Chapter Thirty-One: The Corpse with the Sinister Smile

“What are you saying? You’re driving—how could you be afraid of being caught by that pathetic bunch? Relax and don’t lose them. Judging by the direction they’re taking, they’re heading for ZM City. Looks like fortune’s on our side today. Did you lead them there?” I replied over the radio.

It was a long while before Huo Bing’s voice finally came through. “It wasn’t me, but there’s nothing left to scavenge around here. ZM City’s the only place left with any possibilities. If Shen Dong wants to make sure he wins, he’ll definitely take his people that way.”

“Did you conceal the news about the Nightmares in ZM City when you got back?”

“I only told my father. Nobody else knows.”

“You’re really not as honest as you look, are you, young lady? But I have some bad news for you.”

“What news?”

“I saw something truly horrifying in ZM City—the corpses there were devouring each other. Do you understand just how terrifying that is?” My voice was cold; what this signified was that the corpses in ZM City were evolving among themselves, no longer relying on infecting humans to advance.

Sooner or later, ZM City might be crawling with second- and third-level corpses, and then it would truly become a dragon’s lair—a place where entering would mean certain death.

Perhaps the corpses in ZM City couldn’t find any fresh humans, and, driven by hunger and instinct, they began to evolve by consuming their own kind.

And that sound I heard in the street that day… Who was that person? The one raising corpses—whoever he is, he’s extremely dangerous.

“I’m suddenly thinking that going to ZM City might not be the wisest choice…” Huo Bing’s voice came again, a slight tremor betraying her nerves.

“I doubt you’re really scared, Miss Huo. That group of scavengers yesterday—didn’t they have issues with your father?” I sneered, lips curling coldly. What’s the point of putting on an act in front of me?

I couldn’t see her face now, but perhaps that choked voice was just an act and her face was calm as ever.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You know exactly what I mean. Let me warn you in advance—I’ve never been the type to show mercy to a damsel in distress. Stick with me and behave, and I won’t do anything to you. But if you try anything, I won’t hesitate to deal with you first.”

After a pause, I added with a smile, “I don’t like ticking time bombs around me. It makes me uneasy.”

I checked my watch—five minutes had passed, and Huo Bing still hadn’t replied. But her car was still following closely.

“I didn’t have any particular intention at the time, but if something did happen, I wouldn’t mind. Do you understand what I mean, Brother Cao?” Huo Bing’s voice finally came through, this time tinged with the sound of suppressed tears, as though she’d been wronged.

“Hmm…”

I reached over to scratch Fourth Master’s head on the passenger seat. Ever since we’d set out, he’d been extremely excited—especially after seeing that group of corpses earlier. He almost jumped right out of the car.

Thinking back to that strange incident in the military surplus store, a wild guess occurred to me… Could this dog actually eat corpses? He’s about the size of a person—how did he manage to devour that corpse whole?

I couldn’t figure it out, nor did I want to suspect Fourth Master, but there were simply too many suspicious points. The sound that corpse made that day was no hallucination.

“Brother Cao… I want to ask you something.” I shook off my thoughts about Fourth Master and listened carefully to the only sound in the car—the radio. “The way you talk, it’s just like chatting with someone on social media back in the Old Era. ‘Are you there?’ Usually, I’d say I’m not.”

“Did you really sleep with that woman?” After a long silence, Huo Bing’s cautious voice finally came through the radio. If I’d been drinking water just now, I would have sprayed it everywhere.

What kind of question is that! Are you a child or something, so curious and so bold to ask directly?

Even my thick-skinned self can’t handle discussing who I’ve slept with with a young woman like this.

Even your father would have been more circumspect with this question!

“Why are you, a young girl, so concerned about this? This is grown-up business. Just mind your own affairs,” I replied with a chuckle, glancing at Fourth Master, who was panting at my side.

The dog looked just as confused as I felt. Somehow, his expression was almost like a person stifling a laugh.

I patted his head and scolded, “You’re not behaving either, huh? What are you laughing at?”

Fourth Master barked twice in protest, then suddenly bit down on my sleeve.

“What the—!”

Bang!

Startled by the bite, I jerked the steering wheel, and the car swerved off course. Suddenly, something punched a hole clean through the windshield.

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead instantly. If Fourth Master hadn’t yanked me and made the car swerve, I would have been impaled right through the driver’s seat.

My vision only covers up to twenty meters—this attack clearly came from beyond that. Otherwise, I would’ve noticed.

“Huo Bing, something attacked us up ahead. My windshield’s been punctured. Stay alert.”

“Got it!”

I narrowed my eyes, staring straight ahead, tracing the path that thing had taken to see if I could spot anything.

I’d seen it clearly just now—a tentacle-like thing, oozing viscous fluid. It couldn’t have been more disgusting.

Slamming the accelerator to the floor, I charged forward. Suddenly, a wave of dread washed over me, my heart seizing in my chest. I ducked down instinctively.

Splat!

Damn!

The driver’s window was also punctured—this was supposed to be bulletproof glass! Yet it was pierced so easily.

I reached for a lure grenade from the car—one of those red-glowing devices Shen Dong had used to draw in corpses. I flicked the switch and hurled it forward with all my might. In the red glare, I finally saw what I was dealing with.

Standing in the middle of the road was a corpse, grinning in a way that sent chills down my spine. Was it the last expression before death or was the corpse itself grinning? I couldn’t tell, but it was enough to make the back of my neck crawl.

Its features were decayed, pus-filled brown blood oozing from its face, eyeballs nearly falling out, yet it still wore a grotesque smile.

What the hell is this thing?

How did Shen Dong and his group pass through here without encountering it?

The corpse didn’t even glance at the lure grenade at its feet. It sprinted straight for my vehicle.

Cannot take this lightly! Judging by its speed, it had to be at least a third-level corpse! According to the survivor’s log, third-level corpses, when strengthened by the moonlight, could develop long-range attack abilities.

But this one was capable of far more than just that! I had never seen a corpse with a smile frozen on its face before!

Just as I was steeling myself for a desperate fight, Fourth Master suddenly began frantically circling in the passenger seat, scratching at the door in a panic.

“Woof woof woof!!! Woof woof woof!!!”

Fourth Master barked wildly at me. Gritting my teeth, I flung open the car door.

In my mind, I promised: If something happens to you, dog, I will avenge you!

“Huo Bing! It’s a mutated third-level corpse! Don’t get out of the car, arm the vehicle’s weapons—”

I was shouting into the radio, telling Huo Bing to activate the weapon system, all the while yanking out the scanner.

“Goddamn it—”

“Brother Cao! Brother Cao! What’s wrong? Don’t scare me!”

“I’m fine. Get ready to move out again. Stay alert…”

My eyes widened at the scene before me, one that defied all reason. I swear, in my entire life, I’d never seen a dog open its mouth that wide!