Back To The Apocalypse: To Protect You

Chapter 6: Abandoned Behind the Gates

Shen Ci and Pei Heng—despite having completely opposite personalities—were the kind of people who could entrust their lives to each other without hesitation. One was cold and taciturn, decisive the moment he acted; the other was reckless and unruly, yet his eyes always hid something sharp enough to cut. At first glance, they seemed incompatible, but in truth, they understood each other better than anyone else because… they were the same.

Both were orphans. No family, no one to rely on. From the time they were young, they had fought over every scrap of food, every place to sleep, every chance to survive in a world where the strong devoured the weak. They did not meet under beautiful circumstances—just two children cornered by fate, accidentally ending up on the same side. From that day on, they never separated again. They fought together, ran together, survived… together.

Until they met that man—the former hall master of Qinglong g**g.

He never asked about their pasts, never questioned what they had done to survive this long. He simply gave them a place to belong, a roof over their heads, an identity. From two unwanted children, they became members of Qinglong g**g, and only then did their lives truly begin.

The former hall master had not only saved them; he had taught them how to live, how to use strength, how to protect the people beside them. And he was also the only person capable of earning genuine respect from people like them.

So when he died, neither of them left.

Instead, they stayed behind to support his successor—his son, the current Qinglong. Even though deep down they understood that the man was nothing like his father, a debt of gratitude could not simply be ignored. Thus, Shen Ci and Pei Heng continued standing behind him, supporting the entire Qinglong g**g, even willing to risk their lives for it.

What no one knew, however, was that this very loyalty had quietly pushed everything away from its original course.

Ever since the apocalypse erupted, Qinglong g**g had practically changed rulers in silence. No announcements were made, no struggle for power occurred, yet everyone understood one thing without saying it aloud—the people truly leading this place were Shen Ci and Pei Heng.

During the day, they led teams outside to search for supplies. Once the sun set, everyone retreated back to the base, the gates sealed shut without exception. No one was allowed to remain outside for even a minute longer.

The rules were simple.

But in the apocalypse, those very rules were what kept people alive.

Qiao Nian'an and Su Yu also followed the teams outside, though while everyone else searched for supplies, the two women searched for people—or more accurately, they shadowed them.

Wherever Pei Heng went, Su Yu followed.

Whenever Shen Ci stopped, Qiao Nian'an stopped as well.

At first, the two men found it strange and occasionally cast wary glances their way. But after days passed into weeks, they eventually acted as though they could not see them anymore.

After all, they could not drive them away, and the women refused to listen.

So they simply gave up trying.

Until one day, Qinglong suddenly issued an order.

"Shen Ci, Pei Heng, take a small team outside to gather supplies. Everyone else stays behind and reinforces the base."

The reason sounded perfectly reasonable. Zombies were increasing in number every day; strengthening the defenses was necessary. No one objected.

But Qiao Nian'an and Su Yu exchanged a glance, their eyes turning cold for a brief second.

Both of them felt that something was wrong.

The team that departed consisted of ten people.

Yet strangely enough, after being outside for quite some time… they encountered no zombies.

Not just fewer than usual.

Almost none at all.

The streets were empty, wind whistling through abandoned buildings with an eerie sound that made the skin crawl.

"It's too quiet…" someone muttered.

"Maybe they moved to another district," another person replied, though even he did not sound certain.

No zombies meant opportunity.

The group quickly gathered supplies. Food, water, medicine—everything went smoothly to an almost unnatural degree. By the time they headed back, someone even laughed.

"This trip was way too easy."

"Yeah. Lucky us."

Only Qiao Nian'an and Su Yu did not smile.

The smoother things went… the more suspicious it felt.

Then, just as they turned into the alley leading back to the g**g headquarters, every sound abruptly vanished.

No one spoke anymore.

Because standing before them was a "wall" made entirely of zombies.

Packed tightly together, countless bodies filled the narrow alley from end to end. Twisted heads slowly turned toward them, cloudy eyes staring lifelessly while rotten mouths opened with horrifying screeches.

At some point… they had already been surrounded.

Worse still, because they had encountered no zombies earlier, everyone had lowered their guard. Their scent, their footsteps, their voices—everything had already exposed them.

Now retreating?

Too late.

One man swallowed hard.

"Turn back?"

Pei Heng glanced behind them.

The road they had just come from was already blocked as well, and the sky was steadily growing darker.

"We're not turning back," he said coldly. "Once night falls, visibility drops and zombies react faster. If this drags on, we're dead for sure."

His grip tightened around his weapon.

"We charge straight back to the g**g. Kill our way through."

No one argued.

Because there was no other choice.

The battle exploded instantly.

There were no supernatural powers, no special abilities—only raw survival instinct.

Steel tore through flesh. Bones cracked sharply. Blood sprayed everywhere.

One man rushed forward and stabbed directly through a zombie's skull, but before he could pull his blade free, another lunged onto him and sank its teeth into his shoulder.

"Help—!!"

The scream rang through the alley, but no one turned around.

Not because they did not want to.

Because they could not.

Delay for even one second, and more people would die.

Pei Heng kicked one zombie away while slashing another across the neck with his other hand.

"Don't stop moving!" he shouted.

Shen Ci said nothing, yet every movement he made was precise and efficient. No wasted motion, no hesitation—one strike, one kill.

Qiao Nian'an and Su Yu stayed close behind them.

Neither woman used her ability. They relied only on weapons, but their eyes constantly shifted—observing, calculating.

Every time a zombie nearly touched Shen Ci, Qiao Nian'an would "accidentally" pull him half a step backward.

Every time claws lunged toward Pei Heng, Su Yu would "coincidentally" move in to block them.

Small. Fast. Difficult to notice.

But enough to change the outcome.

Ten people…

Gradually became seven.

No one had the strength left to speak anymore. Only ragged breathing remained as they continued killing their way forward.

At last, they reached the g**g's gates.

"The door! Open the door!"

"It's us! Open up!!"

Fists slammed against the metal repeatedly.

But there was no response.

No one came to open the gate.

Everyone's expressions changed instantly.

An icy feeling crawled down their spines.

They had been abandoned.

Behind them, the zombies drew closer and closer.

One man let out a dry laugh.

"So this is it… we die here, huh…"

No one answered.

Their hands merely tightened around their weapons.

If they were going to die, then they would drag a few zombies down with them first.

And then—

A piercing sound suddenly ripped through the air.

It did not sound human.

Nor did it sound like a zombie.

It was something higher-pitched, sharper… unnatural.

The horde that had been attacking them so frantically suddenly froze.

Then, as one, every zombie turned its head in the same direction, as though responding to a call.

Not a single one hesitated.

They screeched before retreating all at once, wave after wave, like a receding tide.

Within mere seconds, the alley became empty.

Only seven people remained standing before the g**g gates, drenched in blood and gasping for breath, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Qiao Nian'an stared in the direction the zombies had disappeared, her gaze darkening.

Beside her, Su Yu spoke in a voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"…It appeared earlier than it should have."