PTYS Chapter 134

Xiao Muyu and her group hurriedly left. Just as they reached the parking area, they heard the growls of zombies from the other side; the gunshots had indeed attracted the surrounding zombies.

A man, visibly excited, looked at Sun Xi and couldn’t contain himself. He quickly said, “Miss Sun, my name is Wu An. Professor Sun sent me to find you. I just went to G University but didn’t find you there. Then I went to your house, but no one was there. I thought something had happened to you. I didn’t expect to find you here by chance.”

Xiao Muyu didn’t look too surprised; the man’s expression when he saw Sun Xi had already given her a clue that he was looking for Sun Xi.

She even remembered who Sun Xi resembled. Turning to a somewhat surprised Shen Qingqiu, she whispered, “Do you remember the calendar on the desk in the Norovirus Biopharmaceutical office?”

Shen Qingqiu was slightly taken aback, glanced at Sun Xi, and nodded with a knowing expression. Indeed, there was a resemblance.

The man had completely forgotten his conflict with Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu, focusing solely on convincing Sun Xi.

Sun Xi was skeptical and a bit at a loss. She turned to Xiao Muyu and the others for help.

“No one knows the truth better than you,” Xiao Muyu, aware of Sun Xi’s concerns, reminded her, considering their special identities.

After some consideration, Sun Xi cautiously asked, “Where are they now? Why did my father send you? Who are you?”

She wasn’t entirely disbelieving; after all, she wasn’t a significant figure, and she didn’t recognize the person before her. Someone must have really sent him to find her. However, her father was just a professor at a biological research institute, even though he was well-known and worked for a large company like Norovirus Biopharmaceutical. It seemed unlikely he could send people out to find her in an apocalypse unless survival was at stake.

Wu An quickly responded, “Miss Sun, you see the current situation. No one can save us now. Your father is the director of Norovirus Biopharmaceutical Research Institute and a leading expert in the field. We are counting on him to tackle this virus infection. So, we had to meet his request and relieve his worries.”

Sun Xi was shocked. “Can my father overcome this virus?”

Wu An nodded repeatedly, “Of course, a vaccine has already been extracted to prevent infection. You must come back with me to be safe.”

Upon hearing this, Sun Xi’s expression changed slightly, as if she was about to cry with joy. She quickly asked, “What about my brother? Did he send someone to find my brother?”

Wu An was stunned, “What brother? Professor Sun didn’t mention that. Don’t you have three sisters? Professor Sun showed us photos of you four sisters. He instructed us to bring any of you back immediately because it’s too dangerous outside.”

Sun Xi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, “I believe you. Where are my father and the others now?”

Xiao Muyu glanced at Sun Xi thoughtfully. Sun Xi was smart enough to test Wu An, indirectly helping them. She now believed Wu An was not lying.

Although Sun Xi wasn’t foolish, she was evidently somewhat naive. Even when encountering a scoundrel, she didn’t think too deeply and asked this secretive question directly.

Wu An’s eyes flickered, and he cautiously glanced at Xiao Muyu and the others, unsure of what to say.

Shen Qingqiu didn’t speak but pulled out a dagger and began cleaning it with her sleeve, not even looking at Wu An. However, Wu An, as the person involved, clearly understood Shen Qingqiu’s gesture: Tell the truth, or I’ll kill you!

Wu An hesitated for a moment before honestly confessing in a low voice, “After the apocalypse broke out, they all hid in an abandoned factory in the northern suburbs of G City. That’s their base now. The high-level officials of Norovirus Biopharmaceutical and the core members of the research institute are all there. But to be honest, don’t think you can just sneak in; you might end up…”

In front of Sun Xi, Wu An didn’t speak plainly, but Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu understood the implication.

They entered the base on the second day of the apocalypse. What does this imply?

Xiao Muyu felt things were clear now, and there was no need to go to the research institute anymore.

“This isn’t a safe place to talk. Let’s find a safer place first,” Shen Qingqiu said, signaling everyone to get in the car. Initially, they came in one car, but with three more people, it wasn’t possible.

Sun Xi and Liu Jia felt at a loss when they saw them about to leave. Although Sun Xi believed Wu An was sent by her father, following a stranger they just met was worrying for two girls.

“I… I haven’t decided yet. Can we not go with you for now?”

Sun Xi, anxious, pleaded with Shen Qingqiu, and Liu Jia, even more at a loss, almost cried.

Shen Qingqiu rolled down the window and asked Wu An, “You alone, with just a steel bar, how did you have the confidence to find one of his four daughters and bring her back unharmed?”

Wu An was silent for a moment before whispering, “We have contacts who can provide support.”

Shen Qingqiu started the car and calmly said, “Let’s first find a place to rest. There’s an old neighborhood two streets ahead; let’s hide there for now.”

Sun Xi quickly nodded. Shen Qingqiu drove slowly, keeping an eye on the three of them walking behind through the rearview mirror.

As the car entered the residential area, it inevitably attracted a group of zombies. In just one day, Zuo Tiantian, Su Jin, and Chen Kaijie had become very adept, picking up steel bars to fight.

Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu cooperated seamlessly, one using a dagger and the other a kitchen knife, dealing with the zombies one by one.

There were eleven zombies in and around the neighborhood, nine of which moved slowly, similar to the zombies commonly seen on the streets. However, two young zombies, a man and a woman, were much more agile.

The man had developed calf muscles, suggesting an athletic build. During an attack, he jumped as high as a person and almost knocked Chen Kaijie down.

The female zombie, after a failed attack, seemed to use a feint, indicating some level of cognitive ability.

But she met Shen Qingqiu, a fierce fighter who dared to get close in combat with zombies, ensuring their doom.

Shen Qingqiu dislocated the female zombie’s joints, pinning her hands behind her back, and stabbed straight into the second cervical vertebra. The female zombie immediately opened her mouth, eyes fixed, losing all mobility and collapsing.

Seeing this, the male zombie turned to attack but was beheaded by Xiao Muyu, falling to the ground.

“Do they still have consciousness?” Zuo Tiantian, puzzled and in disbelief, quickly asked upon seeing this.

Xiao Muyu also frowned. If it were yesterday, she would have shaken her head without hesitation. The zombies they encountered were driven by the instinct to hunt, pouncing at the sight of humans, moving stiffly, emitting a foul stench, often missing limbs, and still functioning, with no sign of consciousness.

But just now, the zombie seemed to change its target upon seeing the female zombie die, indicating some awareness.

Even more perplexing was the zombie holding a child, completely overturning Xiao Muyu’s understanding.

Xiao Muyu specifically observed the fallen zombies. Most had scratch-induced lesions, visible on their bodies.

However, one young man had neat clothes, and apart from the severed spinal cord, there were no other wounds.

Shen Qingqiu squatted down to take a look. Su Jin and Zuo Tiantian, initially puzzled, followed her gaze and immediately understood.

They waited outside for Sun Xi and the other two. Xiao Muyu instructed them to grab some food before they prepared to go upstairs.

The apartment building had a security system. Shen Qingqiu turned around and searched the zombies, successfully finding three access cards. She tried one and successfully opened the door to the second unit.

They were lucky. Although they couldn’t find the correct room using the keys they found, one door on the fourth floor was wide open, suggesting the fate of its owner.

The hallway and staircase to the third floor were smeared with dark blood, and severed limbs were scattered everywhere. Even after experiencing the apocalypse, Sun Xi and Liu Jia turned pale and retched, clinging to the walls with their eyes shut.

Xiao Muyu frowned, looking away silently. It seemed an elderly person had lived alone in this apartment and was attacked in the hallway when checking out the commotion during the apocalypse.

The group entered the apartment. Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu cautiously inspected the small two-bedroom apartment, which felt lifeless due to its deceased owner.

“Put the stuff down,” Xiao Muyu instructed. Chen Kaijie and the others placed their things down and closed the door.

Xiao Muyu’s eyes fell on a mat in the corner of the living room. It was a soft mat, next to which was a basin.

The basin was clean, with only a metallic bowl inside, glinting faintly.

Xiao Muyu sniffed the air lightly while Chen Kaijie sighed with relief and said, “I’ll go cook.” Xiao Muyu quickly warned, “Don’t go over there!”

No sooner had she spoken than a fierce roar erupted from the left room. The door burst open as a black shadow leaped nearly three meters, two meters high!

It lunged straight at Xiao Muyu, standing farthest to the left, too fast for anyone else to react.

Fortunately, Xiao Muyu was prepared, and Shen Qingqiu, always in sync with her, had noticed the mat and dog food bowl, suspecting they might have a pet. She was already on guard.

She grabbed Xiao Muyu and rolled towards the sofa, twisting around to raise her gun and fire at the black shadow.

The dog, planning to ambush, was caught off guard by the counterattack, taking the bullet head-on and crashing to the ground.

However, the shot clearly didn’t stop it. The dog stood up, arching its back. Its nearly 1.7-meter-tall frame was more intimidating than any zombie. Once yellow, its fur was now stained brown with blood. Its fangs, resembling tusks, were exposed.

The dog’s eyes had turned a ghastly white, bulging outwards. Drool mixed with blood dripped from its mouth, making Xiao Muyu nervous.

With three outsiders present, using a card was risky. Yet, this zombified dog posed a significant threat. Xiao Muyu glanced warily at Shen Qingqiu, seeking her reaction.

Shen Qingqiu’s expression was serious. The confined space, closed door, and the beast blocking the exit meant escape was impossible.

The famished mutant zombie dog didn’t wait. It lunged at Xiao Muyu’s group but veered mid-air towards Sun Xi and Liu Jia.

Wu An, his gun taken by Shen Qingqiu, only had a steel bar. He gritted his teeth and swung it down to protect Sun Xi.

In a panic, Zuo Tiantian didn’t hesitate. She shot her red line, like Spider-Man’s web, to bind the massive zombie dog.

However, she underestimated its strength. The red line tightened, but the dog only paused for a second before breaking free. Xiao Muyu’s heart sank, and Shen Qingqiu had already rushed over.

Shen Qingqiu intended to seize the chance to decapitate the dog, but before she could leap on it, its front paw broke free, swiping at her.

At the same time, it turned its head, swinging its massive body and opening its bloody maw to bite Shen Qingqiu.

The stench and sharp fangs, dripping with saliva, closed in on Shen Qingqiu, who had no time to dodge.

Seeing the fangs about to pierce Shen Qingqiu’s shoulder, Xiao Muyu’s mind went blank. Despite her quick thinking, she couldn’t find any means to protect Shen Qingqiu.

In desperation, she leaped forward, knowing it was futile, but still trying to shield Shen Qingqiu like a moth to a flame.

Shen Qingqiu’s face finally showed a hint of panic. At that critical moment, a round object flew over, striking the zombie dog’s mouth heavily.

With a hiss, Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu fell to the ground.

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Author’s Note: Guess who saved them and what saved them. This is the second time!