Chapter 154 Departure

After more than an hour of experimentation, Wujue and the others finally achieved some results.

The targets struck by the green crystal began to slowly recover, and there were signs that the virus within their bodies was being killed off by the restoration process.

However, the probability of resurrection was exceptionally slim.

Since a vast majority had been bitten to death before mutating into zombies, resurrection might only be possible for those who were infected and mutated prior to death.

Wujue remarked, "It seems a new problem has emerged. The total number of zombies in this city is quite substantial. If anyone truly resurrects, we must figure out a way to rescue them, and as for those already dead, we will likely need to find a way to deal with their corpses. It appears we have our work cut out for us."

Huxun replied, "That is not an issue. Xiao Han, Xiaoyang, and I should be able to handle it; we just need a few days."

"Then I must ask everyone to bear the hardship," Xiaoyang concluded.

Thus, over the next few days, the group busied themselves with clearing the zombies throughout the entire city of Ning, while mobilizing the remaining survivors to help rescue those who had been resurrected and to handle the bodies.

Unexpectedly, most of the people initially summoned strongly resisted the undertaking, especially being forced to face their once-deceased friends and family, which undoubtedly felt like a fresh round of torture.

Yet, when they witnessed a few individuals miraculously surviving, it undeniably served as a shot in the arm.

Those who had been forced apart from their families and left to scrape by in the doomsday finally got a taste of family reunion, inevitably stoking a stronger desire to survive.

Wujue knew that the days ahead would be even more arduous, and it was also time for him to step away.

"Rebuilding Ning City is undoubtedly a time-consuming and laborious task. Xiaoyang, who do you think should stay behind to help?" Wujue proactively brought up the suggestion. After all, a significant amount of time had been delayed, and it was time to set forth.

After conferring with Tell, Xiaoyang decided that Tell and he would remain behind, while Xiao Han and Princess Anyi would set off with Wujue to scout the path ahead temporarily.

Before parting, Xiaoyang specifically urged the team to act with caution and maintain contact at any time if anything arose.

Wujue smiled and said, "Rest assured, with Anyi watching over me this time, nothing will go wrong again."

The group parted ways once more. Wujue, along with Anyi and Xiao Han, boarded a car and drove straight toward the territory of Anwan Province.

For the first half-hour, none of the three uttered a word. Wujue knew that the other two were likely still harboring memories of previous events and inevitably held some grievances against him.

He was in no rush to offer explanations, preferring to let time restore their trust in him.

Having already left Ning City and entered the highway, Xiao Han looked at the desolate scenery along the road and could not help asking, "If we just keep going like this, I wonder what kind of situation lies ahead."

Wujue glanced out the window and said, "Barring any unexpected events, the South China Gang and perhaps even Mingdu are waiting for us. If the threat of the Sky-Slaying Clan has been largely eradicated, what remains is the struggle among survivors."

"Wujue, you have changed a lot," Princess Anyi finally broke the silence, asking, "In truth, even without the purple crystal, the changes along this journey are enough to ensure you are no longer a monk."

Wujue chuckled dryly and said, "A monk? I imagine even the Buddha himself would not forgive me."

He reached out to rub his temples and said, "Ever since I was affected by the purple crystal, I have been plagued by constant headaches. Every time, I cannot help but commit more outrageous acts. Deep down inside, I simply cannot accept myself from that period."

"Indeed, a person should not go too far," Xiao Han chimed in. "While I admit gray areas exist in this world, human hearts can be far too dark, making this world no different from the apocalypse. Since we have resolved those issues, I hope we can do better moving forward."

Princess Anyi, however, sneered softly, suddenly turning her head to stare at Wujue as she said, "I am keeping my eye on you. If you continue to disappoint me, I will never be friends with you again."

Having known Anyi for so long, this was the first time he had heard her say such a thing, and Wujue somehow detected a faint hint of coquettishness in it.

He was no longer the naive man of the past; every nuance in a woman's words could be heard with absolute clarity.

Understanding this in his heart, he smiled and said, "Rest assured, with Xiao Han and Xiaoyang watching over me, I will never stray down the wrong path. However, the road ahead remains long, and facing increasingly complex situations, we cannot always avoid resorting to extreme measures."

"Speaking of extreme measures, shouldn't we figure out how to detour?" Seizing the moment before the two could start bickering, Xiao Han suddenly stopped the car.

Pointing at the road ahead, he said, "Look at how many zombies are blocking the way. The cars can't get through."

"Right, what place is this ahead? Have you pinpointed our destination?" Wujue glanced forward. Sure enough, numerous wandering zombies blocked the passage.

Pushing forward this way was clearly not a viable option.

"It seems we have no choice but to detour." Wujue glanced outside the car and pointed at a narrow path beside the highway, asking, "Shall we abandon the car or just charge through?"

Princess Anyi pushed open the car door and said, "There is no need for such trouble. I will just carry the car down."

With that, she used her bare hands to lift the jeep entirely off the ground, then leaped down below the highway.

Beside them lay a rugged mountain trail. Inside the vehicle, Xiao Han and Wujue were shaken violently and could not help shouting, "I say, Big Sister, take it easy! The car can't possibly drive on this path. Just let us out!"

Finding a suitable spot, Anyi let the two down and asked, "How about that? Isn't solving it this way much faster?"

Wujue hurriedly stepped out of the vehicle and said, "Anyi, why have you become so impulsive as well? Isn't this just creating more trouble? It looks like we have to leave the car here."

Temporarily parking the vehicle by the roadside, the trio proceeded on foot across the mountain trail, hurrying forward.

According to the plan, the area ahead was another major city within Anwan territory. Xiaoyang's intelligence indicated that the influence of the South China Gang here was rather complicated. Because the local area was a secondary city within the province, local factional forces were quite strong, and coupled with the South China Gang's long-term operations, it had actually formed an alliance with local outlaws.

With the arrival of the apocalypse, casualties here were unknown, making it difficult to judge what kind of people might remain. They could only tell Wujue and the others to take care.

As Wujue walked forward, he pondered how to fabricate an excuse to cover up his previous conflict with Boss Cheng once they encountered members of the South China Gang.

At this juncture, he could no longer act recklessly; he would simply have to play it by ear.

As they walked, the three suddenly heard a rustling sound and saw several figures emerge from the jungle, holding hunting rifles and pointing them as they demanded, "Who goes there? How did you break in?"

Judging by their attire, they looked like farmers who had spent their lives working in the countryside. Wujue exchanged a glance with Xiao Han, and the two replied, "We are refugees fleeing this way, hoping to pass along some news."

"What news? Did you come from Ning City?" asked a sallow-faced man.

Wujue nodded and said, "Yes, we came from Ning City. A major event has occurred over there. Do you all know about it?"

"You mean the zombies?" asked another elderly man, likely in his sixties or seventies, holding a shoulder pole. "They are everywhere in the cities now; no one doesn't know. What do you want to say?"

Wujue smiled and said, "We want to say that salvation has arrived. Someone has found a way to deal with the zombies, peace is being restored to Ning City, and soon zombies will no longer be a threat."

"That's impossible!" the first man retorted. "The zombies have been causing havoc for over a month, and the whole city has nearly been overrun. You expect us to believe the world is saved just because of a few words from you?"

"Brother, don't listen to them. I bet these are spies sent by Boss Wu," another younger man wearing a gray jacket and carrying a hammer chimed in. "We can't trust them. Drive them all out!"

Upon hearing the mention of a "Boss Wu," Wujue suspected some gang affiliation. Observing their attire made the situation somewhat clearer, so he explained, "You must be mistaken. I have never heard of any Boss Wu, but if we are unwelcome, we will simply take a detour."

With that, he stepped back a few paces and exchanged a simultaneous look with Xiao Han. The moment they retreated, Xiao Han dashed forward at lightning speed, employing Mirror Light to knock the hunting rifle straight out of the first man's hands.

Wujue stepped forward as well, disarming the young man of his hammer, tossed it onto the ground, and said, "It seems you all harbor far too many misunderstandings. Perhaps you still do not understand what has truly transpired."