There was a shift in their actions. A group suddenly changed direction and rushed through the night, but when they arrived, the situation had already become dire.
Claiming it was for safety, they left Bai Qing locked in the vehicle.
The rest climbed to a nearby high ground to assess the safe zone’s status.
This so-called A-level security area resembled a mini alliance headquarters—fortified by steel walls and constructed under uniform design standards.
But even such infrastructure proved futile under the current onslaught.
Hordes of zombies surrounded the zone, densely packed, pressing at every boundary.
Twin depressions carved into the top of the wall served as attack ports. From these, the defenders could strike downward into the zombie mass.
Non-powered personnel, armed with guns, manned the lower ports, continuously firing into the crowd.
Above them, ability users directed their powers from the higher ground, suppressing the surge.
This setup should have been both offensive and defensive in strength. Yet now, it was barely holding.
The zombies struck relentlessly, but it wasn’t just the living that attacked. Even corpses, felled by bullets or abilities, were used.
“Captain, look at this.”
Lu Yunfei held up a telescope, his voice strained. “I’ve seen plenty of gatherings, but this—this is something else.”
It wasn’t the number of undead that shook him. It was how the alliance’s proud defenses collapsed under this tide.
Living zombies lifted their dead comrades’ bodies, using them as shields, inching closer to the wall. Step by step, with cold precision.
They weren’t just climbing—they were building.
Using the dead as footholds, the creatures ascended, stacking corpses into makeshift ladders. Every fallen zombie became another rung, another step higher. No matter how many died, more climbed over them, relentless and unified.
Gu Chi’s voice cut through the tension.
“There’s a leader among them.”
Zombies moved by instinct were dangerous enough. But a command structure—obedience—made them terrifying.
“Captain, what now?”
Lu Yunfei’s grip on the telescope tightened as he watched the corpse-ladder rise, already halfway up the wall. “We can’t stop this. Not alone.”
Gu Chi’s gaze shifted to Chi Ying.
Alone, no. But with her…
Yet, in the presence of others, her full strength couldn’t be revealed. Too many eyes, too many questions.
Chi Ying caught his look. Understanding flickered between them. She blinked her left eye—a quiet smile playing on her lips.
I have a way, she meant to say.
Gu Chi turned away quickly.
“Chi Ying, what are you doing?”
Song Shi’s voice cracked through the moment, sharp with something unspoken. Her eyes lingered on the exchange, unsettled. She’d caught the blink.
And Gu Chi—Gu Chi had watched it happen.
He didn’t even flinch.
“What’s wrong?” he asked evenly.
“You two—what were you just doing?”
The question slipped out before she could stop it. She regretted it instantly.
She and Gu Chi weren’t anything—just teammates. But her tone said otherwise.
The rest looked on, awkwardly silent.
Gu Chi paused, then answered simply. “I was looking at her. Why?”
Lu Yunfei choked.
Why?
Mu Yu gaped, words failing him.
Song Shi’s face stiffened. Did he even know what he was saying?
Chi Ying’s brows lifted slightly.
It wasn’t untrue—but why did it sound so strange?
【Nonsense!】the system snapped in her head, clearly panicked. What’s this villain trying to do—seduce his own host?!
“Pfft—cough, cough!” Lu Yunfei coughed violently. “Captain, now’s really not the time to flirt—zombies, remember?”
“…Right.” Gu Chi’s tone returned to normal. “Back to the plan.”
As if nothing had happened.
“The priority is identifying the leader,” he said, expression unreadable. “Among so many, we won’t spot it by sight alone.”
Lu Yunfei nodded. “They blend too well.”
Gu Chi continued, “Leaders are more resistant to abilities. I’ll freeze the area near the zone. Watch closely—any zombie still able to move could be it.”
“…Can your ability handle that range?” Lu Yunfei frowned. “Even a seventh-level can’t cover that much ground…”
Gu Chi was silent for a moment.
“There’s no other option.”
He turned to the group. “Wait for my signal. Watch for movement once the frost spreads.”
He glanced again at Chi Ying.
She followed without hesitation.
“Chi Ying’s going with you?” Lin Xun raised an eyebrow.
Gu Chi gave a quiet “mm.”
Song Shi’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “She won’t be of much help out there.”
“She won’t help here either,” Gu Chi replied, voice steady.
Guilt tugged at him.
Chi Ying could do more than all of them combined.
After they left, Lu Yunfei muttered, “Those two are weird.”
Mu Yu leaned in. “You think there’s something… going on?”
Lu Yunfei scratched his head. “Maybe. But the captain swore he wouldn’t get involved before humanity won this war…”
“Guess he found the right person.”
Mu Yu noticed Song Shi’s dark expression and fell silent.
“Song Shi, you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said curtly. “He’s not that easy to sway. It’s only been a few weeks since she joined.”
Lu Yunfei narrowed his eyes but dropped the topic. “Let’s get ready. We’ll need everyone focused soon.”
As Song Shi’s expression gradually returned to calm, Lu Yunfei sighed internally.
She cared. That much was obvious.
__
Gu Chi led Chi Ying to a secluded area near the wall. Closing his eyes, he gathered his strength. Frost began to spread beneath their feet, cold and silent.
“…I can use my ability instead,” Chi Ying said softly, hesitating.
Gu Chi’s ability wouldn’t hold. Not at this scale. Even if he succeeded, the toll could be irreversible.
“No,” he said, glancing up at the walls, at the others. “Too risky.”
Chi Ying bit her lip.
The frost began thin, almost harmless—but rapidly thickened. The temperature dropped unnaturally fast. Blackened zombies closest to them slowed, then stilled, frozen stiff.
In just minutes, half the field was encased in ice.
But Gu Chi’s skin had lost all color. His power neared its limit.
Chi Ying grew anxious.
Then, an idea.
She looked around. No one was watching.
Without warning, she reached out and poked his hand.
He turned, startled.
She quickly grabbed his hand, slipping her fingers between his, and held it tight.
Gu Chi’s breath hitched.
He held back—hard, afraid she might pull away.
Despite his weakened state, his grip was strong.
He didn’t understand why he cared so much in this moment.
Chi Ying: “…?”
Why was he gripping so hard?
【Tch. Smelly man,】the system muttered bitterly.
Chi Ying didn’t respond. Her power flowed into him through their joined hands—steady, warm, revitalizing.
Gu Chi froze—not from the cold, but from the memory.
The night before he advanced to seventh level…
It was her then, too.
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1