AFTCKCTCKATD - Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Did It Dig Up Feng Yimo's Ancestral Grave In Its Past Life?

In the dimly lit clothing store, Ji Yanqing stared at the paw resting in his hand, momentarily stunned by the dog’s bark.

Nearby, Gu Wenmo and his group, who had been watching, were equally bewildered. Gu Wenmo looked from Ji Yanqing to the black dog, puzzled. “…If it’s not a dog, what else could it be? It can’t be a Corpse King, right?” Corpse Kings that evolved towards strength always took bestial forms, yes, but none were this small.

Hearing Gu Wenmo’s words, the black beast—one paw still in Ji Yanqing’s grasp—shot him a dark look. Feng Yimo, Ji An, and Ji Le also turned their heads to stare. Under the weight of those four pairs of dark, intense eyes, Gu Wenmo felt an inexplicable shiver run down his spine. Others in the room who overheard chuckled softly; Gu Wenmo must have been scared witless by Corpse Kings to be seeing them everywhere.

“So, what’s your decision? Are you joining or not?” Gu Wenmo turned back to Feng Yimo and the boys. They had already composed themselves; the unnerving moment felt like a figment of his imagination.

“Yes,” Feng Yimo replied, glancing nervously towards Ji Yanqing.

Ji An and Ji Le anxiously peeked at Ji Yanqing’s chin before quickly looking away, heads bowed. They didn’t dare meet his eyes, certain his face must be etched with disgust and annoyance at their decision to join.

With Feng Yimo’s group confirmed, Bai Haoxuan turned to take stock of their numbers and supplies. His team had started with around one hundred fifty to sixty people. They lost about thirty during the first Awakened Zombie chase, then another fifty or sixty during the siege in the residential building. Now, only eighty-something remained. Adding Gu Wenmo’s twenty-odd members brought their current total in the clothing store to just over one hundred and ten.

After two consecutive attacks, nearly twenty people among the hundred-plus survivors were seriously injured. Twelve or thirteen were unconscious, and many others had leg injuries preventing them from moving quickly. Their supply situation was just as dire. Bai Haoxuan’s team had come into the city specifically to find provisions. They’d managed to scavenge some supplies from a supermarket, but before they could transport them out, they heard the sounds of Corpse Kings fighting nearby. The next morning, as they prepared to leave the city, they ran into the bearded man’s group on the road, leading to the two near-fatal encounters they’d just survived.

Bai Haoxuan finished inventorying their remaining supplies, quickly scribbled a list, and handed it to Ji Yanqing. “We lost a lot while escaping. What’s left is barely enough for one meal tonight,” Bai Haoxuan stated, his eyes sweeping across the weary faces in the room. “We still have about fifty people guarding our vehicles outside the city, and there are some reserves there, but it’s only enough for maybe one more day, at most.”

“You have vehicles and people outside the city?” Uncle Wang asked, a spark of hope igniting in his voice.

“Yes, five vehicles, with over fifty people I left to guard them,” Bai Haoxuan confirmed, looking at Ji Yanqing. “If we can just get out of the city safely, we can drive away from here.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Gu Wenmo interjected immediately, desperate to leave this place. Lou Ye knew where they were now; he was undoubtedly rushing towards them. Once he arrived… The memory of being trapped in the residential building flashed through everyone’s minds. When the two Awakened Zombies had chased them earlier, they had felt despair, but at least they could still run, still cling to a fragile hope. Cornered in that building, however, all hope had vanished.

Bai Haoxuan looked towards Ji Yanqing. He was their leader now.

Ji Yanqing stared at the supply list for a long moment before finally taking it. His initial plan had been to send Gu Wenmo’s group away. He quickly scanned the list and tucked it into his pocket.

“First, tend to the wounded. Then distribute the food and water. Eat, then rest. We leave tonight when the snow starts falling again. Once we’re out of the city, we’ll move out first thing tomorrow morning, as soon as the snow melts,” Ji Yanqing decided. He would have preferred to drive away immediately, but the heavy snow made it impossible. Even if Lou Ye himself hadn’t arrived yet, the zombies and Awakened Zombies searching the area for him were surely converging on this city, possibly already inside. The entire city was likely under surveillance.

With over thirty people unable to walk or unconscious out of their group of just over a hundred, and everyone else pushed to their physical limits, attempting to leave now, even if they rushed, would likely result in them being discovered on the way out. If that happened, no one would escape. They needed to rest. Only after regaining some strength would they have a chance to make a clean break for it.

Bai Haoxuan agreed with this assessment. He nodded and went to organize those still able to move to distribute the limited food and water. After giving instructions, Bai Haoxuan retrieved a map his team had been using and returned to Ji Yanqing’s side.

He spread the map out in front of Ji Yanqing and briefly outlined his team’s previous movements. His survival team had been around for a while, nearly four months. During that time, they’d faced several near-wipeouts; their survival was almost miraculous. After summarizing their history, Bai Haoxuan pointed to their current location on the map. “There are three major cities in this vicinity. This is one.”

“The second,” Bai Haoxuan pointed to the city where Ji Yanqing’s group had first encountered Lou Ye. Then, he indicated the last one. “And the third.” His finger rested on the third city. “We were originally headed for this city. But we saw a Corpse King’s body on the outskirts before we even entered. We still had a decent amount of supplies then, so we decided to abandon that route and came here instead.” Mentioning the Corpse King reminded Bai Haoxuan of the centipede Corpse King’s corpse they’d seen earlier. His brow furrowed, his voice tinged with unease. “Two Corpse Kings killed in two different cities, back-to-back, and both clearly recent events. There must be something else operating in this area besides Lou Ye.”

Hearing Bai Haoxuan’s words, a ripple of disquiet went through the room as people quietly shared the supplies. Frowns deepened on many faces. This world was becoming increasingly difficult to comprehend. First, ordinary zombies. Then Awakened Zombies. Then Corpse Kings. Just when they thought Corpse Kings were the apex predator, they evolved further. Even more unsettling, chillingly so, was the realization that these once-solitary Corpse Kings seemed to be communicating now, cooperating, even hunting each other purposefully. Corpse Kings were already beyond humanity’s ability to handle. If they were now organizing, forming their own system… what hope was left for humans? Listening to Bai Haoxuan, sensing the profound, abyss-like despair beneath his words, the silence in the room grew heavier.

Feng Yimo, listening intently, nodded slowly, his own brow furrowing. Whether it was Lou Ye, or whatever killed the Corpse King in the other city, or this rumored “Grim Reaper,” he would absolutely not allow any of them to get near Ji Yanqing.

Noticing this, the black beast, still reeling from the humiliation of the “shake paw” incident, felt its lips twitch in an unnervingly human-like sneer. Didn’t Feng Yimo find the city Bai Haoxuan pointed to on the map even remotely familiar? The thought made the beast inwardly choke. Was it seriously expecting Feng Yimo to pay attention to a map? It glanced at Feng Yimo, whose entire focus remained locked on Ji Yanqing. Then, the beast surreptitiously eyed the wardrobe-blocked main door, beginning to seriously contemplate escape. Previously, Feng Yimo’s attention had been fixed solely on it, offering no chance to flee. But now, all of Feng Yimo’s attention was absorbed by the human named Ji Yanqing. The beast glanced again at Ji An and Ji Le beside Feng Yimo. The two boys, still practically flattened, were also completely focused on Ji Yanqing, stealing repeated glances, then quickly looking away whenever Ji Yanqing seemed about to meet their eyes.

Ji Yanqing pulled his gaze away from Ji An and Ji Le and tapped the city on the map that Bai Haoxuan’s team had bypassed.

“After the snow melts tomorrow, we go here first. Resupply as much as we can, as quickly as possible. Then we leave the area,” Ji Yanqing stated. They had virtually no supplies left. If they didn’t find more soon, starvation or thirst might kill them before Lou Ye even tracked them down.

Bai Haoxuan nodded. “Alright. I’ll assign a few more people to stand watch upstairs.” He folded the map and handed it to Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing took it and put it in his backpack. As he did so, he pulled out a relatively clean shirt, preparing to tear it into strips to re-bandage his hands. Ever since he’d injured both hands ambushing Lou Ye, the wounds hadn’t had a chance to properly heal. Every time scabs began to form, the skin would split open again. They had reopened during the fight with the dinosaur-like Awakened Zombie, sending waves of sharp pain through him. Then, in the residential building, he’d been forced to wield his axe again, leaping across rooftops to deal with Lou Ye’s other Awakened Zombie. The cloth strips currently wrapped around his hands were stiff and dark with dried blood, clinging unpleasantly to the raw wounds beneath, making them throb even more intensely.

From the crowd, a woman appearing to be in her thirties walked towards Ji Yanqing, carrying a cloth bag. Ji Yanqing looked up.

Bai Haoxuan stepped aside slightly. “This is Doctor Wang, our team’s medic.”

The woman offered a small smile and sat down in front of Ji Yanqing. “I’m just a nurse, actually.” As she spoke, she gently took Ji Yanqing’s hand and began carefully unwrapping the soiled bandages.

The strips came away, revealing hands stained crimson. Ji Yanqing’s fingers, naturally long and pale, were now coated in blood. His palms, the spaces between his fingers, and the fleshy part between his thumb and index finger bore several deep splits. The sight of the raw, torn flesh mixed with the hard, dark scabs from previous attempts to heal was enough to make one wince in sympathetic pain.

Seeing the state of his hands, Doctor Wang and a few others nearby drew sharp, involuntary breaths. Feng Yimo’s brow tightened into a deep frown. Ji An and Ji Le’s lips trembled, a hot stinging sensation welling up behind their eyes. The wounds looked agonizing.

“You… I’ll be gentle,” Doctor Wang murmured, glancing at Ji Yanqing’s pale but stoic face. He hadn’t made a sound. She had almost asked if it didn’t hurt, but caught herself. Torn wounds were always more painful than clean cuts, and these had been repeatedly aggravated. How could it not hurt? Anyone else would likely be howling in pain by now.

----

Ji Yanqing didn’t make a sound, precisely because he was forcing himself not to.

“It’s nothing.” He glanced down at his own ravaged hands.

Beside him, Gu Wenmo and Bai Haoxuan opened their mouths as if to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. A Corpse King’s hide couldn’t be pierced by bullets, yet Ji Yanqing had hacked at it with an axe. Each swing must have required his absolute full strength. It would have been stranger if striking that steel-like skin with such force hadn’t injured him.

But even injured, Ji Yanqing hadn’t stopped fighting.

And they, watching from the sidelines, could do nothing.

Doctor Wang said no more. She took antiseptic from her cloth bag, carefully soaked a cotton ball, and began cleaning Ji Yanqing’s wounds. It took her some time to disinfect and treat every injury. She applied ointment and then wrapped his hands in clean gauze.

Once the bandaging was complete, Ji Yanqing flexed his hands. Doctor Wang’s bandaging technique was far better than his own clumsy attempts.

“Here, take this.” Bai Haoxuan brought over a generous pile of food and drinks, setting it down in front of Ji Yanqing.

Ji Yanqing looked at the portion; it was significantly larger than what others had received.

“Eat more. You need it to recover faster,” Bai Haoxuan said. He wanted to thank Ji Yanqing properly—the man had already been injured before stepping up to save them, yet he’d done it anyway. Tonight is definitely going to be a hard fight, Bai Haoxuan added silently in his thoughts.

“After you eat, I’ll give you some anti-inflammatory painkillers,” Doctor Wang offered.

Someone nearby added, “You should try to sleep after eating. Get up tonight when it’s time to go.”

Ji Yanqing glanced over; it was one of Bai Haoxuan’s team members. Seeing the large pile of provisions before Ji Yanqing, far exceeding anyone else’s share, not a single person in the clothing store showed any sign of resentment.

“We’ll keep watch. Don’t worry,” Gu Wenmo assured him, patting his chest.

Ji Yanqing’s gaze swept over the faces surrounding him, taking in the mix of anxiety and complex emotions in their eyes. He didn’t say anything further, just awkwardly began eating with his bandaged hands. Seeing him start, Bai Haoxuan stepped forward to tear open the food packages and unscrew the water bottle caps for him.

Ji Yanqing ate in silence.

Once Ji Yanqing began eating, the others focused on their own meager portions. They needed to rest too. Only with rest could they hope to escape this place.

The amount of food Ji Yanqing received was substantial, enough to fill him completely. He consumed everything quickly, feeling a welcome sense of fullness spread through his stomach. He glanced away for just a moment, and when he looked back, three small packets of biscuits had materialized in front of him.

Ji Yanqing turned his head, his gaze quickly finding Ji An and Ji Le in the opposite corner, both wanting to look at him but hesitant to meet his eyes.

He was momentarily speechless. He stared at the three packets of biscuits for a long moment. He didn’t give them back. Instead, he picked up two of the packets and tucked them carefully into his backpack.

Having done that, he lay down beside his pack. Before closing his eyes, he cast one last look towards the opposite corner. Seeing him accept their biscuits, the two small figures couldn’t suppress their smiles. It was as if they’d tasted the sweetest honey, smiles radiating pure, heartfelt joy. Their eyes were still red and swollen from crying, their normally fair cheeks streaked with dirt and tears. Yet, seeing those pitiful little faces light up with such happiness caused an unexpected stinging in Ji Yanqing’s own eyes, a lump forming in his throat.

He could teach Ji An and Ji Le right from wrong, what was permissible and what wasn’t. He was confident he could guide them well. But they were Feng Yimo’s subordinates. The bond between a Corpse King and their subordinates… even with his limited knowledge, he could guess its nature. Subordinates likely couldn’t defy the Corpse King who created them. No matter how much he taught the boys, it would mean nothing against a single command from Feng Yimo.

And as for Feng Yimo… Ji Yanqing suspected he might be developing feelings for him. The way his heart had hammered when he saw Feng Yimo again seemed to confirm it. But to Feng Yimo, he was likely just an ordinary friend, at best. An ordinary friend to him, perhaps, but Ji Yanqing doubted Feng Yimo even remembered the names of people like Xia Shen Shu and the others. That was just Feng Yimo—indifferent to almost the entire world.

Feng Yimo was a Corpse King. When he was in a good mood, everything was fine. But what about when he wasn’t? If they stayed together, disagreements were inevitable. When that day came, could Feng Yimo restrain himself from killing them?

Ji Yanqing wasn’t willing to gamble on that possibility.

Across the room, Feng Yimo, still squeezed under the wardrobe with Ji An and Ji Le, stared intently at the single, lonely packet of biscuits Ji Yanqing had left behind. In that instant, a wave of devastating realization washed over him, leaving him stunned.

Ji Yanqing had taken the biscuits from Ji An and Ji Le, but he had left Feng Yimo’s.

Ji Yanqing hated him. He disliked Feng Yimo even more than he disliked Ji An and Ji Le.

The understanding hit him with physical force. Staring at the abandoned biscuits, an inexplicable, sharp ache bloomed in Feng Yimo’s chest. He leaned back against the hard edge of the wardrobe, his eyes vacant and hollow.

Perhaps it was the medicine, but Ji Yanqing slept deeply, despite the persistent throb from his wounds, the unforgiving hardness of the floor, and the biting chill that seeped into the store as night fell.

He slept soundly until someone gently woke him. Ji Yanqing remained on the floor for a couple of seconds, gathering himself, before slowly sitting up. Fed and rested, the pain in his hands had subsided somewhat. Doctor Wang approached with more pain relief and anti-inflammatory pills, which Ji Yanqing swallowed quickly.

Finished, he looked towards the glass storefront, obscured by the barricade of cabinets. Outside, the sky was pitch black. Heavy, goose-feather snow swirled through the city air, blanketing rooftops and streets in a thick white layer. A bone-chilling cold pierced through the gaps around the door, making each breath feel like ice settling deep in his lungs.

Ji Yanqing glanced at the others in the room. Bai Haoxuan had already gotten everyone packed and ready before waking him. He stood, stretched briefly, and began gathering his own few belongings. He found a few plastic-wrapped white shirts in the store and added them to his backpack—potential makeshift bandages. Before he could even zip the bag, someone stepped forward, took it from him without a word, and slung it onto their own back.

“Thanks,” Ji Yanqing said, not protesting.

“Is this axe important?” Gu Wenmo asked, having picked up the heavy weapon. It was heavier than he’d expected.

Ji Yanqing looked over. It wasn’t the first time he’d been asked that. Xia Shen Shu’s group had asked before.

Seeing Ji Yanqing didn’t answer, Gu Wenmo clarified, “Just curious. You carry it everywhere, figured it must be important.” The axe was clearly damaged beyond repair and weighed a ton, yet Ji Yanqing had clung to it.

“Don’t need it anymore.” Ji Yanqing’s gaze lingered on the axe handle for a fraction of a second. “Leave it here.”

Gu Wenmo blinked in surprise. “Huh?” Ji Yanqing had carried it all this way, only to abandon it now?

“It’s useless now,” Ji Yanqing said, looking away.

Gu Wenmo glanced at the bloodstains on the handle resting against his shoulder, then at the chipped and cracked blade. He leaned the axe against the nearby wall. Turning to Bai Haoxuan, he asked, “You mentioned earlier that people from Equator[^1] have weapons effective against zombies. Is that true?”

“That’s just what I heard,” Bai Haoxuan admitted, uncertain.

“How could something like that even exist…” Gu Wenmo couldn’t fathom it.

“Probably some kind of mutated plant. Certain types can affect zombies,” Ji Yanqing explained. The mission the bearded man and his group were on was likely related to something of that nature.

“Things like that really exist?” Gu Wenmo was astonished.

Ji Yanqing couldn’t resist glancing towards Feng Yimo. “They do.” When they’d encountered that field of flowers and lost control of their bodies, only Feng Yimo had remained largely unaffected. He’d found it odd back then. But after noticing Feng Yimo wasn’t completely immune, he’d chalked it up to the flowers having different effects based on individual constitutions. Thinking back now, his initial guess wasn’t entirely wrong, though the “constitution” involved was vastly different from what he’d assumed.

“Let’s go,” Ji Yanqing announced.

People began moving the cabinets away from the glass doors, preparing to open them.

Bai Haoxuan stepped forward. “We didn’t spot any unusual zombie activity in the city this afternoon, but those things are clever…”

Ji Yanqing nodded. As the door opened, he took the lead, stepping out into the snowy night.

The moment he was outside, an even more intense and biting cold assaulted him, instantly banishing any lingering sleepiness. The zombies that had gathered at the door earlier had been dispatched by Bai Haoxuan’s team during the day. Now, the street lay empty, save for a few frozen corpses half-buried in the snow.

Ji Yanqing scanned the street, then tilted his head back to look up. The entire city, draped in snow, appeared an eerie, muted grey under the dark sky, blurring the sense of time, as if sunrise and sunset no longer existed in this world.

Once everyone had gathered on the street, Bai Haoxuan, being more familiar with the city layout, immediately led the way towards an alleyway on the left. The group fell in behind him.

Seeing the main group moving, Ji An and Ji Le hurried to catch up. The snow was deeper than expected. Ji An took a step and promptly pitched forward, face-first into a drift.

Ji Yanqing moved to help him up. As Ji An steadied himself, Ji Yanqing’s hand instinctively rose to brush the snow from the boy’s face, only to freeze mid-air as he caught himself. He slowly retracted his hand.

“Dad…” Being approached and helped up by Ji Yanqing sent a visible flush creeping up Ji An’s small, wind-chapped face. He nervously patted the snow off his stomach and clothes, then immediately seemed to regret having done it himself. He stole a glance at Ji Yanqing, and seeing no intention from the man to help him brush off the remaining snow, his face fell again as he dejectedly continued patting himself down.

“Be careful,” Ji Yanqing said softly, turning to walk towards the front of the group.

Hearing those words, Ji An, who had been crestfallen just a second before, practically lit up, his eyes shining brightly. Overjoyed, he scrambled to follow.

Ji Le, standing nearby, watched with wide, bright eyes, envy plain on his face. He wanted to talk to Ji Yanqing too.

Ji An happily trotted after Ji Yanqing for a few steps before remembering Ji Le. He quickly turned back, grabbed Ji Le’s hand, and pulled him along.

Feng Yimo trailed just behind the three of them, his chillingly dark eyes fixed intently on Ji Yanqing’s back. He was seriously pondering whether he, too, ought to take a fall.

---

Lagging behind, the last one out the door, the black beast saw Feng Yimo disappear around the corner. Without a second thought, it whirled around and bolted in the opposite direction. Paws churning, it became a black streak, weaving through the buildings at maximum speed, desperate to put as much distance as possible between itself and Feng Yimo.

As the buildings flew past, sensing the growing distance, a grin involuntarily stretched its jaws. A sound of pure exhilaration bubbled up from its throat, “Woof!”

Hearing the dog bark, the black beast froze mid-stride. For a fleeting moment, murderous intent flared—directed entirely at itself. It hastily corrected the sound, letting out a more appropriate howl, “Awooo!” That first one didn’t count!

“Awooo!” Tilting its head back, it let out another, softer howl at the snowy sky before resuming its frantic sprint. The wind and snow lashed against its fur, but the taste of freedom was intoxicating; it felt light enough to fly.

“What was that…?” At the edge of the cluster of buildings, Bai Haoxuan stopped abruptly, casting an uneasy glance back in the direction of the sound. The others behind him also turned, having faintly heard a bestial roar carried on the wind—a sound distinctly different from the typical groans of zombies. To make a sound like that, it had to be at least an Awakened Zombie.

“Captain…” one of the team members pointed nervously ahead.

Ji Yanqing’s head snapped towards the indicated direction. Ten or so buildings away, perched atop a taller structure, was a figure noticeably larger than a human. It was turning its head, looking back towards where the howl had originated.

“Should be one of Lou Ye’s Awakened Zombies,” Ji Yanqing stated grimly. He hadn’t seen this specific one with Lou Ye before, but its position high up, clearly searching for something, made it unlikely to be a ‘normal’, or unaffiliated, Awakened Zombie.

“Move faster,” Ji Yanqing urged.

Prompted by the warning, the group, already unnerved by the unseen watcher, quickly ducked behind the nearest building for cover. Once concealed, Ji Yanqing peered back towards the rooftop. The Awakened Zombie had turned its attention away from the direction of the howl and was now scanning the alleyways below. It wasn’t just looking in one spot; it circled slowly, observing its surroundings with an unsettling, almost human-like thoroughness. Seeing this confirmed Ji Yanqing’s suspicion.

“Stay sharp. I doubt it’s alone,” Ji Yanqing warned.

They pressed onward, their caution now doubled. After the attack in the residential building, they had fled deeper into the city, running for nearly ten minutes. That distance had significantly complicated their escape route. Even after moving silently through the urban landscape for another twenty minutes, the city limits remained out of sight.

As the night deepened, the wind howled, and the snowfall intensified. Enduring the biting cold and the difficult footing in the thick snow, they pushed forward for another twenty minutes before finally reaching the city’s edge.

Here, the buildings gave way to vegetable fields stretching out into an open plain. Under the heavy snowfall, the plain was a vast, undifferentiated expanse of white, its true contours hidden. Instead of venturing directly across, they turned left, following the city’s boundary for about ten minutes until they reached the edge of a forest.

A couple hundred meters of snowy fields separated the forest from the city. The woods were broad, extending for more than half a kilometer. Beyond the trees, the ground became rough and uneven, dotted with sparse shrubs. Farther still lay the mountain range that was their destination. Taking this route was longer, but the forest offered crucial cover, shielding them from view across the open terrain.

After a brief pause to catch their breath and scan the nearby buildings for any watchers, the group made a swift dash across the fields and disappeared into the relative safety of the trees.

Once inside the forest, Ji Yanqing didn’t immediately press on. He called a halt, allowing everyone a much-needed rest within the shelter of the woods. They had been walking through the harsh night for nearly an hour.

“Captain…” Gu Wenmo’s voice cut through the quiet, tinged with anxiety.

Ji Yanqing looked over. “We’re missing someone,” Gu Wenmo reported, his expression grim.

Ji Yanqing’s brow furrowed instantly, and a ripple of unease went through the rest of the group.

“It’s the one with the sword,” Gu Wenmo clarified, gesturing towards Ji An and Ji Le. “The one who was with them.” Ji An and Ji Le had stumbled repeatedly during the trek, almost rolling themselves into snowballs, covered head to toe in white powder. Mentioned now, they looked up blankly from their efforts to brush themselves off.

Realization dawned on Ji Yanqing. Feng Yimo? He’d gotten lost again? A moment of disbelief struck him. Feng Yimo was a Corpse King. Ji An and Ji Le were second-stage Corpse Kings, which meant Feng Yimo had to be at least a third-stage, possibly higher. Ji Yanqing wasn’t sure if Feng Yimo’s evolution prioritized strength or intelligence, but either way, he was undoubtedly stronger than Lou Ye.

Knowing Feng Yimo likely wasn’t in any real danger brought a complex mix of feelings. There was relief, yes, but it was overshadowed by a heavy, sinking feeling in his chest—a stark reminder that Feng Yimo wasn’t human.

“Don’t worry about him,” Ji Yanqing said flatly.

His words hung in the air. The group, moments before anxious, now stared at Ji Yanqing in surprise. This wasn’t the reaction they’d expected.

Not giving them time to dwell on it, Ji Yanqing turned and started walking deeper into the forest. “Let’s go.”

Behind him, Bai Haoxuan and Gu Wenmo exchanged bewildered glances. The Ji Yanqing they knew wouldn’t abandon a teammate like this.

“Captain…” Gu Wenmo began, then trailed off.

“Do you know him well?” Bai Haoxuan asked quietly. He’d noticed how Feng Yimo constantly watched Ji Yanqing, and how Ji An and Ji Le seemed almost afraid of the man.

Ji Yanqing offered no explanation, simply continuing deeper into the woods. Bai Haoxuan glanced at Ji An and Ji Le, who were struggling through the snow, occasionally sinking deep and needing help to be pulled out. There was no worry on their faces; they seemed unconcerned about the missing man. Bai Haoxuan and Gu Wenmo shared another baffled look. This made no sense. The rest of the group hesitantly followed Ji Yanqing.

---

Meanwhile, back in the snow-shrouded city.

Sprinting relentlessly through the drifts, the black beast crossed half the city before finally skidding to a halt near the massive corpse of the centipede Corpse King. Feeling the residual heat from its exertions, it gazed at the snow-dusted carcass and couldn’t resist letting out another triumphant howl, “Awooo!”

Tears welled in its eyes, a storm of emotion raging within its chest. It had escaped! It had actually escaped Feng Yimo’s clutches alive! It vowed then and there to run farther than ever before, to leave this entire region behind. It never, ever wanted to lay eyes on Feng Yimo again!

Just as it began contemplating whether to find the badger Corpse King and convince it to flee together, it noticed something deeply unsettling. In the darkness, the centipede corpse beside it was moving. Snow shivered and slid from the carcass as it trembled. Disturbances in the surrounding snow indicated this wasn’t the first time it had stirred.

“Awoo?” A primal chill shot through the black beast. It scrambled backward, lowering its body into an attack stance. It had watched Feng Yimo kill this thing. It was dead! How could it be moving?

As terrifying possibilities bloomed in its mind, a chillingly familiar voice drifted through the darkness. “Why are you following me?”

“AWOO!” The sound jolted the black beast so violently it nearly jumped out of its skin, fur bristling in sheer terror. The warmth from its run vanished instantly, replaced by icy dread and a profound sense of impending doom.

Feng Yimo’s head emerged from behind the massive corpse. He shot the beast a cold glance, then, with a grunt of effort, ripped a bone as thick as a child’s arm from the carcass.

Across the snowy ground, the black beast stared at Feng Yimo’s face, the awful confirmation sinking in. It really was him. The urge to burst into tears was overwhelming. Wasn’t Feng Yimo supposed to be leaving the city with that human, Ji Yanqing? What was he doing here? And what did he mean, following him? When had it ever followed him?! Did it dig up Feng Yimo’s ancestral graves in a past life or something?!

Feng Yimo didn’t wait for an answer, nor did he seem to care. He inspected the bone, hefted it, and nodded slightly, apparently satisfied. He walked over to a pile of discarded remains nearby and selected a huge, crescent-shaped tooth. Taking out his long knife, he began to carve in the dim light.

Scrape. Scrape. Crack. The sounds echoed unnervingly in the snowy silence, mingling with the faint, metallic tang of blood in the air. The black beast cautiously circled the enormous corpse. When it saw the ground at Feng Yimo’s feet—a gruesome canvas of greenish gore, shredded flesh, and bone fragments—the chill already gripping its body intensified, threatening to freeze the very blood in its veins.

Had Feng Yimo completely lost his mind?

There, in the swirling snow, Feng Yimo was methodically stripping the centipede Corpse King’s carcass—skinning it, extracting tendons, pulling teeth, carving bones. The ground was littered with the gruesome results. And amidst the carnage, Feng Yimo was currently shaping the massive black tooth.

“Whimper…” The black beast took two shaky steps back. Corpse Kings killing and consuming each other was normal, expected. But this? It had never seen anything like it. The memory of its own tail tip being casually sliced off surfaced, sharp and terrifying. It imagined the centipede’s fate as its own, picturing Feng Yimo skinning and dismembering it with the same cold focus.

----

The black beast swallowed nervously.

Feng Yimo finished shaping both the bone and the tooth to his liking. He fitted them together, tapped the join firmly against the ground to ensure it was secure, then gave the makeshift weapon a practice swing in the snow. A bone-white handle fused to a jet-black head, thick on one edge, blade-thin on the other—an axe crafted from tooth and bone. It was heavier than Ji Yanqing’s old axe, but undeniably sturdier, sharper. Feng Yimo seemed pleased.

He glanced at the black beast, which had its tail clamped tightly between its legs and was attempting a stealthy retreat towards the nearest building. “Come back.”

The beast, mere steps from freedom, froze. The next second, like a frost-bitten eggplantShuang Da de Qiezi (霜打了的茄子) – Literally “eggplant hit by frost.” A common Chinese idiom describing someone who is listless, wilted, dejected, or lacking energy, much like an eggplant after a frost. , tail and ears drooping, it turned with agonizing slowness back towards Feng Yimo.

In the falling snow, Feng Yimo lowered his gaze, his movements painstaking and gentle. He meticulously wiped every speck of gore and moisture from his creation until the bone and tooth gleamed dully in the dim light. Finished, he held the axe aloft, mimicking the way he remembered Ji Yanqing wielding his own. He thought Ji Yanqing would like it. If Ji Yanqing was happy, maybe he wouldn’t be angry anymore. An involuntary smile touched Feng Yimo’s lips.

Snow dusting his hair and shoulders, framing his deep-set eyes, the slight, pleased curve of his mouth—the sight momentarily stunned the black beast. Corpse Kings felt pleasure, even joy, especially in killing. But Feng Yimo’s smile was… strange. It was like… The beast couldn’t find the words. It just felt that Feng Yimo’s smile didn’t belong on the face of a Corpse King.

As Feng Yimo finished cleaning the axe and began carefully wrapping it in a piece of cloth, he sensed a faint, almost imperceptible gaze upon him. He tilted his head slightly. High atop the building to his left, an Awakened Zombie watched him.

Feng Yimo looked away, his voice utterly cold and devoid of inflection. “Kill it.”

The black beast glanced from Feng Yimo, carefully wrapping his gift, towards the rooftop. Its body, usually appearing small next to the massive centipede corpse, swelled rapidly. Before the Awakened Zombie could react, the beast launched itself upwards, jaws clamping down. It tore through flesh, shattered bone, and swallowed the watcher whole.

Returning to its normal size, the beast looked back at Feng Yimo. Though Feng Yimo now seemed physically smaller by comparison, the oppressive aura radiating from him still commanded absolute fear. Feng Yimo hadn’t said it explicitly, but the beast sensed his intense dislike for this Lou Ye.

Feng Yimo finished wrapping the axe and slung it carefully onto his back. His mood noticeably improved, he glanced at the now enormous black beast. “Find them.”

The beast shrank back down and obediently led the way towards the city outskirts.

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In the darkness outside the city, Ji Yanqing’s group struggled through the uneven plain, feet sinking deep into the snow with every step. They kept glancing back as they moved, searching the white expanse behind them. No pursuers were visible, but they couldn’t afford to relax until they finally reached the foothills of the mountains ahead and plunged back into the relative cover of the forest.

“Just ahead now,” Bai Haoxuan called out, leading them towards the spot where their vehicles were hidden amongst the trees. Panting heavily, the group pushed forward without stopping. Ji Yanqing paused for a moment, looking back at the snow-shrouded plain, consciously ignoring the hollow ache in his chest before turning to follow.

They rounded a section of the mountainside and soon spotted the convoy nestled in the woods. Five large trucks were parked just off the highway, concealed by the trees. The rear doors of several were closed; people were sleeping inside.

A lookout was posted in the driver’s seat of one truck. Spotting the approaching group in the darkness and recognizing Bai Haoxuan at the lead, the watchmen quickly climbed out. One banged on the side of a truck to wake the others while hurrying towards Bai Haoxuan. “What happened? Are you alright…?”

According to their plan, Bai Haoxuan’s group should have returned two days ago. The watchers had heard the sounds of Corpse Kings battling within the city, punctuated by gunfire, and had guessed the danger inside. They’d been worried sick, preparing for the worst. If Bai Haoxuan hadn’t appeared by the next day, they planned to leave the morning after.

“We’ll talk later,” Bai Haoxuan cut him off, gesturing to the weary group emerging from the trees. “First, get the injured onto the trucks.”

People moved quickly to help.

“Who are they…?” one of the guards asked, noticing Gu Wenmo and his unfamiliar team members.

“We ran into Awakened Zombies in the city…” Bai Haoxuan quickly summarized their ordeal. Hearing that Bai Haoxuan had joined forces with Ji Yanqing, the fifty-odd people left at the camp, still processing the shock of the news about Lou Ye, turned hesitant gazes towards Ji Yanqing.

“Send some people to watch the edge of the woods, facing the plain,” Ji Yanqing quietly reminded Bai Haoxuan.

Snapping back to the immediate situation, Bai Haoxuan quickly gathered some of the guards and led them towards the tree line to keep watch. They had escaped under cover of darkness and likely hadn’t been seen, but their footprints remained. The falling snow would eventually obscure the tracks, but there was no guarantee they wouldn’t be discovered first. Those controlled zombies weren’t like the mindless ones; they could reason. Finding even a broken trail of footprints might be enough for them to deduce the group’s direction.

As Bai Haoxuan departed, Ji Yanqing took a moment to survey the convoy in the dim light filtering through the trees. It differed slightly from Sunward’s previous setup. While Sunward had favored large cargo trucks, Bai Haoxuan’s fleet consisted of two supply trucks and three converted passenger buses. The bus seats had been removed, and the floors were covered with cushions, allowing people to sleep directly on them. The windows were fitted with blackout curtains and reinforced with iron mesh grates, complete with small openings—gun ports—allowing for defense from within.

The people Bai Haoxuan had left behind were much as Ji Yanqing expected: about half were elderly, children, or others with limited mobility. Of the remaining half, roughly ten were armed, forming the core defense, while the other ten or so were unarmed. Their physical condition and morale seemed relatively good, a testament to Bai Haoxuan’s responsible leadership.

Noticing the two young children Bai Haoxuan had brought back, several of the camp members kindly helped Ji An and Ji Le brush the thick layer of snow off their clothes. The boys stood patiently, quiet and well-behaved, murmuring soft “thank yous.” Once clean, like two small, lost kittens seeking safety on a stormy night, Ji An and Ji Le cautiously drifted closer to Ji Yanqing. They didn’t dare approach too near, stopping about three meters away, but even this small proximity seemed to make them incredibly happy.

The fifty-odd camp members watched Ji Yanqing observing them, their own gazes filled with apprehension towards this new, unknown leader. Ji Yanqing didn’t offer any explanations. Right now, even if he banged his head on the ground swearing his good intentions, no one would believe him.

As Ji Yanqing surveyed the scene, one of the men Bai Haoxuan had posted as a lookout came sprinting back through the trees.

“What is it?” Ji Yanqing asked immediately. Seeing the man’s urgent return, a fresh wave of anxiety washed over the group, who had only just begun to relax.

“Someone’s coming this way! Too far to see clearly, but they’re definitely heading for the forest!” the lookout reported breathlessly.

The words sent a jolt of panic through the group, who were just starting to board the vehicles. Had Lou Ye found them already? Here, in the mountains, the snow made the trucks useless for a quick escape. If it was Lou Ye’s forces… The horrifying image of being trapped in the residential building flashed vividly in their minds.

“Everyone, out of the trucks,” Ji Yanqing commanded calmly but firmly. Getting everyone ready to flee if necessary, he quickly headed towards the edge of the forest himself to assess the situation.

Moving swiftly through the deep snow, Ji Yanqing reached Bai Haoxuan and the other lookouts. Without waiting for an explanation, he peered out across the plain. The terrain leading up to the foothills wasn’t flat, but a series of rolling mounds. Combined with the swirling snow, it took several moments of intense concentration before he finally made out two small, blurry figures moving towards them. One was tall and slender; the other seemed to be moving low to the ground.

They were heading directly for the woods.

“What do we do? Run?” Bai Haoxuan asked anxiously, his eyes fixed on the standing figure. His heart hammered against his ribs as the figures drew closer. When they were about two hundred meters nearer, Ji Yanqing’s certainty solidified.

“No need. It’s Feng Yimo.”

Bai Haoxuan blinked, taking a second to place the name. He peered out at the plain again. Even closer now, the distance and the heavy snow still made it impossible for him to discern any features, not even the color of the person’s clothes. He started to ask Ji Yanqing how he could possibly be sure, but stopped himself. Ji Yanqing clearly knew Feng Yimo.

“Did you two have a fight?” The feeling struck Bai Haoxuan unexpectedly.

Ji Yanqing shot him a sharp look.

“…You just seemed… relieved, somehow,” Bai Haoxuan tried to explain. Ji Yanqing’s earlier decision to leave Feng Yimo behind had seemed strange. Though he hadn’t known Ji Yanqing long, abandoning a teammate didn’t fit the man’s character.

“You’re mistaken,” Ji Yanqing retorted immediately. He added quickly, “Lou Ye might have already entered the city. If he stayed behind, he could have alerted Lou Ye.”

A few minutes later, the two figures emerged from the snowy expanse and entered the forest. It was indeed Feng Yimo and the black dog. Nobody else seemed to have even realized the dog was missing; they were accustomed to human teammates, not canine ones.

Ji Yanqing watched them approach. Feng Yimo, still clad in his windbreaker, was covered in snow—on his head, shoulders, even clinging to his eyelashes. Just looking at him, Ji Yanqing could almost feel the man’s characteristic body heat, slightly cooler than a normal human’s. Something new was slung across Feng Yimo’s back, wrapped in cloth, its shape hidden from view.

“Where the hell did you run off to? Trying to get yourself killed?” Bai Haoxuan couldn’t help asking incredulously. Feng Yimo managed to get lost even when supposedly following right behind them. It was sheer luck he’d returned. If Lou Ye had found him…

Feng Yimo’s dark, chilling eyes darted cautiously towards Ji Yanqing. Seeing the man’s blank expression, and clearly wanting to avoid causing further displeasure, he immediately gestured towards the black beast at his feet. “…It ran off.”

The black beast, vigorously shaking snow from its fur, froze mid-shake. It felt as if an enormous black pot had just fallen from the sky and crashed onto its head, leaving it stunned. It stared at Feng Yimo in utter disbelief. Feng Yimo had wandered off entirely on his own! What did it have to do with anything?

“Don’t wander off like that again,” Feng Yimo stated flatly, his face expressionless.

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