Chapter 90
The short-haired woman paused in the middle of cleaning her gun. She frowned and looked up, her eyes cold, her face utterly expressionless.
The moment Wei Cheng and Guanguan saw the red birthmark covering half her face, they knew at once that this was Teacher Xiaomei.
“Teacher Xiaomei! It’s Guanguan!”
Guanguan excitedly ran a few steps forward, but Teacher Xiaomei did not open her arms like she had in his memory, did not greet him with that gentle smile he remembered.
“Teacher…”
Guanguan clasped his little hands and froze where he stood. He turned around helplessly, the plump flesh on his cheeks drooping with sadness. “Brother…”
Wei Cheng’s heart stirred. He stepped forward and rested a hand on Guanguan’s shoulder.
The short-haired woman shot to her feet, swiftly tucked her pistol into the back of her jeans, and strode past them without expression, heading straight out of the shop.
Teacher Xiaomei had lost a lot of weight.
Guanguan lowered his head. Even the little bear ears on his brown fuzzy hat drooped. “It must be because Guanguan’s face is chubby and his hands are chubby. That’s why Teacher Xiaomei didn’t recognize me.”
“What’s going on?” Yi Qi asked curiously, having watched the whole scene.
Wei Cheng patted Guanguan’s back, then gave Yi Qi a look. “Business first.”
Yi Qi and Su Min didn’t ask any more questions.
The woman who had led them inside said coldly, “Sit and wait. Sister Qing will be here soon.”
The others lounging around the shop all sat up and stared at them openly.
The four of them sat on a sofa stained with dried blood. Guanguan leaned listlessly against his brother’s arm, absentmindedly swinging the toy gun covered in Ultraman stickers with both hands.
Wei Cheng took out a milk candy and held it to Guanguan’s mouth.
Guanguan turned his head sharply away, leaving only the peach-like curve of his cheek in view. “Guanguan is sad. Guanguan won’t eat.”
Across from them, Yi Qi crossed his arms and laughed. “Really? Once this chance is gone, there won’t be another.”
Everyone knew Wei Cheng strictly controlled Guanguan’s daily candy intake.
Even so, every time they went out, Wei Cheng still slipped some candy and biscuits into his pocket.
No matter how well-behaved Guanguan was, he was still only four years old. Sometimes when he got fussy, one piece of candy could keep him good for the rest of the day.
Guanguan kept his head turned for less than three seconds before one chubby paw darted out and swiped the candy into his arms.
Like a little hamster, he gnawed away at the wrapped milk candy, ending up with crinkled candy paper all over his face but never actually biting through to the candy itself.
At last he huffed, “Brother, open it!”
Smiling, Wei Cheng peeled the wrapper and fed the white candy ball to his lips.
Guanguan bit down with an ah-woo, and the sweet milky taste finally spread through his mouth. He swayed his head happily. “My mouth is sweet now!”
Wei Cheng wiped away the tiny bits of wrapper stuck to his face and handed him a small bag of animal-shaped butter cookies.
With the candy bulging one cheek, Guanguan’s dark eyes looked round and shiny. “Brother, baby is still a little sad.”
Wei Cheng smiled and mouthed silently: When we get home, let Grandpa make you popcorn.
Guanguan scratched under his hat and swayed his face. “My head feels a little hot.”
Feeling a stab of tenderness, Wei Cheng silently mouthed back: Just bear with it a little longer.
At that moment, the wind chime at the door rang.
The crisp, sharp sound of high heels clicked in from outside.
Leading the group was a woman with long, straight black hair. She wore black trousers and a black top. Her face was narrow, her cheekbones prominent, and she was almost as tall as Yi Qi at six-foot-two.
Behind her came more than ten women, all similarly tall and lean, all brisk and strikingly attractive.
“Sister Qing.”
The girls inside the shop dropped their relaxed posture at once and stood respectfully to greet her.
Zhou Qing glanced at the ponytailed girl behind her and said coolly, “Xiao Qiu, take the children to play somewhere else.”
Xiao Qiu bent slightly, her high ponytail falling forward, and smiled sweetly. “Little brothers, shall big sister take you outside to play?”
“No,” Yi Qi said, standing up. “The children stay where we can see them.”
Wei Cheng picked Guanguan up. “Big sister, we’ll just sit on this sofa over here.”
Xiao Qiu looked to Qing Jie. When she didn’t object, she nodded. “Fine.”
The sofa was right beside the one they had been sitting on before. Yi Qi and Su Min would still be able to see them with a glance.
Zhou Qing took a seat and swept a playful glance over Yi Qi and Su Min. Her red lips curled. “A couple?”
Su Min replied evenly, “Brother and sister.”
Zhou Qing gave a slight shrug. “How many people are there in your farm?”
Su Min answered honestly, “Fourteen.”
“And two dogs,” Yi Qi added.
Zhou Qing stopped herself from rolling her eyes. “Are you trying to be funny?”
She pointed at the children sharing cookies nearby. “You count those two little brats too?”
Yi Qi thought to himself, Keep acting all superior. Those two kids are practically worth an army.
“Our farm headcount has nothing to do with this deal,” Yi Qi said. “Your informant should already have told you: we have some guns and ammunition, but not enough people to hold off the End Saints’ constant harassment. And we hate them for targeting the children we treasure more than life. Your goal is the same as ours: wipe out the End Saints and rescue the children trapped in the basement. I’m guessing you have enough people and enough bullets, but if you launch a full-scale attack on the End Saints’ huge congregation, you’ll burn through most of your ammunition. After that, even if Rose Garden sits on all the resources around Shiguang Amusement Park and Dehui Mall, you’ll still be vulnerable if the Thirteenth Union Cannery or Highland Shelter swoop in and take advantage. By then, your entire Rose Garden would be dragged into hell too. That’s why you haven’t moved yet, isn’t it?”
Zhou Qing tapped the table with her blood-red nails and let out a cold laugh. “That’s right.”
Su Min smoothly switched to a more emotional angle. “The sisters of Rose Garden have been keeping the End Saints tied up for so long. That can’t have been easy. Why not let Sister Qing speak first? After all, what we can trade is limited to bullets.”
Yi Qi cut in, “We got lucky and came into a lot of ammo. Bullets are the only thing we can offer.”
Chengcheng had already explained that, in Guanguan’s “bottomless magic pocket,” bullets were practically cheap as cabbage. Guns themselves cost a lot—sometimes tens of thousands. They didn’t really lack everyday supplies; what they lacked was fuel. Trading firearms for daily necessities would be far too much of a loss.
Zhou Qing’s lips curled into a smile. “Ten bullets for one pound of flour. Fifty bullets for one liter of gasoline. What do you think?”
She wanted ten bullets for one pound of flour?
A fifty-pound sack of flour would cost them five hundred bullets?
As for the gasoline, that price was outright absurd.
Yi Qi’s tone turned hard. “Miss Zhou, is that really how Highland Shelter and the Thirteenth Union Cannery trade with you? We respect your character and your sense of justice, but that doesn’t give big bases like yours the right to bully small bases like ours!”
Zhou Qing tilted her chin up slightly, rolling her neck, the sharp line of her jaw standing out. Eyes closed, she said lazily, “Big fish eat little fish, little fish eat shrimp. Who told you not to be stronger? I am bullying you. What are you going to do about it?”
The instant she finished, the women behind her raised their guns and trained them on Yi Qi and Su Min.
Su Min’s expression changed. “Miss Zhou, what are you doing?”
Before Zhou Qing could answer, a sweet buttery scent drifted over.
The chubby child in the little bear hat toddled up. His head was round, his cheeks pink and soft. The toy gun in his hand, plastered all over with pink Ultraman stickers, pressed lightly against Zhou Qing’s arm.
“You can’t bully people!”
Guanguan swallowed his cookie hard and wiped crumbs off his mouth. “Guanguan will shoot you!”
Xiao Qiu still had one hand on Wei Cheng’s shoulder. None of them had taken such a tiny little thing seriously. They hadn’t even noticed when he moved over there.
Zhou Qing tapped one of the little bear ears on his hat with a fingertip. “Little thing, who exactly are you trying to scare with a toy gun?”
With great confidence, Guanguan aimed his gun at the glass window in the distance.
He knew this gun very well by now.
A gunshot rang out.
The glass exploded, shards spraying everywhere.
Yi Qi and Su Min had known this was coming and covered their ears, ducking out of the way in time. Zhou Qing, however, wasn’t nearly so lucky. A shard of glass sliced a line across her left cheek.
Even then, she remained perfectly calm, as if she hadn’t been startled at all.
The Ultraman gun smoked warmly. The recoil nearly shook it out of Guanguan’s hands, but Yi Qi seized the moment, flipping over the sofa, snatching the gun, and pulling Guanguan behind him. He leveled the pistol straight at Zhou Qing’s forehead.
Everything had gone exactly according to their plan.
“Sister Qing!”
The women of Rose Garden had been caught off guard by how fast everything happened. The gunshot still rang in their ears.
The shop door flew open from outside, and a woman strode in on quick, decisive steps.
“Sister Qing, please do me a favor. Don’t hurt them.”
The women at once parted to make way for her.
“Teacher Xiaomei!”
Guanguan yanked off his thick little bear hat. The small tactical earmuffs protecting his ears slipped off with it.
Guanguan threw himself at Teacher Xiaomei’s legs, aggrieved. “Didn’t you recognize me because baby got fatter?”
He tiptoed desperately, trying to make her see his face clearly, poking at it with his little fingers. “These are Guanguan’s eyes. This is Guanguan’s nose. Baby is still Guanguan.”
Teacher Xiaomei’s lips trembled. Her hand shook as she touched the top of his head. Her voice came out hoarse. “I… I’m sorry.”
Then she looked at Chengcheng, now much taller than before, and there was unmistakable relief in her eyes.
That little boy had learned to shoot.
And he had known to put hearing protection on Guanguan.
Chengcheng was still as careful and thoughtful as ever. He had really taken good care of Guanguan.
She took Guanguan by the hand and led him to the table. “Sir, please put down your gun as well. Qing Jie won’t kill innocent people. She never truly intended to make things difficult for you.”
Yi Qi didn’t lower the gun. He sneered, “Wasn’t she the one who made the first move?”
Zhou Qing let out a cold laugh and raised a hand. “Xiao Qiu.”
Xiao Qiu immediately released Wei Cheng, and the others lowered their guns as well.
Zhou Qing glanced at Xiaomei, her tone softening a fraction. “Meizhen, since they’re people you know, sit down and catch up.”
Teacher Xiaomei, however, didn’t seem interested in reminiscing. She said only, “Qing Jie, the priority right now is finalizing the cooperation. According to our informant, many of the children in the church basement are already showing signs of psychological collapse.”
Several women in the room sighed at those words.
Wei Cheng spoke up suddenly. “How many bullets do you need?”
Zhou Qing turned to look at him. Back at Shiguang Amusement Park’s parking lot, she had seen with her own eyes how this young boy had practically risked his life to shield the chubby child who had just tricked her with a “toy gun” and almost put a bullet in her head.
She said, “As many as possible.”
Wei Cheng went straight to the point. “We want three thousand liters of gasoline. Five hundred sacks of rice and flour. Three hundred units of nutrient supplements—milk powder, protein powder, whatever you have. And twenty sets each of winter coats and quilts. In exchange, I’ll give you three thousand rounds.”
Then he paused. “And for Teacher Xiaomei’s sake, we’ll throw in another one thousand rounds.”
These were standard 9mm copper bullets, dirt cheap at 1.5 yuan apiece.
He still had 2,700 boxes in storage after the recent purchases and usage. Taking out forty boxes for Rose Garden wouldn’t affect their own stockpile plan at all. On the contrary, trading for these supplies would even earn them system rewards.
Zhou Qing narrowed her eyes.
As he spoke, Wei Cheng had been studying the women around her. Their reactions were surprise, not outrage.
That told him enough.
The farm had been too kind.
Yi Qi had seen it too. “Whether it’s Highland Shelter or the Thirteenth Union Cannery, I doubt either one would offer you a deal this good.”
And it was true. The farm’s offer was richer than all three of Highland Shelter’s combined.
Even at the height of its power, Rose Garden had worked often with Watchtower Community. The Thirteenth Union Cannery should have responded quickly—but had dragged its feet. And the Qin guy at Highland Shelter? Utter garbage. He had toyed with them, saying three thousand liters of gasoline could only get them five guns and eight hundred rounds.
What kind of joke was that?
Zhou Qing was practical when it mattered. She knew when to stop. “Deal.”
Wei Cheng had expected that. He added, “If we want a lasting partnership, then I assume Miss Zhou won’t be running her mouth?”
Zhou Qing crossed her arms and laughed. “The way you talk, sharper than a grown man, I thought you’d have more guts.”
Wei Cheng didn’t snap back. He only asked, “Have you run into any strange zombies?”
Xiao Qiu immediately spoke up. “Yes! Ones that look like aliens—impossible to kill, and they can give orders!”
Wei Cheng said, “If you run into those, every battle will eat through a huge amount of ammunition. If this cooperation goes well, there’s no reason we can’t continue working together in the future. Of course, if anyone still wants to play big-fish-eat-little-fish, we’ll be happy to go the distance and see who the real shrimp is.”
Xiao Qiu choked on her own words. She regretted opening her mouth.
Zhou Qing was able to bend when needed. “Fine. I was in the wrong just now. I apologize. I’m a woman who’s spent too much time dealing with disgusting old men. Those people throw sand, smash plates, throw tantrums whenever they play games. I’ve gotten used to crushing others first. Don’t worry—I won’t spread the word about where we got these bullets. But I should warn you: even before this, I’d already heard of a certain little farm with plenty of ammo, a place that killed Wu Qiang, one of Watchtower Community’s top fighters and the vice leader’s right-hand man. I do have long-term dealings with the other two major bases. If one day they come looking for you on their own, don’t assume it was us who tipped them off.”
Yi Qi said, “Miss Zhou has been running herself ragged trying to save these children. We know you’re a good leader. Everyone here is acting in the interests of their own base. We’re tired of all the fighting between bases too. If possible, we’d like to keep the peace with those two larger bases as well.”
A light flashed through Zhou Qing’s eyes. Clearly enjoying the thought of stirring things up, she said, “What a coincidence. Next month, on Christmas, the major bases are holding a conference about the mutant zombies. The venue hasn’t been set yet. You can come with us.”
The cooperation had been settled. Time was precious. They decided they would storm Heping Church that very night and rescue the children trapped in the basement.
One team from Rose Garden would return to prepare the supplies. Wei Cheng’s side would head back to the farm to prepare the ammunition.
“Teacher Xiaomei.”
Wei Cheng stopped the woman just as she was about to get into the car.
Teacher Xiaomei turned around. The tip of her nose, reddened by the autumn wind, twitched. “Chengcheng.”
Wei Cheng lowered his eyes to Guanguan, who was gazing up at her longingly.
Grandpa had once mentioned that when Guanguan was very little, every night it had been Teacher Xiaomei who hummed lullabies to put him to sleep.
“Grandpa, Mingming, and Tiaotiao are all at the farm,” Wei Cheng said. “Do you want to—”
“No.”
She cut him off.
A sheen of moisture rose in her eyes and vanished just as quickly. In a flat voice she said, “Take care of yourselves.”
Then, without looking at either Wei Cheng or Guanguan again, she turned and climbed into the car.
Wei Cheng let out a quiet sigh.
Teacher Xiaomei had changed a lot.
For someone to change like that, they must have lost something very important.
On the drive back, Yi Qi and Su Min finally learned who this “teacher” was.
Su Min patted the little chubby boy tucked into Wei Cheng’s arms. “Let Auntie have a look. Were you crying again?”
Guanguan raised his damp little face. “Guanguan is four now, not a three-year-old baby anymore. From now on… from now on, I’m not allowed to cry.”
“Oh? So you’re making secret vows now?” Su Min teased.
Driving, Yi Qi laughed. “Guanguan, your Teacher Xiaomei obviously couldn’t bear to part with you either. Didn’t you say she had a daughter? Maybe her daughter is inside the church too. Rose Garden will be the main force in this rescue, and that Zhou Qing trusts her a lot. She probably has a lot on her shoulders.”
Guanguan clenched his little fist. “Teacher Xiaomei is the best!”
“And you’re the best baby too.” Wei Cheng unfolded one of Guanguan’s soft bun-like hands and gently pressed the flesh in his palm. “Did your hand hurt when you fired the gun?”
“It didn’t hurt!” Guanguan shook his head. “Brother and Uncle Shen taught Guanguan for so long!”
The sight of Guanguan calmly disassembling and reassembling a pistol had left a deep impression on everyone at the farm.
Everyone knew he was clever, but no one had realized he was that clever.
He had no interest in books and lessons, but gave him a fast car and a toy gun, and he was all in.
Good thing this was the apocalypse. Otherwise, little Guanguan might have ended up behind bars one day.
Back at the farm, everything was still normal. The injured were stable.
Yi Qi and Shen Zheng went to prepare the ammunition. Wei Cheng told Grandpa and the others about meeting Teacher Xiaomei.
The old director pushed himself to his feet with his cane. “Meizhen is alive? What about Yuanyuan and Little Fang?”
Mingming and Tiaotiao were excited too.
In truth, for these children, Teacher Xiaomei had been the first real mother figure they had ever known.
She had been gentle, patient, beautiful, but when the children got naughty or caused trouble, she also showed the kind of loving sternness only a mother could.
Wei Cheng said, “I didn’t see them. But Teacher Xiaomei has changed a lot.”
“Did Teacher Xiaomei grow taller?” Wang Xiaotiao blurted out, eyes wide.
Mingming, being more perceptive, seemed to realize something and pressed his lips tightly together.
As someone who had lived a long life, Grandpa naturally understood what Chengcheng meant.
The things he had kept buried in his heart surged up at once. He sat slowly back down in his chair. “Meizhen has suffered.”
He looked at Chengcheng. “Why didn’t she come back with you?”
Guanguan raised his fist, kicked out his chubby little leg, and bared his teeth fiercely. “Teacher Xiaomei has to go beat Yang Guizhi!”
Wang Xiaotiao sprang up. “Brother Chengcheng, I want to help beat Yang Guizhi too!”
Wei Cheng touched his head. “Aren’t you scared?”
Wang Xiaotiao clenched his small dark fist. “I’m not scared! I’ll follow orders!”
Wei Cheng thought for a moment. “All right. This time, both you and Mingming are coming.”
The children in the basement had been trapped for too long. They might not trust adults anymore. If there were children there to talk to them, they would probably be more willing to cooperate.
Rose Garden was powerful. It was also a good chance for Mingming and Tiaotiao to toughen their nerves.
Back at the farm, Ying Hui was helping the two uncles load the ammunition crates into the back of the pickup truck.
“I can’t believe we actually have this much ammo.” Ying Hui looked full of admiration. “Uncle Yi, Uncle Shen, where did you even get all this?”
“Kids don’t need to know everything.” Shen Zheng smacked the brim of his baseball cap. “We’re using it to trade for nutrient supplements and winter clothes. That should make this winter a little easier.”
Ying Hui grinned. “Then can I ask for chocolate-flavored Milo? Is that possible?”
Yi Qi, carrying a wooden crate, shoulder-checked Ying Hui away from Shen Zheng. “Help.”
Shen Zheng: “…”
Ying Hui hurried over to help, straining with the weight. “So heavy!”
Yi Qi added, “There are two more boxes.”
By the time they were done, Ying Hui was seeing stars and had run off for water.
Shen Zheng was stacking crates and shook his head, amused. “You’re so childish.”
Yi Qi glanced around, then crowded Shen Zheng back against the truck bed, trapping him there. He lowered his voice. “You have a boyfriend now. You need to keep your distance.”
Shen Zheng’s face was on fire. “He’s just a kid. You’re being way too—”
Then his forehead suddenly felt warm.
Yi Qi had kissed him there, quick and soft, and now pulled back, reluctant. His voice was husky. “When we get back from this, let’s move in together.”
Shen Zheng’s face burned even hotter. “Your cabin’s been turned into the infirmary… so there’s really no choice…”
Yi Qi wrapped him in a hug and laughed into his shoulder. “You’re way too cute.”
He softened his voice. “Don’t panic. I waited ten years already. We can wait on the rest until you’re not scared anymore.”
Ying Hui, clutching two bottles of mineral water, was crouched below the truck bed with both hands clamped over his mouth.
Oh my god. Uncle Yi and Uncle Shen are actually together!
—
“It’s going to rain.”
Yi Qi pulled his jacket tighter and watched the leaves blowing away. “One autumn rain brings one layer of cold. Winter’s coming in a few days.”
By the time they reached the gas station, Rose Garden’s people were already fully equipped and ready to move.
Wei Cheng said, “Mingming, keep an eye on Guanguan and Tiaotiao. Don’t let them get out of the car.”
Mingming nodded obediently.
Together with Uncle Shen and Uncle Yi, he got out to move the ammo.
Zhou Qing plunged a hand into one of the crates and grabbed a handful of bullets for inspection. “Not bad.”
She glanced at Yi Qi. “What kind of dumb luck landed you with so much ammunition?”
“None of your business,” Yi Qi replied coolly.
Shen Zheng nudged him, then turned to Zhou Qing with a polite smile. “Miss Zhou, it’s a pleasure working with you.”
Zhou Qing, who clearly remembered him, didn’t soften much. “Meizhen will deliver the supplies and fuel to the farm directly from Shiguang. Don’t worry. I’ll give you more, not less.”
Genuinely grateful, Shen Zheng said, “Thank you.”
“Sister Qing, we’re ready to move.” Xiao Qiu came running up, ponytail swinging.
Thunder cracked across the sky. Dark clouds massed overhead. Dead trees by the roadside shuddered in the wind.
Zhou Qing said, “Move out.”
Both sides had walkie-talkies now, all set to the same channel.
Wei Cheng’s pickup was too large and too conspicuous, so it stayed behind. Instead, they took one of Rose Garden’s compact vans toward Heping Church.
Also in the van were several women whose children, younger siblings, or younger brothers and sisters had been trapped inside the church.
Yi Qi couldn’t help asking, “You have so many people. How did they manage to steal your kids?”
A middle-aged woman called Aunt Fa said guiltily, “Rose Garden lost five children in all. That day, Ah Qing and the others were away. The kids had really wanted to go to the beach. One little boy who’d been rescued before was doing badly mentally—he’d wake up screaming for his mother in the middle of the night. I made the decision myself and took the children who were struggling the most to the sea at Shiguang Amusement Park for a short outing. On the way back, we ran into those people. I made it back alive. One of the sisters who went with us died under the End Saints’ gunfire…”
About a thousand meters from the bridge tunnel, the vehicles stopped one after another.
According to the battle plan, Xiao Qiu would lead her people in creating a disturbance around the church. Zhou Qing would take two squads in for the frontal assault. Aunt Fa would guide Wei Cheng’s group to the basement to rescue the children.
A classic diversion. Quick and decisive.
Aunt Fa was essentially Rose Garden’s childcare specialist. All the children adored and trusted her. But considering that some of the children in the basement might be too weak to walk, the two strong adult men—Yi Qi and Shen Zheng—were indispensable.
The sky was dark and heavy. A few raindrops thudded onto the dry gray road.
A flash of lightning illuminated the dim church, and the huge cross gleamed with a sinister black shine.
“Chen.”
Chen Fangshun jerked in surprise and looked up at the masked man in black robes. “Father.”
The priest stood at the center of the church, speaking in awkward Chinese. “Why are those people trying to stop us from finding the last Son of God?”
Chen Fangshun lowered his gaze. “I don’t know.”
The priest murmured, “God grants life to all things. Father’s seed and mother’s womb are merely vessels for the birth of the Son of God. Returning the Son of God to God is a sacred act. Why must they cling so stubbornly to ignorance?”
Chen Fangshun ground his teeth inwardly. You damn cultist lunatics. You’re the sacred vessel, all right—a toilet bowl.
The priest said mournfully, “God has guided Mayfair to the last Son of God.”
The black cloth on the floor was pulled away, revealing a skinny child bound hand and foot.
The child’s body did not rise or fall.
Chen Fangshun closed his eyes in pain.
Below the dais, more than a hundred men and women knelt with dazed, fanatical faces and cried out excitedly, “Amen.”
“Chen. Bring the eleven Sons of God here. Tonight, the Sons of God will become angels and return to heaven.”
Chen Fangshun pushed himself up on sore knees and hurried out of the church. Behind him, the dense muttering voices sounded horrifying.
As he left, the priest said suddenly, “There is a traitor among us.”
A restless murmur spread through the congregation.
Old Ma’s eyes blazed. “Cut off his head!”
All the others echoed in unison, “Tear out his heart and lungs!”
At that moment, a gunshot shattered the chaos inside the church.
The priest paused. “Mayfair.”
The man at his side hurried out.
At the same time, Yi Qi and Shen Zheng led several others to the outer fence of the church. The wire fencing was rusted all over. The two of them quickly pulled wire cutters from their bags and snipped through it.
“Careful.” Yi Qi held the fence aside, and the people behind them slipped through one after another.
“Baa…”
Yi Qi lit up like he’d just heard the voice of his beloved. He shouted soundlessly, Sheep!
In the sheep pen nearby were five or six goats, filthy beyond recognition.
Shen Zheng elbowed him. “Not the sheep right now.”
Gunfire was already echoing from outside. They had to get the children out of the basement as fast as possible.
Aunt Fa’s hands trembled as she unfolded a rough hand-drawn map. “The basement should be…”
Wei Cheng took the map. He had an excellent sense of direction and understood it at a glance. “Go left along the outer wall.”
The group crept forward carefully. Just as they were nearing the open area, they unexpectedly ran straight into four or five people in black robes.
Shen Zheng and Yi Qi pulled their guns and opened fire immediately. The black-robed men retaliated just as fast.
“Flower bed! Get down!”
Wei Cheng dragged Guanguan down beside a flower bed. Mingming and Tiaotiao dropped with him, but Aunt Fa panicked. A stray bullet went straight into her left eye.
Her eyeball burst. Blood sprayed everywhere. She died with her eyes still open.
Wang Xiaotiao started shaking all over, but he didn’t make a sound. He clutched the gun in his hand tightly.
Then he saw the back of one of the black-robed men.
He raised his head just a little, his hand trembling as he pulled the trigger.
A gunshot cracked through the air. The black-robed man took the bullet in the back and slammed to the ground.
That was the one who killed Grandma Fa!
Xiaotiao was both terrified and thrilled. When he met Chengcheng’s eyes, he thought he was about to be scolded.
Instead, Wei Cheng’s eyes lit up. “Good job, Xiaotiao!”
Xiaotiao let out a breath of relief. A shy, foolish grin spread across his little “farmer at the card table” face.
Mingming and Guanguan both gave him a thumbs-up.
“Are you all right? Everyone all right?”
Shen Zheng and Yi Qi had already finished off the rest.
They froze for a moment when they saw Aunt Fa’s body. Then they looked at the children, who no longer reacted strongly to the sight of death, and their hearts clenched.
“Let’s go.”
To hell with this damned apocalypse.
The five of them hurried toward the open area marked on the map.
They had expected another fierce fight in the exposed clearing, but instead found two bodies in black robes already lying near a well-like structure.
Judging from the gunfire erupting inside the church, Zhou Qing and Xiao Qiu had already broken in.
The cover over the opening was thrown aside. Beneath it was a staircase leading down, the steps streaked with slippery blood.
Wei Cheng tightened his grip on his gun and hugged the wall as he moved. “Don’t make a sound. There’s someone inside.”
The smell of blood grew stronger and stronger. The further down they went, the clearer the frightened sobbing of children became.
“Brother, children are crying.” Guanguan squeezed his brother’s hand.
Wei Cheng said softly, “Don’t be afraid. We’re going to save them now.”
A dim light burned below. The air stank of mildew and sour rot.
Wei Cheng flicked on his flashlight and saw six or seven thin, ageless-looking children curled up in the corner, their faces full of fear and numbness. Several others were huddled around one person, crying their hearts out.
“Uncle, don’t die!”
“Uncle, don’t die…”
Yi Qi finally saw who it was—the man bleeding heavily from the waist.
Chen Fangshun.
“Brother Yi… Brother Shen… you finally came.” He coughed up a mouthful of blood, then forced out a smile.
Shen Zheng and Wei Cheng went to calm the screaming children while Yi Qi rushed over to check his injuries.
One bullet in the abdomen. One in the ribs.
This time, there was no saving him.
Chen Fangshun clutched Yi Qi’s hand tightly, his mouth full of blood. He gasped desperately for air. “I… I never betrayed you…”
Yi Qi shut his eyes briefly. “I know.”
“I killed someone. A life… for a life… I should’ve died a long time ago.” Chen Fangshun’s vision had begun to blur. “Xiao Ming… let Rose Garden raise him. I owe them… they’ll raise him well…”
“Chen Fangshun, you’re a man.”
“When Xiao Ming grows up… make him… a good man. Let him… follow you…”
He coughed up another heavy mouthful of blood, then his eyelids sank. “Tha…nk you.”
Chen Fangshun died.
And outside, the gunfire came to an end as well.
