Chapter Twenty-Nine: Battle to the Death

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Speeding relentlessly along the way, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the city. Wu Jue glanced back at the city now fallen into chaos, then leapt down.

Like a great bird, he spread his arms wide and his descent became gentle. Xiao Yang, with Xun’er’s assistance, also landed on the ground, though his hurried run left him stumbling. Now, regaining his freedom, he couldn’t help but laugh in silent disbelief. He turned to Xun’er and said, “Thanks!”

Xun’er clapped her hands and replied, “No need to thank me—I’m in a hurry to see Sister An Yi, not doing you any favors.”

At that moment, Wu Jue spotted figures near the woods ahead—it was clearly An Yi and Little Han, waiting anxiously. He quickly joined them, meeting up with his companions.

“Why are you together with Little Han?” Wu Jue asked in puzzlement, noticing their unusual expressions.

Little Han hurried over, grabbing him, and said, “Master, you’re finally back alive! Luo Si came back saying you and Xiao Yang were dead, and that he should take your place and we should all follow his orders. I didn’t believe you’d die, argued with him, and got kicked out…”

Wu Jue glanced at Xiao Yang, confirming his earlier suspicions. Xiao Yang laughed and said, “That’s right. I told him, if I don’t make it back, he should complete the serum research for me. I honestly didn’t know if I’d survive. But I never said he should take over—maybe Luo Si just wanted to play emperor.”

Even at this moment, Xiao Yang remained frighteningly rational. Wu Jue, though, wasted no more words. He drew his two pistols, checked the rounds, and said only one thing.

“We’re going back. Let’s see what awaits us.” He patted Little Han’s shoulder, encouraging the group, “If Luo Si welcomes us, he’s still our friend. If not, I’ll drive him out of the prison and let him fend for himself.”

Xiao Yang’s expression changed, but he didn’t reply. Wu Jue’s judgment was spot-on—hard-won wisdom from years battling cults.

In power struggles, there’s no right or wrong. The winner is king.

An Yi and Little Han both nodded and readied their weapons. Xun’er grinned mischievously from the side, “Go ahead and fight your war. I’ll just watch. Want me to poison a few folks for you?”

Xiao Yang said with disgust, “If you can, go deal with the zombies instead.”

With their strategy settled, Wu Jue and Little Han would return through the main gate to test Luo Si’s attitude, while An Yi, Xiao Yang, and Xun’er would try to slip in from the side.

Little Han looked at Xiao Yang and asked, “Can you walk now? Are you sure you’re alright?”

Xiao Yang rubbed his shoulder and joked, “Just let me get into the factory and grab my gear—then even zombies won’t scare me.”

They split up. Wu Jue and Little Han walked side by side back toward the prison entrance. From afar, they saw the sentry atop the watchtower spotting them, frantically signaling below.

Wu Jue smiled faintly and knocked on the gate. Inside, chaos ensued—likely someone went to fetch Luo Si.

Soon, Luo Si’s voice called out, “Is that Master Wu Jue? You’ve returned unharmed—what wonderful news!”

But the gate remained closed. Wu Jue realized Luo Si had his own schemes. He knocked harder, saying, “It’s me. What, you still don’t trust us? Afraid we got bitten by zombies and turned into monsters? You should know, if I wanted, this gate wouldn’t stop me.”

Luo Si laughed from inside, “Master, it’s not that we don’t trust you, just that we want to avoid misunderstandings. Let’s keep calm and talk things over.”

Then the gate opened. Luo Si, flanked by several prisoners, stood there to receive Wu Jue, clearly with ill intent.

“Didn’t you claim Master was dead? Can’t you admit your mistake now?” Little Han said irritably.

Luo Si spread his arms and laughed, “No such intention at all. Please, come in.”

He led them not to the usual cell block, but to the factory.

“Actually, my serum research is nearly complete. Master, you’re just in time to demonstrate for everyone.”

Wu Jue, seeing Luo Si so eager to show off his research, suspected a trap. He replied, “The serum was developed by Xiao Yang—not just you.”

“Is that so?” Luo Si suddenly turned. “But without my help, mass production would be impossible. See, these people have all been injected with the serum—that’s why they’re so strong.”

With a whistle, the prisoners behind him lunged at Wu Jue. But Wu Jue was prepared; he drew his pistols and fired, blowing out their brains. Yet shockingly, even after being shot, they kept coming, the nearest even tackling Wu Jue, trying to bite him.

“These people?” Wu Jue pressed his pistol against the attacker’s mouth, firing desperately until the head was destroyed and the body fell limp.

“Exactly. I’ve transformed them all into evolved humans,” Luo Si laughed madly. “With such resources, not using them would be foolish—both you and Xiao Yang are fools. With my additions to the serum, I can turn the living into undead warriors, just like zombies.”

Now Wu Jue understood fully—Luo Si’s eagerness to help Xiao Yang was all for this dark secret. By using the antiviral serum, he’d create an unbeatable army and establish his own rule.

Wu Jue realized ordinary attacks wouldn’t work on these people. He called for Little Han to retreat, using hand-to-hand skills to crush two prisoners’ skulls in succession.

“How many have you injected? You’ll be punished for this!” he said, retreating while trying to signal Xiao Yang and the others.

Little Han understood instantly, slipping towards the cells to rendezvous with Xiao Yang’s group infiltrating from the side.

Meanwhile, fierce fighting broke out in the cell block. Princess An Yi had successfully snuck in and was battling prisoners who had surrendered to Luo Si. Clearly, she was shocked by their mutated state.

Little Han rushed in, shouting to Xiao Yang, “We’ve all been duped! Luo Si used you—he injected the serum into these people, turning them into monsters like zombies!”

At that moment, Xiao Yang was desperately firing his machine gun at the attacking monsters. Hearing the news, his expression darkened further.

He shot another volley and yelled, “I need to get into the factory—let me in!”

Xun’er, meanwhile, was toying with several prisoners. Hearing Xiao Yang, she laughed, “You want your equipment? I’ll get it for you.”

With a wave, she summoned from the factory room a set of black armor, which appeared before Xiao Yang as if by magic.

It was the very gear he had designed for himself—wearing it would make him impervious to ordinary gunfire and boost his strength and agility severalfold. He hadn’t used it in ages, since arriving at the prison; now was the time.

He immediately donned the armor. Little Han hurried to clear a cell for him, locking the door and standing guard.

Someone among the prisoners shouted, “Stop them! No one leaves today! Lord Luo Si has ordered—kill them and we can turn them into powerful zombies, do as we please!”

“Dream on!” Princess An Yi burst out in fury, thrusting her spear through a prisoner with a sickening sound. Without slowing, she shoved the body ahead several steps, skewering another criminal like candied fruit.

She kicked them both aside and began an all-out slaughter.

There weren’t many people in the cells—besides those injected with the serum, the rest were forced to submit to Luo Si. Seeing the terrifying transformations, they now rallied to Princess An Yi’s side.

After clearing away all obstacles, the others came forward to complain, “You’re finally back! Never thought Luo Si would be so ruthless, cheating us all. Please, stop him!”

By now, Xiao Yang had finished putting on his armor. He pushed open the cell door and shouted, “Where is Luo Si? I want to settle accounts with him!”

Then, incredibly, he burst forth, rushing out with unnatural speed. Little Han, following behind, grumbled, “Wearing that gear, he’s even faster than me!”

Outside, the fighting had reached its peak.

Wu Jue, alone, used the martial arts of Great Forest Temple to shatter the skulls of four or five prisoners. His combat prowess had reached the point of changing blood and vital energy—his explosive power in rage rivaled the extraordinary.

If an ordinary martial artist could match the strength of one or two horses, he now possessed at least tenfold that power.

Crushing these strength-mutated humans was no challenge.

Unfortunately, the cunning Luo Si had retreated into the factory. Wu Jue, stepping over corpses, approached the factory entrance.

Two serum-injected prisoners guarded the door, growling, “Wu Jue, you’re here! We’ve wanted to test ourselves against you. Let’s see who’s strongest in this prison!”

Wu Jue leapt forward, firing two volleys, riddling them with bullets. Yet they still lunged at him.

“Go inside. I’ll handle these two,” Wu Jue tossed aside his pistols, drew his steel blade, slashed one opponent down, pushed the other aside, clearing a path for Xiao Yang.

Xiao Yang rushed in, reached the door, kicked it open, and burst inside.

Luo Si was there, wearing blue armor, injecting serum into his arm. “You’re here! Take a look at my finishing touch. I’ll become stronger than you all.”

Xiao Yang gave him no chance—he flicked his wrist, firing two darts from his arm, shattering the syringe in Luo Si’s hand.

Luo Si, enraged, said, “Destroy it! I have plenty more reagents. Let’s see how many you can break. Today, it’s either you or me!”

With that, he lunged, pinning Xiao Yang to the ground.

Feeling the immense force from Luo Si’s armor, Xiao Yang instantly realized, “You stole my blueprints! I misjudged you, you traitor.”

“Traitor? Wu Jue warned you—your mistake was trusting me. This is the apocalypse. Those who don’t look out for themselves are doomed. If I survive and am stronger than you, I am God!”

He roared, intent on strangling Xiao Yang then and there. But Xiao Yang was not unprepared. A smile flickered at the corner of his lips. Suddenly, he pressed a hidden mechanism on Luo Si’s armor.

With a crack, Luo Si convulsed as if electrocuted, losing all strength.

End of Chapter Twenty-Nine.