Chapter 9 – Encountering Survivors

When Ling Mo led Ye Lian out towards the main city, he realized that Ye Lian’s changes were not just seen in her independent actions but also in the amplification of her instincts.

Facing ordinary Zombies, Ye Lian’s attitude was like confronting insignificant lower creatures. Her method of killing them had become more swift and efficient. Her gaze resembled someone stepping on an inconspicuous bug. Moreover, her attack speed had increased significantly. If she was like a cheetah before, now she was entirely a human-shaped cheetah.

The evolution of the Virus, although it made Ye Lian’s appearance more human, her behavior had become increasingly similar to that of a true beast, especially in hunting weaker creatures. To Ye Lian, ordinary Zombies were probably just weak scum.

Ling Mo couldn’t help but wonder what Ye Lian’s reaction would be when she encountered humans… However, under his control, preventing Ye Lian from attacking indiscriminately was entirely possible.

Riding a bicycle and swiftly passing through the streets and Alleys with Ye Lian, Ling Mo found the scene quite enjoyable, if not for the Zombies everywhere.

But the good times didn’t last long. Shortly after entering the city, Ling Mo discovered trouble was coming his way.

To be exact, he ran into two Survivors who were being surrounded and attacked by Zombies.

The two Survivors, a young man and a young woman, didn’t look very old. From the backpacks they carried, it was clear they were out searching for food. They were fighting right outside a supermarket. Using the supermarket door as cover, they barely managed to fend off the Zombies’ frenzied attacks. But as more and more Zombies gathered around, the two began to face frequent crises.

These Zombies were quick and strong, and the supermarket’s glass doors were soon shattered. The two Survivors had no choice but to retreat inside, using shelves and counters as obstacles to fend off the Zombies.

Ling Mo saw this scene from a distance. Initially, he wanted to detour and leave, but his eyes were drawn to the girl.

The girl wielded a long knife, always wearing a smile. Each time a crisis arose, her sudden, swift slashes would take down all the Zombies that came close. Her speed in those moments was almost comparable to Ye Lian’s. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, Ling Mo wouldn’t have believed that such an extraordinary girl could exist among ordinary people.

The most striking thing was her smile. Any other girl in this situation would likely be pale and trembling, if not scared stiff. But her expression seemed to show that she was thoroughly enjoying the battle, even though she was clearly at a disadvantage. Despite her strength, facing more and more Zombies, her stamina was bound to run out eventually. Even Ling Mo could see that her rapid attack style was a significant drain on her energy and concentration.

Yet, she remained so composed…

For a moment, Ling Mo even wondered if this girl, like him, possessed some special ability.

This thought sparked a great curiosity in Ling Mo about the girl. But glancing at Ye Lian seated behind him, he decided it was better to mind his own business. If the girl turned out to be a regular Survivor, it would be fine. But if she had special abilities, she might see through Ye Lian’s true nature, leading to trouble…

Just as he was about to ride away, he heard a shout from the supermarket: “Hey, buddy! Help us out!”

Hearing this, Ling Mo felt a headache coming on.

Not only was he annoyed by being called “buddy,” but that shout was bound to bring more trouble! Zombies’ hearing was even more sensitive than that of ordinary people. As soon as the guy shouted, several Zombies emerged from nearby Alleys or shops. Spotting Ling Mo and Ye Lian, they immediately charged toward them.

“Damn it!” Ling Mo cursed under his breath, pulling out the short knife from his waist and jumping off his bike. Concerned about the girl’s identity, Ling Mo decided to have Ye Lian stay behind him, not letting her fight to avoid revealing anything unusual.

But this was the first time Ling Mo had to face nearly ten Zombies on his own. Relying solely on his own combat skills wouldn’t be enough to handle so many.

Fortunately, Ling Mo had his Puppet Control Ability, and now was the perfect time to test its effectiveness.

As Ling Mo raised his Short Knife to meet the first Zombie charging at him, his gaze shifted to the second one. The moment their eyes met, his powerful Psychic Power forcibly took control of the second Zombie.

Thus, as Ling Mo killed the first Zombie, the controlled second one seemed to offer itself up, colliding headfirst with the tip of his knife.

This was just the beginning. Seeing several more Zombies rushing towards him, Ling Mo kicked away the corpse, feeling a mix of tension and unprecedented clarity in his mind.

He had already tried controlling two Zombies at once—what about three?

Controlling three Zombies simultaneously was a new challenge for Ling Mo. But in this critical moment, he didn’t have time to overthink it. As soon as the idea flashed through his mind, he put it into action without hesitation.

He slashed the leading Zombie with his knife while controlling the two following close behind. As their movements briefly stalled, Ling Mo’s Short Knife swiftly cut through their throats. This method of control, briefly disrupting the Zombies’ actions, proved to be unexpectedly effective in combat.

Using the same technique, Ling Mo appeared to effortlessly charge into the group of Zombies, swiftly and decisively killing nearly ten of them. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the area around Ling Mo was littered with Zombie corpses.

Covered in blood, Ling Mo looked like a god of war, leaving the man and woman in the supermarket completely stunned.

“Holy crap! Xia Na, did you see that? What’s with that guy? He’s a beast!” The guy was dumbstruck, exclaiming in shock, not noticing a Zombie squeezing through a gap in the counter, reaching for him.

“Slice!”

A flash of cold light passed before his eyes, and the Zombie’s hand fell at his feet. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he looked at the girl standing close by.

Xia Na shot him a cold glance, then plunged her Long Knife into the Zombie’s abdomen, pulling it out forcefully: “What does it have to do with me?”

“We’re saved! Come on, let’s break through!” Despite Xia Na’s indifferent response, the guy was thrilled, excited by the turn of events.

Without waiting to see if Ling Mo was willing to help them, the guy immediately dashed out from behind the counter. Xia Na, frowning, quickly followed.

Seeing the two of them heading his way from a distance, Ling Mo knew he couldn’t shake them off for now. Rather than letting them bring a horde of Zombies over, it was better to help them out of the Zombie swarm.