Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Weeping Woman

After eight days, Fan Li finally completed his exploration of the entire building. Several days of searching had left him with a plentiful stock of provisions, and he felt he deserved a little reward.

Night had fallen, and outside, the zombies were growing restless.

For some survivors, this was when terror began. Even Yang Shuo, who once trembled in fear at the cacophony of their howls, would hide away in his room.

But tonight, everything had changed for him. Never had Yang Shuo imagined that he would one day participate in the slaughter of zombies.

Having combed through every room, Fan Li had gathered enough supplies, and after days of physical exertion, he decided to treat himself to a sumptuous dinner.

He sliced the smoked meat, heated a bit of oil in the pan, and added the meat. Then he mixed the sauce—a few spoonfuls of honey, a few more of char siu sauce, and finally, a bowl of freshly steamed rice. A simple version of char siu rice was ready.

Authentic char siu rice demands fresh pork, not pre-cooked meat, and should be garnished with greens and scallions for color. But in the apocalypse, with no refrigerator and vegetables perishing quickly, his char siu rice was a stripped-down version. Still, after days of nothing but instant noodles and plain rice with sauce, this meal was a feast to Fan Li.

He picked up a slice of smoked meat with his chopsticks and chewed thoughtfully. It was a touch salty, but the juice, mellowed by the honey, brought a sweetness that offset the burnt tang of the smoked flavor.

At that moment, Yang Shuo had just finished hanging their laundry to dry. The aroma of meat drifted through the room, and his stomach began to rumble again.

“Would you like some?” Fan Li had eaten more than half, but there were still slices left in the pan. He offered them to Yang Shuo.

Yang Shuo’s face was still pale—perhaps the trauma of the day’s hunt had left him queasy at the thought of meat. Though his stomach growled, he waved it off. “No, thanks… I need a moment… Let me rest for a bit first…”

He couldn’t help but feel a grudging admiration for Fan Li. After slaughtering two zombies with his own hands, he still had the appetite to eat so heartily. But why did that smoked meat have to look so fatty? Just like that bloated zombie he’d helped carry—ugh! He couldn’t bear to think of it, or he’d be sick again.

He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping that out of sight would mean out of mind. He tried to rest, planning to eat tomorrow and restore his strength.

“Not eating? Fine, then go wash the dishes.”

Fan Li finished his meal, pushed the bowl aside, and gave his subordinate a new command.

“For heaven’s sake! Can’t you see the state I’m in? Who do you think I am, your housemaid?”

Yang Shuo opened his eyes to protest, but was met by an icy stare. Instinctively, he swallowed his indignation, got up, and carried the plate to the sink.

...

Fan Li glanced at the clock.

9:00 p.m.

After a long day, exhaustion pressed down on him. He turned to Yang Shuo, who was sitting blankly on the sofa. “Alright, it’s time for you to head back to your own room.”

“Now?” Yang Shuo hesitated, jolted from his daze.

Though the room was pitch dark, Fan Li, gifted with night vision, could see the confusion on Yang Shuo’s face.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already explored the whole building. All the zombies are gone. There’s no danger left.”

“True, the zombies are all gone—you killed them. But now this place is haunted. Every single apartment has seen someone die. Won’t vengeful spirits come for us at midnight?”

That’s what Yang Shuo thought, but what he said was different: “Well… it’s late, and the hallway’s dark. I’m afraid it’ll be hard to find my door…”

“You’re scared?”

Yang Shuo reflexively denied it. “Of course not!”

“Then go to bed. There’s a flashlight—take one with you.”

“Alright…”

Seeing Fan Li’s firm attitude, Yang Shuo could say no more. He took a flashlight and tiptoed out.

The door closed. A few seconds later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor—clearly, Yang Shuo was making a dash for home.

Silence returned to the apartment. Fan Li pulled a thin blanket over himself and lay down on the bed.

This was the apocalypse—caution was necessary in all things.

He trusted Yang Shuo lacked the nerve to attack him in the night, but human nature was fickle and infinitely complex. Compared to the mindless savagery of beasts, nothing was harder to fathom than the depths of the human heart.

They hadn’t known each other long. Though his show of force had raised Yang Shuo’s fear—and perhaps reluctant respect—he was still teetering on the edge of betrayal. During such times, one had to stay vigilant and watchful.

Fan Li’s consciousness blurred. Though killing zombies looked effortless, the constant tension left him utterly drained.

Light snores filled the room. Fan Li had succumbed to fatigue.

...

He didn’t know how much time had passed when he suddenly awoke. Outside, there was a faint commotion. At first, he thought it was time for the zombies’ nightly howling. But after a few seconds, Fan Li’s brow furrowed.

“No, that’s not the zombies’ usual wailing—those are sobs!”

In the dead of night, the rustling of wind through the leaves mingled with the clear, choking cries. It sounded as if a tormented soul, barred from the afterlife, was weeping beneath the window—a chilling, bone-deep lament.

Fan Li got out of bed and went to the window, pulling the curtain aside just a crack to look outside.

His night vision extended only five meters, but with the help of faint moonlight, he glimpsed a shadowy figure.

It was a woman.

She was crouched in the middle of the street, back to Fan Li, so he couldn’t see her face.

She seemed to be consumed by some terrible grief, squatting on the ground and sobbing without end. The pitiful, broken sounds stirred a strange urge in him to reach out and help.

“Why would I feel that way?”

Suddenly, a chill swept up Fan Li’s spine—he realized what this was.

Looking more closely, he recognized her. Not from before the apocalypse, but from the day Titan was devoured by Ellie. Three zombies had feasted on Titan’s remains, and she was one of them.

She was a zombie.

Her figure still retained the allure of her living days, crouched and outlined in a captivating curve.

Her hair swayed in the wind…

But was it really the wind? Fan Li focused. Startled, he saw her hair was actually growing—lengthening, strand by strand, like black snakes slithering down her back.

If he failed to understand what was happening now, he would be hopelessly slow-witted.

This zombie resembled Titan—not in appearance, but in the strange aura and abilities that set her apart from the others.

She…

She was in the midst of her metamorphosis, evolving from zombie to mutant.