Chapter Forty-Nine: The Gentle Girl

After Cheng Luoyi and her companion finished their meal and regained some strength, they continued their search for members of the Black Scorpion organization.

With Lin Dong among them, their journey went remarkably smoothly. The once-frenzied zombies seemed to have vanished into thin air, making the streets eerily quiet.

Cheng Luoyi even felt an odd illusion, as if it were just an ordinary afternoon and she was simply strolling down the street.

Lin Dong reminisced with the two of them, mentioning things like picking cherries and making dumplings. Walking along the apocalyptic streets, he appeared completely at ease.

Chen Ming and the others glanced at each other, uncertain and silent. They dared not ask questions or make any comments, simply following behind and trying their best to blend into the background.

They did notice, however, that Cheng Luoyi—who was usually reserved—was speaking a little more than usual today.

Far behind their group, on a tall building, Tank, Little Eight, and the Doctor stood, their fierce eyes fixed on the scene below.

“Why is the boss leading humans around?” Little Eight sounded a bit jealous.

“Don’t underestimate that female human. I doubt even you could beat her,” the Doctor remarked.

“Hmph.” Little Eight scoffed, unconvinced. “If it weren’t for the boss’s orders, I’d have already eaten her brain!”

The Doctor didn’t reply, instead turning to Tank. “The boss is searching for humans who’ve snuck in. They’re heading toward your patrol area, aren’t they?”

“Yeah, that’s right! They must be mistaken. I’ve checked that place countless times—there’s no way any humans are there,” Tank replied confidently.

Three loyal subordinates and a thousand elite zombies waited below, ready for action—or perhaps simply to watch the show.

...

By now, Lin Dong had reached the edge of his territory. Since its expansion, this was his first time patrolling this far.

From a distance, he caught the scent of blood—there was definitely a human presence nearby.

The street ahead had once been lined with karaoke bars, the liveliest part of the city, filled with music and light every night. Now, though, it was in ruins: buildings cracked, signs fallen, shards of glass everywhere, and the stains of blood and battered corpses left in plain sight.

On the abandoned cars outside, cobwebs clung thickly.

One building’s ground-floor glass door was shattered, weeds grew through the steps at the entrance, and the interior was silent—seemingly no different from the others.

But the windows on the second floor had been barricaded, clear signs of deliberate modification.

“There it is,” Cheng Luoyi said, her bright eyes fixed ahead, clearly sensing something as well.

Behind them, Chen Ming’s brow furrowed. The Black Scorpion organization, to his mind, was vicious and merciless. He couldn’t help but speak up.

“According to our intel, there are over a dozen awakened among those who stole the supplies, and they’re holding three hostages. We’ve been told to recover the supplies and rescue the hostages as well.”

“Hostages?”

...

Lin Dong unconsciously repeated the word, finding it strangely unfamiliar, as though the concept itself was missing from his mind.

“Uh...” Chen Ming hesitated, falling silent.

Sun Xiaoqiang looked at Lin Dong. “I’ve heard the Black Scorpion group is brutal. Maybe you should stay here and let us handle it.”

“Brutal?” That word, at least, was one Lin Dong knew well.

“It’s fine. I’ll go in with you.”

“Alright, just stay close to me,” Sun Xiaoqiang replied, confident in his own strength—after all, he was an Awakened from Shelter 002.

With that, they headed straight for the KTV ahead.

...

Inside, thirteen Black Scorpion members waited. Six of them had condensed crystal cores and awakened abilities, making them formidable.

Among the six was a woman with cropped hair, a black scorpion tattooed on her right cheek—a striking and unsettling look. She was a psychic, her senses acute.

Suddenly, she sprang up from the sofa. “Brother Yang, someone’s approaching!”

“Oh?” The bald man leading them narrowed his eyes, menace flashing within. Even hiding in a place like this, they had been found?

“How many?”

“Six. Only two have crystal cores,” the woman reported. Her abilities didn’t allow her to sense Lin Dong at all.

The bald man snorted. “Only two awakened with crystal cores? They’re overconfident. Let’s go greet them.”

“Hehe, alright,” a man beside him sneered, clearly unconcerned.

They left three to guard the hostages, while the remaining ten went out to confront the intruders.

Meanwhile, Lin Dong’s group stepped over shattered glass into the lobby on the first floor, the crunch beneath their feet echoing through the space.

Before long, footsteps rustled from upstairs.

...

“They’re coming down,” Cheng Luoyi remarked coolly, stepping forward alone.

Chen Ming and the others were too weak to count on in combat. She preferred to settle things herself, quickly and efficiently.

Soon, a group appeared at the top of the staircase—at their head was the bald man, his eyes triangular, eyebrows shaved off, his face a mask of brutality. He was Song Yang, a lieutenant in the Black Scorpion group.

Behind him, the others had a range of appearances—nose studs, lip rings, tattoos—each with a distinct look, all sizing up Cheng Luoyi with ill intent.

“Well, well, it really is her,” a young man in a leather jacket said, his eyes gleaming with delight.

Someone nearby asked, “You know her?”

“Yeah, I saw her profile on the shelter’s official website,” the man replied, a sleazy grin spreading across his face. The first moment he saw Cheng Luoyi’s photo, he had found her breathtakingly beautiful.

He’d even fantasized about meeting her someday.

And now, his wish had come true—she had come to him.

He remembered clearly the brief introduction beneath her photo: “I’m a gentle girl, afraid of pain.”

“I like gentle girls the best. Brother Yang, let me have her!” he volunteered eagerly.

“You’ve got good taste. Go ahead,” Song Yang replied with a wicked smile, unconcerned.

It wasn’t that they were foolish or careless; it was simply that Cheng Luoyi’s aura, in her normal state, was unremarkable—just an ordinary B-rank awakened. Most couldn’t sense anything unusual about her.

The man in the leather jacket was visibly excited. He drew an alloy dagger from his pant leg, the blade gleaming cold and sharp.

“Pretty lady, let me play with you!” he called, dashing forward, weapon raised. He was a speed-enhanced awakened, his movements swift.

But Cheng Luoyi stood perfectly still, her wide eyes fixed on him, making no move to evade.

The glint of the blade grew larger in her gaze, until the dagger was nearly upon her.

Suddenly, she raised her hand and caught the blade in her palm.

A spurt of crimson blood welled up, trickling down her wrist, a stark and shocking contrast against her pale skin...