“That is to say, we… caught a live one?”
Gu Chi took a bite of the soft, simmered radish and casually answered, “Mm.”
“At present, it shouldn’t know that the Alliance has discovered the existence of the zombie leader.”
Mu Yu rubbed his temples, still feeling like everything that happened today was part of a strange dream. “Then Captain Gu, what now?”
“I asked Professor Too. He said—if possible—try to bring it back alive.” Gu Chi’s tone was unhurried. “Leaders are rare, indistinguishable from humans, and their existence is barely documented. A living specimen holds immense research value.”
“…So we’re going to the headquarters tomorrow?” Mu Yu asked.
“No.” Gu Chi said calmly.
He glanced at Chi Ying, whose system pinging had grown increasingly erratic.
[Holy Mother value +1.]
[Holy Mother value +3.]
[Holy Mother value +2, Points +200.]
Chi Ying straightened up suspiciously.
[Holy Mother value +3.]
“…”
The beeping drowned out Gu Chi’s explanation, so she decisively muted the system.
【……】
Peace.
Chi Ying gave a satisfied nod.
“Because,” Gu Chi continued, “research only has value when you can test its conclusions. A living leader is only meaningful if we already understand how they work—otherwise, it’s just an empty shell.”
Chi Ying blinked. “So, without any research data, Bai Qing is just… a talking paperweight?”
“Essentially.”
“The Alliance’s current goal is to collect crystal nuclei from as many leaders as possible. Without that, even a live specimen doesn’t matter.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Lu Yunfei frowned. “Then what about bringing him back to the Alliance? If he wants to leave, and we don’t let him, it’ll look suspicious.”
“That’s not our problem,” Gu Chi tapped his lips thoughtfully. “He came to us. That means he has a goal—most likely the same as ours.”
“You think… he wants into the headquarters?”
“Exactly.”
Lin Xun muttered, “Still feels unreal that we caught a zombie leader alive…”
Lu Yunfei turned to Gu Chi. “So how’d you spot him, huh?”
Gu Chi cleared his throat and avoided Chi Ying’s gaze. “That part’s complicated.”
“Captain—”
“Eat your radish.”
Satisfied, Gu Chi stood up and added, “Yunfei and I will keep watch tonight. A live leader in our midst is too risky. You guys take turns after tonight.”
Everyone nodded solemnly.
Meanwhile, in the next room, Bai Qing stood at the door, silent and alert.
He didn’t need sleep, but he did need this team. They were the only bridge to the Human Alliance.
If they left without him, everything would fall apart.
Gu Chi stayed awake too, pretending to sleep in a light doze.
When he heard the next door creak open, he only shifted slightly, confirming Bai Qing wasn’t acting up before letting his eyes close again.
Twenty minutes later, he walked out, yawning like he’d just woken.
“You’re awake early,” Bai Qing said pleasantly.
Gu Chi forced a tight smile. “Morning.”
Chi Ying also walked out at that moment, stretching with a yawn and a bleary smile. “Morning.”
Gu Chi looked at her bedhead and smiled unconsciously. “Morning.”
Bai Qing turned to Chi Ying eagerly. “Are you… leaving today?”
“Yup!” she answered cheerfully.
Gu Chi raised an eyebrow, waiting for it—
“Can you take me with you?”
“You’ll be safe here,” Gu Chi said with righteous sternness. “No need to follow.”
“But… my only family is at the Alliance Headquarters!”
Gu Chi’s temples throbbed.
So direct? What happened to subtle infiltration?
When Bai Qing went quiet, Gu Chi grew anxious again. Don’t give up. You still need to dig your own grave a little deeper.
Bai Qing quickly turned toward Chi Ying.
“Sister, please take me with you! I won’t be a burden. I promise!”
Chi Ying fiddled with her fingers, doing her best soft-hearted act. “Ah… well…”
Got him. Bai Qing’s zombie heart thumped in victory.
“Gu Chi, look how pitiful he is. Why don’t we take him?”
Gu Chi’s smile twitched. First it was the pitiful zombies. Now this.
He said reluctantly, “But we won’t be heading to the headquarters right away.”
“It’s fine!” Bai Qing hurried to press. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
Gu Chi faked a cough into his fist. “I’ll have to ask the others.”
“Thank you!” Bai Qing even squeezed out two tears, moved beyond words.
(Thanks, radish soup.)
The final decision passed unanimously. Lu Yunfei protested just enough to add realism, nearly giving Bai Qing a nervous breakdown.
“In that case, pack up,” Gu Chi said. “We’re leaving soon.”
“Yes!” Bai Qing saluted emotionally and dashed off.
As soon as it was gone, everyone visibly relaxed.
“Phew… thought I was going to blow it,” Mu Yu wiped his brow.
“Your acting’s the worst!” Lu Yunfei snapped. “You agreed the second the captain asked. No normal soldier volunteers for zombie escort duty!”
“Enough,” Gu Chi interrupted. “As long as it doesn’t suspect anything. And remember, don’t mention anything about the zombie leader around it. If it learns we know, this gets messy.”
Everyone nodded again.
__
Later, in the car—
“What are you doing?” Bai Qing peered over curiously, watching Chi Ying carve crosses into a strip of paper.
It leaned in, so close its hair brushed her shoulder.
Gu Chi, watching from the front, began to regret seating arrangements.
This thing was clearly too bold.
Bai Qing continued with confidence. Chi Ying, after all, was easy to fool. Her strength was real, but she was clearly gullible and soft-hearted.
Humans—always fooled by appearances.
And this body, Bai Qing mused proudly, was quite the looker among humans.
So it subtly leaned in again…
Boop.
Chi Ying poked the top of its head with one finger and pushed it far away.
“…”
It stared at her with wide eyes full of grievance.
Chi Ying scratched her nose awkwardly. “You smell… really bad.”
Gu Chi smirked.
Lu Yunfei looked in the rearview mirror. “Right, you were stuck in that city forever. Probably haven’t bathed in days?”
“…”
Bai Qing shriveled into the corner in shame.
Silence fell again.
Chi Ying blinked.
Something was… missing?
She sat up suddenly. Ah!
The system!
She’d muted it last night. She quickly turned it back on—
[Holy Mother value +13… +9… +11…]
Ping-ping-ping—
Chi Ying panicked, quickly found the “mute beep” option, and shut it down.
She cautiously called out: System?
【$#%%】garbled static.
Chi Ying: …Did I break it?
【Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!】The system sobbed dramatically.
Chi Ying (alarmed): Sorry??
【No, I’m just so happy!!!】The system blew imaginary snot into an imaginary tissue.
【Since last night… Total Holy Mother value: 1,760. Total points: 176,000!!!】
Chi Ying, still new to all this, sat frozen.
“…Oh.”
GhostCloudd On WBICDPH Chapter 93