Zhao Hongbin’s threat had barely left his mouth before the dozen thugs behind him charged.
Steel pipes sliced through the air, machetes flashed beneath the headlights, and the mob rushed forward like a pack of wolves.
Rong Yuxuan stood firmly in front of the villa gate.
He didn’t take a single step back.
His icy gaze swept over the attackers as blue-white arcs of electricity burst from his fingertips with a crackling hiss.
“Li An, guard both sides. Don’t let anyone circle around to the back.”
“Got it, Brother Xuan!”
Li An stepped forward immediately, gripping his sharpened steel pipe so tightly his knuckles turned white. Every muscle in his body tensed as he prepared for the fight.
The first two thugs didn’t take Rong Yuxuan seriously at all. Raising their machetes, they hacked straight toward his head.
His eyes narrowed.
Two bolts of lightning shot from his fingertips.
The electricity struck both men instantly. They screamed, convulsed violently, and collapsed to the ground. Their machetes clanged onto the pavement, and neither of them got back up.
The remaining attackers froze.
Fear flashed across their faces as they exchanged uneasy glances, suddenly reluctant to rush forward.
“A bunch of cowards!” Zhao Hongbin roared. “What’s there to be afraid of? He’s only one man! Get him!”
“Whoever cripples him gets twenty thousand cash and a whole crate of supplies! Bring me the girl inside, and I’ll reward you even more!”
Greed quickly overcame fear.
The thugs’ eyes lit up, turning bloodshot as they charged again with renewed ferocity.
Rong Yuxuan remained expressionless.
His lightning ability erupted again and again, dropping the men at the front one after another amid continuous screams.
But there were simply too many enemies.
He had to fight them while constantly watching the villa behind him, making sure Lin Qingtang stayed safe. Even he couldn’t focus on everything at once.
On the flank, Li An desperately held the line, battling two thugs at once. He took several heavy blows from steel pipes but refused to retreat even a single step.
Near the iron gate, Long Juanli supported the trembling Long Junlong, hiding in the shadows with a pale face as she watched the chaotic battle.
Zhao Hongbin suddenly turned around and barked at her.
“What are you standing there for? Go convince Lin Qingtang to open the gate! If I have to break in myself, you and your brother will be the first ones I throw to the zombies!”
Terrified, Long Juanli didn’t dare argue.
Clinging to the gate, she cried toward the villa.
“Qingtang! Please open the gate! If you don’t, they’re going to force their way in! Someone’s going to get killed!”
“Just let us in! I’ll beg Brother Zhao not to hurt you. We can talk this out!”
On the surface, she sounded as though she were trying to save Lin Qingtang.
In reality, she couldn’t wait for Zhao Hongbin to storm inside and drag her out, just so she could finally get revenge for her humiliation.
…
On the second floor of the villa, Lin Qingtang stood by the window, watching Rong Yuxuan surrounded by enemies because he was protecting her.
Even under siege, he refused to move away from the gate.
Her heart tightened painfully.
Beside her, Lin Shaoan had already pushed open the window. Raising his hunting rifle, he aimed at the thugs below.
“Qingtang. Cover Rong Yuxuan.”
She nodded immediately.
Opening the window wider, she raised her rifle and aimed at one of the men sneaking behind Rong Yuxuan for a surprise attack.
…
Down below, Rong Yuxuan heard Long Juanli continuing her manipulative pleas.
The killing intent in his eyes intensified.
Finding a brief opening in the fight, he locked onto her.
His psychic ability spread outward.
This was the limit of what he could currently do.
Within ten meters, he could briefly interfere with the judgment of someone with weak willpower. He couldn’t completely control them, and using the ability always left him with a splitting headache afterward.
But he couldn’t care less.
He absolutely couldn’t allow Long Juanli another chance to deceive Lin Qingtang.
Suddenly, Long Juanli’s vision blurred.
Her head spun violently.
Almost unconsciously, the folding knife she was holding swung forward.
At that exact moment, Zhao Hongbin stepped beside her to check the situation inside.
The blade sliced cleanly across his arm.
Blood immediately seeped through his sleeve.
Zhao Hongbin grunted in pain.
Looking down at the wound, his face twisted with rage.
Without hesitation, he slapped Long Juanli across the face.
Smack!
The sharp crack echoed clearly across the battlefield.
She stumbled backward and crashed onto the ground. Half her face swelled instantly, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Holding her cheek, she stared at him in disbelief.
Only then did the dizziness disappear, leaving her completely confused about what had just happened.
“Brother Zhao! It wasn’t me! I didn’t mean it!”
She cried desperately.
“It was Rong Yuxuan! He did something to me!”
“You ungrateful bitch!”
Zhao Hongbin refused to listen.
Lifting his foot, he prepared to kick her.
Then—
Bang! Bang!
Two gunshots rang out from the second floor.
The bullets struck two thugs who had been fighting Li An.
Both men collapsed instantly.
Standing by the window with his rifle, Lin Shaoan spoke coldly.
“Anyone who takes another step forward…”
“My next shot goes through your head.”
Years of authority gave his words an overwhelming pressure.
The remaining thugs froze in place.
…
Zhao Hongbin looked up at Lin Shaoan with a dark expression.
He hadn’t expected both father and daughter to be this fearless—or this well armed.
Just then…
The villa’s side door burst open.
A white blur shot out like lightning.
It was Abai, it is actually a wolfdog.
The white wolfdog dodged a swinging steel pipe with incredible agility before leaping into the air.
Opening its mouth, it unleashed a stream of blazing fire.
Flames engulfed the nearest thug’s arm.
His machete became red-hot in an instant.
He screamed and threw the weapon away before stumbling backward in terror.
Landing gracefully, Abai planted itself beside Rong Yuxuan.
It growled viciously, amber eyes fixed on the enemy as every hair on its body stood on end.
It looked like a small leopard ready to pounce.
“Damn mutt!”
Fear flickered through Zhao Hongbin’s eyes as he watched the fire-breathing wolfdog.
He immediately raised his homemade shotgun and aimed at Abai.
Rong Yuxuan reacted without thinking.
He stepped directly in front of Abai.
A bolt of lightning shot from his hand, striking the weapon and knocking it flying.
The gun skidded across the ground.
At that exact moment…
The distant sound of countless zombies echoed through the night.
One roar after another.
Closer.
Closer still.
Even the ground began to tremble.
A zombie horde.
Everyone’s expression changed instantly.
The thugs panicked.
Their weapons nearly slipped from their hands as they stared toward the source of the terrifying sounds.
They all knew exactly how horrifying zombies were.
Judging by the noise, at least dozens of them were approaching.
There was no way they could survive.
Even Zhao Hongbin’s face turned deathly pale.
The fight had truly attracted a horde.
Rong Yuxuan’s expression became extremely grave.
They couldn’t afford to drag this out any longer.
If the zombies surrounded the villa, Lin Qingtang would be in real danger.
Taking a deep breath, he ignored the risk of exhausting himself.
He released every last ounce of his psychic power.
This time, he targeted Zhao Hongbin directly.
He pushed himself beyond his limits, forcibly interfering with the man’s consciousness.
Zhao Hongbin suddenly felt as though a sledgehammer had smashed into his skull.
Agonizing pain exploded through his head.
His vision went black.
His thoughts became a chaotic blur.
Almost instinctively, he shouted,
“Retreat! Everyone retreat! Get back in the vehicles!”
The thugs had wanted to run for a long time.
Hearing the order, they scrambled away as though granted a pardon, abandoning even their injured companions.
Still dazed, Zhao Hongbin turned and allowed his men to drag him into one of the SUVs.
Long Juanli ignored the pain in her swollen face, hauled Long Junlong to his feet, and half-dragged, half-carried him into another vehicle.
The convoy roared to life.
With the accelerators floored, the SUVs sped into the darkness and disappeared.
…
The instant the danger passed…
The tension holding Rong Yuxuan upright vanished.
His psychic power was completely drained.
An overwhelming headache struck him.
It felt as though countless needles were piercing his brain.
His vision darkened.
His body swayed violently, nearly collapsing.
“Brother Xuan!”
Li An rushed over and caught him.
Seeing Rong Yuxuan’s deathly pale face, he asked anxiously,
“Are you alright? Did you overuse your ability?”
Supporting himself with one hand pressed against his forehead, Rong Yuxuan closed his eyes.
Only after several long moments did the dizziness ease.
“I’m… fine…”
His voice was hoarse.
“…Is Qingtang… is she alright?”
“I’m fine.”
A soft voice answered behind him.
Rong Yuxuan spun around.
Lin Qingtang had opened the villa gate and was walking toward him.
She held a bottle of water in her hands.
Stopping in front of him, she offered it over, concern evident in her eyes.
“How are you? Are you hurt?”
It was the first time…
She had walked up to him on her own.
The first time she had shown concern for him voluntarily.
Looking at her face so close to his, Rong Yuxuan’s heart skipped a beat.
Even his pounding headache seemed lighter.
He hurriedly accepted the bottle.
Their fingertips brushed.
As though he’d been shocked, he instantly pulled his hand back.
The tips of his ears turned bright red.
“I… I’m fine. Just exhausted. It’s nothing serious.”
“I’m glad.”
Seeing his pale face, the cold sweat covering his forehead, and the forced smile he was trying to maintain, something in Lin Qingtang’s heart softened even more.
Lin Shaoan also walked over.
Looking at Rong Yuxuan, his eyes were filled with appreciation and gratitude.
Patting the young man’s shoulder, he said,
“You’ve worked hard, son. We owe you.”
“You’re too kind, Uncle.”
Rong Yuxuan answered quickly.
But the warmth in the moment didn’t last long.
His expression quickly became serious again.
“We can’t stay here anymore.”
“The gunfire and fighting have already attracted a zombie horde. It won’t be long before they surround this place.”
“And once Zhao Hongbin regains his senses, he’ll definitely come back with even more people.”
“We’re at a huge disadvantage if we stay.”
“We need to pack everything and leave tonight.”
Lin Qingtang exchanged a glance with her father.
Both nodded.
They knew he was right.
Lakeside Villa District had already been exposed.
Staying here would only bring greater danger.
“Alright.”
“We’ll start packing immediately.”
No one wasted another second.
Everyone hurried back into their respective villas.
Li An helped Rong Yuxuan return across the street, where they quickly loaded the supplies and weapons they had already prepared.
Soon, the only sounds left in the neighborhood were hurried footsteps and equipment being packed.
Meanwhile, the zombie roars grew louder.
Closer.
Closer still.
…
Everything was finally loaded into the vehicles.
Li An had already started the engine.
Rong Yuxuan stood beside the SUV, making one last inspection of the surrounding area.
Satisfied that nothing had been overlooked, he reached for the door handle.
Then—
From the intersection ahead…
A black tide suddenly poured around the corner.
Countless zombies charged toward them, shrieking as they sprinted in the direction of the vehicles.
There were far more than anyone had expected.
The zombie horde…
Had arrived much sooner than they had anticipated.