, hoarse voice, clearly coming from an elderly man, full of pain and despair. The sound was so soft that it could easily be ignored, but it pierced through the quiet corridor sharply.
His parents, who were sitting on the sofa, immediately looked worried. His mother grabbed his arm tightly, her eyes filled with concern, and whispered, "Xiao Chen, it's dangerous outside. Don't take risks casually." His father also frowned, staring at the door with a tense expression, clearly aware of the unknown threats outside.
But Lin Chen knew he couldn't ignore it. In his past life, he had been too weak to help others, and he had watched countless people die in despair, which had become an eternal regret in his heart. This time, he had the power to protect others, and he would never stand by. He patted his mother's hand gently to comfort her, then held the steel pipe tightly in his hand, and quietly opened the door a crack.
The moment the door opened, the attribute panel in front of him flickered and scanned the surrounding area instantly. A clear prompt appeared: No dangerous beasts detected nearby, only one weak human life signal, located at the next door.
Lin Chen felt relieved, pushed the door open completely, and walked slowly towards the source of the sound. When he reached the next door, he saw an elderly man with white hair lying on the cold floor, his right leg scratched and bleeding, his face pale with pain. He couldn't move at all, and when he saw Lin Chen, his cloudy eyes lit up instantly, filled with pleading and hope.