The morning sun streamed through the broken windows of the abandoned farmhouse, casting scattered patches of light across the dust-covered floor.
Rong Yuxuan leaned against the old locust tree in the corner of the courtyard. Through the fabric of his clothes, his fingers repeatedly traced the outline of the old knitted glove tucked safely inside his jacket.
His gaze drifted toward the main house.
Lin Qingtang was crouching on the stone steps, carefully polishing the barrel of her hunting shotgun with a clean cotton cloth. Every movement was calm, precise, and practiced.
Standing beside her, Lin Shaoan casually twirled a fully loaded compound crossbow in one hand. Every so often, he tapped the bow’s frame as he quietly explained the finer points of shooting posture and how to properly channel force while firing.
Abai sat faithfully at Lin Qingtang’s feet, ears standing straight. Every now and then, the white wolfdog lifted his head to scan the yard beyond the gate. A soft rumble vibrated in his throat as he remained glued to her side, never leaving her for even a moment.
Rong Yuxuan swallowed hard.
The secret of his rebirth had risen to his lips countless times.
He wanted to tell her that in his previous life, he had arrived too late.
Too late to protect her.
He wanted to tell her how helpless he had felt as he watched her being pushed into a sea of zombies.
How every second of it had torn him apart.
He wanted to tell her that after she died, he had chosen to follow her.
That in this life, even if it cost him everything, he would protect her until his last breath.
But every time the words reached his lips, he forced them back down.
He was afraid.
Afraid that speaking them aloud would rip open the bloody wounds of her previous life.
Afraid she would remember those hopeless days.
Afraid she would shut herself away again.
Afraid that the tiny bit of closeness they had finally built would disappear in an instant.
So all he could do was bury those feelings inside the old glove, and hide them in every restrained, gentle glance he cast toward her.
“Brother Xuan, you’ve been standing there forever. What are you thinking about?”
Li An walked out from one of the side rooms with a polished steel pipe slung over his shoulder. Following Rong Yuxuan’s line of sight toward Lin Qingtang, a knowing grin flashed across his face before he quickly composed himself.
Keeping his voice low, he asked, “You’re completely recovered now?”
Rong Yuxuan withdrew his gaze, one hand still resting over the glove inside his jacket.
“I’m fine. My stamina and abilities have fully recovered. In fact… I feel even stronger than before.”
“Seriously? That’s great news, Brother Xuan.”
Rong Yuxuan looked around the courtyard, his expression growing more serious.
“This place looks safe, but it’s only a temporary shelter. We’ve got less than two days’ worth of food and water left. We’re almost out of medicine too.”
“We need to head out.”
Li An nodded immediately, tucking the steel pipe behind his waist before patting his chest confidently.
“No problem! Just tell me where we’re going and I’ll drive. I checked the SUV again last night. The tank’s full, the spare tire’s brand new, and I’ve stocked two more cases of ammunition in the back. We could even ram zombies if we had to.”
By the time they finished talking, Lin Qingtang had already finished cleaning the shotgun.
She slung it over her shoulder, stood up, and walked over.
“Going out to gather supplies?”
Meeting her eyes, Rong Yuxuan felt the tips of his ears turn red.
He hurriedly nodded, unconsciously softening his voice, as though afraid of startling her.
“Yeah. We’re running low on food and water, and we also need more antibiotics, bandages, and other medical supplies.”
After a brief pause, he added carefully,
“About five kilometers from here there’s an abandoned food processing plant. It’s spacious, and there aren’t many zombies around. It’d be a good place for you and Uncle Lin to practice shooting while moving.”
“No matter how accurate you are on a shooting range, firing at living zombies is completely different. Li An and I will handle anything that gets close. We won’t let any zombies reach you.”
Lin Qingtang raised an eyebrow, lightly tapping the trigger guard of her shotgun.
“You don’t have to protect us on purpose.”
“You forgot what happened at the villa district? I blew the heads off two thugs.”
“We can protect ourselves. We’re not helpless baggage hiding behind you.”
Rong Yuxuan immediately waved both hands in panic.
“That’s not what I meant! Qingtang, I’ve never thought of you as a burden. I just…”
I just don’t want you getting hurt.
He swallowed the rest of the sentence, clenching his fists instead.
His eyes held nothing but sincerity.
Lin Shaoan walked over and gently patted his daughter’s shoulder before nodding toward Rong Yuxuan.
“The kid’s right.”
“No matter how well you shoot at stationary targets, once you’re surrounded, panic sets in, and your gun becomes nothing more than a lump of metal.”
“Tangtang, this is the perfect opportunity. Practice against moving targets. Learn how to react under pressure.”
He looked at Rong Yuxuan approvingly.
“We’ll do it your way. You and Li An clear anything that gets close. Tangtang and I provide long-range support. We cover each other.”
Li An answered immediately, excitement written all over his face.
“Awesome! Then let’s head out now. The earlier we leave, the earlier we get back. Better to avoid the zombies when they’re most active.”
Lin Qingtang said nothing more.
She simply crouched down and rubbed Abai’s head.
“Abai, stay close to me. No running off, got it?”
The wolfdog wagged his tail.
His amber eyes sparkled as he rubbed his head affectionately against her palm, letting out a soft rumble as if he completely understood.
No one wasted any more time.
They returned inside to prepare their equipment.
Rong Yuxuan strapped his combat knife to his waist before stuffing spare batteries, bandages, and antibiotics into his backpack.
Finally, he gently touched the old glove one last time before zipping up the pack and heading outside.
The SUV was already waiting in the middle of the courtyard.
Li An had started the engine, its steady hum echoing through the silent countryside.
Lin Qingtang and Lin Shaoan sat in the back seat.
Abai leaped smoothly into the vehicle and curled up beside Lin Qingtang’s legs, his head resting against her calf while remaining constantly alert.
Rong Yuxuan climbed into the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt.
On both sides of the road, wild grass had grown taller than a person.
Abandoned tricycles, overturned furniture, and scattered debris littered the roadside.
Here and there lay dried black bloodstains and half-devoured skeletons.
The wind carried dust through the cracked windows, along with the faint stench of decay.
Keeping both hands firmly on the steering wheel, Li An stared straight ahead while occasionally checking the tall grass on either side.
“Brother Xuan, the next left leads to the food processing plant. Should we circle around first and scout the perimeter?”
Rong Yuxuan nodded.
His psychic ability quietly spread outward, covering nearly a hundred meters ahead.
His brows gradually knitted together.
“Circle around first. I can sense a few scattered zombies near the entrance, but not many. I still can’t detect what’s deeper inside.”
“Drive slowly. Stay steady. Don’t attract too much attention.”
“Got it.”
Li An eased off the accelerator and slowly drove around the outside wall of the factory.
Finally, he parked in an open area opposite the main gate.
The SUV remained pointed toward the exit, engine still running, ready for an immediate escape if necessary.
“Brother Xuan, this spot gives us a clear view, and it’ll be easy to get out.”
Rong Yuxuan nodded.
He stepped out first.
Blue-white arcs of electricity flickered faintly across his fingertips as he quickly scanned the entrance.
Only after confirming there was no immediate danger did he call toward the others.
“It’s safe. Come on out.”
Lin Qingtang and Lin Shaoan exited one after another, each holding a loaded compound crossbow.
Their footsteps were light and cautious.
Abai jumped down as well, immediately positioning himself in front of Lin Qingtang.
His back stiffened.
Facing the factory entrance, he let out a deep growl as every strand of white fur stood on end.
Three zombies wandered near the gate.
Hearing movement, they slowly turned around.
Their gray-green faces were smeared with thick slime.
Harsh growls escaped their throats as they staggered toward the group.
Rong Yuxuan had just raised his hand when Lin Qingtang stopped him.
“Don’t.”
She lifted her crossbow.
Her sharp gaze locked onto the head of the leading zombie.
One finger settled calmly on the trigger.
“My dad and I will handle these.”
“Good chance to warm up.”
Rong Yuxuan silently lowered his hand.
He stepped back half a pace while he and Li An spread out to guard both flanks.
The next instant, Lin Qingtang squeezed the trigger.
Whoosh!
The bolt sliced through the air and buried itself cleanly into the zombie’s temple.
The creature stiffened before collapsing heavily onto the ground.
Almost simultaneously, Lin Shaoan released his own shot.
His bolt pierced straight through the second zombie’s skull.
Father and daughter moved in perfect harmony, covering each other’s blind spots with swift, efficient precision.
The last zombie had already reached close range.
Lin Qingtang reloaded in one smooth motion before raising her crossbow once more.
Another bolt flew.
Another perfect headshot.
All three zombies were eliminated in less than ten seconds.
Every shot had found its mark.
Li An couldn’t help blurting out in admiration.
“Miss Lin! Uncle Lin! That’s incredible! Plenty of people who’ve been shooting crossbows for years couldn’t match that accuracy!”
Lin Qingtang simply reloaded another bolt.
Although she remained silent, the corners of her lips lifted ever so slightly.
Watching the light return to her eyes, Rong Yuxuan couldn’t help smiling too.
Seeing her confidence return made him happier than killing zombies himself.
His girl…
She was finally beginning to live without fear.
“Let’s move deeper inside.”
Rong Yuxuan took the lead.
“The yard’s wide enough for moving-target practice. Li An and I will eliminate anything that gets too close. You two find cover and focus on your shooting.”
The group entered the factory grounds through the front gate.
Broken cardboard boxes, wooden pallets, and overturned delivery trucks were scattered across the open lot, creating perfect makeshift cover.
Every so often, one or two wandering zombies emerged from the warehouses.
Each was picked off from a distance by Lin Qingtang and Lin Shaoan.
Gradually, the father and daughter transitioned from stationary firing to shooting while on the move.
At first, they missed occasionally.
But with every encounter, their aim became steadier, their reactions quicker, and their confidence stronger.
Throughout it all, Rong Yuxuan and Li An guarded both flanks, only stepping in to eliminate zombies that broke through the firing line, leaving plenty of opportunities for the two shooters to gain real combat experience.
Abai never left Lin Qingtang’s side.
From time to time, he growled toward the factory buildings, warning everyone about zombies hiding inside.
More than once, his sharp instincts prevented an ambush before it even happened.
Time passed.
Soon, nearly every wandering zombie in the factory grounds had been cleared.
Resting behind an overturned truck, Lin Qingtang lowered her crossbow and rolled her aching shoulders.
Tiny beads of sweat covered her forehead, but her breathing remained steady.
Lin Shaoan walked over and handed her a bottle of water.
His voice was filled with satisfaction.
“Not bad.”
“You’ve done even better than I expected. A few more practice sessions like this, and you’ll be able to handle a small zombie horde without panicking.”
Lin Qingtang accepted the water and took a sip.
Just as she was about to reply, Abai suddenly exploded into motion.
Every hair on his body stood straight up.
He lunged forward and planted himself firmly in front of her, staring toward Warehouse Number Three deep inside the factory.
A rapid series of savage growls burst from his throat.
Opening his jaws, he unleashed a stream of blazing fire.
Every muscle in his body tensed, ready to pounce at any second.
Rong Yuxuan’s face changed instantly.
Without hesitation, he expanded his psychic senses to their limit, sweeping toward Warehouse Number Three.
A heartbeat later, he shouted sharply.
“Not good!”
“There’s a huge group of zombies inside! They’re heading this way!”
“At least thirty of them!”
“Li An, protect Uncle Lin!”
“Qingtang, find cover, now!”
The moment the words left his mouth, the warehouse’s rolling steel door burst open with a deafening crash.
A black tide of zombies poured out.
Their endless roars echoed through the factory as the stench of rotting flesh swept across the entire compound.
As though they had caught the scent of living humans, they charged forward in a frenzy.
Far more than anyone had anticipated.
Everywhere they looked, gray-green figures surged forward in an endless wave.
Lin Qingtang and Lin Shaoan instantly raised their crossbows.
Bolts flew one after another.
The leading zombies dropped in succession.
But there were simply too many.
For every one that fell, another immediately took its place.
The horde seemed endless.
Father and daughter excelled at long-range combat, but they had almost no close-quarters fighting ability.
Now, surrounded by an overwhelming tide of zombies, they were immediately forced into a desperate situation.
The horde closed in rapidly.
The front ranks were already less than twenty meters away.
Li An swung his steel pipe and charged into the mass of undead.
But no matter how hard he fought, one man couldn’t stop an endless flood.
Electricity erupted from Rong Yuxuan’s fingertips.
Bolts of lightning crashed into the front line of zombies, sending row after row collapsing to the ground.
Yet he couldn’t unleash his full strength.
His psychic senses had to remain spread across the battlefield, constantly watching for hidden threats.
All he could do was slow the horde’s advance.
Then, amid the chaos, a fast-moving zombie suddenly darted around the opposite side of an overturned truck.
It slipped past Rong Yuxuan’s defensive line…
…and lunged straight at the completely exposed Lin Qingtang.
Its black-purple claws gleamed with deadly poison.
Its slime-covered jaws opened wide as it roared and slashed toward her arm.
Lin Shaoan had just fired his last bolt.
There wasn’t enough time to reload.
His face turned deathly pale as he shouted at the top of his lungs,
“Tangtang! Watch out!”
Rong Yuxuan turned just in time to see it.
His pupils shrank violently.
Blood rushed to his head as he threw himself toward Lin Qingtang with everything he had.
But he was too far away.
He couldn’t reach her in time.
The zombie’s razor-sharp claws were now less than half a meter from her arm.