CHAPTER 262: 9.8

"Hey, hey, hey, you!"

Seeing Jiang Jiamian kill the evolved zombie so effortlessly and drag Ling Zhuang away, Xue Fang instinctively called out to him.

Jiang Jiamian raised an eyebrow. "I’ve already killed the second-level zombie, it is not fair to make me do all the work, right? Besides, why use a butcher knife to kill a chicken? I don’t want to waste energy. I’ll leave the rest to you."

"He’s right!"

Xiao Jinfeng raised his hand and blasted a zombie with a bolt of lightning.

The horde was closing in. Xue Fang had no time to argue and joined the fight like the others.

Meanwhile, Jiang Jiamian yanked Ling Zhuang’s arm and disappeared into the deeper darkness of the mall.

Even if the others wanted to say something, they were too tied up with the zombies. It was impossible to break free the way Jiang Jiamian did, let alone while dragging someone along.

Some zombies gave chase, but they couldn’t keep up.

Jiang Jiamian didn’t let go of Ling Zhuang’s arm until they reached a vent at the back of the mall. Only then did he stop.

"You brought me here on purpose. What do you want to say?" Ling Zhuang looked at him, hearing the zombies drawing closer from behind. They hadn’t shaken them off yet.

Jiang Jiamian grinned wickedly. "Nothing."

He took a light step back, arms folded.

From the shadows behind him came the sound of heavy footsteps. Zombies surged toward them, claws and fangs aimed straight at Ling Zhuang’s head!

Ling Zhuang’s pupils contracted. His hands, hanging loosely by his sides, clenched.

Jiang Jiamian thought he would strike.

If not now, he would be dead.

But despite his tensed hands, Ling Zhuang didn’t move. Instead, his eyes shut, as if in shock.

Damn it!

Jiang Jiamian cursed inwardly. He had no choice. A flash of silver cut down the two nearest zombies!

Then he spun, slicing through the rest, seven, eight in all, until the floor was littered with corpses.

He retracted his blade and glared at Ling Zhuang, still standing like a statue. "You wanna die, or what!?"

Ling Zhuang opened his eyes, looking innocent and confused. "I don’t have any powers. In danger like this, I can only wait to die."

Jiang Jiamian: "..."

Ha.

Still pretending.

"But..." Ling Zhuang suddenly smiled, eyes locked onto Jiang Jiamian, "I’m curious. Why were they only attacking me? It’s like they didn’t even see you."

Jiang Jiamian: "..."

Shit. Too careless.

He’d ordered the attack on impulse, trying to test Ling Zhuang. But those brainless zombies couldn’t follow complicated instructions. They simply went for Ling Zhuang.

And him? Even if they understood his commands, his level of superiority probably triggered their instinctive fear.

That’s why he always avoided fighting ordinary zombies in front of others. If they hesitated or acted strange around him, it would raise suspicion.

Ling Zhuang took a step closer, "Why don’t you answer? Can’t you? Or... have you really forgotten me?" He smiled faintly. "You’re hiding your identity, aren’t you?"

It was as if he had no memory of him at all.

And yet, he still remembered his name, Jiang Jiamian?

Not to mention those unexplainable movements, the silver sword, and the space ability.

It didn’t make any sense and yet, there it was.

What the hell happened to this test subject after escaping the lab?

How could he have changed so much?

He was truly, deeply curious...

Jiang Jiamian felt a chill as Ling Zhuang stepped closer. It crawled down his spine. His body wanted to recoil. But he forced himself to stay still, meeting Ling Zhuang’s eyes, "So we knew each other? Hah. Maybe. I had an accident. Might’ve lost my memory."

Ling Zhuang’s lips curled, "Of course you lost your memory. You’re dead. Dead by my hand. What kind of dead man remembers anything?"

Jiang Jiamian: "!!!"

What the actual hell?!

"But now you’re alive again."

Ling Zhuang slowly raised a hand, ice-cold fingers brushing Jiang Jiamian’s cheek, "You really are my most perfect work. And now... you’ve brought me even more surprises."

Jiang Jiamian’s face went numb.

Ling Zhuang didn’t care. He gently wrapped his arms around him in a bone-chilling embrace. "You’re like the world’s finest masterpiece. Especially your eyes, your personality. So much more beautiful than when you stared at me in terror. No comparison."

Before, he was just a trembling fool.

Now, he was intoxicating.

Jiang Jiamian, frozen in his arms, felt only cold climbing up his spine.

This guy’s a fucking psycho!

Every word, every move was steeped in twisted madness.

"Are you scared?"

Ling Zhuang stroked the back of his head. "Or... did you remember something?"

"Oh, I remembered something." Jiang Jiamian said, quickly relaxing.

Just a pervert. Nothing new.

"Oh?" Ling Zhuang’s fingers still gently combed through his hair. "What exactly?"

"I realized... since you know I’m not human, shouldn’t you be afraid I’ll kill you to silence you?" Jiang Jiamian tilted his head. "There’s no one around. I could kill you right now. Then no one could ever reveal my true identity."

"You won’t." Ling Zhuang replied calmly. "You just saved me. That proves you won’t kill me."

Jiang Jiamian: "..."

"Now, tell me. Where did your space powers and sword come from?"

Ling Zhuang finally let go, straightening his glasses with elegance.

If not for the earlier insanity, Jiang Jiamian might’ve doubted it even happened.

"Don’t you know me?"

Jiang Jiamian smirked. "Then guess."

Ling Zhuang: "..."

He paused, then threw his head back in laughter. "You’re fun now. I love it!"

This was far better than the scared little lab rat from before.

And this time, he’d never let him run again!

As Ling Zhuang sighed with manic delight, Jiang Jiamian’s mouth twitched. "Hey. Are you crazy?"

Ling Zhuang fixed his collar with exaggerated care. "How rude. I’m a reserved, polite person. Calling someone crazy is simply impolite."

Jiang Jiamian: "..."

What kind of face-changing freak is he dealing with?!

"Ahem." Ling Zhuang coughed lightly and gave a professional smile. "Since you don’t want to answer, I won’t press. But one thing, your body has problems. Only by staying with me can they be fixed. Otherwise, you’ll start rotting in a year or two. Slowly, not all at once."

Jiang Jiamian: "..."

How the hell are you saying something so messed up in the same tone people order coffee!?

Ling Zhuang wasn’t in a rush. He just stood there with his hands folded like a waiter waiting for an order.

Jiang Jiamian stared at him for a long moment before forcing a grin, "Wow, what a coincidence. I came to find you. How could I possibly leave you now? What nonsense are you talking about, eh?"