Soulbound Destiny

Chapter 29: Shadows That Follow

In the days that followed, Gene found himself trapped in a constant state of anxiety and fear.

The two zombies seemed to have claimed him as their mark. No matter where he went—fast or slow, along the main road or through the rugged forest paths—they would always appear at dusk, silently following him at a measured distance. They neither attacked nor left.

He had tried shouting, throwing stones, even attempting to use the talismans given to him by Ji Lianyu—but he had no idea how to properly wield them. Nothing worked. They were like two silent, fetid shadows that clung to him relentlessly.

Even worse, their presence made it impossible for him to approach any village or potential safe haven. Who would dare shelter a man followed by two zombies?

He was forced to travel only through desolate, uninhabited areas. By day, he pressed on along the paths; by night, he had to find defensible terrain, constantly alert to the zombies—and any other dangers that their presence might attract.

Food grew increasingly scarce. His meager supply of dried rations had long been exhausted. He survived on bitter wild berries, the roots of plants, and the occasional crude trap, but catching anything substantial proved almost impossible.

His body, starved and sleep-deprived, recovered slowly. His face grew paler with each passing day.

One day, fortune smiled upon him. In a patch of woodland, he stumbled upon several wild bird eggs. They were a precious find. He carefully tucked them into his clothes, intending to find a safe spot to cook them over fire.

As he bent down to gather dry twigs for a small fire, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of something on the ground nearby.

Curious, he approached and saw a small, neatly cut piece of… toilet paper. Faintly embossed on it was the unique emblem of Yunyang City.

Haolan and the others?! They had to be nearby! A spark of hope ignited in Gene’s chest. Perhaps he could catch up to them.

But reality soon doused that spark. Even if he managed to reunite with them, what then? The two zombies following him would only cause trouble and panic. And the bounty placed by Feng Tianyu—was it truly only for him? Could it endanger Haolan as well?

He hesitated. Finally, he let out a long sigh, carefully tucking away the bird eggs, and resolved to continue on alone.

Yet fate was not finished with its cruel games. That very night, as the two zombies arrived on schedule, the sound of urgent hoofbeats echoed once more from the northern road.