Chapter 1091: Corpse Emperor Clues 2

Twenty minutes passed.

Lin An listened to the youth's account, his heart sinking slightly.

The youth before him had rich experience and had encountered many zombie tides, but in most cases he simply fled, never investigating the cause of the tide's movement.

According to them, it's like that everywhere in the Qinghai War Zone; you don't know who attracted the zombie tide.

I heard that one gathering place formed because, when a supply‑search team returned, someone urinated in the vehicle; somehow, a small group of zombies followed the smell and, like a rolling snowball, grew into a massive tide by the time it reached the safe zone.

Therefore, they find it hard to determine what exactly causes them to be hit by a zombie tide.

Take the Qing Shan Safe Zone as an example: the zombies blocking the nearby highway were due to an outgoing convoy failing to clean up its "tail," causing the zombies to gather more and more until they couldn't leave even if they wanted to.

"So, you've never encountered any special mutants, have you?"

Lin An asked softly, sketching the youth's described map on the white paper in his hand.

On the small map, everywhere was marked with suspected zombie‑tide points numbering over a million.

Sensing Lin An's faint disappointment, Zhang Qiankun felt uneasy and nervously nodded.

"Sir, that's all I know."

"Maybe the leaders of the other two safe zones know a bit more, though they probably aren't much better off—I saw they've been sending out pleas for help recently, which means they haven't been out for a while either."

"There's nothing we can do; when survivors flock to a safe zone, they inevitably attract zombies. With more people, the smell can't be masked."

His eyes showed disappointment.

Lin An put down his pen, constantly combining the known clues in his mind.

It's a bit tricky..

Should we ask the leaders of the other two safe zones? It probably wouldn't mean much.

Although Zhang Qiankun isn't strong, he has practically fled from the northernmost to the southernmost tip of Qinghai. Survivors in the Qinghai War Zone occasionally share information about zombie‑tide movements, but no one has ever found a mutant capable of commanding them.

Of course, Lin An, having never seen a Corpse Emperor, isn't sure what its form is either.

But one thing he can be certain of is that any mutant the system labels as a Corpse Emperor must possess considerable intelligence.

Especially upon reaching the peak of the Third Stage, mutants of that level already have high intelligence.

If it hides within the zombie tide, finding it would be no easier than looking for a needle in the ocean.

"Captain Lin, what should we do? Should we just run to the next place?"

Knowing Lin An's style, Zhang Tie saw there was no news here and promptly got up.

After nodding, Lin An also had no intention of wasting time here with pleasantries.

Although the Qing Shan Safe Zone appears to need help, even if he stayed to lend a hand it would be pointless; without finding the Corpse Emperor, the entire Qinghai War Zone will be doomed in less than half a month.

Fourth Stage...

The destructive power of a Fourth Stage is already beyond what the current stage can stop; a little carelessness could bring disaster to the whole Huaxia War Zone.

Remember that even in my past life, when the Huaxia War Zone had progressed into its later stage, a single Fourth‑Stage Corpse Emperor was still like a moving natural disaster, destroying many safe zones.

On the other hand, Zhang Qiankun, who had been hesitating about speaking up for rescue, noticed that Lin An had finished asking and already wanted to leave, and he nearly jumped up in anxiety.

In his eyes, the military represented by Lin An was their last hope!

"Colonel Ye!!"

"You're really going to leave?!"

Flustered and not knowing what to say, the youth instinctively reached out to stop Lin An, but the next second he saw Zhang Tie glare at him fiercely.

Stirred by Xiong Hanzi's aura, Zhang Qiankun finally realized what he had done.

He took a deep breath, his face pleading:

"Colonel Ye, didn't the military send you here to rescue us?"

"I know I may not have provided any useful information, but really… could you please report our situation to your superiors?"

"I'm begging you—please, for the sake of all these survivors, help us."

Behind him, the several Second‑Level companions who had accompanied him also hurriedly rose, echoing the plea:

"Colonel Ye! We really can't hold on any longer!"

"Even if you're leaving now, could you at least take our situation's data with you first?"

"We've really run out of food—everyone in this safe zone is about to starve to death!"

As the burly men spoke, they grew frantic, waving their arms and kicking their legs.

"You might not know, but we've been forced to sell our equipment!"

Emotions ran high. As if voicing their grievance, one of the gun‑wielding Awakened Ones among them glared angrily at Lin An:

"If it weren't for these people, our boss would have run away long ago!"

"Look at what kind of life we're living! Does the military really not care whether we live or die?!"

"Are those people out there not Huaxia people either?!"

Looking at the agitated crowd, Lin An furrowed his brow slightly.

He couldn't explain the Corpse Emperor matter to these people, nor would it be meaningful. But upon hearing that this youth leader was actually willing to sell his own gear for food, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

The importance of equipment, for post‑apocalypse survivors, is no less than life itself.

Many have killed their wives and brothers over a single piece of equipment.

To be able to abandon one's own equipment to protect others? Such people are extremely rare; in the apocalypse, they virtually die out by the second year.

Thinking of the safe‑zone‑building mission in the series, Lin An fell silent for a moment, then looked at the youth. Helping them is not impossible, and even absorbing them as a subordinate base of Long An could be done—but not now.

Having thought this through, Lin An spoke calmly:

"Helping you is possible."

"But how would you like to exchange?"

"The military sent me here mainly to resolve some issues. We need to find the abnormal situation in the Qinghai War Zone. I don't have extra time to waste here."

In ten days I'll come again.

Standing to the side, Zhang Tie crossed his arms and spoke directly:

Alright, our Lin Ye boss has spoken. Just stay here peacefully; in ten days we'll naturally help you.

Hehe, by then all problems will be solved.

Realizing Lin An might have recruitment intentions, Zhang Tie bluntly spoke his mind.

However, upon hearing this, several Awakened Ones behind the youth cried out in indignation, taking Lin An's words as mere placation.

Ten days! In ten days we'll all starve to death!

By then this place will become a hell where people eat people! Even if we sell all our equipment, we'd only last seven or eight days! Unless we learn from that bunch of perverted cannibals, how could we hold out?

Zhang Tie furrowed his brows, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes as he listened to the other's words.

Damn it, his words make it sound like we ought to help him!

Where isn't there a food shortage? In the Huaxia war zone, when aren't people starving to death? If Lin Dui doesn't deal with the Corpse Emperor, you won't just avoid starvation—you'll get eaten!

Just as he was about to retort angrily, Lin An beside him suddenly changed expression.

Beep, received Corpse Emperor information.

Please quickly investigate the abnormality in the Qinghai war zone and eliminate the Corpse Emperor.

He reacted extremely quickly.

Upon hearing the hint from the Savior System, Lin An instantly realized that the information the other party inadvertently revealed was actually related to the Corpse Emperor!

With a solemn expression, Lin An directly questioned the burly man who had just spoken out angrily.

Cannibalism? Where are people eating people?

Seeing Lin An suddenly direct his question at him, the burly man stared blankly, then had no idea what he had just said.

Feeling the strong oppressive aura Lin An had unintentionally released, he couldn't help but stammer nervously:

East... east side.

Over to the east, a group of people have set up some sort of religion; they capture people to eat...

The next second.

Beep, Corpse Emperor task refreshed.

Please, after making contact with the 【Divine Grace】 Sect, investigate the situation.

Evil cult? Corpse Emperor?

Lin An blinked slightly, looking at the updated task information, feeling it somewhat absurd.