Chapter 19: Level 2 Zombies
When he finally stepped out of the room, Ye Nan felt utterly refreshed. Li Siqi truly deserved her title as the goddess of black stockings; the experience was indescribably exquisite.
Meanwhile, in the room, Li Siqi was washing her stockings. She had initially intended to discard them, but these stockings were expensive—costing several thousand each—and utterly impossible to replace in the post-apocalyptic world. She had no choice but to clean and reuse them. Frustrated, Li Siqi mentally cursed Ye Nan a thousand times over; that detestable man!
Before long, the meal was ready—a table laden with delicious dishes, rich in color, aroma, and flavor. Although Gong Wanru and Yan Ruoliu were wealthy, they often cooked for themselves and were excellent chefs, rivaling professionals. Seeing such a feast, Ye Nan’s appetite was piqued; to enjoy such diverse cuisine in the apocalypse was a rare pleasure.
Ye Nan uncorked a bottle of red wine, pouring a glass for each of the three women. With a smile, he said, “Let’s have a toast—to our new home and a fresh start.”
“To new beginnings,” they all echoed, draining their glasses with spirits high.
“Come, come, eat up,” Ye Nan urged, “Today Gong Jie and Yan Jie worked hard, so eat plenty.”
Blushing, Li Siqi murmured resentfully, “I worked hard too.”
Ye Nan paused, then caught on. “Right, right, you too. Eat more.”
Gong Wanru and Yan Ruoliu exchanged meaningful smiles.
Li Siqi scowled, “Gong Jie, Yan Jie, don’t tease me. You’ll pay for this tonight.”
They understood her meaning perfectly, exchanged a glance, then quickly averted their eyes. For some reason, a strange anticipation stirred within them.
Laughter filled the room as the meal went on.
Afterward, the four retreated to the home theater to watch a romantic film. Ye Nan was indifferent, but the three women watched intently, absorbed.
Suddenly, they all froze simultaneously, as if struck by electricity, tingling all over.
The three quickly realized it was Ye Nan’s electric tentacles—this man was truly reckless.
Ye Nan feigned innocence, “Wives, what’s wrong? Feeling unwell?”
Gong Wanru shot back sharply, “You know very well.”
“Know what? I have no idea.”
“Hmph!” Gong Wanru snorted.
Yan Ruoliu blushed, “How annoying... everyone’s here...”
***
The next morning, Ye Nan rose early. After washing up, he saw the three women still asleep, so he left a note and stepped out alone.
He had gathered quite a bit of food and water yesterday, but it wasn’t enough. He needed more supplies. After all, the interdimensional space inside his Thunder Tower was vast—no matter how much he collected, it would all fit.
His plan for the day was to clear out the convenience stores and supermarkets near the residential complex, then move on to the more distant shopping malls, maximizing his haul.
Ye Nan left the complex and soon entered a supermarket. Opening the portal of his Thunder Tower, he swept all the goods inside, leaving the shelves bare.
Then came the second store, the third…
After half an hour of hard work, he had emptied all the nearby supermarkets and convenience stores. Now it was time to tackle the farther malls.
Since Ye Nan was a Level 2 psychic, as long as he didn’t act recklessly, danger was unlikely. Besides, he was armed with a gun and a crossbow, giving him additional security.
As he moved forward, whenever he encountered Level 1 zombies, he dispatched them with a single sword strike and collected their crystal cores.
Half an hour later, he stood before a shopping plaza.
Passing a security booth, Ye Nan noticed four people inside.
They saw him too. A blond one called out, “Hey, brother, you here to scavenge the mall too?”
“Yes, why?”
“Why not join us? There are too many zombies inside—it's dangerous.”
A portly man, seemingly their leader, added, “Brother, it’s tough to survive alone in this apocalypse. Teamwork is key. How about teaming up with us?”
Ye Nan shook his head, “Sorry, I prefer to be alone.”
“I’m serious about inviting you,” the fat man said. “Being alone is freer, sure, but it’s dangerous. If you get surrounded, you’ll regret it.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t like teams.”
The blond snapped, “Kid, our boss respects you and invited you. Don’t be ungrateful.”
“Xiao Huang, don’t be like that. Everyone has their own will. Since he refuses, we can’t force him, right?” The fat man’s tone was calm, but his eyes gleamed menacingly.
Ye Nan caught the expression but remained composed. “Why don’t you leave me your address? If I change my mind, I’ll come find you.”
“Who do you think you are? You want us to leave our address? Ha! Get lost!” the blond sneered.
With such hostility, Ye Nan turned and left.
The blond asked, “Boss, shall we take him out?”
The fat man smiled darkly, “How many times do I have to say, don’t act rashly. That guy dares to walk the streets alone, he’s no weakling. Maybe he’s a psychic like me. If we provoke him unwisely, we might get hurt.”
“You’re right.” The blond frowned. “So we just let him go?”
The fat man laughed scornfully. “Let him go? Dream on.”
“What do you mean, boss?”
“Remember that Level 2 zombie we met yesterday?”
The blond shuddered. “Of course. We lost three brothers and barely got any supplies, had to flee. What about it?”
“That Level 2 zombie is inside the mall. We want to claim the mall as our base, so we have to kill it. But I’m only Level 1, even with many crystal cores, I can’t beat that thing. Let’s send that guy in to fight it first. When they wear each other down, we swoop in and finish them both off—two birds with one stone.”
“Brilliant!” The blond became excited.
“If I get that Level 2 zombie’s crystal core, I might level up to 2. Then I’ll see who’s my match.”
The blond laughed, revealing yellowed teeth. “When that day comes, we’ll have all the supplies and women we want. Life will be sweet.”
The fat man pointed toward a distance. “Not far from here is a luxury villa area, home to many beauties, including Gong Wanru—the most beautiful woman in Donghai City. If I could have her, living ten years less would be worth it.”
The blond grinned slyly. “If you get her, boss, don’t forget us.”
The fat man clapped him on the shoulder cheerfully. “Don’t worry, line up and wait your turn.”
Mentioning Gong Wanru, all four leered, imagining scenes far from innocent.
***
Meanwhile, Ye Nan entered the mall and immediately sensed something amiss. The goods were neatly arranged, showing little sign of disturbance. Not a single zombie was in sight, which was strange.
When the apocalypse broke out, the mall was operational. Many people should have turned into zombies. How could there be none?
Just as Ye Nan pondered this, a powerful aura locked onto him. Then he heard a furious roar.
Looking up, he saw a massive zombie charging toward him—over two and a half meters tall, like a small mountain. Its bulging muscles, fierce aura, and gray-white eyes made it terrifying.
A Level 2 zombie!
Ye Nan had no doubt. Such a powerful presence could be nothing else.
Now he understood why those four stayed in the security booth, refusing entry. They wanted him to act as a free fighter, taking on the zombie and weakening it, so they'd rush in afterward to take advantage.
Ye Nan wasn’t about to let that happen. A faint smile curved his lips as he formulated a plan, quickly retrieving a vial from the Thunder Tower.
The vial contained fresh blood collected after killing the five security guards.
His Thunder Tower was unique; anything stored inside never spoiled.
The Level 2 zombie lunged with massive hands, each palm bigger than Ye Nan’s head. A direct hit would be fatal—or worse.
Ye Nan dodged and sprinted outside.
The zombie pursued furiously, far faster than Level 1 zombies. If Ye Nan weren’t a psychic, he’d surely be caught.
“This is strong... I don’t know if I can beat it,” Ye Nan thought. Better to flee for now and let those four test the zombie’s strength. Then he’d decide whether to fight.
Soon, Ye Nan reached the security booth. The fat man and his group smiled faintly, watching the Level 2 zombie chase Ye Nan.
“That guy must be a psychic too; otherwise, the zombie would have torn him apart,” the blond said.
The fat man sighed, “Level 2 zombies are terrifying. If your psychic level isn’t 2, fighting one is suicide.”
“Should we take this chance to grab some supplies?” the blond asked.
“No need. I’m a psychic. What’s there to fear?” The fat man shook his head, eyes gleaming. “Getting stronger is the priority. Once I get that Level 2 zombie’s crystal core and reach Level 2, I’ll be unstoppable. Then I’ll consolidate this area, become the true boss, and slowly conquer others—eventually becoming the number one ruler of Donghai City, surrounded by beauties. That’s the life I want.”
The blond admired him, “Boss, you’re brilliant.”
The fat man pointed at Ye Nan in the distance, mocking, “That kid is such a fool, being used without realizing it. A total loser, but if he becomes my stepping stone, at least his life won’t be in vain.”
He laughed heartily.
Suddenly, the blond shuddered and shouted, “Boss, that kid is leading the Level 2 zombie this way!”
The fat man focused and cursed inwardly, “Damn you, Ye Nan! Trying to get me killed!”
“Run!” he shouted, storming out of the booth.
“Let’s go!” The others hurried after him.
Ye Nan was much faster. When he reached them, he opened the vial and doused all four with the fresh blood.
None noticed until they were soaked.
“What the hell did you pour on me?” The fat man was furious. Had the timing been right, he would have killed Ye Nan on the spot.
The blond sniffed and screamed in terror, “Boss, run! That’s fresh blood! Zombies are most sensitive to this smell!”
The fat man’s face turned pale as he sprinted toward an area with fewer zombies.
“Boss, wait for us!” The others chased after him, afraid he would abandon them.
If that happened, none of them would survive.
Soon, the Level 2 zombie, driven mad by the blood scent, roared and abandoned Ye Nan, charging at the four.
With a mighty roar, the zombie swiftly caught up to them.
The fat man’s face darkened. Without hesitation, he unleashed his psychic power, conjuring shards of ice that shot toward the last runner.
The man was struck and collapsed, crying, “Boss, I was loyal to you! Why do this?”
The fat man looked back coldly, “Every man for himself. Qiangzi, rest easy. I’ll take care of your girlfriend.”
“No, no!” The man wailed. “Boss, save me... ah!”
The Level 2 zombie bit down, screams pierced the air, but soon fell silent—the man was dead.
Blood stained the zombie’s mouth, making it even more ferocious as it pursued the remaining three.
The ice slowed the zombie somewhat, creating distance, but not for long.
The blond and another man’s hearts sank. Though sacrifice was inevitable, seeing the fat man so callously offer up his brothers for his own survival unsettled them. When the zombie caught up, would it be their turn next?
The blond whispered to the long-haired man, “Let’s split up. Our survival depends on luck.”
“Agreed,” the long-haired man replied.
The zombie caught up again. The fat man unleashed ice shards toward the blond and the long-haired man.
Panicked, they tried to dodge but were ordinary humans—unable to withstand the attack. Both were struck in the legs, collapsing and bleeding heavily.
The zombie, enraged by the blood, grew even more ferocious.
“Fatso, you bastard! Sacrificing us to save yourself! I was blind to follow you!” the blond cursed.
The long-haired man spat, “You deserve no mercy!”
The fat man showed no shame. “Subordinates are meant to be sacrificed. What use are you otherwise?”
“You!” They were left speechless with rage.
The Level 2 zombie lunged and tore them apart.
“Ah!”
“Ah!”