Chapter 28: Encirclement (Fifth Update)

That evening, Xiao Yang led the convoy and finally arrived at their destination.

He was still completely unaware of what had transpired at the pharmacy. It wasn’t until Wujue told him that Old Man Dong was already dead, along with his granddaughter who had mutated and had her head blown off by him, that Xiao Yang began to unravel.

He started to mutter to himself, repeating, “How is this possible? How can this be? I just found Old Dong, how could he be gone already? This is too horrifying.”

Watching his near breakdown, Luo Si stepped forward, grabbed him, and delivered a resounding slap. “Xiao Yang, snap out of it. Don’t forget why we’re here. Now is not the time for anyone to talk about giving up. As long as we can mass-produce the viral serum, everything can still change.”

Xiao Yang seemed to come to his senses, sitting in his wheelchair, awakening from his stupor. He turned to Wujue. “Master, help me. I need to recover my mobility as soon as possible. Immediately!”

Seeing the determination on his face, Wujue sighed. “Alas, Xiao Yang, haste brings no success. You should—”

“No! Master, you owe me this,” Xiao Yang interrupted, wheeling himself before Wujue and speaking in a tone so calm it was almost frightening.

Wujue hesitated, but before he could reply, shouts came from outside: “It’s bad! More zombies are coming! We have to leave now!”

Luo Si reacted at once, directing the seven or eight people with them to carry the medicine. Xun’er, however, stood by coldly, watching and sneering, “What’s this? Just running for your lives? Even with the antidote serum, so what? None of you can escape, not really.”

She broke into wild laughter, as if transformed into another person, pointing at each of them. “You’re all going to die. Not one of you will escape—first Luo Si, then the others, and finally Xiao Yang. Tonight is your apocalypse!”

“What nonsense are you talking?” Wujue grabbed her, refusing to believe the girl’s wild words, suspecting her talk was just an attempt to scare them.

But just then, a thunderous crash sounded outside—the zombies had broken through the door and were charging at them.

Wujue pushed Xun’er aside and moved to shield Xiao Yang, urging the others, “Go! I’ll handle this!”

He brandished a machine gun and unleashed a barrage at the oncoming zombies, riddling them with bullet holes until they collapsed in bloody heaps.

Wujue stepped forward, but quickly realized these two zombies were not ordinary. No sooner had they fallen than they sprang up again, their bodies growing even larger as they lunged once more.

In the close quarters, Wujue had no time to shoot. He grabbed one zombie and, with a move of the Mighty Vajra Palm, flung it hard enough to embed it in the wall, where it struggled but could not free itself.

The other zombie, however, ignored him and charged at the rest of the group. At the same moment, even more zombies poured in—every one of them mutated, far stronger than the typical kind.

Wujue immediately abandoned the fight, turning to escort Xiao Yang and the others to safety. Unfortunately, the back exit was already blocked. Xiao Yang couldn’t get out, and only Luo Si, carrying the medicine, managed to get to the vehicle.

With no other choice, Wujue hoisted Xiao Yang onto his back and dashed up to the second floor. He locked the door and barricaded it with heavy objects, finally allowing himself a breath of relief.

Xiao Yang, sitting and sighing, said, “I’m useless now, Master. You don’t need to worry about me. Just protect Luo Si and get the medicine back to the prison. If you can complete the serum, we win.”

Wujue glanced out the window. In a matter of moments, the building was surrounded by a dense horde of zombies. No one could tell where they’d all come from, and the sight inspired nothing but dread.

Hearing Xiao Yang’s dejected words, Wujue asked, “So you’re just giving up? You’re brilliant and capable—why stop now? And the serum you created, would you really hand that over to someone else so easily? Do you trust Luo Si that much?”

“What, you’re still doubting him?” Xiao Yang met Wujue’s gaze, regaining his composure. “I admit he’s ambitious, frighteningly calm, but only someone like him can succeed. I’d rather see my work preserved than destroyed in some mutual ruin.”

Wujue’s reply was cold. “And if you’ve chosen the wrong person? Could you bear the consequences if it all goes wrong?”

“What are you trying to say?” Xiao Yang’s frustration finally erupted. He slapped his own legs. “I’m already a cripple! I’ve survived this long by sheer will—what more do you want from me?”

“Do you want to be healed? Fine, I’ll give you a chance.” Wujue strode over, grabbed Xiao Yang’s legs, and began to channel the secret Da Lin Temple technique, the Marrow Transformation Sutra. “Let’s see you stand again—and witness what’s to come.”

With his vast inner strength, Wujue forcibly unblocked Xiao Yang’s meridians, stimulating his blood flow and pressure points, releasing years of pent-up frustration in one cathartic rush.

He didn’t stop there—he taught Xiao Yang to recite the Bodhi Mind Method, easing his inner anger and restoring his strength.

Drawing on years of martial arts experience, Wujue boldly helped Xiao Yang recover from his disability, returning him to a normal state.

It was nothing short of miraculous. In just an hour, Xiao Yang felt movement in his legs.

For the first time in ages, he felt the urge to stand. Supported by Wujue, he actually did—at first shaky, unable to walk more than a few steps, but as Wujue continued to regulate his breath, Xiao Yang’s body grew steadily more agile.

He was astonished himself. “I can walk! I really can walk!”

His joy was short-lived, as heavy banging echoed from the door—the zombies battering it, threatening to break in at any moment.

Startled, Xiao Yang collapsed back onto the floor. Wujue hushed him. “Keep quiet. We need a plan to escape.”

He surveyed their surroundings; the zombies were all massed in the street. Even if they got out, escaping safely on foot was nearly impossible—especially with a just-rehabilitated Xiao Yang.

They needed another solution. Glancing at the rooftops across the way, inspiration struck—perhaps they could leap from roof to roof and make their escape that way.

With this thought, Wujue quickly gathered their belongings and searched for an exit route.

He ensured they had all their weapons, handed Xiao Yang a pistol, slung a machine gun over his own shoulder, and tucked a dagger into his belt.

Tying a rope firmly around Xiao Yang’s waist, Wujue slipped out the window and climbed onto the roof.

He looked around—no zombies had reached the rooftops yet. He called to Xiao Yang, helping him climb out and onto the roof.

After much effort, they finally made it. Together, they gazed upon the fallen city and the uneven rooftops stretching before them.

“What now?” Xiao Yang asked.

Wujue, feet light as a wheel, hoisted Xiao Yang onto his back and soared into the air. “We’ll cross these rooftops—become skywalkers for a night.”

Their figures flashed through the air like lightning, bounding across the cityscape, limitless and free.