What?! I Became the Zombie Beauty in the Villain’s Arms

Chapter 349: All at the Wife’s Arrangement

The team remained in the high-alert red zone for nearly a month. The majority of that time was spent resting, recovering, and thoroughly cleaning up the remaining straggling parasites and zombies.

In total, it had been over a month since they first left the base.

Long Yan had sustained devastating injuries during the final battle. If Pei Xiqing hadn’t used the Qiong Snake to sustain her last breath, she never would have survived this long.

During the subsequent recovery period, Long Yan had selflessly given up the limited medical supplies to those she deemed needed them more, causing her to miss the optimal window for treatment. She suffered from chronic bouts of coughing up blood, and had been found unconscious on the battlefield more than once.

Pei Xiqing hadn’t known about this at first.

It was only later, when Qiu Chao could no longer hide the truth from her relentless questioning, that he finally revealed the basic condition of the team members.

“How are Ling Lang’s injuries?” she asked.

“It is what it is,” Qiu Chao sighed. “Medical supplies are strictly limited, and we didn’t have much to begin with. With the old headquarters destroyed, all manufacturing sources have been completely cut off. The only medicines left are whatever we manage to scavenge from abandoned warehouses.”

“I’m going to go see him.”

Qiu Chao quickly grabbed her arm. “Come on, you know exactly what Ling Lang is thinking. You know he’s doing this willingly. He already submitted an application to stay behind and continue mopping up the remaining zombies and parasites. He refuses to leave until the entire area is completely sterilized. My advice… you should go find him before we leave.”

Pei Xiqing paused, her expression softening. “I know.”

Qiu Chao nodded in satisfaction. “We’ll be heading out in a few days. We’re finally saying goodbye to this hellhole. I’m actually a little excited. I wonder how things are going at the new base. Has anything happened? Or maybe some clueless zombie horde is harassing them again, trying to tear down the walls we worked so hard to build.”

“Try to look at things from a more positive perspective.” Pei Xiqing patted his shoulder. “I’m going to go check on the others. We need to get Sister Long Yan back as soon as possible. We can’t delay this any longer. There’s still a stockpile of medicine at the base. The sooner she and the others can get proper treatment, the better.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Qiu Chao swaggered out of the room. “I’ll go arrange the transport right now!”

The departure time was set for two days later.

Because Long Yan and Leng Huayi were in critical condition, the team wasted no time in packing up and mobilizing.

In the end, only Ling Lang and his specialized strike team remained behind. They established a heavily fortified temporary base to oversee the final cleanup operations.

On the day of their departure, Ling Lang stood outside his command tent early in the morning, watching the team’s aircraft ascend into the sky.

A soldier who had come to support him stepped up from behind. “Major General, are you really not going back with them? There are practically no parasites left here. Only a few stray zombies occasionally crawl out of the dirt, and they’re so weak you could crush them under your boot. Why don’t you just head back with the main team? We can handle the mop-up here without any problems.”

Ling Lang averted his gaze, a faint, lingering smile in his eyes.

“The base doesn’t need me anymore. A man like me is meant for grand ambitions. And only when the threats out here are completely eradicated can the people back at the base truly live freely and happily.”

He smiled toward the fading silhouette of the aircraft.

Then, he turned around, his expression hardening back into that of a commander. “Let’s move! Destroy every last parasite and zombie in this sector!”

Five days later.

The aircraft touched down in the massive central plaza of the base. Before the engines even fully powered down, the ship was completely surrounded by a cheering crowd. Even the Shadows assigned to secure the perimeter couldn’t hold back the sheer enthusiasm of the people.

Pei Xiqing was currently focused on the condition of Long Yan, Leng Huayi, and Duan Xiaolin. But as the noise outside grew louder, she thought she heard her own name being chanted.

Curious, she walked over to the viewport.

She saw a sea of familiar faces, all waving excitedly up at the ship. For a moment, a wave of profound emotion washed over her.

After ensuring that Huihua, Zhang Tian, Ji Yao, and the medical staff safely offloaded Long Yan and Leng Huayi on their stretchers and rushed them toward the hospital wing, Pei Xiqing finally stepped off the ship.

She was instantly swarmed.

For a long while, she couldn’t even take a step forward.

Duan Xiaolin stood beside her. He wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders, nodding to the crowd. “Thank you all. We appreciate your kindness.”

“Miss Pei! You’re finally back!”

“Sister Pei!”

Ma Mengxiang, who had somehow squeezed her way to the very front row, was holding a small bundle in her arms, with Xiaoyu and Xiaoxiao trailing right behind her.

“Make way!” Ma Mengxiang shouted over the din. “Rui-zai is coming through! Everyone, stop pushing! He’s still drinking his milk! If this bottle drops, you uncles and aunts are going to have to answer to me!”

Hearing this, the tightly packed crowd immediately parted, making a clear path.

People leaned in, cooing. “Aww! Is that little Ruirui? Come here! Let Auntie hold you for a second!”

Ma Mengxiang smiled but gently shooed them away, shielding the baby in her arms as she hurried up to Pei Xiqing and Duan Xiaolin. “Brother Duan, Xiqing! We’ve been waiting so long for you to come back. And little Ruirui has been waiting for his mommy and daddy, too.”

The baby was almost three months old now. His little face was pink and healthy. His bright eyes, which looked strikingly similar to Duan Xiaolin’s, stared up at them curiously.

Pei Xiqing hesitated to take him. Having just returned from a red-alert biohazard zone, she was terrified that she might still have some residual virus clinging to her clothes.

Seeing her hesitation, Ma Mengxiang practically shoved the baby into her arms. “Don’t worry! Ruirui has an amazing constitution! He’s not afraid of any virus his mother might have!”

Pei Xiqing cradled the child, her heart swelling with emotion. She turned to look at the man beside her.

Duan Xiaolin gently pinched the baby’s soft cheek. “He’s good-looking. He’ll probably make a fine martial artist.”

Pei Xiqing burst out laughing.

Slowly, the crowd dispersed, allowing them to finally return to the accommodations arranged for them by the base.

“What was everyone saying earlier about the construction?” Pei Xiqing asked Ma Mengxiang once they were settled. “How has the progress been while we were gone?”

Ma Mengxiang practically vibrated with excitement. “Let me tell you! Everyone has been working so incredibly hard! We haven’t just grown a massive crop of fresh vegetables and fruits—we’ve also started raising chickens, ducks, and even fish! If we can maintain this model for the next five to ten months, we’ll never have to worry about food or clothing ever again!”

“That’s amazing.” Pei Xiqing gently placed the sleeping Ruirui into his crib, then stood up and gave her a thumbs up.

Seeing that Ruirui had fallen asleep, Ma Mengxiang lowered her voice to a whisper. “This is honestly the first time I’ve seen him fall asleep so quickly. It usually takes forever to coax him down. You have no idea—me and the other aunties in the village had to take turns rocking him. Sometimes he wouldn’t sleep until late into the night, just crying and crying. It drove us crazy. Eventually, I figured out that if I put one of your old shirts next to his head, he would calm down and fall asleep. It worked like a charm.”

She beamed. “But now that you’re back, it’s even better! We don’t need any old clothes. You just stand here, and he sleeps like an angel.”

Pei Xiqing crouched beside the crib, gently stroking Ruirui’s soft cheek. “Thank you so much for your hard work taking care of him. I need to go around and thank everyone personally.”

“No need! You’re being too polite! Why are you even thanking us? The fact that you and Brother Duan both made it back alive is the greatest blessing we could ask for. It’s a huge cause for celebration!”

Pei Xiqing and Ma Mengxiang quietly slipped out of the nursery. “Where’s Brother Duan?” Ma Mengxiang asked.

“He should be downstairs.”

Pei Xiqing leaned over the balcony railing and looked down into the courtyard.

The other wounded had already been sent to the hospital wing. Duan Xiaolin, whose injuries weren’t deemed critical, was wearing a simple jacket. He stood tall and capable, quietly discussing logistics with several of the base administrators.

Worried about his condition, Pei Xiqing headed downstairs. “Brother Duan, you’ve already debriefed everyone. Can you please go take care of yourself now?”

When the administrators saw her approaching, they all smiled knowingly.

“Miss Pei is absolutely right,” one of them chuckled. “We won’t take up any more of your time. Judge Duan, please go get some rest. We, and everyone else in this base, still have a long road ahead of us. But honestly, it would be wonderful if we could find a few more couples like you two.”

The base had plenty of resources and security now, but there was a severe shortage of romance. It was hard to find young couples genuinely attracted to each other in the apocalypse. If everyone could be as devoted as Judge Duan and Miss Pei, the base’s population growth would skyrocket in no time!

Duan Xiaolin smiled faintly. “Indeed.”

“Hahaha, alright, we’ll leave Judge Duan and Miss Pei to it.”

The administrators quickly dispersed, offering polite nods.

Pei Xiqing immediately grabbed Duan Xiaolin by the collar.

“Hey. Let me take a look at your injuries. I’m admitting you to the hospital for a month. Don’t even think about trying to leave early.”

In response, Duan Xiaolin wrapped his arms around her, his large hands resting warmly against the small of her back.

“Whatever my wife arranges,” he murmured, his eyes full of quiet devotion.

Chapter 350: No Envy

Long Yan spent half a month recovering.

The rest of the team was in a similar state, though after a grueling ten days in the hospital, they finally began to turn the corner. Reviewing everyone’s medical records, Qiu Chao breathed a sigh of relief.

Still, he couldn’t resist complaining. “How come I’m the only one who can get bitten and actually gain a massive power boost? Nobody else can handle it except Brother Duan. Is this supposed to be a good thing? I’ve basically turned into everyone’s babysitter. Damn it!”

Sitting beside him, Ji Yao was busy studying a map on the monitor. She swiped through the data, casting a sideways glance at him but feeling too lazy to retort.

Unchecked, Qiu Chao started gloating again a mere two seconds later. “It seems that besides Brother Duan and Xiqing, I’m practically half a Chosen One myself. Who knows? Maybe I’ll stumble across a few peerless crystal cores in the future. When that happens, my strength will skyrocket, leaving everyone else—even you and Ling Lang—eating my dust.”

“I look forward to it, then,” Ji Yao deadpanned.

Without warning, she reached over and snatched the mask right off his face. “Little brat.”

Qiu Chao’s baby face was suddenly reflected in the glow of the screen. Stunned for a split second, he scrambled to snatch the mask back. “Ji Yao!!!”

Ji Yao just turned on her heel and walked toward the door. “I don’t argue with little brats. Goodbye.”

Qiu Chao hurriedly strapped his mask back on, muttering under his breath, “Seriously? What’s wrong with this older sister? She’s just jealous of me because I’m young.”

He didn’t expect Ji Yao to suddenly pop back into the doorway. Qiu Chao clamped his mouth shut instantly.

“What’s the matter, Sister Ji Yao?” he asked innocently. “Is there anything else I can help you with? Or do you want to keep looking at Leng Huayi’s records?”

Ji Yao narrowed her eyes dangerously. “I forgot to tell you. I was chatting with Xia Jingyu a little while ago, and I realized the girl really likes you. So…”

“So what?”

“So, I told her the feeling was mutual.”

Qiu Chao froze. “Ji Yao! How can you just play matchmaker like that?! You’re going to ruin my life, you know that?!”

He shot up from his chair as if he were about to face something far more terrifying than a horde of mutated zombies. Frantically, he started shoving his belongings into a bag, not even grabbing his spare gear as he sprinted out the door.

“Where are you going?” Ji Yao called after him.

“I’m going to find that bastard Ling Lang! I need to hide! She’ll definitely never find me in that hellhole! You’re trying to kill me!”

Watching him flee in a panic, Ji Yao’s lips twitched into a smirk.

Long Yan pushed open the door to the back room and stepped out, shaking her head. “Why did you lie to him? You know he’ll take it seriously.”

Ji Yao shrugged. “If I didn’t say that, how else could I get back at him for calling me an old woman? Besides, now he’ll go keep Ling Lang company. It’s better for the two of them to endure some hardship together out there. That way, he won’t be loitering around the base annoying me every day.”

Long Yan chuckled. “Then I suppose he brought it upon himself.” She paused. “When is your team deploying?”

“In five days,” Ji Yao replied. “What about you?”

“Ten days.”

“Franlun is heading out in five days,” Ji Yao confirmed.

“So soon?”

“Well, the apocalypse is never peaceful. Ling Lang is out there guarding a tiny sliver of pure land all by himself. Our job is to retake all the fallen bases, organize the survivors, and complete the reconstruction. We can’t afford to stop, and we definitely can’t rest for too long.”

Long Yan nodded in agreement. “Ling Lang is part of our team too, and we have a mountain of follow-up tasks waiting for us. That entire region was ravaged by the war, so there’s an endless amount of cleanup. Ten days of rest is already the most luxurious vacation we could ask for.”

Ji Yao leaned casually against the railing. “So, how are things between you and Brother Huihua?”

Long Yan fell silent.

“What are you so afraid of?” Ji Yao pressed. “Huihua is like a big brother to all of us, but everyone knows how he feels about you. It’s been so many years, and you’re still dodging him. Don’t you feel bad about all the time you two have wasted?”

Long Yan let out a soft sigh. “It is what it is.”

“Sounds like there’s still hope, then.”

“Let nature take its course,” Long Yan said, waving her hand dismissively. “Really, I’m not going to force anything.”

Seeing she wouldn’t budge, Ji Yao had no choice but to change the subject. “The base is throwing a celebration soon, right? It’s a rare vacation for the Franlun squad. The festival looks like it’ll be pretty interesting. I really want to stay and see it before we ship out.”

She placed a slim cigarette between her lips, her eyes growing distant as she slipped into a memory. “Watching other people find happiness… besides wishing them well, I can’t help but envy them.”

Long Yan gently patted her shoulder. “That’s all in the past. You have to look forward.”

Five years ago, when the zombie crisis first erupted, Ji Yao’s boyfriend had perished in a massive horde that infected tens of thousands. With his dying breath, he had awakened her supernatural abilities through a final kiss.

Ji Yao pursed her lips around the unlit cigarette. “I stepped out of my sorrow a long time ago. Time might dilute everything else, but it can never dilute my feelings for him. I carry his share of life with me, and I will keep fighting to survive in this apocalypse.”

She glanced back at Long Yan, a sad smile on her face. “So you need to cherish what you have right now.”

“I understand,” Long Yan replied softly.

Ji Yao let out a hollow laugh. “If I had just possessed the courage to use all my strength and fully embrace my supernatural powers back then—the way Xiqing does—I could have saved him. Instead, I’m just standing here, grieving. But I had my own cowardly reasons for not pushing forward…”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Long Yan consoled her. “The situation back then was completely chaotic. It was a miracle you even survived. Even if you could sense the presence of your powers, there was no way you could have fully controlled them in that moment.”

“I really envy Brother Duan and Xiqing,” Ji Yao murmured. “But at the same time… I don’t envy them at all.”

“Why?”

“Because I could never do what she did.” She shook her head. “You don’t need to comfort me. I missed my chance, and that’s the truth. I could have saved him back then, but I backed down out of fear. This lingering pain is just my retribution.”

Seeing the heavy guilt in her friend’s eyes, Long Yan didn’t know what else to say. The two women stood together in comfortable, somber silence for a while.

A few moments later, Zhang Tian came sprinting down the hall toward them. “Hurry! I need your advice on something! Come with me, quick!”

Ji Yao and Long Yan exchanged a look. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 351: Epilogue — Part 1

Ten minutes later, Ji Yao and Long Yan arrived at Pei Xiqing and Duan Xiaolin’s residence.

The room was practically overflowing with gifts. A large plate piled high with wedding candy sat on the coffee table, and the walls were strung with colorful ribbons and balloons, giving the space an incredibly festive atmosphere.

“What exactly do you need us to do?” Ji Yao asked, looking around.

Pei Xiqing was sprawled on the sofa, half-buried under a mountain of clothes and boxed gifts.

Nearby, Ma Mengxiang was twirling in front of a full-length mirror.

Seeing the newcomers, Ma Mengxiang spun around. The hem of her purple wedding dress flared out, looking like a blooming snowflake. “What do you think of this one?!”

“Not bad,” Ji Yao commented. “It suits you really well.”

Long Yan nodded in agreement.

“Really?! I love this one too!” Ma Mengxiang almost jumped for joy.

Pei Xiqing laughed from the couch. “I already told you that, but you just wouldn’t believe me.”

“Oh, come on! I just don’t have that much confidence…” Ma Mengxiang suddenly bit her lip, looking nervous. “Do you think he’ll really come?”

“He will,” Pei Xiqing assured her. “Brother Yingzi might not be the most talkative guy, but he always keeps his promises. If he said he’s coming to marry you, he won’t back out at the last minute.”

“Okay!” Ma Mengxiang lifted her chin and puffed out her chest, silently cheering herself on in the mirror.

While she and Shadow had been living at the base, they’d constantly bickered over minor things. But when he came to back them up during the final battle, he had told her to her face that if she survived, he would marry her.

Now that he was on his way back, she had to get ready to be his bride. She knew everything was happening incredibly fast, but she simply didn’t want to let him go.

In three days, eight other couples in the base were also tying the knot. The leadership had decided it would be better to hold a massive group wedding on the same day rather than stretching out the ceremonies. It was the perfect way to infuse the entire base with joy and celebrate everyone’s survival and new beginning.

Ji Yao walked over to the sofa. “Xiqing, why aren’t you and Brother Duan joining the group wedding? If you and Ma Mengxiang were both up there, it would be perfect.”

Pei Xiqing smiled and shook her head. “No need. Brother Duan and I already talked about it. We’re just going to celebrate for everyone else. We aren’t going to participate.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know, honestly. I just told him we’re basically an old married couple with a kid already, so there’s no point wasting resources. We should leave the spotlight for the couples who need it. And he agreed.”

“Hey, Brother Duan has never been someone who cares about flashy rituals anyway,” Ji Yao shrugged. “You two are just way too low-key.”

“There is one ritual, I guess,” Pei Xiqing whispered conspiratorially. “He gave me a special override command. He said that once we got back to the base, I needed to input the command to unlock something. But I haven’t had the time lately! Between helping Mengxiang and coordinating the weddings for the other eight couples, there are just too many loose ends. I have to finish taking care of these things first.”

“Long Yan and I will help you,” Ji Yao offered.

“That would be amazing.”

Long Yan walked over and slung an arm over Pei Xiqing’s shoulder. “Since the three of us are free, let’s go all out planning this wedding. We’re going to drive away all the lingering pain from the past and welcome a brand-new day for everyone.”

Sitting down on the opposite sofa, Ji Yao stared at Pei Xiqing’s face and let out a soft, secretive laugh.

“Is the Qiong Snake still inside you?” she asked suddenly.

“Yeah.”

“You need to make sure you keep it suppressed. That ancient curse is incredibly deceptive.”

Pei Xiqing subconsciously reached up to touch her shoulder blade. The totem was still there. She smiled. “The snake is actually quite cute. It has its own emotions, and sure, it can be a little grumpy sometimes, but most of the time, it’s very well-behaved.”

“Oh?” This was something Ji Yao hadn’t expected. “It seems the Qiong Snake accepted you a long time ago. When Brother Duan first awakened it, he was tortured by the curse for three or four straight days before he finally managed to suppress it. I had no idea it would be so obedient inside your body.”

“Really?” Pei Xiqing was stunned. She hadn’t known the history behind Duan Xiaolin’s control of the Qiong Snake.

Ji Yao leaned back. “Qiong Snakes aren’t easy to tame or control. The fact that it listens to you means it likes you. And there’s a second reason—its previous owner liked you, too. The two conditions are inextricably linked.”

When Duan Xiaolin walked into the living room carrying a thick stack of documents, Pei Xiqing—still curled up on the sofa—looked up at him. The corners of her lips curled into a bright, sweet smile, and she stared at him without blinking.

The man set the documents down, slowly unbuttoned his cuffs, and leaned over her. “Smiling like a blooming flower,” he noted.

He raised an eyebrow. “It seems Ma Mengxiang’s wedding is making you happier than your own would.”

“I am really happy for her,” Pei Xiqing replied, genuinely puzzled. “But what do you mean, ‘my own happy event’?”

“It’s nothing.” Duan Xiaolin straightened up, taking off his coat and draping it over a chair before sitting down to review the charts on the table. “I just noticed you smiling so brightly today. I figured it must be because of Ma Mengxiang’s wedding.”

“Partly because of her,” Pei Xiqing admitted softly. “And partly because of… someone else.”

“Oh?” The man paused, looking at her with sudden interest. “Someone else?”

Before she could blink, Pei Xiqing found herself pulled into his arms. Duan Xiaolin stared down at her with deep, green eyes—mysterious and profound, holding an irresistible, magnetic pull. Feeling almost bewitched, she leaned closer, tilting her face up to lightly brush her lips against the corner of his mouth.

The moment their skin touched, the totem on her back flared with a searing heat, as if it were burning right through her skin. It had been running hot ever since she’d seen him walk into the room.

She pulled back slightly, enduring the burn, and whispered, “Because that person has loved me for a long, long time. Ever since the Qiong Snake first appeared on me.”

“Oh? And who is this person?” he asked, his voice low, clearly knowing the answer.

“Perhaps only he knows for sure,” Pei Xiqing sighed, a hint of playful regret in her tone.

Duan Xiaolin lowered his head, gently biting her collarbone. His warm breath ghosted over her skin. “Isn’t it completely obvious? Aren’t you a little late in figuring this out?”

“I… I thought you were just joking around with me, and…” Pei Xiqing cleared her throat, unable to finish the sentence.

She didn’t dare say the rest aloud. She wanted to confess that back then, she had been entirely blinded by his good looks and had just acted on impulse. Assuming that, as a zombie, she might die any day, she had figured she might as well enjoy the moment and had shamelessly flirted with him. It had never even occurred to her to actually fall in love with him.

But hearing Ji Yao explain the true nature of the Qiong Snake had changed everything. Knowing that, even during their fake-relationship phase, he had always been completely serious about her… how could she not be ecstatic?

Feeling a sudden, inexplicable wave of guilt, Pei Xiqing lowered her head, looking at the papers on the table. “What are you reading? It’s so thick. Can’t you just upload it to a datapad? You’re going to strain your eyes.”

“The construction schedules and the subsequent regional recovery plans need to be finalized as soon as possible.”

“Oh… so you’re going to be busy again.” She sighed. “Such a busy man.”

Duan Xiaolin flipped through a few pages, signed his name at the bottom, and smiled faintly without looking up.

Pei Xiqing slipped off the sofa and crouched on the carpet, starting to sort through the wedding gifts the villagers had brought for Ma Mengxiang. Since Ma Mengxiang was currently living in a dorm and wouldn’t move into her new house until after the wedding, she had temporarily stored everything here.

She was just wondering how on earth she was going to pack everything up when she glanced up and saw Duan Xiaolin watching her with a half-smile.

“…Am I wrong?” she asked defensively.

“You’re not wrong.”

Pei Xiqing snorted softly. “Well, in the future, our son is definitely taking after you. If he can’t find a girlfriend, then…”

Before she could finish, the man leaned down, his large hand cupping her chin, and kissed her hard.

Without giving her a chance to escape, he gripped her wrist, pulled her up from the carpet, and pressed her flush against his chest, deepening the kiss.

His tongue swept into her mouth with demanding force. His large, hot palms slid down to the small of her back, pressing her so tightly against him it felt as though he were trying to fuse them into a single entity.

His kiss was fierce—more violent and desperate than any they had shared before. It was as if all the emotions he had suppressed for so long had finally shattered their restraints and erupted all at once. Pei Xiqing felt as though she were being swallowed whole.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, surrendering entirely, letting him take whatever he wanted in the silent, dimly lit room surrounded by wedding gifts.

Outside the window, the sky had darkened into a deep, inky black. Inside, the hazy glow of the room’s single lamp cast long shadows. In the dim light, the hem of her shirt was pushed up, revealing the delicate curve of her waist. The intricate totem on her back continued to darken, its rich, vibrant colors resembling a breathtaking oil painting.

Duan Xiaolin pulled back just enough to smile against her lips. “Good girl. I can feel exactly what you want.”

“You’re the one who…” Remembering how the totem actually functioned, Pei Xiqing’s cheeks flushed a furious red. “You’re shameless!”

The man captured her lips again, murmuring, “I’m just glad you’ve finally learned how to express yourself.”

She hadn’t learned it; the damn curse was doing it for her!

Pei Xiqing tried to playfully dodge his kiss. “I’m going to have the Qiong Snake put a matching curse on you.”

“Good,” he agreed effortlessly.

He pulled her into an airtight embrace and pressed a gentle, deeply affectionate kiss against the gorgeous, blooming peach blossom burned into her skin.

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