CHAPTER 116: THE ESCAPE.

Lan Qisheng: "Sian, are you sure we should take the mountain road?"

Sian: "We must avoid populated areas—they’re the most dangerous right now. The best way is to head east toward the mountain. Once there, we can start thinking about a plan to clear the island."

While the mountain loomed just a short ten-minute drive away, the group had swelled to a sizable throng, their nervous energy palpable in the air. The thought of finding a bus seemed futile, as the roads lay choked with a relentless horde of zombies, their grotesque forms stumbling aimlessly. Navigating through such a deadly gauntlet rendered the prospect of driving nearly impossible, forcing them to confront the grim reality of their situation.

And so, under Sian’s lead, the group of nearly twenty people headed toward the mountain.

---

Somewhere in City B

"Sir, Plan A was successful. The Omega virus has been released on the designated island."

"Oh? Excellent. Finally, the plan I’ve been preparing for years is about to come to fruition. Soon, I’ll rule the world. Hahahaha!"

The subordinate had grown accustomed to the unpredictable tides of his boss’s temperament—one moment, he would erupt into fits of maniacal laughter that echoed eerily in the office, and the next, he would be consumed by an explosive rage that sent shivers down everyone’s spine. But now, as thoughts of the virus swirled ominously in his mind, he realized that silence was no longer an option.

"Sir, it’s just... I mean, if the virus spreads from the island to the mainland, the whole world could be destroyed in a very short time—"

Suddenly, the subordinate’s head was torn off, flying through the air, leaving a crimson fountain behind.

The other subordinates bowed their heads in quiet resignation, their expressions reflecting a mix of unease and resignation. The tense atmosphere in the room hung heavy after the incident, making it clear that what had just transpired was deemed too trivial or contentious for discussion.

Everyone knew: if you so much as blinked at the wrong moment, you might be next. Their boss’s temper was infamous—he could kill ten people in a single day when in a bad mood.

"Does anyone else have a comment on my plan? Hmm?"

The man seated on the golden throne smiled faintly.

As the darkness shifted around him, it revealed a stunningly handsome man.

Anyone who laid eyes on him would think the same thing: "Too handsome to be real."

With captivating light green eyes that sparkled like emeralds and tousled soft brown hair that framed his face, he had an air about him that hinted at being a foreigner in a land far removed. His gentle features radiated an aura of warmth and compassion, suggesting he might possess the kindest heart imaginable. Yet, the gruesome headless corpse sprawled at his feet served as an unyielding reminder, shattering any illusions of innocence and kindness that his appearance might evoke.

"No, sir," a chorus of men and women answered in unison.

"Good. Now, forget the island. Leave it alone and focus on the next phase. Oh—and contact Mary. Tell her to relocate the minister. Even though we’ve gotten what we needed from him, he might still be useful."

"Understood, sir."

Again, the subordinates answered as one.

"I’m in a good mood today, so go to the lab and take your enhancement doses."

"Thank you, sir!"

Even though their response sounded robotic, the excitement in their voices was real.

---

Meanwhile, Wanwan, who had been eating ice cream with her friends earlier, began to notice odd behavior from people around her.

The recent traumatic events had clearly toughened her. Her expression and actions showed a maturity that hadn’t been there before.

When she saw how strangely people were acting, she immediately grabbed her friend’s wrist and rushed out of the mall.

But outside, she was met with the horrifying sight of zombies roaming the streets. Within minutes, she saw people eating each other alive.

Her friend, Li Ling, stood frozen in shock.

"Li Ling! Wake up! Get a grip! We need to run now or we’ll end up like them!" Wanwan screamed, pointing at the infected people being torn apart.

"But... but... this... look at that..."

Li Ling was clearly in shock, unable to form a single coherent sentence.

Well, that’s understandable.

Wanwan sighed. (If this had happened before, I probably would’ve been paralyzed with fear too. But now...)

She had to thank that twisted killer—if it weren’t for the life-or-death experience she had gone through back then, she wouldn’t be this calm now.

"Li Ling, we have to survive and reunite with our families, no matter the cost. Let’s find a safe place first and call home. We need to see if this outbreak is happening everywhere or just here."

Finally, Li Ling responded, nodding. Even though she was terrified, she didn’t want to die—not far from her family.

Wanwan wasn’t stupid. She knew this wasn’t something they could report to the police. People were turning into zombies right before her eyes. There was no guarantee the police stations were still safe.

As they ran, hand in hand, she remembered the mountain where Sian had once saved her.

That mountain had been a nightmare, but now, it seemed like the safest place, especially since it was mostly uninhabited.

(I hope I can see him again. I’d feel safer if he were nearby.)

---

Sian and his group continued running, choosing less-traveled paths, weaving around the city, and avoiding the main roads in hopes of steering clear of those terrifying creatures.

Still, they encountered small groups of zombies at every turn. Even some civilians trying to flee ended up following their group.

The two men beside Sian hadn’t forgotten their professions—they tried to protect as many people as possible.

"Behind you!" Lan Qisheng shouted. Without responding, Sian flipped twice in the air and drove his dagger into a zombie’s head, dropping it in an instant.

At first, when Lan Qisheng, Jiao Liangchen, and Sian started fighting the zombies, the people with them turned pale. One even accused them of being murderers and cursed them.

But when Sian shot him a cold look and said, "If we’re monsters and killers, then an angel like you shouldn’t walk with us," then kicked him out of the group, everyone fell silent.

To be honest, humans aren’t that complicated. They’ll go wherever there’s a benefit.

Even if Sian had actually killed someone—as long as it didn’t affect them and he could protect them—they didn’t really mind.

At least not until their own lives were safe. After that? Who knows.

When Lan Qisheng revealed his badge and military ID, some assumed the three men were government agents, and their fear eased a little.

"Their numbers are growing fast, even though we’re far from the city center," Lan Qisheng said, lowering his blue eyes to inspect a corpse.

Though he killed these creatures, he still felt uneasy.

After all, they still looked somewhat human—with blood-stained mouths and eerie white eyes. It felt like killing innocent people.

"Don’t think too much," Sian said, almost reading his thoughts. "We have no other choice. We can’t stop them with our fists while protecting everyone. You did the right thing—they’re no longer human. Ending their suffering is mercy."

Sian’s outfit was clearly bothering him—not made for running or fighting. His ornate shirt and tight pants restricted his movement, but he had no time to change clothes while running for his life.

A flicker of frustration passed through his amber eyes.

"I’m fine," Lan Qisheng said. He stepped forward, gathered Sian’s messy white-silver hair, and tied it into a bun with a hairband from his pocket.

Why did he have that? Obviously, for his beloved, who always forgot where his own hair ties were.

"Do you really think heading to the mountain without even grabbing some food is a good idea?" Jiao Liangchen asked as they rested for ten minutes in a cleared area.

"It’s fine. There are stores near the mountain. The food there should last us a while. I don’t plan to stay on this cursed island for long anyway."

"But... didn’t you see those shops last time we were at the mountain? Why are you asking? Has our secret agent developed early-onset dementia?" Sian’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Not at all. Just asking."

"Tsk. Boring."

Jiao Liangchen turned away, no longer speaking to Sian. Of course, Sian didn’t notice the man’s flushed ears.

He wasn’t blushing exactly—but a deep sense of shame washed over him. When he had seen the two of them huddled together earlier, laughter dancing in their eyes, a pang of longing struck him. He couldn’t help but wish those bright, vibrant eyes would turn toward him and that those inviting lips would curve into a smile meant solely for him.

That overwhelming feeling was exactly why he blurted out such a foolish question.

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Erato san says hello dear Angels.

How are you doing today?

Am an honest author so. I’ll go right to the point....

I didn’t like today’s Chapter 😭

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