"Zhanye, that's the Rank 3 zombie hidden amongst the common undead!" As Huo Zaiyuan yells, a coin talisman appears in his hand. Snapping his wrist, he sends it shooting towards the retreating zombie.
Following the wooden coin a split-second later is a bullet saturated with spiritual energy. That evolved is able to sense a large sphere of power heading unerringly for it and dodges swiftly to the side, only for a sniper round to lodge deep in its skull.
An ear-piercing shriek of agony rings out. As it fades, all the common zombies abruptly freezes as one. The mont the Rank 3 zombie burns to ashes, the rest of the undead scatters, orderly formations falling apart.
"HahahaLong Hongjian, Long Zhanye, and a little Taoist priest who excels in the Taoist Arts. This ti, it's just a little welcoming gift. After all, we have many opportunities to et again in the future. This apocalypse is our Scorcerer cult's Heaven on Earth! Hahaha"
Egotistical laughter booms from their surroundings, but try as they might, it is impossible to pin down where it originates from.
What is more horrifying is the scattered zombies below too, laughs along with the unknown sorcerer as they begin to wander off.
"Isn't there only one high-level zombie amongst the horde?" Long Hongjian asks Long Zhanye.
"Who knowsbut Commander Long, presently, shouldn't the question be is this "Sorcerers cult" the ones controlling these undead?" Shouldering the sniper rifle, Long Zhanye glares sternly at his younger cousin as the latter displays his once-in-a-blue-moon foolishness.
"Eh" The corners of Long Hongjian's mouth draws downwards as he realises his attention has been drawn to the wrong topic.
"That "Sorcerer's cult" is the very organisation lurking in our safe zone?!" Ah Shou cries out in surprise.
"No matter if it's before or after the apocalypse, there will always be these sort of people appearing," Ah Gong comnts.
"Indeed," Huo Zaiyuan agrees.
"Perhaps this zombie apocalypse is the result of human nature's greed." Long Zhanye opens his mouth slowly before addressing everyone present. "Go back to sleep. It seems we'll be left alone in peace for the rest of the night."
Just as Long Zhanye predicted, the latter half of the night passes peacefully. Sleeping past daybreak into the later hours of the morning, they have a quick breakfast before heading back to B City's safe zone.
"Zhanye, are you really not going to co into the base? Although grandfather can be pretty long-winded, I know he misses you. Before, when second grandfather reported you ran all the way to Z City and constantly lost contact, he was extrely worried." Long Hongjian and his team get off the Humr before the gates of the safe zone. Rare is the occasion when he doesn't butt heads with Long Zhanye.
"I originally planned to visit you yesterday. But we've t already, so that's that. Tell elder grandfather that I am fine and thanks for his concern. If circumstancespermit, I will co to B City and visit him. Little Yuan and I still have a mission to complete. I want to settle the issue of this "Sorcerer's cult" and the black talisman quickly," Long Zhanye answers. "Be more careful next ti you co out for assignnts. You wouldn't be so lucky each ti you are t with danger."
"Un. Be careful on your missions too. A few days ago, a rcenary team returned from the northern district. The circumstances there is not too bad, and they discovered a few signs indicating survivors. Grandfather is already planning to send rescue teams into the northern district," Long Hongjian says.
"Un, then we'll leave first."
The Humr reverses, then speeds off to B City's northern district.
~~~
B City's safe zone
Ink-dark hair flutters softly in the breeze as a youth clad in white military camouflage attire stares serenely into the distance, remaining motionless for a very long ti.
"What is it?" A lanky male figure approaches, an arms draping around the youth's shoulders.
Slowly retrieving his gaze from the distant horizon, the youngster shakes his head. "There was a rather familiar feeling flaring from that direction just now. But it disappeared."
"It's just a feeling, not necessarily real. Now that we're experiencing the end of the world, wanting to find a single person is easier said than done." A flash of displeasure crosses the man's eyes before a soft smile replaces it. "Let's go back, hmm? My subordinates will continue searching and find them, dead or alive."
"They wouldn't be dead."
"Yes, yes, yes. Definitely not dead." The lanky man consoles even if his heart murmurs in resentnt.
Hmph, I hope that person is t with a grave incident. That way you would stop pinning away all day and night.
~~~
The Humr continues heading northwards towards OO Street. During the short journey, they encounter quite a few zombies, but manage to avoid being surrounded.
It doesn't take long before they enter OO Street. As Long Hongjian ntioned before, there are indeed still survivors here. As the vehicle drives through the street, a couple of faces erge from a few units in high-buildings, each one of them bearing sickly-complexions, no more than skin on bones. If the safe zone doesn't hurry in dispatching rescue squads, these people will starve to death soon if they aren't turned into zombies first.
Resting an elbow on the window sill, Huo Zaiyuan stares out the window when a figure flashes past his line of sight.
"Stop the car!"
Long Zhanye doesn't startle at the sudden shout, instead stepping on the brake right away. "What's the matter?"
"Reverse a little. There's soone there," Huo Zaiyuan answers as he points out the window.
Although the car was moving very quickly, Huo Zaiyuan knows he saw a short, hunchbacked elderly man standing in the doorway of the house, with the front door wide openand waving at him. The zombies shuffling past completely ignores the human standing right there, creating a very strange sight.
"Soone? I don't see anyone ah." Putting the Humr in reverse, Long Zhanye scans the area Huo Zaiyuan pointed to. "Are you sure you aren't seeing things due to exhaustion?"
"Stop the car here," Huo Zaiyuan instructs instead of replying.
Because the elderis now standing before the open door, beckoning him with a smile.
"I really don't see anything ah." Straining his eyes and sweeping the area once more, Long Zhanye turns to Huo Zaiyuan in puzzlent.
"That person is a master. Let's go take a look." Huo Zaiyuan smiles and gets down from the vehicle. Closing the door, he walks over to the driver's side and takes Long Zhanye's wrist in hand, leading him over to the elder.
When the two approaches, Long Zhanye stares in amazent as the scene changes before his very eyes. The semi-demolished building is replaced by a simple house, and before the wide-open entrance stands an old man with a big smile on his face.
"Greetings, senior."
Amongst Taoist practitioners, the older one is, the naturally more knowledgeable about the Taoist Arts they are, hence, elders are to be honoured. A junior must address their elders as seniors as a show of respect. To do otherwise is rude. As soone who has only started on the Taoist path not too long ago, Huo Zaiyuan's agre experience is incomparable to this elder's wealth of knowledge. Not to ntion, in terms of age, this old man before him is many tis his senior. Thus, it's only right to address him as such.
"I dare not accept the honour of being addressed as senior. Hehethis old man has been in this spiritual house for decades, and at last, the pure cultivated body I have been waiting for has arrived." The elder chuckles softly as he invites the pair into his house.
"Pure cultivated body?" Huo Zaiyuan hesitates for a second even if he knows the old man is talking about him. "May senior please elaborate. You were waiting for ?"
"Correct. This old man is precisely waiting for you. To return sothing." After he ensures the two of them are seated, the elderly man walks into the dim room and reappears swiftly, wrinkled hands deferentially holding an ancient wooden case asuring about a ter in length.
"This is"
"A Taoist's most treasured possession. I'm returning it to you. Consider it handing an item back to its rightful owner," The eldersays. "A fated eting in a world drowning in chaos. Please be careful and stay alert. This old man's wish has been fulfilled, so the spiritual house should close its doors now. Please leave."
"Ehhang on!"
However, even before Huo Zaiyuan can finish his startled exclamation, the old man wordlessly vanishes right in front of their eyes. This person is definitely not a common Taoist practitioner.
"Very remarkable," Long Zhanye murmurs. To be able to vanish so easily before an extrely alert person such as himself, this elder's skills is very outstanding.
"Please leave." The old man's voice drifts out of the tightly closed doors before gradually fading.
Glancing at the house one last ti, Huo Zaiyuan hugs the wooden box to his chest and leaves. As their feet step out of the threshold, the house disappears, replaced once more by the semi-demolished image.
Returning to the Humr, Huo Zaiyuan stares at the case, slender fingers running over the top of it. For so reason, a sense of familiarity rises as soon as his skin touch the wood.
Although this box looks ancient, the intricate and delicate carving of a bamboo forest decorating it has no signs of wear, remaining vivid and lifelike.
"Open it and see that it is," Long Zhanye suggests.
"Un."
Flipping the lid open, the interior is filled with a layer of yellow gold brocade silk, rays of faint silver light emitting from the fine fabric.
~~~
The Humr's engine roars to life, driving towards the address written on the piece of paper.
"XX Avenue is up ahead," Huo Zaiyuan says, glancing down to confirm.
"Un." Long Zhanye turns the steering wheel, sending the vehicle into a sudden, sharp turn that knocks two zombies off their feet before running over them. Entering another smaller road, the car stops in front of a high-rise building.
The entire block is deadly silent and a pile of junk occupies the space before the front gates. However, no broken bodies or dismbered corpses can be seen.
"Let's go."
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