Looking into the distance, Shen Chen said slowly, “Don’t despair. Our ability to bounce back from devastation is more powerful than you realize. It’s just that, in a fight to the death, only the victors survive, and the losers are destined to die. What we need to do is become the party that triumphs…”

Guo Yuan and Ye Xiaoyu nodded, but it wasn’t clear whether they had truly understood his speech. Shen Chen didn’t say anything else, merely smiling in response.

The three of them got into the car, and they were soon cruising the streets. “Where shall we go first?” Guo Yuan asked from the backseat.

“Drugstore. Ye Xiaoyu, lead the way!”

Ye Xiaoyu nodded. “The nearest store is in the residential area on the ground floor. It has both Chinese and Western medicine and carries certain food items as well.”

“Do they have ginseng?”

Ye Xiaoyu paused for a moment before saying, “Mm, yes… They also have tonics like tiger bone wine…”

“That’s great. Let’s go to that one, then!” Shen Chen nodded and floored the gas pedal. The car shot off like an arrow from a bow.

About ten minutes later, they finally arrived at the residential area. Dozens of roaming zombies started surrounding the vehicle, including two extremely tall zombies dressed like security guards.

Ye Xiaoyu held onto the fire axe anxiously, only to hear a command from Shen Chen, saying, “Kill!”

A few minutes later, the zombies fell around Shen Chen and Guo Yuan. It barely took them any effort. In fact, they relished it so much that it was as if killing the zombies had been a game to them. Ye Xiaoyu, on the other hand, realized that she hadn’t been of much use. She bit her lower lip nervously. The guys were getting better! However, she quickly regained her composure and beckoned them to come over. “Over here!”

As the residential area was fairly new, many of the lots were still in the process of securing tenants. The first three floors of the area marked for commercial use were locked and vacant.

Ye Xiaoyu quickly led them to the drugstore, but it, too, was locked. She hit herself on her head, saying, “Sh*t. I forgot that most shops close at eight. What should we do since it’s locked?”

“It’s all right!”

Shen Chen smiled and kicked at the lock with minimal force. There was a “boom” as a dent formed on the metal grille. He then moved forward and broke the metal grille in half with his bare hands, revealing the glass door.

Ye Xiaoyu stared in astonishment as he broke the glass door of the drugstore effortlessly. He went into the store first, followed by Ye Xiaoyu and Guo Yuan.

The drugstore itself was intact and undamaged, despite the apocalypse that had descended on Valentine’s Day. As it had already been a week, a light layer of dust had gathered on the shelves full of medicinal items.

Ye Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up at the sight of the shelves. She scampered over happily, saying, “Ah, we need the Yunnan Baiyao. Also the vitamins. We should get a few more bottles.”

Guo Yuan scratched his head in puzzlement. “What do we need those for?”

“Idiot, humans are more susceptible to health complications, such as septicaemia, if they lack vitamins. We are now in the end-times and won’t be getting a supply of fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers, so vitamin supplements are lifesavers!” replied Ye Xiaoyu. She was a totally different person when it came to her area of expertise. Her eyes were practically sparkling.

Shen Chen nodded quietly. In his past life, many people had died from septicaemia. Ye Xiaoyu was indeed a professional and an invaluable addition to the team.

He scanned the surroundings before running toward a counter filled with ginseng. His eyes suddenly burned with desire. It was as if his body were being consumed by strong hunger pangs!

Shen Chen was pleased at his body’s response to the ginseng. His body was telling him that it craved these tonics, and, more importantly, it also proved that his suspicions were correct— these tonics would aid in his recovery.

He swiftly broke the glass display case and poured a box of ginseng into his mouth, swallowing them hastily after a few chews.

Warmth spread in the pit of his stomach and miraculously soothed the pain in his body! The dark surge under his skin slowly receded and was instead replaced by a combination of evolution fluid and ginseng…

‘It worked!’ Shen Chen was ecstatic. He couldn’t wait to shove all the ginseng down his throat.

One box! Two boxes! Those clearly didn’t suffice, though. As soon as he stopped gobbling them down, the pain increased again.

In the span of a few minutes, Shen Chen consumed ten boxes of expensive ginseng. At the same time, he also had his sights set on the cordyceps.

Both Ye Xiaoyu and Guoyu were appalled by his crazy behavior. These tonics weren’t meant to be consumed in such large quantities!

Ye Xiaoyu quickly ran over and attempted to stop him. “Shen Chen, you shouldn’t consume so much!”

However, Shen Chen was no longer able to suppress his hunger. Ignoring Ye Xiaoyu, he continued eating all the ginseng and cordyceps he could find. After consuming all the tonics, Shen Chen started eyeing the barrels of medicinal wine at the back of the store.

Pangs of hunger started reverberating through his body again. The hunger didn’t originate from his stomach. It actually stemmed from an innate desire for power and strength!

“Gobble gobble gobble…”

Ye Xiaoyu and Guo Yuan watched in stunned silence as Shen Chen guzzled five to six barrels’ worth of medicinal wine.

Drinking at this speed was akin to guzzling 70% proof alcohol at the speed one would use while drinking water. To be more precise, no one would be able to drink at this speed, even if they were actually drinking water!

Ye Xiaoyu watched anxiously as Shen Chen’s face grew flushed from drinking the wine. As Shen Chen started trembling uncontrollably, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “What’s wrong with you, Shen Chen? Are you all right? Don’t scare me!”

By now, both Ye Xiaoyu and Guo Yuan had realized that there was something wrong with Shen Chen. They suddenly recalled how Shen Chen’s eyes had turned an unusual shade of crimson the day before!

Unknown to them, however, Shen Chen was feeling better than ever! The medicinal wine alleviated the pain that his battered body had been suffering under. However, his eyes had glazed over, and he was starting to show signs of intoxication.

Shen Chen said apologetically to Guo Yuan and Ye Xiaoyu, “Sorry. I need some time to adjust. I’m going to have to trouble you guys.” He then stumbled and fell to the ground.

Ye Xiaoyu and Guo Yuan quickly went up to Shen Chen to help him up, but Shen Chen had fallen asleep the moment his eyes closed…

He’s… drunk?