Chaoyang was a capable fighter, doing his best to help fend off the attacks, but it made little difference. The Golden Retriever had locked onto Feng Moxi as its sole target. It pursued her relentlessly, refusing to stop until one of them was dead.
Step by step, Feng Moxi was forced farther away.
The monsters gathering around them grew more numerous by the second. Even Xiao Lizi’s group was beginning to struggle. Left with no choice, Sima Yue disengaged from the Golden Retriever and turned to intercept the advancing horde.
The remaining three bodyguards quickly finished off the mutated dogs and concentrated on holding back the ever-growing swarm of monsters.
Feng Moxi’s expression became increasingly grave.
Watching the Golden Retriever become faster and more frenzied, she suddenly called out to Chaoyang.
“Let’s make a deal.”
The enormous dog had just slammed Chaoyang aside with a powerful sweep of its body before resuming its relentless pursuit of the young woman.
Even he couldn’t help feeling exasperated.
This wasn’t the time to enjoy the spectacle anymore.
He couldn’t understand it.
What on earth had the Golden Retriever taken a liking to? Why was it so obsessed with chasing this girl?
“I’m listening.”
“I’ll lure it away. In return, protect my teammates.”
Chaoyang might seem like an annoying troublemaker who enjoyed stirring up chaos, but for some reason, Feng Moxi trusted him.
He wasn’t a hypocrite.
If he gave his word, he would keep it.
Something this good?
He found it hard to believe.
“Heh… You want me to bury your body afterward?”
“I hope you’ll be able to find it…”
Chaoyang somehow produced another Tang saber from who-knows-where and tossed it toward her.
“You’ve been swinging that busted iron rod all this time. It’s practically bent out of shape already.”
“Thanks.”
Feng Moxi caught the saber effortlessly and gave it a few practice swings.
It definitely felt better than the iron rod.
Although…
It seemed a little too light for her liking.
Without another word, she feinted, then shot off to the right like an arrow released from a bow.
As expected…
The Golden Retriever immediately gave chase.
“Hey! I haven’t even decided whether I agree yet…”
The only response he received was the beast’s furious howls echoing farther and farther into the distance.
…
Wan Wanxin and her companions had finally managed to hide themselves well away from the battlefield.
Yet the terrifying howls were somehow growing closer instead of farther away.
The group huddled inside a sealed cellar.
Even their breathing became shallow as they desperately prayed the Golden Retriever wouldn’t notice them.
Meanwhile, Feng Moxi had already chosen her destination.
At the very end of the street on the right stood a small clothing shop.
She desperately needed a change of clothes.
As long as she moved fast enough…
She could shake off the Golden Retriever and come back alone later to gather supplies at her leisure.
Countless monsters wandered through the streets.
Feng Moxi dashed past them like a gust of wind.
Behind her came the enraged Golden Retriever, its furious howls echoing through the neighborhood.
Before the monsters even realized what had happened…
Both figures had already disappeared into the distance.
Beyond the row of shops lay a sprawling residential district.
Houses of every shape and size stood scattered in disorder.
Collapsed buildings, abandoned vehicles, and heaps of rubble created countless obstacles.
From time to time, monsters emerged from between them.
None of it slowed Feng Moxi down.
Chaoyang managed to chase after her through two alleyways before countless monsters blocked his path.
By the time he fought them off, all he could see was chaos unfolding in the distance.
Two figures raced across the neighborhood at unbelievable speed.
They disappeared farther and farther away.
“Tch.”
“That girl’s got legs like the wind.”
“She runs way too fast.”
Despite his complaint, the excitement in his eyes only grew brighter as he watched until both figures vanished completely.
Feng Moxi sprinted through rows of ruined houses with the Golden Retriever relentlessly behind her.
Soon they reached what had once been an outdoor fitness area.
The surroundings suddenly opened into a wide clearing.
There were even more monsters here.
The moment both figures stopped…
The monsters roared and rushed toward them from every direction.
Feng Moxi retreated toward a metal railing.
A flash of light appeared in her hand.
The enormous broken sword materialized once again.
The blade let out a low metallic hum filled with overwhelming pressure.
The Golden Retriever sensed the danger immediately.
Its entire body tensed.
It crouched low, ready to pounce.
Feng Moxi rotated her wrist.
The broken sword swept through the air.
Every monster charging toward her was instantly cut down.
Seeing the attack, the Golden Retriever twisted its head at the last possible moment.
The blade narrowly missed its neck.
Enraged, the beast exploded with fury.
Its deafening roar shook the surroundings.
Its golden fur stood completely on end.
The crimson glow in its eyes intensified.
Its claws became deadly blades.
Combined with its incredible speed, it unleashed more than a dozen lightning-fast strikes toward Feng Moxi in rapid succession.
Now armed with the broken sword, Feng Moxi’s combat strength rose dramatically.
She swung the blade with surging internal energy.
The sword flashed.
One of the Golden Retriever’s claws was cleanly severed.
“ROOOAR!”
The beast cried out in agony.
Realizing it was no longer a match for her, it immediately turned to flee.
Feng Moxi leaped into the air.
Her body soared several meters high.
The broken sword descended in a storm of murderous sword energy.
The Golden Retriever had nowhere left to escape.
With a mournful howl, it collapsed to the ground.
Black blood sprayed from its mouth.
The surrounding monsters were caught in the attack as well, falling one after another.
Even on the verge of death, the Golden Retriever desperately tried to crawl away.
Feng Moxi ended it with a single strike to the head.
Its skull burst apart.
A crimson-red crystal core rolled out onto the ground.
A Level Two crystal core.
Just as she’d expected.
Returning now…
Would be a little too soon.
She swiftly dealt with the remaining monsters nearby before running toward a nearby apartment building.
With a powerful leap, she grabbed hold of a fire escape pipe and climbed upward in one smooth motion.
One kick shattered a fourth-floor window.
She climbed inside.
“Heh… Heh…”
The monsters gathering below let out hoarse growls.
More and more of them crowded beneath the building, stretching their hands upward instinctively as they stared toward the broken window.
Even after Feng Moxi disappeared from sight, they continued roaring beneath the building.
The apartment was empty.
A thin layer of dust covered the furniture, evidence that the owners had fled long ago.
Feng Moxi collected two bags of rice and half a sack of flour from the kitchen.
The meat and vegetables left inside the refrigerator had spoiled after the power outage, filling the apartment with the stench of decay.
Apart from that…
The entire home felt unnaturally cold.
She opened the rear window.
Outside lay another narrow alley.
Several monsters wandered aimlessly through it.
The apocalypse had begun during the day, so many people had been caught outside.
Dark bloodstains scattered throughout the alley made the place feel even more horrifying.
Feng Moxi dropped back down to the ground and continued forward.
Any monster that approached was swiftly cut down.
“Heh…”
“Hehhh…”
The strange, raspy breathing behind her made her scalp tingle.
She immediately ducked.
Without even turning around, she slashed backward with the broken sword.
The monster attempting to ambush her was killed instantly.
More monsters rushed over at the sound.
Feng Moxi leaped upward again, climbing another building with practiced ease.
She continued moving from rooftop to rooftop until she gradually approached the area near the small bridge.
Only then did she finally slow down.
Just as she reached for the door of another apartment, intending to rest for a while…
A strong odor of decay mixed with a faint scent of fresh blood drifted into her nose.
The buildings she had crossed earlier all contained monsters to varying degrees.
But this time…
What caught her attention wasn’t a monster.
It was the faint sound of breathing.
She quietly walked toward it.
The moment she pushed open the door…
The smell of blood and rot became even stronger.
Yet the entire room remained deathly silent.
Furniture had been overturned everywhere.
Household belongings lay scattered across the floor.
The room was a complete mess.
Even so…
The oppressive silence was far more terrifying than the chaos itself.