Chapter 89 – The Awkwardness After Gossip

While clearing out the Mutation Zombies in the Laboratory Building, Ling Mo used his Puppet Control Ability to gather the remaining zombies into a classroom and locked the door from the inside, avoiding unnecessary battles.

Compared to Mutation Zombies, ordinary zombies are more numerous but lack consciousness. Once you understand their instinctive behaviors, dealing with them becomes less difficult. Even for ordinary people, as long as they stay calm and use various strategies, they can find a way to survive.

However, survival and the ability to move freely are two different things. For someone like Ling Mo, who traversed half of the zombie-infested campus, it’s something ordinary people can’t even imagine attempting.

After giving one piece of Gel to Ye Lian, Ling Mo set aside another piece, then stuffed the remaining three pieces of Virus Gel into a plastic bag. He estimated that it wouldn’t be long before these gels fused together into a higher-purity piece of Gel.

The evolution of zombies might just be an external manifestation of viruses devouring each other and evolving…

Upon returning downstairs, Ling Mo took an opportunity to give a piece of Virus Gel to Xia Na, then asked Lin Luanqiu, “We’re almost at the School Hospital. Can you tell us about the surroundings? We’ll definitely need to stay there for a while.”

Although the School Hospital is more like a large clinic, it might have things you can’t find in regular pharmacies. While Ling Mo agreed to take Lin Luanqiu to the hospital, he didn’t plan to leave empty-handed.

After all, he and Lin Luanqiu had no personal connection; it was just a mutually beneficial transaction. But the biggest difference between humans and ordinary zombies is that humans don’t act purely on instinct—they have emotions. Ling Mo was no different. He had a favorable impression of someone like Lin Luanqiu, who was independent and tried not to burden others. So, helping her bandage a wound was a small task he didn’t mind doing.

Lin Luanqiu curiously glanced at Ye Lian and then at Ling Mo. However, aside from noticing they had fought with zombies, she couldn’t discern much else.

Hearing Ling Mo’s question, she set aside her speculations and said, “Back when I was with the Rescue Team, we considered going to the School Hospital because some of our classmates were injured. But we gave up because it was too difficult. However, I do know a bit about the School Hospital. There was only one doctor on duty and two nurses. I’m not sure if there were any patients when the disaster broke out. The area inside is quite large, so even if there are zombies, it shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. At the very least, we can retreat if things go wrong.”

Although she said this, Lin Luanqiu thought to herself that the number of zombies in the School Hospital couldn’t be more than in the Laboratory Building. Since Ling Mo and Ye Lian managed to wander around upstairs, getting in and out of the School Hospital should be a piece of cake for them.

Despite her thoughts, Lin Luanqiu remained diligent about her responsibilities and continued to be cautious.

“How long will it take to get there?” Ling Mo pondered for a moment and then asked.

Lin Luanqiu thought for a moment and replied, “At most, five minutes. But I don’t recommend taking the main road because we would pass by a basketball court, which is usually crowded and now likely full of zombies. It’s better to take a shortcut.”

“That’s up to you,” Ling Mo said with a smile.

However, just as he turned around, he suddenly heard Lin Luanqiu ask in a low voice, “Actually, I’ve wanted to ask this from the beginning. I admit I have a selfish motive—I want to follow you to the hospital and find a way to survive. But this question has been really bothering me…”

“Go ahead,” Ling Mo turned back to look at her, noticing her somewhat awkward expression, which made him feel puzzled.

Lin Luanqiu gave him a deep look, then turned her gaze to Ye Lian and asked, “Since Ye Lian is also a student here, even if she doesn’t know the current situation on campus, she should at least know the routes to different places, right? But…”

Ling Mo’s heart skipped a beat. He realized he had overlooked the fact that Ye Lian was a student at X City University. Her ignorance of the campus routes could indeed arouse Lin Luanqiu’s suspicion.

However, Ling Mo quickly composed himself. Seeing Lin Luanqiu’s curious gaze, he forced a smile and a look of sorrow flashed in his eyes, “Ye Lian has amnesia.”

“Amnesia?”

How could she have amnesia?

Lin Luanqiu was shocked, but just as she was about to ask more, she noticed the look in Ling Mo’s eyes and immediately fell silent.

Ling Mo’s expression wasn’t just an act. Given Ye Lian’s current state as a zombie, her situation was indeed very similar to having amnesia. Without revealing Ye Lian’s true identity, this explanation was undoubtedly the most fitting.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry…” Lin Luanqiu immediately regretted her curiosity, silently cursing herself for being too nosy. She had her suspicions about Ye Lian and Xia Na’s situation and found Ling Mo’s behavior somewhat mysterious and unconventional, which led her to voice one of her doubts.

But seeing Ling Mo’s reaction now, her perception of Ye Lian changed instantly.

Previously, Lin Luanqiu had been somewhat apprehensive of this extremely beautiful yet cold and emotionally detached girl, and thus kept her distance. But now, she couldn’t help but wonder what terrible experiences Ye Lian had gone through to cause her amnesia. The fact that Ling Mo was willing to keep this amnesiac girl by his side was something not everyone could do.

This world, full of dangers, was already like walking on thin ice for normal people, let alone someone with amnesia…

My nosy question must have brought up painful memories for Ling Mo…

Feeling guilty, Lin Luanqiu sighed softly and awkwardly said, “I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Ling Mo indeed felt a bit uncomfortable. Introducing Ye Lian as simply having amnesia, especially in front of others, was painful. Ye Lian’s situation wasn’t just about memory loss; she had completely lost her human identity.

Fortunately, when Ye Lian regains her memories, she won’t feel sorrow and pain over becoming a zombie. For Ling Mo, that would be the best outcome. If Xia Na had regained her humanity along with her memories, Ling Mo would have had to seriously consider what was truly best for Ye Lian.

But for now, he could focus on helping Ye Lian recover her memories and enhance her rationality.

This small incident created an awkward atmosphere.

Ling Mo didn’t want to linger any longer. After a brief rest, he urged the group to continue moving.

They hadn’t gone far on the main road when Lin Luanqiu led Ling Mo and the others through a small garden, taking a shortcut to the School Hospital. Through a row of trees along the road, Ling Mo noticed that the other side was indeed a basketball court, with many zombies wandering around. Forcing their way through would have taken an unpredictable amount of time and could even pose a danger.