Chapter 68: The Safe Zone Overrun by Zombies!

After spending only a short while together, everyone returned to their rooms to rest. Qin Sheng lay in bed tossing and turning for what felt like an eternity, unable to find even a hint of sleepiness, despite the exhaustion from staying up all night the day before.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Sheng stared at the dilapidated ceiling, its peeling paint a testament to the room’s neglect. According to her predictions, supernatural powers would soon emerge. At present, the only awakened individual she knew of was Lin Xing. The rest remained uncertain, an invisible threat looming over her.

Briefly surviving in this room, hiding away, was far from what Qin Sheng desired. With the dangers posed by Zhao Ting and Zhao Jun, compounded by the unknown risks from other potential powers, she drew another deep breath. If she wanted to secure a place for herself in the safe zone, she needed an opportunity—a chance to reach those who controlled its fate.

Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating Qin Sheng’s face; the resolve and ambition in her eyes grew ever fiercer.

She did not sleep that night.

“Alert, alert! The safe zone is under zombie attack! All corps must obey and cooperate to eradicate the invading zombies—no mercy!”

At the instant the alarm sounded, Qin Sheng sprang from her bed. Clearly, their building had been set apart, for the alarm was faint, barely audible—yet this tune was ingrained in her bones. Danger was now upon the safe zone.

“Hm? Sheng Sheng, you’re up so early?” Perhaps Qin Sheng’s movements had awakened Jiang Miaomiao, who blinked sleepily.

While answering Jiang Miaomiao, Qin Sheng swiftly donned her specially-made combat suit. “Miaomiao, the safe zone is in danger.”

Jiang Miaomiao froze for a moment, then quickly cleared her head. “What? How could the safe zone be in danger?”

Qin Sheng shook her head. She had observed the zone’s defenses; they were impressive, but not foolproof. The threat of zombies could never be completely warded off.

It was impossible to guard against everything.

“Ah Zhi, wake up! The safe zone is in danger!” Jiang Miaomiao roused Ah Zhi, hurriedly dressing.

Qin Sheng, taking advantage of Ah Zhi’s closed eyes, quietly retrieved a dagger Jiang Miaomiao had stored with her.

“Take this dagger. Be careful in everything,” Qin Sheng whispered in Jiang Miaomiao’s ear.

Jiang Miaomiao frowned, sensing that Qin Sheng’s tone was not one of hiding from the zombies, but rather of confronting them head-on.

From Jiang Miaomiao’s reaction, Qin Sheng knew her intentions had been seen through. There was no time for further explanation. She maintained an uncharacteristic seriousness: “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. There are things I must do.”

Though worried, Jiang Miaomiao could only acquiesce.

“Ah Zhi knows the safe zone better than you; let her guide you to safety,” Qin Sheng said, then quickly left the room.

Jiang Miaomiao clenched her fists, nerves rising. Turning, she saw Ah Zhi still asleep, and without hesitation, dragged her from bed.

“Ah?!” Ah Zhi jumped, squinting in confusion. “What’s going on? So early…”

Jiang Miaomiao hurriedly gathered her belongings, hid the dagger, and explained, “Zombies have breached the safe zone. It’s not safe here.”

The word “zombies” snapped Ah Zhi awake; she quickly dressed. “If zombies are in the safe zone, isn’t it safer for us to stay here?”

Jiang Miaomiao paused, but before she could answer, screams erupted downstairs—along with the guttural growls and snarls of zombies.

Zombies, after all, were cunning creatures. Knowing this area lacked heavy guards, soon enough a squad’s worth had gathered below.

Ah Zhi was speechless.

Clearly, they had to leave.

“Go wake Zhao Tiantian and Shen Mei. We can’t stay here,” Jiang Miaomiao sped up her packing, urging Ah Zhi to rouse the others.

Ah Zhi nodded in panic, sprinting to Zhao Tiantian and Shen Mei’s rooms.

Jiang Miaomiao packed quickly, feeling for the dagger pressed against her chest, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

Less than a minute later, all four were dressed and ready.

“Stay close to me. We’ll head to the rooftop—it’s the safest place for now,” Jiang Miaomiao explained briefly, then opened the door and rushed out.

Shen Mei, Ah Zhi, and Zhao Tiantian exchanged glances and hurried after her.

To their surprise, just as they reached the stairs, they came face-to-face with two aimless zombies ascending.

“Ah…” Zhao Tiantian’s face went pale, but before she could scream, Ah Zhi covered her mouth.

They ducked into a side room.

Jiang Miaomiao drew her dagger, standing alert at the door.

Zhao Tiantian was dizzy with fright, while Ah Zhi and Shen Mei remained calmer.

“Shh…”

Listening, they heard the zombies’ footsteps grow closer. Jiang Miaomiao gestured for silence.

Ah Zhi and Shen Mei hid at another doorway, gripping their brooms, ready for battle.

The footsteps drew near; their hearts pounded louder and louder, until only their heartbeats filled the silent room.

Jiang Miaomiao held her breath, gripping the dagger. She was certain that if those zombies burst in, she would not hesitate to stab their brains and hearts.

She exhaled, trying to calm herself.

Strangely, the footsteps ceased; instead, she heard the sound of bodies falling.

Could someone have been bitten?

Before Jiang Miaomiao could react, someone knocked on their door from outside.

Three long, two short knocks!

Relief washed over Jiang Miaomiao and she immediately opened the door.

Ah Zhi and Shen Mei were startled by her sudden action, and instinctively swung their brooms at the person who had just knocked—their secret signal.

“Xingyu!” Jiang Miaomiao hadn’t seen her companion in ages; seeing him now brought her an unprecedented sense of security.

Chu Xingyu dodged Ah Zhi’s attack smoothly, raising an eyebrow in embarrassment. “Miaomiao, long time no see. Come with me.”

Now wasn’t the time for reminiscence. Chu Xingyu had dealt with the two zombies at the door and led Jiang Miaomiao and the others straight to the rooftop.

Once they confirmed the rooftop door was locked and no zombies followed, the group breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“Miaomiao, there are a lot of zombies downstairs. We can’t leave directly—our only option is to hide here for now,” Chu Xingyu explained quietly.

Jiang Miaomiao nodded; she had noticed the situation herself. For the moment, the rooftop seemed the safest option.

“By the way, where’s Sheng?” Chu Xingyu glanced around for the familiar figure he’d missed for so long, but Qin Sheng was clearly not among them.

Jiang Miaomiao replied quickly, “Sheng left as soon as she knew about the zombies. I don’t know where she’s gone.”

Chu Xingyu’s brow furrowed, worry evident. “She went out alone again?”

Jiang Miaomiao nodded, and after a long pause, spoke softly, “I believe Sheng will accomplish whatever she sets out to do.”

Chu Xingyu understood Qin Sheng had her reasons, but as her close friend and teammate, his concern was only natural.

“Alright,” Chu Xingyu agreed, pursing his lips and saying no more.

“A Team to the east, B Team to the west, C and D Teams, south and north respectively. Eradicate every zombie that invaded—leave none alive!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

At the command, the safe zone’s defense teams sprang into action, each in special uniforms, armed with assault rifles, ready to face down the zombies.

No one noticed a petite figure slipping into an unauthorized area.

That figure, of course, was Qin Sheng.

Before her towered the core building of the safe zone. Had it not been for the sudden zombie attack, she would never have had the chance to sneak inside.

Qin Sheng moved lightly, hugging the wall as she entered the building.

Unbeknownst to her, every move was being recorded by the building’s dedicated cameras.

“She’s inside?” In the top-floor conference room, Lu Qingyan’s gaze fell on the computer screen, watching Qin Sheng slip cautiously into the building.

“Yes, Young Master Lu.”

Lu Qingyan leaned back in his chair, adjusted his glasses, his eyes full of unfathomable calculation.

“So this is the person Song Qing’an specifically asked me to protect?” Lu Qingyan raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“What do you mean, Young Master Lu?”

Lu Qingyan shook his head, glancing at the respectful figure beside him—the current highest authority in the safe zone, the mayor.

“It’s nothing. Ignore her.”

Mayor Wang bowed, smiling, though inwardly aggrieved.

He was supposed to hold the highest office in the safe zone, yet he had to bow and scrape before this youth.

But there was no choice. The Lu family had provided most of the funds for the zone’s creation. He was only a mayor; in the face of absolute power and wealth, he was little more than a figurehead.

As Lu Qingyan rose to leave, something occurred to him. He looked at Wang Xiang, who paused and bowed again, “Is there anything else, Young Master Lu?”

Lu Qingyan pondered for a few seconds, then spoke, “I heard the defense teams are assessed every time?”

Wang Xiang wasn’t sure what Lu Qingyan was getting at, but quickly nodded.

“Good.” With that, Lu Qingyan strode out of the conference room.

Wang Xiang released a sigh, settling into Lu Qingyan’s seat, and after some time, began arranging matters with those nearby.

Qin Sheng wandered the building for a long while, unable to make sense of its layout. Just as she was about to leave, someone appeared in front of her.

Qin Sheng tensed instantly; seeing that it was Lu Qingyan, she clenched her fists.

“Quite bold.”