Chapter 159 – A Romantic Rival? You’re Definitely a lesbian!

If it weren’t for the tense atmosphere, Ling Mo would have burst out laughing.

Mate?!

Although this Leader-Level Zombie was incredibly flat-chested, judging by her age, she should be considered physically mature… A physically mature girl, even if she’s a zombie, might develop a craving for a mate once her intelligence recovers to a certain level. At least one thing has been confirmed by Ling Mo: zombies have physiological responses. The virus stripped away their rationality but didn’t take away their basic instincts.

However, this Leader-Level Zombie before him was the first one Ling Mo had ever seen asking for a mate.

Is this need awakened only at the Leader level, or will it quickly awaken once they continue to evolve after reaching the Advanced Zombie stage?

Ling Mo was quite curious to see if Ye Lian and Xia Na would also develop this need after further evolution… But both of them had their limitations: Ye Lian had been trapped in a bus for a long time and was deliberately protected by Ling Mo when he was less powerful, so her evolution wasn’t as rapid as that of wild zombies in their brutal environment. As for Xia Na, she mutated midway, and although her evolution could be considered rapid, her evolution was directed more towards mental strength than physical enhancement.

Li Yalin, on the other hand, was wild, and her evolution had already reached a significant level. She seemed just one step away from becoming a Leader-Level Zombie.

But Ling Mo knew that as long as he could figure out the method to advance zombies, Ye Lian and Xia Na would quickly catch up. This small gap could be bridged quickly.

Moreover, wild zombies had very significant disadvantages. They were highly unpredictable, and no one could guarantee which zombie would survive until the end.

Ling Mo, however, could ensure that as long as he was alive, Ye Lian and Xia Na would continue to evolve steadily. They wouldn’t be randomly eliminated; instead, they would progress at a consistent pace.

This wasn’t too worrying, but on the other hand, Ling Mo felt a faint sense of crisis.

If reaching a certain level of evolution leads to seeking a mate, does this mean that zombies have retained their ability to reproduce?

What kind of offspring would result from a Senior Zombie mating?

The greatest weakness of zombies was that their numbers would inevitably dwindle over time.

With billions of zombies globally, the small number of survivors couldn’t kill many. Actually, the number lost to internal evolution was much higher.

Both Ling Mo and Luo Heng had noted this issue in their records.

In Luo Heng’s notes, he opined that these zombies would eventually die out. The task of human survivors was simply to endure. This was why he decided to move to the countryside.

As long as you can be self-sufficient for a while, you can wait for the zombies’ numbers to decrease.

Moreover, zombies can’t produce food. Given the few survivors, they would likely focus on scavenging for food from other humans.

Although this process would be slow… because while maintaining an almost stationary state, zombies needed very little food. It’s like how snakes eat—one meal can last a long time… However, once zombies developed a fresh blood-producing capability, everything would change!

Indeed, Senior Zombies are rare, but if you consider the entire X City, the whole province, the nation, or even the world?

Even if they are fewer than human survivors, there’s another issue: zombies, even when pregnant, would likely remain deadly combat machines. Yet human survivors, without finding a truly safe place, wouldn’t dare have children!

In terms of timing, humans were at a disadvantage!

“Tsk, so it’s mating season, huh? No wonder you came to spy. But you’ve got the wrong target. If you’re looking for a mate, you should be looking for someone like me. How can you be in a relationship if you’re the same gender? You must’ve been a lesbian before you mutated!”

How could he hand Ye Lian over to her?! This Leader-Level Zombie couldn’t even figure out her own gender. Either she viewed herself as a boy before mutating and retained that misconception, or she thought her chest was too flat!

Ling Mo couldn’t help but think wickedly, even if it’s hard to determine her gender by her chest, there’s always the lower part… This Leader-Level Zombie was just too naive!

“Same… same-sex?” The Leader-Level Zombie was speaking more fluently now, and to Ling Mo’s surprise, the zombie even remembered the word “lesbian.” She furrowed her brows in anger and said, “Nonsense! How could I be a lesbian? I remember… the saying goes, how can you date if you’re not the same gender?”

“…You are definitely a lesbian!”

Ling Mo didn’t expect to encounter a seasoned lesbian zombie at this critical moment. The worst part was that zombies, once they recovered their memories, would have certain aspects of their personality magnified.

This was because they were free from any social constructs and did whatever made them happy.

Trying to reason with this lesbian zombie was futile; her mindset was hard to change.

And even if it could be changed, then what? Switching her target to himself? That would be absolutely unacceptable!

“She…” The Leader-Level Zombie turned her gaze to Ye Lian again, and after revealing her true intentions, Ling Mo could sense a newfound intensity in her eyes. “What’s your name?”

Ye Lian stared at her without hesitation and said, “Ye Lian!” Then she hesitated for a moment, glanced at Ling Mo, and asked, “What about you?”

The Leader-Level Zombie was stunned for a moment. After a while, she hesitantly replied, “You can call me… Ban Yue?”

Clearly, this wasn’t a person’s name!

It was either a name, a nickname, or a self-bestowed title! This female zombie not only seemed to be a seasoned lesbian but also a rebellious teenager… Even after regaining her memories, she couldn’t remember her own name… “Oh, Ban Yue… However, I really don’t like you,” Ye Lian said bluntly. She understood the meaning of “mate,” “My mate is Ling-Ge!”

Ban Yue immediately shifted her gaze to Ling Mo, who nodded cheerfully. “That’s right, Ling-Ge is me. Ban Yue, you should give up!”

Despite his words, Ling Mo remained tense. What would a zombie do if its romantic advances were rejected? Probably go berserk.

Sure enough, after being rejected, the red in Ban Yue’s pupils brightened even more. She gritted her teeth, and her head turned slowly, almost mechanically.

As she moved, the wound on her neck opened further, causing more blood to gush out.

Her pale fingers wiped away some of the blood and brought it to her mouth.

Licking her own blood, Ban Yue’s eyes filled with a rising intent to kill!

Ling Mo maintained a smile, but internally, his vigilance had skyrocketed!

This was the strongest zombie he had ever encountered. Their previous exchanges were merely tests; those superficial wounds were hardly an issue for Ban Yue.

Now, she was going to unleash her true strength!

“Then I’ll just kill you all and take what I want.”

It was like a beast coiling for its final pounce; Ban Yue moved suddenly!

Her speed wasn’t particularly fast, but she could still dodge left and right as she lunged forward. This style of movement made it almost impossible to hit her, even with a gun!

Ling Mo unleashed his Psychic Power, forming a disruptive Psychic Net in front of him, while gripping a bottle of Venom tightly in his hand.

Ye Lian and Xia Na took positions on either side, while Li Yalin, though unarmed, had lethal hands.

Ban Yue clearly didn’t see these Advanced Zombies and a human as much of a threat, but this time, her target was decidedly Ling Mo.

When rivals in love meet, their eyes blaze with jealousy. As Ban Yue closed in to within five meters of Ling Mo, she suddenly performed a somersault in mid-air.

She leapt from the air, her hands aiming straight for Ling Mo’s head!

The move was so unexpected that Li Yalin, who was closest to intercepting, couldn’t react in time and watched as Ban Yue flipped over her head.

Using no external force, a zombie’s exceptional leaping ability was enough for Ban Yue to complete the maneuver.

However, Xia Na and Ye Lian reacted simultaneously, their blades crossing in mid-air, slashing toward Ban Yue.

Yet, Ban Yue demonstrated the exceptional agility and physical prowess of a Leader-Level Zombie. Even in such tight quarters, she could maneuver with extreme finesse. Despite the incoming blades, she calmly assessed their trajectories. Instead of grabbing Ling Mo’s head, her hands pressed down on the side of Xia Na’s blade.

Although Xia Na twisted her wrist in an attempt to slice Ban Yue’s hand, the immense force caused Xia Na’s blade to snap once more, sending her stumbling forward.

Despite this, Ban Yue’s palm was still sliced open by the blade, causing blood to spurt out.

At that moment, Ye Lian’s blade slashed towards Ban Yue’s abdomen. Utilizing the force she generated from deflecting the blade, Ban Yue performed a side flip to the ground. Upon landing, she immediately sidestepped and caught the back of Ye Lian’s Curved Knife with a quick grab.

“Snap!”

With a swift motion, she smacked the Curved Knife to the ground, and as Ye Lian lunged forward, Ban Yue sidestepped again and delivered a chop to Ye Lian’s nape.

Although Ye Lian quickly turned her body to counter, and Ling Mo’s Psychic Interference intervened, Ban Yue’s hand still slid against Ye Lian’s back.

This sudden move made Ye Lian’s body go completely limp. In such a confined space, Ban Yue’s reactions were too swift and precise!

Ye Lian immediately fell to the ground, and Ban Yue, without even glancing at her, extended her other hand towards Ling Mo’s neck.

At this critical moment, Xia Na couldn’t turn around in time, and Li Yalin had yet to reach them!

Close combat was Ling Mo’s biggest weakness, and given Ban Yue’s attack speed, she could snap his neck in the blink of an eye!

In this life-and-death instant, Ling Mo’s mind went blank, and his Psychic Power potential was fully unleashed!

As Ban Yue stepped into the Psychic Net, she hesitated for just a moment. Ling Mo seized the opportunity and unhesitatingly splashed the Venom in his hand towards her!

This was his one chance! As he threw the Venom, Ling Mo also brought up his Short Knife. Given Ban Yue’s speed, it was unlikely he could strike her, but it would serve as a defensive measure.

Although Ban Yue quickly shook off the Psychic Interference, she couldn’t dodge the large splash of Venom in time.

She managed to avoid a full hit by sidestepping, but some of the Venom still splattered onto her.

As the Venom made contact with her wounds, Ban Yue’s expression momentarily froze.

Nonetheless, she continued her grab towards Ling Mo. Just before she could make contact, the Psychic Interference struck again, and Ling Mo slashed at her wrist with his Short Knife.

By then, Li Yalin and Xia Na had also arrived behind her. Under normal circumstances, Ban Yue would have easily dodged their attacks, but after avoiding Ling Mo’s strike, her body suddenly stiffened.

“Thud!”

Although the Short Knife was destroyed, Xia Na’s powerful fingers tore into Ban Yue’s back, and Li Yalin delivered a fierce kick that sent her flying.

Ban Yue landed heavily in a flower bed. As she staggered to her feet, she saw Xia Na and Li Yalin rushing toward her.

Ling Mo’s Psychic Interference hit again, and the Venom took effect quickly, causing her to stumble.

This time, Xia Na’s fingers pierced directly through Ban Yue’s shoulder, dragging out a spray of blood, while Li Yalin aimed a slash at her abdomen.

But Ban Yue let out a ferocious roar, and Ling Mo instantly felt his Psychic Tentacle snap, sending a wave of sharp pain through his head.

Both Xia Na and Li Yalin froze momentarily, using that split second to retreat several steps. Ban Yue glanced at the slowly rising Ye Lian before darting into the greenery, disappearing from sight.

“Don’t chase her!”

Ling Mo called out to Xia Na and Li Yalin. He hadn’t expected Ban Yue to have this trump card. It felt like a tiger’s roar, a suppression of higher-tier over lower-tier.

Both Xia Na and Li Yalin looked pale, and Ye Lian appeared temporarily incapacitated. Even Ling Mo felt like his head was filled with lead.

The Venom significantly lowered Ban Yue’s combat capabilities, but as even Li Yalin could withstand it, so could Ban Yue. She likely wouldn’t be affected by the Venom’s mutating effects, given the high purity of the Virus in her system.

They were in no condition to pursue, and even if they managed to catch up, it would only lead to mutual destruction…