Xiao Huang Mao rolled down the car window and smiled at the soldier outside. "Hey, buddy, whatâs going on?"
"You canât pass for now. Just wait a moment." The soldier ignored Xiao Huang Maoâs cheeky grin and spoke with a completely serious expression.
Xie Ning poked her head out of the back window, her gaze landing on the village committee building not far away.
âIt looks like these soldiers have cleared out all the zombies in front of and behind the building!â
âGreat. This makes the Song Family Pavilion that much safer.â
Just then, Ji Taixianâs cursing voice drifted from one of the two vans behind them. "Hey, what are you doing?"
The soldier turned his head and saw a woman with disheveled hair, looking utterly mad, jump out of the van and run desperately toward them.
"Help me, help me!" Annie rushed frantically toward the soldiers and grabbed one by the arm. "Soldier, please, help me! Iâve been kidnapped!"
Xie Ning let out a scoff. She simply sat in the car and watched the womanâs performance, not saying a word to stop her.
Song Youâai, however, grew nervous and quietly tugged on her daughterâs sleeve.
"Itâs alright, Mom." Xie Ning gently patted the back of her motherâs hand, signaling for her to relax.
BANG!
At the same time, a zombie in tattered clothes leaped from the third floor of the village committee building, wisps of a black, scorched aura rising from its body as it fled frantically in their direction.
âA First-tier Zombie!â
Xie Ningâs entire body tensed. She quickly pushed open the car door and jumped out. "Stay here and donât move."
This was the First-tier Zombie she had sensed inside the village committee building earlier.
âI didnât expect it to evolve so quickly.â
Its running speed was already comparable to that of a normal humanânothing like the dim-witted, stumbling, and disoriented Initial-stage zombies.
Annie shrieked, let go of the soldierâs arm, and shoved him forward to block the path of the frantically approaching First-tier Zombie.
The soldier was no fool. He quickly raised his rifle and fired several shots at the zombie.
But because he was too close and had acted in haste, the bullets didnât penetrate the zombieâs head, instead peppering its body.
But in the brief moment the zombie was stalled, Xie Ning had already darted to the soldierâs side. Several Metal Spikes shot from her hand, flying toward the zombieâs skull with lightning speed.
CLANG! CLANG! A series of crisp metallic sounds rang out. The Metal Spikes failed to pierce the skull, completely blocked.
âItâs a Defense Type First-tier Zombie!â
The thought had barely formed in Xie Ningâs mind when two figures burst from the building, sprinting toward them one after the other.
At the same time, two bolts of lightning struck the Defense Type First-tier Zombieâs head with irresistible force. CRACKLE! SIZZLE!
The zombie howled as the ferocious lightning flashes instantly shattered a part of its skull.
Xie Ningâs pupils constricted. This was the first time since her rebirth that she had seen such a powerful Thunder Ability User.
It reminded her of her former captain.
Xie Ning immediately pushed the fleeting thought away.
She looked up again to see a baby-faced youth rush forward and blow the First-tier Zombieâs head apart with two shots. BANG! BANG!
Xie Ning slowly retracted the Metal Spikes in her hand, her eyes meeting two curious gazes.
The baby-faced youth ran up first, a strange, joyful expression of reunion on his face. "Itâs you, miss! I didnât expect weâd meet again so soon."
Xie Ning found his voice vaguely familiar. Her scrutinizing gaze swept over him. "And you are...?"
The baby-faced youth immediately put on an exaggerated expression, as if to say, âItâs me! And youâre pretending not to recognize me?â
"Me!"