Chapter Twenty-Two: Zella in Panic

Ye Hai watched as Qiao was thrown off Zela time and again, only to instantly climb back onto Zela’s back, and he couldn’t help but sigh, “It seems the T-virus mutation worked quite well this time…”

“But, the one you’re riding is none other than the infamous Black Hand Zela. If you don’t want to start a war between corpse hunters and slavers, you’d better find somewhere else to sit!”

Hearing Ye Hai’s words, Qiao was immediately intrigued. In a flash, he appeared in front of Zela, a mischievous glint in his eye as he studied him, murmuring, “So, you’re Zela?”

“One of the new taboo figures?”

“I don’t see what’s so special about you! You’re not as ruthless as the arms dealer ‘Firelock’ Laken, nor as devious as the energy dealer ‘Viper’ Hukong, and you’re certainly not as formidable as the food baron ‘Glutton’ Bell!”

“I’m honestly curious how you managed to make it onto the taboo list.”

Though Zela very much wanted to retort with a bold “by living off others,” it seemed Qiao was not familiar with the rumors circulating in the black market. So Zela refrained from exposing his own scars. Yet, he couldn’t help but ask, “Compared to your boss, the zombie trafficker ‘Mist’ Crow, how do I measure up?”

Qiao burst out laughing, glanced at Ye Hai, and asked, “How do you know this dimwit?”

“Someone actually dares to compare himself to the boss?”

Ye Hai shrugged. “Mr. Black Hand and his men broke into my cozy little nest, pointed guns at me, and… wanted to ‘make friends’!”

Qiao gave Zela a peculiar look, then turned back to Ye Hai. “You’re actually this patient? Didn’t kill anyone?”

Ye Hai replied helplessly, “You know how hard it is to clean blood from the floors. I’d planned to feed them to the zombies the next day. But during our little chat, I got interested in certain things…”

“Plus, Mr. Black Hand brought me a great gift, so…”

With that, Ye Hai slipped an arm around the docile Lianna at his side.

After hearing their conversation, Zela felt cold sweat trickle down his back. The two men he’d brought along were also shivering. They realized now they’d already danced with death at the gates of hell.

Having witnessed the power Ye Hai wielded, none of them dared doubt a single word. They understood: if Ye Hai had wished, none of them would have left his villa alive that day.

Qiao’s eyes lit up at Ye Hai’s words. In the next instant, he darted up to Lianna, his wrinkled old face nearly pressed to hers.

Lianna couldn’t help swallowing nervously as she sized up Ye Hai’s oddball, unpredictable friend.

“She’s certainly attractive, but over the past decade, we’ve seen girls even prettier than her. Yet you never spared them an ounce of compassion—in fact, you personally killed a few…”

“In all these years, I’ve never seen a woman by your side. I always thought you invited me to live with you for some improper reason… which is why I kept my distance!”

Ye Hai’s eye twitched at Qiao’s rambling nonsense, wishing he could smack his friend—though not with words.

Oblivious to Ye Hai’s murderous glare, Qiao went on theatrically, “So what magical power does this beautiful maiden possess, that she could ‘straighten’ you out and make you fall in love so quickly?”

“Is this the power of great love?”

Qiao’s ridiculous chatter made Lianna blush scarlet.

Ye Hai looked at Qiao, whose face was almost pressed to Lianna’s, and smiled. “Carrier of the original Queen Ant virus…”

“Surprised? Didn’t expect that, did you?”

Qiao’s face instantly turned ashen. Terrified, he scrambled away from Lianna, nearly tripping over himself in his haste.

Still reeling, Qiao stared at Lianna’s pretty face, then at Ye Hai’s wicked grin, and shrieked, “Brother! I once hauled you out of a pile of zombies! Even if you don’t repay me, you can’t stab me in the back!”

For the first time, Lianna learned that the solution Zela had injected into her was the “original Queen Ant virus.” She didn’t know how rare or precious it was, but Qiao’s reaction made it clear—it was something truly terrifying, enough to make even the powerful corpse hunter Qiao, who toyed with Zela, treat her with utmost wariness.

Lianna turned to Qiao and said, “Qiao, Mr. Zela has taken my family. If you can help me get them back, I might just remember your kindness.”

Ye Hai was about to speak when Qiao suddenly vanished again. The combination of predator speed and the mutations unique to Zombie Star had granted Qiao an ability rivaling a sixth-stage mutant—a pleasant surprise.

He reappeared, viciously grabbing Zela by the collar. Zela’s sidearm appeared in Qiao’s hand, which he then shoved into Zela’s mouth in various ways.

“Dear ‘Black Hand’ Zela, I have a deal to discuss with you!”

“The stakes: your life in my hand…”

“And her family’s lives in yours…”

“I sincerely hope that, in the spirit of mutual benefit and harmonious development, we can reach an agreement and advance our respective causes together, taking our bilateral relationship to new heights!”

“And I even more sincerely hope that, on this lovely night, both our stakes remain intact!”

Zela stared blankly at Qiao, cold sweat beading on his brow. He thought to himself, “I thought Ye Hai was crazy enough, but I didn’t expect Qiao to be the real maniac here! With my mouth jammed like this, how am I supposed to speak, you lunatic!”

As Zela mumbled incoherently, Qiao suddenly exclaimed, “So… our deal is off, then?”

Cursing Qiao in his heart, Zela frantically prayed, “God, save me from this madman!”

He hadn’t said a word—how did Qiao even arrive at “deal off”?

Fortunately, Ye Hai spoke up at the right moment.

“It’s fine. The T-virus I injected you with makes you completely immune to the Queen Ant virus. Let Zela go. Over the past two days, we’ve struck several deals. He’ll be our closest trade partner for a long time to come.”

“For example, the mimetic virus lab you’re so fond of—Mr. Zela can surely get it.”

At once, Qiao threw an affectionate arm around Zela, his demeanor completely transformed.

“Mr. Zela, may our friendship last forever!”

The gun that had been shoved in Zela’s mouth was already back at Qiao’s waist. If not for the lingering ache in his jaw, Zela would have thought he’d imagined it all.

“But, Mr. Zela, since Lianna is now under my protection, her requests are my own. I can trade several high-energy weapons from the First Defense Army of Great Tree Star for her family!”

“I’ve modified them to use bio-energy instead of the original power source… so they won’t attract any mutants’ attention!”

Zela’s eyes lit up, instantly forgetting Qiao’s threats, and he walked over to Ye Hai with a beaming smile, shaking his hand warmly.

“Brother Ye Hai, may our friendship last forever!”

He then leaned in and whispered, “Are all corpse hunters like Qiao—certifiable?”

Ye Hai could only shake his head helplessly.

Zela finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Imitating Zela, Ye Hai leaned in and whispered, “Qiao is still within the range of normalcy.”

“The other three corpse hunters—in Qiao’s eyes—they’re the real lunatics!”

Zela was dumbfounded!