Edge of the Apocalypse
Chapter 35 - 33: Liangzi, I’ll Let You Go First This Time

Chapter 35: Chapter 33: Liangzi, I’ll Let You Go First This Time

This strange phenomenon caught Yu Dong’s attention.

He’d made it a point to observe all the residents in the Xiangti Bay Community, even giving them codenames based on their traits.

But he’d never seen... any of the three zombies now wandering downstairs.

’Did they just happen to avoid my observation times? Or maybe they were visiting the community on the final day?’

’All three... could it be such a coincidence?’

’Or did some accident during the rain let zombies from outside get into the community?’

At the moment, Yu Dong couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong.

’I’ll have to find some time to take care of these three zombies... I can’t have Liangzi and his group getting infected.’

The last thing Yu Dong wanted to face was a zombie version of a highly athletic PE student.

The rain stopped today, but the people in the property management office still hadn’t come out.

Yu Dong guessed the three zombies wandering the community were blocking their way.

Another night passed. Two more zombies were now wandering outside, bringing the total to five. And still, Yu Dong didn’t recognize any of them.

’Hm? Something isn’t right... not right at all. Where did these zombies come from?’

’What on earth happened during the rain?’

’How did zombies from outside get in?’

Yu Dong felt an inexplicable pressure, forcing him to abandon his previous, more adventurous rescue plan.

’Until I figure out why zombies from outside are appearing in the community, I absolutely cannot leave Building One...’

"Huh? Look, isn’t that female zombie the owner of the convenience store by the gate? How’d she get inside the community?"

Liu Ye’ye, having mostly recovered, sat beside Yu Dong, watching the community grounds with him.

"It is strange. Let’s clear them out first. Something about this just feels off."

Yu Dong also wanted a closer look to see if there was anything unusual about these zombies...

"Okay, I’ll operate the drone."

Using their usual method, Yu Dong and Zhou easily eliminated the five zombies at the entrance of Building One.

’They haven’t mutated... The community wall is three meters high. Even a PE student would need a boost to get over it. There’s no way a zombie could climb it.’

"BLEGH—Dongzi, I think we should go back up before we talk anymore! BLEGH!!!"

Zhou dry-heaved, nearly vomiting into his mask.

They had been repeatedly spearing zombies right at the entrance to Building One. Now, the corpses were just left there. They had already begun to rot and stink, attracting swarms of flies and maggots. Foul liquids seeped through the cracks and into the building...

Yu Dong’s helmet had a filter, which helped a little. But Zhou’s simple surgical mask was no match for the overpowering stench of rot.

"The sanitation here... is terrible. If we don’t deal with this, it’s going to cause major problems."

The corpses of those infected with the S-virus were festering... The mouthparts and legs of the flies and mosquitoes were covered in virus-laden, rotting flesh and pus.

"We have to burn them. Otherwise, I’m afraid we’ll have a plague on our hands..." Zhou said, catching his breath after walking a little way up the stairs.

"The zombies are all outside. How are we supposed to burn them? Can we just toss some alcohol and kindling out through the cracks?"

The mysterious appearance of unfamiliar zombies in the community after the heavy rain made Yu Dong reluctant to open the main door to Building One.

"No, that won’t work. It just rained, so everything is soaked. Besides, the bodies have already started to rot and ooze. They’re just lying on the ground. If we don’t flip them, we’ll only char the surface, which won’t solve the problem."

"We’d at least need to get some dry firewood and toss the bodies onto a pyre to burn them properly."

That would be a major operation.

After thinking it over, Yu Dong decided to shelve the idea for now.

"Let’s clean and disinfect our stairwell first. We can use lime to seal the cracks, and then we’ll figure out the rest..."

Yu Dong and the others put on gloves and raincoats and cleaned the entrance area. Outside Building One, the corpses... were left in a pile.

...

"Looks like they cleared out the zombies. Liangzi, we’re out of food. You have to go to Building One today and get us something to eat."

"Damn it, we were already short on food!"

Jiang Xupeng said, glaring viciously at Zhao Yun.

Startled, Zhao Yun quickly shuffled closer to Lin Xiaojun.

"It... It was Brother Jun who gave it to me."

Lin Xiaojun had indeed kept his promise. After Zhao Yun "serviced" everyone, he would give her a share of the food. It wasn’t as much as the men received, but it was enough to keep her from starving to death.

By now, Zhao Yun no longer put up much resistance to Lin Xiaojun’s commands.

She’d even taken the opportunity to wash up during the rain yesterday and had put on some perfume. Now she was once again a fragrant young wife, exuding a ripe sensuality that stirred something in any man who looked at her.

Liangzi glanced at Zhao Yun’s seductive posture, a fire igniting within him. But when she leaned closer to Lin Xiaojun, Liangzi didn’t dare say anything more.

Lin Xiaojun looked at Liangzi, then simply pushed Zhao Yun toward him.

"When you’re done having your fun, there’s something I want to discuss with you..."

Liangzi licked his lips and dragged Zhao Yun into the office.

"You think you found a protector, huh?! Go on, find one! Find one! You dare refuse me now?! Say it! Do you still dare?!"

"AHHHH—I don’t dare! I don’t dare anymore—"

...

Afterward, Liangzi sat down with Lin Xiaojun and Jiang Xupeng.

Lin Xiaojun lit a cigarette.

"Liangzi, tonight, you need to find a way in. When he opens the door... you restrain Yu Dong. We’ll follow right behind."

"What?! No! Absolutely not, Brother Jun. Yu Dong is my friend, I can’t do that to him... We can talk this out. I can be the middleman. We’ll reach an agreement soon. We can’t do anything rash right now."

Liangzi refused point-blank.

The night before last, after Lin Xiaojun discovered he had gone out, Liangzi had recounted every last detail of his meeting with Yu Dong.

He’d insisted everything was under control.

As long as he was involved, everything could be reconciled.

"Relax. I’m not planning on hurting him. He’s just dragging his feet, and it’s not as safe out there as we’d like to think. Every time you go out to meet him... it’s not completely safe. Remember the day before yesterday? The three of us nearly bought it out there."

"But I can’t do that to Yu Dong. It was raining all day yesterday and the day before. Yu Dong should have an answer for me today."

"So you want to put your fate in his hands?"

"I..."

’But in truth, there was only one main reason he wouldn’t do it: he wasn’t like these people. Yu Dong trusted him. He’d already hinted that Liangzi could move into Building One on his own.’

’If he wanted to leave, Yu Dong would welcome him with open arms.’

’So there was no need for him to have a falling out with Yu Dong.’

’The reason he still hadn’t left was mainly because...’

’Liangzi recalled Zhao Yun’s sweet scent. Just like before the apocalypse, a trail of fragrance followed her wherever she went.’

’The feeling of pinning his boss to the ground and fucking her wildly was a thrill that went straight to his bones.’

Lin Xiaojun saw the subtle change in Liangzi’s expression. The corner of his mouth curled into a wide smirk.

"Liangzi... you’ll get tired of Zhao Yun sooner or later. Don’t you want a taste of someone fresh... someone younger? This time, I’ll let you be the first."

Remembering that slender, graceful figure, Liangzi’s breathing grew heavy.