104: Cheng Xiao's Story

Pan Han’s head started to ache the moment he heard that.

A Niu?

An invisible person?

What kind of nonsense is this!

“Lord Pan, we need to go back and check,” Qin Zhong also realized the problem was serious.

“Third Brother, you all take the supplies and continue to the Mountaintop Stronghold. We’ll take the injured,” Pan Han calmed down and began to assign tasks.

“Understood!”

“Second Sister, you are responsible for taking care of the injured.”

“Understood!”

“Mountain Top Rabbit, let’s retreat!”

“Chirp chirp!”

… …

“This person, he brings back bad memories for you, doesn’t he?”

Pan Han saw Cheng Xiao staring blankly out the window after getting into the car and couldn’t help but ask.

“Got a cigarette?” Cheng Xiao didn’t answer directly, but uncharacteristically asked for a cigarette.

Pan Han lit one for her.

As the smoke curled, Cheng Xiao’s memories rewound to the first year of the apocalypse.

“When the apocalypse first began, my whole family suffered, leaving just me…” Half a cigarette later, Cheng Xiao slowly began to speak.

“At that time, I was still a foot masseuse. I knew a regular customer who always requested me. That was A Niu.”

Pan Han didn’t speak, just listened quietly to Cheng Xiao, and he found that Cheng Xiao looked so beautiful when she smoked.

“But then, the apocalypse suddenly arrived. Zombies roamed, and chaos was everywhere. I still remember that day, A Niu suddenly came to find me. He said something had happened outside, and he wanted to take me to hide.”

Qin Laoda’s car drove slower and slower, as if he too was engrossed in Cheng Xiao’s story.

“At the time, I even cursed him, calling him crazy. Not until a group of zombies flooded into the foot bath salon. He pulled out a machete from behind his back, fought his way out with me, and we finally made it to the street.”

“The street was already surrounded by zombies, but he seemed to have been prepared, having gotten a motorcycle in advance. He carried me, weaving through the hordes of corpses. We kept going until we reached a farmhouse in the city’s outskirts.”

By this point, Cheng Xiao had finished her cigarette. She flicked the butt away, then lit another one and continued her story.

“I was extremely scared at the time, but who knew, he opened a cellar door and pulled me into an underground room.”

“This small room was actually a doomsday survival capsule. It was piled high with all sorts of food and water, and even a large number of crossbows and machetes.”

“Why would he have a doomsday capsule?” Pan Han was a bit puzzled.

“He was a doomsday survival fanatic, and he had even joined an organization before. They exchanged doomsday survival methods. A Niu’s capsule must have taken a lot of effort; the food was all freshly replaced.”

“Oh! I’ve heard of organizations like that. They even have quite a few extended industries, quite comprehensive,” Pan Han suddenly understood, remembering that in his own world, there were similar people.

“That’s right. A Niu was exactly that kind of person. I never thought this apocalypse would actually come true for him.”

“Were there only the two of you in that capsule?” Laoda interjected.

“Yes, he had no family, and he only saved me.”

“This is definitely a VIP among VIP customers!” Pan Han couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Actually, he had a crush on me for a long time. I knew, but due to my status, I didn’t pursue a relationship with him. You all know what my profession was before the apocalypse,” Cheng Xiao said without batting an eyelid.

“Understood!” Pan Han and Qin Laoda spoke simultaneously.

“Next, we hid in the capsule for over half a month. We barely went out. Later, when we felt the chaos outside had largely subsided, we decided to go out and see.”

“Only after we went out did we discover. The city had already fallen, and the army had retreated. Zombies had taken over the city.”

“Yes, indeed, it only took about ten-odd days. The entire city was ruined,” Qin Laoda agreed.

“A Niu, seeing this scene, became quite excited instead. After all, he had prepared for so many years, just waiting for this day. So, during the day, he would take me to scavenge for supplies and kill zombies, and at night, we would go back and hide. That’s also when I learned how to shoot.”

“In between, we also encountered some troublesome humans, all of whom we dealt with. But during one battle, he got injured, and we hid in the capsule for over a month until he gradually recovered. From then on, his personality began to change.”

“Oh?” Pan Han couldn’t resist and lit a cigarette himself.

“From then on, his personality became increasingly violent, and he always muttered about seeking revenge and becoming stronger.”

“Seventh Sister, that’s normal. Most people started to change around that time,” Qin Laoda reminded Cheng Xiao.

“Yes, but he was more extreme. He began to constantly search for doomsday organizations. By then, people were already forming organizations. Only by banding together could one survive.”

“He didn’t find one, did he?” Pan Han’s heart tightened. If this A Niu was sent by some organization, it would be difficult to handle.

“Lord Pan, you truly are a brilliant strategist. He really did find one.”

“Pfft!” Pan Han couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“If you can’t flatter, then don’t. You make it sound like a real thing. What the hell is a brilliant strategist?” Pan Han patted Cheng Xiao.

“I told you not to interrupt!”

“Okay, no more interruptions, no more! You continue.”

“Initially, he found a few small organizations. But later, these organizations were all destroyed. At that time, organizations had just been formed and were everywhere. Every day, various shootouts took place. As A Niu participated in more battles, his personality became increasingly ruthless, and his methods became increasingly dark.”

“Until one day, he discovered the Z Tower.”

“Ah!!” Qin Laoda gasped when he heard that name.

“Yes, it was that Z Tower. Only at that time, Z Tower wasn’t as big as it is now. He joined Z Tower without hesitation, and I followed him in.”

“This organization maintained itself purely through violence. They burned, killed, and plundered everywhere. They did the most inhumane things. That’s why they developed quickly,” Qin Laoda explained to Pan Han.

“Right! After A Niu joined, it was as if the killing gene in his body was ignited. He became even more unprincipled in his actions. It was around that time that he and I started to have some friction. I couldn’t stand many of the things he did and often advised him to rein it in,” Cheng Xiao said resentfully.

“If he had listened, things wouldn’t be like this today,” Pan Han said lightly.

“Yes! He also grew increasingly disgusted with me, saying that I always held him back and hindered his progress.”

“Pfft! How far did he want to progress?”

“He wanted to climb up. The Z Tower organization was strictly structured; all newcomers had to undergo a one-year observation period. From the second year, contribution points were calculated. The more contribution points, the more resources allocated, and the higher the position.”

“After we stayed there for a year, A Niu wanted to become a squad leader. However, not long after, intermediate potions came onto the market. At that time, Z Tower completely allied itself with the Twelve Palaces and received some intermediate potions.”

“Compared to being a squad leader, intermediate potions were more appealing. A Niu wanted to exchange points for potions. However, the competition was too fierce.”

“In an organization maintained by violence, there’s always someone more violent than you,” Pan Han agreed deeply.

“Yes. At that time, A Niu actively participated in all dangerous missions. But there was always someone even more ruthless than him!” Cheng Xiao sighed helplessly.

“So, how did you two eventually break up?” Qin Laoda felt like they were getting to the main point.

Cheng Xiao hesitated, her hands constantly smoothing her hair.

Pan Han keenly sensed Cheng Xiao’s unease, so he stepped forward and held her hand.

“If you don’t want to say, you don’t have to. It’s just an A Niu, isn’t it? We can just deal with him directly.”

“Thank you, Lord.” Cheng Xiao’s eyes suddenly welled up with tears as she looked at Pan Han affectionately.

“Yes, Seventh Sister. If you don’t want to relive it, then forget it. We can capture A Niu and make his life worse than death,” Qin Laoda also encouraged Cheng Xiao.

Cheng Xiao smiled slightly, her gaze firm as she said, “It’s okay. This is my home now! Whoever dares to destroy it, I will fight to the death.”