Chapter 134: The Metamorphosis of Wujue (Part Two)

The toilet in this place had long been broken, with no water running, so everyone had to head out to the fields to relieve themselves. Wujue deliberately walked a long distance away. Once he reached a secluded spot, he unbuttoned his trousers and began to urinate at a leisurely pace.

He heard footsteps behind him, someone quietly trailing him, and he immediately knew it was Xue Zhong.

Wujue didn't make a sound. He waited until the person drew closer, and once he felt he was in a position to subdue him at any moment, he spoke quietly: "So, you really did come!"

Xue Zhong let out a cold snort. "It seems you aren't completely wasted after all, but you've exposed yourself! Wujue, it’s a disgrace that you call yourself a monk. Once you got here, you became just as ruthless and depraved as the rest of them. I think you're the next A-Bao or A-Hu, just as arrogant and tyrannical as they were."

"Oh, so you've come to act as the instrument of justice, and you're pointing a gun at me?" Wujue still didn't turn around. He could hear the click of the safety being disengaged on the revolver. This guy certainly knew how to come up with high-sounding excuses.

Xue Zhong took another step forward, pressed the muzzle against the back of Wujue’s head, and said, "That’s right! For my sister, for everyone here, I have to do this! I won't let anyone hurt my Xue’er again, no one. Wujue, go to hell!"

*Bang!* A shot rang out, but the bullet tore through the night sky and missed its mark.

Wujue whipped his head around, dodging the bullet with lightning speed. He lunged at Xue Zhong, grabbed the revolver from his hand, pressed the safety back on, and snarled, "Is this your justification? That you’ll do anything for your sister? What about the fact that I saved you? Are you going to tell me that this world is just about the strong preying on the weak?"

Xue Zhong hadn't expected Wujue to be faking his drunkenness, nor that his reflexes would be so sharp. He panicked and stammered, "No, I... I just lost my head! Master, I really did see you as a savior, but you can’t keep mixing with Old He and the others. I’m terrified! I’m afraid you’ll get in league with them and eventually come after me too!"

Seeing his scheme had failed, Xue Zhong immediately fell to his knees, clutching Wujue’s leg and begging for mercy. "Please help me, have pity on me. Xue’er can’t be left without someone to look after her. Can you spare me just this once?"

Wujue looked at him with disgust. He reversed the grip on the pistol and asked, "When you pulled that trigger, did you think about sparing me? Why did you really want to kill me? Do you think I don't know? What did you say to your sister, and what is the nature of your relationship? Start talking, and don't you dare lie to me."

Xue Zhong was stunned. He hadn't expected Wujue to be aware of his schemes. He scrambled back a few paces on his knees and stammered, "Impossible, how could you know? Xue’er... she belongs only to me. She’s mine."

"You disgusting piece of trash!" Wujue suddenly lost all desire to hear more. He swung the butt of the gun with all his might, smashing it into Xue Zhong's head and drawing blood instantly.

The man began to howl like a slaughtered pig. Wujue lunged forward, clamped a hand over his mouth, and growled, "What are you screaming for? You brought this on yourself!"

He then raised the gun butt and struck again and again, slamming it into Xue Zhong’s skull until it was crushed and his brains splattered out. Only then did he stop.

Staring at the corpse on the ground, Wujue dropped the gun in a daze, thinking to himself: I killed him. I killed that damn wretch.

The stifling pressure in his chest had finally been released. Wujue wiped the blood off the pistol grip onto Xue Zhong’s clothes, wondering what he should do next.

He looked around; no one had discovered them yet, but he feared the commotion might have already stirred the people at the farm. Wujue pondered for a moment and decided it would be better to cover up the truth.

He hoisted the body onto his back and headed toward the city center. Under the cover of night, he found a place where zombies gathered, dumped the body, and created a loud noise to lure the undead.

He slipped away into the shadows and watched as the zombies swarmed to tear the corpse apart. He felt no guilt; perhaps this was the kind of person he truly needed to evolve into.

A warlord capable of surviving in the apocalypse.

Wujue didn't look back again. As he climbed back over the fence into the farm, he spotted a shadow standing by the fields, wondering what they were doing.

A glimmer of suspicion rose in his heart. He approached cautiously and discovered a little girl squatting on the ground, staring at something.

Wujue realized with a start that she was standing exactly where Xue Zhong had fallen. He cleared his throat and asked, "Who’s there?"

The girl jumped, lifted her head weakly, and said, "It’s me, Xue’er. Big brother, why are you still out in the middle of the night?"

So it was Xue Zhong’s sister. Wujue sneered inwardly but kept his composure. "I drank too much and had a bit of a headache, so I came out for some air. Why aren't you sleeping?"

Xue Xue stood up, rubbing her eyes. "My brother is missing, so I came looking for him. Do you know where he might be?"

Wujue suddenly recalled their conversation from earlier in the day. He wondered if Xue Xue would suspect him if her brother turned up missing. He replied calmly, "You mean Xue Zhong? I haven't seen him all night. Is he not at the farm?"

Xue Xue peered at him through the darkness and shook her head, then suddenly giggled. "That's okay. My brother would never get lost. I know you have the ability to find him, right, Big Brother?"

Wujue listened to these seemingly innocent but deeply loaded words. It appeared the little girl was trying to threaten him. He yawned and said, "Why do you say that? Why would you think I know where he is? He didn't tell me anything!"

Xue Xue hit a wall, but she didn't seem to mind. Instead, she stepped forward and grabbed Wujue’s arm. "It doesn't matter. Even if my brother is gone, you’ll take care of me, right? My brother said you’re the only one to trust, and you’re so strong, you’re the only one qualified to protect me, aren't you?"

As she spoke, the seemingly young girl actually leaned against him and began to act coy.

Wujue felt a wave of revulsion from the bottom of his heart. Both siblings were perverts; he hadn't realized Xue Xue was so calculating.

He reached out and, for the first time, lifted her chin with his finger. "If you behave well, I will take care of you—in your brother's place."

Xue Xue let out a giggle, buried her face in his chest, rubbed against him, and then pulled away. "It’s a deal, then. I expect you to show me your best tomorrow!"

She turned and skipped away.

Wujue knew she was acting so bold because she thought she held leverage over him. Regardless, whether it was Xue Zhong or Xue Xue, the moment he found the opportunity, he would show them no mercy.

He found a shovel, buried the bloodstains on the ground, and finally went to sleep.

Tomorrow might be another day of blood and slaughter.

***

When he woke up the next morning, he heard the commotion outside—people saying Xue Zhong was missing and how pitiful his sister was.

Wujue opened his eyes but didn't move immediately, lying in bed to mentally rehearse the script he had prepared the night before.

Finally, there was a knock at the door.

It was Huron coming to call him. Wujue answered and stepped outside. The courtyard was in chaos. Xue Xue was squatting on the ground, crying her heart out, while the others stood around watching.

He asked a few perfunctory questions, and after getting the gist of things, he stepped down into the yard. "Alright, since your brother is missing, we'll help you look for him."

Hearing this, some of Old He’s men grumbled. They weren't on the same side as Xue Zhong, and they were reluctant to help.

Wujue swept his gaze across everyone and said, "I know you have your opinions, but since I’ve taken charge here, I consider you all family. Family doesn't stand by when there’s danger. You can choose not to go, or even to leave the group, but once you walk out that door, don't expect me to look after you anymore."

His words hit like a hammer, silencing everyone. The troublemakers were cowed, while the women and children felt a sense of admiration; in this apocalypse, what they needed most was a reliable man and leader.