Chapter Seventy-Five: The Love of a Zombie

Qin Yu led Tao carefully by the hand, with Xia Cheng and Zhao Meng following close behind. Before long, they arrived at a room. In the center stood a transparent coffin, and inside it lay a man. The man wore only underwear, his abdominal muscles clearly defined. Yet, what astonished them was that this man was not simply human.

His fingers were tinged with a bluish-black hue, and his nails were unnaturally long. Most of his skin remained intact, but near his waist, decaying flesh hung precariously. Qin Yu took in the scene, exchanged a glance with Zhao Meng and Xia Cheng, then quietly pulled Tao out of the room.

As they exited with utmost caution, none of them noticed the zombie inside the coffin opening its eyes. Its nails scraped against the coffin, emitting a chilling, buzzing sound.

Once outside, Qin Yu instructed Tao to shut the floor panel, and the four quickly left the house, returning to their temporary base.

Not long after Qin Yu’s departure, the floor in that room began to shake violently. Soon it cracked open, and the man emerged, surveying his surroundings before heading in the direction Qin Yu’s group had taken.

Back at their base, Qin Yu turned to Xia Cheng. “What do you think that man was?”

Xia Cheng replied solemnly, “A zombie—and not a low-level one, either.”

Qin Yu nodded. “I suspect it was fourth-tier. I never imagined such a monstrous creature would be hidden here.”

Zhao Meng added, “It looked like he was sleeping.”

Qin Yu’s expression darkened. “Indeed, but I can’t shake the feeling of unease.” She glanced up at the sky, which had turned overcast and ominous, as if a storm was brewing.

Her anxiety grew. She took out three submachine guns from her spatial storage. “Take these. I sense something is about to happen. Be careful.”

Tao gripped the gun tightly, her gaze turbulent.

Just as the four tensed, a sudden bang echoed from outside the door. Qin Yu clutched her knife, eyes fixed on the entrance, while the others aimed their guns at it.

In an instant, the door was destroyed. The silhouette that emerged was unmistakably the man from before.

He looked at the people in the room and slowly advanced toward Qin Yu. The four dared not act rashly, watching him intently. When he was only two meters from Qin Yu, he stopped and let out a clicking sound. Tilting his head toward Tao, he pointed at her, and his mouth twisted into a strange smile.

Tao pressed the gun to her chest, staring at the man. Something stirred in her eyes, and soon her irises turned blood red. Qin Yu noticed Tao’s transformation, her gaze deepening.

The man locked eyes with Tao; his own eyes bulged, and his nails grew even longer, their bluish glow terrifying everyone.

Qin Yu glanced at Xia Cheng and Zhao Meng. “Now!” She activated her powers, targeting the man—no, the zombie.

Xia Cheng and Zhao Meng opened fire, while Tao remained motionless, staring at the zombie.

The zombie sensed their assault and dodged quickly, but some bullets struck him. Where they hit, flesh dropped away, exposing rot and bone. Ignoring his wounds, the zombie charged at them.

Zhao Meng unleashed her fire powers, aiming at the zombie’s head. Sensing danger, the zombie dodged, the fireball grazing him. Undeterred, Zhao Meng increased her fireball rate.

Despite his speed, the zombie struggled to evade all three attacks. Soon, no intact flesh remained on his body; now, this fourth-tier zombie looked no different from a low-level one.

The zombie seemed to feel pain, howling as he lunged at Qin Yu. Exhausted from fighting up front, Qin Yu tightened her grip on her knife as the zombie barreled toward her.

“Careful!” Zhao Meng’s warning came with another fireball, which the zombie dodged, though not as easily as before.

Qin Yu seized the opening to grapple with the zombie again, with Xia Cheng and Zhao Meng supporting her from behind.

As the three battled the fourth-tier zombie, Tao suddenly moved. She gently raised her gun and aimed at the zombie. Sensing something, the zombie turned toward Tao. If his eyes were still whole, they would have revealed agony, guilt, despair, and a profound love.

But his eyes were ruined. The others only saw him turn toward Tao. Qin Yu was startled—had he changed targets?

Tao looked at the zombie and quietly pulled the trigger. With a bang, the bullet flew toward the zombie’s head. Watching it approach, the zombie uttered, fragmented and halting, “I’m sorry.”

Tao heard the words, her hand freezing. She lowered the gun, turned, and sat on the sofa, curling up silently.

The bullet lodged in the zombie’s skull. Although he should have died, he continued to repeat, “I’m sorry.” The three heard infinite sorrow and regret in his voice, like a lover whispering in the night.

The three stood there, stunned, listening to that lingering confession. Ten minutes passed, the voice gradually faded. Qin Yu looked at the zombie, then at Tao, huddled in a corner, lost in thought.

“Xia Yu, Xia Cheng, do you think all zombies deserve to die?” Zhao Meng’s muffled voice broke the silence.

Qin Yu glanced at Xia Cheng and saw helplessness and pain in his eyes. She looked at Qin Yu, who had thrown her gun to the floor. “Perhaps, in this world, there will always be a dominant force. Whether humans or zombies, one is destined for extinction.”

“Couldn’t both coexist?” Zhao Meng asked.

“Coexist? Do you think the military would allow humans and zombies to live side by side?” Qin Yu countered.

Zhao Meng fell silent, sitting down and bowing her head.

Xia Cheng joined her, placing a hand over hers, silently sharing her sorrow.

For a moment, the room was weighed down by an overwhelming heaviness.

Sending kisses to my dear friends, hahaha.