C18 Home

Just moments ago, everyone was in high spirits, but the mood had since shifted to a somber tone as each person retreated to their respective rooms. Chu Yue strolled through the small town, picking up supplies from a few local supermarkets and stashing them in his backpack.

Gazing at the crimson sky, his thoughts drifted to the enigmatic girl he had encountered the day before. His gaze grew distant for a moment as he threw himself into his work. In truth, Chu Yue was quite lost in thought, lacking a clear objective and uncertain of his next destination.

Having gathered a few items, he made his way back to the modest inn. He was greeted by the sight of his companions, who had already packed their belongings. A smile of relief crossed his face as he remembered topping off the motorcycle with fuel and stocking up on extra gasoline the day before.

After a brief tidy-up, Ho Lan prepared some food. Once they had eaten, the group stepped outside, taking in the view of the small town they had called home for the past few days. A sense of reluctance to leave washed over them, coupled with the uncertainty of whether their next stop would be safe.

Chu Yue let out a heavy sigh, his mind consumed by thoughts of his sister still in the clutches of his enemies. The ache in his heart was palpable as he longed to rescue her. Yet, he knew that with his current capabilities, attempting a rescue might be tantamount to a death sentence.

In years past, he had worked in the town and even taken his girlfriend to see zombie films like "Resident Evil." She had been so frightened that she clung to him, and the ghost stories he told her at night were always about zombies. She had once asked him, "If zombies really did appear, would you protect me?"

"Of course, I would definitely protect you," he had assured her.

Now, with reality mirroring those fictional horrors, Chu Yue wondered about the whereabouts of that girl from his past. Was she alone? He couldn't be sure. With a wistful smile, he finished his meal and led the way outside. Firing up the motorcycle, he called out to the others. Chuxue took her place in front of him, while Ho Lan settled in behind.

Damo, alerted by the noise, came running out. Chu Yue grinned and asked, "Are you coming with us?"

"Woof!" Damo barked, signaling the direction they should head in, and Chu Yue followed suit. He nodded, examining the map he had retrieved from the shop. With the communication systems down since the Zombie outbreak, they had to rely on physical maps to navigate.

Turning on the video camera, he recorded a message: "Today marks day 189 of the Zombie virus outbreak. I'm a survivor, accompanied by my sister and another friend. There are three of us alive. If anyone sees this video, please contact us immediately."

"Has it really been 189 days?" Chuxue, sitting before Chu Yue, stowed the camera in her backpack with a resigned sigh and a shake of her head.

Indeed, so much time had elapsed. They had once found refuge in the Survivor Base, believing they'd found a safe haven. But that illusion was shattered when they discovered the base was a hotbed for the Zombie Virus, where horrific experiments were conducted on the living. It was this revelation that had prompted Chu Yue to flee.

Now, they were being pursued by a relentless group, and though Chu Yue had dealt with one wave of attackers, Zhang Zuosi was not likely to give up so easily. The latest pursuers were undoubtedly more formidable than the last.

Yet, in a way, Chu Yue was thankful for the Survivor Base. Without the trials faced there, his abilities wouldn't have grown so significantly. Now, he was capable of protecting the two young women with him. Even with his sister in their clutches, he knew they wouldn't harm her; she was their leverage. And with Chuxue by his side, their captors would surely be plotting to find him, but they wouldn't dare hurt his sister in the meantime.

As Chu Yue traced the route on the map, he realized they were close to his hometown. The thought stirred a mix of emotions; it had been so long since he'd been home. A tragic car accident had claimed the lives of both his parents, leaving Chu Yue and his sister to fend for themselves.

Reflecting on the many years since his last visit, Chu Yue couldn't help but wonder about the changes that had taken place. Were there now more zombies? And what about his old friends and relatives? How were they faring?

A glimmer of hope flickered in Chu Yue's heart. If he could save even a few of his former friends, that would be wonderful.

He tucked the map into his backpack and revved up the motorcycle. Chuxue snuggled close to him, her hesitation evident as the bike picked up speed. Ho Lan, slightly afraid, clung to Chu Yue for reassurance.

Chu Yue couldn't help but feel content at that moment. He never expected such perks from riding a motorcycle—a loli in front and a mature woman behind. It was easy to imagine the kind of life he was leading.

Shortly after Chu Yue and his companions departed, a team arrived, equipped with communication devices. "Boss, we're too late. They seem to have already left," they reported.

"Fools! You're all useless! You couldn't catch a single man and two women? If you can't do that, don't bother coming back to see me, got it? Worthless, all of you!" Zhang Zuosi angrily hung up the phone and slammed his fist on the table. Turning to Chu Yao, he slapped her across the face and sneered, "See what a coward your brother is? He doesn't even dare to come and rescue you from my grasp."

Chu Yao spat defiantly in Zhang Zuosi's face. He wiped it off with some tissue, his hand raised in anger. But instead of striking, he lowered his hand and smirked, "I won't hit you. I'll wait for our dear Young Master Chu to come to your rescue. Let's see who's more patient."

With those words, Zhang Zuosi left the room and locked the door behind him. Alone at last, Chu Yao collapsed into the corner, her tears flowing freely as she thought, "Brother, when will you come to save me?"

Suddenly, Chu Yue's heart skipped a beat, and he slammed on the brakes, nearly causing them all to tumble to the ground. Fortunately, his quick reflexes kept them upright. Noticing Chu Yue's troubled expression, Chuxue tightened her grip and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

"No... I'm fine..." Chu Yue stepped out of the vehicle, parked it neatly, and squatted to the side to catch his breath. He couldn't pinpoint what was wrong, but he was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of discomfort. Luckily, Chu Yue's childhood home was just a short walk away, about ten minutes or so.

Ho Lan was incredibly thoughtful, approaching and gently patting Chu Yue's shoulder to help him unwind. Damo crouched down beside him, taking deep breaths, clearly exhausted from the long run. Everyone seemed to need a break.

After a short rest, a snack, and some water, Chu Yue rose to his feet, stretching out his limbs. With a smile, he announced, "Alright, I'm back to normal. My old home is right up ahead. We're almost there. Let's get moving."

In roughly ten minutes, they reached their destination. Chu Yue's childhood home was nestled in a small village. The surroundings weren't bustling, but there was a quaint, rustic charm that exuded a sense of warmth. The narrow path was deserted, yet they couldn't shake the feeling of being watched from certain spots—likely Zombies. Had they been humans, they would have emerged at the sight of survivors. Chu Yue sensed a hint of danger, but with daylight on their side and several hours before nightfall, they should be safe to get home and set up some defenses.

Chu Yue stowed the motorcycle and after a few minutes' walk, he halted in front of a bungalow. The lock was old, the key long lost. With a forceful kick, he burst the door open, sending clouds of dust into the air. They all coughed and waved away the dust. Chuxue inquired, "Is this Mr. Chu Yue's home?"

Mr. Chu Yue didn't respond immediately. He stepped inside, surveying the yard with a sense of familiarity—it was just as he had left it. A tinge of sorrow welled up inside him, moistening the corners of his eyes. Chuxue, noticing his distress, moved closer and tenderly embraced him.

Coming back to the moment, Mr. Chu Yue turned to Chuxue with a smile and affirmed, "Yes, you're right. This is where I grew up. It's been seven or eight years since I've been back. Come on, let's go inside."