Chapter 5: Returning to Protect You
957 Words
Not long after the news broke, Qiao Nian'an and Su Yu realized—things had already gone far beyond a mere "warning level."
On the streets, people had begun to appear… no longer quite human.
Their eyes were clouded, their skin ashen gray, their movements stiff—yet unnaturally aggressive.
"They've mutated…" Su Yu murmured, her voice dropping.
Qiao Nian'an didn't respond. She simply grabbed her hand and turned away.
"Back."
The two of them immediately left the crowded street, slipping through narrow alleys toward the house near Qinglong g**g.
The closer they got—
the heavier the air became.
When they turned into the familiar alley, both of them froze at the same time.
In front of Qinglong g**g—
a cluster of zombies had gathered.
Not just a few scattered ones.
But… a group.
They staggered, growled, slammed into the iron gate, their nails scraping against the metal with a piercing, grating sound.
Su Yu swallowed.
"Seeing this in real life for the first time… it's honestly kind of too much for the eyes…"
Qiao Nian'an fell silent for a few seconds as well.
In history, zombies had only ever been dry lines of text.
But now—
the stench, the growls, the twisted forms right in front of them…
too real.
Too… horrifying.
"Don't stay here." she said in a low voice. "We go around."
Holding their breath, the two edged along the wall, carefully moving toward their own house not far away.
As long as they got inside—
they'd be safe.
But—
the house had been abandoned for too long.
The moment the wooden door was pushed open—
"CREEEEAK—!"
The sound rang out, dry and shrill.
The two of them: "..."
The zombies: "..."
A second of silence.
Then—
they all turned their heads at once.
"RUN!!!"
No hesitation. The two spun around and bolted.
Behind them, the zombies roared as if stimulated, surging forward all at once.
Footsteps, snarls, collisions—
echoed throughout the alley.
"Don't use abilities!" Qiao Nian'an shouted.
"I know!!"
They accelerated.
Even with abilities, in the early stage of the apocalypse—drawing attention was the worst thing you could do.
And sound—
was what attracted zombies the fastest.
So—
as they ran…
they screamed.
"SCREAM!!!"
"AAAAAAAAA—!!!"
Their cries rang through the entire area.
More and more zombies were drawn in.
But—
just as planned.
The zombies gathered at Qinglong g**g's entrance—
were almost completely lured away.
…
Inside Qinglong g**g.
A subordinate rushed in, panting. "Outside… there are survivors! Two girls are being chased by zombies!"
Pei Heng immediately stood up.
"Where?"
"Right in the alley!"
His gaze darkened.
"Let's go."
Shen Ci said nothing, but had already stepped forward.
The two led a group and rushed out at once.
But when they arrived—
the alley was empty.
Only a few dried bloodstains and chaotic traces remained.
No people.
"Split up," Pei Heng said curtly.
"Mm."
The group scattered to search.
One hour.
Two hours.
Nothing.
The atmosphere grew heavier.
"The chances of survival…" one subordinate hesitated.
No one finished the sentence.
Pei Heng clenched his fist, his expression turning cold. "Withdraw."
Right now—
they couldn't stay outside too long.
The group returned.
…
The gates of Qinglong g**g had just opened—
when everyone froze.
Right in front of them—
two figures were… hanging on the wall.
Literally.
Qiao Nian'an clung to one side, Su Yu to the other, both trying to climb over into the compound.
Their movements—
suspiciously practiced.
As if…
they'd done this no fewer than ten times.
Shen Ci & Pei Heng: "..."
An indescribable silence fell.
Su Yu was the first to notice.
She slowly turned her head.
Facing—
the entire group staring up at them.
"…Hi?" she raised a hand, forcing an awkward smile.
The next second—
they were pulled down.
Not just pulled—
but lifted.
Like two mischievous cats being carried off.
The g**g doors opened.
The two were "invited" straight inside.
…
Inside the room.
Pei Heng crossed his arms, looking down at the two girls, his voice cold:
"Where have you been this whole week?"
Su Yu snuck a glance at his expression and muttered, "We… went traveling…"
"Traveling?" his voice dropped.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is outside right now?"
"We do…"
"And you still didn't hide?"
Su Yu pouted, her voice soft—but perfectly clear:
"Why would we hide… I still had to come back and protect you."
The air—
froze.
Pei Heng let out a short laugh, but there was no amusement in his eyes.
"So… you two went traveling, ran into the apocalypse, and then came back because you were worried we'd be in danger?"
His voice was slow.
The pressure—
built, layer by layer.
"…That's right." Su Yu nodded, extremely serious.
"…"
Pei Heng stared at her for a few seconds.
He said nothing more.
But—
his gaze became even harder to read.
From beginning to end, Shen Ci remained silent.
Yet that very silence—
sent a chill down Qiao Nian'an's spine.
She coughed lightly, forcing a smile.
"We… still haven't succeeded in pursuing you."
The moment she said it—
she wanted to slap herself.
Shen Ci's gaze shifted slightly.
What it meant—
unclear.
But cold.
Qiao Nian'an quickly added, her tone more serious:
"I mean it."
"We… can protect you."
This time—
it wasn't a joke.
The atmosphere in the room slowly changed.
Outside—
the distant roars of zombies echoed.
The world—
had begun to collapse.
And inside this room—
another kind of silence…
was quietly taking shape.
- Writer
