Chapter 41: Disguise

Wen Ya gripped the axe handle tightly with both hands, the other end pressing against Wang Jianguo's neck.

Disgusting trash.

Unlike Zhang Youwei, who is still young and ignorant.

She was all too familiar with the lecherous gaze of this fat old man before her.

She exerted force with her wrist, and the sharp axe blade instantly carved a blood mark on Director Wang's neck.

"Now, immediately!"

"Three seconds—if you don't lower the rope, I'll kill you!"

Wen Ya's gaze was icy; if Wang Jianguo made the slightest move, she would strike without hesitation.

By the time she heard Zhang Tie's voice coming downstairs, it was already too late—Wang Jianguo's gang had already taken everyone hostage.

Seeing that everyone had already given up on rescuing people, she reacted instantly and hid behind the door.

The people here were merely ordinary folks, purely frightened by Wang Jianguo.

As long as we control him, there's still hope of making this crowd put down the rope.

Fortunately, Wang Jianguo suddenly grew lustful, and because he wasn't watching his surroundings, she found an opportunity.

Director Wang's heart jolted; he could sense Wen Ya's killing intent behind him.

Damn it, how could I forget that there are still Lin An's people here!

He forced a calm expression, trying to intimidate and persuade Wen Ya.

"Little miss, don't move around."

"Killing people is illegal!"

"Shut up!"

Wen Ya flicked her wrist, and the axe blade instantly tore a wound across Director Wang's neck.

"Don't move!"

Wang Jianguo felt a pang of panic; he never expected that Wen Ya, who looked like a refined lady, would act so decisively.

"I'll release it!"

"I'll release it!"

The events happened too suddenly, and Director Wang's gang momentarily fell into panic and disarray.

"What are you staring at? Quickly let go of the rope!"

The voice did not come from Director Wang, but from Yu Shihao, who was hiding behind the crowd, having stood aside observing all along.

He stepped out from behind the crowd, his face full of indignation.

"No matter how you say it, your lives are owed to Brother Lin!"

"Whether Brother Lin is strong or not, infection is a separate matter! Besides, not knowing gratitude makes humans no different from beasts!"

He spoke righteously and sternly, then rushed straight into the crowd that had seized the rope and yanked it back in one motion.

Unlike his outward show of generosity and fervor, inside he was actually a bit uneasy.

Since the crowd began arguing, he has been hiding in a corner, secretly scheming.

Pulling Zhang Tie up carries great risk, after all he might be infected.

But unlike the others, who only saw this risk, he also discovered a tremendous benefit hidden within the risk!

Seek wealth amidst danger!

These past two days he's thought it through clearly—without strength, early death or late death, it's all the same.

He, who often climbed onto the rooftop to look around when idle, had long since discovered that the whole city was overrun with zombies, not a trace of an army in sight.

He didn't believe a single word of Wang Jianguo's.

Now that Wen Ya has suddenly launched an attack, rescuing the two of them has become a foregone conclusion.

Then he might as well curry favor, pretending to side with Wen Ya.

Once Zhang Tie and Lin An are rescued, he would likely obtain news of becoming an Awakened One from them.

As long as he possessed that kind of power, what would zombies amount to?

Moreover.

A flicker of greed flashed in Yu Shihao's eyes.

He noticed that when Zhang Tie returned, Lin An had an extra glove on his hand, plus the mysterious ring he'd been wearing before!

The two had risked their lives to storm the hospital—one unconscious, the other seriously injured—yet they came back with something extra. The answer is obvious.

Would someone who risks such great danger to obtain something be lacking?

He, who does not know the inside information of the Awakened Ones, in his view,

Zhang Tie was already burly; after turning into a bear, his great strength is something he can understand.

But what about Lin An? He looks frail and weak, yet his jade-like skin could make girls envious.

Thus, the ring and glove are very likely the source of Lin An's power!

Wen Ya looked at him doubtfully, her grip on the axe handle still tight.

She had no impression of Yu Shihao.

The man before her was so passionate and righteous, wanting to persuade everyone to rescue Lin An and Zhang Tie, seeming like a decent person.

But she always felt something was off.

If he truly wanted to save them, why didn't he speak up earlier?

Unlike Wen Ya's vigilance.

Zhang Youwei looked at Yu Shihao with a grateful face, convinced he was a good person.

"Whoosh-"

The rope was thrown down; under the grateful gaze of Second Uncle, Yu Shihao clung tightly to the rope and shouted at the truck where Zhang Tie was hiding:

"Brother Zhang! Hurry up and climb! The rope has been lowered!"

In the truck's rear compartment, Zhang Tie heard the words and his face lit up with joy.

Although I don't know why everyone delayed so long, at least the rope has been lowered.

He turned his head and glanced at the pallid Lin An, his eyes full of determination.

"Team Leader Lin, hold on!"

"Clang!"

He summoned his last breath, slammed his full force into the sealed door, and the Corpse Horde outside was shoved aside, briefly creating a gap.

"Charge!"

With a furious roar, Zhang Tie hoisted Lin An onto his back and madly rushed toward the inn.

The Corpse Horde swarmed like ants; having lost all combat strength, he despaired to find he could not break out at all.

Unless he abandoned Lin An and the strange bandage-wrapped girl.

The Corpse Snake's spine flailed, but it could only protect a small clear space around him.

"Bear Transformation!"

Zhang Tie gave a bitter laugh; his mental strength was long exhausted, and he dimly realized that activating the skill again would exact an excruciating price.

"Roar!"

The black bear reappeared, though it was not as burly and massive as before.

Deprived of mental strength, Zhang Tie felt as if he had aged ten years; the once-hard fur covering his body was now sparse and miserable-looking.

"Bang!"

The giant bear burst out of the encirclement, its massive body smashing the zombies along the way.

"Brother Zhang! Hold tight to the rope—I'll pull you up right now."

Yu Shihao's face showed concern as he gestured for the people behind him to exert force together.

"One, two, three!"

"Lift!"

"Roar!"

The Corpse Horde howled; Zhang Tie strained, gripping the thick hemp rope with his wrists and desperately climbing upward.

"Boom."

A heavy object landed.

He first exerted all his strength to hurl Lin An and the bandage-wrapped girl up to the second floor, then he himself climbed up with difficulty.

Beneath his feet, the Corpse Horde howled; dense, rotting hands stretched toward the second floor like tangled seaweed.

The crowd panicked; after pulling Zhang Tie up, they hastily piled debris to block the gap.

As if not seeing the zombies would give them a sense of safety.

"Brother!"

"Lin An!"

Wen Ya saw Lin An unconscious and rushed over; You Wei, tears streaming like pear blossoms in the rain, ran toward Zhang Tie.

Before Wen Ya rushed over, she gave Director Wang a vicious glare, then kicked him hard in the abdomen.

"Trash!"

She never let go of the fire axe in her hand; a pure and lovely girl dragging a half‑human‑tall axe looked rather peculiar.

"Quick… give Brother Lin water and medicine!"

"The medicine can save…"

"He was… bitten by a zombie…"

Zhang Tie, his mind hazy, instinctively warned Wen Ya, then his eyes went black and he fainted.

Upon hearing Zhang Tie's words, everyone instinctively stepped back.

Although Zhang Tie hadn't finished speaking, they also guessed that Lin An was definitely infected.

Speculation and confirmation are two different things.

Everyone stared with complex emotions at Lin An held in Wen Ya's arms; many looked fearful and dared not approach even a step.

Yu Shihao brought over a cup of water with an anxious expression, then crouched beside Wen Ya.

"Quick, listen to Brother Zhang—feed him the medicine!"

His voice was urgent, not feigned.

While administering the medicine, he covertly touched Lin An's dangling right hand with his left hand.

Unnoticed, his heart pounded wildly and his eyes filled with horror.