Chapter Thirty-Eight: I Guessed Right!

Zhang and Wang stared wide-eyed, their breathing gradually growing rapid.

So this was the very root of the Zhao family’s rise?

It seemed Master Gu was telling the truth after all!

With this thought in their hearts, the two strode into the building without the slightest suspicion.

Gu, meanwhile, silently followed behind, his gaze icy cold.

Inwardly, he began to manipulate the zombies.

With precise control, a single command set the undead into autonomous motion.

One after another, silver and bronze zombies scaled the walls with uncanny agility, slipping into the military district.

They quietly surrounded the entire building.

A moment later—

They found themselves once again in that narrow corridor, the air still dark and damp.

“Master Gu, who would have thought this was the very source of the endless zombies? Rest assured, once I return, I’ll make sure the family prepares a gift for you!”

Wang Qiushui kept painting grand promises for Gu.

Zhang Fugui, on the other hand, remained silent, constantly observing his surroundings.

In truth, neither of them were fools; to become the heads of their families, they had to be clever.

They dared to come here only because they had strength in numbers—they weren’t afraid of Gu trying anything.

Soon, the group reached the lowest level: the abandoned subterranean shooting range.

Here, Gu came to a halt and began to explain.

“This is the basement. Zhao Kaitian died right here.”

At these words, Wang Qiushui hesitated.

“Wait… What do you mean by that? Is there danger here?”

Zhang Fugui’s hand slid into his coat, gripping a pistol.

“No need to be tense. Zhao Kaitian died because he wasn’t up to the task. I think you two might actually make it out alive.”

Gu smiled coldly, then suddenly raised his hand and fired an icicle into the darkness ahead.

The icicle shot forth at terrifying speed, but there was no sound of impact.

Instead, it was as though it had been thrown into sand, the noise muffled.

The Zhang and Wang clansmen immediately sensed something was wrong.

They tried to retreat at once, but it was too late!

A figure in red slowly emerged from the darkness.

“Heh! Boy, you’re certainly smarter than the Zhao family. You lured in prey so quickly? Very good, your task is complete!”

“What? It’s a zombie! Damn it, it can talk—it’s a Golden Zombie!”

Wang Qiushui was first stunned, then gasped.

A Golden Zombie! No wonder Zhao Kaitian perished here!

Without another word, he turned to flee.

But the red-clad zombie rushed toward the group with terrifying speed.

“Damn it! If we die, Gu, you won’t get away either! What were you thinking?”

Zhang Fugui shouted, quickly raising his gun and firing several shots at the red zombie.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bullets tore through the air, but they couldn’t hit their target.

The red zombie was simply too fast.

In the blink of an eye, it was above Zhang Fugui, its claws descending from above.

In an instant, Zhang Fugui’s head was reduced to fragments.

Only Wang Qiushui and a few dozen bronze underlings remained.

At this point, Wang Qiushui realized that Gu had set them up.

He had known all along there was a Golden Zombie here!

But now, if he wanted to live, he had no choice but to fight.

“Don’t be afraid, brothers! Give it everything you’ve got! It’s just a zombie!”

As he spoke, a green glow burst forth from Wang Qiushui’s body.

A vine sprouted from his hand, whipping out like a lash to entwine the red zombie completely, as if to restrain it.

But the vine was too slender; after a few struggles, the red zombie broke free.

Then it charged at Wang Qiushui with all its might.

Wherever it passed, a chilling frost emanated from its body.

Those underlings in its path were instantly frozen into ice sculptures.

Only Gu stood at a distance, silently watching from the stairwell.

Crack!

Wang Qiushui’s vine was snapped apart, his chest pierced through.

The red zombie simply stabbed Wang Qiushui to death.

Now only Gu and a handful of half-dead underlings remained.

Gu stood motionless, his expression indifferent.

“Well? The task is complete, isn’t it?”

The red-clad female zombie glanced at Gu with excitement, a sly smile curling on her lips.

“Heh! Not bad. Get out of here, and bring me more people next time—anyone will do!”

Gu was unconcerned, simply waiting quietly.

As expected, the system’s voice rang out.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have completed the Golden Zombie’s task. To negotiate with a monster as one would with a tiger, to bargain and strike a deal with a Golden Zombie—Host, you are truly the first! Worthy of being the future master of the post-apocalyptic harem!]

[Task reward: 30 free attribute points!]

Seeing that Gu wasn’t leaving, the red zombie’s patience began to wear thin.

“Why are you still here? Do you want me to kill you?”

Gu was unshaken, responding with a cold smile.

“What’s the rush? Actually, I’ve been wondering—why is it that a Golden Zombie as powerful as you never leaves this place?”

“If you went outside, the survivors wouldn’t be able to stop you. You could kill anyone you wanted, couldn’t you?”

The red zombie froze, a cold light flashing in her eyes.

“Boy, I advise you not to get clever!”

Gu stepped back, and six Silver Zombies appeared at his side.

All were under the control of the Emperor’s Aura.

Behind them was a group of wives—altogether, more than a dozen Silver Zombies.

“Don’t be so hasty. Let me guess: you don’t go out, not because you’re practically invincible, but because something holds you here, right?”

“You haven’t set foot outside this basement because something you care about is here?”

His words struck a nerve; the red zombie’s chill slowly dissipated.

Gu, unafraid, continued his analysis.

“I’ve observed the military district. Only this building could hide a person. Thanks to the system’s tip, I knew someone was calling for help here. Combined with your unwillingness to leave, it must mean there’s someone important here, right?”

Rumble!

As soon as Gu finished speaking, a blast of cold surged forth.

It engulfed the narrow stairs, covering the entire floor with frost.

But Gu was prepared—he was pulled back by a zombie as ferocious as a mad dog.

It was none other than the old lady zombie.

Immediately, the group of zombies attacked the red zombie without hesitation.

Gu’s wives shielded him.

“Master Gu, did you know about this all along?”

Li Muwan couldn’t help but ask.

Julie gave a sly laugh.

“Of course! Little brother is very clever. I said he’d never give up the military district to someone else. He must have suspected this since the night of the banquet.”

Gu shook his head.

He hadn’t realized.

Or rather, the system had tipped him off.

“It was a lucky guess. I only realized just now—it wasn’t that the red zombie didn’t want to kill me, but rather that she didn’t dare leave the basement. Add in the cries for help from the task, and I guessed someone was trapped below. Now, it seems I was right!”

“Next comes a tough battle! These zombies are just cannon fodder—everyone, get ready to fight!”

Smack!

The old lady zombie was slammed into the wall, dying instantly.

All six Silver Zombies were wounded—they simply couldn’t stop the red zombie.

“Gu, go to hell!”

The red-clad zombie roared, charging straight for Gu.