"The existence of scattered mutants has been confirmed in various parts of the country. The symptoms of these mutants are quite similar to rabies. We urge all residents to increase their awareness of self-defense and, if necessary, carry sticks or other weapons when going out. The weakness of these mutants is the head..."
"Mutants? Just call them what they are—zombies!" A resident scoffed as they turned off the TV, feigning indifference. But beneath the surface, they quickly opened a delivery app, deciding it was best to stay indoors for the next few days and stock up on supplies.
Unfortunately, even with raised prices and higher delivery fees, no delivery drivers were willing to risk their lives for a few extra bucks. Complaints flooded various platforms as people scrambled to secure food and essentials. The government, already overwhelmed, mobilized specialized teams to handle deliveries and enforced strict security measures at supermarkets, ensuring they remained open and orderly.
Despite the rising tension, the situation remained under control, with minimal panic. Online complaints surged, but the overall atmosphere was better than expected.
As A-Organization fled, they released their experimental products, causing chaos across the nation. Despite prior warnings and precautions, many were caught off guard by the sudden outbreak.
Fear gripped the nation until the research lab, where Yu Zhiwan worked, successfully integrated the final component into the zombie virus antidote. The first test subject showed no adverse reactions, and when the antidote was administered to several newly infected individuals, it successfully halted the progression of the virus, saving all but one severely wounded patient.
After a brief recovery, Pei Yujang immediately applied to join the national task force to exterminate the zombies. With her extensive knowledge and experience with these creatures, she was determined to prevent the spread of the infection, particularly in areas like Xiangcheng, which had yet to be fully contaminated. She knew that the best way to protect the nation was to eradicate these threats before they could fully emerge.
As both women excelled in their respective fields, the nation rallied behind them, proving that the countless hours spent preparing the public had not been in vain.
When Pei Yujang fired the last bullet into the head of a zombie, she was startled to see it still standing. Her heart raced as she rushed forward, her jungle knife slicing through the air to deliver a final, fatal blow to its skull.
Thick, foul-smelling blood splattered, causing a numbing sensation wherever it landed. But Pei Yujang didn't stop. She hacked away at the zombie's head until it was an unrecognizable pulp. The officer in charge, arriving too late, watched in shock as Pei Yujang, undeterred by fear, had engaged the zombie in close combat.
Frustrated, the officer cursed inwardly.
He was a trained elite, selected to lead the top team in the zombie eradication effort. Yet, Pei Yujang, a mere Beta woman, fought with the ferocity of an Alpha. If she had an official rank, her achievements would have been legendary. But she had refused any formal title, only requesting temporary enlistment.
This battle had dragged on for 25 days, with the zombies displaying rudimentary tactics, making them even more dangerous. The terrain was treacherous, and the local guide had been killed by A-Organization remnants, making the uphill battle even more challenging. It was clear to everyone that these zombies were different, possibly even under someone's control.
Pei Yujang, now drenched in blood, turned to the officer with a smile that belied the carnage she had just wrought. Her blue eyes sparkled with a calm joy that was unsettling in its intensity.
"Finally got the tough one. 25 days—we can go home now!"
Indeed, they had been fighting for 25 days straight, moving from one battlefield to the next, bringing hope to the residents they passed. Their efforts were met with gratitude and admiration, making the hardships worthwhile.
Though Pei Yujang had disobeyed orders to take down the zombie, her status as a temporary enlistee meant the officer had no grounds to punish her. Frustrated, he had no choice but to let it go.
As they descended the mountain with the captured A-Organization remnants, Pei Yujang silently pocketed a small chip she had found. She knew that in her previous life, some zombies had been implanted with such devices, which were designed to control them. Human greed and the desire for power had led to these horrors, and the consequences had been catastrophic.
Later that day, after returning to the camp, Pei Yujang handed the chip to Yu Zhiwan.
Yu Zhiwan studied it for a long time before looking up at Pei Yujang. Her voice was gentle but firm.
"Destroy it."
Pei Yujang instinctively responded, "But it's still functional, and it has significant research value..."
She stopped mid-sentence, realizing what Yu Zhiwan truly meant. Her fingertips felt cold, but her mind was ablaze.
Yu Zhiwan was telling her not to test the limits of human nature.
Not even with someone she loved.
The chip was thrown into the fire, where it burned away into unrecognizable ash. With that, much of A-Organization's research was lost forever, preventing any possibility of its revival.
No one could predict the extent of human greed. The only safeguard was to confine that greed within the boundaries of reason. As Pei Yujang watched the flames die down, she turned to meet Yu Zhiwan's serene smile.
On Prison Island, two soldiers saluted Governor Xiang with a respectful farewell, but the woman stumbled, barely making it to the pier where the boat waited.
Her mind was still reeling from the soldiers' repeated assurances that they had "no record" of the person she sought. Despite her insistence and demands to see the records herself, there was no trace, no information at all.
Governor Xiang had personally arranged for her to be sent here, ensuring everything was taken care of, including a way to communicate. If Chen Shuyang had arrived, there was no way she would be missing. She had even bribed the guards to make sure Shuyang would be treated well.
The only explanation was...
Governor Xiang couldn't bear to think further.
She remembered the day she made the decision to send Shuyang here, crying for hours in her room. Shuyang had gently reassured her, saying she deserved whatever consequences came her way. But Shuyang had always been timid. She didn't know she was being sent to the notorious Prison Island, thinking instead that her wife had found a safe place for her, a place where she might live out her days.
Chen Shuyang never imagined that the person she trusted most would betray her.
Even if that betrayal was just a reflection of her own earlier actions.
The pain in her chest was relentless, preventing Governor Xiang from moving forward. Memories of their time together flashed before her eyes, all culminating in Shuyang's final, gentle promise: "I'll wait for you."
Governor Xiang took a few steps forward, feeling the cool sand beneath her feet, the cold touch of the water. She didn't retreat but continued to walk into the sea.
As the water rose above her head, she finally understood the excruciating pain of drowning, a sensation she had only ever read about. Words had never done it justice.
But once this long agony was over, she would no longer have to endure the pain of living.
Her assistant's call went unanswered as her phone, submerged and destroyed by the water, went silent. Her body, heavy with water, slowly sank, lost to the depths. The death of a prominent official would be mourned with grandeur, though her end was not unique.
"A-Organization is ruthless in its methods. Chen Shuyang was a puppet, easily discarded when no longer useful. Her only value was her naivety, a perfect tool for them. But once she outlived her usefulness, they would have eliminated her without hesitation."
When news of Governor Xiang's death by drowning reached them, Yu Zhiwan and Pei Yujang were still on leave, recovering from their grueling ordeal. They had planned to take a month off, doing nothing but enjoying the simple pleasures of retirement.
They weren't sure exactly how Chen Shuyang had died, but it was unlikely to have been peaceful. She had exposed A-Organization, leading investigators to the group. A-Organization, known for its vicious retribution, would not have let her off lightly.
Chen Shuyang had been a loyal dog to A-Organization, and Pei Yujang had little sympathy for her. She simply asked Yu Zhiwan:
"Are you going to attend her funeral?"
"Her" referred to Governor Xiang.
"I'll go," Yu Zhiwan sighed. After all, Governor Xiang had done so much, and her final choice was a personal one, beyond anyone's judgment. When the moment grew silent, Omega nudged Pei Yujang's shoulder and asked her, "Fishy, my parents probably want to meet their daughter-in-law. Will you come?"