Chapter 576: I Really Need It, Please! ===GLOSSARY=== [{

"This is… the one you mentioned before, your sword?" Zhang Su examined it and chuckled: "Not bad, you've got some skill in drawing."

Kiku Sakura nodded slightly: "Yes, this is the tachi passed down by the Kiku clan… according to current classification standards, its size is closer to an odachi—blade length one hundred forty-four centimeters, total length one hundred eighty-two centimeters."

The standard for an odachi is a blade longer than one hundred fifty centimeters, with total length reaching a staggering two hundred centimeters—but Kiku Ichi-gō was forged in an extremely ancient era, when no such complex classifications existed; it was made entirely to the wielder's specifications.

"One hundred eighty-two centimeters—that's one point eight two meters, this tall."

Zhang Su raised his hand to gesture, since he himself stood one point eight five meters tall—meaning Kiku Ichi-gō reached his eye level. He frowned even more: "Are you sure you measured right? How could you even draw such a long blade? This isn't practical…"

As he spoke, Zhang Su awkwardly mimed drawing the blade, his expression odd—he felt if he tried using it, the blade would get stuck in the scabbard, or worse, he'd fling the scabbard away—cool, but ridiculous.

"Of course it's fine!"

Kiku Sakura's face twisted into an odd expression, as if hearing an absurd question, then she explained: "It's not actually that tall—the blade has curvature. If stood upright on the ground, it would be this height."

She confidently gestured a height—about one point seven meters—slightly taller than herself.

"Alright."

Zhang Su dropped the issue of length, frowning at the pencil sketch of Kiku Ichi-gō on the paper, then raised an eyebrow: "This sword's called Kiku Ichi-gō—is it your family's heirloom?"

"Yes!" Kiku Sakura nodded. "Forged during the reign of the fiftieth emperor, Emperor Kanmu, in 805—your side would be… Tang Shunzong, Yongzhen Year One."

"Say that again?"

Zhang Su was startled—he'd assumed the weapon had been passed down for a couple hundred years, but this was barely a fraction of that?

"That's what our family records say—I don't know if it's true," Kiku Sakura shrugged. "I didn't believe it as a child, but gradually I came to accept it. Still, I don't expect others to believe it."

"Alright, forget it…" Zhang Su shook the paper in his hand. "You know I met a veteran blacksmith out there? He wants to reforging a new blade."

"Reforging? No, no, no…"

Kiku Sakura waved her hands frantically. "I'm asking you to help me find Kiku Ichi-gō."

"Huh?" Zhang Su looked confused. "Find it? In this environment, how?"

All planned outposts had been consolidated to Tianma Island due to the zombies' increased strength—going out to search for a tachi now? That's insane. "Ask the survivors—maybe someone knows."

Kiku Sakura pointed toward the village.

"Oh, I see… Then no problem. I thought you meant you wanted to go out searching yourself… One more question—when and where did you lose this tachi?"

Zhang Su folded the sketch and tucked it into his pocket, asking for details.

"Registered at the checkpoint, stored at customs—I'd already completed the paperwork and was about to retrieve it when the disaster struck…"

Kiku Sakura pinched her temple, exasperated. Raised on an island nation, she'd endured countless natural disasters and understood acts of God—so even though the weapon was as precious as life, she hadn't risked searching for it.

Not risking it didn't mean giving up. The desire to find Kiku Ichi-gō had always lingered inside her. She'd tried before, but always returned empty-handed.

Now that so many people had arrived at the camp, she thought she might as well ask around—maybe someone had seen it. Most importantly, she was confident: such a unique weapon, if anyone had seen it, they'd never forget.

Zhang Su understood. "So according to you, the tachi should be in the Shanhai Zone. Fine, I'll ask around. But… it's been four months already. Why now?"

Kiku Sakura shook her head gravely. "The zombies have grown stronger again. This weapon is no longer enough to handle sudden situations."

She drew out her slender steel rod and shook it, her eyes tinged with quiet resignation. "Yeah…" Zhang Su felt a heaviness at his chest upon hearing her mention the zombies. "What about reforging a new one? I met the old blacksmith who made my weapons before—he's incredibly skilled."

"I really need a tachi right now. If materials are available, please have him forge me a similar odachi! Please!"

Kiku Sakura made a serious plea. Kiku Ichi-gō had irreplaceable qualities, and its forging techniques were lost—but under current conditions, she didn't insist on perfection. As long as it worked…

"Materials aren't a problem. Write me a more detailed specification—I'll hand it to the blacksmith. It'll take some time. Consider this your payment for helping me earlier!"

Zhang Su smiled.

"I'm deeply grateful." Kiku Sakura felt this payment carried immense weight. She stepped back and bowed deeply.

"Alright, alright—what was it you brought back? Where is it?"

Zhang Su asked about the liquefied gas zombie—he'd be heading to the lab soon and could take it along.

"At Maple Leaf. Follow me."

Kiku Sakura pointed to her guesthouse.

"Damn, you hid it in your own place? You're something else…"

Zhang Su shook his head, smiling—he figured only Kiku Sakura could pull off something so bizarre.

"Shh, quiet—Xiao Ling doesn't know…"

The two walked toward Maple Leaf Guesthouse, a small dog trotting after them, wagging its tail.

Along the way, they drew many glances. The two strongest fighters of the Yanluo Corps—man and woman—walked together. Though clearly not a couple, their aura was unmistakably distinct, and the little dog trailing behind was naturally ignored.

Soon they reached Maple Leaf Guesthouse. Haoyun dashed off toward the hillside—human tasks bored him.

Yi Xiao Ling had just returned home and was checking the survival rate of the grafted seedlings near the heater when the door opening startled her.

"Brother Zhang, you're here? Uh… come in and sit?"

Yi Xiao Ling stood awkwardly by the door, like a shy young wife greeting a guest.

Zhang Su saw her fidgeting hands and laughed: "You two are becoming more like a real couple—you manage the home, she handles the outside. Good, good."

"Ah… really? Hehehe."

Yi Xiao Ling froze at his words, unsure how to respond, offering a forced smile.

"Xiao Ling, I'm just here with Brother Zhang to pick something up—he's leaving right away. Go inside."

Kiku Sakura smiled gently for once, waving them off—she didn't want Yi Xiao Ling to see the horrifying zombie corpse, not because she feared she'd be scared, but because she feared she'd scold them: who brings a mutated zombie's body into their own home? Such bad luck…

"Mm-hmm, you two go ahead. I'll go inside."

Yi Xiao Ling turned and stepped in, pushing open the bedroom door beside her, intending to sneak a peek at what they were taking. But as she reached the window, she heard a soft thud—Kiku Sakura had shut the minivan's door and was about to close the courtyard gate—while Zhang Su had vanished.

"No way…"

From turning around to reaching the bedroom window took less than ten seconds—already done? Too fast! (End of chapter)