Chapter Forty-Seven: Reunion with an Old Friend

The six of them advanced with caution, their bodies coated in a special ointment that masked their scent; as long as they made no noise, they would remain undetected. The zombies on the outskirts were not densely packed, so as long as they avoided them, there would be no disturbance.

From a distance, Chen Ming saw several zombies swaying in the street, their movements sluggish and their expressions vacant, almost foolish. The group pressed themselves against the walls, treading lightly, using abandoned vehicles for cover, intending to slip past the zombies from behind.

But halfway through, Sun Xiaoqiang's stomach suddenly let out a rumbling growl.

"Uh?"

Chen Ming and the others instantly wore alarmed expressions, their hearts leaping into their throats. Though the sound was not loud, the zombies’ hearing was exceptionally keen.

The previously swaying zombies froze in place, becoming alert, low growls rumbling in their throats as if they were straining to perceive something.

Cheng Luoyi’s beautiful eyes focused, already prepared for combat. The rest crouched behind the wrecked cars, holding their breath, not daring to even exhale.

Fortunately, the zombies only remained alert for a moment before calming down again, reverting to their mindless, staggering state.

A collective sigh of relief escaped Chen Ming and his companions as they quickly skirted past the dangerous area.

Once the zombies were safely behind them, one of the Awakened muttered in lingering fear, "Xiaoqiang, you nearly got us noticed by the zombies!"

"I was just hungry," Sun Xiaoqiang replied matter-of-factly.

Chen Ming hastened to console him, "Alright, the mission comes first. Once we find supplies, there’ll be food!"

"Mm." The thought of good food reignited Sun Xiaoqiang’s motivation. In his mind, he fantasized: after they found supplies, he’d devour a piece of bread and gulp down a can of energy drink—what bliss...

Thus, the six pressed on, moving with utmost care. The journey was smooth enough, dodging wave after wave of zombies. When necessary, they climbed onto rooftops, moving like ancient assassins across the tiles.

Still, Chen Ming's nerves were taut. As they ventured deeper toward the center of the district, the zombies below grew more evolved and even more perceptive. According to supplementary information from Tech Corp, this area was classified as a five-star corpse nest.

Suddenly, the shrill wailing of a woman echoed through the air, eerie and haunting, alternating between piercing highs and guttural lows, as though it arose from the depths of hell itself. The very sound sent a chill through their bones.

The six of them lay prone atop a building, hastily turning to locate the source of the cries. There, the silhouette of a female zombie knelt on the ground, her head bowed as she sobbed.

Chen Ming drew a sharp breath, his skin crawling with goosebumps. It was truly terrifying.

"I'm starving and I’m not even crying—what’s her excuse?" Sun Xiaoqiang craned his neck for a better look.

"She might be even hungrier than you," Cheng Luoyi replied.

"We can’t go through there. We’ll have to take a detour," Chen Ming decided immediately. Around the female zombie, a host of other zombies moved with unnatural speed and focus—clearly, these were highly evolved.

Besides, the group that had looted the supplies couldn’t possibly be hiding here; they would have been devoured long ago.

The six were about to change course when Xiaoba, with her acute senses, detected their gaze. Her hair hung in disarray, veiling her face except for a single eye, which she abruptly turned towards them.

Upon spotting her targets, Xiaoba’s pupil contracted to a pinprick, making her appearance even more chilling.

A ghastly laugh replaced her weeping in an instant. She darted toward them, swift as the wind.

"Damn! We’ve been spotted!" Chen Ming’s face paled, terror rising within him at the sight of such a dreadful zombie.

As Xiaoba charged, she roused the nearby zombies.

"Roar—!"

Hundreds of elite zombies howled, forming a tide of death, surging forward. Their agile forms bounded up walls and onto rooftops in mere leaps.

Even from their vantage point, the six had no means of escape.

"What now?" Panic-stricken, Chen Ming found himself at a loss.

Cheng Luoyi remained calm. "What else? We break through."

"Right!"

The Awakened, including Chen Ming, drew alloy blades from their belts. Specially crafted by researchers, these weapons were both resilient and sharp, capable of slaying high-level zombies. Yet faced with so many elite foes, none of them felt assured of victory—even Cheng Luoyi, the renowned Number 001 Awakened of Sanctuary, said to be the strongest among them.

But the sheer number of zombies was daunting—a tiger could be brought down by a pack of wolves.

And among the horde was a terrifying, agile corpse king.

Xiaoba closed in rapidly. Life in her territory had been far too peaceful lately, leaving her and her warlike kin bored to the point of tears. Now, at last, prey had appeared, and their excitement surged.

But just as she neared her target, Xiaoba suddenly received a command in her mind: "Wait. Don’t kill them yet..."

Abruptly, Xiaoba’s swift charge halted. It was the leader’s voice. Though consumed by bloodlust, she restrained herself, casting a sidelong glance at Chen Ming’s group before veering away.

Chen Ming trembled—he would never forget the haunted look in the female zombie’s solitary eye.

Yet what happened next astonished them even more.

The once-frenzied zombies grew quiet, dispersing in all directions. In moments, the entire horde had vanished!

"What’s going on?" The six were utterly baffled. Never before had they encountered such a scenario. They had braced themselves for a desperate fight to the death, only for the corpse tide to recede without warning.

"Oh, I get it—they were just trying to scare us," Sun Xiaoqiang offered, analyzing the situation.

Chen Ming was speechless. "Why would they bother? There must be something else going on."

"What exactly?" Cheng Luoyi, too, was puzzled.

But suddenly, she realized—not everything in this world was as grim as expected. Sometimes, there were small, unexpected surprises.

At that moment, a tall figure appeared at the end of the street, his features handsome as he surveyed them.

Lin Dong’s gaze fell on Cheng Luoyi, and as her face overlapped with his memories, images from their childhood came flooding back, filling him with nostalgia for days long past.

"It’s been a long time!"

"Uh..."

Cheng Luoyi stared blankly. After ten years in a psychiatric hospital, her heart had grown colder than stone, yet seeing this familiar figure sent it racing.

That face, too, carried a wealth of memories—one of the few warm moments of her life.

Sun Xiaoqiang was equally moved. He remembered Lin Dong well, his unique eyes glistening with tears.

In this desolate apocalypse, to meet a childhood friend was a miracle.

Without hesitation, Sun Xiaoqiang leapt from the rooftop and landed before Lin Dong.

"Lin Dong, it really is you! I never imagined we’d meet here!"

But Chen Ming and the others grew increasingly uneasy. Linking the recent events to the blurry photos circulating online, they realized the resemblance was uncanny.

"Xiaoqiang! Be careful—he might be a zombie!"

"Don’t talk nonsense!" Sun Xiaoqiang retorted, annoyed that his childhood friend was being so accused.

"Lin Dong can’t be a zombie! My eyes are as good as a ruler!"

...