Rotting Land: Survive-Chapter 381 - 379: The Death of Xiao Mei (9)

For Zhao Huilong, the sudden rustling was all too familiar.

During his days of "confinement" at the City Management Bureau, he was always accompanied by these sounds.

The Black Shadow gradually became clearer, swaying its body as it slowly emerged from the shade of the trees, just as a flash of lightning streaked across the sky.

"KU-cha"

The dazzling white light instantly illuminated the forest, rendering the face of the Black Shadow eerily pale.

"Ah~ Ah~ Zo... Zombies!" His tongue stumbled as if numb with anesthesia. Though Zhao Huilong had experienced the brutal breakout battle at the City Management Bureau’s main gate, he had played a mere bystander, having no experience in killing foes.

Let alone the fact that he had stayed hunkered down behind the high walls, claiming to be "recovering."

Thus, it was easy to understand the psychological fear he now felt towards zombies.

Without hesitation, Zhao Huilong turned to run, even discarding the only weapon he had, a soldier’s shovel, simply to increase his escape speed slightly—an epitome of his desperation and helplessness.

Perhaps feeling pity for the young man, or perhaps the heavens desired to add to the thrill; either way, just as the chase between man and zombies was set to begin in earnest, thunder rumbled from the horizon.

Roaring thunder, like tempestuous waves, shook the earth’s creatures wave after wave.

Zhao Huilong ran for his life. He dared not look back, not even having the courage to pause for a breath; he only ran with his head down.

Soon, in his vision, crystal water droplets scattered and became dense in an instant, ultimately gathering into silver torrents, pounding fiercely on the parched ground.

The route that had been "stable" moments ago, influenced by Wei Dazhuang’s engine, now suddenly seemed "lively".

The swarm of zombies enclosing from all sides only compounded Zhao Huilong’s existing fear and tension.

He desperately tried to run faster, but his legs, previously injured from heavy blows, severely hampered his speed.

Even so, it seemed the heavens felt he hadn’t been punished enough.

When Zhao Huilong tried to brute force his way through two converging zombies, he was too anxious and tripped over his own feet.

Adding insult to injury, as he instinctively tried to get up from the ground, his chaotic thoughts and the slick surface made his efforts to rise futile.

Seeing their prey fallen, the approaching zombies became exceptionally excited, roaring skyward before pouncing on Zhao Huilong.

"No! Stay away! Get! Get away!" Zhao Huilong frantically waved his hands before him, straining desperately to halt the two beasts advancing upon him.

But zombies are beasts; they neither understand nor heed the meaning of your words.

Even if they comprehended, their bloodthirsty nature would never let them pass up prey within reach.

As the zombies drew nearer with every step, Zhao Huilong became numb; he gazed hopelessly with wide eyes, as all his past experiences flashed through his mind like a movie.

From early poverty, through middle humiliation, to recent "soaring success," Zhao Huilong seriously reviewed his past for the first time.

And with this review, he realized for the first time that he was wrong!!

Indeed! He was wrong; his past self despised the world’s injustices so deeply; he had vowed countless times that if he ever rose to power, he would help those at the bottom, leading them out of despair to reshape their lives.

But what did he actually do when he became that so-called "man above men"?

To this, Zhao Huilong had no words.

As the zombies’ faces loomed larger in his eyes, he knew his end was near; he closed his eyes indifferently, waiting quietly for death as if in atonement.

One second, two seconds, finally, what was meant to come did come: the zombie’s heavy body landed squarely on Zhao Huilong’s head.

It turns out death feels like this, Zhao Huilong felt coldness creeping across his body, yet faintly sensed a trickle of warmth slipping from his head, he instinctively wiped it—a sticky, dense residue, and...

Feeling odd, Zhao Huilong subconsciously opened his eyes, yet the darkness he expected wasn’t there; rather...

A stunned 0.01 second, just as Zhao Huilong gawked at the black blood on his hand, a voice equally filled with shock emerged from the rain: "Zhao Huilong!?"

Instinctively stunned, Zhao Huilong’s first thought was that Black and White Impermanence had come for him; he rose intending to flee, but before he could act, a large hand seized him: "You? Why are you here?"

Flabbergasted! Stunned! When Zhao Huilong saw the true face of his captor, he involuntarily exclaimed: "Zhao... Zhao Yunhai!!" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Indeed, standing before Zhao Huilong wasn’t anyone else, but Zhao Yunhai, Captain of the third squad.

They were out to execute a mission to survey building plans, and as they passed through, saw someone seemingly being chased by zombies in the rain, hence rushed over.

Unexpectedly, the person they inadvertently saved was the deserter, Zhao Huilong.

No doubt, as thoughts of the latter’s arrogant visage in the monitoring display came rushing back, Zhao Yunhai’s anger flared: "Zhao Huilong, Zhao Huilong~ Who would have thought we’d run into each other here! Speak, what are you doing here? Where are the others?"

"Well~" Zhao Huilong’s eyes darted around as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

He wanted to confess his mistake, but thought the other wouldn’t believe him, and having barely escaped death, his smoldering desire for revenge rekindled slightly.

So after much deliberation, he twisted the facts: "Uncle Zhao! Calm down first! I’m alone here! No one else! I came here with Wei Dazhuang, that bastard ambushed me, leaving me like this..."

A shameless tale later, Zhao Huilong without batting an eye painted Wei Dazhuang as a nefarious traitor who betrayed friends and sought to harm his allies.

While he portrayed himself as a valiant hero, enduring humiliation, infiltrating the enemy ranks, and biding time for his moment.

All these good and bad claims were by his own telling, and what would Zhao Yunhai’s reaction be hearing Zhao Huilong’s slanderous words?

To this, Zhao Yunhai fell into a deep contemplation...(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)