Chapter 6: Obviously, This Method Won’t Work
Pei Zhi’s brow furrowed tightly. The creature showed no signs of decay and could speak coherently—it was an advanced zombie, and extremely dangerous.
Quietly shoving Jiang Xiaozhi behind him, he barked, “Hide.”
The little zombie scurried behind a nearby boulder, poking out just the top of his head to peek nervously around the edge.
The advanced zombie advanced step by step, fixing Pei Zhi with ravenous, hungry eyes. “It has been far too long since I crossed paths with an ability user this powerful. Your flesh and blood will easily push me into my next evolution!”
With a burst of unnatural speed, the creature sprang forward like a prowling cheetah, clawing straight for Pei Zhi’s throat.
Pei Zhi twisted aside, taking several rapid steps back to regain his footing.
“Hahahaha!” The creature tossed its head back, laughing arrogantly into the night. “Stop wasting your strength. Give up and let me feast on you. I promise to make your death quick and painless!”
With a hiss, it bared a pair of wicked fangs and lunged forward to bite.
Knowing an extended fight would kill him, Pei Zhi dodged the snapping jaws, hooked an arm around the creature’s neck from behind, and swept its legs out from under it. Bringing the monster crashing to the ground, he pinned it beneath his knees and brought his bare fists down against its skull in a relentless barrage.
“Fool! I am an advanced zombie!” the creature sneered through the blows. “My skull is a hundred times denser than that of any common crawler! You honestly think an exhausted ability user can crack my head open with bare hands?”
Before the taunt even faded, a sharp crack echoed across the clearing. Hairline fractures spiderwebbed across the monster’s forehead.
The creature’s smug grin vanished into pure panic. Letting out an enraged shriek, it drove its razor-sharp claws deep into Pei Zhi’s shoulder, pulled him downward, and sank its fangs viciously into the muscle…
Blinding pain tore through Pei Zhi’s shoulder, making his mind go completely blank for a split second. Yet in that fleeting heartbeat, the only thought that surfaced was: If I turn into a zombie, what will happen to Jiang Xiaozhi? I haven’t even found that silly creature a safe place to hide.
The monster cackled with savage glee. “Hahaha! You’re finished! You’re dead!”
A ruthless, murderous light ignited in Pei Zhi’s eyes. Gathering every scrap of adrenaline left in his battered body, he drove a devastating punch straight into the fractured bone. The skull burst like a crushed melon, splattering blackened fluid and putrid gore across the dirt. Pei Zhi finally pulled his bloody knuckles back and rose to his feet.
Throbbing waves of agony pulsed through his shoulder. Pei Zhi stripped off his ruined jacket to inspect the damage.
The puncture wounds had already turned a bruised, sickly purple. Thin, black veins were creeping outward from the bite marks, spreading under his skin like a spider’s web.
It was the unmistakable sign of infection.
He had very little time left.
The little zombie crept out from behind the boulder, scurrying over to gently tug at the hem of Pei Zhi’s shirt, whining softly as if asking how badly he was hurt.
Pei Zhi bent down, scooped the lightweight little zombie into his arms, and walked briskly toward the outskirts of the nearest abandoned town.
The streets were desolate and choked with rubble. Detecting movement, a mutated plant two meters tall slowly peeled open its tooth-lined flower bud, emitting a raspy, dry screech.
Vines resembling thick ivy shot forward, slithering across the pavement like tentacles to wrap around Pei Zhi’s boots.
Before they could even touch his leather, Pei Zhi brought his heel down with crushing force, grinding them into pulp. The severed stems writhed and twitched wildly on the asphalt like chopped octopus tentacles.
Taking the hint, the mutated flower instantly snapped its petals shut, freezing in place and playing dumb as an innocent, ordinary garden weed.
Reaching a deserted shopping plaza, Pei Zhi set the little zombie down on the concrete, pointed toward the dark entrance of a basement storage facility nearby, and murmured in a raspy voice, “You’re free now. Go.”
He couldn’t look after the little zombie anymore. Nor could he bear the thought of this harmless creature getting captured and strapped to a lab table for experimentation. All he could do was give the boy a fighting chance to survive on his own.
The little zombie blinked his round apricot eyes, standing rooted to the spot and tilting his head up to gaze at him.
Pei Zhi instructed firmly, “Go hide in the storage rooms. Whenever you’re hungry, eat the food stored inside your space.”
Stay hidden away so other ability users won’t stumble across you and beat you to death. Keep yourself safe.
Seeing the boy remain completely still, Pei Zhi summoned a tiny, crackling wisp of static in his palm and flicked it at the dirt right beside the little zombie’s toes, barking sternly, “Go!”
Startled by the pop, the little zombie hopped back two paces. Seeing Pei Zhi’s grim expression and realizing the man was genuinely driving him away, he turned his back and shuffled toward the basement steps. After a dozen paces, he stopped, looked over his shoulder, and stared mournfully at Pei Zhi before hanging his head and dragging his feet forward again.
Watching the small, lonely figure shrink into the shadows, a vital piece of information suddenly sparked in Pei Zhi’s memory.
“Wait!” he called out abruptly.
The little zombie halted and turned around, tilting his head with a puzzled frown.
Pei Zhi closed the distance in three long strides, scooped the boy up around the waist once more, and slipped quietly down into the underground facility.
The warehouse was around five hundred square meters. The shelves had long been ransacked bare, leaving flattened cardboard boxes and debris scattered over the floor. The dust was thick, leaving a crisp footprint with every step they took.
Pei Zhi found two relatively intact cardboard boxes, tore them open, and laid them flat in a sheltered corner. Setting the little zombie down on the cardboard, he took a breath.
The boy sat quietly, staring up at him. Faint light filtering down from high street vents brushed against his delicate face, casting a soft glow that illuminated the fine, downy fuzz on his cheeks.
His eyelashes were remarkably long, curving upward like tiny fans. His wide almond eyes were innocent and clear. He had a gentle arch to his brows, a neat nose, and an endearing, softly curved mouth.
For a brief second, Pei Zhi found himself lost in that quiet, clean gaze. Catching himself, he shifted his eyes away with a stiff cough and sat down cross-legged beside him.
After doing some mental preparation, Pei Zhi slowly held out his palm. “Come here.”
The little zombie gently placed his small hand into Pei Zhi’s open palm.
The boy’s skin was smooth and delicate as fine silk, but cold as ice, carrying no hint of living warmth.
Pei Zhi slowly curled his fingers around the slender hand. The two sat facing each other in silence, staring intently into one another’s eyes…
One minute passed. Two minutes. After ten minutes, boredom crept in. The little zombie’s gaze began to drift around the room. Spotting a brightly colored cardboard box in the opposite corner, his eyes lit up. He tried to tug his hand free to go inspect it.
Pei Zhi caught him by the wrist and murmured, “Wait a little longer.”
Still fixated on the colorful box, the little zombie pointed a finger across the room, letting out an eager whimper: “Awoo…”
Pei Zhi caught the boy’s other hand, holding both small palms securely in his own as he coaxed in a low, gentle voice, “Be good. Listen to me. Whatever you want later, I’ll go find it for you.”
The little zombie relented, settling back down to sit quietly with him.
With their palms pressed flat against each other, the man’s broad, calloused hands enveloped the boy’s slender, fragile fingers. Pei Zhi closed his eyes, focusing every sense on his palms. Yet he felt no energy flowing between them, nor did he see the faintest glimmer of light to signal that healing had begun.
Half an hour ticked by. Pei Zhi glanced down at his throbbing shoulder. Thick, blackened venom continued to seep from the puncture marks, and the network of dark veins was visibly creeping across his chest and neck.
Clearly, this first method was completely useless.
Clearing his throat to mask the awkwardness in his chest, Pei Zhi offered an explanation to the creature: “That was supposed to activate your healing ability. I wasn’t trying to take advantage of you.”
The little zombie tilted his head, giving an uncomprehending chirp: “Awoo?”
Now that the explanation was out of the way, Pei Zhi wasted no more time. Leaning forward, he pulled the small body flush against his chest.
The boy’s palms were freezing, and the skin of his lower back was equally cold. The smooth, icy contact sent an unfamiliar shiver straight through Pei Zhi, making his head spin as though he were floating high up into the clouds.
The Food-hoarding Zombie Was Kidnapped by the Apocalyptic Boss
