Chapter 27: Tragedy (Fourth Update)

According to the original plan, Wu Jue was supposed to search the city for usable medicines. However, the previous encounter with An Yi and Xun’er’s constant entanglement had already delayed him for quite some time.

Now, having reached the city center, he took out the marked map and began searching. Not far from the outskirts stood a large pharmacy. Xiao Yang had said that his family had invested in this business. If they were lucky enough to meet the manager, they could mention Xiao Yang’s name and would likely receive help.

But as they drew closer to the city center, the number of zombies increased, forcing Wu Jue to take careful detours toward the pharmacy.

After much difficulty, they finally arrived. Evading the zombies at the front entrance, the two slipped in through the rear window. Inside, chaos reigned—clear traces of destruction everywhere. Wu Jue landed softly, but Xun’er called out, “It’s too high, I’m scared. Big Monk, catch me.”

Wu Jue turned with a frown—was this really the time for mischief? Before he could say a word, Xun’er had already leapt down toward him.

Fortunately, Wu Jue was quick and caught her, shifting his stance to steady himself. Before he could even sigh, the click of a gun being loaded sounded behind him, and an elderly voice barked, “Don’t move! Who are you people?”

Wu Jue was instantly awkward. He could neither let go of Xun’er nor continue holding her. With a sigh, he said, “Sir, we are not bad people. Xiao Yang sent us here. May I put her down before we talk?”

But Xun’er clung to him, giggling, “Why put me down? I’m so tired, just hold me a little longer.” With a wave of her hand, some mysterious trick sent the old man’s gun bouncing out of his grasp.

The sudden appearance of the weapon startled the old man even more. He’d never seen anything like it and yelled, “Monsters! Who are you really?”

Though Wu Jue hadn’t seen exactly what Xun’er did, he knew she had frightened the man. He quickly set her down and turned to the old man, saying, “Please, don’t be scared. The girl was just playing a trick on you. Xiao Yang sent us to collect some medicines. Are you Uncle Dong?”

He pulled a wireless earpiece from his pocket and offered it to the white-haired man. “Try contacting Xiao Yang with this—you’ll understand.”

Uncle Dong seemed to recognize the earpiece, and his doubts eased. After putting it on, Xiao Yang’s excited voice soon came through, “Uncle Dong, I finally hear your voice again! Are you well? I wish I could come to you, but there are zombies everywhere outside, and my granddaughter, she...”

After a brief conversation, Uncle Dong relaxed, removed the earpiece, and returned it to Wu Jue. “Young master has explained everything. I’ll prepare whatever supplies you need. Come six o’clock tonight, we’ll load them up. Until then, stay here and don’t wander.”

Wu Jue nodded, then glanced at the hunting rifle floating in midair. With a frown at the laughing Xun’er, he said, “That’s enough, no more tricks. Give the gun back before you frighten him even more.”

Xun’er clapped her hands, and the rifle dropped at Uncle Dong’s feet, which he caught reflexively. It was indeed strange—Xiao Yang had called Xun’er a witch, and now Wu Jue saw she truly had some skills.

He unconsciously regarded her with newfound respect; if her abilities were properly used, she could be a valuable ally.

Uncle Dong began preparing the supplies, instructing them not to wander, especially not to the second floor. Wu Jue noticed the old man’s evasiveness but did not press the matter. Instead, he offered to help.

Seeing Wu Jue’s insistence, Uncle Dong did not refuse, and the two set about organizing the medicines, chatting idly as they worked.

The old man looked him over with curiosity. “Young man, I see you’re shaved bald and have the scars of a monk. Are you, by chance, a practicing monk?”

Wu Jue nodded with a sigh. “To be honest, I am indeed a martial monk. When my monastery was destroyed, I wandered here, but the past is too painful to recall...”

As they chatted, a disturbing noise sounded from upstairs. Uncle Dong’s expression changed; he quickly set down what he was holding. “I’ll go see. Don’t come up.”

He hurried upstairs and locked the door behind him.

Wu Jue found this strange and unsettling. He turned to Xun’er. “Doesn’t it seem odd? Don’t you think there’s something strange about the second floor?”

Xun’er smiled. “Want to know? I can show you—just need something transparent.”

She fetched a clear glass from beneath the counter, filled it with water, and began to stroke the cup, muttering under her breath.

Soon, the water shimmered, revealing a scene: a small, enclosed room in disarray. The shadow of a little girl appeared in the reflection, head bowed and hair covering her face, sobbing quietly.

Then they saw Uncle Dong enter to comfort her. “Just hold on a little longer, granddaughter. Soon, Grandpa will keep you company.”

But the girl resisted, lunging at him, only to be restrained by some force—just inches from his body, unable to reach him.

Wu Jue now saw clearly: the girl’s arms and legs were bound in heavy chains—she was imprisoned.

How could a grandfather treat his own granddaughter this way?

Rage surged within Wu Jue. Unable to watch any longer, he dashed upstairs. Xun’er called after him, “Wait! You haven’t seen the whole truth—the girl is…”

Wu Jue was already at the door, kicking it open and rushing into the room where Uncle Dong stood, looking embarrassed. “Master, why are you up here? This—”

Before he could finish, a figure leapt onto his back and bit down hard. Uncle Dong howled in pain but could not bring himself to throw the child off.

Wu Jue saw clearly now—the one biting and tearing at the old man’s flesh was his own granddaughter, the girl he had imprisoned.

She had already become a zombie.

Shock crashed over Wu Jue. He hurried forward to pull Uncle Dong away, but the girl clung fiercely, tearing off a large chunk of flesh as he separated them.

Wu Jue pinned the girl to the ground. She thrashed and snarled, trying to bite him, while Uncle Dong collapsed to the floor, sobbing, “Don’t hurt her, she’s all I have left—she’s innocent. It’s my fault, I brought this on her. Curse me, I deserve to die…”

Wu Jue glanced at Uncle Dong’s bleeding shoulder, realizing he was almost certainly infected. Desperate, he drew his pistol and aimed at the girl’s head. After a moment’s hesitation, he pulled the trigger—a thunderous shot shattered her skull.

“You…” Uncle Dong lurched forward, clutching Wu Jue’s leg, nearly fainting.

Wu Jue gazed at the broken old man, his voice heavy with compassion. “It’s over. Letting her go was the best choice. If you’d acted sooner, today’s tragedy could have been avoided.”

But Uncle Dong rolled over, tears streaming down his face. “You don’t understand. I planned to find the young master and die with my granddaughter. Now, it seems I’ll never see him again.”

With those words, he picked up the hunting rifle, gestured for Wu Jue to stay back, then abruptly turned the barrel on himself and ended his life.

In the blink of an eye, two more lives were lost. Wu Jue’s heart felt unbearably heavy—such was the apocalypse, filled with relentless sorrow, leaving no time for hesitation.

He returned downstairs without a word, sank wearily to the floor, and waited in silence for Xiao Yang’s arrival.

Doomsday Divine Martial Chapter 27—Tragedy (Fourth Update).