"Not a single drop is left."
Su Changxing walked out of the alley with a contented expression, taking a deep breath, feeling like a cigarette away from being completely satisfied.
Although he doesnât smoke.
After nearly an hour, these two people could no longer provide any more Mysteriousness.
Su Changxing gained a total of 41 points of Mysteriousness, bringing his total Mysteriousness to 363, not far from reaching 400.
The head silently remarked, "Iâve traveled through so many worlds, and this is the first time Iâve seen such a fetish."
Su Changxing thought for a moment and said, "This is called finding joy in helping others."
The head: "..."
Nine kilometers isnât exactly long. Along the way, there were few other humans to be seen, but plenty of traces of human activity: fresh blood, zombie corpses, and car doors dismantled not long ago.
Su Changxing jogged to the location marked on Huang Biaoâs map.
This was a high-end residential community, its plants unusually lush due to neglect, with weeds covering the roads and tall trees obscuring the houses, forming a small forest.
However, Huang Biao and his group were positioned at the edge of the forest.
This time, Huang Biao learned a lesson and chose a relatively hidden location. Su Changxing didnât find them immediately, but soon located them through the information provided by "True Knowledge."
[Building: An old, long-abandoned building, but recently there seems to be some activity inside, possibly people planning to settle in.]
Su Changxing surveyed the surroundings and found that the number of zombies was relatively low, as theyâd been cleared out before.
The head said, "There are people on the fourth floor."
Walking up the relatively clean stairs, Su Changxing could vaguely hear shouting from above.
"Huang Tao, I told you before not to act on your own. Now look what happened, youâre alive, but youâve gotten the others killed."
Huang Biaoâs angry scolding resounded, clear even with a floor between them.
Reaching the fourth floor, a crowd had gathered to watch.
He saw Huang Biao punch Huang Tao heavily to the ground, blood spurting from Huang Taoâs nose and spilling onto the floor.
It was a powerful punch, but it was clear Huang Biao held back; otherwise, with his strength, an average person wouldnât stand a chance.
Still defiant, Huang Tao said, "Iâm responsible for this, but I believe my actions were correct; just unlucky, thatâs all."
"What happened?"
Footsteps echoed in the corridor as Su Changxing entered.
Huang Biao, his face full of anger, said, "I sent this kid to lead a team to search for supplies, and he ended up drawing in an Undead Tide. Except for himself, everyone else diedâfour in total, all good hands."
Su Changxing glanced at Huang Tao and thought for a moment before saying, "Continue, I wonât interrupt."
As Su Changxing walked inside, screams echoed behind him.
"Teacher, ha, I thought you wouldnât be here for a while yet, didnât expect you so soon."
Zhu Xin Xue approached with excitement, holding a short steel rod in her hand.
Su Changxing looked down at her delicate face, paused, and asked, "What did you just say?"
Zhu Xin Xue obediently repeated, "Teacher?"
Su Changxing squinted and said, "Do I know you?"
Zhu Xin Xue stood next to Su Changxing, speaking assertively, "Teacher, this doesnât conflict. Itâs like how my brother didnât know you before but considered you a murderer. So whether you acknowledge it or not, youâre my teacherâitâd be better if you did."
Su Changxing said irritably, "Whereâd you learn that nonsense theory?"
Zhu Xin Xue blinked and said, "My brother taught me."
Su Changxing said calmly, "You think I believe that?"
Zhu Xin Xue continued as if talking to herself, "Teacher, youâre amazing, going in and out of a place full of zombies alone, like a skilled swordsman in books, taking down an enemy general amidst thousands of troops."
In the lobby, a few familiar faces, ones heâd seen before, turned towards Su Changxing.
They all bore injuries, bandaged, with even one person lying on the floor, uncertain whether dead or alive.
Su Changxing sat on a bench beside, level with Zhu Xin Xue, and asked, "Even if you praise me, itâs useless. What happened yesterday? Why are there so many wounded?"
Zhu Xin Xue sat beside Su Changxing and replied, "During yesterdayâs move, we encountered an Undead Tide, and many died. Zhu Wenwu was also injured."
Su Changxing pondered for a moment. When Huang Biao and his group moved yesterday, it was already nearing nightfall, so encountering an Undead Tide wasnât surprising.
He observed Zhu Xin Xue and said, "Youâre quite clever, not getting hurt."
Zhu Xin Xue hesitated before shrugging, "Not really. My brother got hurt protecting me. I think if this keeps up, heâll die because of me."
Just then, Huang Biao walked in with large strides and shouted, "Brother, itâs great youâre not dead. You actually slipped in and out under the nose of those monsters."
Su Changxing noticed a large hole in the fabric around Huang Biaoâs abdomen, revealing blood-stained bandages, his walk limping. He commented, "Luck was on my side... your injury isnât minor. Someone else mightâve died."
Huang Biaoâs ability was somewhat similar to Mu Qingâs, just much weaker.
Huang Biao laughed nonchalantly, "Itâs not serious. By tomorrow it shouldnât affect me."
Su Changxing wasnât sure if he truly wasnât concerned or was just pretending, since as the groupâs leader, Huang Biao needed to maintain peak condition at all times.
Huang Biao waved his hand and said, "Letâs talk privately."
Then, he walked into the inner room.
Su Changxing stood up and followed, while Zhu Xin Xue motioned to join.
Su Changxing pressed his hand on her head, saying, "Donât come in."
Zhu Xin Xue pouted but said nothing.
He closed the door.
Inside the room was a peeling long wooden table, a rusty kerosene lamp beside it, and two rows of bookshelves against the wall, stacked with many books.
This was originally a study.
Huang Biao took a deep breath and propped himself against the table with one hand, then said, "Su Changxing, I almost bit the dust yesterday, got pinned by two zombies, the meat on my belly bitten off, but fortunately Old Qin pulled me out."
Su Changxing thought for a moment and said, "Wasnât it because you went to cover the rear? Ha, you donât seem like a street guy, more like a soldier."
Huang Biao reminisced a bit, "To be honest, I was in the army back then. During combat, I was shot three times, thought I was a goner but survived, and then I retired."
Su Changxing paused and said, "So youâre quite lucky, but that doesnât mean youâll survive every time.