Chapter 77: Ambush In The Forest (1)
The small forest sat in the most remote corner in the wide expanse of land that X City University encompassed.
With trees all around them, the forest afforded the group a limited line of sight. As they traced back Lin Luanqiu’s escape route, one would be hard-pressed not to have their heartbeat quicken and feel a sense of nervousness when they saw motes of blood dotting trail.
Shi Bin and Lin Luanqiu’s expressions turned somewhat unsightly upon seeing the bloodstains. Likely due to the fact that escaping had already exhausted whatever courage they had. They’d probably never think of going back to X City University again unless it was absolutely necessary.
Although this place looked safer than the outside, from the moment they jumped over the wall, Ling Mo could clearly tell that they’d entered an enormous zombie nest.
Over 30,000 zombies were clustered in an enclosed environment. This was a truly terrifying figure.
Compared to that, the 3,000 over survivors within the campus were absolutely at a disadvantage as part of the minority.
Resist? What kind of effective resistance could a group of students and campus staff, each with their own respective thoughts, possibly put up?
An individual’s fighting strength was laughable once a sufficient number of zombies gathered together. Previously, when Ling Mo used handphones to attract the zombies with the help of his zombie puppets, the result left him feeling as if he was being torn apart by over a hundred zombies while he was still alive. Even now, the experience remained firmly engraved in his mind.
Therefore in reality, amongst this group of people, the one who was most prudent wasn’t Lin Luanqiu or Shi Bin, but Ling Mo.
However, compared to everyone else who looked like they were treading on eggshells, Ye Lian and Shana’s expressions remained the same as ever. They walked at the front of the group without the slightest care in the world.
As mutated zombies, the two of them weren’t susceptible to the attacks of regular zombies. On top of that, they were also able to detect the presence of other mutated zombies in the area. Ling Mo allowed the two of them to take the lead so that the group would be on guard against the sudden appearances of any zombie. However, the calm and tranquil expressions of the two zombie girls had left Lin Luanqiu and Shi Bin, who weren’t in the know, wide-eyed in astonishment.
Lin Luanqiu couldn’t help but ask with some concern, “There were zombies chasing us when we escaped. Some of them might have scattered into the forest. It’d be better for them to be a little more cautious.”
But before Ling Mo even had the chance to speak, Shana turned her head and glanced at Lin Luanqiu before she coldly said, “No need.”
Even after being harshly rebutted by Shana, Lin Luanqiu replied with a smile on her face, “I’m only giving you a word of advice. After all, it’s my responsibility to lead you guys to the school.”
Upon hearing what Lin Luanqiu said, Ling Mo wordlessly pulled Ye Lian and Shana further apart. With this, they’d be able to detect their enemies in a more timely manner.
As for Shana taking the initiative to speak to others, Ling Mo wasn’t all that surprised. He’d already realized that after regaining her memories as a human, although she still treated humans as prey, she also had a sliver of interest in them.
Ling Mo wouldn’t object since she was willing to do so. Instead, he felt rather encouraged by it. After all, the closer her thoughts were to that of a human’s, the more profound her interactions would be with Ling Mo. Most importantly, she’d have a positive impact on Ye Lian.
Ling Mo didn’t mind them being zombies, but he didn’t wish to see them filled with hostility when they encountered other people. Doing so wouldn’t be beneficial for them.
Being able to interact with others would, at the very least, add another layer of complexity to their facade, which kept the suspicions of others at bay.
“How much longer do we have to walk through this forest for?”
The route they traveled along within the forest wasn’t a well-trodden lane. Instead, it wound through dense weeds and trees. Their vision being obstructed, and their inability to clearly discern how much further their destination was had lead to Ling Mo asking this question.
Lin Luanqiu lowered her head and thought for a moment before she said, “It’ll probably take another seven to eight minutes. This forest’s land area is comparatively larger, but it won’t take all that long since we’re cutting a straight line across.”
Just after she spoke, a black shadow abruptly shot out from a brush. A thick stench of blood tunneled into everyone’s noses before the shadow even appeared in front of them.
The black shadow’s target was, impressively, Lin Luanqiu. After overcoming his surprise, Shi Bin raised his sharpening steel stick in response, but he was a step too slow.
The zombie was a male, and based on how he looked, he appeared to be around the age of twenty. He had a pale face which lacked the ruddy complexion of a normal person. The expression on his face was distorted by the malevolence it bore and his blood red eyes bore an ominous glint. A brilliant strand of saliva could also be seen hanging from his slightly opened mouth.
He’d received a major injury before he turned into a zombie. His left shoulder had completely collapsed inwards and one of his hands were badly mangled. Although it had already healed, it was still a ghastly sight.
Most importantly, this zombie was quick on its legs. His physique was probably pretty good before he turned into a zombie. After appearing in front of them for a second, he leaped onto Lin Luanqiu.
Although Lin Luanqiu possessed an ability, dodging such an attack in her current state wasn’t so easy. However, she wasn’t the type of person who’d wait for her own death. The moment she felt that gust of wind buffet her, she tightly gripped onto her steel plate and abruptly twisted her body to face this zombie.
The zombie advanced in an imposing and ferocious manner as it’s uninjured hand swept towards her solar plexus. With its strength, even if her skin wasn’t torn apart, she’d definitely be restrained by it if its attack connected. Once that happened, she could only wait to be bitten. Most people wouldn’t be able to struggle free once they were caught, unless the part in question was a limp like an arm, where one could make the decision to callously abandon their appendage.
Lin Luanqiu’s gaze turned extremely cold when she saw the zombie’s rapid movements as it tried to grab her. As usual, she brandished the steel plate in her hands in a casual manner, obstructing the zombie’s hand in this moment of life and death. Following that, she forcefully pushed the steel plate downwards.
However, due to her weapon’s inadequacies, she wasn’t able to cut off the zombie’s arm. Instead, fresh blood immediately spurted out of its wound in an unceasing manner. With this, the strength that it exerted immediately lessened. From the looks of it, it probably wouldn’t be able to raise its hand anymore.
However, this wasn’t going to stop the zombie. Although his two hands no longer functioned, he still threw himself at Lin Luanqiu in an attempt to bite her.
Lin Luanqiu bent her body and abruptly rammed into the zombie’s bosom. With great effort, she managed to stagger the charging zombie.
This was the limit of what she could do. However, the zombie jumped at her once again while her strength was still spent. In that instant, a trace of gray flashed across her eyes.
Everything had happened in the blink of an eye. It was so fast, normal people wouldn’t even be able to react in time. But Ling Mo was different. With his formidable spiritual strength, his reaction speed was a cut above a normal people. Seeing the zombie rush over once again, Ling Mo immediately sent out his spiritual tentacles, abruptly altering the course of the zombie’s charge and sending it hurtling past Lin Luanqiu. At this time, Ye Lian had dashed forth like a cheetah and her scimitar plunged into the zombie’s belly as it swept past Lin Luanqiu. Using the zombie’s forward momentum, Ye Lian dragged her scimitar across the length of the zombie’s belly.
Brightly coloured intestines and fresh blood immediately spilled out, and the zombie staggered from side to side before it crumpled onto the ground.
At this time, Lin Luanqiu came around. She had no doubt that she was going to die during that brief instant. Never did she expect to get a new lease of life instead. The zombie had moved in an odd manner during that critical moment. It was clear that the zombie had been influenced by Ling Mo. That much was plain for her to see.
In spite of her poor health, Lin Luanqiu still took a deep breath before she turning to Ye Lian and Ling Mo to say, “Thank you.”
Ye Lian’s expression remained ice cold. Her speed was astounding, not even a trace of blood could be seen on her machete. Ling Mo on the other hand merely nodded his head and said, “We need you to lead the way. Besides, doing this was as easy as lifting our hands, it’s nothing much.”
It was at this time that Shi Bin reacted. He’d originally planned on rushing over to support Lin Luanqiu, but he suddenly pointed at the zombie and cried out in fear, “Isn’t that Liu Chuan? Unexpectedly, he didn’t get eaten and turned into a zombie instead!”
Shi Bin’s exclamation had caused Ling Mo’s anger to immediately flare up. He lowered his voice and cursed, “Stop kicking up a fuss, what’re we going to do if you attract even more zombies! Who knows how many of them are around here, do you have the means to escape if you’re surrounded? Idiot!”
“I…” Shi Bin’s expression immediately turned gloomy after being labeled as an idiot by Ling Mo. But after tightly gripping onto his sharpening steel stick, he bore Ling Mo’s scolding without a word.
He could clearly remember Lin Luanqiu’s words. Most importantly, he clearly didn’t have the strength to stand up for himself.
Ye Lian sudden attack completely surpassed his imagination. It was only then that he realised Ye Lian hadn’t even been trying when she faced him.
However, Shi Bin secretly thought to himself, Ling Mo himself didn’t take any action, from the looks of it, he’s probably nothing much. In the end, he only knows how to hide behind a woman…
Ling Mo was somewhat astonished found that Shi Bin wasn’t fuming in anger. He didn’t look like the type of person who could suppress his rage… Could it be something that Lin Luanqiu said to him?
In his heart, Ling Mo secretly made up his mind to let this brat have a taste some hardship. Shi Bin hadn’t learned his lesson even after being beaten up by Ling Mo the previous time. At the end of the world, strength was what dictated everything. Did this brat really think things were the same as before?
“Liu Chuan was…part of our volunteer rescue squad, and he was among the students who escaped with us.” Lin Luanqiu easily spat everything out in one breath. She walked over and glanced at the corpse before she immediately covered her mouth.
Ling Mo noticed that the zombie’s injured hand had only recently healed, but who would’ve thought that this person was actually Lin Luanqiu’s companion.
They seemed to have been considerably startled by the realization that their companion had turned into a zombie, but Ling Mo was rather indifferent about it.
When a person was injured by a zombie, they’d be infected by the zombie’s blood. This process would take place the instant they were injured. This was due to the various remnant flesh of unknown origins that were stuck to a zombie’s fingers. The zombie’s victim would be infected once these fingers came in contact with their wound. However, the reason why people didn’t see many cases like Lin Chuan’s was likely due to the fact that not many survivors managed to stay alive till they reached such a state, or that there just weren’t any people to witness their change.
However, Ling Mo himself had seen two such occurrences of this. The first was Lu Xin, whose body couldn’t withstand the highly concentrated virus from a mutated zombie, which led to it rotting. The other was Shana.
“I never would’ve thought that…” Lin Luanqiu quickly composed herself, but her expression that was originally a little lax became even more downcast. It was unknown whether it was due to her emotions being stirred or that she’d used too much of her stamina, but she said, “Shao Zhong1)I have no idea where this came from. Probably a nickname or something for the guy who turned into a zombie managed to live, and even turned into a zombie… At that time, everyone was in a panic and were only concerned with running for their lives. Even when we heard him being bitten by a zombie, not one person even turn around to glance at him…”
Ling Mo gave her a profound look and said, “That’s how things are at the end of the world.”
“That’s right, but I really hope that things will go back to the way they were. I hope to live till I can see that day.” Lin Luanqiu turned to Ling Mo and revealed a pained smile filled with hope.
References [ + ]