What?! I Became the Zombie Beauty in the Villain’s Arms – CH181-183

Chapter 181| Chapter 182| Chapter 183

Chapter 181: Special Concern

Above all else, Pei Xiqing was most deeply concerned about the intricate connection between Duan Xiaolin and the apocalyptic host. Was the host truly dead? And if it was, how would that catastrophic event affect him?

After pouring out her anxieties and fears to the man, Duan Xiaolin simply toyed with the ends of her hair, his expression entirely unbothered.

Pei Xiqing grabbed his hand tightly. “Tell me, Brother Duan. Tell me the truth.”

“What did the village elder say to you?” he asked calmly.

“He said… the host is intrinsically tied to your life.”

After accidentally plummeting into the true Ghost Market, she still vividly remembered the eerie, hunched villagers and the old man’s ominous warning. Although she didn’t fully grasp the exact mechanics of the relationship, it was undeniable that the original host was bound to him, and the nine-headed serpent was bound to the Qiong Snake. Countless terrifying speculations raced through her mind.

“He was right,” Duan Xiaolin did not try to deny it. “The death of the host will affect me.”

“What exactly happens next, then? What will happen to you?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” he admitted softly. “We won’t know until it happens.”

“Are you treating this like a lottery?!” Pei Xiqing snapped, her voice rising in agitation. “You’re gambling with your life!”

The corners of the man’s lips curved upward slightly. He embraced the restless woman straddling his lap, his large hands gently gripping her slender waist as if silently measuring just how much weight she had lost over the past few harrowing days. Finally, he replied in a slow, measured tone, “We can take the gamble. I am confident.”

“How confident?”

“Thirty percent.”

“What kind of confidence is that?!” Pei Xiqing exclaimed in disbelief. “That’s no confidence at all!”

“The host parasite is deeply linked to the Qiong Snake,” Duan Xiaolin explained patiently. “If the host dies, the immediate price will be losing the Qiong Snake’s power once again. I can accept that.”

“But what if the price is far more than just losing your abilities?”

The man narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in the dark green depths. “Then I won’t yield.”

Pei Xiqing’s heart raced. She stared intensely into his pupils. “Losing the Qiong Snake is not an option. You just finally got it back. If you lose it again now…”

I’m afraid it will be gone forever.

There would be no possibility of recovery. The Qiong Snake was the tether to the parasite; once the host was eradicated, the Qiong Snake would vanish completely. And that was just the lightest possible consequence. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what other hidden, devastating backlashes might occur, or what else Duan Xiaolin would be forced to sacrifice.

Why must those who had already paid the ultimate price to save the world be continuously stripped of everything they had left?

She lowered her head, a heavy wave of depression washing over her.

Sensing her distress, the man gently cupped her cheek. “No matter what the price is, I will never leave you again.”

Pei Xiqing gripped his wrist tightly. “The host cannot die so easily. It absolutely cannot die before we figure out a viable solution.”

She pressed her point urgently. “We have to wait until we fully understand what kind of backlash will be unleashed before making any moves.”

She refused to let Duan Xiaolin take such a massive risk. The biological state of the parasites still required further research, and she desperately needed time to figure out if there were any loopholes or alternative solutions.

Moreover, with the protagonist dead, she had no idea how the fabric of this world would be affected. There were so many variables she needed to confirm. For instance, if the male lead died at this specific point in the timeline, how would the rest of the plot unfold? What would happen to all his destined ‘golden fingers’ and miraculous encounters? What would happen to all the supporting characters and factions whose fates were supposed to be shaped by him?

But most importantly… she couldn’t help but look at Duan Xiaolin in a daze.

“What are you thinking about so intently?” the man asked, brushing his thumb across her cheek.

“Who else would make me worry this much besides you?” she murmured softly.

“I promise you, I’ll be fine.”

Pei Xiqing raised her eyes slightly. “I need to see the host to prove that your guarantee is actually valid.”

The man’s brow twitched faintly. “Alright.”

“And don’t just casually kill them off.”

“…One is already dead,” he stated flatly. He paused before adding, “And the other one—the Hydra you saw—is on the verge of death.”

Pei Xiqing gasped. “Why? How did that happen?!”

On the verge of death? Did this man genuinely not take his own life seriously?!

He had just told her that Xiao Yue had killed the ugly host parasite. But what about the Hydra? Xiao Yue had unleashed his final trump card right in front of him, his eyes burning with murderous intent. The protagonist had clearly intended to use the parasite to kill Duan Xiaolin. Had Duan Xiaolin just let him attack it?! The Hydra was undeniably far more powerful than that grotesque tentacle monster, yet even it was on the verge of death?

How did Xiao Yue even manage to do that?

Pei Xiqing had no idea what had transpired in the ruined laboratory after she passed out, but she inherently believed everything Duan Xiaolin told her.

Xiao Yue is such a bastard! she cursed internally. He actually wanted to eradicate both parasites at once? Even if he claimed he was fighting for the future of the apocalypse, in her eyes, it was purely a petty, personal vendetta.

She let out a heavy sigh and slid off the man’s lap. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she propped her chin in her hands and began to rapidly process the information.

In order to deal with the two apocalyptic beasts, Xiao Yue had paid with his own life. Fortunately, one of the parasites hadn’t completely died yet. As long as the Hydra was still breathing, Duan Xiaolin wouldn’t suffer the full, catastrophic brunt of the backlash. Especially when the exact nature of that backlash was still a complete mystery.

I can’t be impulsive, she thought. Since they had only been in the Ghost Market for five days, they should just retreat, stay hidden underground, and never resurface.

Pei Xiqing subconsciously touched her chest. The agonizing shock of being swatted away by the massive tentacle was still vivid in her memory. She also clearly remembered the blinding, golden crystal core glowing in Xiao Yue’s hands.

That had been his ultimate trump card.

Did the protagonist really just die like that?

Didn’t Xiao Yue possess three heaven-defying superpowers? He was practically destined to become the strongest entity in the apocalypse. And what about Pei Yanting? She was a once-in-a-generation physics genius, famous even before the world ended, and unparalleled in computational data analysis afterward. How could two people draped in such heavy plot armor die so easily?

She had been wracking her brain trying to figure out a foolproof plan to lead them to their deaths, yet the moment she closed her eyes, they had essentially marched to their own graves without her lifting a finger.

With the protagonists dead, how would the narrative proceed? This wasn’t even the finale, and there were still countless unresolved plot threads.

This is just…

Pei Xiqing lowered her head, trying to hide her face.

Duan Xiaolin hooked a finger under her chin, tilting her head up. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness.

The moment she was forced to look up, the massive, beaming smile on Pei Xiqing’s face instantly vanished.

“Hmm?” He raised an eyebrow.

She had been smiling so happily.

It seemed the sudden, violent deaths of Xiao Yue and Pei Yanting didn’t make her the least bit sad. In fact, she was absolutely thrilled.

He had deliberately chosen not to tell her about the grotesque, horrifying manner in which Pei Yanting had died after being hollowed out by the Mother parasite. There was no need to go into such gruesome detail, nor was there any reason to give her new nightmares to worry about.

Pei Xiqing coughed twice, mentally scolding herself not to get too complacent. Even though the protagonists were dead, there were still many lingering threats that couldn’t be taken lightly—especially the surviving Hydra.

She forced down her smile, though her heart felt incredibly light. It was as if a suffocating, dark cloud that had been hovering over her head since she arrived in this world had finally dissipated. Everything suddenly looked much brighter.

“Well, based on what you said, Pei Yanting was accidentally killed after being infected, and Xiao Yue was killed trying to fight the host. So… is everyone else okay? Are Sister Long Yan, Ling Lang, and the rest of Team 009 alright?”

“You certainly care about everyone,” he noted dryly. He paused before adding, “They are all fine.”

“I care about you the most.” Pei Xiqing stretched out her hand and hooked her index finger playfully. “Come here. Take off your clothes. Let me check if you’re injured anywhere.”

The man’s dark green eyes visibly darkened. “Alright.”

Chapter 182: My Heart is Softening

Seeing him lean in, Pei Xiqing playfully reached out to pat his chest, performing her “inspection.”

There were no injuries on his body, only the firm, powerful lines of his muscles. As her fingers traced over his chest, her face burned with a sudden flush. Not only did her cheeks turn red, but the intricate Qiong Snake tattoo on her back actually began to feel hot.

During their last intimate encounter in the dark, she had lost control and left over a dozen deep scratches across the man’s chest and back… There had even been blood under her fingernails. It was all because he had ruthlessly pushed her past her limits, forcing her to lose control.

She pressed her hands flat against his chest and pushed him away slightly. “Alright, inspection over… I want to eat something. I’m starving.”

“Alright. I’ll make something for you right now.”

Duan Xiaolin leaned over and placed a soft kiss at the corner of her eye. He slowly trailed his lips down her cheek, finally capturing the corner of her mouth in a slow, solemn kiss.

Ever since they had infiltrated the Black Market Auction, they hadn’t had a single moment of peace to just exist quietly beside each other.

Pei Xiqing closed her eyes, tilting her head back slightly to savor his rare, unhurried tenderness.

Half an hour later, Pei Xiqing leaned lazily against the kitchen doorframe with her arms crossed. She watched the man efficiently moving around the stove and asked curiously, “What are you cooking?”

“Just throwing something together. As long as you like it. We’re having beef.”

Pei Xiqing smiled. “I didn’t say I wanted beef. That’s Xiaobai’s favorite.”

As she lowered her head, she saw Xiaobai lying obediently at her feet. She had been in a coma for three days, and during that entire time, the massive mutant dog had faithfully guarded the perimeter of the house.

Hearing his name, Xiaobai immediately perked up, vigorously wagging his tail. He lifted his massive front paws, trying to nuzzle affectionately against her leg.

Pei Xiqing reached down to stroke his furry head. “It really does seem like Xiaobai has gained weight recently, and his coat is so much thicker and fluffier. Is it related to the apocalyptic host parasites he ate?”

“It’s highly probable,” Duan Xiaolin replied, stirring the pot. “He devoured the remains of those massive parasitic variants. In a biological sense, his body has successfully absorbed and continued their parasitic evolution.”

“Ah… he won’t lose his mind, will he?” Pei Xiqing asked, suddenly worried as she crouched down.

“No,” he assured her. “Since the original zombie virus didn’t compel him to attack humans, the parasitic virus won’t override his loyalty either. The two viral strains are fundamentally similar in nature.”

“That’s good.” Pei Xiqing hugged Xiaobai’s thick neck, nuzzling her face into his fur. “My cute little Xiaobai. You’re a super-parasite now! Maybe you’ll even evolve into something legendary. We’re going to dominate the apocalypse together.”

In the original novel, Xiao Yue had successfully subdued the massive wolf-like parasites and cultivated them into terrifying, invincible beasts that effortlessly tore through zombie sieges.

Xiaobai raised his head and let out a low, proud howl, as if confirming her grand plans.

Pei Xiqing laughed, playing with Xiaobai for a little while longer before Duan Xiaolin emerged from the kitchen carrying two plates. “Dinner is ready.”

Duan Xiaolin set a large metal bowl of meat and rice down in front of Xiaobai.

Instead of immediately digging in, Xiaobai sat up perfectly straight. He looked up at Duan Xiaolin, then over at Pei Xiqing, and remained perfectly still, waiting.

The man lowered his eyes. “Eat.”

Only after receiving verbal permission did Xiaobai finally begin to eat with obvious relish.

Pei Xiqing covered her mouth in surprise. “Brother Duan, he’s become so incredibly well-behaved under your care! He acts exactly like a trained military dog.”

“I trained him according to military standards back at the base,” he said, pulling out a chair and handing her a pair of chopsticks. “It took about a week, but he showed excellent comprehension.”

Pei Xiqing could vividly imagine the scene of this stoic man running the massive mutant dog through rigorous military drills at the capital base. The poor little guy must have been terrified out of his mind and suffered through quite a bit of strict discipline before becoming this well-behaved.

It was true what they said: a subordinate ultimately reflects their commander. Watching Xiaobai’s precise movements now, he didn’t resemble a goofy Husky in the slightest. Just sitting there, he radiated the disciplined aura of an elite soldier. Even when eating massive mouthfuls of meat, he was incredibly careful not to spill a single drop of gravy on the floor.

Pei Xiqing turned back to the table, looking at Duan Xiaolin with naked admiration.

Duan Xiaolin paused while ladling soup into her bowl. “What are you doing? What bad ideas are brewing in your head now?”

“I haven’t even said anything yet! How do you know I have bad intentions?”

The man chuckled softly. “Because it’s written all over your face.”

Pei Xiqing reached across the table, grabbing his hand. “If a goofy little dog can be trained to be this disciplined… then that terrifying nine-headed parasite can be trained too, right?”

“You want me to train that thing?” He raised an eyebrow. “Parasitic organisms are inherently hyper-aggressive, solitary creatures. The moment a living being steps into their territory, they view it as a host to be infected.”

“But is it possible?”

He sighed softly. “Of course it’s possible. But the Hydra is currently secured millions of miles away from us right now. Let’s wait and see how things develop.”

Pei Xiqing happily ate her meal, internally marveling at how his cooking skills were constantly improving. But as she chewed, she couldn’t help but look out the window again. “You still haven’t told me where exactly we are. You keep dodging the important questions. I feel like you’re hiding something from me.”

Duan Xiaolin’s expression remained perfectly calm, completely unchanged from his usual stoic demeanor. But her intuition told her that the aftermath of the underground battle hadn’t been nearly as simple as he claimed.

Had something major happened after she passed out?

Duan Xiaolin stared at her for a moment, then shook his head, letting out a helpless chuckle.

“What did Xiao Yue say to you before he died?” she pressed. “Or did he—”

“Brother Duan! Are you home?!”

Pei Xiqing’s question was abruptly cut off. A soft, sweet female voice called out from the yard, followed immediately by a polite knock on the front door.

Pei Xiqing frowned, thoroughly puzzled. “…Who is that?”

The woman outside continued to knock, raising her voice. “Brother Duan! The villagers are planning to hold a grand banquet in a few days to thank you and celebrate everything you’ve done. Please don’t be modest with us; you absolutely must attend! We’re all waiting for you.”

A brief pause. “Huh, is he not home? Didn’t Brother Duan say he’d be staying home these past few days to rest? He shouldn’t be out… Oh well, I’ll just leave a note.”

There was the sound of rustling paper outside the door, and after a few moments, the footsteps faded away.

Pei Xiqing bit the end of her chopsticks, turning a sharp eye to the man who was calmly eating beside her. “Who. Is. That?”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said smoothly. “Let’s finish dinner first.”

“Xiaobai, go open the door and bring whatever she left inside,” Pei Xiqing commanded, setting her chopsticks down with a sharp clack.

Hearing that sweet, demure voice just now, even without seeing her face, Pei Xiqing could tell it belonged to a pretty, doting young woman in her early twenties. Her tone was so sickeningly sweet it could melt a rock. Not to mention, she was casually yelling “Brother Duan” right on their doorstep!

And the entire village wants to throw him a thank-you banquet? It seemed this truly was an isolated paradise, far removed from the horrors of the apocalypse. And clearly, Duan Xiaolin had been quite busy doing heroic deeds around here while she was unconscious.

A moment later, Xiaobai trotted back into the kitchen, carrying a woven bamboo basket in his jaws.

Pei Xiqing took it from him. Inside was a spread of freshly prepared, high-quality food and a neatly folded note.

She opened the note, scanned it, and looked up in disbelief. “This really is an actual village! I can’t believe such a perfect, untouched place exists in the apocalypse. How on earth did you find it?”

“It was a complete coincidence,” the man said, not even sparing a glance at the basket of food. “After I carried you out of the Ghost Market, I stumbled upon this valley. The terrain has kept it entirely isolated from the outside world, and the ambient zombie contamination levels are incredibly low. I thought you’d like it, so I brought you here to recuperate temporarily.”

“And who exactly was that girl just now?”

“The village chief’s daughter.”

“She said the whole village is hosting a banquet for you. Do you want to go?”

“No,” he replied instantly. “Do you like it here? If you do, we can stay a little longer. If you don’t, we can pack up and leave immediately.”

“I want to go outside and look around first before I decide.”

“Fine.”

“And what about the banquet?”

“I have no intention of attending,” Duan Xiaolin stated firmly. He genuinely didn’t want to get involved with outsiders or cause unnecessary trouble. The so-called ‘rescue’ the village was celebrating had merely been him eliminating a threat that happened to cross his path while securing the area for Pei Xiqing. His actions had absolutely nothing to do with saving them, but they had clearly misunderstood his intentions.

Pei Xiqing blinked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “But… I want to go.”

“…”

After a few seconds of silence, the man shook his head and smiled softly. “Then I suppose I want to go, too.”

Chapter 183: Do you like it?

Three days later.

Pei Xiqing’s body had fully recovered. She could finally get out of bed and walk around freely, and the lingering pain in her chest had completely vanished.

Holding a small watering can, she carefully watered the near-dead saplings in the front yard.

Xiaobai kept affectionately rubbing against her legs, nearly tripping her several times.

Unable to help herself, Pei Xiqing grabbed Xiaobai’s fluffy ears and pulled them up slightly. “Stop making trouble, or you’ll destroy these trees I managed to save with such great difficulty.”

Xiaobai let out two soft, aggrieved whimpers.

Pei Xiqing gently swatted him away. “Go on, shoo. If you don’t behave, you’re going to be in huge trouble when Brother Duan gets back and sees you’ve been chewing on these trees.”

The moment he heard Duan Xiaolin’s name, Xiaobai immediately sat up perfectly straight, not daring to move a single muscle.

Pei Xiqing pushed his head playfully, feigning anger. “Now you don’t listen to me, but you listen to him? Did he really teach you that much of a lesson? You are such a little traitor!”

Xiaobai nuzzled his wet nose against her palm to appease her.

“He really has you whipped, doesn’t he? To think he could train a mutant beast like this… What a terrifying man.”

The next second, Xiaobai’s tail started wagging excitedly, thumping against the dirt.

“Strictly speaking, Xiaobai is no longer just a dog,” a calm voice suddenly sounded from behind her.

Pei Xiqing jumped slightly and turned around. “Brother Duan, why are you walking around without making a sound?”

“You just didn’t notice,” he replied mildly.

“Haha…” Pei Xiqing laughed dryly. Seeing the package of fresh meat in his hand, she asked, “Did someone in the village give that to you?”

While she had been bedridden recovering from her injuries, the kind villagers had frequently sent over fresh meat, vegetables, and fruit every day.

“I bought it,” he corrected smoothly.

“Huh?”

Duan Xiaolin would not take the villagers’ goods for free. He had personally paid for every single item he had acquired since they arrived here.

Pei Xiqing tilted her head. “So, what are we going to eat today?”

“We aren’t eating at home today,” he said. “Didn’t you mention a few days ago that you wanted to attend the village banquet?”

“Today?!” Pei Xiqing’s eyes lit up, and she immediately closed the distance between them. “I can finally go out?”

“Yes, today.”

“Yes!” Pei Xiqing was so thrilled she almost jumped up and down. “I was almost suffocating in here.”

Duan Xiaolin hadn’t allowed her to step foot outside these past few days. She had been strictly confined to taking her medicine and undergoing daily checkups. She had completely lost count of how many times he had meticulously stripped off her clothes just to examine her healing wounds.

In the past, she had been a total homebody; if she found a safe place to stay, she rarely wanted to leave. But now, finding herself in this mysterious, idyllic village, her curiosity was overflowing. She desperately wanted to go out and see this little pocket of the world.

Before, going out meant facing lethal danger and endless, gray ruins. But this place was completely different. It filled a person with a strong, undeniable yearning to explore.

“When exactly is it? What time?” she asked eagerly.

“It’s still early. The banquet doesn’t start until 7:00 PM. We can just head over at 6:30.” Duan Xiaolin reached out, gently catching her wrist. “You’re that happy? I’ll take you out more often in the future. This place is perfect for you.”

“Yeah!” Pei Xiqing nodded vigorously. “But honestly, Brother Duan, it’s amazing that you stumbled upon such a great place. I can’t believe a haven like this still exists in the world.”

The air here was incredibly fresh, making it feel entirely isolated from the smoke, blood, and ruin of the apocalyptic wasteland. She could still vividly recall a time from her previous life when she had traveled to a similar rural town for a movie shoot, surrounded by endless fields of golden canola flowers and green crops.

Duan Xiaolin looked down at her. “Do you like it?”

“Of course! Who wouldn’t love finding a place like this at the end of the world?”

A hint of profound depth flashed through his dark green eyes. “As long as you like it.”

Pei Xiqing didn’t notice the underlying weight of his words, too immersed in the excitement of finally going out.

Then, the man asked casually, “If we were to settle down here forever, would you be willing?”

“Let me go out and take a look around first. There’s no rush to decide,” she replied sensibly. “Besides, these are all local villagers who have lived here for a long time. I don’t think it would be right for us to just rashly intrude on their lives permanently.”

The villagers had already been incredibly kind, taking her in to recuperate during this critical period. If she and Duan Xiaolin simply occupied the area without their genuine consent, they would likely just bring trouble to these peaceful people.

Duan Xiaolin’s voice was firm and decisive. “It wouldn’t be a bother. If you are willing to stay, they will gladly accept us.”

“Let me take a look first,” Pei Xiqing said, not thinking too deeply into his absolute certainty. “How many people are there in the village anyway?”

“About a dozen or so.”

“They’ve helped us so much these past few days. I have to prepare some gifts to bring them.” Pei Xiqing thought for a moment, made up her mind, and nodded, turning to head back inside the house to gather some things.

The man smiled faintly. “You’re preparing gifts for them, but nothing for me?”

Pei Xiqing stopped, stood on her tiptoes, and planted a quick kiss on the corner of his lips. “Here, here, here’s yours,” she said perfunctorily, waving her hand before hurrying inside.

Duan Xiaolin watched her and Xiaobai file into the house one after the other. He raised a hand, his fingertips lightly tracing the spot on his lip where she had just kissed him, and chuckled softly to himself, his head bowed.

The next second, Shadow suddenly materialized beside him. His tactical mask was as cold as ever, and his tone was entirely devoid of emotion: “Brother Duan. He spoke.”

The man’s narrow eyes darkened instantly, the soft gentleness completely vanishing from his gaze.

Deep within a dimly lit, subterranean space thick with the suffocating stench of blood, layers of stained concrete stairs led down into what felt like an endless hell.

All the greed, twisted human nature, and unadulterated darkness of the world were hidden within this subterranean undercurrent.

With every step down, the biting cold grew more intense.

Duan Xiaolin and Shadow slowly descended into the dark, damp abyss. Water dungeons and waterboarding were mere elementary child’s play here. The interrogation methods employed in this facility were horrific beyond human comprehension, completely unacceptable to any civilized society.

But that didn’t matter to Franlun’s enforcers, nor did it hinder their ruthless pursuit of answers.

They reached the absolute bottom layer.

Not a single ray of natural light could penetrate this depth.

The man, his broken body tightly bound in countless heavy chains, was suspended from a steel cross, his head hanging limply toward his chest. If it weren’t for the incredibly shallow, erratic rise and fall of his ribs, one would have easily assumed he was a corpse.

Hearing the sharp echo of approaching footsteps, he slowly forced his eyes open. Every microscopic movement seemed agonizingly difficult.

What caught his blurred vision was a pair of impeccably crafted leather boots. One could tell at a single glance that only the highest-ranking elites in this ruined world could afford such bespoke luxury.

In this apocalyptic wasteland, while countless displaced survivors starved and froze, struggling for scraps of food and clothing, they could never have imagined that the absolute masters of the bases were still enjoying such immaculate luxuries, while others were reduced to crawling like insects beneath their boots.

Xiao Yue was already completely blind in one eye.

The simple act of lifting his head seemed to tear every remaining tendon and vein in his battered body all over again.

When his voice finally came out, it was forced through a ruined throat—hoarse, grating, and agonizing to listen to, like claws scraping against dead bark.

“…You’re here.”

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