Chapter 8 An Unforgettable Lesson

Normally, the drive from Qingquan Mountain to Linchuan City would take about half an hour. But under Pei Yan’s reckless speed, it took only twenty-five minutes to reach the city.

Once inside, they saw cars everywhere desperately rushing out of the city. Even on the main roads leading inward, every vehicle was going the wrong way to escape. Drivers crashed and rear-ended one another, no one caring about traffic rules, terrified of falling behind.

The constant blaring of horns drew zombies’ attention. Hideous, snarling zombies pressed against car windows, pounding doors and glass as the people inside screamed in terror.

Some abandoned their cars only to be torn apart by zombies. Some stayed inside, sobbing while frantically calling the police, praying for rescue. Truck drivers cursed loudly, relying on the size of their vehicles to ram straight through blocked roads.

Others fought back in despair—strong men shoving their wives toward zombies to save themselves; young women sacrificing their lives so their boyfriends could live; elderly parents with gray hair stretching out frail arms to shield their children; men clinging to zombie wives, sobbing even as their own chests were ripped into bloody shreds, refusing to let go.

The roads were completely blocked. The three had no choice but to get out and walk.

Lin Yu stepped down, put the car into her storage space, her eyes heavy with complicated emotions.

She had thought that with her warning, things would go much better than in her previous life after the apocalypse began.

But…

She had underestimated the complexity of human nature.

At the brink of life and death, humanity revealed its extremes. Some would abandon family and friends without hesitation just to live; some would give up everything, even their lives, to protect loved ones.

Every street in Linchuan City was a stage for such scenes.

The most selfish and most selfless sides of humanity unfolded fully before their eyes.

Lin Yu and Pei Yan’s expressions hardly shifted. But young, inexperienced Pei Linlang showed every emotion—anger, sorrow, pity—her face a constant storm.

At last, when she saw a mother cornered by her own zombified daughter, unable to strike back no matter what, she couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Brother, Sister Lin Yu, can’t we help that lady…?”

Her youth and inexperience made her compassion understandable. Such kindness would have been rare and precious before the apocalypse. But in this world, it could mean death.

Lin Yu sighed softly. Her voice was calm. “Linlang, do you know… even if you help her, she might not be grateful.”

Compared to Lin Yu’s gentle words, Pei Yan’s tone was harsh.

“Help her? How? By killing her zombified daughter? If we really kill her daughter, she might resent you for meddling. She could even attack you herself.”

“If you want to survive in this world, you’d better put your sympathy away.”

His blunt words weren’t polite, but Lin Yu silently agreed.

Compassion had no place in the apocalypse.

Lin Yu didn’t interfere with Pei Yan’s stern teaching of his sister. She only tightened her grip on her spiked club, wary of zombies that could lunge from any side at any moment.

Pei Linlang didn’t fully understand, her eyes showing resistance.

Pei Yan sighed inwardly. He knew—unless she experienced it herself, she would never truly learn.

“Fine. I’ll help her. Watch closely.”

He hadn’t wanted to get involved. But he knew if his sister’s nature wasn’t corrected soon, she’d never survive this world.

Pei Yan raised his hand. A bolt of crackling white lightning arced and struck the infant zombie’s head.

Those infected were no longer human. Even if the creature wasn’t yet a year old, Pei Yan felt no hesitation.

The tiny zombie’s head was blasted off, its body instantly collapsing. Its neck was charred and mangled where the lightning struck, and a burnt stench filled the air.

Liu Xiaozhou saw her baby girl—barely a year old—fall dead, and went mad. Her eyes turned vicious, locking onto Pei Yan with pure hatred.

Pei Linlang shivered under that gaze. The next instant, the woman lunged.

“You murderers! You bitch! I’ll make you pay for my daughter’s life!”

The sudden flash of lightning had already stirred chaos among the fleeing survivors. Among them was Li Bo, who instantly recalled an online article he’d read two days ago. His voice cracked with excitement:

“Abilities! It’s an ability! We’re saved!”

He was only a few meters away. Rolling aside to dodge zombies, he sprinted toward Pei Yan, shouting:

“Hey, handsome! You awakened powers, right? With such strong powers, save me! Please!”

His shouting drew others toward them. At the same time, the scent of living people attracted even more zombies.

Lin Yu and Pei Yan’s expressions turned grim.

Li Bo’s cries and Liu Xiaozhou’s madness happened almost at the same time. Fueled by rage, Liu Xiaozhou suddenly awakened a speed ability. Before anyone could react, her hand clamped down on Pei Linlang’s neck.

Pei Linlang’s face drained of color. She slapped desperately at the woman’s arm.

Seeing the hate in Liu Xiaozhou’s eyes, she realized her mistake too late. As suffocation gripped her, death’s shadow loomed. Bitter regret consumed her—her meddling had not only failed to help but had brought terrible danger to her brother and Sister Lin Yu.

Pei Yan’s face turned cold. He exchanged a look with Lin Yu, whose power was already surging.

“I’ll save Linlang. You cover us.”

Pei Yan nodded, thunder sparking in his palm as he blasted zombies surging closer.

Lin Yu’s voice rang out, cold and firm. Water veiled Liu Xiaozhou’s face, seeping into her nose, eyes, ears. Oxygen was stolen away by drowning water.

The grip on Pei Linlang’s throat loosened slightly, though not completely.

Lin Yu poured more power into it. At last, Liu Xiaozhou’s hand lost strength. Lin Yu kicked her away.

Pei Linlang collapsed, coughing violently, tears and snot streaming down her face. She wept silently, shaken but alive.

Zombies pressed closer and closer. Lin Yu barked an order:

“Linlang, shut your mouth! Pei Yan, close in on me!”

Knowing she had caused this, Linlang obeyed instantly. No matter how raw her throat felt, she clamped her mouth shut, crying quietly.

Pei Yan fought his way toward them, lightning exploding with each strike.

Meanwhile, Li Bo and the others who had lured the horde had already abandoned them completely, vanishing without a trace.

When the three regrouped, Lin Yu gave the command without hesitation:

“Linlang, prepare your ability!”

In an instant, her power enveloped them. They vanished into invisibility, their presence cut off. Deprived of targets, the zombies swarmed instead toward Liu Xiaozhou’s fallen body.

The sickening sounds of tearing flesh and crunching bones filled the air as the three held their breaths, slipping silently through the gaps in the horde.

Only when they reached a secluded alley did Pei Linlang release the invisibility, utterly drained and bedraggled.

Today’s ordeal left a deep scar on her heart. Liu Xiaozhou had given her an unforgettable lesson—one that stripped her of naïve compassion once and for all.

Her eyes were red as she spoke softly, her voice trembling with guilt.

“Sister Lin Yu, Brother… I’m sorry. I was wrong.”