Chapter 131: Searching for Zombies to Hone Skills

“As you can see, the beginning is always the hardest.”

Wang Qiang was right—starting something is difficult, but persevering is even harder. Just like this morning’s training: suddenly breaking from the usual routine to adapt to a new one always leaves people feeling overwhelmed and inadequate.

Of course, it depends on whether one can persist once they begin.

Qin Sheng puffed out her cheeks and glanced at the two girls squatting on the ground, Xiao Xiao and Xiao Nuo. Noticing Qin Sheng’s gaze, the two quickly scrambled to their feet.

“Brother Wang Qiang, I can’t wait to start training. How long should we hold the horse stance? I’m sure I can do it!” With Qin Sheng’s arrival, the light in Xiao Xiao’s eyes grew even brighter. Perhaps it was the glow from having an idol nearby that made her stomach stop protesting, and she immediately stood up with renewed vigor, ready to begin.

Xiao Nuo followed suit, standing quickly with a look full of determination.

“All right, Xiao Xiao, hold the stance for another hour!” Wang Qiang said enthusiastically, unable to suppress a laugh as he saw Xiao Xiao’s face quickly fall.

Xiao Nuo was less reactive. To him, any progress, no matter how small, was valuable. As long as he kept improving, one day he would be as formidable as his sister.

Qin Sheng smiled softly, increasingly convinced that Xiao Xiao and A Di were becoming more alike—not just in the way they spoke, but also in their shared grumbling about training.

“Enough teasing them. Uncle Yu has already prepared breakfast. We can train after eating,” Qin Sheng said. She had noticed Yu Yong preparing breakfast for everyone when she arrived, and her visit to check on the morning training was also to bring them some food.

“Yay~ Breakfast time!” Hearing this, Xiao Xiao happily shouted and ran toward Yu Yong.

Qin Sheng and Wang Qiang exchanged a glance and shook their heads in resignation.

“Let’s go, Xiao Nuo.”

Only after hearing Qin Sheng call his name did Xiao Nuo obediently follow Qin Sheng and Wang Qiang toward the camp’s dining area.

Yu Yong had carefully planned the morning meal based on supplies Qin Sheng provided: each person received a packet of compressed biscuits, a cup of water, and some dried fish. Xiao Nuo and Xiao Xiao even got special beef jerky.

It was quite a feast, despite the compressed biscuits tasting less than delightful.

“Today there’s dried fish!” Xiao Xiao’s eyes widened when she saw a small strip of dried fish on everyone’s plate.

Wang Qiang glanced at Qin Sheng beside him and guessed the dried fish must have come from her. As for where exactly, he didn’t ask.

“Not only that,” Yu Yong smiled as he explained, “the captain said that Xiao Nuo and Xiao Xiao are at the age when they’re growing, so they should eat more. They each get extra beef jerky.”

Xiao Xiao and Xiao Nuo were so excited at the thought of beef jerky that they were nearly speechless.

Xiao Nuo’s reaction was understandable; after all, he had been following Qin Sheng around these past few days, enjoying plenty of snacks and receiving treats like cookies and candies from her from time to time.

But Xiao Xiao hadn’t seen meat in a long time, let alone dried fish or beef jerky.

After nearly two months of eating compressed biscuits, Xiao Xiao felt as if her mouth had gone completely bland.

That first bite of dried fish brought her soul back.

“So delicious. I finally get to eat meat, sob sob...” Xiao Xiao’s eyes welled up with tears, completely forgetting the aloof, younger “little wolf” persona she had built in the camp.

Her reaction sent everyone into peals of laughter.

Coughing lightly, Xiao Xiao quickly composed herself, reluctantly nibbling at the dried fish and beef jerky in her hands.

Qin Sheng glanced at Xiao Nuo, who kept stealing glances at her, and smiled, encouraging him to eat the fish and beef jerky he’d been reluctant to touch.

Xiao Nuo nodded slightly and leisurely bit into his beef jerky.

“Take your time eating. I’m full,” Qin Sheng said, finding the compressed biscuits rather tasteless, and rose to leave for a stroll in the zombie forest.

“Then be careful, Captain,” Yu Yong quickly set down his food and warned her.

Qin Sheng nodded, returned to her tent to grab her Tang sword, and left.

Since the last time Qin Sheng single-handedly confronted an entire group of zombies, the camp had been unusually safe and quiet—not even a lone zombie had been spotted.

There was no choice—Qin Sheng had to go out and find some.

After walking for over ten minutes, she heard the low growl of zombies.

Her eyes lit up. Casually, she drew her Tang sword from behind and followed the sound. With a flick of her wrist, the sword flew out with lightning speed, accompanied by a sharp sound. The growling instantly vanished without a trace.

In the blink of an eye, the sword sliced cleanly through the head of a zombie hidden nearby, not even giving it a chance to strike.

The sword embedded itself firmly in a tree behind the zombie, not a drop of blood staining the blade.

The speed was so great that not even a bloodstain was left behind.

Qin Sheng slowly retrieved her sword from the tree and slipped it back into its sheath.

But in that instant, her brow furrowed as a cold, gleaming dagger shot toward her forehead!

Qin Sheng dodged just in time; the dagger lodged itself into the same tree where her Tang sword had been.

Still shimmering with a frigid light.

Frowning, Qin Sheng looked toward the direction the dagger came from.

A man about Wang Qiang’s age dropped down from the trees.

Qin Sheng recognized him—it was the man who had criticized her for being too reckless and potentially endangering the team while they were escaping the zombie horde.

If memory served, this man was called Zhang Yi.

“Long time no see, Qin Sheng. Didn’t expect you’d dodge my dagger,” Zhang Yi said with a provocative smirk, though dissatisfaction and contempt curled his lips.

Qin Sheng snorted coldly. “Too slow. Dodging wasn’t difficult.”

She bluntly retorted, causing Zhang Yi’s expression to darken noticeably.

“Stubborn to the end. The captain of the Seventh Squad will be me, Zhang Yi!” Zhang Yi shouted with wide eyes.

Qin Sheng, however, appeared far calmer.

“That remains to be seen if you have the strength,” she replied.

No sooner had she spoken than the sharp sound of daggers being drawn rang in her ears. Zhang Yi swiftly threw several daggers toward Qin Sheng.

Their speed was tremendous. Unfazed, Qin Sheng drew her Tang sword from its sheath and parried with even greater speed.

The clash of sword and daggers rang out loudly as Qin Sheng deflected each thrown dagger, sending them flying into nearby trees.

Zhang Yi knew about Qin Sheng’s Tang sword and today witnessed its power firsthand—he considered it worthwhile.

Smirking, he pulled out a hidden American-style short knife from behind him.

This short knife had been acquired by chance and stained with plenty of blood—some human, but mostly zombie blood.

It seemed today it was destined to spill some human blood.

Qin Sheng glanced at the short knife and thought it suited Xiao Nuo quite well.

Especially with the dragon pattern engraved on it. Zhang Yi wasn’t much, but he held a fine weapon.

Unaware that Qin Sheng had already set her sights on his short knife, Zhang Yi assumed she was intimidated by its sharpness, pride swelling on his face.

“You’re worldly, so you know this short knife isn’t ordinary. If you die by it today, you can’t say it’s unfair,” he boasted.

Qin Sheng showed no signs of fear, leisurely using one hand to scratch her ear.

If Zhang Yi wanted to fight, then fight. Why so much talk?

Qin Sheng was growing impatient.

“Arrogant brat, I’ll show you its power now!” Zhang Yi charged at Qin Sheng, the handle of his short knife aimed directly at her throat.

His first move was a confident throat strike.

In a flash, Qin Sheng swiftly dodged and slashed with her Tang sword.

Zhang Yi raised his short knife to block Qin Sheng’s blade. The two weapons clashed with sharp sounds.

After a few exchanges, Qin Sheng confirmed the knife was no ordinary weapon. Since it was so precious, it shouldn’t be in Zhang Yi’s hands.

Zhang Yi lunged again with all his strength. Qin Sheng leapt aside and used a tree to propel herself forward, charging at Zhang Yi.

Her speed was so great that Zhang Yi barely avoided the attack, hastily blocking with his short knife.

He exhaled deeply, fear creeping into his heart. Without the knife blocking, he wouldn’t have been able to withstand that strike.

Realizing Qin Sheng’s strength was formidable, Zhang Yi grew increasingly cautious with each move.

As the rapid exchanges continued, Zhang Yi began to tire.

His next attack was noticeably weaker.

In contrast, Qin Sheng’s strikes grew faster and stronger, as if she were a perpetual motion machine, showing no sign of fatigue.

After dozens of moves, Zhang Yi finally faltered, stepping back to maintain distance. His legs trembled as he landed, sweat soaking his forehead. He gripped his short knife tightly, as if loosening his hold for even a second would allow Qin Sheng to strike.

He treated the knife like a talisman for survival, while Qin Sheng’s hand holding the Tang sword was damp with sweat.

Qin Sheng seemed in no rush to end the fight, casually leaning against a tree and waiting for Zhang Yi to recover.

Gone was the arrogance and loquaciousness Zhang Yi had before the fight. Now, he panted, trying to regain his strength.

After waiting a long while with no sign of movement from Zhang Yi, and feeling a bit hungry, Qin Sheng pulled out a sausage from her pocket.

She had only taken a few bites when her eyes met Zhang Yi’s, and it seemed he swallowed nervously.