Chapter 64
The closer Wen Xin got to the areas where people were gathered, the more active the zombies became.
They wandered in groups of three or five along the roads, creating obstacles in Wen Xin’s path.
Trying to support himself with a small wooden stick as a makeshift crutch, he unwound his elastic bandage and wrapped his injured ankle more tightly before forcing it back onto the ground.
The moment his foot touched the ground, a sharp, stabbing pain shot through him.
Clearly, the continuous journey over the past few days had prevented his injury from properly healing.
But Wen Xin could endure it.
Even if he couldn’t, he had to push through. He needed to break through these barriers.
After so many days without seeing another living person, it was either because this area had turned into a notorious no man’s land, or it had been entirely scavenged clean, with even the most desperate scavengers avoiding it.
Considering how Wen Xin had searched three houses today without finding anything, it was likely the latter.
This meant that if he stayed put to avoid danger, he would eventually run out of supplies, with little chance of rescue.
Before long, Wen Xin encountered six zombies.
Among them, one had lost half its body and was dragging itself pathetically along the ground.
Two others lingered near the edge of an intersection. Wen Xin cautiously pulled out a squeaky plastic baby toy and lured them down another road.
The remaining three nearly cost him his life.
One zombie lunged at him with its jaws wide open, but Wen Xin managed to wedge a crowbar between its teeth, preventing it from biting into him.
But this zombie was abnormally strong.
Wearing a tight sports t-shirt and leggings, with bulging muscles and a fitness watch on its wrist, it was clear that in life, this zombie had been a fitness enthusiast.
Though Wen Xin managed to take down the other two zombies, facing this one had drained much of his strength.
As the muscle-bound zombie pushed against him, Wen Xin’s grip on the crowbar began to weaken, the creature’s jaws inching closer to his face.
To make matters worse, from the corner of his eye, Wen Xin spotted a shadow inching closer on the ground. It was that zombie missing its lower half, using its arms to drag itself toward him.
Despite its lack of legs, it moved with surprising speed.
Sensing Wen Xin’s disbelief, the zombie lifted its head, grinning with its one remaining front tooth.
It instinctively let out a menacing laugh, trying to intimidate its prey. But since its mouth was leaky, the sound came out like a silly giggle, making the threat far less effective.
Wen Xin nearly broke down in frustration.
—Really? You don’t even have legs, yet you’re this tenacious?
Caught between a rock and a hard place, it seemed like Wen Xin had no way out.
“Ah!”
Just when things were at their most dire, a small, grape-purple figure leaped out of the shadows like a cannonball, slamming straight into the head of the muscular zombie!
The pressure on Wen Xin’s hand abruptly eased, and surprise flickered in his eyes.
In that half a breath’s time, seeing the little creature cling to the zombie’s head, throwing it off balance, Wen Xin’s instincts kicked in.
—He couldn’t run away. This was his chance!
He raised the crowbar and, with a precise and powerful thrust, drove it straight into the zombie’s throat with steady hands.
The little red panda had intended to flee right after its attack.
It had debated with itself for quite some time before deciding to help.
Life and death were determined by fate; whether Wen Xin could escape now depended entirely on his luck.
Who would have thought this young man was so skilled that he could directly take down the zombie?
When Wen Xin saw the little creature falling, he quickly reached out and caught it.
Glancing at the half-body zombie still crawling determinedly towards them, Wen Xin hobbled over with his crowbar in hand.
Sensing something, the half-body zombie looked up to see the young man staring down at it with a mix of admiration. “I’ll learn from your perseverance. Farewell.”
The zombie, feeling a sudden sense of doom, widened its eyes and roared, “Roar—”
Squelch.
Wen Xin didn’t hesitate, swiftly ending it.
The little red panda, nestled in his arms, shivered instinctively at the sound.
How could someone be so kind and gentle on the surface, yet so ruthless in action?
But now, where could it run?
Having been ambushed once before by the little red panda, Wen Xin was now careful to keep its claws secured, supporting its rear legs so it couldn’t escape.
The fight with the zombies had exhausted Wen Xin. Weary and aching, he looked around, worried that the two zombies he had lured away might return unexpectedly. Gritting his teeth, he painfully limped further down the road.
Finally, he found a relatively safe corner, where he sat down, leaning against the wall and catching his breath quickly.
The little red panda, unable to move its paws, lay limp.
Moments later, Wen Xin, now somewhat recovered, seemed to notice it. He lifted his hand.
Terrified, the little red panda kicked out its legs, nearly letting out a scream.
Instead, Wen Xin gently wiped away the dirt on its face with his thumb.
Then, he patted the little round head. “Thank you.”
The little red panda looked up in shock, meeting Wen Xin’s smiling eyes.
Even though his face was smudged and dirty from the earlier scuffle, making him appear somewhat unsightly, the bright light in his eyes was undeniable.
“If you hadn’t shown up to help, I might not have survived.”
The little red panda, realizing what he was saying, angrily bumped his hand with its head.
You’re grateful, so why don’t you let go already?
“In return, I’ll roast some meat for you later. You can eat as much as you want.”
The little red panda: “!!”
At the mention of roasted meat, the little red panda immediately forgot its wariness, unconsciously drooling a little.
Wen Xin, seeing the eager expression on the little creature’s face, couldn’t help but chuckle softly. The sight stirred a bit of hidden tenderness within him.
He gave the little red panda a gentle pat, placing it back on the ground.
Perhaps it was the comforting touch or the sense of reassurance in Wen Xin’s gentle pats, but it made the little red panda feel at ease.
After being set down, the little red panda hesitated briefly before turning back around and suddenly clinging to Wen Xin’s leg.
“What’s wrong?” Wen Xin asked.
Without answering, the little red panda climbed up Wen Xin’s clothes, eventually settling on his shoulder. Its bushy tail brushed against his cheek, bringing with it a strangely familiar feeling.
Wen Xin instinctively held the little red panda’s back legs to prevent it from slipping. He couldn’t help but laugh and sigh softly, “If you’re looking for a free ride, you’d be better off running on your own.”
He tapped his throbbing leg with the crowbar. “My foot’s injured; I can’t carry you for long.”
The little red panda sniffed around here and there before its gaze fixed on Wen Xin’s chest. It reached out with a tiny paw, but Wen Xin quickly caught it.
“Trying to steal something, little one?” he asked, pulling a small black scale from his chest pocket and holding it tightly in his palm.
The little red panda blinked in surprise, and in a clumsy, yet clear voice, it spoke human language: “This is No. 1’s scale. Why do you have it?”
—No. 1?
Wen Xin’s mind whirred. The name sounded familiar, though he couldn’t recall from where. After a pause, he explained, “This scale was given to me by an important family member. Do you recognize it?”
“You’re lying,” The little red panda said stubbornly, still perched on Wen Xin’s shoulder. “You’re a human. How could you possibly be related to a mutant?”
“Mutant…” Wen Xin mulled over the term. He remembered learning that non-human mutated creatures were collectively referred to as mutants, like those mutated rats they had encountered.
But the rats couldn’t speak like The little red panda did.
Gently patting The little red panda’s head, Wen Xin asked, “So, can all mutants who can speak like you be considered higher-level ones?”
The little red panda proudly lifted its head, “Of course! I’m an A-level mutant.”
Wen Xin’s curiosity was piqued. “And what level is No. 1?”
Hearing that question, The little red panda immediately became wary. “If you’re truly acquainted with No. 1, how could you not know its level?”
The little red panda had initially suspected that Wen Xin might be a new researcher from the base since, aside from the black scale, there were traces of at least five other mutant scents on him.
These scents were weaker than No. 1’s, almost entirely suppressed, making it hard for The little red panda to identify them.
It was rare for a human to carry so many mutant traces simultaneously, except for research personnel. However, researchers typically harbored deep disdain for mutants, making it impossible for them to navigate the hellish conditions of the lab with a clear conscience.
Yet, there was no such disdain in Wen Xin’s eyes.
Perhaps he did indeed know No. 1.
The little red panda’s ultimate goal was to find No. 1, even though it had never met No. 1 in person. It only remembered the scent and knew that No. 1 was famously gentle, especially towards other mutants.
Most importantly, No. 1 did not eat mutants.
But to The little red panda’s shock, Wen Xin didn’t even know what level No. 1 was!
Feeling dejected, The little red panda fell into a silent funk. No matter what Wen Xin asked afterward, it pretended not to hear.
Wen Xin wanted to ask more about the black scale, but seeing The little red panda lost in its own thoughts, he decided to leave it be for now.
When they finished resting, The little red panda was still in a daze.
Wen Xin didn’t force it to get off his shoulder. Instead, he used the wall for support, gripping his crowbar, and hobbled onward.
Fortunately, the gentle swaying brought The little red panda back to its senses. It quickly leaped from Wen Xin’s shoulder and dashed ahead.
Not long after, it returned, carrying in its mouth the wooden cane Wen Xin had discarded earlier.
Wen Xin was surprised, taking the cane with a grateful smile. “Thanks,” he said, his eyes softening.
True to his word, Wen Xin set up a simple trap in a safer spot to catch some mutated rats, using the black scale’s scent as bait. The results were impressive; they caught five rats in total—enough to fill The little red panda’s belly.
As soon as the campfire was lit, The little red panda’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Wen Xin roasted the meat, sprinkling some spices on top, but just as he finished, two furry little paws shot out from the side and snatched it away.
Looking back, he saw The little red panda happily munching away, not even caring about the heat.
Wen Xin could only shake his head in amusement. He continued to prepare the remaining rats with his knife, casually asking, “Given your strength and speed, and as an A-level mutant, why don’t you just hunt for yourself?”
If someone like Wen Xin, who had no enhanced abilities and a sprained foot, could manage three mutated rats, surely The little red panda shouldn’t have to rely on him for food.
Upon hearing this, The little red panda’s eyes flickered with hesitation.
Wen Xin raised an eyebrow. “Can’t handle it?”
“No, I can!” The little red panda protested, clearly upset. “But they bite, and it hurts.”
Not wanting to seem weak, it quickly added, “It really hurts.”
The little red panda had been bitten so many times in the past that instead of becoming numb to the pain, it had grown increasingly afraid of it. Now, even against weaker creatures, it hesitated, often ending up hungry.
The decision to rush out and help Wen Xin earlier had taken every ounce of courage it had.
Wen Xin suddenly remembered feeling old scars on The little red panda’s body. He went silent for a moment, then simply said, “Sorry.”
He handed over another skewer.
The sight of a fresh skewer instantly lifted The little red panda’s spirits. It eagerly hugged the stick, forgetting its earlier grievances.
The little red panda noticed that Wen Xin never ate any of the roasted meat himself.
After some internal struggle, it reluctantly offered Wen Xin a piece, “You can eat some too…”
Wen Xin waved his hand, declining the offer. “I can’t. Eating that would make me sick.”
The wild rats carried too many potential diseases, ones that a human’s digestive and immune system couldn’t handle.
The little red panda paused, staring at him as if he were a fragile object.
Wen Xin: “…”
For some reason, he felt like he was being pitied—something he hadn’t felt since his time with the fluffy creatures he used to take care of.
Before long, The little red panda was fully content. It leaned back against a rock, satisfied, rubbing its round belly while letting out a soft purr, eyes closed in sheer bliss.
Wen Xin, in his paradoxical streak of luck, found a small clinic by the roadside just when he thought he was at his limit.
Most of the medicine cabinets had been smashed from the outside, with their contents looted.
Carefully searching through the rubble, Wen Xin eventually found a bottle of Yunnan Baiyao spray, two packs of cough medicine, and a strip of band-aids hidden on top of an often-overlooked cabinet. (T/N: The spray is a famous Chinese brand of pain relief spray)
He unwrapped the bandages and splint on his foot, biting his lip as he applied the spray to his swollen ankle that had ballooned up like a bun.
When he turned back, he saw The little red panda watching him with an adorably clueless expression.
A wave of nostalgia washed over Wen Xin as he met its innocent gaze.
“Didn’t you say you lost your memory?” The little red panda suddenly asked.
Wen Xin nodded while rewrapping his bandages. “Yes.”
“Do you at least remember your name?”
Wen Xin chuckled softly, “Not quite.”
“What a pity,” The little red panda said sympathetically. Over time, it had come to view Wen Xin as a friendly human, no longer something to be feared. “If you could remember, you could head to the nearby city and find help to go back home.”
The city was not far off now.
By Wen Xin’s estimate, it would take him less than half a day to reach the transportation checkpoint.
He planned to part ways with The little red panda before entering the city to avoid any trouble. Later, if he got another chance, he would venture out again to bring roasted meat for his little friend.
But from The little red panda’s words, it seemed like it was quite familiar with what went on in the city and didn’t hold any particular grudge against humans.
However, The little red panda gave him a peculiar look. “Don’t you know? This is mutant territory. Humans are actually quite rare here.”
Wen Xin was taken aback.
A sudden, sharp pain shot through his head, forcing him to press his palm to his temple, his brows knitting in pain.
—He recalled that there had once been large clusters of snakes in the eastern region, supposedly under the rule of an S-level black snake mutant.
Seeing Wen Xin’s face turn pale, The little red panda instantly grew anxious. “Are you okay?”
The distorted noise in his mind gradually faded away, and color slowly returned to Wen Xin’s face. He muttered to himself, “I think I remember something.”
The little red panda was surprised that its casual comment seemed to have triggered something in Wen Xin’s memory. It eagerly asked, “What did you remember?”
Wen Xin lowered his hand and steadied his breath. His eyes, filled with a mix of emotions, turned towards the distant city.
“I… remember I had a companion,” he said slowly, almost in disbelief. “A beautiful little snake, somewhere in the largest foggy marsh in the eastern region.”
The little red panda was stunned for a moment before it hesitated, “Snakes? There are indeed many snakes there…”
“But that marsh is controlled by No. 7. It absolutely hates humans. If you go there, it’s practically a death sentence.”
Currently, mutants are divided into two categories.
One type was the result of experiments from the research base—creatures that had been tortured by researchers and now harbored an intense hatred for humans.
The other type were creatures from the natural world that had undergone mutations due to unknown factors, leading to physical changes.
The second category was rare, but when they did mutate, they often turned into irrational beasts like the mutated rats Wen Xin had encountered.
No one would have believed this until they witnessed an ordinary crow balloon in size within just a few days, its body undergoing strange, grotesque transformations. That was the moment people realized the potential for natural creatures to mutate as well.
The eastern region had become a paradise for mutants, though traces of human activity could still be found.
However, those humans only dared to interact with mutants from the second category since they harbored less hostility towards humans.
Encountering the first category almost certainly meant death.
The little red panda was an exception. It had managed to escape the research base when it was still young, slipping away through a blasted hole in the wall and avoiding capture by playing dead. As a result, its feelings towards humans were more complex than outright hatred.
Wen Xin fell into deep thought after hearing The little red panda’s words.
Indeed, this was a tricky situation.
If he couldn’t successfully reunite with Ah Lü, the green snake, and ended up getting bitten to death by a group of snakes instead, that would be a pointless sacrifice.
Wen Xin had never been afraid to ask questions when in doubt.
Seeing that The little red panda seemed knowledgeable, he decided to ask for help, “Do you know any way a human could safely enter the foggy marsh?”
If humans were entirely unable to enter, then the flashback in Wen Xin’s memories wouldn’t have been recorded.
The little red panda pondered for a while, its little brows furrowing in concentration, and surprisingly, it came up with an idea.
“There is a way! You could pretend to be Wen Xin.”
At first, Wen Xin’s heart skipped a beat, thinking he had been exposed. However, he quickly realized what The little red panda meant. He kept his expression neutral and asked with genuine confusion, “Who is Wen Xin?”
“It’s a human… but also maybe a mutant. No one is really sure,” The little red panda explained, its eyes darting over Wen Xin’s dirt-streaked face. “Before you go, you might want to wash your face. If you’re good-looking, they might just let you in.”
Wen Xin found this idea a bit strange. “What do you mean, if I’m good-looking, they’ll accept me? Is this some sort of beauty contest?”
The little red panda shook its head seriously, correcting him, “No, it’s just that everyone is searching for someone named Wen Xin. The biggest clue they have is that this person is supposedly very attractive. If found, there’s a big reward.”
Wen Xin was puzzled. “If appearance is the only criteria, wouldn’t many people try to impersonate this person?”
The little red panda nodded earnestly. “Of course! That’s why so many people have tried. But you’ll have to wait in line.”
“But don’t worry,” The little red panda continued. “No. 7 is usually lenient towards anyone claiming to be Wen Xin. Even if you’re faking it, it won’t kill you. At most, it’ll have its snakes bite you a couple of times as punishment.”
Wen Xin hesitated. “Will the bites be poisonous?”
The little red panda gave him a look as if he were an idiot. “Of course not. If they were, humans would die. That wouldn’t be considered lenient.”
Perhaps due to his still-recovering mind, Wen Xin found The little red panda’s logic somewhat reasonable.
After all, Ah Lü had never bitten him.
Wen Xin glanced down at his arm, imagining what it would feel like to have four sharp snake fangs puncture his skin.
He had heard that even if the bite wasn’t poisonous, the wound could swell up, causing pain and itching.
After a moment, Wen Xin resigned himself from the thought.
Getting bitten was a small price to pay. Compared to barging into the marsh and potentially losing his life, this outcome seemed much more acceptable.
However, as he neared the transportation hub, Wen Xin realized he had celebrated too soon.
Because there were simply too many people.
Most mutants didn’t bother constructing fortresses or defending cities with walls. Instead, they relied on marking their territory with their unique scents to ward off intruders.
Claws and fangs served as the best defense. Trespassers were either scared away or killed on the spot, ensuring no one dared return.
So, Wen Xin was surprised not to find towering city walls on the outskirts of the mutant-controlled city.
Instead, there was a pristine, white archway spanning the road, supported on both sides like a giant gate. It stood at least ten meters tall, leading to a wide circular plaza that was kept surprisingly clean.
At first glance, it was almost picturesque.
But the illusion quickly shattered when Wen Xin saw the long lines of people queued up on both sides. The dense crowd stretched back hundreds of meters, making it impossible to see the end of the line.
It was only then that Wen Xin understood why he hadn’t encountered any humans in the surrounding towns and villages. Apparently, they had all gathered here!
Lowering his voice, he whispered to The little red panda on his shoulder, “Didn’t you say there wouldn’t be many people here?”
The little red panda was just as surprised. It rarely came to the city since it was afraid of getting beaten up. The last time it had visited, the area was nowhere near this crowded.
A man nearby noticed Wen Xin’s makeshift crutch and the awkward way he favored his injured foot. With a knowing grin, he asked, “Hey, little brother, you here for the relief supplies too?”
It was clear that mutants were a common sight here. Even though Wen Xin had a little purple squirrel perched on his shoulder, nobody seemed particularly shocked.
Still, Wen Xin remained cautious. It wasn’t until he saw a zebra mutant casually strolling by that he finally relaxed and joined the line.
Wen Xin exchanged a glance with The little red panda.
With a polite, inquisitive expression, he turned to the man beside him, “I lost contact with my friends, so I’m not familiar with this place. Could you tell me if this is where people come to report missing persons?”
“Yep, you’re in the right spot,” the man replied with a chuckle. “But lately, there’ve been too many people claiming to be Wen Xin. The city’s officials are fed up, so they’ve started handing out food and water just to get rid of them faster.”
The man stroked his chin thoughtfully. “It’s actually made things more efficient. But they only give out supplies once per person—if you try to come back for seconds, you’ll be caught.”
Wen Xin was speechless.
So that’s why so many people had gathered. They all knew that the city favored anyone claiming to be Wen Xin, and they had essentially turned it into a charity station.
No wonder the man assumed Wen Xin was just another desperate person trying to scavenge for resources.
Awkwardly, Wen Xin clarified, “I’m not here for relief supplies.”
The man looked puzzled. “Then what are you here for?”
Wen Xin couldn’t very well admit that he was trying to infiltrate the marsh by impersonating someone.
To be fair, what he was planning wasn’t that different from what everyone else was doing.
Thankfully, the man didn’t press the issue, his attention soon drawn to the slowly advancing line.
The line was indeed long, and Wen Xin estimated it would take at least a day to reach the front.
But the queue moved surprisingly fast, and after just half a day, it was finally his turn.
Soon, Wen Xin discovered why the line was moving so quickly.
The official in charge didn’t even glance at him. Without a second thought, they tossed him a bag filled with food and waved him away like he was a bothersome fly.
“All right, you’re done here. Next!”
