Yun Zhuan was taken aback by his sudden sharpness. He spoke up weakly, “I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t want you to face any danger. Besides, I have an ability now; I can definitely protect myself. You don’t need to worry.”
Lin Chuansen listened from the side. Although he didn’t want his son to take risks, this whole plan had been Lin Po’s idea in the first place. Moreover, the people of Xiping Village had nothing to do with Yun Zhuan; Lin Chuansen naturally couldn’t let the boy go off on his own to handle the village’s problems.
“Stop arguing. Both of you go together,” Lin Chuansen interjected. “Take the car. The broadcast room isn’t far from here, so there shouldn’t be major issues on the road. Look out for each other. I’ll stay home and take care of your mother.”
Since Lin’s father had spoken, Yun Zhuan said no more. He glanced at Lin Po, who was taking keys from a drawer. Lin Po’s bent figure looked somewhat thin; perhaps due to his recent illness, he had lost quite a bit of weight. Yun Zhuan knew he couldn’t stop him. Even if he didn’t take Lin Po along now, knowing Lin Po’s personality, the boy would probably sneak out and follow him anyway. It was better to keep him right under his nose.
The three of them went downstairs together. Lin Po drove the truck into the courtyard first, then told Lin Chuansen to lock the doors and go upstairs. As for the courtyard gate, it couldn’t stop much anyway, so they just pulled it shut.
Once Yun Zhuan was in the car and buckled up, Lin Po immediately ignited the engine and floored the accelerator. The sudden momentum jerked Yun Zhuan back against his seat.
“Why are you driving so wildly all of a sudden? Are you angry?” Yun Zhuan asked.
Lin Po remained silent. He didn’t want to speak to Yun Zhuan at the moment. Although he knew Yun Zhuan meant well, he wanted to be a partner who fought alongside him. If he were constantly protected, the distance between them would only grow wider.
A Wood-type (Earth-related) ability was different from a Metal-type; its offensive power wasn’t as inherent. In his previous life, Lin Po had no mentor; he had survived purely through wit and a bit of luck. Metal-type abilities, however, were highly sought after in the apocalypse, second only to Psychic-types. They were human weapons, prioritized by survival bases for spirit crystals and resources.
If Lin Po didn’t choose to improve, Yun Zhuan might not be able to protect him in the long run. Even worse, Lin Po might become a burden—something he refused to let happen. In this life, with his parents and Yun Zhuan by his side, the regrets of the past were gone. He had to work harder to elevate himself.
Plus, he had his “Golden Finger” space. Currently, besides planting and storage, he hadn’t explored other uses for it, which was another difference from his previous life.
As Lin Po drove in silence, Yun Zhuan was also deep in thought. His reason for wanting Lin Po to stay behind was simple: Lin Po wasn’t infected and didn’t have an ability yet, so Yun Zhuan wanted him to stay safe. But he realized Lin Po didn’t think that way. Lin Po was a man like a straight, tall poplar tree; he didn’t want to be shielded—he wanted to fight side-by-side.
Though they didn’t speak, their thoughts had miraculously synchronized.
They soon reached their destination. Lin Po parked the car and surveyed the area. There were no houses near the broadcast room, and no one was on duty at night, so they encountered no people or zombies on the way.
The building was quiet and likely safe. Lin Po pulled the key, signaling Yun Zhuan to exit the vehicle.
They moved quietly, iron bars in hand. While Yun Zhuan scanned the surroundings, he kept a close eye on Lin Po.
The broadcast room door was secured with an old-fashioned lock. Yun Zhuan glanced at it, manipulated the metal to melt into a thin strand, and snapped it with his hands.
Lin Po gave him a thumbs-up. Yun Zhuan smiled and led the way inside.
They quickly found the room with the microphone. Lin Po flipped the power switch; having worked at a school radio station, he was familiar with the equipment.
He cleared his throat and read from the notes on his phone into the mic.
“Everyone, pay attention to family members who are acting strangely. If they become aggressive, do not let them bite you. Do not let their bodily fluids touch any wounds. Prepare food and water, lock your doors and windows, and find tools for self-defense.”
“Some of you may notice changes in yourselves. Do not panic; try to use those changes. They will give you strength. To those of us surviving, let’s work together. I hope we all make it through.”
After repeating the broadcast three times, Yun Zhuan used a computer to record Lin Po’s voice and set it to play automatically for the next half hour. This ensured that those who missed it would hear it and also used the sound to lure zombies away.
There were three loudspeakers in Xiping Village: one near the broadcast room and two closer to the village entrance. According to Lin Po’s memory, the nearest residents were far enough away that the noise wouldn’t endanger them.
“However,” Yun Zhuan noted, “it might affect our way back.”
The loudspeaker by the road would undoubtedly attract zombies to gather there. The village roads were narrow and their engine was loud; it would be hard for zombies not to notice them.
“We have a car; escaping isn’t hard,” Lin Po said. “But we can’t lead them back to where we live.”
While these zombies moved with twisted limbs, they weren’t slow. They didn’t tire and would pursue relentlessly unless killed.
Yun Zhuan suggested, “We’ll drive over and see. If there aren’t many, we’ll take them down. If there’s a horde, we run—they can’t outrun a car.”
Lin Po nodded. “I agree. The zombies in Xiping Village are like time bombs. If we don’t kill some before they form a massive force, we might not win later. We’ll have to fight them eventually.”
Most of the young, able-bodied people in Xiping Village worked elsewhere, leaving behind the elderly and children. Among the remaining youth, women outnumbered men. Due to physical differences, women generally had less raw strength than men. If they didn’t pick off the zombies now while they were scattered, the situation would become much harder.
Having reached a consensus, Lin Po and Yun Zhuan packed their bags, ready for a fight.
“Wait a moment,” Yun Zhuan stopped him before they left.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ll prepare some armor for you first. I’m still limited in how much metal I can manipulate, but this is doable.”
Yun Zhuan hurried into a room and dragged out a cardboard box filled with stainless steel cups—likely office supplies left over from a purchase.
“Lin Po, give me your arm.”
Yun Zhuan melted the cups into a mass and then flattened them into metal sheets. The stainless steel was like dough in his hands. He wrapped the metal around Lin Po’s forearms, shaping them into bracers.
“How is it? Can you move?”
Lin Po tested his arms. The metal didn’t cover the joints, and Yun Zhuan had left enough space and smoothed the edges so they wouldn’t scratch his skin.
Lin Po swung his iron bar. “Besides being a bit heavy, no complaints!” he joked.
Yun Zhuan rubbed his nose. “I’m still a bit clumsy with my ability. I’ll get better!”
Lin Po was naturally supportive. He knew that later in the apocalypse, some Metal-type users could forge divine weapons that cut through zombies like watermelons. He was looking forward to Yun Zhuan making one for him.
The first half of the return trip was uneventful. As they neared the loudspeaker, Lin Po cracked the window. He sniffed the air; a nauseating, foul stench was already present.
“They’re here.”
Lin Po’s voice was soft, but Yun Zhuan’s nerves tightened instantly. Regardless of the fight, this was the start of a destiny they might never escape.
The car crept forward. It was dark, so Lin Po switched to high beams. Several strange shadows were swaying in front of the loudspeaker. They had no human thought left, drawn only by the sound, wandering aimlessly because they couldn’t find the source.
The sound of the car startled them. Several tried to move toward it. Lin Po counted only five.
He looked at Yun Zhuan and nodded.
“Let’s go!”
Lin Po accelerated and performed a sharp drift as he reached them. The rear of the truck swept three zombies to the ground. Lin Po reversed and ran over them. As soon as the car stopped, Yun Zhuan hopped out with a machete, quickly finishing off the struggling zombies on the ground.
There were still two more under the loudspeaker. Their reactions seemed slow, only turning to lunge toward them after hearing the commotion of the fight.
“Lin Po, look out!”
One zombie lunged at Lin Po. He was in a bad position, boxed in by the truck with limited room to move.
Compared to the newly infected zombie in the courtyard, this one gave him a true sense of reality. Despite being exhausted by the endless cycle of hunting and being hunted in his previous life, at this moment, his blood seemed to boil with a surge of combat energy.
That’s it. No more running away. Face it head-on, Lin Po!
He gripped the iron bar tightly. From countless encounters in the apocalypse, he knew exactly where a zombie’s weakness lay. To him, an unevolved zombie moved as if in slow motion. He crouched, assuming the perfect attacking stance. The moment the zombie lunged, he swung the iron bar with full force, striking it directly in the neck—their weakest point.
With a loud thud, the zombie’s neck bent at a ninety-degree angle. It stopped mid-motion, its body standing dazed and uncontrolled for a split second before Lin Po gave it a light shove, and it crashed to the ground.