Chapter Forty-Two: The Underestimated Fan Li

The two monsters, neither quite beasts nor human, regarded each other from across the length of a street. At that moment, the mutated fat man in the distance began to accelerate, his running causing the ground to tremble with miniature quakes.

There was only one portion of food!

For the zombie hound, to leave now would be to surrender both mouthwatering prizes to another. The hound, a beast even before its mutation, was now ruled entirely by primal instinct and greed. With a furious roar, it sprang forward, launching itself at the mutated zombie.

The two grotesque creatures collided in a savage brawl, blood spraying in great gouts. In their very first exchange, the zombie hound lost another half of its head as the mutated zombie vomited a stream of black, corrosive blood at close range, melting away most of the hound’s scalp until only a skull adorned with scraps of flesh remained.

At the same time, the zombie hound, enraged beyond reason, tore open the mutated zombie’s abdomen with a single swipe, spilling intestines and foul blood in a torrent.

The two monsters unleashed their full fury. Their battle was devoid of any aesthetic of struggle or even brutality—it was an interweaving of madness and eeriness, a spectacle that assaulted the eyes of every onlooker.

“What are those things?” Hu Huayao's pupils dilated in terror, overwhelmed by an indescribable dread.

He had never seen zombies like these!

Hu Huayao had some confidence in his own abilities, bolstered by his recent survival in a horde, but witnessing this clash made him doubt himself for the first time.

Seeing Hu Huayao’s question, Fan Li answered calmly, “They’re monsters.”

“I call them mutants—a lifeform beyond ordinary zombies, possessing greater strength and certain special abilities.”

“Monsters?” Hu Huayao couldn’t help but think of the little girl beside his companion, who gave him the same unsettling feeling—a being distinct from zombies. Calling her a monster seemed fitting.

Just then, something occurred to Hu Huayao. He glanced at the two mutants still locked in combat and said to Fan Li, “While they’re distracted, let’s get out of here!”

Sometimes, retreat is the best strategy.

This was not cowardice, but a tactical withdrawal applicable in any situation.

It wasn’t just Hu Huayao—by now, the surrounding zombies had long since fled, terrified of being caught in the crossfire. The appearance of a single zombie hound had already left them at a loss, but with the arrival of the mutated fat man, they scattered entirely, keeping well clear of the battlefield.

“Run?”

Fan Li considered this suggestion and dismissed it. Both monsters were fully engaged, their attention locked on each other. From experience, Fan Li knew well just how ravenous these creatures were for fresh flesh; it was no exaggeration to say that, if they detected a human nearby, both he and Hu Huayao would become immediate targets.

“As long as these monsters remain, we’ll have no peace. I’m going to kill them.”

Fan Li intended to reap the rewards from both sides. Even if they hadn’t fully mutated, killing them would yield a considerable bounty. He would not miss this rare opportunity.

Of course, Fan Li had never mentioned anything about kill points or the monster manual to anyone, so to Hu Huayao, this behavior seemed peculiar.

Since the day Fan Li had asked and Hu Huayao agreed to follow him, their relationship had been one of leader and subordinate. Mostly, it was because Fan Li had saved his life and provided a relatively safe place for him and the girl to stay.

There was no oppression—just a compromise with reality and a measure of gratitude.

But now, faced with these terrifying monsters, Fan Li remained almost numb and unflappable. None of this seemed to faze him, and now he even declared he would resolve the threat himself.

Hu Huayao realized he could never match such courage and resolve. Swallowing hard, he admitted to himself that he had underestimated Fan Li—underestimated the strength and madness of this man’s heart.

Fan Li seemed entirely at home in this apocalyptic world, calm and collected when facing any danger.

“But how can we kill those mutants? Should we use that monster with the mouth full of teeth?”

Hu Huayao’s thoughts raced, eyes flickering uncertainly as he simply nodded, placing himself under Fan Li’s command.

Fan Li had no idea how wildly Hu Huayao’s mind was spinning. His own attention was fixed on the fight before him. He took out a music box, slipped it into a specially sewn pocket, and gripped his blade tightly, inching forward.

“You stay here. Once I succeed, grab the food and run back!”

Hu Huayao hesitated, then asked, “Should I…help you?”

Fan Li thought for a moment. “No. Stay here and cover me. Watch my signals.”

His plan was to strike at the moment both monsters were exhausted, claiming the kill points. If Hu Huayao came along, he might compete for the reward or increase the risk of being discovered. And if things went wrong, there was still Ellie—at worst, he could feed her the mutant’s life essence and raise their bond to a new level.

Fan Li moved to the shop entrance. All he had to do was push open the door and he would be on the blood-soaked battlefield.

But it was not yet time. Fan Li had to wait for the perfect opportunity.

Meanwhile, the battle between the two monsters reached its climax. Normally, a creature whose face was half-melted and brain exposed would have no hope of survival. But the zombie hound, now mutated and far more formidable than an ordinary zombie, was only weakened, not slain.

In contrast, the mutated zombie’s situation was dire. The hound’s speed and ferocity gave it the upper hand; the bulk of the mutant limited its attacks, and soon one of its arms and a leg were torn off.

The hound let out a wild bark, spun around, and tore out the mutant’s throat with a single bite. Foul, corrosive blood splattered its own body, burning away more of its flesh.

Yet the hound pressed on, lowering its head, lunging again at the mutant’s neck.

A killing blow.

Fan Li knew that in the end, the hound would emerge victorious. The fight was almost over, and he could wait no longer. He shoved the door open and dashed out.

The noise caught the hound’s attention, but it was still fixated on its enemy.

The reward was right in front of him. If the hound finished off the mutant, Fan Li’s gains would be halved.

“What should I do?”

“I’m too far away—even if I throw something, it won’t help!”

“All I have are these: the music box, the katana, the monster manual…”

“The monster manual!”

A spark lit in Fan Li’s mind. He remembered that when he killed the Weeper, he’d managed to seal it, gaining the ability to use its power for thirty seconds.

The arrow was nocked and could not be drawn back.

Resolute, Fan Li stepped forward and shouted toward the hound:

“Consume!”