“So you’re saying that these zombie-whatever-things are everywhere outside now?”
Inside the forbidden cave dwelling, Sheng Ge and Ah Bao were both squatting in front of Zombie Ning Zhengde.
As Ah Bao explained the current state of the world to Sheng Ge, the two of them watched Zombie Ning Zhengde perform his “rise-and-collapse dance.” Every time he finally managed to push himself up after ten attempts, Sheng Ge would casually smack him back down with one hand.
“Brat, don’t get carried away.”
Zombie Ning Zhengde: “Roaaar~”
Ah Bao looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself, his face full of heartache and reluctance.
Even though his master had already become a zombie, seeing the man who had raised him since childhood getting “bullied” like a toy by Grandma Grandmaster still hurt his heart.
At this point, it might honestly be kinder to let Master die completely.
“It’s not just zombies. There are also mutated animals and plants, though I haven’t seen them myself yet.”
“Oh?”
Sheng Ge’s interest was immediately piqued.
From her little grand-disciple’s explanation, she finally gained a rough understanding of the current world outside.
Apparently, over a year ago, a mass of black fog suddenly appeared in the sky. Shortly afterward, rain began to fall.
Then people discovered that many of those who came into contact with the rainwater suddenly went mad without warning and started biting others everywhere.
And those who were bitten quickly became infected as well, turning mad and biting more people in turn.
Thus, zombies spread across the world, and cities fell one after another.
Later, through research, humanity learned that the rain following the black fog contained a mysterious toxic element.
Humans exposed to it would experience one of two outcomes.
The first was becoming a zombie.
The second was that a very small number of people, after suffering a severe illness, awakened supernatural abilities.
Actually, if it had only been zombies, humanity might not have fallen so quickly. With the technology and weapons available at the time, people probably could have held out much longer.
The true fatal blow came from the fact that the rain had not only infected humans—it had infected animals and plants as well.
Most animals became as vicious as zombies.
Most plants became inedible, while some even developed awareness and began hunting living creatures, including humans.
The mutations among plants and animals dealt humanity a devastating blow.
Especially the mutated plants, which caused edible food supplies to become incredibly scarce.
Under the combined impact of all these factors, less than half a year after that rain, two-thirds of the world’s population had died, and ninety percent of the land had been occupied by zombies and mutated flora and fauna.
Later, through the combined efforts of the government and numerous ability users, humanity managed to clear out safe zones and establish survivor bases.
At present, nearly all surviving humans lived inside those bases, struggling together for survival.
As for why Ah Bao and his master had not gone to one of the bases, there were two reasons.
First, Ning Zhengde had refused to leave.
Second, while the strange rain had spread across the entire world, for some unknown reason, the area within one kilometer of the Wuji Sect had remained completely unaffected.
Even afterward, no mutated plants had ever appeared there.
That entire area had practically become the world’s forgotten final paradise.
“Master said he was the Sect Master of the Wuji Sect. He swore to protect the sect, so he refused Senior Brother’s request to go to a survivor base. Master said the will passed down by the Ning family ancestors through generations could never be broken… and we absolutely couldn’t abandon Grandma Grandmaster either.”
At this point, Ah Bao glanced at Sheng Ge, sounding a little wronged.
Sheng Ge felt not even the slightest bit guilty and simply continued asking, “Then how did you end up like this?”
The moment that question came up, Ah Bao became furious.
“It’s all because of the Huosha Squad! They’re the ones who harmed Master!”
It turned out that while the area around the Wuji Sect was safe, the mountain itself was still surrounded by mutated plants and animals beyond the one-kilometer boundary.
So although it was safe, they couldn’t easily leave, and outsiders also had difficulty entering.
For the past year or so, only Ah Bao, his master, and a few nearby mountain villagers had remained there together, living peacefully enough.
Until three days ago.
A five-person ability-user team calling themselves the Huosha Squad found this place.
According to them, they had accidentally stumbled in while carrying out a mission.
Ning Zhengde kindly took them in.
Who would have thought that after discovering this place was unaffected by the mutations, those people would become greedy and decide to claim the area for themselves?
Even worse, they deliberately smeared zombie blood onto their weapons, causing the villagers to turn into zombies.
Although Ah Bao and his master escaped the Huosha Squad’s pursuit and fled into the forbidden area, Ning Zhengde was still cut by one of their blades.
By the time they realized the blade had zombie blood on it, it was already too late.
Once their intentions were fully exposed, the Huosha Squad directly attacked.
In the end, Ning Zhengde could only take Ah Bao and hide inside the forbidden chamber.
Unfortunately, during the fighting, he was scratched by a zombie and infected.
And after that came the scene Sheng Ge witnessed upon awakening.
“So you’re telling me that just five people managed to turn the Sect Master of my Wuji Sect into this?”
Sheng Ge was furious.
The Wuji Sect had once been the number one cultivation sect in the world!
And now she was being told that the sect master had been reduced to this miserable state by a few insignificant trash?
These descendants really are getting worse with every generation!
Filled with disappointment, Sheng Ge smacked Zombie Ning Zhengde hard on the head again.
Zombie Ning Zhengde: “Roaarrr~”
Ah Bao: “……”
“Grandma Grandmaster… maybe… maybe you should just give Master a quick death and let him rest peacefully.”
Ah Bao truly couldn’t bear watching his master continue being “tormented” anymore.
If this kept going, the tall and mighty image of his master in his heart was going to completely collapse.
So although he hated the idea…
It was better to let Master go.
Ah Bao then dutifully explained to his Grandma Grandmaster that as long as they smashed his master’s head apart, he would die completely.
As for why they had to smash his head…
Well, because they didn’t have any other weapons left.
Sheng Ge: “…You really are quite filial, huh, brat.”
“Of course Ah Bao is the most filial! In the future, I’ll also take good care of Grandma Grandmaster!”
Most importantly, he knew that compared to dying, his master would hate becoming a zombie even more.
Before losing consciousness, his master’s final instruction had been for Ah Bao to kill him immediately.
It was only because Ah Bao couldn’t bring himself to do it that his master ended up like this.
Sheng Ge: …This Venerable One thanks you for your filial piety.
“What a pity. His life force is already gone. Otherwise…”
Sheng Ge sighed softly.
Spiritual energy gathered at her fingertips as she lightly tapped Ning Zhengde between the brows.
Ning Zhengde’s body immediately collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
Without the zombie instincts twisting his features anymore, his face finally regained a peaceful expression.
One could tell that while alive, he must have been a dignified yet kind old man.
Tears finally streamed uncontrollably from Ah Bao’s eyes.
“Master…”
Ah Bao originally wanted to find a place to bury his master properly.
Unfortunately, the forbidden area was completely empty. After searching for a long time, he couldn’t even find a digging tool.
Just as Ah Bao was preparing to dig a grave with his bare hands, Sheng Ge waved her sleeve and placed Ning Zhengde’s body back into the jade coffin she had previously been lying in.
“Master, Ah Bao will definitely avenge you. And I’ll definitely remember your teachings, become a good sect master, and properly protect the Wuji Sect.”
Kneeling before the jade coffin, Ah Bao heavily kowtowed three times.
“Sect Master?”
Sheng Ge raised an eyebrow.
Ah Bao immediately turned around and seriously kowtowed once toward Sheng Ge as well.
“Fifty-Eighth Generation Sect Master of the Wuji Sect, Ning Ah Bao, formally greets Grandma Grandmaster.”
The corner of Sheng Ge’s mouth twitched.
Was the Wuji Sect seriously so lacking in people that they had passed the sect master position to a little kid?!
“Of course not!” Ah Bao hurriedly explained righteously.
“Master has two children and several grandchildren. Even though they left the mountain many years ago, Master said they’ll always be disciples of the Wuji Sect… Emm… I think there’s also a Martial Uncle somewhere, though I’ve never met him.”
Children. Grandchildren.
Good heavens.
Not only had the Wuji Sect failed to prosper, it had actually degenerated into a family-run sect?!
This wasn’t just “worse with every generation” anymore.
This was practically headed toward extinction!
Sheng Ge’s anger exploded instantly.
Turning around, she strode directly toward the stone door leading outside.
“Grandma Grandmaster, where are you going?”
Ah Bao stared at Sheng Ge in shock, completely unable to understand why she suddenly looked so furious.
“To kill people.”
There were already barely any people left in the sect, and they still dared kill one more.
Those bastards deserved to die!