For several days straight, the system had been raking in over 100,000 points a day. It wasn’t until the fourth day—when the total neared 600,000—that the numbers finally slowed down a bit.
The system hovered smugly over its 600,000-point mountain, giggling like a fool.
Chi Ying, suddenly filthy rich, began showing classic symptoms of passive sabotage.
Most obvious? Her once-meticulous little paper crosses had become… questionable.
Gu Chi had quietly stared at the crooked twig in her hand—something that barely qualified as a “cross”—for the third time that day.
He hesitated. Should he ask?
Was she in a bad mood?
He almost said something, but then saw Chi Ying chowing down during dinner like nothing was wrong and gave up.
Well. At least she was still eating.
The system, meanwhile, had gotten over its initial euphoria. Unlike the first day—when it screamed and sobbed in joy—it now mostly sighed at the Holy Mother value’s decelerating climb.
If only it had exchanged Yunling’s 30,000-point surplus for materials when it had the chance…
[Ugh. We could’ve hit a million by now.] It moped, staring at the Holy Mother meter like a stock ticker.
A million!
It had once assumed Chi Ying would need years to scrape her way there.
But now…
[Host! Can we go back to the headquarters?] it asked, suddenly perking up. [If we pull another few rounds like that, we might hit two million!]
Chi Ying shook her head. Not now.
She’d stuffed each supply truck with a suspicious amount of goods—enough that someone might blink at it, but not enough to spark alarms. On the surface, everything looked fine.
But once those trucks rolled out and reached their drop-off points, it became obvious.
Each supply zone received a fixed number of deliveries. The moment four different convoys all traveled far longer routes than usual—someone would notice.
By now, someone at headquarters was probably already investigating whether the storage warehouse had been tampered with.
They might not find anything, but they’d definitely beef up security.
Which meant there was no way she’d slip in and out like before.
[…Darn.] The system deflated.
Chi Ying comforted it: Don’t worry. The headquarters isn’t the only one with supply convoys. Every A-level zone has their own.
Even if they don’t have as many trucks, it’s still enough to rack up points. And those zones? Way looser security than HQ.
[Really?!] the system brightened again. [When can we hit the next one?]
The Alliance mapped most leader activity near zones A and B, Chi Ying explained. So we’ve still got plenty of chances.
[Why are the leaders always born near those areas?] the system asked.
According to Gu Chi, their births are random—but their behavior isn’t. And the A-zones have the most people… which makes them prime targets.
[Ohhh…]
Chi Ying paused. Wait—you didn’t know that? It’s not in the original novel?
[Nope. The male lead, Ye Wuhan, was from the Supernatural Research Institute. The whole book’s just him clashing with random psychic weirdos. Classic face-slapping plot. Barely says a word about the safe zones or leaders.]
Chi Ying: …Then what is the ending? Do humans win?
[Oh yeah. Ten years later, humanity develops a zombie virus cure. Ten more years, and all the zombies are wiped out. Civilization slowly rebuilds.]
[The losses are… significant, though.]
Chi Ying: So it’s not really about saving the world.
[Nope! Ye Wuhan just powers up his spiritual spring and beats up bad guys. He ends up as the supreme human commander.]
Chi Ying fell silent.
Well. So much for using the book as a strategy guide.
She opened the system mall and glanced at the weapons tab. The “Guns” category had finally unlocked.
After browsing through a few pistols, she chose one that looked most like Gu Chi’s—planning to return it to him later.
__
That evening, during a lull after dinner, Chi Ying found a quiet moment.
She approached Gu Chi and tugged him outside.
“I wanted to give this back,” she said, handing him the pistol from the system mall.
Gu Chi stared at it. “Where did you get this?”
Chi Ying froze. “My space.”
She peeked at his expression. “…Is something wrong?”
Gu Chi frowned slightly. “I’ve never seen a pistol like this before.”
[Oops.] The system piped up. [Probably exclusive to the main world. Tech here’s like… two decades behind.]
“Really?” Chi Ying tried to sound casual. “I just picked it because it looked like yours…”
She glanced nervously at Gu Chi’s face.
He won’t overthink it, right?
Gu Chi raised his head, just in time to see her guilty expression.
He paused… and swallowed his question.
“…Thanks.”
Chi Ying exhaled in relief. “I’ll head back to help with dinner, then.”
“Okay.”
After she left, Gu Chi stared down at the pistol, silent.
She hadn’t lied.
But she hadn’t told the truth either.
She had secrets… ones she wasn’t ready to share.
He tucked the gun away and followed her back, expression unreadable.
Fine. He could wait.
__
Next Day, Noon
It had been seven or eight days since they left headquarters. Their destination, Safe Zone No. 10 in the West District, was just a day away.
“Captain…” Lu Yunfei, eyes on the communicator, looked uneasy. “HQ’s calling.”
He glanced reflexively at Bai Qing in the back seat. “Should we stop?”
Gu Chi nodded. “Yeah.”
Lu Yunfei pulled over and handed the communicator to Gu Chi.
Gu Chi glanced at Bai Qing through the rearview mirror, then stepped out of the car.
Behind him, Bai Qing’s eyes narrowed.
“Why’d he leave to answer the call?” it asked Chi Ying, voice faintly aggrieved. “Is he… avoiding me?”
Lu Yunfei flinched in his seat. Crap. That again?
But Chi Ying answered honestly, “Yes. You’re an outsider. Why would they let you hear internal intel?”
Bai Qing: “…”
This human had no chill.
__
Outside, Gu Chi raised the communicator.
“Captain Gu,” a rushed voice said, “Are you near West District Zone 9?”
Gu Chi checked their location. They were roughly halfway between Zones 9 and 10. “Close enough.”
“Change of plans. The Zone 10 mission is suspended. You’re being redirected.”
Gu Chi’s eyes sharpened.
“Zone 9’s been hit repeatedly since the day before yesterday. Their scouts just realized that the surrounding city’s zombies are all migrating straight toward them.”
Gu Chi narrowed his eyes. “A leader?”
“Almost definitely. But Zone 9 gets attacked regularly—it’s surrounded by urban sprawl. Took them a while to notice the pattern.”
“They confirmed it this morning. By tonight, a large horde will reach their gates.”
Gu Chi’s expression darkened.
“Even if we rush, we won’t make it until early tomorrow.”
“They’ll hold. Zone 9 has strong Awakened forces. But we’re counting on you.”
Gu Chi lowered the communicator, face grim.
Another one.
How many zombie leaders had woken up already?
If this kept escalating, the Alliance wouldn’t be able to hold the line with its current tech—especially not against intelligent enemies.
He let out a long breath and turned back to the car.
Author’s Note:
I forgot to set the post timer… QAQ
Loveguy On CFRFGC Chapter 1