Chapter 25

It is still a long way from the Pingqu base to Yu City.

Before the apocalypse, this distance could be covered in a few hours by plane or high-speed rail. Now, however, it takes at least two months to drive, factoring in stops and detours for safety.

But Wen Jiuze had traveled this road before and was quite familiar with it. So when he arrived, he no longer needed to check the map. He could use the landmarks he recognized to correct his direction.

He also knew where the bases along the way were located for resupplying. He carried a map he had drawn himself, marked with notes that only he could interpret.

The more prosperous and populated places fell faster. Now, most bases are established in previously remote areas or small towns with low populations.

Between the bases lie vast stretches of abandoned regions that were once thriving cities but are now sparsely populated.

Upon arriving at such places, with no one on the road, Wen Jiuze would open the car window to let the outside wind blow in.

He often looked for locations with fewer zombies, would get out of the car with Xue Ling to walk around, and would find a spot to sleep and cook at night.

However, as soon as he approached a base with people and cars on the road, Wen Jiuze would close the windows, drive past quickly and quietly, and never engage with anyone unless absolutely necessary.

That wary, suspicious demeanor made him seem more like a zombie lurking among humans than Xue Ling did.

Xue Ling, the actual zombie, leaned against the car window to observe closely when they passed by a crowd.

It had been a long time since she had seen so many people. Having spent a long time among the zombies, she often felt as though humanity had gone extinct and she was the last person left.

As she leaned against the car window, gazing at the crowd, Wen Jiuze joked with her, “Hey, did you choose what you want to eat? Is your figure more proportional than mine?”

Xue Ling: “…”

Wen Jiuze typically ignored the people on the roadside, and they usually refrained from causing trouble.

Occasionally, their car would come under attack.

After all, it was just one car. When out on the road, it wasn’t as intimidating as a convoy, so it was inevitable that some would attempt to snatch it.

Some would be brazen enough to chase after the car.

Wen Jiuze would roll down the window and fire outside. If he shot someone sitting on the roof, they would typically stop chasing.

People with guns are not easy to deal with. Even now, not everyone can obtain a gun. Most rely on weapons they have modified themselves.

Those who dare to rob lone travelers are often not very well off. Even if they have guns, they are unsure if they can use them effectively.

More cautious robbers set up roadblocks and wait for people to exit their vehicles to clear the way. Several would rush forward.

However, Wen Jiuze’s skills surpassed his appearance, and he had plenty of experience in being surrounded. In such situations, he didn’t even need a gun, he used a dagger instead.

Human necks are softer than zombie necks.

This kind of scenario occurred frequently: Wen Jiuze would be fighting off a group while someone else attempted to sneak into the car.

When he saw Xue Ling huddled inside, wrapped tightly, his first instinct was to pull her out, hoping to use her as a hostage to force Wen Jiuze into surrender.

Xue Ling usually only had two responses: showing her face or opening her mouth to take a bite.

“Ahhhh, this is a zombie, I was bitten!”

Basically, everyone reacted this way, as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.

To them, it seemed impossible for a normal person to raise zombies and dress them like real humans after the apocalypse had persisted for so long.

Most were unguarded, and it took them a moment to realize something was wrong after being bitten.

Once Wen Jiuze dealt with the highway robbers, he squatted by the water to wipe the blood off his body and face while Xue Ling rinsed her mouth with a cup.

The guy who held her hostage had long hair on his arms and looked like he didn’t bathe often. Sweat and mud covered his arms. The thought of biting him made her feel nauseous.

The zombies were unharmed, suffering only from psychological trauma, but the same couldn’t be said for humans.

In a one-versus-many situation, Wen Jiuze inevitably sustained some minor injuries.

If skin is broken from a punch or knuckles cracked due to excessive force, those can be disinfected. However, if bruises result from being hit with a stick, there is no medicine available to activate blood flow or alleviate the pain.

Seeing Wen Jiuze hanging his freshly washed upper body while eating with two swollen and red marks on his back, Xue Ling realized she hadn’t fully considered everything when she administered his medicine last time.

Noticing her gaze lingering on his back, Wen Jiuze smiled, casually brushing the wet hair from his forehead that partially obscured his eyes.

“It will heal in two days,” he said. “You know me. My injuries heal faster than others.”

Yes, Xue Ling knew. He had grown accustomed to being beaten since childhood. A stick hitting him with such force would only leave red marks, while it could break someone else’s bones.

Xue Ling applied some disinfectant to his back, though it had expired some time ago, and she was uncertain if it was still effective.

At night, Wen Jiuze slept with his back exposed to the air. It was too hot, and sweat trickled from his back to his waist.

Xue Ling sat beside him, hugging her knees, pulling out her tablet to look at food that would whet her appetite.

She lied. Wen Jiuze actually looked really delicious.

After more than half a month on the road, the power in the mobile power bank was depleted, and there wasn’t much gasoline left.

Driving was convenient, and this modified car had endured several hits on the road without major issues. It just consumed fuel too quickly.

Wen Jiuze sought a larger base to trade for gasoline. He nearly ran out of gas and had to take a break. If the car stalled halfway, it would create complications.

Xue Ling examined the abstract map he had drawn and asked why he didn’t choose the closer base but rather opted for the farther one.

“That base no longer exists. It used to be a black base where ordinary people couldn’t get out once they entered,” Wen Jiuze explained.

The leaders of larger bases were mostly former officials, so some order and discipline remained.

Smaller bases lacked supervision, and the quality of their inhabitants varied, making it easy for local tyrants to bully both men and women.

A group of big shots and their followers would engage in the business of occupying territory and asserting dominance.

“Have you been there?” Xue Ling asked curiously.

“I’ve been there, otherwise how would I know it was a black base? The boss of that base wanted me to stay and work for him as a thug,” Wen Jiuze said, recounting his story.

“The boss promised me, saying, ‘Become my brother, and I won’t treat you unfairly. Once we take down the two surrounding bases, I will make you the boss of the other one!'”

He curled his lips, commenting, “He thought he was playing a Three Kingdoms strategy game, trying to recruit soldiers to fight for dominance.”

Xue Ling found this amusing and wrote, “Why did that base disappear? Is it related to you?”

“They arrested someone they shouldn’t have. I was paid to go with a group to rescue them… and then that base was gone.”

Much had been omitted from the story.

Xue Ling listened attentively, feeling that Wen Jiuze’s life over the past three years was far more exciting than hers.

In contrast, her days had been spent wandering aimlessly, getting lost, and searching for a place to rest.

“Have you been to all these bases?” she wrote.

“I’ve been there.” Wen Jiuze put his hands behind his head, looking into Xue Ling’s dark red eyes that seemed to plead for more interesting tales.

Wen Jiuze thought about it and decided his experiences were likely not as thrilling as Xue Ling imagined.

He cooperated with others solely to gather supplies. Once he had enough, he would leave, hardly paying attention to those bases or remembering the people he had worked with.

Wen Jiuze thought for a long time, trying to come up with something interesting to share, but he couldn’t think of anything. Finally, he said, “There’s a large-scale bandit base marked on this map. I almost got trapped there and barely managed to escape with my life.”

Xue Ling felt a rush of nervousness at his words, clenching her fists in anticipation of the story.

“The reason… I don’t remember exactly, but there was a leader there who took a dislike to me. He gathered dozens of people to chase me. I managed to flee the base, but they kept pursuing me.”

The long scar on his waist was a reminder of that time.

“I led them around the nearby abandoned city and spent an entire day and night evading them in an empty building. In the end, I got rid of them and even stole their car to escape.”

“Yes, this is the car I have now. I owe them my thanks, it’s really a nice ride.”

Seeing Xue Ling finally relax and shake her fist in celebration, Wen Jiuze smiled lazily.

He didn’t mention how thrilling that night had been. He had to use one hand to push his intestines back into his stomach while driving with the other. The entire seat was soaked in his blood.

He thought he was going to die. In a semi-conscious state, he gritted his teeth and dragged himself into the car, treating his wounds as best he could, somehow managing to endure.

Perhaps it was really hard to die, or maybe he was just too unwilling to give up.

Xue Ling was a bit suspicious that he was fabricating a story to entertain her, but she still clapped her hands in appreciation.

She imagined that what Wen Jiuze left unsaid must have been just as thrilling as a scene from an action movie. The final escape scene must have unfolded against a backdrop of dawn, foreshadowing freedom and everything turning out well.

“So, when we pass by this base, we should take a detour,” Wen Jiuze suggested, marking a cross over the location on the map.

Xue Ling nodded in agreement.

Wen Jiuze crossed out another base and added, “You should avoid this base too.”

Is it also a dangerous base?

“This base is the largest one in the three surrounding provinces. Many people live there, and it’s tightly controlled. The access points are guarded and checked. We definitely cannot get close.”

If they did, Xue Ling would surely be discovered.

He had stayed at that base the longest, where there was a long street lined with missing person notices. His own notice searching for Xue Ling was also posted there.

“There’s this base as well. It’s best to steer clear of it,” he said, crossing out yet another location.

What was the issue with this base?

“The daughter of the base commander has taken a liking to me and wants me to be her son-in-law.”

Xue Ling: “…”

“It must be a joke,” she wrote back.

Wen Jiuze smiled but remained silent.

Before going to bed that night, Xue Ling suddenly sat up, picked up her writing board, and hit Wen Jiuze with it.

The three words “It’s a joke” were still visible.

“It’s a joke, it’s a joke, it’s a joke. I was just teasing you!” Wen Jiuze laughed as she hit him.

Xue Ling lay back down.

It didn’t really matter; they had all moved on.

After all, she was a zombie and he was human. Would they really stay together forever? Definitely not.

Xue Ling moved her hands from her abdomen to her chest. After a moment, she suddenly sat up again and took the writing board: “Is it true or false?”

“Puchi.” Wen Jiuze turned over, shaking with laughter.

“It’s false. No one likes me,” he said. “Only those with eye problems would find me appealing.”

Xue Ling: “…”

He was scolded.

She playfully stomped her foot.

Wen Jiuze continued to laugh.

Xue Ling thought to herself, I stepped on your switch, and you seem happy about it?

Worried that if she only stepped on one of his feet, he might limp the next day, Xue Ling kindly stomped on his other foot as well.