Chapter 23: Foes and Friends (Part Two)

It was quite a while before Mo Yu finally nodded, though what she was really thinking was to find an opportunity to get Qingxuan out. Seeing Mo Yu’s nod, Zhao Wei finally felt a weight lift from his heart—taking the first step was always the hardest.

The three waited until Zhao Wei had recovered a little before preparing to set out. Li Jun, Lingzi, and Mo Yu were all rather hungry. Zhao Wei, on the other hand, had some of his own rations and wasn't very hungry.

The four gathered on the rooftop to make plans—though in truth, it was Mo Yu assigning tasks to everyone else. In the end, it was decided that Mo Yu and Lingzi would go to fetch the car, while Zhao Wei would stay on the rooftop to rest and protect Li Jun.

The truth was, Zhao Wei still had a shadow over his heart when it came to the garage, so he did not object to this arrangement.

Lingzi and Mo Yu leapt lightly down from the rooftop, weaving between the zombies as they made their way to the garage, and before long disappeared into its depths.

Zhao Wei glanced at the boy beside him and saw the worry and anxiety in his eyes, a faint irony flickering through his own heart. He found a spot to sit, watching the terrain as he made idle conversation with Li Jun.

Inside the garage, Mo Yu and Lingzi found that there were scarcely any zombies left—likely, the last of the “food” had already lured them all away. Mo Yu quickly shot down a few nearby stragglers, rolled a few times, and landed beside her own car. She eyed the faint scratches on the car door with a cold, mocking smile. Her psychic lock had worked quite well.

Without delay, she got in and started the engine, motioning for Lingzi to take the passenger seat.

“Lingzi, we’ll pick up someone on the way.”

“Who? Your sweetheart?” Lingzi fastened her seatbelt securely, gripped the handle with both hands, and struck a heroic pose—as if prepared to die for a cause. If only her eyes weren’t sparkling with such obvious gossip.

“……”

With a screech, the car spun around a corner, mowing down several zombies drawn by the sound, and sped out of the garage.

Lingzi, realizing she shouldn’t have asked, silently shed fat, cartoonish tears.

When Zhao Wei and Li Jun saw the car appear, one was visibly relieved, while the other was overwhelmed with surprise, joy, euphoria—and greed.

Mo Yu noticed it. Even though it was only for an instant and he hid it quickly, she still caught the look. So blatant, so eager, yet so swiftly concealed. Had she brought a wolf into the fold? And a black-hearted one at that.

Mo Yu said nothing, simply let the two get in, then sped toward the bridge out of the city. As she’d expected, there were far fewer cars on the road—everyone seemed to have already fled. There were still a few vehicles blocking the way, but nothing Mo Yu couldn't handle with ease.

A rumbling stomach broke the silence—Li Jun turned his head away in embarrassment, his cheeks reddening. Why was he always the troublesome one? He hung his head in self-reproach.

“Heh, Mo, I’m hungry too—do you have anything to eat?” Lingzi quickly tried to ease the awkwardness. Mo Yu showed no sign of annoyance.

Li Jun hurriedly shook his hands. “Sister Mo, I’m not hungry, really.” His voice was as soft as a mosquito’s. “Please don’t leave me behind.”

Mo Yu felt a mixture of amusement and heartbreak. She wanted to reach back and ruffle his hair, but in the end, simply reached into the “storage compartment” at her feet and handed out three packs of fruit bread, keeping her attention fixed on driving.

The others immediately devoured the food. Though Mo Yu was hungry herself, she refused to slow down for a meal. In the apocalypse, survival was the only hope, and time was the hope of survival. She was no different.

After some thought, Mo Yu decided to comfort Li Jun’s fragile self-esteem. “I won’t leave you behind, Little Bean.”

Those words etched themselves onto Li Jun’s heart, lingering long after. To be affirmed, to be protected, to be promised—even if it were a lie, it would bring unparalleled joy.

For a time, no one spoke, and the silence was so deep you could hear each other breathe.

Time slipped away between their fingers.

Mo Yu had already driven a long way, her gaze flitting between the rearview and side mirrors. The closer they got to the city’s outskirts, the fewer zombies there were—a stroke of great fortune.

Wait! What was that?

Mo Yu was certain she saw the white Nissan that Zhao Wei had rolled down from earlier. Inside—three zombies?

She glanced thoughtfully at Zhao Wei, and their eyes met in the mirror. Mo Yu’s gaze was cold and mocking, making Zhao Wei flush with embarrassment and fury as he turned away.

“Caught,” he thought, flustered and stifled, but soon shrugged it off. He’d only come for the weapons and the car anyway. So what if he was discovered? They were just three kids, barely more than children.

The facade of friendliness he wore cracked and fell away.

Mo Yu hadn’t expected Zhao Wei to be so incapable of self-restraint. She’d overestimated him.

She shoved Lingzi aside, raising her blade to meet the enemy’s descending knife. The interior of the vehicle wasn’t small, but it was no space for a brawl.

Time seemed to freeze as the two faced off. Lingzi and Li Jun were stunned into silence by the sudden turn of events.

Wasn’t that man supposed to be grateful? Why was he doing this to his saviors? Was he really like the snake rescued by the foolish man in the old tale?

Sweat trickled down Zhao Wei’s temples as they struggled. “This girl’s got some strength,” he thought.

Bang—bang—

Two muffled gunshots sounded in his ears.

Zhao Wei stared in disbelief at the boy beside him, then at Lingzi in the passenger seat. How did they both have such advanced pistols? He’d underestimated them! His injured arm couldn’t withstand Mo Yu’s strength; in despair, he watched the blade inch closer and closer.

Bang—

Blood welled from the center of his forehead, slowly covering his twisted face. Zhao Wei toppled backward, stiff as a board.

Mo Yu remained in the driver’s seat, watching as Lingzi and Li Jun dragged Zhao Wei’s corpse out and tossed it onto the highway. Her mind was deep in thought. “Maybe this will help these two see the truth of this world, this era. Thankfully, they awakened in time, realizing they had to kill their enemy.”

The scent of blood quickly lured hungry zombies, who gathered with howls around Zhao Wei’s body.

Li Jun and Lingzi watched coldly as the corpse was torn apart below the highway, then ran back to the car without a backward glance.

Once they were inside, Mo Yu slammed her foot on the accelerator, racing for the bridge out of the city.

The three traveled in silence. Mo Yu simply didn’t want to talk, while Lingzi and Li Jun were too ashamed to speak—a small-minded villain like Zhao Wei had been saved at their request, only to cause Mo Yu such trouble.