Chapter Forty: The Hunt

Dawn was just breaking.

The day before yesterday, over a hundred zombies had infested this place, but after a day, they had dispersed into the surrounding area. Now, only a dozen or so listlessly wandered outside the building.

Fan Li had gained a new subordinate whose identities were many: a father, a gym owner, and a jujitsu coach. By profession, he also dabbled in some combat training. Compared to Yang Shuo, this newcomer truly possessed “skills.” Fan Li, never having undergone systematic training, suddenly found someone at his side from whom he could soak up knowledge like a sponge.

They had rested for a day. During that time, Hu Huayao pointed out some of Fan Li’s fitness shortcomings, then taught him basic grappling techniques. Fan Li understood there was little time to learn, so these moves were all about speed, precision, and ruthlessness—not meant to subdue people, but to ensure that in danger, an opponent would be brought down as quickly as possible.

Fan Li organized their first collective action: searching for food in the shops outside the street.

The three divided their duties clearly.

Fan Li and Hu Huayao would handle the exploration, while Yang Shuo remained on standby at the door, ready to cover their return. Due to his lack of strength, Yang Shuo was assigned logistics: cooking, laundry, and looking after the child. Though he protested, when Fan Li offered him the choice to join Hu Huayao outside, he seemed to realize his limits and fell silent. Adapting takes time; for Yang Shuo, he was gradually settling into his new role.

There were three zombies at the entrance.

They observed from upstairs. After Fan Li signaled to Yang Shuo, the latter suddenly flung the door open.

The moment the door opened, Hu Huayao charged out. His olive-green fatigues, patched in places, were at least better than nothing. Gripping a club wrapped with iron wire and nails, he embodied both strength and courage—both essential against zombies. With experience now on his side, Hu Huayao was familiar with their weaknesses. Well-fed and at his peak, he swung the iron bar and two zombies quickly crumpled, their skulls crushed.

Fan Li followed him outside and saw Hu Huayao raise his arm again—this time, a female zombie’s head exploded under the blow, blood and brain matter splattering onto the ground. Hu Huayao stood there like a tiger unleashed, sending chills down any onlooker’s spine.

Lowering his blade, Fan Li sighed inwardly—one part grateful to have such a formidable fighter, another regretful at the missed opportunity to gain more slaughter points.

A zombie in the distance let out a wail. The nearby undead were roused, and even further away, more sounds echoed.

Fan Li and Hu Huayao exchanged a glance and broke into a run.

Zombies never stayed in one place for long.

Most of the time, they wandered aimlessly, but once they spotted prey, they would howl, drawing others to their location like hyenas attempting a group attack. As carnivores, their appetite seemed endless, always craving flesh.

Though their actions would draw attention, the average zombie moved slowly; it would take time for them to arrive. That meant that if they could eliminate the immediate threat quickly, they had ample time to search for food.

Distant howls responded.

Fan Li’s muscles tensed. There was a zombie ahead, but he did not slow down. Instead, he charged right at it. As he closed in, he swung his katana horizontally—Muramasa’s blade slashed cleanly through the zombie’s neck.

With a whoosh, its massive head flew high, jaws gaping and face twisted in a grotesque snarl. Zombies felt no pain; to them, hunger was far more agonizing than death.

[Slaughter Points +1]
[23/100]

His points crept higher. Fan Li had witnessed Ellie’s strength and knew that summoning the next monster would greatly enhance his safety.

A metallic crash—a club hammered down on a skull. Hu Huayao’s strength exceeded Fan Li’s expectations. Surrounded the previous day, he had managed to smash nearly ten zombies; now, fully prepared and at his peak, he was even more formidable.

Perhaps guilt over having killed his wife fueled his rage, which he vented entirely on the zombies. Each strike that sent blood flying seemed to numb him, as if it were a kind of anesthetic.

A nauseating stench wafted toward Fan Li. Nearby zombies had picked up their scent; these predators would not sit idly by.

The swoosh of a weapon slicing through air—one zombie was too close to decapitate efficiently. Fan Li first slashed its cheek, slicing off its nose, then kicked its chest hard. As it reeled back, he raised the katana and brought it down on the creature’s neck without hesitation.

A foul, bloody stench filled the air as another head thudded to the ground.

[Slaughter Points +1]
[24/100]

Fan Li barely had time to catch his breath before two more zombies lunged from either side. He swung his blade but hesitated for a split second—the thick clothing dulled his fear, but the thought of such close contact repulsed him. As they collided, a strong figure appeared before him: Hu Huayao, lowering his head like a linebacker, barreled into both zombies, knocking them to the ground.

With a squelch, Hu Huayao stomped on a zombie’s neck. Its body shuddered, and with another stomp, it finally lay still.

Fan Li, regaining his strength, kicked down another zombie trying to rise. He raised his blade and chopped down, but the blow failed to sever its head completely. The half-dead zombie clawed up the blade toward him—an average person would have recoiled in terror, but Fan Li was no stranger to such fights. He lifted his foot and brought it down hard, splitting the head in two.

[Slaughter Points +1]

At that moment, a child-sized zombie appeared, glaring menacingly at Fan Li and growling threateningly.

Hu Huayao hesitated—this one was barely older than his own daughter. At that moment, the father in him wavered.

Fan Li strode over and dispatched the small zombie with a single stroke. He said to Hu Huayao, “From the moment they mutated, they were no longer human.”

Watching Fan Li’s merciless efficiency, Hu Huayao was taken aback, feeling as if he had come to know this companion all over again.

“Don’t linger—move!” Fan Li snapped.

The sounds of approaching zombies were growing louder; their numbers were clearly increasing. Fan Li knew time was short. With a sharp command, he darted into the shop like a hunting leopard.