18 Zombie Experience Card 18

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South of the abandoned city lay a mountain. Tian Yi stood at the city’s edge, gazing out to see thick grass and wild, lush plants growing recklessly on the mountain. The once smooth roads, built by humans for vehicles, now bore numerous terrifying cracks. Whether caused by climate change or damage from mutated flora and fauna, the roads were overrun with grass. Looking into the distance, there was an eerie, profound silence rarely touched by human footsteps. Once humanity vanished, nature’s power would gradually reclaim the steel and concrete of the city.

Tian Yi casually plucked a weed growing on the wall of an abandoned building, confirming it was just an ordinary weed. Even after the apocalypse, these plants retained vigorous life, without evolving into anything dangerously mutated. He felt a tinge of worry. To ensure the climbing ivy thrived while still providing water for the burdock, relying solely on his numerous urban wells was insufficient. Moreover, digging wells wasn't something he could do just anywhere at random.

Thus, Tian Yi paused his scavenging and tidying of the climbing ivy’s territory to check possible locations for water storage. Whether within safe reach or risky places beyond the territory, all were nearly empty. After some searching, he discovered on the local map a river running along the mountain south of the city. He decided to focus on that river.

He knew well that in this post-apocalyptic world, any place with water was dangerous. But no matter the risk, he had to see for himself. Hence, he found himself there.

The mountain’s condition was even more complicated than he had imagined. Though careful and physically fit enough to handle many dangers, unexpected threats still emerged once inside. These threats might not be fatal but caused significant trouble. Finding the river directly was unrealistic; he had to venture deeper step by step.

After some thought on how to proceed more efficiently under current conditions, Tian Yi descended from the abandoned building and began pushing his bicycle back. The little orange cat, who hadn’t followed him around for a while, reappeared in the bicycle’s basket, curled tightly with only its ears visible, clearly sulking. Tian Yi knew the cat was upset because he had separated it from the muscular rabbit to prevent fights.

Unbothered by the cat’s silent anger, Tian Yi reached out to stroke its head before riding through the deserted city.

Thanks to his guidance and the rabbits’ efforts, many burdock plants had appeared from the climbing ivy’s territory to the city’s southern edge. The burdock flourished largely because this area had few mutated plants or animals. Previously, only ordinary zombies wandered here.

Riding westward, Tian Yi spotted a dense cluster of burdock near the climbing ivy’s territory outskirts—where Zhen Qian, Zhao Su, and Zhao Su’s mother were currently resting.

Seven days earlier, Zhen Qian and Zhao Su had approached him separately, expressing a desire to leave temporarily. Tian Yi could see their fear of him. Even if they fled and never returned, it wouldn’t surprise him. Yet, on the fifth day, they returned in a sorry state—Zhen Qian carrying Zhao Su’s mother and dragging an unconscious Zhao Su, shouting for help. Without Tian Yi’s intervention, all three might have perished.

There wasn’t much Tian Yi could do; they were simply lucky.

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After taking some roughly appropriate medicine from Tian Yi, they managed to pull through. The only noticeable change was Zhao Su’s usually stubborn expression relaxing significantly while guarding his mother.

Tian Yi was here mostly to check in, much like his daily visits to see the rabbits running around the climbing ivy’s territory. But Zhen Qian was clearly waiting for him. The moment he saw Tian Yi, he emerged from his room. The surrounding burdocks perked up, all turning to watch him. Only after Tian Yi waved did Zhen Qian dare walk among the burdocks.

Compared to yesterday, Zhen Qian still looked miserable but much more spirited. He grinned and pulled out a bag of seeds—the rice seeds he had promised Tian Yi he would retrieve.

Tian Yi examined the bag carefully, confirming they were indeed rice seeds, not drought-resistant varieties. Zhen Qian shrank back slightly. “This is all I found.”

Tian Yi stared at him for a long moment, knowing Zhen Qian was truthful but felt even more desperate for water.

Still, Tian Yi was interested in the rice seeds and said nothing more.

Zhen Qian sighed softly as Tian Yi placed the seeds in his pocket. Then, hesitating, he called out, “Sir…”

So far, neither Zhen Qian nor Zhao Su knew Tian Yi’s real name. Before retrieving supplies from the safe zone, they called him “Boss.” Now that they had returned, they addressed him as “Sir.”

“What is it?” Tian Yi asked.

Zhen Qian hesitated, then said, “I’m a bit worried…”

He truly was. Due to the deaths of Greenfur and the destruction of their convoy, he and Zhao Su had lingered here many days. Returning to the safe zone, unsurprisingly, brought trouble from Greenfur’s former gangsters and interference from other convoys over interests.

Despite their caution, they were targeted as soon as they re-entered the city, especially since Zhao Su’s frail mother made them vulnerable.

Zhen Qian didn’t detail all they had endured, only saying that some people wouldn’t let them go anytime soon. “Maybe those people will come here,” he added anxiously, not wanting Tian Yi to misunderstand them.

After saying this, Zhen Qian looked at Tian Yi with nervous eyes. Although Tian Yi appeared reasonable, non-lethal, and logical in their interactions, he was not human—and no one knew what he truly was.

Zhen Qian preferred not to anger him.

Fortunately, Tian Yi nodded after a brief thought and waved goodbye, showing no sign of anger.

Only after Tian Yi’s figure vanished from sight did Zhen Qian breathe a sigh of relief. Since “Sir” knew, things should be fine, he thought.

...

Contrary to Zhen Qian’s assumptions, Tian Yi detected signs of other people the very day Zhen Qian and Zhao Su returned—people who were alive and capable of operating vehicles, not zombies or mutated creatures.

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They trailed behind Zhen Qian and Zhao Su, becoming cautious after noticing abnormalities in the abandoned city. They didn’t approach recklessly but withdrew.

The next day, several others roamed nearby, dispatching some wandering zombies.

At first, Tian Yi didn’t know where these people came from or their intentions. After hearing Zhen Qian’s account, however, it seemed likely these newcomers were connected to Zhen Qian and Zhao Su.

Perhaps they would appear again today?

As he pondered this, Tian Yi, still on his bicycle, suddenly felt an ominous premonition—a sense of danger close at hand that demanded immediate evasion. Yet, he couldn’t pinpoint the source.

Only a faint, sharp sound swiftly approached his ears.

The instant he heard it, Tian Yi’s eyes caught sight of its origin—a bullet fired from a distant crossbow.

As recognition dawned, his body instinctively twisted to evade. But something was faster.

The little orange cat, curled in the bicycle basket, suddenly let out an astonishingly loud, penetrating scream—pure anger.

The climbing ivy’s tendrils, already in motion, reached Tian Yi’s side in an instant, swiftly enveloping him and pulling him aside.

It all happened in a blink.

The bullet missed as Tian Yi was whisked back to the base of the climbing ivy. At the same time, other branches began rapidly extending outward.

Tian Yi had no chance to resist.

Though wrapped in the ivy’s embrace, he could feel an indescribable fury.

The little orange cat was furious.

The climbing ivy was furious.

Nai Nai, hidden in the shadows, had vanished somewhere, and the rabbits on patrol were nearby.

“Meow—ow!” The little cat cried again, leaping from the fallen bicycle basket and sprinting toward the bullet’s origin.

The climbing ivy’s tendrils stretched faster, followed closely by Nai Nai.

The cat’s voice seemed almost magical, empowering the ivy.

It boldly extended its territory.

Seeing they couldn’t outrun the ivy, the rabbits hopped aboard, catching a ride.

Such a commotion was impossible for Zhen Qian and the others resting inside to ignore.

But unlike before, when the atmosphere was calm, Zhen Qian pushed the door open only to quickly shut it again.

Previously, opening the door meant the burdocks merely stared, possibly attacking him. Now, any sudden movement might provoke more than just injury.

Zhen Qian watched the scene anxiously as Zhao Su joined him.

Anyone witnessing this would be terrified.

“Why is this happening all of a sudden?” Zhao Su asked.

“I think I heard gunfire just now,” Zhen Qian replied.