What?! I Became the Zombie Beauty in the Villain’s Arms – CH196-198

Chapter 196| Chapter 197| Chapter 198

Chapter 196: He Will Soften

“It’s still early,” the man said. He paused for a moment to regain his composure, his voice returning to its usual calm cadence. “Giving birth is no easy feat, and I don’t want her to be hurt again. If a child must be traded for a woman’s pain and lingering complications, I have no need for one.”

“That makes sense.”

“Continue your report.”

Shadow focused his mind and continued, “It’s a team of ability users from the Sixth Base. There are thirteen of them in total. Two have decent combat prowess, barely enough to withstand a Tier 1 mutation. The rest possess entirely ordinary abilities. The captain, Liu Shengquan, is the one related to the village; he wields wind-type energy. The vice-captain is a woman named Zhang Tian, and her power is a weaker variation of the water element.”

“Zhang Tian?” Duan Xiaolin, still preparing the food, turned his head slightly. “Do you have a photo?”

“Yes.” Shadow handed over a surveillance photo, then took the spatula to stir the pot. “Chief Judge, didn’t Xiaobai always eat raw meat before? He’s practically a parasite now, so why the sudden shift to cooked food?”

“Xiqing said he shouldn’t just eat raw meat all the time. He needs a balanced diet.”

The corner of Shadow’s mouth twitched. He felt a strange mix of envy and a strong urge to complain.

He listens to her in absolutely everything.

It seemed that once a man had a wife, his entire life became unrecognizable from before.

Duan Xiaolin cast a cool glance sideways. “Hmm?”

Shadow immediately handed the spatula back to him. “Chief Judge, do you recognize the woman in this photo?”

“Yes,” the man replied evenly. “Xiqing knows her too, and she might even find herself feeling soft-hearted toward her.”

He understood Pei Xiqing perfectly. The woman in the photo shared a past bond with her. Even though they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, he recognized her instantly. She had been a member of the mercenary team Pei Xiqing had encountered out in the wild. The captain of that squad back then had been Zhao Shunyan. They had traveled alongside her group while harboring malicious intentions. In the end, Zhao Shunyan had died, and Zhang Tian had fled into the wasteland with the survivors.

“In that case, I will proceed with eliminating them without letting Miss Pei know.”

Duan Xiaolin gave him a chilling glance in response.

Shadow tensed, growing uncertain. “…Should I take care of them later, then? I can execute them instantly and guarantee there won’t be any complications.”

Duan Xiaolin remained silent.

“Then… should I just drive them away?” Shadow asked, increasingly anxious.

“There’s no rush. Let’s see what they’re after first.” Duan Xiaolin turned off the stove, poured the prepared food onto a plate, and set it down for Xiaobai. Rolling up his sleeves, he walked back to the counter to start making breakfast noodles with fresh tomatoes. “They don’t know who I am, so they pose no immediate threat.”

“Understood.”

“But we should still capture one and throw him into the water dungeon.” The man stared down at the dagger in his hand. The blade gleamed with a cold light, mirroring the sudden chill in his quiet voice. “Pry everything out of him. Find out their exact purpose for coming here, and gather intel on the current state of the Sixth Base. Once he outlives his usefulness… dispose of him.”

“Yes, sir.” Shadow turned and vanished into the shadows of the house.

A short while later, Pei Xiqing emerged from the bedroom, lightly supporting herself against the wall. Seeing the man busy at the stove, she limped over and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, leaning in to beg for food.

“I’m starving.”

Duan Xiaolin popped a piece of peeled carrot into her mouth. “How does it taste?”

“Your skills have definitely improved! You even peeled the carrots.” Her eyes lit up.

Apocalyptic crops actually tasted quite good, but the locals rarely bothered to peel them. Eating them with the skin on felt like chewing through bitter tree bark. Once peeled, however, the flavor improved exponentially, completely transforming the texture. But mutated vegetables looked incredibly bizarre, and handling their distorted, thick skin required far more patience than most survivors possessed.

“Hurry up with breakfast, I’m dying of hunger.” She paused, glancing toward the window. “Actually, it’s probably lunchtime by now. Never mind, as long as there’s food. Oh, by the way, that sapling you brought back a few days ago is doing incredibly well. I just noticed it sprouting from the window. I have a feeling it’s going to bloom soon, and it’s going to look absolutely beautiful.”

“Mhm. We’ll watch it grow.”

Ten minutes later, her meal was finally served. Holding her fork, she had only taken a few bites of the tomato pasta Duan Xiaolin had prepared when a sharp knock rattled the front door.

Ma Mengjia and Ma Mengxiang’s voices shouted from outside, “Miss Pei!”

Pei Xiqing looked up from her plate. “Did Ma Mengjia really forget everything from last night?”

“Yes,” he nodded smoothly.

“That’s a relief.”

The moment Duan Xiaolin opened the door, the two girls burst inside, looking frantic. “Hurry, come on!”

“What’s wrong?” Pei Xiqing asked.

Ma Mengxiang grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the door. “Oh my gosh! Someone has returned to our village! Come on, let’s go over and take a look!”

“Is it Old Liu’s son?”

“Yes! And he didn’t come alone. He brought an incredibly impressive mercenary squad with him. There are more than ten of them, each one looking sleeker than the last. They even have a female vice-captain who looks absolutely striking!”

“Really?” Pei Xiqing’s curiosity was piqued. “I’ll head over to take a look as soon as I finish eating.”

“Hurry up! They’re in the large clearing at the village entrance right now, teaching the locals how to use advanced firearms step-by-step. It’s amazing! If we’re late and they pack up or get tired, we’ll miss our chance!”

“Exactly,” Ma Mengjia chimed in, crossing her arms. “The outside world is pure chaos right now. We have to learn survival skills while we can. Those weapons are incredibly advanced, far more powerful than anything we saw five years ago. I heard some of them can even lock onto targets automatically!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll be right there. Just let me take a few more bites and change my clothes.”

Ma Mengjia huffed impatiently. “Then move faster.”

Pei Xiqing studied her face intently, testing her.

“What are you staring at?” Ma Mengjia snapped, her expression turning self-conscious. “Is the powder on my face uneven?”

Seeing her typical, petty vanity fully intact, Pei Xiqing smiled. “No, you look fine.” She quickly finished her noodles and headed into the bedroom. “Give me ten minutes.”

Passing Duan Xiaolin, she whispered, “Brother Duan, aren’t you coming?”

Duan Xiaolin began clearing the table. “I won’t be joining you. I still have some tasks to finish around our plot. We need to secure the perimeter before the heavy rains hit.”

“Thank you for your hard work, muah! I’ll go out and see what the fuss is about.”

“Go ahead.”

Watching his unbothered expression, Pei Xiqing accurately guessed that this returning squad posed no real threat to them. If they were dangerous, Duan Xiaolin would never have allowed the villagers to interact with them in the first place. Reassured, she decided to treat it as a casual outing; she hadn’t gotten out much over the past few days anyway.

After changing into fresh clothes, Pei Xiqing set off with Ma Mengjia and Ma Mengxiang. Before they even reached the clearing, she could see a massive crowd gathered in the distance. Practically the entire village had abandoned their chores to join in the excitement.

She stood at the back of the crowd, silently sizing up the visiting squad of ability users. Before she could get a clear look at their faces, a sharp glint of light flashed directly into her eyes.

Across the clearing, an operative was holding a high-caliber rifle, peering intently through the scope. After adjusting the focal length, the sharp red dot of the laser sight drifted across the crowd, settling squarely between Pei Xiqing’s eyebrows.

Pei Xiqing instinctively raised her hand to block the blinding glare.

Chapter 197: Not Heart-Stirring

The red dot of the laser sight flashed, remaining brightly projected against her skin.

Pei Xiqing frowned slightly and turned her face away. Beside her, Ma Mengxiang hurriedly pulled her toward the opposite side of the clearing, shouting, “Everyone, make way! Let us through!”

But the light seemed practically glued to her, completely disrupting her exit. A moment later, a smug, ruffian-like male voice drifted over from above the crowd.

“Well, well… beautiful lady, are you a local from this village too? How come I’ve never seen you around before?”

As he spoke, the man jumped down from a raised wooden platform. He roughly pushed aside the villagers blocking his path, closing the distance to Pei Xiqing in just a few quick strides. After studying her features intently for a moment, he leaned in closer, his eyes widening in pure surprise.

“I’ve definitely never seen you in this valley before. Did you marry into our village this past year? No, that can’t be right—you look far too young. Whose daughter are you exactly?”

He honestly hadn’t known that the haggard, weather-beaten old women of this isolated valley were capable of giving birth to such a breathtakingly beautiful daughter.

Pei Xiqing looked at the assault rifle gripped in his hands. “Were you the one pointing your scope at me just now?”

“This happens to be the most advanced firearm currently in development. A civilian like you has probably never laid eyes on one,” he boasted, lifting the rifle proudly to show it off. “Zombies a hundred meters away have absolutely nowhere to hide. It drops them instantly. Pretty awesome, right?”

“Awesome,” Pei Xiqing replied dryly. She had zero interest in firearms. The only weapon she currently owned was a small handgun Duan Xiaolin had acquired for her back in the dark market, and she hadn’t touched it in ages. She looked at him coolly. “Is pointing weapons at random people a personal hobby of yours?”

“My bad.” Liu Dongshu offered a playful, unbothered grin. “Oh, I am incredibly sorry, beautiful. I was just calibrating my scope. Who could have guessed a gorgeous woman like you would suddenly wander into my crosshairs?” He stepped forward aggressively, running a hand through his hair to reveal a passably handsome face. “The name’s Liu Dongshu. What’s yours, beautiful? Let’s be friends.”

Pei Xiqing lowered her gaze, her voice entirely flat as she rejected him. “No, thank you. I’m not interested.”

Liu Dongshu’s smile stiffened. “Hey, look here—”

Ma Mengjia quickly nudged her way between them, grabbing Pei Xiqing’s sleeve and whispering frantically, “This is Old Liu’s son! He just returned from a massive base on the outside. You should at least show him a little respect. He awakened superpowers at the base! Do you even know what superpowers are? They make you incredibly powerful!”

Pei Xiqing smoothly pulled her arm out of Ma Mengjia’s grasp. “I said I’m not interested.”

“…” Ma Mengjia stared at her, completely exasperated.

Pei Xiqing had originally just wanted to check out the commotion, but now she had completely lost the mood. Just as she turned to leave, a sharp, deeply disapproving female voice barked out from behind the crowd.

“Didn’t you claim we only detoured to this valley to rest and restock our provisions? Why are you wasting time out here flirting with local girls?”

Zhang Tian marched forward, clad in a crisp combat uniform with a sidearm and tactical ammunition secured tightly to her waist. Surveying the clearing, she saw their squad members smugly parading their weapons around the gullible villagers. Her brow furrowed sharply, her irritation peaking when she spotted Liu Dongshu relentlessly hitting on a civilian.

She snapped, “I think the lot of you came here purely to eat, drink, and goof off. We have a strict timeline to maintain for our mission. Why are you dragging your feet in this village?”

According to their original itinerary, the mercenary squad was supposed to leave at dawn after arriving yesterday evening. Yet it was already nearing noon. When she went to dismantle the camp, she discovered her entire team had vanished. After asking around, she found out they had all swarmed the village entrance to show off, abusing their status as ability users to act like kings.

Liu Dongshu spun around, his lips curling into a disgusted sneer. “Damn it, that nagging woman is back to lecture me again.” Watching Zhang Tian approach, his face filled with blatant impatience. “Aren’t these folks my dad’s old friends? We’re all from the same valley; these people watched me grow up. The outside world is completely ruined, and our hometown is still trapped in the stone age. As a native who made it big, shouldn’t I offer them some charity?”

“Exactly! Vice-Captain, you’re being way too cold-blooded,” another ability user chimed in.

“Just because you got dumped by some guy in the past and nobody on this squad is interested in you doesn’t mean you get to take your frustrations out on the brothers.”

The surrounding mercenaries laughed, echoing the insults.

“Shut your garbage mouths!” Zhang Tian’s face flushed with rage. “What the hell does my personal past have to do with any of you?!”

“Whoa, calm down. Don’t be so touchy.” Liu Dongshu crossed his arms, leaning back with a lazy, provocative smirk. “Everyone on the circuit knows our dear Vice-Captain Zhang Tian used to run wild with a mercenary team out in the wasteland, sleeping around with countless scavengers. Now that you’ve joined an elite squad and none of us will touch you, it’s only natural for your ego to be a little bruised.”

“Liu Dongshu! As the captain, you’re actively encouraging insubordination!” Zhang Tian yelled, her knuckles turning white. “I am giving you exactly ten minutes to pack up and fall in line! Otherwise, don’t blame me for pulling rank!”

“Oh, wow. I’m absolutely terrified.” Liu Dongshu spun his rifle around his finger, his eyes flashing with malicious amusement. “Go ahead and try it, Vice-Captain. If you dare to defy my command out here, you’re as good as dead the moment we report back to the Sixth Base. Believe it or not, I can easily have headquarters strip your credentials, kick you out of the sector, and dump you right back into the gutter with those filthy wasteland scavengers so you can have your fun!”

The surrounding villagers immediately broke into frantic whispers.

“Oh dear, why is the military squad fighting among themselves?”

“Old Liu’s son is truly a big deal now. It sounds like he holds a massive rank out there and calls all the shots!”

“Exactly! I just hope he can take us back to that survivor base with him so we can live the comfortable life. A major base must be incredibly wealthy, a million times better than this valley.”

…

Hearing the crowd’s awe, Liu Dongshu turned around with a wide, theatrical smile, addressing the gathering. “Fellow villagers, aunts, and uncles! Thank you all for looking after my father while I was away. You watched me grow up and helped my family through hard times. I, Liu Dongshu, always remember my debts. Even a drop of kindness will be repaid with a roaring spring!”

He gestured grandly to his subordinates. “Anyone who wants to escape this miserable valley and enjoy luxury, safety, and a good life at the base, go find my men over there and sign your names! Space on our transport is strictly limited, so you better hurry up and seize the opportunity. If you miss out, you’ll be trapped in this godforsaken dirt hole for the rest of your lives!”

“Me! Sign me up! Dongzi, I’m following you!”

“I want to go too! This valley is practically ancient history. I want to see what a real base looks like and learn how to get strong!”

“Save a spot for me!”

In an instant, a massive wave of eager villagers swarmed forward, shoving each other to reach the registration tables.

Ma Mengjia took a few steps toward the crowd, but when she turned back, she saw Pei Xiqing standing completely still, unmoved by the chaos. Beside her, Ma Mengxiang was also frozen, her expression deeply conflicted.

Ma Mengjia looked at them in complete disbelief. “What are you two still standing there for? Opportunities to get into a major base don’t just grow on trees. If you line up too late, you’ll be left behind in this dirt forever. Aren’t you even a little bit tempted?”

Ma Mengxiang watched the desperate crowd, then looked at Pei Xiqing, her voice dropping into a troubled whisper. “The things Liu Dongshu just said to that woman were so incredibly vile. I don’t think he’s the same person he used to be.”

Ma Mengjia scoffed. “Oh my god, you were literally trailing after his shadow all day yesterday. Why the sudden change of heart?”

Ma Mengxiang bit her lip awkwardly. “…When he first arrived yesterday, he didn’t act like this at all. How could he say such degrading things to his own teammate? I can’t respect that.”

It was more than just a lack of respect; she felt as though a precious childhood dream had been violently shattered. When she had first learned of Liu Dongshu’s return, she couldn’t help but fondly recall the days when they used to climb trees together to steal wild fruit. She remembered vividly how she had once lost her footing, and it was Liu Dongshu who had caught her before she hit the ground.

Clinging to that memory, she had foolishly rushed out to welcome him yesterday, but Liu Dongshu hadn’t even bothered to look at her. Hearing his cruel, arrogant words today only brought a heavy wave of disappointment and sorrow. She suddenly wanted absolutely nothing to do with him.

Pei Xiqing gently patted her shoulder, her voice calm and knowing. “Five years is more than enough time for a person to completely change into someone else.”

Ma Mengxiang sighed, looking down. “I… I don’t know what to do. I don’t think I want to leave this valley anymore. If everyone else goes, I’ll just stay here with you and Brother Duan, and we can keep farming and chopping firewood.”

Ma Mengjia fiercely poked her forehead. “You absolute idiot! This is a ticket to a real life! Do you honestly want to break your back toiling in the mud for the rest of your days?” She turned an intense gaze on her cousin. “Are you really not going?”

Chapter 198: Anyway, I Don’t Like It

Ma Mengjia scoffed, “No way. I’m going to the base to find my soulmate. There are plenty of powerful ability users there…”

She refused to believe that someone as attractive as her would go unnoticed. She subconsciously shot a sideways glance at Pei Xiqing and cleared her throat, asking, “Aren’t you going too?”

Pei Xiqing simply shook her head. “I won’t be going. If you truly want to leave, you will have to bear all the consequences yourself.”

“Hmph,” Ma Mengjia huffed. She turned on her heel and aggressively shoved her way into the thick of the crowd ahead.

Her main goal in going to the base was to secure a man far more powerful and influential than Brother Duan. Those ability users were elite soldiers organized into structured military units, each one more formidable than the last. She could only imagine how much more prestigious they were compared to an ordinary merchant like Brother Duan. In her mind, Pei Xiqing’s warnings were probably just a petty attempt to pressure her and keep her from going to the base out of spite. Clinging to that thought, Ma Mengjia eagerly threw herself into the queue to vie for a spot.

Beside Pei Xiqing, Ma Mengxiang sat quietly, nervously picking at her fingers until she had peeled back a large hangnail.

Pei Xiqing tilted her head to look at her. “You actually look like you want to go.”

Ma Mengxiang nodded initially, but then frantically shook her head. “I don’t really care about going to a major base or anything like that. Even if I went, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with how fast things move there. I’m clumsy with my hands, and people would definitely look down on me. I’d much rather stay somewhere familiar. Even if life is a little harder every day, at least I’ll have peace of mind.”

“There’s nothing particularly good about the bases anyway,” Pei Xiqing murmured.

Ma Mengxiang blinked in surprise. “Have you actually been to one, Miss Pei?”

“I stayed at one for a while.”

“What was it like?”

Pei Xiqing offered a faint, melancholy smile. “Everyone’s experience is different, but anyway, I didn’t like it.”

“Then I definitely won’t go,” Ma Mengxiang declared firmly. She reached out to loop her arm through Pei Xiqing’s, a bright grin returning to her face. “I’ll stay right here, chop firewood, and bring a fresh bundle to your house every single day. And as for Xiaobai, I can help you walk him in the future. I can run him all the way from the foot of the mountain straight to the summit!”

Pei Xiqing hadn’t expected the girl to be so genuinely resolved to stay. She stared at her for a few seconds before smiling warmly. “Alright.”

Behind them, the roar of the crowd was growing increasingly deafening as the villagers practically rioted over the registration tables.

Pei Xiqing stood up, dusting off her clothes. “I’m going to go greet a friend.”

Ma Mengxiang scrambled up to follow her. “A friend, Miss Pei? Where are they?”

“That woman who just spoke out against the captain.”

“Ah? You actually know an elite ability user from the outside world…?” Ma Mengxiang’s jaw dropped, but before she could finish her sentence, Pei Xiqing had already turned and begun weaving through the dense crowd. Ma Mengxiang hurried to keep pace.

The villagers had grown frantic, constantly shoving and jostling to get closer to the front. Someone accidentally stomped hard on Pei Xiqing’s foot, forcing her to halt. She raised her hand, waving it above the sea of heads, and called out, “Sister Tian!”

Zhang Tian was currently leaning heavily against the trunk of a large tree, her face a mask of pure fury. Her hand rested tightly on the butt of her sidearm, and she looked as though she wanted nothing more than to shoot her incompetent teammates and their idiot captain dead on the spot. Hearing someone call her name from behind, she turned around alertly, her eyes locking onto a strikingly beautiful face.

At first glance, she didn’t recognize her. The features just felt vaguely familiar. After all, Pei Xiqing had changed significantly over the past several months, her appearance carrying a refined elegance she hadn’t possessed before.

Zhang Tian stared in absolute disbelief for several long seconds before her mouth fell open. “You’re… Pei Xiqing?”

“It’s me,” Pei Xiqing smiled.

Zhang Tian immediately reached down, extending a firm hand. “Grab hold and climb up here. There are too many people trampling each other down there.”

Pei Xiqing took her hand and pulled herself up onto the elevated tree root beside her.

Zhang Tian kept her eyes fixed on her face, completely awestruck. “Oh my god… the last time I saw you was nearly a year ago. You were beautiful back then, but now you’ve completely bloomed. Wow…”

Pei Xiqing felt a flush of embarrassment and gently squeezed her hand. “I haven’t had a single chance to get news of you since we parted ways in the wasteland. How have things been for you during this time?”

“Ugh, don’t even get me started,” Zhang Tian sighed, waving a hand dismissively. “Do you remember our original team leader from back then, Zhao Shunyan? The one who wielded lightning abilities? He ended up getting instantly vaporized by that lightning-user friend of yours. What a pathetic loser.”

“I remember,” Pei Xiqing nodded softly.

Back then, before she had ever entered a formal survivor base, she had encountered Brother Duan and Ling Lang’s elite squad out in the wild. Later, when Ling Lang led the main bulk of the unit away to execute a high-priority mission, it was just her and Brother Duan left behind. Zhao Shunyan’s mercenary team had seized that exact opportunity to escape their own path, stubbornly shadowing them in hopes of using their connections to gain entry into a major base. In the end, they never found the base that way, and Zhao Shunyan was executed on the spot by Long Yan for crossing the line.

During those treacherous days in the wilderness, Zhang Tian had consistently looked out for her, even going out of her way to let her sleep safely inside her personal tent. Pei Xiqing would never forget that kindness.

“After I split from his remnants, I struck out to find a base on my own,” Zhang Tian recounted. “I bounced between Base One and Base Four. I successfully passed the rigorous selection trials for Base Four, but not long after I enlisted, I was transferred over to Base Six to serve as the vice-captain for this specialized ability squad. Now, I’m stuck babysitting them on long-range missions.”

“That’s incredible,” Pei Xiqing praised genuinely. “Anyone who can pass the formal selection process for a major base has to be exceptionally talented.”

“Ha, it’s nothing special. I merely awakened a basic water-type ability. It’s not particularly powerful in combat; most of the time, it’s barely enough to keep me alive.”

“If you were able to clear the selection trials, you must possess extraordinary qualities.”

Hearing those words, Zhang Tian let out a bitter, mocking sneer and turned her gaze toward the chaotic crowd swarming the center of the clearing. “Extraordinary qualities? If everyone selected by the base’s high command actually possessed an ounce of integrity, then that piece of garbage over there wouldn’t have been able to buy his way in through the backdoor, or simply ride a wave of absurd luck.”

Pei Xiqing followed her glare. “The captain?”

Zhang Tian nodded tightly. “Yeah. He is utterly insufferable—honestly, far more infuriating than Zhao Shunyan ever was. Zhao Shunyan might have treated women like disposable objects, but at the very least, the man could formulate a tactical plan. This idiot, on the other hand, is not only incredibly young and naive, but he also happens to have powerful connections with the base’s high-ranking elite. He has absolutely no concept of what it means to be a commander, and he’s completely sabotaging our operational timeline.”

She spat a bitter curse in his direction. “Complete brainless idiot. One of our core squad members went missing the exact moment we crossed the perimeter yesterday, and he didn’t even take it seriously.”

Pei Xiqing’s heart skipped a beat. “Missing? How did he disappear?”

“I have no idea,” Zhang Tian muttered, her brow furrowing tightly. “He vanished into thin air without a single trace of a struggle. If he didn’t just incredibly stupidly lose his bearings and wander off, then there is a highly dangerous, unknown hostile force lurking somewhere in this valley.”

“It’s certainly best to remain vigilant,” Pei Xiqing said carefully, maintaining a perfectly neutral expression. “Though, I’ve lived here for nearly a month now and I haven’t encountered any hostile factions. It’s highly probable he just lost his way in the dense brush.”

“I desperately hope so,” Zhang Tian sighed heavily, resting her hand on her hip. “I heard that brat only secured the captain’s seat because he somehow stumbled upon a cache of high-tier crystal cores in the wasteland, and the directors promoted him on the spot. What a joke. I had to bleed and fight through hell just to crawl my way up to this position, and he buys the exact same authority with a handful of shiny stones.”

Pei Xiqing paused, her mind locking onto the details. “Sister Tian… tell me everything about those crystal cores. Every detail you know.”

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