Lam Pham waved Frostmourne in his hand, finishing off the last zombie, then walked up to a speed-type zombie whose four limbs had been severed.
"According to my previous habits, I would definitely cut open your head and take out your crystal. But now it's different; you have a greater use."
The speed-type zombie roared angrily, wanting to attack, but with its limbs severed, it could only rage impotently, with no other recourse.
"Don't 'ao ao'."
Lam Pham gently patted its head, then tied its body with a rope, dragged it, and continued towards the next street. His cleanup speed was actually very fast.
But even if it was fast, Hoang City had so many streets. When trying to be thorough, it felt particularly troublesome, unless all the buildings in Hoang City were uprooted and disappeared, allowing him and the zombies to confront each other within Hoang City's limits. That would be the fastest cleanup speed.
Frostmourne in his hand had absorbed a great many crystals.
It had been strengthened to an extremely high degree.
However, for Lam Pham, a weapon was good enough as long as it could cut.
He continued to clear a street.
Looking at the evolved zombie he was dragging.
There was one more strength-type zombie, its limbs similarly severed by him, casually dragged along.
He was saving these for Officer Hoang.
Seeing Officer Hoang yesterday, he could already confirm that Officer Hoang had undergone a change after the thunderstorm. However, his combat strength was still very weak. He might be stronger than ordinary evolved zombies, but against those Tyrants and other high-level evolved zombies, he was somewhat insignificant.
This was the result of not wanting to accept help from anyone and insisting on doing things himself.
But he respected this kind of behavior.
If there could be more Officer Hoangs like this in peacetime, society would be more harmonious, more friendly. Unfortunately, this was impossible.
Hoang City Police Station.
"Officer Hoang, where are you?" Lam Pham called out.
No movement.
Evidently, Officer Hoang was not present.
He threw the four evolved zombies into the police station, watched them roar continuously, and shook his head. These sinful zombies ultimately still needed Officer Hoang to deal with them.
He turned and left.
Not long after Lam Pham left.
Officer Hoang returned, swaying. When he saw the four limbless evolved zombies lying on the ground in the police station, a trace of surprise seemed to appear in his pale white eyes.
Officer Hoang slowly walked up to them, emitting a low growl, then looked around, as if wondering what exactly was going on, why four limbless zombies would suddenly appear here.
"Ao ao!"
The four evolved zombies roared.
These immobilized sinners issued provocative sounds at Officer Hoang, who represented justice.
Officer Hoang growled in response, then without hesitation, directly went into action. Encountering these sinful zombies, how could he tolerate them? Moreover, this was the police station; they didn't even look at the building number and dared to be insolent here. They were simply seeking death.
Pfft!
Pfft!
The sound of gnawing.
...
Countryside villa.
"Are you really planning to leave with the child?"
Chu Minh looked at Dai Hung before him. This man had been at their place for three days. When they first met, he was seen driving a car, then got out, holding a child in his arms, wanting to enter the villa.
However, the villa gate was locked; how could he enter?
Finally, after bitter pleading, and seeing that the other party was carrying a child and didn't seem like a bad person, Chu Minh had no choice but to open the door.
But when he learned that the child in his arms had been bitten by a zombie, he was so scared he grabbed a shovel and forced them to leave.
Dai Hung, holding the child, knelt on the ground, telling him the child had been bitten several hours ago. If she were to turn into a zombie, she would have turned long ago. But now, she just had a persistent high fever that wouldn't go down.
At that time, Chu Minh was in an extremely difficult position. He was afraid this child would turn into a zombie and endanger his family. He constantly held the shovel, watching. If she turned into a zombie, he would use the shovel to viciously smash her head.
Later, he discovered it was indeed like this.
This child was bitten on the arm, a piece of flesh missing. Any human bitten by a zombie would turn into a zombie in an extremely short time. How could it be like the current situation?
From beginning to end, the child's high fever persisted. Every kind of method to reduce fever had been tried; all were useless. Even if given some food, she would immediately vomit it out.
But even so, the child still didn't seem to have lost weight.
"Brother Chu, there's no other way. I must continue on the road and find a place that can treat the child. I'm afraid if this continues, the child will die." Dai Hung had no choice. Although this child was not his biological child but brought by his second wife, over these past few years, he had already come to regard her as his own daughter.
So no matter what, he had to take the child and search for a chance to live.
Chu Minh said, "If you really want to go, then go to Duong Quang Complex in Hoang City. That is a shelter. Perhaps someone there can help you. Remember, when you get there, look for Lam Pham. He is the Guardian there, very strong, very strong. You can trust him with anything; don't have any doubtful thoughts."
"Brother Chu, thank you. If I can still live, I will definitely work like an ox and horse for you," Dai Hung knelt and said his thanks.
Chu Minh helped him up, patted his shoulder, "Don't say such things. He also told me to be full of hope for the future. We are all people struggling to survive in the apocalypse; we should help each other."
"Mm."
After Dai Hung left with the child.
Chu Minh prayed in his heart.
A safe journey.
It was just that he thought about Dai Hung's child, bitten by a zombie, yet not having turned into a zombie to this day, just constantly having a high fever. He felt this child was extraordinary, possibly an important change in the apocalypse.
If Dai Hung took the child to other shelters, and people there knew about the child's situation, it was very likely they would dissect the child for research. So he hoped Dai Hung would go to Duong Quang Complex in Hoang City to find Lam Pham.
Finding that person who, in his eyes, was like a beacon of hope, was the correct choice.
Highway.
Dai Hung drove the car. The road was littered with overturned vehicles, and one could still see decayed corpses in the car seats. Various scenes assaulted his mind, but for him, he could already accept everything.
Unlike when the apocalypse had just broken out, when he felt panicked about everything outside.
"Duong Quang Complex in Hoang City, I'll go there. What Brother Chu said definitely won't be wrong."
He looked at the child with closed eyes, his heart extremely anxious. Suddenly, a situation appeared ahead. Many zombies were gathered there. Upon the appearance of his vehicle, that swaying group of zombies seemed to have seen prey, appearing very crazed and rushing towards his car.
Dai Hung originally wanted to push through, but the number ahead was not small. He was worried that halfway through, the car would be unable to advance, and that would be a dead end.
Turn the car, turn the car.
His expression tense, he turned the car, hoping to shake off the pursuing zombies.
Immediately after.
When he saw the situation behind him, he was completely dumbfounded. He didn't know when, but a military transport vehicle had appeared behind him. That transport vehicle was driving slowly, like a snail, occasionally stopping, occasionally moving forward.
"The child and I are surrounded by zombies, front and back."
Dai Hung's face showed despair.
He really hadn't expected it to turn out like this.
Boom!
Instantly.
A strength-type zombie rushed out from a pile of corpses ahead, roaring angrily at his car. Just as the strength-type zombie was about to grab his car.
Figure after figure leaped out from behind, actually tackling the strength-type zombie to the ground.
"What's happening?"
Dai Hung's mouth hung open, completely bewildered by the current situation. Immediately after, when he saw the clothes worn by this group of zombies fighting the zombies ahead, he fell into deep shock.
This group of zombies was wearing military uniforms. Although they were already extremely dirty and stained with blood, it was absolutely certain; this was no mistake.
"Even if they turned into zombies, are they still eliminating zombies, protecting survivors?"
Ao ao!
The strength-type zombie angrily got up, grabbed a uniformed zombie, and slammed it hard onto the ground, crushing its head with one foot. The other uniformed zombies, however, latched onto the strength-type zombie's body, biting and tearing at its flesh.
There were other uniformed zombies rushing towards other normal zombies, biting, tearing, and smashing heads. Both sides were tearing at each other.
Dai Hung gripped the steering wheel, staring at the situation before him.
"Could it be that when conviction is integrated into the blood and genes, one can still act according to that conviction even after turning into a zombie?"
He thought of content he had once watched in videos.
When foreign enemies invade, soldiers take up arms to kill the enemy. When disaster strikes, soldiers prioritize逆行 (going against the flow, i.e., into danger). When the masses are in need, soldiers charge forward.
They could hold guns, launch missiles, and also carry sandbags.
Thinking of this.
Dai Hung's mood was somewhat difficult to put into words.
The current scene might be described as bloody, but he saw that they were risking their lives to protect him and the child. Viscous blood splattered, attacking without fear of life or death.
Even if slammed to the ground by a zombie several times their own size, they still stood up to bite and tear.
Gradually.
Fewer and fewer zombies were left standing before him.
After the strength-type zombie, covered in wounds, crushed the head of the last uniformed zombie, it roared angrily and ferociously at Dai Hung in the car seat.
As if to say... "Even if they protect you, you will ultimately be devoured by me."
What Dai Hung didn't know was that a zombie in the driver's cabin of the transport vehicle wanted to climb out of the window, but its movements were somewhat clumsy. It took a great deal of effort to finally climb out of the car window.
Just as the strength-type zombie raised its fists, about to smash the car. A figure pounced from the side, tackling the strength-type zombie to the ground.
This zombie seemed to have some rationality. It turned its head and roared at the car.
As if to say, "Run quickly!"
"Thank you."
Dai Hung's eye sockets reddened. He slammed his foot on the accelerator,碾压 (crushing) the corpses of the dead zombies, and drove forward.
He looked back.
The zombie that had bought them hope, the one that had pounced on the strength-type zombie, was brutally torn in half and casually tossed into the distance. But that strength-type zombie, roaring angrily, still rushed towards his car.
He gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed ahead. That was the direction of Hoang City, and also the place where he envisioned hope.
...
Lam Pham went to the Tu Trach Base for a look around, casually chatted with Duong Vinh and his sister, and incidentally helped them clean up the surrounding zombies. Although the zombies in their area had all been cleared before.
But eventually, zombies would still sway over to this place.
The construction level of their base was not as high-end as Duong Quang Complex, but they had a basement. When they stood at a high place and saw an unstoppable zombie invasion.
They could hide in the basement to ensure their lives were safe.
This could be said to be the most praiseworthy aspect of their entire shelter.
During this period.
Their Tu Trach Base had rescued two more survivors. It was indeed as they said; there were still quite a few scattered survivors in Hoang City, hiding somewhere and pursuing survival. When the shelter's dispersed locations were relatively wide, it could give them a bit more chance of survival.
Returning to Duong Quang Complex.
The sky gradually darkened.
Today's harvest was quite good. He had sent several sin-laden evolved zombies to Officer Hoang, and at the same time, he himself had brought back several crystals.
As long as he continued to work hard like this, cleaning up the entire Hoang City would definitely not be a difficult task.
At night.
Lam Pham, who was writing in his diary, heard a noise at the iron gate, and then he heard a very soft voice.
"Is anyone there?"
He put down his pen, went to the balcony, and jumped down. He hadn't expected that there would actually be lucky survivors arriving at this time; this was something he hadn't anticipated.
Dai Hung, having rolled down the car window and called out cautiously, then hid in the car seat, waiting quietly. He had already reached Duong Quang Complex but was blocked by the iron gate.
From this, he could tell that this was the place he wanted to come to, and also the place Brother Chu had mentioned.
It was just that he didn't know if the other party had heard his voice just now.
Just as he was thinking.
The sound of knocking on the window came.
It startled him.
Immediately after.
The beam of a flashlight shone in.
Dai Hung confirmed it was a living person and hurriedly opened the car door, "This is Duong Quang Complex, right?"
Asking even though he clearly knew.
It was also a normal state.
"Yes, this is Duong Quang Complex. My name is Lam Pham, and I'm the security guard here." Lam Pham sized up the other party, not knowing how he had come here at night. Looking around, he didn't hear any zombie noises; it was still very safe.
Thump!
Dai Hung directly knelt before Lam Pham, "My name is Dai Hung, I came with my child. Brother Chu told me that this is a shelter and can take us in."
Lam Pham helped him up, "You mean Chu Minh?"
"Yes. My child was bitten by a zombie some time ago, but she didn't turn into a zombie, instead, she's had a persistent high fever. I don't know what to do. I hope you can save her." Dai Hung confessed in detail, without any concealment.
Lam Pham's expression was extremely calm; he didn't show any fear upon hearing about being bitten by a zombie. Let alone being bitten, even if a real zombie stood before him, he would face it without a change in expression.
"Come in with me."
...
"Grandma Tu, excuse me for disturbing your rest. This child was bitten by a zombie and has had a high fever for several days that won't go down. Please take a look."
Lam Pham finished speaking, then looked at Dai Hung.
"Don't worry, Grandma Tu is an old military doctor; she should have a way."
Grandma Tu touched the little girl's forehead, her expression extremely serious, "Such a high temperature. How long has this been going on?"
"Three to four days."
"Has it always been like this?"
"Mm, always like this. She hasn't woken up."
Grandma Tu removed the bandage from the little girl's arm. The wound appeared before their eyes, "Strange. A piece of flesh was bitten off, yet the wound is in this condition."
Grandma Tu then took the little girl's pulse.
"The pulse is normal, no problems at all. Strange, truly strange."
Lam Pham looked at Dai Hung and asked him about what he encountered on the way. When he learned that a group of zombies wearing military uniforms had cleared the way for them, fighting with other zombies.
His expression lit up, but upon learning of their complete annihilation, he sighed.
It was just that he could already confirm one thing.
On the path of resisting zombies, it wasn't just humans, but also those warriors of conviction.
For him.
This was good news.
Even if out of ten, there could be one, that was hope.
He didn't continue to dwell on this matter.
"Grandma Tu, can you determine the specific cause?" Lam Pham asked.
Grandma Tu shook her head and said, "I've encountered many strange cases, but never one like this. However, she was bitten by a zombie but didn't turn into one, instead having a persistent high fever. It could be that her body is fighting against the zombie virus."
Hearing Grandma Tu's words.
Lam Pham looked at the child before him, "I can feel that her life force is extremely abundant, without any signs of depletion. Perhaps she really is resisting, or perhaps she herself has a different kind of special characteristic. Since the apocalypse until now, I haven't encountered anyone who was bitten by a zombie and still didn't turn into one."
Dai Hung didn't know what to do.
He could only place all his hopes on them.
Grandma Tu said, "If Professor Ha were here, it would be good. His knowledge is very profound, and he's an expert. He would probably be able to discover the root of the problem with this child."