What?! I Became the Zombie Beauty in the Villain’s Arms – CH190-192

Chapter 190| Chapter 191| Chapter 192

Chapter 190: The First Step to Being a Husband

Pei Xiqing had also drunk a lot the night before. When she got out of bed in the morning, her head throbbed so intensely that her face was completely pale. It felt as though she had been punched repeatedly, leaving a dull, swollen ache that pulsed from the inside out.

Last night, she had been chatting with Duan Xiaolin under the massive tree, but after getting drunk, she had completely blacked out. She had most likely been carried back by him.

Rubbing her aching temples, she slipped on her slippers and went into the bathroom to wash up. When she came out, she downed two large cups of warm water. She noticed a neatly arranged breakfast waiting on the table and managed to force down a few spoonfuls of porridge before eating a little more.

She was in the middle of biting into a sandwich when the front door swung open.

Duan Xiaolin stood in the doorway. He was carrying a large bamboo basket in one hand and holding a sharp sickle in the other.

His attire was completely different from his usual style. His low-key, strictly tailored ascetic suits and custom-made clothes were gone; instead, he wore an ordinary shirt. The cuffs were neatly folded up, and his black trousers wrapped around his sturdy legs, making him look exceptionally tall and powerful. Even though he was dressed down, he still managed to look incredibly elegant.

The only drawback was the fresh bloodstains smeared across his lower abdomen and cuffs.

Pei Xiqing paused mid-bite, staring at him blankly. “Brother Duan… what on earth were you doing?”

Did zombies breach the valley? She immediately bolted upright.

The man walked inside. Seeing how easily she was spooked by everything, he smiled softly and said, “There are no zombies. I just went up the mountain.”

“You?”

“Mhm.”

“What were you doing up there?”

“Digging yams.” He set the heavy bamboo basket onto the floor, then turned back outside to drag in the carcass of a massive wild boar.

“!!!???”

“Where did that come from?”

“I ran into it on the path and killed it. I gave the remaining half to the villagers.”

Pei Xiqing’s jaw nearly dropped in shock. The wild boar was still bleeding and looked like it weighed at least five or six hundred kilograms, yet he handled it as if it were nothing.

Beside it, Xiaobai was already drooling profusely. The floor was quickly becoming a mess of saliva and wild boar blood. The massive pup whined anxiously, unable to contain himself a moment longer.

Pei Xiqing held him back, chiding, “Wait a minute.”

Xiaobai looked at her eagerly, then obediently sat at her feet, his tail thumping against the floor.

Pei Xiqing leaned over to inspect the wild boar’s carcass. “Is it infected?”

“Yes,” the man explained smoothly. “But the infection isn’t severe. There are no highly mutated animals around this area. Only one of its hind legs showed signs of infection, so I cut it off and discarded it.”

“Oh my god… a wild boar this size, can the two of us even finish it?”

“With him around, we probably won’t have to worry about leftovers.” Duan Xiaolin raised his hand, sliced off a chunk of raw meat, and tossed it through the air.

Xiaobai caught it instantly, gulping it down. He devoured the thick slab of meat in seconds.

Pei Xiqing marveled, “He’s amazing.”

“Xiaobai is half-parasite now, so his nutritional needs are much greater than an ordinary mutant dog.” Duan Xiaolin crouched down beside the carcass. “This wild boar should keep him satisfied for a while.”

Pei Xiqing looked down at the dog. “Look at that, boy, look how much your dad loves you. He even brings you back a feast when he goes out.”

The massive pup wagged his tail and tried to lean in to rub against her, but Pei Xiqing poked his head, pushing him away. “Ugh, your mouth is covered in blood. Go lick it clean before you come over here.”

Duan Xiaolin waved a hand at him. “Come here.”

Xiaobai happily trotted over to him. The man fed him another large strip of meat.

Then, Duan Xiaolin asked calmly, “If I’m his father, then who’s his mother?”

Xiaobai immediately turned and began nuzzling against Pei Xiqing again.

Pei Xiqing’s face flushed a bright crimson. “What nonsense! I was just joking around. Who wants to be a dog’s mother? Go away, you can be his solo father.” She huffed, sitting back down to finish her breakfast.

Duan Xiaolin sat down beside her, continuing to feed the dog. Turning his gaze to her, his lips curled into a slight smile. “What do you want to eat for lunch and dinner?”

“Whatever. I like anything you cook.”

“Good.” He continued, “I’ll butcher the meat in a moment, pack it up, and store it in the freezer. After that, I have to go out again.”

“Where are you going?”

“The village elders allocated a piece of land to our family. I’m going to take a look at it.”

Pei Xiqing’s eyes widened. “Land? A farm?”

“If we plan to settle down here, we can’t just idle our days away enjoying the scenery.” He spoke in a slow, measured tone, as if he were discussing corporate metrics in a boardroom meeting. “Once a clear goal is established, we need to personally execute it.”

Pei Xiqing found herself entirely unable to picture Franlun’s formidable Chief Judge toiling away in a dirt field. In the past, such a concept would have seemed completely absurd. But looking at his deadpan, serious expression, she knew he definitely wasn’t joking.

Propping her chin in her hands, she stared at him silently for a moment. “Well, I agree. If we’re going to live here permanently, securing a stable food supply and daily necessities will eventually become an issue. We can’t rely on the villagers’ generosity forever, and it’s not right to keep taking things from them. We should work for our own food and clothing!” She smiled. “So, if there are any specific fruits or vegetables you want to eat, just let me know and I’ll go hunt down the seeds.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Alright.”

Pei Xiqing finished her breakfast, watching in awe as he began to dismantle the massive wild boar with practiced efficiency, neatly packing each portion into the freezer.

His movements were exceptionally swift and precise, almost as if he had dissected tens of thousands of bodies before. He skillfully carved through the flesh and tossed the heavy bones directly into Xiaobai’s waiting jaws.

The man’s hands were meant to hold firearms, crisp military uniforms, and small, razor-sharp torture instruments—yet this was the first time he had ever used them for butchery.

Once Duan Xiaolin finished processing the meat, Pei Xiqing grabbed his hands and led him to the kitchen sink to wash away the blood and stains. Gently touching the calluses on his palms—marks left behind by years of handling weapons—she raised her head slightly to look into his eyes.

“Brother Duan,” she asked softly, her voice laced with quiet hesitation. “Are we really never going back to the base?”

She pressed gently, “Central Headquarters is your true focus, isn’t it? After all, Franlun is still there. You are their Chief Judge—the ultimate authority for everyone at the base. If you never return, what will happen to the facility?”

Ever since they had emerged from the Ghost Market, she hadn’t seen a single person from the base. Not Sister Long Yan, not Ling Lang, not Shadow… she hadn’t seen any of them. She didn’t know exactly where this hidden valley was located, but if it was too far away from headquarters, leaving it entirely behind had to be weighing on him. She didn’t want to see him constantly torn between two worlds; it would be far too exhausting.

Duan Xiaolin slid his hunting knife back into its leather sheath and lowered his eyes. “I’ve worked for headquarters for five consecutive years without a single day off. It’s only natural for me to take a vacation now.”

Over those five grueling years, he had interrogated and broken countless high-profile targets. Even though the caseload at headquarters had been skyrocketing recently, he didn’t care.

He wanted to see exactly what the people back at the base could accomplish without him.

Chapter 191: Did You Scare Her on Purpose?

Early in the morning, long before sunrise, a dense blanket of fog rolled into the village. It completely obscured the valley, making it nearly impossible to tell one direction from another.

Pei Xiqing held Xiaobai’s leash and closely followed the man as they hiked up the mountain path together. The terrain was bumpy, and the heavy moisture from the fog had turned the dirt underfoot into slick mud; one careless step could easily cause a nasty slip and fall.

Duan Xiaolin, however, navigated the treacherous path as effortlessly as if he were walking on level ground. Reaching a higher vantage point, he turned around and extended a steady hand down to her.

“Come here.”

Pei Xiqing gripped his hand tightly. With his strong support, she easily stepped up beside him.

From behind them, Xiaobai surged ahead. Pushing past her, she let go of his leash, and the massive pup bolted toward the summit as fast as his legs could carry him.

The slope wasn’t particularly steep. Over the past few years, the local villagers had traversed these trails countless times, carving out a well-defined little footpath, so the mountain didn’t feel entirely primitive or perilous.

However, this trail ran remarkably close to the suspended cemetery on the sheer cliffs above. Standing along the path, one could clearly discern the burial caves and niches that had been meticulously carved out by human hands to house the bones of the villagers’ ancestors.

A sharp gust of wind swept past, sending a sudden chill straight through her body.

She looked up at the cliffs. “Is hanging the coffins truly just a local custom here?”

“Many villages hidden deep within these mountain ranges maintain their own isolated customs and rules,” Duan Xiaolin replied mildly. “This sanctuary is likely no exception.”

Halting halfway up the mountain, she looked down across the misty village below. At this hour, the rivers and peaks were completely swallowed by the white fog, but many of the residents had already risen to start their morning farm work. From this height, they looked like tiny, scattered black dots moving across the fields.

She had originally planned to make this trek with Duan Xiaolin yesterday, but her head had still been throbbing from her previous ordeal. Worried that her injuries might relapse, he had firmly insisted on postponing the hike by a day. After they had finished butchering and storing the half wild boar yesterday, he had made her rest for the remainder of the day. They had finally risen at the crack of dawn today, hitting the trail around five o’clock.

The villagers led an incredibly simple, peaceful life—toiling at sunrise, resting at sunset. It was the exact kind of pastoral utopia that countless survivors in the ruined outside world could only dream of. The sheer beauty of this sanctuary made her feel as though she were trapped in a recurring, beautiful dream. Yet, everything happening around her felt tangibly real.

Shifting her gaze away from the village, a sudden thought struck her.

She turned to the man beside her. “Brother Duan, back when we were at Base Three, I told you I didn’t want to go to Central Headquarters, and you didn’t force me. If Base Three hadn’t fallen, and if Xiao Yue and his crew hadn’t shown up to cause trouble, where exactly were you planning to have Sister Long Yan take me?”

Duan Xiaolin turned to look at her. “To a secure safehouse I had personally arranged for you.”

“Where was it?”

He merely smiled, his eyes softening. “We’ve found an even better place now. We can stay right here, or anywhere else you happen to like.”

Pei Xiqing felt a faint sense of mystery in his answer, but the man gently took her hand and continued guiding her up the path, so she dropped the subject for the time being.

A short while later, they arrived at their destination.

The mountain summit was lush, teeming with a vibrant variety of exotic fruit trees and unique flora. It was highly likely that these plants were the result of the local ecosystem undergoing continuous evolution and mutation over the years.

Xiaobai trotted around, sniffing the vibrant greenery in a state of absolute excitement.

Following closely behind Duan Xiaolin, Pei Xiqing asked, “Where exactly is the farmland the village elders allocated to us? Are we going to take a look at it later?”

“It’s just about ten paces outside our front yard, not far at all,” he answered. “If you want to look it over, we can head down there after we finish up here.”

“Alright.”

“This fruit tastes quite good.” Duan Xiaolin reached up, plucked a round fruit from a nearby branch, wiped it clean with his handkerchief, and handed it to her.

Pei Xiqing took it and took a crisp bite. The fruit looked like a strange hybrid of an apple and a green pear, and it tasted exactly like a blend of the two—sweet, incredibly juicy, and perfect for cutting through any lingering greasiness.

“I really like this one,” she said, taking another bite. “It’s delicious.”

“We’ll transplant two of these saplings into our yard later.”

“Mhm!”

The mountain was a treasure trove of wild flora and various tree seeds. They spent some time harvesting a good collection, and just as they prepared to head back down, they crossed paths with Ma Mengjia and Ma Mengxiang, who were making their own way up the trail.

The moment Ma Mengxiang spotted her, she enthusiastically waved the large sickle she was carrying. “Hey! Miss Pei! You came up to the mountains to forage and gather firewood too? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If you ever need firewood, my family has tons of it at home. I hike up here every single day to chop wood, so we always have more than enough to spare! And if you’re looking for meat, didn’t we just harvest that massive wild boar yesterday?”

Pei Xiqing smiled. “We actually came up here to gather some seeds to plant in our front yard.”

“Oh, I see! Well, our village might lack luxury goods, but we have an endless supply of wild plants and game. There are fruit seeds and wild jujube trees all over these ridges, not to mention plenty of vegetable seeds. We work like dogs picking them up in the mountains and cultivating them ourselves, so we can absolutely guarantee three square meals a day!”

“Mhm.”

Ma Mengjia also noticed the couple. She looked visibly embarrassed, her eyes instinctively darting toward Duan Xiaolin for a stolen glance before she quickly looked away. Turning to Pei Xiqing, she murmured softly, “I actually just gathered some flower seeds on my way up here. Do you like flowers, Miss Pei? If you do… I can give you some.”

“I’d love that,” Pei Xiqing nodded warmly.

Ma Mengjia stepped forward, lifting her woven basket. She spoke in a gentle, hushed tone. “Look, these seeds have all been carefully selected by hand. There are quite a few varieties in here. This batch is for roses, and these over here are jasmine…”

Pei Xiqing leaned over, sifting through the collection with her. She managed to gather a wonderful assortment of flower seeds.

Ma Mengjia added softly, “These varieties are incredibly easy to grow and they mature very quickly. They’re resilient, but they still require a bit of careful attention.” She reached into her basket, pulled out a handful of freshly picked, delicate blossoms, and gently pressed them into Pei Xiqing’s hands. “I grew these myself. I was originally planning to dry them to make beauty products… but I’ll give them to you instead.”

“Thank you.” Pei Xiqing accepted the beautiful bouquet and brought it to her nose, taking a soft sniff. The aroma wasn’t overpowering; instead, it carried a unique, elegant fragrance.

Ma Mengjia gestured toward a nearby ridge. “There’s a large patch of them growing just over that crest. The fog is going to clear up soon. Would you like to go over and take a look?”

“Sure, let’s go.”

Standing nearby, Ma Mengxiang chimed in, “My cousin might be completely useless at everything else, but when it comes to cultivating flowers, she’s hands-down the best in the village. Plenty of locals always beg her for seeds and fresh blooms, but she stubbornly refuses to give them a single petal.”

Ma Mengjia shot her an annoyed glare. “Be quiet, you’re annoying.”

Pei Xiqing watched the girl fluster and quickly turn away, an amused smile curling the corners of her mouth.

Ma Mengxiang hoisted her heavy sickle onto her shoulder and leaned in, whispering, “She didn’t sleep a wink last night.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s consumed by guilt,” Ma Mengxiang giggled loudly. “Hahaha! Sister, you’re amazing. You actually managed to make her bolt upright in the middle of the night from a nightmare.”

Pei Xiqing deadpanned, “I don’t think I’m nearly that terrifying.”

Ma Mengxiang waved her hand. “No, she’s definitely hiding a guilty conscience. Who knows what’s rattling around in her head? Either way, she was scared out of her wits. She’s absolutely feeling remorseful for her behavior yesterday.” She shook her head with a grin. “Hmph, forget about her. Seriously, if you ever need firewood, just say the word and I’ll deliver a bundle to your doorstep every single day.”

The electricity in the sanctuary was entirely generated through manual logistics. Every month, the households had to take turns operating a modified gasoline truck to generate power for the community. Having been completely severed from the grid and the outside world for years, they had to rely on the most old-fashioned, rudimentary methods. Consequently, electricity was an incredibly scarce resource in the village. The locals used firewood to cook whenever possible, and relied on it to heat their stone platform beds in the winter, only consuming electricity when they had absolutely no other alternative.

“Thank you, Mengxiang, but I can’t let you do that. It’s far too much hard work, and I’d feel terrible taking advantage of you. Besides, we’re friends now, so you don’t need to treat me like a stranger.”

Ma Mengxiang scratched her head, grinning awkwardly. “Heh, you really are unique. You’re the strangest outsider I’ve ever met!”

With that, she prepared to head deeper into the brush to chop wood. But as she watched Pei Xiqing prepare to follow Ma Mengjia toward the flower crest, she suddenly remembered something and quickly called out, “Oh, Sister Pei! And Brother Duan! We overheard some rumors saying that the outside world has become a lot more stable recently, and those zombies aren’t running as rampant as they used to be. We were hoping to hear your thoughts on what’s happening out there. Plus, our village just received some incredible news!”

She couldn’t contain her sheer joy, her eyes crinkling. “Old Man Liu’s son, the one who lives at the village entrance, is coming back soon! He’s definitely going to bring us a ton of cool stuff from the outside! I heard he’s serving in a major military unit and has even awakened supernatural powers!”

She turned an eager face to her. “Sister Pei, do you know what an ability user is? You’ve been out there for so long, you must have seen them.”

Pei Xiqing froze mid-step. “Someone is returning to the village?”

“Yes!” Ma Mengxiang nodded happily. “He left the valley to find work five years ago and hasn’t been back since. He finally managed to establish contact with the village elders yesterday and said he’d be arriving to visit us within the next few days. My cousin and I practically grew up with him, so he might even bring us some gifts!”

With that final cheerful remark, Ma Mengxiang waved goodbye and ran off into the woods.

Another outsider is coming back to the valley… Pei Xiqing’s mind raced. Will an active military operative recognize Brother Duan’s face?

Moreover, it felt entirely unnatural for a soldier to suddenly choose to return home at this exact point in time rather than earlier. The current geopolitical situation in the outside world was far from optimistic. Traveling across the wasteland to get back here wouldn’t be an easy feat right now.

Pei Xiqing instinctively glanced over at Duan Xiaolin.

Seeing that the man’s expression remained perfectly calm and unbothered, she lowered her voice and asked, “Did you scare Ma Mengjia on purpose yesterday?”

Chapter 192: The Stupid Dog Rolling Around and Throwing a Tantrum!

Duan Xiaolin was briefly caught off guard by her question, then let out a helpless smile. “No.”

“Then why did she have a nightmare?”

“You’ll have to ask her about that.”

Pei Xiqing curled her lips. “I don’t believe you.”

He lightly pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, the light reflecting beneath the lenses turning slightly cold. “If you don’t like having her around, I can tell her to stay away from you.”

“The people here aren’t bad,” she countered gently. “Ma Mengjia was just letting her thoughts run away with her. It’s completely normal for a young girl who’s just beginning to experience infatuation to act that way. The village is the village, and the base is the base. Don’t go making a mess of things here.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t actually kill them,” he replied smoothly, his tone terrifyingly casual.

Pei Xiqing pressed a hand to her forehead. “Are you seriously always thinking about killing people?”

“It’s not that it’s out of the question,” he said. “But the absolute prerequisite is that they pose a threat to you.”

“I’d rather just live a quiet life here with you.”

Duan Xiaolin nodded. “I know.” The characteristic coldness on his face softened a fraction as he added, “You are the only one I care about.”

If a critical situation ever arose, he would choose Pei Xiqing without a moment’s hesitation. The life or death of these villagers meant absolutely nothing to him; this supposed bond with the community was merely a tool to keep her happy. He didn’t actually need it. After all, he was a man who thoroughly understood the brutal, unforgiving rules of the apocalypse.

Pei Xiqing took a few steps forward and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist from behind. She whispered, “Brother Duan, Ma Mengjia and I only had a minor disagreement. She doesn’t harbor any real malice, I can tell. If the people in this village ever truly plot something sinister, I won’t object to whatever punishment you decide to hand down.”

“Alright.”

A short while later, she left his side to go look for Ma Mengjia nearby.

She found the girl crouched on the ground, carefully unearthing a cluster of wild flora with a small hand shovel. Hearing the approaching footsteps, Ma Mengjia didn’t even look up before calling out excitedly, “Hey, look over here! This one! If I dig it up carefully from the roots and we replant it in the front yard, it’s going to look absolutely beautiful!”

“Really?” Pei Xiqing crouched down beside her to help.

Working together, the two girls successfully dug out the one-meter-tall plant without damaging its root system. As Pei Xiqing squatted on the dirt, shaking off the excess soil, she heard cautious footsteps shifting behind her.

Ma Mengjia cleared her throat awkwardly before asking, “Um… do you know anything about superpowers?”

“I do,” Pei Xiqing replied, turning to look at her. “What’s brought this up? Mengxiang was just asking me the exact same thing.”

Ma Mengjia sighed. “I’ve heard rumors that a lot of people in the outside world have awakened abilities, and that each one is more powerful and miraculous than the last. I’ve never actually seen one in person, and no one in our village has anything like that. What exactly are they?”

“You can think of it as a radical mutation within the human genome,” Pei Xiqing explained in accessible terms. “These genetic variations cause the human body to alter to varying degrees. At the same time, these mutations grant the genome entirely new, extraordinary capabilities.”

Ma Mengjia blinked, thoroughly bewildered. “What… what does that mean?”

“Simply put, after their bodies mutate, they gain specialized abilities. Every superpower has completely different properties and visual effects.”

For the next ten minutes, Pei Xiqing patiently broke down the different classifications of abilities currently recognized in the wasteland, the unique functions of various elements, and the general social structure of the survivors who possessed them.

Ma Mengjia listened in absolute awe, her expression mirroring someone who had just opened a gateway into a completely different realm. After a long pause, she finally managed to ask, “So, what you’re saying is… only a very small, elite group of people out there can wield two or more superpowers at the same time? And everyone else just gets one?”

“Exactly.”

“That sounds incredible,” Ma Mengjia whispered, her hands tightening into eager fists. “I’ve decided. I absolutely have to find a boyfriend who has dual superpowers. He has to be incredibly powerful so he can protect me and take care of me whenever danger strikes!”

Pei Xiqing smiled warmly. “I’m sure you’ll find a wonderful boyfriend in the future.”

Ma Mengjia’s eyes darted over her curiously. “Do you have an ability?”

“Me?” Pei Xiqing thought for a moment before offering a gentle smile. “Brother Duan and I are just ordinary people. We’ve spent the last few years barely scraping by in the wasteland, enduring countless hardships just to survive. To us, simply being alive is already a miracle. As for awakening powers, I’m content to just let nature take its course.”

“I really hope I can awaken an ability of my own,” Ma Mengjia murmured, staring down at her palms. “It would be amazing if I could finally leave this valley. I want to use my powers to fight off the zombie hordes. If I had an ability, I know I would be incredibly strong.”

Pei Xiqing nodded encouragingly. “I’m sure you would be.”

After spending another hour scouting the ridges for viable seeds, they finally made their way back down the mountain. Duan Xiaolin immediately took her to inspect their newly acquired plot of land.

It was a modest field, measuring roughly thirty square meters—more than enough space to cultivate a sustainable crop yield to support their daily needs.

Pei Xiqing was overflowing with enthusiasm. She immediately rolled up her sleeves and hitched up her trouser legs, preparing to step into the soil. But before her foot could even touch the ground, a massive wave of mud and murky water erupted right beside her, showering her from head to toe.

“Xiaobai!!!” she shrieked.

Where was the majestic, fearsome Wolf King parasite she had expected? There was absolutely no trace of a deadly predator here—only a stupid, oversized dog blissfully rolling around in the wet mud, throwing a total tantrum!

She was absolutely furious, her pristine skin and clean clothes now completely caked in foul mud. She lunged forward, trying to grab Xiaobai by the scruff of his neck, but the slippery mutant dog darted around like a muddy loach, completely evading her grasp.

Pei Xiqing spun around, yelling toward the house, “Brother Duan! Come out here and deal with your son! He is being completely rebellious!”

Duan Xiaolin stepped out onto the porch holding a fresh, dry towel. He paused, watching the chaotic scene of a grown woman and a massive dog wrestling wildly in the muddy field. Seeing Xiaobai prepare to pounce again—which would undoubtedly send another wave of muddy water straight into Pei Xiqing’s face—the man issued a sharp, low warning: “Xiaobai. Sit.”

The mutant beast froze instantly, dropping onto his haunches in absolute submission.

Taking full advantage of his sudden paralysis, Pei Xiqing lunged forward, throwing her arms around his thick neck and tackling him straight into the dirt.

“You stupid dog! Let’s see you try to mess with me now!” she cheered triumphantly.

Standing atop the stone steps, Duan Xiaolin watched the chaotic battle unfolding in the field below and couldn’t contain a soft chuckle. He quietly sat down on the steps, his eyes locked on Pei Xiqing’s mud-stained, laughing form. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a deep, slow puff.

His posture was entirely relaxed, projecting a lazy, effortless charm. As he watched her play, a profound look of nostalgia and deep tenderness settled into his gaze.

A moment later, however, his eyes slowly drifted toward the horizon—toward the distant mountains where an ominous, heavy storm was silently gathering. A calculated, dangerous glint flashed across the dark green depths of his eyes.

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