Chapter 50

Chapter 50

001.

Meeting Feng Yimo's gaze, Ji Yanqing felt his heart race uncontrollably, and he instinctively looked away.

Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi, walking beside Ji Yanqing, exchanged a glance and silently walked past the two of them.

Ji Yanqing noticed their gazes and quickened his pace, moving to the front of the group. "Don't cause trouble."

Feng Yimo acted like a child.

Saying this in words but thinking otherwise, Ji Yanqing's heart did not calm down.

They followed the forest at the foot of the mountain and soon circled around to the other side of the mountain.

Standing at the foot of the mountain facing the small town, the group looked towards the park on the right side of the town, where the awakened zombie was still hanging on the signal tower.

In the past few days, it had only come down once to eat. After devouring several zombies in one go, it returned to the signal tower.

The group did not linger too long at the foot of the mountain. They circled around to the other side of the town and entered from there.

There were not many zombies in the town. Although they could be seen everywhere, they were not densely packed.

This town was far inferior to the one where Lu Qing and the others had been before. It was large, but not prosperous, with old and vacant buildings everywhere.

There were not many young people in the town; there were more elderly or children. Many people in the town had managed to escape safely, and perhaps also because the town's economy was not good, so the young people went out to work and start businesses.

Moving quickly through the streets, the group soon arrived at the location they had chosen for their operation: the rural government office with a large open space in front of it.

Upon reaching the designated spot, everyone split up quietly.

They needed to find suitable ambush locations and safe houses for retreat nearby, and take the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the environment.

They had all climbed halfway up the mountain before and had a good view of the area, but looking from afar was different from being up close.

Ji Yanqing looked at Feng Yimo. "You don't have to come with me. We'll act separately. If I fail, you can step in as my replacement."

Ji Yanqing looked around at the busy group and lowered his voice. "If the plan fails, find a way to lead them to safety."

Feng Yimo's eyebrows furrowed slightly, showing faint disapproval in his eyes.

Ji Yanqing headed towards the park with his axe.

Feng Yimo's gaze followed Ji Yanqing until he disappeared around the corner.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine."

Feng Yimo turned to see Xia Shenshu.

Feng Yimo turned and walked towards the entrance of the rural government office.

Xia Shenshu was puzzled.

There were zombies in the hall of the rural government office. Because the glass door was closed, they couldn't get out, and they were constantly bumping into the door.

Feng Yimo removed the stick blocking the door from the outside, pushed the door open, and struck with his knife as the zombies rushed towards him.

Seeing Feng Yimo's even more ruthless knife skills than usual, Xia Shenshu twitched the corner of his mouth. "Dead kid!"

Moving quickly through the buildings, Ji Yanqing arrived at the edge of the park.

Up close, the awakened zombie hanging on the signal tower looked even more unsettling, with its bluish-gray skin and large patches of peeling outer skin, resembling a corpse growing new flesh.

Ji Yanqing didn't immediately make a move but waited, calculating the time.

Five minutes later, ensuring enough time for Xia Shenshu and the others to prepare and that it was time to carry out the plan, Ji Yanqing took off his outerwear, tightened his grip on the axe, took a deep breath, and headed into the park.

Apart from a small dried-up fountain, there were only some fitness equipment and public benches near the woods in the park, with nothing else in the other areas.

The heavy snow covered the entire park, turning it white.

As soon as he entered the park, Ji Yanqing was completely exposed in the open field.

The awakened zombie hanging on the signal tower was sleeping soundly and did not notice Ji Yanqing's approach. It probably never expected someone to approach voluntarily.

Stopping about five meters in front of the signal tower, Ji Yanqing checked the time again.

There weren't many zombies in this town, but there were still tens of thousands. Once they fired their guns, they would immediately alert the entire city, so they didn't have time to take it slow.

Once they started shooting, they had at most five minutes to find a way to evacuate, or they would face an army of thousands of zombies.

Confirming the time, Ji Yanqing took another deep breath and whistled.

The whistle's sharp and clear sound broke the morning tranquility.

Hearing the sound, the monster hanging on the signal tower slowly moved, stretched its body, and turned its head towards the direction of the sound.

Seeing Ji Yanqing clearly, surprise appeared in its sleepy eyes.

Seeing the face that had been hidden in the embrace, Ji Yanqing was also taken aback.

It was no longer a human face. Its corners of the mouth extended to behind its ears, and its nose and chin were also cracked, extending from the forehead down to the throat.

His entire face, centered around the mouth, split into four meat flaps like a fan, each with sharp, slender teeth along the edges and inside.

The four flaps of that mouth opened slightly, and greenish liquid dripped from it.

As the liquid dripped, a stench of blood and rotting flesh assaulted them.

"Going for a morning run?" Ji Yanqing switched the axe to his other hand.

"Hisss..." More greenish liquid dripped from the awakened zombie's ghastly mouth as it grabbed the signal tower and slowly descended headfirst.

Ji Yanqing stood still, waiting quietly.

The signal tower was six or seven stories high, and it took the awakened zombie some time to reach halfway down before it stopped and lunged at Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing, who had been prepared, charged forward instead of retreating, swinging the axe upward. With a thud, the axe struck the creature's face solidly.

Without a point of leverage in mid-air, the blow sent the awakened zombie tumbling aside into the snow.

"Hisss..." A sound of pain and anger came from the awakened zombie as it hit the ground.

Ji Yanqing didn't hesitate and turned to dash toward the cluster of buildings behind him.

Seeing Ji Yanqing flee, the awakened zombie immediately got up and chased after him.

Standing upright, it looked even more peculiar. It was significantly shorter than an average person but had elongated limbs. Small, slender growths resembling tumors sprouted from its abdomen and back.

It was clearly evolving towards enhanced strength, on the verge of transforming into a beast. Ji Yanqing found its appearance oddly familiar, yet he couldn't pinpoint why.

Its speed was remarkable, its movements extraordinarily agile, and its jumping ability impressive. In an instant, it leaped over a flower bed to Ji Yanqing's left and pounced on him.

Ignoring its presence, Ji Yanqing charged into the building ahead like an arrow released from a bow, cutting through the air with a whoosh.

The awakened zombie missed its target.

Upon landing, it slid sideways due to the snow on the ground and crashed into a wall, leaving a pool of greenish liquid on impact.

Hearing the dull thud, Ji Yanqing turned around to find no one behind him.

He froze for a moment, but by the time he reacted, darkness had already enveloped him from above. The awakened zombie could climb walls, and it had scaled up and lunged from a height.

Ji Yanqing kept moving, bending backward suddenly just as the awakened zombie was about to strike. He landed on his knees and used the snow to slide away, evading the attack.

Having dodged again, Ji Yanqing looked toward the top of the building in front of him.

On the rooftop, the person responsible for relaying information in Lan Zi's team immediately signaled to another individual behind them. This person promptly sent a message to Xia Shenshu and the others lying in wait near the rural government office.

"Everyone get ready!" Xia Shenshu warned.

Almost simultaneously, Ji Yanqing led the pursuing awakened zombie into the open space in front of the rural government office.

Despite their mental preparation, the sight of the creature, taller than an average person with a split-open mouth, still made everyone's scalps tingle.

"Move." Xia Shenshu was the first to charge out.

Seeing his action, the team responsible for restraining the creature immediately followed.

As they approached, the person next to Xia Shenshu, tasked with throwing ropes, acted swiftly. The coiled rope flew through the air, aiming precisely for the creature's head.

Just as the rope was about to land and ensnare the awakened zombie's head, it dodged to the side.

The awakened zombie turned to face the group that had emerged, its eyes filled with fury and murderous intent.

Their initial attempt having failed, the group that had charged out with Xia Shenshu paused in surprise.

The fear they had momentarily forgotten resurfaced under the creature's menacing glare, causing many to instinctively step back.

Seeing the reaction of the first group, the two other groups, who were supposed to emerge from their hiding places according to the plan, also hesitated.

For a moment, everyone panicked, their courage faltering.

This was an awakened zombie, a terrifying existence capable of killing them effortlessly.

If they provoked it...

"Don't stop!" As Ji Yanqing's voice spread, he swung the axe at the awakened zombie's head.

Hearing the wind, the awakened zombie immediately dodged to the side. Although it moved quickly, it couldn't evade completely, and Ji Yanqing's axe struck its left arm heavily.

Not letting up, Ji Yanqing stepped forward and swung the axe again.

His strength was immense; despite the axe weighing seventy to eighty pounds, he wielded it with such force that it created a whistling sound. His movements were so swift that people could barely follow them.

Similarly, the awakened zombie struggled to keep up. Confronted by Ji Yanqing's attacks, it was powerless to retaliate and could only clumsily retreat.

"Bang!" The axe hit the ground, causing the concrete to dent.

Ji Yanqing's eyes remained fixed on the monster before him, and without giving it a chance to regain its footing, he charged forward once more.

Witnessing this scene, seeing the creature being forced back by Ji Yanqing, the group that had been in a state of panic couldn't help but grimace.

In that instant, they experienced a ridiculous illusion.

An absurd notion that even without them, Ji Yanqing could single-handedly kill the awakened zombie.

Under the influence of this utterly absurd illusion, the group completely forgot their fear. Their minds unable to process the situation, their bodies instinctively carried out the planned actions.

"Keep going, spread out, look for opportunities!" Xia Shenshu instructed while holding a gun and moving alongside his team to protect them.

Having missed the initial opportunity, the others who were supposed to emerge in stages according to the plan all came out at once, throwing their ropes simultaneously.

The monster, forced to retreat repeatedly by Ji Yanqing, tried several times to create distance but was immediately pursued. Now faced with a sudden barrage of ropes descending from above, it attempted to swat them away with its hands but was caught by one of the ropes around its neck.

Seeing their rope catch the target, the group responsible for that rope flushed red with excitement.

Without needing any prompting, they pulled the rope in unison, trying to tighten it.

The awakened zombie was about to struggle, but it was already too late—the rope tightened instantly, binding tightly around its neck. ---- "Got him!" someone growled lowly. ---- "Be careful he doesn't—" The person warning them didn't even finish their sentence before the awakened zombie lunged at the one pulling the rope. ---- Those pulling the rope and retreating were faced with the oncoming awakened zombie and couldn't think, let alone react. ---- They had been pulling back, but when the rope suddenly went slack in their hands, they all fell backward. ---- They didn't have time to run. ---- Ji Yanqing swung his axe, striking the awakened zombie's chest with great force, caving it in. ---- Such an injury would have killed a human long ago. ---- "Ssshh..." The awakened zombie stumbled backward from the blow. ---- Without a second thought for the one holding the rope, it turned to face Ji Yanqing. It wasn't human anymore and couldn't turn its eyes red, but the murderous intent in its eyes was just as vicious and angry. ---- "Whoosh." The sound of the rope being thrown came again, and the second rope successfully looped around the awakened zombie's neck. ---- The awakened zombie immediately reached out to grab the rope. Before it could steady itself, the group responsible for the second rope quickly retreated, tightening the noose and binding the rope firmly around its neck. ---- "It's working!!" ---- "Don't panic!" ---- "Stand to the sides, don't stand in one direction, to the sides..." ---- "Pull diagonally, tighten it, don't let it lunge at anyone else..." ---- Yells and voices echoed continuously. Though the group of seventy or so people seemed chaotic, everyone was in their designated positions. ---- They might be inexperienced and fearful, but they weren't hesitant to act. ---- Far away, Lan Zi, who was observing the scene from the rooftop through her sniper scope, felt her heart race. The pounding in her ears almost drowned out Xia Shenshu's voice below. ---- Lan Zi took a deep breath, her finger lightly resting on the trigger. She tried to take a shot. ---- Ji Yanqing passed beneath her sights. ---- Lan Zi's Adam's apple moved, and she couldn't pull the trigger. ---- She wanted to shoot, but she couldn't do it. ---- This time was different from any other. Before, all she needed to do was help; it was enough to simply be useful. ---- This time, her goal was to find an opportunity to kill the awakened zombie. According to their plan, she had become a crucial part—once the others had restrained it, she would be the first to take a shot, aiming straight for the head. ---- Their chance was fleeting, and they had to seize it. ---- Lan Zi took a deep breath and aimed again. She saw the awakened zombie's head clearly through the scope, but before she could fire, Ji Yanqing appeared once more. ---- This wasn't Ji Yanqing's fault. Holding back the awakened zombie made him an essential part of the plan. ---- Her hesitation and fear had cost her the opportunity to shoot. ---- She lacked confidence and was afraid of hitting Ji Yanqing. ---- Missing another chance, Lan Zi punched the ground beside her, breaking the skin on her knuckles and sending sharp pain throughout her body. ---- The pain swept over her, and Lan Zi instantly calmed down. ---- She held her breath and aimed through the pain. ---- She waited, and the moment that ugly face reappeared in her sights, she calmly pulled the trigger. ---- The bullet flew through the air, piercing straight into the left side of the awakened zombie's mouth, passing through and embedding itself in the concrete ground. ---- Chapter 2 ---- "Ssshh..." A roar filled with anger and pain spread. ---- Half of the awakened zombie's left face was shattered, greenish liquid oozing from the wound. ---- Seeing the new injury on the awakened zombie's face and hearing its pained cries, everyone in the open area below was invigorated. Their plan was indeed proving effective. ---- The third rope flew out. ---- The awakened zombie was prepared. As the rope approached, it reached out, and the rope looped around its hand. ---- The person throwing the rope was taken aback for a moment before yelling, "Pull!" ---- Everyone behind him instinctively retreated, tightening the knot. ---- The rope instantly constricted, binding the monster's left hand. ---- Already restrained by two ropes around its neck, pulling it in opposite directions, now with one hand also controlled, the awakened zombie was immediately fixed in the center of the crowd. ---- Its strength was immense, and it managed to pull the sixty or so people holding the ropes toward the center, but it was indeed trapped for that instant. ---- Seeing this, Ji Yanqing didn't hesitate and immediately retreated. ---- Almost simultaneously, Xia Shenshu led a group of armed individuals forward. "Aim carefully and shoot!" ---- With Xia Shenshu's powerful yell, gunfire erupted chaotically throughout the small town. ---- "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Bullets rained down on the awakened zombie, striking his roaring, open mouth in fury.

His skin was far less durable than the Zombie King's; within two seconds, numerous wounds appeared all over his body. Greenish liquid oozed from the injuries, filling the air with a foul stench.

Lan Zi fired three consecutive shots, each one hitting the monster's mouth.

"Skrrr..." A roar filled with anger, resentment, and pain echoed repeatedly.

The trapped awakened zombie struggled frantically. His immense strength dragged those holding the ropes, leaving marks on their shoes as they were pulled towards the center.

Everyone gritted their teeth, ignoring the bloodied grooves the ropes had carved into their palms. They exerted every ounce of their strength, some even letting out grunts through clenched throats.

Just hold on a little longer! Just a little longer!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Bang! Bang!"

"Skrrr..."

"Skrrr... ya..."

"Hold tight! Give it all you've got!"

"Aim for the head! Don't hit the ropes!"

"Skrrr..."

The intensity of the roars and the force of the struggles gradually weakened amidst the gunfire. The group surrounding the creature began to gain the upper hand.

The ropes tightened, and the awakened zombie grew still, his body going limp.

They didn't stop. They expended every last bullet, until most could only fire empty chambers.

As the gunfire ceased, and the zombie's body went slack, those holding the ropes slowly relaxed their grip. They watched as the towering monster collapsed to the ground, piece by piece.

In the silence, they stared at the fallen, grotesque form, at the scattered bullet casings, and breathed in the putrid air. Their minds were blank.

Did they win?

Did they actually defeat it?

Xia Chen's Adam's apple bobbed as he cautiously approached, gun in hand.

Four others swallowed hard and followed suit, their nerves taut.

As they drew closer, Xia Chen stopped beside the creature's hand. Up close, the face, ravaged by bullets, made him feel nauseous.

He averted his gaze from the mutilated face, instead kicking the creature's hand. There was no response.

"It's dead..." Relief flooded Xia Chen's face.

Hearing these words, everyone's tension eased.

Joy spread across their faces. They had won. They had truly killed an awakened zombie. They—

"Skrrr!" The zombie suddenly sprang up, its single remaining eye glaring with fury as it swung its arm towards Xia Chen, who was closest.

Xia Chen's foot was on the zombie's hand when it sat up. Pulled off balance, he fell backward as the zombie's arm missed his head.

Xia Chen narrowly escaped, but the four others weren't so lucky. Wounds appeared on their necks and faces.

Their eyes still held the unrestrained joy that had yet to fade.

The same was true for those around them.

Xia Chen landed on his backside, stunned. Before he could react, a face, its lower jaw mostly rotted flesh, loomed before him, accompanied by a strong stench.

Xia Chen's mind went blank.

The wind picked up, and an axe whizzed past his face. Putrid liquid splattered, covering him. Simultaneously, the zombie was sent reeling several meters away by the axe blow.

Ji Yanqing stepped forward, swinging the axe once more.

With all his might, he struck the zombie's shoulder. The axe sank deep into the left shoulder, causing it to slump to one side.

"Skrrr..." The zombie didn't dodge. It grabbed Ji Yanqing's axe and swung its other hand at him from the side.

Faced with the rushing wind from the side, Ji Yanqing instinctively pushed against the zombie's stomach with his foot and retreated, pulling the axe free and holding it up to block the incoming attack.

He managed to fend off the imminent strike, but almost simultaneously, a sound of something breaking echoed.

When Ji Yanqing realized what had happened, the handle of his axe had already snapped in half.

"Ji Yanqing—"

"Ji—"

A roar sounded, and the pupils of those around who hadn't yet reacted shrank abruptly.

When Ji Yanqing's gaze shifted from the axe, the mangled, bloodied face was inches from his nose.

In that instant, everyone's minds went blank. They forgot to breathe, forgot to beat their hearts.

It was over.

It was over for Ji Yanqing.

Feng Yimo swung his long blade as he rushed forward.

His expressionless face had eyes that glinted with intense golden light. His pupils suddenly constricted, and his heart, which had never quickened even when facing a thrice-evolved Corpse King, now pounded as if struck by a heavy blow. It throbbed painfully.

It was fear.

This was the first emotion he felt since his awakening—fear.

He was afraid, afraid that Ji Yanqing would die.

If Ji Yanqing died like Ji'an and the others, without being infected by the virus, then he could share his blood with him.

But if Ji Yanqing died from the virus, even if he gave him his blood, Ji Yanqing wouldn't be the same person anymore.

Ji Yanqing would forget everything.

Feng Yimo pushed his body to its limits, wanting to move just a little faster, a little faster!

Ji Yanqing's body swayed, but in the blink of an eye, he regained his balance after being knocked to the left.

Facing the oncoming face, he didn't retreat but advanced instead.

He raised the broken handle in his hand and thrust it towards the face, using all his strength.

His speed was incredible, and his strength immense. The sharp spearhead of the axe handle, propelled by such speed and force, became like a sharp steel spear, instantly piercing through the awakened zombie's brain and emerging from the back of its head.

The world seemed to freeze at that moment.

Fluids splattered as the massive body of the awakened zombie staggered backward.

The long blade sliced through, severing both the axe handle in Ji Yanqing's hand and the rotting neck of the awakened zombie with a deeply chilling edge.

Behind the mountain.

Ji'an and Ji Le, holding hands and sitting uneasily in the car, suddenly lifted their heads. Their black pupils instantly turned golden, and they looked in unison towards the small town on the other side of the mountain.

Their king was afraid!

Their minds simultaneously conjured up Feng Yimo's face, and without hesitation, they bolted out of the car before anyone inside could even look up.

Their king was afraid, and they had to go to him immediately; they had to save their king!

Feng Yimo was afraid, afraid that Ji Yanqing would die—

The name "Ji Yanqing" flashed through their minds, and they instantly sobered, their expressions turning even more grim.

What happened to Ji Yanqing?

"Daddy..."

"Daddy..."

The two children, whose eyes had instantly returned to black, did not stop. They ran quickly towards the town behind the mountain with their short legs.

"Hey, what are you doing..." Someone nearby noticed and hurried to stop them.

"Pound... pound-pound..." The sound of something round rolling on the ground echoed in the silence, followed by the sound of something falling, "Thud."

The awakened zombie's head separated from its body, the impaled skull rolling to the side while its body fell backward.

Feng Yimo didn't have time to retract his blade before grabbing Ji Yanqing and pulling him into his embrace. His eyes, devoid of their usual detachment and coldness, rapidly examined Ji Yanqing's face and body.

His pupils constricted, and his heart pounded so hard it hurt.

"Feng... I'm fine..." Ji Yanqing, who had been pinched on the cheek and had his hand squeezed, gradually regained his senses.

Feng Yimo ignored Ji Yanqing's words. After checking his face and arms, he proceeded to feel and pinch Ji Yanqing's chest and stomach.

Finally, he turned Ji Yanqing around and ran his hands down from the back of his head and shoulders, examining every part.

Ji Yanqing grabbed the hand that had reached his tailbone.

"I'm fine," said Ji Yanqing, looking at him.

Feng Yimo looked disheveled, even more so than Ji Yanqing.

His long hair still stood tall, and there were no visible wounds on his body, but his usually cold and composed face lacked its icy calm. It was pale, and his eyes were filled with unprecedented panic.

The front of his white shirt was covered in the greenish liquid that had smeared onto him.

Meeting those eyes and seeing the fear in Feng Yimo, Ji Yanqing awkwardly averted his gaze.

From the palm that held Feng Yimo's wrist, the places where he had been touched by Feng Yimo began to burn.

His entire body felt like it was on fire.

"Ji Yanqing..." Xia Shenshu rushed forward second.

Xia Shenshu's face lacked its usual nonchalance. It was as white as a sheet of paper, and his voice trembled, unlike his usual self.

"Are you okay..."

"You..."

"Ji Yanqing..."

More people rushed over, all of them pale-faced with quivering lips.

In that instant when they thought Ji Yanqing was dead for sure, their hearts felt as if they were being tightly gripped, unable to beat. Even now, their chests still ached.

"Nothing's wrong."

Ji Yanqing released Feng Yimo's hand and wiped his face, drenched in zombie fluids.

Someone nearby immediately took off their T-shirt and handed it to him.

Ji Yanqing was covered in the fluids of the awakened zombie—those fluids carried a virus that could infect people.

Without hesitation, Ji Yanqing quickly wiped himself down.

"You..." Xia Shenshu seemed to finally recover.

After extreme fear, his face visibly flushed red, and his usually carefree eyes began to redden.

"I'm fine." Ji Yanqing looked around at others who were similarly affected as Xia Shenshu.

Seeing the redness in their eyes, he smiled. "I just got a scare."

"A scare..." The group, their voices hoarse, found this both amusing and exasperating.

Ji Yanqing was just scared?

If that was what Ji Yanqing called being scared, then what did that make them?

Their hearts had nearly leapt out of their chests, and even now, they were still pounding wildly.

003.

"Good thing you're alright..." After someone said this, everyone let out a long sigh of relief.

The relief brought on a wave of fatigue, and many of them fell to the ground, their legs giving way.

Ji Yanqing threw away the shirt soaked with fluids and looked for Xia Chen in the crowd. Xia Chen was still sitting on the ground, stunned.

"Are you okay?" Ji Yanqing extended his hand.

Xia Chen turned his head and looked at Ji Yanqing in a daze.

Seeing Ji Yanqing's fluid-covered hand, his mind went blank.

Following Xia Chen's gaze, Ji Yanqing noticed his own hand, covered in greenish fluids. He rubbed his hand against the clean part of his shirt before reaching out again.

Xia Chen instinctively gripped it.

Ji Yanqing pulled hard, lifting him up.

"Ji Yanqing..." Lan Zi's voice, clearly trembling, came from behind.

Ji Yanqing turned around.

Lan Zi had already descended with her group. Having witnessed everything from afar, she was visibly shaken.

"I'm fine." Ji Yanqing moved his body to show Lan Zi that he was unharmed.

Relieved, Lan Zi's eyes instantly welled up.

"Alright, don't linger here. Let's go!" Xia Shenshu snapped back to reality and fired three shots into the air, their prearranged signal of success.

As the sound echoed, those standing or sitting on the ground sprang into action. They didn't stay in the open but ran towards the safe house they had previously cleared.

In just moments, more zombies had gathered around them. As they sprinted the two hundred meters to the safe house, over forty zombies rapidly surrounded them.

Everyone rushed inside, and the first few to enter hurriedly closed the door.

Listening to the constant banging outside, the group exchanged glances and quickly headed upstairs, planning to leave from the rooftop.

They had already scouted the area; they could reach the adjacent building from this one and then descend from there, eventually leaving the city.

Once they had run out of the city and burst into the forest, far from the town and the zombies, the group, finally recovering from their shock, collapsed onto the snow.

Exhaustion washed over them, and their limbs felt weak. They looked at each other and burst into laughter, laughing until they cried.

The laughter and crying continued for a long time until those waiting at the camp became worried and came looking for them. Only then did the exhausted group rise from the ground.

"We won." Their first words to the pale-faced search party were these.

Hearing these words, those who had stayed behind and heard the gunshots, knowing the outcome, exchanged glances. Many of them teared up, some even sobbing uncontrollably.

They had won.

Facing an awakened zombie that could have killed their entire team, facing a nightmare-like horror, they had won.

They had actually won...

"It wasn't that bad, really not that difficult..." Su Luo, supporting himself with his hands on the snow, said with a smile.

Many, their eyes still red, looked at him upon hearing his words.

"Forget it, I remember someone whose legs were shaking with fear earlier," Li Pingsen pointed out.

The previously relaxed expression on Su Luo's face quickly flushed red. "You weren't any better. I saw you; you were about to throw up from fear."

Hearing Su Luo's hasty defense, the forest filled with laughter.

"So what if I was scared at the time? We still won, and I wasn't wrong. It was indeed easier than we thought. If we had been more cautious from the start, we might have taken it down on our first attempt—" Su Luo's words cut off abruptly.

The laughter in the forest gradually faded.

Although they had won, they had also lost members of their team.

Ji Yanqing took a deep breath. "Let's go back first."

Everyone looked at Ji Yanqing and got up to follow him.

As Ji Yanqing started walking, a hand reached out to grab his arm from the side.

Ji Yanqing had just taken off his T-shirt, which was stained with liquid, leaving his upper body bare. Feng Yimo's hand touched his arm directly.

"It's not that serious..." Ji Yanqing said softly.

Feng Yimo glanced at the bruises on Ji Yanqing's left shoulder and back, showing no intention of letting go.

Ji Yanqing sighed helplessly and let him hold on.

"I'm going into the city to take a look." Lu Qing's eyes gleamed as he turned around and tried to head for the city. He had only taken two steps when Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi grabbed him from either side and hauled him back.

"What are you doing?" Lu Qing was anxious.

Xia Shenshu and Lan Zi didn't explain or even acknowledge his question; they simply dragged him back.

The town was in chaos due to the previous gunfire, and it was dangerous for Lu Qing to go there now. But these words would be meaningless to Lu Qing—he wouldn't listen.

Back at the camp, before Ji Yanqing could step into the campsite, two small figures ran over to him.

"Daddy..."

"Daddy..."

It was clear that Ji'an and Ji Le had been crying; their eyes were red and tear streaks still marked their faces, making them look pitiful.

"I'm fine," Ji Yanqing didn't let them stay close to him for long. His clothes and body were covered in the awakened zombie's bodily fluids.

On the side, Feng Yimo had already gotten into the car to find clean clothes. Each of them had brought a set of underwear and pajamas, including Ji Yanqing.

Back at the camp, the group who had participated in the operation eagerly recounted their experiences in the city to the others. Those who hadn't been able to enter the city gathered around to listen.

When they heard that the awakened zombie had been easily subdued, everyone's faces lit up with joy.

When they heard that the awakened zombie had come back to life, four people had died, and Ji Yanqing had almost died too, everyone's faces showed lingering fear.

Ji Yanqing didn't join in. He took the opportunity to have someone help him melt some snow for a bath.

They didn't know if the snow was contaminated, but compared to being covered in zombie fluids, using the snow was much safer.

After taking a bath in the makeshift shower made by hanging sheets, Ji Yanqing was drying his hair when he came face-to-face with three anxious faces—two small ones and one large one.

Ji'an, Ji Le, and Feng Yimo all had pale faces and red eyes, and their anxious expressions made them look like a family of three rabbits.

Ji Yanqing felt warmth in his heart but also found it a bit amusing. "I really am fine."

Ji'an and Ji Le stepped forward. Without saying a word, they tugged uneasily on Ji Yanqing's pant legs from either side, wanting to stay close to him.

Ji Yanqing looked down but didn't stop them.

Seeing both of Ji Yanqing's legs occupied, Feng Yimo silently followed behind him.

With his hair still damp, Ji Yanqing was escorted back to the group by Feng Yimo and the others, giving him the impression that he was the most important person in the world.

Seeing that Ji Yanqing had finished bathing, the others who had been exposed to the awakened zombie's fluids also went to wash up.

After the extreme excitement wore off, exhaustion soon set in. Xia Shenshu and the others quickly lost the energy to talk and found places to sit and rest.

Three hours later, after they had rested enough, they untied Lu Qing, who had been bound and gagged in the car, and took him back into the town.

Having killed the awakened zombie and knowing they could do it, everyone in the team felt a surge of renewed spirit. However, they didn't allow themselves to remain immersed in that joy and soon returned to reality.

To survive in this post-apocalyptic world, they needed to ensure they had sufficient supplies. Besides supplies, they also needed to find a generator and a water purifier. Most importantly, they couldn't leave the four people who had died in the city, allowing them to wander aimlessly like zombies.

Those four people were beyond saving, but they could at least give them a peaceful death.

Two hours later, Xia Shenshu and the others returned, bringing back a large amount of supplies.

The town had been searched many times, and there was nothing left on the streets. The town didn't have any particularly large supermarkets, and the two largest ones had already been completely looted.

Fortunately, they found the warehouses of those two supermarkets. After spending some time prying open the doors, they moved a considerable amount of supplies back.

In addition, they found a medium-sized generator in one of the supermarkets.

The generator had been installed as a backup in case of power outages to prevent the items in the refrigerators from spoiling. It generated electricity using gasoline, was not very large, and easy to carry, making it perfect for them.

When the generator was brought back, Ji Yanqing went to take a look. It was similar to what he remembered, heavy and nothing more.

Lu Qing hadn't returned yet, and they weren't interested in trying it out.

Xia Shenshu and the others also brought back a pile of mutated Chinese cabbage.

This type of Chinese cabbage was the same kind that Lu Qing and the others had eaten before. There were two fields outside the town filled with it, and after half a year of wild growth, almost every plant had grown to adult height.

Putting down what he was holding, Xia Shenshu approached Ji Yanqing. "What should we call our team?"

Ji Yanqing was taken aback by the question. He hadn't thought about it before.

They had only been with each other along the way and hadn't had the chance to interact with others, so there was no need to give themselves a name.

Now that Xia Shenshu asked, Ji Yanqing realized they did need a name.

After a moment of contemplation, Ji Yanqing said, "Xiang Yang."

"Xiang Yang?"

"Facing the sun, chasing the light."

He knew that to Xia Shenshu and the others, his idea of a paradise might still seem like a delusion now, but he hoped that one day they could make it happen.

004.

Xia Shenshu thought for a moment, nodded briskly, and turned to re-enter the city.

Though Xia Shenshu did not show it on his face, his back conveyed an eagerness and impatience.

"What's going on?" Ji Yanqing looked around at the others.

Upon being questioned, the few shook their heads and ran off excitedly.

Ji Yanqing raised an eyebrow; Xia Shenshu and his group were up to something mysterious.

Ji Yanqing glanced at the others who were about to cook mutant Chinese cabbage, got up, and decided to follow them into the city.

Xia Shenshu must be secretly causing trouble.

Seeing Ji Yanqing move, Feng Yimo and the three others immediately followed closely behind.

Following the crowd back into the city, Ji Yanqing soon found Xia Shenshu, who was busy on a wall after lowering a rope from the roof.

After Lu Qing finished his research, Xia Shenshu hung the awakened zombie's corpse on the side of a tall building opposite the town hall and wrote their squad's name and the fact that they had killed the awakened zombie on the wall.

Seeing those large yellow characters scrawled like a dog's scratch and Xia Shenshu working hard on the wall from afar, Ji Yanqing rubbed his nose in frustration.

Ji Yanqing did not stop him, and after taking some supplies, returned to the camp.

He saw through Xia Shenshu's little scheme at a glance and felt that this method would likely have no effect. After all, there weren't many survivors left, and even fewer would happen to pass by this town and see those words.

When Ji Yanqing returned to the camp with the three shadows, an argument was breaking out in the camp.

Ji Yanqing put down his things and looked in the direction of the sound—Li Pingsen was arguing with Xia Chen.

The two were arguing fiercely, their faces flushed red, and there was even a hint of physical confrontation.

Ji Yanqing casually pulled someone over to ask, and quickly understood what was happening.

Li Pingsen had confronted Xia Chen about the incident with the four people, and Xia Chen refused to accept it, so they started arguing.

As Ji Yanqing watched from a distance, Xia Chen, who was arguing with Li Pingsen, looked over at him.

Ji Yanqing did not intervene.

While subjectively, Xia Chen couldn't be blamed for the incident—they all lacked experience in testing if awakened zombies were dead—it was true that Xia Chen's hasty decision to declare them dead led them to let their guard down completely.

Subjectively, it wasn't his fault, but Xia Chen had indeed misled them.

Seeing Ji Yanqing take no action, Xia Chen looked away with a dark expression.

He pushed aside Li Pingsen, who was still talking, and walked away.

Ji Yanqing sighed, hoping that Xia Chen would calm down and understand.

By nine o'clock, all the snow on the ground had melted.

When the sun became unbearable around ten o'clock, Xia Shenshu and his group returned from the city.

They brought back all the supplies they could use and also the bodies of the four people.

They dug a large pit near the camp and buried the four of them.

Death was inevitable in the apocalypse, but they had all been living, breathing people just beside them.

After settling the bodies, the group composed themselves, each took disposable bowls and chopsticks, and lined up for lunch.

Lunch was mutant Chinese cabbage and vermicelli stew made from the cabbage they had moved back earlier.

The Chinese cabbage had grown into root-like stalks, reaching the height of an adult, with stalks thicker than an adult's thigh. The leaves were edible, but the main part eaten was the stalk.

Their stalks were full of water and resembled lettuce.

Those who brought pots from the city stir-fried the sliced stalks in oil to release their moisture, then added vermicelli and cooked them into four large pots of Chinese cabbage and vermicelli stew.

Since the apocalypse, they had been eating random snacks and dried goods and couldn't remember how long it had been since they had a proper meal cooked with oil.

After everyone received their generous portions of vermicelli stew, they each found a place to sit and stared blankly at the stew before them.

The vermicelli smelled delicious, and the broth with oil droplets looked very appetizing, but the thought of the mutant Chinese cabbage inside conjured unpleasant images in everyone's minds.

They had seen people who, unable to bear hunger, ate these mutant crops, and when they saw them, most were already rotting corpses.

Looking at the particularly hearty bowl of vermicelli stew before him and smelling the aroma of oil, Ji Yanqing's Adam's apple moved as he recalled the eyeball covered in roots that he and Xia Shenshu had dug out of the bald man's eye socket.

Looking around, apart from the group from Lu Qing's team, almost no one dared to touch their food; they were all staring blankly.

Ji Yanqing picked up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of the white Chinese cabbage, tried to imagine it as lettuce, and put it in his mouth.

The Chinese cabbage was indeed, as Lu Qing had said, slightly sweet, and its texture was indeed like lettuce.

Stir-fried in oil and then stewed with vermicelli, with soy sauce, monosodium glutamate, and various seasonings, it tasted incredibly fresh and was even more delicious than lettuce.

Seeing Ji Yanqing start eating, the others in the camp swallowed their saliva and eagerly began to eat.

Having spent a lot of time with Ji Yanqing, they had developed a blind trust in him, which even overshadowed their fear and revulsion towards mutated plants.

As they tasted the oil and salt, the sweetness of the Chinese cabbage, and the smoothness of the vermicelli, the group, who had been filled with fear just moments ago, couldn't help but smile in happiness.

It had been far too long since they had a proper meal; they almost forgot how to hold chopsticks.

"Lower down a bit..." Ji Yanqing paused his actions and helped Ji'an and Ji Le correct their chopstick-holding postures.

Ji'an and Ji Le sat on the ground, placing their bowls on top of cardboard boxes as they ate.

Since they could remember, Ji'an and Ji Le had hardly used chopsticks. Coupled with their small hands that lacked the strength to control the chopsticks dexterously, their movements looked quite clumsy.

Fortunately, they did not need to pick up dishes, so they simply used the chopsticks like sticks, scraping food along the sides of the bowl into their mouths.

Ji'an and Ji Le's appetites were never very good, especially Ji'an, who had not eaten for a considerable amount of time. Every day, Ji Yanqing had to watch over him during meals.

At this moment, however, they were enticed by the aroma and ate heartily.

Seeing Ji'an and Ji Le like this, Ji Yanqing's eyes softened.

Ji Yanqing looked at Feng Yimo beside him, who was drinking soup from his bowl with his head lowered.

Seeing Feng Yimo like this, Ji Yanqing felt a strange sensation.

Most of his attention during the meal was focused on Ji'an and Ji Le. Every time he turned around, Feng Yimo had already finished eating, so he rarely saw Feng Yimo eat.

"Is it tasty?" Ji Yanqing asked.

Feng Yimo barely nodded.

"There's still more in the pot, help yourself." Ji Yanqing said.

There were many Chinese lettuce leaves, and since they could not be stored for long, they had to finish them all within five days.

After talking to Feng Yimo, Ji Yanqing looked down at Ji'an and Ji Le again.

He was about to correct their chopstick-holding postures when he noticed the two little guys clumsily searching for something in their bowls.

Their bowls only had vermicelli left, but they were searching for the mutated Chinese lettuce.

Ji Yanqing was taken aback. The Chinese lettuce was indeed delicious, but the vermicelli was also tasty. Yet, Ji'an and Ji Le only ate the Chinese lettuce.

Did Ji'an and Ji Le like the Chinese lettuce that much?

After rummaging through their bowls for a while, turning the remaining pile of vermicelli upside down without finding more Chinese lettuce, the two little ones pouted slightly in dissatisfaction.

Ji Yanqing found it amusing and shared the Chinese lettuce from his own bowl with them.

When they suddenly saw more delicious Chinese lettuce appear in their bowls, the two little ones immediately looked at Ji Yanqing. They swallowed their saliva but did not move their chopsticks.

If Ji Yanqing gave them his share, then Ji Yanqing would have none left.

This Chinese lettuce was really delicious.

"It's okay, I'll just eat the vermicelli," Ji Yanqing said. "I think the vermicelli is tastier than the Chinese lettuce."

"Really?" Ji Le's dark eyes sparkled.

"Mm."

With a confirmed answer, Ji'an and Ji Le did not hesitate and quickly started eating.

The corners of Ji Yanqing's mouth curved upward.

The Chinese lettuce was very juicy, allowing them to cook the vermicelli that required water without adding any extra water. It also provided an opportunity for them to replenish their fluids without having to drink water specifically. It was a good thing.

In the future, when they reached new towns, they could try to find more.

After taking care of Ji'an and Ji Le, Ji Yanqing looked at Feng Yimo again.

As his gaze fell upon him, he realized that Feng Yimo's bowl was just like Ji'an and Ji Le's—no Chinese lettuce remained, only a pile of vermicelli.

Ji Yanqing was speechless. Was Feng Yimo also a child?

Ji Yanqing searched his bowl and found the last few pieces of Chinese lettuce, giving them all to Feng Yimo.

"You should finish the vermicelli too," Ji Yanqing reminded him, feeling as if he was taking care of three children.

"Mm." Feng Yimo's voice was low and hoarse.

Feng Yimo did not immediately devour the Chinese lettuce. He quietly looked at Ji Yanqing, his deep, dark eyes resembling a mysterious, deep sea filled with chilling darkness.

Ji Yanqing did not feel any coldness from those eyes; instead, he sensed something else. He could not describe what it was, but it made his heart race uncontrollably.

Just like before, when he said he wanted to kiss Feng Yimo.

Feeling somewhat flustered, Ji Yanqing shifted his gaze and drank the soup from his bowl.

Feng Yimo looked at Ji Yanqing's bowl, which only had vermicelli left, then at the last few pieces of Chinese lettuce originally belonging to Ji Yanqing in his own bowl.

"I want to be good to you too."

Ji Yanqing nearly choked on the soup, becoming even more flustered as he looked up.

What was wrong with Feng Yimo?

"How should I do it?" Feng Yimo's puzzled and cool voice sounded again.

Feng Yimo could not describe the emotions churning within him. All he knew was that he wanted to be good to Ji Yanqing, very good, better than now.

But he did not know how to do it.

Should he give Ji Yanqing countless amounts of food and water? Or provide Ji Yanqing with countless guns and bullets? Or perhaps kill all the zombie kings in the world that Ji Yanqing disliked?

Feng Yimo felt that none of these were enough, added together they still fell short.