At the start of April in Yangcheng, the cold lingered, and the early morning skies were overcast.
At this moment.
A van plastered with liquor advertisements descended from an overpass and entered a funeral home built along the mountainside.
"I didn't say I needed a foreign chick; I meant the crematorium in the western suburbs, not a foot massage parlor!"
The driver, Cheng Yifei, wearing a Bluetooth headset, shouted irritably, "My ex-girlfriend's aunt passed away, and she came to me in a dream last night, saying she died miserably and wanted me to burn her a giant black ghost. Make it extra large and extra thick, hurry up!"
The van came to a stop.
The courtyard had long lost its typical solemn and eerie atmosphere. Instead, luxury cars crowded the area, a sea of people bustling about, and an uncountable number of flower wreaths forming what resembled a floral ocean.
Glamorous women, paired with the wealthy mourners, moved in groups. Tight-fitting yoga pants or black silk bodycon dresses were the norm. While feigning grief, they didn't forget to strike alluring poses.
"Tsk tsk, wearing yoga pants to a crematorium? They're here to summon spirits, aren't they?"
Cheng Yifei lit a cigarette disdainfully, threw on a wrinkled black suit, and waited. At twenty-four, he was tall, lean, and slightly tanned, with short spiked hair and small but cunning eyes that exuded a roguish charm.
"Screech!"
A Porsche Panamera abruptly stopped next to him, and out stepped a long-haired woman in a black dress, exuding the aura of an elegant but intimidating older sister.
"Fake liquor dealer, what did you promise me yesterday? The funeral has already started!"
Her tone was murderous. Despite being in her thirties, she was tall and slim, with fair skin, long legs, and sharp, almond-shaped eyes—a rare blend of beauty and sophistication.
"Ah, it's not 'Auntie'; it's Director Xiao, right? Your bank women are really manipulative!"
Cheng Yifei jumped out of the van, grinning. "Your best friend had a fallout with her in-laws and can't attend her husband's funeral, so she wants to sneak into the mortuary for one last look. But you asked me to help without mentioning there'd be bodyguards watching her—or that she's practically a cursed widow-to-be!"
"She's not a cursed widow-to-be! Stop being so snarky! Your ex's aunt is still your elder!"
Director Xiao retorted, unwilling to back down. "I know you've always held a grudge against me, but you're wasting your life selling knockoff liquor at crematoriums. I told Nana to stay away from you. Was that wrong? If you put in some effort, there might even be a chance for reconciliation!"
"Forget it! I'd rather swipe credit for a lady than play the simp and clean up her mess!"
Cheng Yifei crossed his arms. "Your friend only got engaged, not married—so, yes, she's a cursed widow-to-be. Her fiancé died drunk driving. Saying she's unlucky isn't even unfair! Plus, rules are rules. Breaking them costs extra."
"You—"
Director Xiao gritted her teeth. "Fine! Money isn't the issue. The problem is the body is already in the memorial hall. How do we sneak in under everyone's watch?"
"Humph!"
Cheng Yifei tilted his chin up proudly. "Here, you can question my morals, but never my skills. Not just anyone can sell booze here!"
"Screech!"
Another vehicle—a business van—pulled up. To Director Xiao's shock, four scantily clad dancers in heavy makeup emerged, wearing leather shorts and fishnet stockings. Their dyed hair—either bright yellow or purple—gave them the vibe of a rural talent show act. Each carried a spirit-summoning banner.
"You… you even handle white affairs now?"
"Wherever there's food, you'll find me. Need a wedding emcee? I'm your guy too. Let's go!"
Cheng Yifei grabbed a spirit bell and strode off. The dancers opened the van's trunk, pulling out a giant papier-mâché black figure, which they shoved into the stunned hands of Director Xiao.
"Burn it for my ex's aunt. Condolences."
"You bastard, Cheng Yifei!"
Director Xiao's enraged curses echoed as Cheng Yifei led the procession to the memorial hall.
The moment of silence had yet to begin, but dignitaries had already gathered, including a few actresses—proof of the deceased's high standing.
"The hour has come. Spirits, guide the way; mortals, keep your distance!"
Cheng Yifei boldly shook the bell as the dancers lifted their ominous banners high.
Guards at the door quickly stepped aside, and the guests parted fearfully, not wanting to provoke bad luck.
Then, all eyes widened in shock.
Cheng Yifei marched to the flower stand beside the crystal coffin, where the bloated corpse of the late Mr. Wu lay in a suit.
The dancers switched on the speakers, and the tune of Extreme Happiness Land blared through the funeral home.
"Hey! There must be some mistake—we didn't hire dancers!"
A bespectacled middle-aged man rushed forward, but the dancers ignored him, swaying their hips to the music and twirling the banners dramatically.
The deceased's family turned pale with anger, while the guests couldn't bear to watch.
"Shh! You don't have to love SY, but you should respect the deceased's hobbies!"
Cheng Yifei declared shamelessly. "Not one of you is crying. How's a wandering soul supposed to find its way home? This is the only way to attract him. Otherwise, he'll become a restless ghost, haunting your family!"
"Nonsense!"
The bespectacled man retorted furiously. "Stop with the superstitious crap! My nephew was from a noble family. He'd never enjoy such vulgarity!"
"Oh? More vulgar than those yoga pants?"
Cheng Yifei glanced mockingly at the women in yoga pants, making many stifle laughter while the women squirmed uncomfortably.
"Look! The portrait is crying!"
A commotion broke out. The giant portrait of Mr. Wu had faint yellow tears streaming down its face.
"This…"
The bespectacled man stumbled back, swallowing his words. Even some dignitaries began bowing repeatedly.
"As the sages say, respect ghosts and gods, but keep your distance!"
Cheng Yifei declared. "For the deceased's peace and the family's safety, please maintain reverence. Bring in the mourning wife to break the bowl and perform her filial duty!"
"She's here! This is his fiancée, Chu Muran!"
Director Xiao ran in, dragging a short-haired beauty with her.
The family no longer dared to stop them. With tears streaming, Chu Muran stepped forward as the funeral staff handed her mourning clothes and a copper bowl.
"Tsk tsk, young guys don't know the value of mature women. They treat girls like treasures," Cheng Yifei muttered slyly as he stepped back, watching the curvaceous Chu Muran capture the attention of many men present.
"Yifei…"
Director Xiao leaned in, suspicious. "You're working with the funeral staff, aren't you? Did they rig the portrait?"
"Funerals are like theater—a show for the dead," Cheng Yifei replied mischievously. "Trade secret. But I'll take over your friend's case. Call me your future brother-in-law. Just think: your ex's my equal now!"
"You're a petty, twisted jerk!"
Director Xiao raised her hand to slap him, but a loud thud interrupted her.
"Boom!"
The crystal coffin suddenly shook violently. Not only did the acrylic lid shift askew, but Chu Muran also jumped back two steps in fright.
"Will you stop already? The act is over; there's no need to scare people anymore!"
Aunt Xiao clutched her chest and retreated to the side, while the bespectacled man stepped forward, shouting, "Hey, what's going on? Kid, are you some kind of amateur?"
"It's not my fault! Maybe the refrigeration unit broke down," Cheng Yifei muttered, puzzled, as he approached the crystal coffin. However, upon getting closer, a chill ran down his spine.
Inside the coffin, Young Master Wu was convulsing violently. His face was covered with bulging black veins, resembling a nest of tangled black worms, and sharp black claws extended from his fingertips.
"Ah! He's come back to life!"
The bespectacled man let out a ghostly scream the moment he got close, frightening Cheng Yifei so much that he fell on his rear. To make matters worse, the transparent coffin lid shattered with a loud crack.
"Bang!"
The lid slammed onto Cheng Yifei's head, and the supposedly dead Young Master Wu leaped out, pouncing directly onto the bespectacled man.
"Crunch!"
Wu's claws viciously plunged into the man's ribs, his gaping mouth full of razor-sharp teeth taking a massive bite out of half his face. Blood sprayed everywhere, staining the hall in an instant.
"Ahhh!"
The crowd erupted into chaos, surging toward the exit in panic. The stampede blocked the door, leaving it completely jammed. Women screamed and cried hysterically, shoving and pulling at each other in desperation.
"Roar!"
Young Master Wu threw his head back and let out a beastly roar before lunging at the crowd, mouth wide open to bite anyone in sight. He was in a state of complete madness, attacking indiscriminately.
"This is bad! It's really gone out of control now!"
Heart pounding, Cheng Yifei flipped the coffin lid off and scrambled under a row of funeral wreaths, only to slam his head into Chu Muran's rear, sending the young widow sprawling forward.
"Darling, I'm your wife!"
Chu Muran flailed her legs in terror, screaming loudly. Cheng Yifei quickly jumped on her back and clamped his hand over her mouth, hissing, "Stop yelling! I don't want to take the blame for your lover! Zombies usually rise because of an affair or murder. You must have been cheating!"
"I wasn't! He's the one who cheated—I swear!"
Tears streaming down her face, Chu Muran shook her head frantically. Cheng Yifei, half-believing her, let go and pushed her toward the back door, where a few clever people had already fled.
"A'Fei, help me! Please save me!"
Aunt Xiao cried and wailed at the front door, pinned beneath several bodies. Her cries, however, attracted Young Master Wu, who lunged toward her with his jaws wide open.
"Bang!"
A fire extinguisher suddenly flew through the air, hitting Young Master Wu just in time and knocking him over. A cloud of dry powder burst forth, obscuring a large part of the hall.
"Get out of there!"
Cheng Yifei burst through the smoke, pulling Aunt Xiao out of the pile of bodies. But she, like a drowning person clinging to a lifeline, jumped onto his back, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and screaming, "Run, run! Giddy up!"
"Damn it! Even my niece doesn't ride me like this!"
Cheng Yifei cursed as he carried her on his back and ran. However, as soon as he emerged from the smoke, he froze in horror. The bespectacled man's corpse had risen, now pinning an elderly man to the ground and gnawing on him viciously.
"What the hell is going on? Are these… zombies?"
Cheng Yifei's voice trembled as he took in the sight. Several wounded people were collapsing to the ground, their faces covered with black, web-like veins. Their bodies twisted and contorted unnaturally as they growled, eerily similar to the zombies from legends.
"Let's go! I'm terrified!"
Aunt Xiao started sobbing again. Cheng Yifei carried her into the hallway, which was a long, windowless passage used for transporting corpses. Most of the others who had fled earlier were already gone.
"Chu Muran, what are you doing squatting there? Hurry up!"
Cheng Yifei, after closing the door behind him, noticed Chu Muran kneeling alone in front of another door. She was peeking through a crack, trembling. As he approached with Aunt Xiao on his back, he saw the blue plaque above the door: Morgue.
"I told you it wasn't me cheating, and you still accused me!"
Chu Muran turned her tear-streaked face toward them, her legs shaking uncontrollably. The two crept closer to peer through the crack, and their eyes widened in shock.
The spacious, icy morgue was soaked with blood and littered with severed limbs. Aside from six rows of stainless-steel mortuary cabinets, there were over a dozen crystal coffins—more than half of which had been opened.
Those who had fled into the room lay scattered about, twitching and convulsing as black-veined zombies devoured them.
"Boom! Boom!"
Suddenly, loud banging echoed from within the mortuary cabinets, followed by a resounding crash.
"Clang!"
A small door of one cabinet burst open, landing heavily on the floor, dented like a cooking pot. The two women almost screamed in terror.
A petite female corpse tore through her body bag, her disheveled hair covering her face. Ice shards fell from her body as she twisted and crawled forward, her entire figure riddled with black veins, resembling a scene straight out of The Ring.
"Look at this!"
Shaking, Chu Muran held up her phone. The screen displayed an emergency notification:
Last week, fragments of a meteorite fell in vast numbers. Tests revealed the presence of an unknown neurotoxin, contaminating water sources globally. Infected individuals exhibit extreme aggression and high transmissibility. Residents are advised to stay indoors and not leave their homes.
"It's real—these are zombies!"
Cheng Yifei shakily shut the door. But then, a series of explosive bangs echoed behind him as more mortuary cabinets were kicked open.