Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

"Wuuu~" Lin An cried miserably.

Shen Xiuzhe hastily released his grip and stepped back, "I didn't do anything to you, no need to cry so miserably."

The little zombie paid no heed, nor could he understand; crying, he burrowed into the blanket, eventually curling up into a ball inside it, his sobs still muffled within.

Shen Xiuzhe watched amusedly, poking the lump in the blanket, which then shuffled to the side, continuing its weeping.

This was truly unlike any common zombie.

Just now he had seen clearly, this zombie bore no wounds; he was indeed one of those who had mutated on the first day of the apocalypse.

Turning to the dog silently watching him on the floor, "You're also lucky, to have such an owner."

On that fateful night of the apocalypse, countless people were devoured by their dearest kin, yet this dog had lived half a year with a zombie, not only surviving but even becoming a bit plump.

Seeing the zombie cry into a little bundle, Shen Xiuzhe couldn't bring himself to disturb it further; after all, it was he who had caused the tears.

His gaze drifted from the blanket to the rest of the bedroom, where an original wood-colored photo frame stood on the bedside table, holding a photo of a young couple— the wife beautiful and gentle, the husband tall and handsome, both with radiant smiles. In the middle stood a three or four-year-old child, with chubby cheeks and large, grape-like eyes, staring curiously ahead, utterly adorable.

It was evident from the photo that the family of three was very happy.

And that chubby little child was clearly the crying zombie now hidden in the blanket, bearing a strong resemblance to his mother.

The room bore signs of being inhabited by only one person, so was it really this weeping zombie that had saved him?

Retaining some human traits and able to use water abilities, and most importantly, having consumed the only red meteorite, Shen Xiuzhe looked meaningfully at the wrapped up blanket, a smile curling on his lips.

Shortly after, the security door clicked shut, the bland scent of the soup noodles faded away, and Lin An peeked his head out from the blankets, still sobbing.

He maintained the turtle-like position for a long time, only emerging completely when he could no longer smell the other's presence, then wiped away his tears and got off the bed.

Looking at the tangled blankets, Lin An, with tear-streaked cheeks, silently made the bed.

After tidying the blanket and washing his face, the slighted little zombie began to clean for the day.

It was only in the evening, after the house was clean and everything washed, that Lin An numbly touched his stomach.

The pain had stopped at some unknown time, and the zombie belatedly realized he was no longer hungry.

After half a year of hunger, he finally knew what it felt like to be full.

The bone-deep hunger had vanished, his entire being felt warm and cozy, as if he were soaking in warm water, and Lin An contentedly squinted his eyes.

No longer hungry, the joyous little zombie decided to give the house another thorough cleaning.

Just as she reached for a rag to wipe the furniture, she suddenly dropped it and darted back to the bedroom, diving into the closet once more.

Xiao Fu followed her owner for a few steps, then sat puzzled in front of the closet, tilting his head curiously as she shut the door behind her.

The sound of a key in the lock echoed from the security door.

Xiao Fu immediately rushed out, barking a few times toward the entrance.

The black security door swung open and Shen Xiuzhe entered with his keys in hand.

He, who had worn camouflage during the day, now donned a black trench coat, a high-collared shirt obscuring half of his face, his sharp brows and eyes exuding a domineering presence, especially with the contemptuous expression that seemed to threaten death at any moment.

Xiao Fu felt the weight of that gaze, barked twice, and then, tail between his legs, slunk away just as cowardly as his owner, pretending to eat from an empty bowl.

In reality, Shen Xiuzhe was in a good mood and didn't think his stern look had frightened the dog. He hung the keys on the hook by the door and changed his shoes before entering.

Though the house was pitch-black, both the enhanced human and the zombie possessed night vision, making the distinction between day and night irrelevant to them.

After a quick survey of the deserted living and dining rooms, he headed straight for Lin An's bedroom.

He knocked on the wardrobe: "Come out."

There was no response from the wardrobe.

He had no choice but to physically extract the little zombie himself.

Before leaving the house, Shen Xiuzhe had grabbed the keys from the hook, and upon stepping out, he noticed a long trail of blood.

He followed the trail from the steps, out of the residential area, to the unfinished building, and that's when he realized why his head was throbbing so badly.

After checking to ensure no survivors were left, Shen Xiuzhe made a trip to the hospital. Some of the medical equipment and supplies had been moved to a safe base from part of the city's hospitals, but since this one was in the old district, too far from the safe base, its equipment remained intact.

Consequently, there were also many zombies.

After battling countless zombies in the hospital, he finally found what he was looking for.

Returning to the little zombie's home with the item, Shen Xiuzhe pulled the weeping zombie from the closet, ignoring his feeble struggles, and placed the device against his stomach.

It was a small white device, one end with a scanning probe and the other a display screen, manufactured by the Mechanical City. Mainly used for two-dimensional ultrasound, it was battery-operated, so it could be used even during power outages.

Many families used such portable devices to monitor fetal development. Shen Xiuzhe's main concern, however, was to check if the meteorite was still present.

Without the need for a coupling agent, he pressed the probe directly against the little zombie's belly and began his earnest search for the meteorite.

Perhaps because he was well-fed and not so uncomfortable, the little zombie just flipped his belly and struggled with grunts, without crying.

He found it; the meteorite was still there.

Relieved, Shen Xiuzhe had been worried that if the zombie digested it, the meteorite would be gone. As long as it remained, there was certainly a way to extract it.

After releasing the little zombie, he made a beeline for the closet again, only to be carried by Shen Xiuzhe into the living room.

"Why keep running to the closet? I won't eat you."

And it was the zombie, after all, who had the appetite for humans. If Shen Xiuzhe had woken up any later today, he might have been reduced to bones.

The little zombie hung his head, hair veiling his eyes, shrinking back in a manner that caused Shen Xiuzhe’s eyes to narrow, his slender eyes slightly creased, looking as if he were smiling, yet also as if he were scheming.

He leisurely rolled up his sleeves, revealing a pale, sinewy arm with muscles firm but not bulky, exuding strength.

Extending his arm beneath the bowed head of the little zombie, he teased, "Want a taste?"

After smelling the rich, savory scent of the meteorite, human flesh seemed like bland broth, utterly tasteless.

Moreover, Lin An was already sated and had no interest in the aggressive, flavorless broth.

Yet, there the food was, right by his mouth.

Knowing how terrible it feels to be hungry, the little zombie instinctively felt it wasteful to ignore food, even if it was the bland broth, it had to be consumed.

Sneaking a glance at Shen Xiuzhe through the gap in his bangs, he found that when expressionless, the other was intimidating, but once smiling, those upturned phoenix eyes curved into crescents, softening the inherent dominance and menace, even appearing somewhat approachable.

Sensing the little zombie's sneaky glances, Shen Xiuzhe extended his arm further, "How about a bite? Don't you crave human flesh?"

With his arm nearly touching his lips, to refuse would be impolite. The little zombie swallowed, then washed the arm presented before him with water.

Shen Xiuzhe remained still, watching indulgently as the other cleaned his arm.

Finally clean, the little zombie opened his mouth wide, eagerly biting down hard on the arm with a joyful howl.

"Buzz~~~~"

His teeth, skull, and brain matter all trembled as if biting into an iron plate, a sour pain spreading from his mouth throughout his entire brain.

The little zombie stood stunned, mouth agape, unable to make a sound.

The next second, tears whooshed out, streaming down his face.

Shen Xiuzhe doubled over with laughter, feeling a lightness he hadn't experienced in a long time.

As an explorer in the wilderness, every blade of grass and drop of water could be lethal; a moment's inattention could be deadly. In the city of Chuxi, he had to contend with bloodthirsty zombies and deal with a pack of deceitful sycophants, keeping his nerves taut at all times.

Only in the presence of this foolish little zombie did he let his guard down, showing the vivacity of a young man.

"See, human flesh doesn't taste good, it could even break your teeth. You mustn't eat it anymore," Shen Xiuzhe admonished the little zombie amidst his chuckles.

The little zombie with poached egg eyes stood with his mouth open, unresponsive, as if his brain matter were about to be shattered.

For the first time, he realized just how tough human flesh could be; so very tough, and he couldn't help but wail.

Xiao Fu, standing by and familiar with Shen Xiuzhe's scent, saw the interaction between his master and the human and refrained from barking. Instead, his tail wagged with eagerness to join their play.

Suddenly, the tail-wagging dog sensed danger. Its fur along its back and neck bristled, and it barked loudly towards the balcony.

Even when his master was captured in daylight, Xiao Fu had not reacted this way; now, it seemed as though he was genuinely frightened.

Shen Xiuzhe immediately looked towards the balcony, trusting the animal's instinct, which was often more accurate than humans'. Whatever was outside that scared the dog had to be something serious.

The oppressive silence outside the dark window was palpable, suggesting the presence of a special kind of zombie, even Shen Xiuzhe felt the pressure.

Suddenly, a mass resembling a flesh cocoon crept upward and stuck to the window, completely obscuring the glass facade.

Xiao Fu, having never encountered such a bizarre thing, continued to bark while inching closer to his master, burying his head between his legs, nearly toppling the still-recovering Lin An.

It was a fusion-type zombie.

Shen Xiuzhe's brows furrowed deeply; he had never seen a fusion-type zombie of such size before.

Did it follow him here?

The window should hold for a while. Shen Xiuzhe, facing Lin An, instructed: "Retreat to your wardrobe for now. This zombie isn't choosy about its diet."

Lin An couldn't hear; his brain was still buzzing fiercely.

As Shen Xiuzhe spoke, a thin strip of flesh suddenly appeared in the window crack. The shapeless zombie had flattened itself, attempting to squeeze through the gap.

With a splat, a piece of the flesh strip broke off and dropped, turning into a puddle of flesh on the floor and writhing in a manner most revolting.

Shedding his trench coat, Shen Xiuzhe intended to go out the window to fight. After all, the little zombie's home was so clean and tidy; he didn't want to sully it.

But the next moment, a spinning waterspout burst forth, sweeping toward the quivering mound of flesh on the floor, ensnaring it and howling toward the bathroom.

Then came the sound of the toilet flushing.

The speed was incredible; the floor was clean in the blink of an eye.

The little zombie's method of cleaning up the mess was astonishingly proficient.

Xiao Fu, nestled at his master's feet, suddenly felt a familiar gaze and looked up to find his master staring down at him with eyes tinged with faint disdain.

It was the same look he received the day he failed to flush the toilet.

Xiao Fu: ???

It wasn't his mess!!!