Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

”Brother, how... how do I use this medicine?”

Yi Xiaoling held something resembling rubber, feeling puzzled.

”My name is Zhang Su, call me whatever you like. This medicine is taken orally; just chew it up and swallow. If you can’t swallow, wash it down with some water!”

Zhang Su said casually.

”Alright, alright... Brother Zhang.”

Desperate times call for desperate measures. After listening to Zhang Su, Yi Xiaoling, under Ju Mumio’s worried gaze, put the zombie thalamus into her mouth and gently chewed it. It wasn’t tough; its texture was even softer than the Rehmannia Pill she had once eaten, and she easily swallowed it.

”Soon, you’ll feel a burning sensation at the wound. If the injury is severe, your whole body will feel hot. Don’t be afraid. Also, there’s no need to cover up so tightly.”

Seeing Yi Xiaoling have swallowed the thalamus, Zhang Su advised.

Ju Mumio looked at Zhang Su, half believing and half doubting, but she still lifted the blanket for Yi Xiaoling.

”Brothers, maybe you should step out a bit; the smell isn’t pleasant.”

Yi Xiaoling said, feeling somewhat embarrassed. She’s always had a cleanliness obsession; otherwise, she wouldn’t strive to maintain cleanliness even in such difficult circumstances.

”No worries, we’ll just stand by the window and smoke!”

Zhang Su didn’t mind much. In these recent months, he’d been rolling around in fields of blood and corpses, and he hadn’t even bathed when he stank, so why fear this?

”Ah... I feel something, ah... so itchy.”

However, just as Zhang Su and the others reached the window, Yi Xiaoling suddenly cried out in a heavily suppressed voice, staring at her wounded thigh. She wanted to scratch but didn’t dare to, tightly gritting her teeth as sweat appeared on her forehead.

Seeing Yi Xiaoling’s strange change, Ju Mumio quickly turned to Zhang Su with questioning eyes.

”Don’t worry, these symptoms are normal. The wound will heal very quickly. You can cut open your pants and see, let you witness the technological power of our Great Celestial Dynasty!”

”Pff... cough cough cough.”

Beside them, Chen Hanzhou, the only one who knew the truth, couldn’t hold back, nearly choking himself with smoke and coughing furiously at the window.

Ju Mumio comforted Yi Xiaoling while frowning at Zhang Su, seemingly contemplating the credibility of his words. Finally, she nimbly rolled over, pulling out a delicate dagger from beneath the quilt at the bedhead, swiftly returning to Yi Xiaoling’s side.

”No, don’t... there are so many people here...”

Yi Xiaoling felt scorching hot and unbearably itchy at her wound. Seeing Ju Mumio really intend to cut open her pants, she shook her hands in fright.

”Watching the wound heal is more reassuring. What’s there to be shy about!”

Zhang Su shrugged, surprised that Yi Xiaoling was so traditional. Someone this traditional plays the game of girls...

Ju Mumio also felt Zhang Su’s words made sense, quietly comforting Yi Xiaoling with a few words, and with a flick of her wrist, expertly sliced the dagger through the cotton pants. Pants, thermal pants, and bandages gradually were cut open, revealing a grim wound to everyone.

Lacking various medicines, the wound had turned black and festered; describing it as unbearable was not an exaggeration.

Su Xiaoya glanced at it, immediately closing her eyes and turning away. She’d rather look at dead people and zombies; seeing wounds on the living stirred empathy, her thoughts always imagining herself in similar pain, which was incredibly distressing.

Unlike Su Xiaoya, Ju Mumio displayed shock for the first time when seeing Yi Xiaoling’s thigh wound.

Her sword-like eyebrows shot up high, her mouth opened involuntarily, muttering a sentence in disbelief.

”She said it can’t be, heh, I can understand.”

This wasn’t Su Xiaoya speaking but Wu Lue. Having spent years learning from teachers, some simple Japanese phrases weren’t difficult.

Zhang Su, used to this, wasn’t surprised. They had roughly figured out the principle of zombie thalamus, activating the body’s various functional systems. Rather than treatment, it’s more like stimulating the body’s potential for self-healing, though it would deplete some bodily energy, possibly never replenishable. But that’s not important; the present is what matters!

”I never lie; do you believe me now? How does it feel?”

Zhang Su exhaled a puff of smoke, asking the two people on the bed.

Ju Mumio carefully observed Yi Xiaoling’s wound growing new tissue, hearing Zhang Su’s words, she turned, kneeling properly in Japanese style, then bowed deeply, giving a genuine salute.

Without a word, her actions conveyed many meanings.

Yi Xiaoling’s torment of heat and itch hadn’t ended, but her endurance was strong, having been tormented by pain for a while, endurable strength beyond normal people, stubbornly clenching her teeth without making a sound, letting sweat drip from her forehead, watching the gradually healing wound, even managing a faint smile.

About ten minutes passed; Yi Xiaoling exhaled deeply, the hot itch finally subsided, her clothes completely soaked in sweat, even her hair hung in strands over her shoulders. But her state was worlds apart from before consuming the thalamus.

”It’s better, truly better... my goodness, a miracle of life.”

Yi Xiaoling watched the scabs fall from her wound, tears brimming with emotion. She realized that had she not encountered these people today, she might face death soon, perhaps in three or five days, unless another miracle occurred!

Ju Mumio controlled her expression and emotions, but it was still evident that she was very excited, holding Yi Xiaoling’s hand and saying something. The two of them embraced warmly, naturally celebrating their new lease on life.

”Alright, pack up and get ready to go. We still have things to do.”

Zhang Su was unwilling to linger here any longer.

Ju Mumio let go of her arms, turned to Zhang Su, and said something, then signaled Yi Xiaoling to translate.

”Brother Zhang, Xiaoju asked what you were looking for with the drone at the factory. We’ve been living in this area for a while and might be able to provide some clues.”

”Uh... don’t find it strange when I tell you, but we are looking for a special type of zombie.”

Zhang Su felt it was worth taking a shot and detailed, ”This type of zombie usually doesn’t look much different from ordinary zombies, but if you look closely, you will see palm-sized patches on its body. Its attack method is spitting venom. When it attacks, the patches on its body turn a very deep color!”

As Zhang Su finished speaking, Ju Mumio and Yi Xiaoling exchanged a glance, both with expressions of ”it can’t be true” on their faces.

”Brother Su, it seems like they know something!”

Chen Hanzhou immediately noticed there was something unusual from the women’s expressions.

Zhang Su nodded and quickly asked, ”Have you seen such a zombie?”

Ju Mumio slowly turned to look at Zhang Su, nodded slightly, and began to explain the situation.

Yi Xiaoling cooperatively acted as translator, saying, ”We indeed saw the type of zombie you’re talking about before. What’s your purpose in finding such a zombie?”

”You’ve really seen it? When?”

Zhang Su’s gaze intensified. The timing was crucial, as it was possible that the one they saw had already been dissected by Fu Weijun.

Yi Xiaoling translated, ”Xiaoju said just yesterday.”

”Yesterday!”

”Then there’s hope...”

Wang Xin and the others showed expressions of delight. A Venom Zombie, if utilized properly, could surpass the power of several missiles. This would be a considerable boost to the camp’s military strength!

”Ahem!” Zhang Su coughed, thinking that the people around him were too transparent. Displaying such eagerness would only give the opposite side leverage, so he quickly put on an air of nonchalance and lightly asked, ”Where did you see the Venom Zombie?”

Unfortunately, Ju Mumio seemed to have already seen through their mindset. With Yi Xiaoling now healed, her mood was more relaxed, and she had more bargaining capital. She donned a playful smile and spoke a few words.

As she finished, Yi Xiaoling’s face instantly turned awkward, looking at Ju Mumio in a difficult position, waving her hand repeatedly, obviously trying to persuade her. In the end, she conveyed Ju Mumio’s meaning with great embarrassment.

”Um, Brother Zhang, Xiaoju said that if you don’t interfere with her drinking at the camp in the future and can arrange a big room for us, she’ll tell you the information about the zombie.”

Zhang Su and the others exchanged glances, suddenly finding it amusing. They had thought the other party would make some outrageous demands, but it turned out to be this simple?

”Ahem!”

But this time, they couldn’t let the other side get what they wanted so easily, otherwise, it would seem too cheap. So Zhang Su coughed and said seriously, ”Our camp’s rules and regulations are very strict. Arranging a big room is doable, but controlling behavior like drinking is a priority!”

”Only those who make significant contributions can get this privilege. Merely providing information leaves me in a tough spot. What if the information is incorrect? Or the Venom Zombie has already wandered off, and we come up empty-handed? It’s meaningless, right?”

After hearing Zhang Su’s words, Ju Mumio’s lips curled up, and she spoke calmly.

”Xiaoju said she can guarantee the information is accurate. If you can’t find the highly toxic—oh, I mean, Venom Zombie, you don’t have to meet her demands.”

Yi Xiaoling translated.

”So confident?”

Zhang Su had a nagging doubt, but based on his short interaction with Ju Mumio, she hadn’t exaggerated or lied, making her relatively trustworthy. He nodded and said, ”Alright, if you can find the Venom Zombie, I’ll agree to your request.”

”Uh... Xiaoju asked if it’s okay if it’s a dead Venom Zombie?”

Yi Xiaoling resumed being Ju Mumio’s mouthpiece.

”Dead?” Zhang Su suddenly realized, clapping his hands, he said, ”No wonder you dare to say it can definitely be found. Turns out it’s dead... Where is it then? Sure, a dead one is significantly less valuable, but still somewhat usable.”

He didn’t know whether the Venom Zombie had been taken down by Ju Mumio or was already dead. In any case, as long as they had one, and he kept its true value concealed to prevent her from thinking it was of rare worth.

Ju Mumio’s thoughts weren’t as complex this time. After receiving an affirmative answer, she turned and instructed Yi Xiaoling with a few words, then made a gesture toward the door.

”Xiaoju says... she’ll take you to find the Venom Zombie. I need to, uh, change clothes or something, so please excuse us for a moment.”

Yi Xiaoling apologized to the group with some embarrassment.

No one was interested in watching a woman change clothes, so even the typically unnoticed Su Xiaoya followed them out of the room.