Chapter 16: Remember, From Now On You Are Only Allowed to Follow Me
Cheng Yu went completely hysterical, screaming in wild panic: “Leader, you can’t execute me! I was ridding the world of evil for our people!”
“He’s nothing but an idiot! He was still smiling when I struck him! He’s useless, incapable of doing even basic chores! What does it matter if a worthless parasite like that dies?!”
Cheng Yu twisted violently to break free and bolt, but ability users pinned him in place with their powers and dragged him backward through the dirt.
His frantic shrieks echoed down the street: “I was serving the base! I was lightening your burden—!”
As the desperate screams faded into the distance, the little zombie finally dared to poke his head out, peeking timidly in the direction Cheng Yu had been dragged away.
Xie Huaijin strolled over, his voice gentle and reassuring. “Don’t be afraid. The bad man has been driven away.”
The little zombie looked up at Xie Huaijin. Sensing the man’s warmth and quiet kindness, a shy smile finally curved his lips, and he let out a soft “Awoo” to offer his thanks.
Lin Feng took the boy’s hand and brought him back to Pei Zhi’s villa.
The front gate was secured with a facial-recognition scanner. Lin Feng lifted the little zombie up before the lens, where the dual infrared sensors scanned the boy’s pupils.
A few seconds later, the automated lock chimed with a crisp female voice: “Scan successful.”
With a soft beep, the gate unlatched, and Lin Feng led the boy inside.
Once back within familiar walls, the little zombie relaxed considerably. After taking a brisk stroll around the courtyard garden, he squatted in a sunny corner and began tossing his pebbles.
Lin Feng stood by the porch with arms crossed, keeping a silent, watchful vigil.
Before long, two guards in combat fatigues arrived outside the gate, explaining their orders to Lin Feng: “Greetings. The Leader sent us to assist you in watching over Jiang Xiaozhi.”
Lin Feng offered a curt nod. The two sentries said nothing further, taking up defensive posts on either flank of the main gate.
Meanwhile, the little zombie sat crouched on the grass, absorbed in his stone-tossing game. Having grown remarkably skilled, he could scoop up three falling pebbles in one clean grab. Delighted with his feat, he tugged playfully at the hem of Lin Feng’s jacket, begging him to join in.
After a few persistent tugs, Lin Feng gave in, crouching down to take turns tossing the stones.
When Pei Zhi returned from his patrol, this was the exact scene that met his eyes: Lin Feng tossed a stone, the little zombie beamed; Lin Feng tossed another, the boy giggled again, completely lost in their game.
Pei Zhi strode over with a frosty expression. Stepping smoothly between them, he nudged Lin Feng aside with his shoulder, scooped the pebbles right out of the man’s palm, and tossed them into the air. With a casual flick of his fingers, he caught every single stone effortlessly in his broad hand.
“Wah!” The little zombie let out an admiring gasp, clapping his hands in delight. But the sudden sight of Pei Zhi brought the day’s bitter grievances rushing back; with a pathetic whimper, he threw himself into the man’s embrace, wrapping his arms around Pei Zhi’s neck while sobbing out soft, broken howls.
Pei Zhi pulled the small body tight against his chest, his large hand gently stroking the back of the boy’s head. His voice softened with rare patience: “What happened?”
Feeling the comfort, the little zombie grew even more aggrieved, burying his face deep into the crook of Pei Zhi’s neck. Had he been a living human, he would have burst into loud, wailing tears by now.
Pei Zhi’s brow knitted into a fierce knot. He turned a sharp, questioning gaze onto Lin Feng, who had stepped aside: “What happened to him?”
Lin Feng recounted the day’s events from start to finish.
Pei Zhi’s eyes darkened instantly, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper: “Who laid a hand on Xiao Zhi?”
“A few ordinary survivors without abilities,” Lin Feng answered.
Pei Zhi’s fists clenched until the veins along the back of his hands stood out sharply, the frost in his eyes resembling glacial ice untouched for thousands of years.
He looked down at the little zombie sniffling against his chest. When he spoke, his voice was deceptively calm, yet laced with a chilling, bloodthirsty edge:
“Are you hungry?”
“Shall I bring you some meat to eat?”
Pei Zhi was no merciful saint; he was ruthless, and he never let a grudge go. Those people had tried to beat the little zombie to death, so letting the boy tear into them would be nothing more than fair self-defense.
At the mention of meat, however, the little zombie shrank back in distress, hanging his head as his fingers toyed nervously with the buttons on Pei Zhi’s uniform.
“What is it? Don’t you like meat anymore?”
The little zombie gave a small, stubborn shake of his head and buried his face right back into Pei Zhi’s chest.
He would never touch meat again, so that nobody would ever hate him or throw stones at him.
“Don’t be afraid. With me here, nobody will ever dare bully you again,” Pei Zhi murmured, coaxing him gently. “Don’t be sad anymore, all right?”
Pei Zhi’s deep, steady voice was filled with boundless patience. The little zombie rubbed his ear affectionately against the man’s sturdy chest, finally letting his eyes crinkle into a soft smile: “Awoo!”
Pei Zhi checked once more: “Do you truly not want any meat? I can fetch some for you right now.”
The boy put on a solemn, resolute face: “Awoo!”
No!
From now on, he would strictly eat human food.
The murderous tension in Pei Zhi’s chest melted away, replaced by an involuntary warmth. “All right. We’ll let them off this once.”
Having cheered up, the little zombie tugged at Pei Zhi to play the stone game, not forgetting to reach out a small hand to drag Lin Feng back into the circle as well.
Pei Zhi’s gaze locked onto the boy’s hand clutching Lin Feng’s sleeve, his eyes narrowing into a dangerous slit.
Lin Feng discreetly withdrew his arm, clearing his throat. “Captain Pei, I have duties to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. I leave the little guy in your hands.”
Pei Zhi gave a lukewarm grunt.
Lin Feng turned and walked briskly toward the courtyard gate. Behind him, Pei Zhi’s chilling voice rang out with an edge of quiet interrogation:
“Are you thinking of raising a little zombie yourself?”
Lin Feng froze mid-stride, turning back with a calm, flat denial: “No.”
Pei Zhi’s tone sounded casual, but his obsidian eyes were fixed on him like a hawk. “Don’t you find Jiang Xiaozhi very cute?”
After a careful pause, Lin Feng replied evenly, “I didn’t look that closely.”
Pei Zhi pressed further, his gaze unwavering: “You never felt the urge to keep one?”
Lin Feng stood at full attention. “Absolutely not.”
“Good,” Pei Zhi replied coolly.
He had found this little zombie first, so the creature belonged to him alone. Nobody else was going to take him away!
“I’ll take my leave then, Captain Pei.”
“Go.”
Once everyone had cleared out, Pei Zhi looked down at the boy absorbed in tossing stones on the grass. “Jiang Xiaozhi, if I had you go live with Lin Feng from now on, would you want to?”
The little zombie caught a falling pebble with a crisp slap against his palm, tilted his head in thought, and chimed: “Awoo!”
Pei Zhi couldn’t decipher the cry. “If you want to go, howl once. If you don’t, howl twice.”
The little zombie promptly chirped: “Awoo!”
Once!
Lin Feng was very nice to him, made him feel safe, washed his hands and face, and played games with him. Naturally, he was happy to follow him!
Pei Zhi’s face darkened instantly, an inexplicable fire flaring up in his chest. Scooping the little zombie into his arms, he carried him straight into the villa and planted him on top of the entryway console table. Bracing two muscular arms on either side of the boy’s thighs, he trapped the small creature entirely within his space, his voice heavy with quiet menace: “So what you’re saying is, you’ll follow anyone who picks you up?”
The little zombie’s muddled brain couldn’t grasp the deeper implication, so he simply answered from his own simple logic: “Awoo…”
Yes! As long as they don’t hit me and want to play with me, I’ll go with them!
Pei Zhi’s jaw clamped shut, his thin lips pressing into a hard line. His dark brows drew together in a fierce scowl as he glared down, his imposing look making the little zombie wonder if the man was about to sink his teeth into him.
Frightened, the little zombie pulled his chin in, using an index finger to nervously scratch his cheek.
His big, innocent eyes stole glance after glance at Pei Zhi’s stern face…
Just as the boy was about to pull out a snack from his spatial storage to appease him, Pei Zhi yanked open the console drawer, drew a tactical knife, and dragged the blade across his own palm.
Fresh crimson welled from the cut immediately. Pei Zhi brought his bloody palm right up to the boy’s lips. Driven by primal instinct, the little zombie parted his mouth and latched on, sucking down the sweet flow in eager gulps.
It was so sweet, so rich.
Pei Zhi’s blood tasted a hundred times better than anyone else’s.
Once the boy had drunk his fill, Pei Zhi finally pulled his hand away. Looking down at the little zombie with a cool, detached gaze, he said, “Don’t you love drinking my blood? If you leave with someone else, you will never get to taste my blood again.”
The little zombie panicked at the thought. Reaching out with both arms, he hugged Pei Zhi’s waist tightly, letting out a barrage of sweet, flattering whimpers, promising over and over that he would never follow anyone else and would stay glued to the big boss forever.
Hearing the soft, coaxing whimpers, Pei Zhi knew the boy had yielded to him.
The suffocating frustration that had gripped his chest vanished in an instant, replaced by deep, quiet satisfaction.
Pei Zhi stroked the boy’s soft curls, speaking in a firm, guiding murmur: “Remember this: from now on, you are only allowed to follow me. After all, I am your most delicious meal, and I will never let you starve.”
The little zombie nodded with all his might, clutching his prized, fragrant delicacy tightly against his chest, refusing to let go. As long as he stayed with Pei Zhi, he would never have to endure hunger for the rest of his life!
The Food-hoarding Zombie Was Kidnapped by the Apocalyptic Boss
