Two days have passed since Zhan and Yibo returned. They have spent almost the entire time searching the old diaries of Zhan's late great-uncle for clues about hidden traps or any other protective devices. But, they did not find anything. Either because there are no other protections or traps, or the old man just didn't write anything about it in his diaries.

But this morning this problem should be secondary. Because even before the alarm clock rang, one of Zhan's father's soldiers knocked on Zhan and Yibo's room door and asked them to come immediately to the observation deck on the roof.

When the two arrived there, the general was standing there with several of his soldiers and they were all looking in one direction. Immediately, Zhan and Yibo also looked there and discovered what caught the others' gaze. The old city that had mostly burned down was burning again! Black high clouds of smoke came from there.

"Oh look, a little fire for the dear vampires." Slipped out Zhan accidentally. Yibo looked questioningly at Zhan and then suddenly started laughing out loud. This also made the others turn around to the two of them and look at them questioningly.

"What's wrong with you two?" Zhan's father asked.

"Don't you see? No matter who started the fire, it will draw the vampires this way! They may not even come here. And if they do, I'm sure it will be isolated smaller groups." Explained Yibo in Zhan's place, who was hiding behind Yibo because he was afraid his father would get really mad.

"Mhhh, you might be absolutely right about that." Replied the general.

"Well, Zhan came up with it first. I was just putting it into words for you guys."

"If they really are attracted to the black smoke, then we should get word from my scouts soon. Because then they'll probably change direction a little bit and just run past the entrance to the hotel."

"What I'm wondering is, who set the town on fire in the first place? I also wouldn't have thought there was anything burnable left there." Said Zhan.

"I just imagine the vampires running into the burning city and catching fire too. Then the assholes will soon burn too." Interjected one of the soldiers.

"If that happens, then soon the whole area will be on fire." Explained another soldier.

"But we would be protected in that case by the High Wall around our area. In addition, there is still a lot of snow and the ground is frozen. Fire won't eat through that easily. So it would largely, pass from one vampire to the next." Said the general.

For Zhan and Yibo, however, it remained a more intriguing question as to who was setting the fires and why. Were they perhaps survivors who knew about the hotel? Or were they survivors who also know about the horde and want to stop them from getting to their hideout?

Yibo took Zhan's hand and was about to go back inside with him when a new noise caught the attention of everyone on the roof. Hastily, they looked around and then discovered the cause. In disbelief, they all stared up at the sky, where several hot air balloons could be seen.

Waving men and women in the hot air balloons shouted something to the men on the roof of the hotel, but they could not understand it. Zhan's father then grabbed a radio and pointed it upward. Half a minute later, the radio crackled and a woman spoke up, "How do you like my little fire?" She asked.

"Was it you guys?" Asked the general.

"Yes. After all, we can't let them get all the way to our new camp. Those filthy fucking bloodsuckers have already destroyed one of our camps. They won't succeed again."

"Then you are somewhere near the city?" Asked Zhan, using his own radio."

"Exactly. But we're not as comfortable as you are. Oh yeah, if you need a doctor, let me know. We have two in our camp." Said the woman.

"Thanks, but we have doctors here too. I'm one of them. How many of you are there? And do you need help?"

"What you offer us help? We are about 150 souls. Among them there are about 40 children. Right now we're pretty bad off because we're living in tents. Maybe you could at least take in the children?"

"We can take all of you. We still have room." Said Yibo through Zhan's radio. Everyone looked at him and nodded.

"Are you guys sure about this? I've heard this before and then those guys just grabbed our food and left us alone."

"Yes, we are sure. We have everything you need here. Even hot water. Come here. You can land your hot air balloons here in the grounds." Said the general.

"All right. I'll take a look first, and if you're telling the truth, we'll get the others." She replied and immediately started to lower.

Zhan, Yibo and the general immediately ran inside and then downstairs to receive the woman. It took several minutes before all four hot air balloons were on the ground. Soldiers helped secure them to the ground.

The woman, an elderly woman beyond 60 it seems, greeted the three with a firm handshake and did not seem like a weak old woman. She was an American who had lived in this country for over 30 years. When her people joined, they let Zhan and Yibo take them to the hotel. Zhan's father stayed outside, watching the hot air balloons with fascination.

First, the two took the woman to the large common room where many residents were about to eat. Children ran around the tables laughing and approached the strangers with curiosity. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for school now?" Yibo asked. The children giggled and ran at it. The old woman laughed, liking what she saw.

Next, the two took them to the modern infirmary. They showed them the operating rooms, the treatment rooms and the patient rooms. The woman, Jenna, could not hide her amazement.

They also showed her and her companions the rooms, the work areas, the stables with the animals and explained where exactly they will start field farming as soon as it is possible. They explained everything to her in great detail and answered every question she had.

"You guys have it really good here. Since everything started, we have been running from one place to another. We've taken a lot of defeats. Lost so many people. We were lied to and robbed over and over again. In fact, we didn't want to trust anyone anymore. But you make me feel that not all people have become bad. If you would really take us in here, then our escape would finally be over and we could finally get some rest." Said Jenna.

"We too have seen the ugly side of people. And as we said, you are welcome here. We have room for you and there is plenty of food and rooms. The children of you, could go back to school here and take care of the animals together with the keepers. And if you want, we will surely find a good job for everyone here. Because only if each of us does something, can this work." Explained Yibo.

Jenna wiped a few tears from her eyes with a dirty handkerchief and nodded. "Good, you've convinced me. And knowing my companions, them too. We like coming here." She finally said.

"Can I ask you how you came up with the idea of traveling in hot air balloons? So is that how you guys have always done it?" Asked Zhan.

Jenna smiled and explained, "My late husband and I ran a hot air balloon rental business. We always loved hot air balloons. And when the X day came, I grabbed my staff and we took off with the hot air balloons. There were 6 hot air balloons then. Now there are significantly more, as we found many more hot air balloons throughout our journey. We rescued whoever we could and then moved on with them. Mostly at night, because of those flying black creatures. But since they're gone, daytime travel is much better."

After Jenna and her companions then ate some more, they set off again in their hot air balloons, promising to return here in the coming hours.

Once Jenna and her people were gone again, preparations began at the hotel. After all, the rooms had to be prepared. Everything for the medical examinations. The clothing issue had to be staffed. And the data entry as well. Zhan and Yibo helped a few residents prepare the welcome packages. In them are mostly cosmetic items such as shower gel, hair shampoo, soaps, deodorants, washcloths and towels.

Everyone in the hotel was very excited and looking forward to meeting the new faces. The vampire horde was completely forgotten for the time being. According to the scouts, it is indeed the case that the vampire horde is heading in the direction of the city. So if they don't change their course, the hotel and its inhabitants would be safe, at least for the time being.

After a little over four hours, everyone got the message that several hot air balloons were approaching. Zhan and Yibo immediately went down and received the new arrivals. First the children, who looked a little scared. Then sick and weak people who were immediately taken to the infirmary. One by one, hot air balloons landed on the grounds. Soon there was hardly any space left there and so a few had to land in front of the big wall.

Finally, after all 151 people were on the ground, Zhan went to the infirmary to start his work and Yibo went to the data entry to assist. Yibo's parents and the children, presented the welcome packages to the newcomers. Zhan's mother was with a few women in the clothing issue. The general assigned the rooms. Everyone worked hand in hand, which impressed Jenna very much.

In the evening when Zhan and Yibo were back in their room, they were still talking about Jenna and all the new ones who now found refuge in their hotel. From Jenna they had learned that there are still many smaller and larger groups of survivors in the country. These have converted their hiding places into fortresses. But none of these groups were willing to take in more than one or two people.

"ZhanZhan, do you remember the little boy who was always with Lan Zhan and Wei Ying? They had found him on a trip to Ghost Island, hadn't they?" Yibo wanted to know.

"Yes, A-Yuan. Why?"

"What if I told you. There's a little boy among the survivors who looks the same and has the same name?"

"Are you serious Bo?"

"Yes. After all, I helped in data entry and there was this little boy. He said his name was A-Yuan."

"Maybe we should take care of him if he doesn't have parents anymore? I mean Lan Zhan and Wei Ying want to adopt little A-Yuan after all. Maybe this A-Yuan belongs to us too?"

"I kind of thought so too. I can't explain it, but somehow I have such a strangely familiar feeling when I look at him. And it's not because of Lan Zhan and Wei Ying and their A-Yuan."

"I see. You know what? Let's go ask Jenna tomorrow if he still has parents."

"As far as I could tell in the data collection, he doesn't have any anymore."

"Maybe so. But we should still make sure and ask Jenna. If he doesn't have parents anymore, well, we could take care of him. As his fathers, so to speak. What do you think Bo? Do you want to do that?"

"I'd love to. But then we'll need a new room. A family room. After all, we don't want him in our bed with us."

"You don't want him?"

"No way ZhanZhan! You know every day means every day."

"Ah haha, I get it. Don't worry about it."

"And if the danger with the vampires is averted for now, we should finally move forward with our wedding."

"Yes Bo. We should discuss it with our parents tomorrow. I don't want to wait any longer either. I don't need a big celebration. I just want to marry you. So I can finally call you my husband."

"I feel the same way ZhanZhan. I love you."

"I love you too Bo." Replied Zhan. The two kissed each other and held each other in their arms.

The problem with the vampire horde, seems to be solved, at least for now. Time for the two to think of themselves and their love again. And to finally declare their love with their marriage. Neither Zhan nor Yibo ever thought about getting married before they met each other. But now that they know and love each other, they can hardly wait.