The zombie is dead.
Lin Dong lit a cigarette, picked up the small severed arm, and jumped back onto the steps.
He casually smashed a hole in the wall, stuffed the unfinished lollipop back into the hand, and simply buried it.
Looking at the blood-soaked, cold-faced Lin Dong, Yun Mengli felt an inexplicable pang in her heart.
"Lin Dong, how are we going to tell the children later?"
Lin Dong pondered for a moment, then pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to her.
"Later, I'll need your cooperation."
Yun Mengli took it in a daze, and after seeing what was in her hand, her beautiful eyes suddenly widened: "This is..."
On the first floor, the children huddled at the staircase, waiting anxiously.
Terrifying sounds faintly came from the dark basement, and they dared not enter.
Not long after, the two returned.
"Lin Dong Shushu...?" The youngest, No. 49, wanted to rush up, but was startled when she saw Lin Dong covered in blood.
No. 13, the oldest among the remaining children, timidly asked: "Lin Dong Shushu, where is Grandpa Dean? Where is No. 3?"
Yun Mengli looked at the cold-faced Lin Dong, bit her lip tightly, stepped forward, and hugged them into her arms.
"Just now... a monster appeared underground. Your Grandpa Dean and No. 3... were killed by the monster."
These were the words she and Lin Dong had agreed upon. Although Chen Tianxin's intentions were despicable, if they knew that their beloved Grandpa Dean had fed their older brothers and sisters to monsters, probably no one could bear it.
Although, the current outcome was just as heart-wrenching.
No. 49 suddenly froze, her eyes reddening: "Mon... monster? Wuwuwu... I don't believe it, I want No. 3 back, wuwuwu~"
Within two days, she had lost her most beloved Number 9, and now she had lost No. 3. The little girl's heart was broken.
The other children also cried bitterly, wailing incessantly.
Yun Mengli bit her lip until it was almost broken, and tears fell.
"Why are you all crying? Be quiet!" Suddenly, Lin Dong roared sternly.
The children's crying paused, then they cried even louder.
"It's because you are too weak and can't protect yourselves, that's why they had to fight desperately with the monsters. If it weren't for you, they could have escaped!"
No. 25's face turned red: "But, Lin Dong Shushu, you are so powerful, and you have so many magical treasures. Why couldn't you save Grandpa Dean?"
Yun Mengli's heart sank. It was indeed as Lin Dong had said.
Although children are not inherently bad, they will naturally assume that adults should handle problems.
Even if they are orphans.
Lin Dong sneered: "Why should I save them? They are not my father, nor my son.
Their lives or deaths, what do I care?"
All the children froze, looking at Lin Dong as if he were a stranger.
Lin Dong Shushu had been so gentle with them before.
"What are you looking at?" Lin Dong's expression remained cold: "Dissatisfied? Hate me?
Alright then, if you have the guts, come at me, kill me, and avenge your Dean and No. 3?"
The children cried again. How could they have the ability to attack an adult?
However, Yun Mengli sensed that most of these children's sadness had dissipated, gradually turning into hatred and anger.
This was Lin Dong's way of diverting their attention. Instead of leaving an indelible trauma in their hearts, it was better to give them a target.
Let them feel animosity towards this target, so they would still have the motivation and hope to live on.
And this target was Lin Dong.
Anyway, there were already enough people who hated him, so a few more children didn't matter.
"Children, after the rain stops, come with me," Yun Mengli wiped her tears and stepped forward at the right time.
"My home is very big, enough to support you all, and I will cure all your illnesses. When you grow up... if you want to seek revenge on Lin Dong, I will also provide you with support!"
As she said this, Yun Mengli's heart was breaking.
She understood the truth of the matter and naturally knew what kind of sacrifice Lin Dong had made.
He was clearly a lifesaver, yet he had to play the role of a devil.
And it wasn't that simple for Yun to accept a group of orphans, after all, their family wasn't a charity.
So, Lin Dong brought out the awakening serum, which was equivalent to a bargaining chip for these children to survive in Yun.
It was indeed a twist of fate. The serum that Yun had produced eventually returned to Yun's hands, and Yun Mengli still didn't know it was her family's serum.
This time, Lin Dong simply made a profit.
No. 13 wiped her tears and looked at Yun Mengli: "Is what you said true?"
Yun Mengli nodded heavily: "Believe me!"
In reality, a sense of powerlessness emerged in her heart. On this trip, her brother was killed, and she didn't know what kind of turmoil the family would experience.
But since she promised Lin Dong she would take good care of these children, she had to do it.
"Okay!" No. 13 proactively took on the responsibility of an older brother, hugging his younger siblings, his gaze fixed on Lin Dong.
"Lin Dong Shushu, when I grow up, I will definitely get my revenge on you!"
Lin Dong sneered: "Alright, I'll wait for you."
With him leading the way, the other children also glared at Lin Dong, determined to seek revenge.
At this point, Lin Dong's plan was perfectly executed, except for No. 49.
The little girl didn't understand these things yet; she couldn't bring herself to hate Lin Dong, only crying incessantly.
Then Lin Dong went upstairs alone, while Yun Mengli acted as a caring older sister, providing psychological counseling, cooking for them... um... in the end, No. 13 cooked himself.
The young lady couldn't cook at all.
Then she treated them one by one, until an hour later, Yun Mengli finally came upstairs, panting.
"Lin Dong..." The girl hesitated to speak.
However, Lin Dong was not as upset as she imagined, but rather smoked a cigarette and smiled: "You don't need to comfort me. I've done a lot of bad things, and occasionally doing good things is quite interesting. What if I'm misunderstood? Besides, this was my own plan."
"Thank you, Lin Dong. You are the best, best person I've met since the apocalypse," Yun Mengli bowed deeply.
Lin Dong: ...
If you knew your brother indirectly died by my hand, you probably wouldn't think that, would you?
The girl showed a sweet smile: "I plan to stay for now and take the children away after the rain stops here, but...
It would be great if Xia Beichen could wake up."
Yun Mengli's face turned pale again.
As a girl, she had to take care of Xia Beichen and a bunch of children. The journey home was long, and human hearts were treacherous, making it very difficult.
It would be great if Lin Dong was willing to go together, but unfortunately, the relationship with the children was too tense now.
Just now, No. 13 almost rushed up with a cleaver while cutting vegetables.
So, it would be best if Xia Beichen returned to normal. With two people, the pressure of taking care of these children wouldn't be too great.
Lin Dong stomped out his cigarette and smiled: "That's simple too. Watch me."