Chapter 15: Was It Pei Zhi Who Brought Him Back?
Cheng Yu hauled himself out of the water barrel like a drowned rat, shivering and pointing an accusatory finger at Lin Feng. “Lin Feng, do you really think you can protect him all on your own? I’m going straight to the Leader right now! We’ll let the Leader decide his fate himself!”
Lin Feng’s expression remained indifferent. “Do whatever you want.”
Cheng Yu was convinced that this monster had run out of luck.
Not a single soul in the base would ever tolerate a flesh-eating zombie living among them.
Lin Feng, however, stayed remarkably calm. He led the little zombie over to a nearby tap to wash the dust from his face, checked over his bruises, and even made a quick stop at an apothecary to buy a tin of soothing ointment to rub into the boy’s scrapes.
The little zombie sat on the curb, utterly dispirited. He hung his head, twiddling his small fingers together as he let out soft, aggrieved whimpers.
Lin Feng gently patted his shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. Captain Pei will be back soon.”
News of a zombie infiltrating the base spread like wildfire. The perceived threat to everyone’s safety sparked immediate outrage, and before long, a massive crowd gathered outside the iron gates of the Base Command Center, demanding that the Leader pass judgment on the creature.
The Command Center served as both the Leader’s private residence and the settlement’s core tactical stronghold. It was heavily fortified, equipped with surveillance monitors and a centralized armory.
Rows of armed guards in combat fatigues stood at attention before the gates, assault rifles clutched in hand. One officer raised his weapon and fired a warning shot straight into the air, barking, “Silence!”
The roaring mob fell quiet at once.
The sentries parted in unison to form a clean passage. Leader Xie Huaijin stepped outside at a measured pace. His gaze was calm and gentle, his features relaxed, exuding the poised grace of an educated gentleman without losing an ounce of the quiet authority befitting a supreme commander.
“What is the commotion about?” Xie Huaijin asked, his tone level.
Summoning every ounce of courage, Cheng Yu pushed through the crowd and shouted, “Leader! We caught a man-eating zombie loose in the base!”
Pointing a trembling finger at Lin Feng, he pressed on, “And him! Not only did he refuse to kill it, but he also used his ability to attack ordinary citizens!”
Lin Feng stood at the edge of the square with the little zombie. Offering no defense, he merely watched Cheng Yu with cold, unblinking eyes.
Leader Xie Huaijin looked toward Lin Feng. “You have the right to explain yourself.”
Lin Feng said nothing. He simply took half a step forward, shielding the boy completely behind his body.
Seeing this defiance, Cheng Yu grew even more emboldened, shouting with righteous indignation, “Leader, look at him! He has nothing to say! I suspect he’s in league with the monster! They should both be executed on the spot to safeguard the base!”
The mob’s fury was reignited instantly, their unified chants rising through the square:
“Protect the base! Execute the zombie!”
“Protect the base! Execute the zombie!”
Frightened half to death, the little zombie shrank behind Lin Feng, burying his face into the man’s coat as he let out a tiny, helpless whimper.
“Quiet!”
Wearing high-laced tactical boots, Xie Huaijin strode over to Lin Feng and the boy, leaning down slightly to inspect the hidden figure.
The little zombie peeked out with one eye. He wanted to give a soft cry of greeting, but sheer fright got the better of him; all that slipped from his throat was a timid hum.
Xie Huaijin’s eyes flickered, a trace of surprised intrigue passing deep within his pupils. Turning to Lin Feng, he asked:
“Lin Feng, you are an exceptional ability user. What reason could you possibly have to defend a zombie?”
Lin Feng lowered his chin. “I am not at liberty to say.”
Xie Huaijin asked again, “Was it Pei Zhi who brought him back?”
Lin Feng stayed silent.
“If Pei Zhi brought him into these walls, he must have a sound reason for doing so. I will spare this boy’s life for now, but you must guarantee that he will not bite anyone. Once Pei Zhi returns, I will ask him myself.”
Hearing those words, the little zombie quickly poked his head out and let out two hasty whimpers, practically promising on his life that he would never touch fallen meat again, and would happily eat plain vegetables from now on.
A gentle smile brushed Xie Huaijin’s lips. Turning back to Lin Feng, he said, “Take him home.”
“Thank you, Leader.” Lin Feng wasted no time, taking the boy’s hand to leave.
Just then, Cheng Yu shoved his way past the guards and blocked their exit. Wearing the tormented expression of a wronged survivor, he began recounting the atrocities of the undead:
“Leader, you cannot let him walk away! It was monsters like him that destroyed our homes and ruined our world! How many people standing here have had their families butchered and devoured by zombies? None of us even know if we’ll be bitten tomorrow! How can you just let him go?!”
Tears streamed down Cheng Yu’s face as he worked the crowd into another frenzy. “Kill this abomination and avenge our families!”
The crowd took up the cry once more, their voices roaring in unison:
“Avenge our loved ones!”
“Avenge our loved ones!”
“Was it he who killed your families?” Xie Huaijin’s voice cut through the noise, unhurried yet carrying undeniable weight.
“Was it he who reduced our cities to ash and ruin?”
“If putting this child to death could restore the world to the way it was before the fall, I would not hesitate for a second.”
The little zombie ducked his head, pressing his face tight against Lin Feng’s back once more. Even the unruly cowlick on the crown of his head seemed to droop with guilt.
“On the contrary, from the moment I laid eyes on this boy, I have not seen him harm a single soul,” Xie Huaijin continued, his voice steady as iron. “You cowards turn a blind eye to the ravenous monsters roaming outside our walls, yet you gather here to torment a timid, defenseless little creature?”
The square fell dead silent.
Xie Huaijin swept his gaze across the gathering. “It seems we have distributed relief rations far too generously of late, leaving you with so much idle time to bully the weak.”
“If you truly possess such burning fury, take it out on the monsters roaming beyond our walls who actually butchered your kin. The Mission Office is open at all hours to take your deployment oaths!”
The survivors exchanged awkward, sheepish glances.
The vast majority were ordinary people with no awakened abilities. They relied entirely on the protection of fighters, staying inside the walls to carry out manual labor like farming and sweeping streets. Stepping beyond the perimeter meant guaranteed death.
Xie Huaijin’s voice turned chillingly neutral. “What is the matter? Is it that you lack the courage, or is it that you lack the ability to face your real enemies, leaving you no choice but to vent your pathetic spite on someone innocent?”
Flushed with shame, the survivors bowed their heads, muttered quiet apologies to the Leader, and began scattering down the streets in embarrassment.
Still unwilling to concede defeat, Cheng Yu jabbed a finger toward Jiang Xiaozhi. “He isn’t innocent! I saw him eating human flesh with my own eyes!”
Xie Huaijin slowly turned his gaze upon Cheng Yu, his voice dropping into a soft murmur. “Oh? And where did this human flesh come from?”
Cheng Yu stammered, his mouth opening and closing without a sound.
Xie Huaijin turned to Lin Feng. “Did you see him eating human flesh?”
Lin Feng replied flatly, “No.”
Panicking, Cheng Yu shouted desperately, “I really saw it! He was crouching on the pavement, and he had almost finished chewing through the piece!”
Xie Huaijin stared down at him. “And how could you tell it was human flesh, rather than ordinary meat?”
All color drained from Cheng Yu’s face. His eyes darted about frantically as he fumbled for words:
“I… I was only guessing. I don’t actually know if it was human meat or not…”
Xie Huaijin raised a hand. Two armed guards stepped forward and seized Cheng Yu, rifling through his pockets.
A wrapped bundle tumbled out of his backpack and struck the pavement. Xie Huaijin’s gaze turned frigid. “What is this?”
Cheng Yu dropped to his knees, frantically trying to shove the meat back inside the bag. “This… this is just meat I bought at the market! I was bringing it home to cook dinner…”
“Cooking human flesh for dinner? Which of you is the real monster here—him, or you?”
Xie Huaijin stepped forward, wrenched the bag from Cheng Yu’s grip, and tossed it to an officer beside him.
“Send this to the laboratory for analysis. Report the findings to me directly.”
Cheng Yu collapsed in terror, begging frantically for mercy: “Leader, I was wrong! I’ll never do it again! I didn’t mean to commit murder, I just needed a single scrap… Besides, there are so many useless mouths in this base, what does it matter if one idiot dies? Food is already scarce in this wasteland; getting rid of one person just means one less mouth to feed—”
“Enough!” Xie Huaijin cut him off with icy finality. “Drag him away. Execute him according to base regulations.”
The Food-hoarding Zombie Was Kidnapped by the Apocalyptic Boss
