"Is it really you? You're still alive!"
Lieutenant Song rushed in front of Chen Chao, his face full of excitement, giving him a bear hug, and speaking incoherently, "You didn't die, I thought you were dead. That's great, that's great!"
Chu Shanhe and the others quickly ran over.
Chu Shanhe's eyes reddened slightly as he punched Chen Chao in the chest, saying, "Good brother, I knew you wouldn't die so easily!"
The vice director said in amazement, "Brother Chen, how did you survive? This is unbelievable. What about the zombies?"
Before Chen Chao could answer, Lieutenant Song immediately shot him a fierce look and said, "What kind of question is that? Do you want Brother Chen to be dead?"
The vice director quickly realized his mistake and said, "I didn't mean that. I was just curious. To survive surrounded by so many zombies and yet look unharmed—it's like a miracle!"
When he said that, Chu Shanhe and the others finally noticed that not only was Chen Chao alive, but he was also completely unharmed, though his clothes were dirty, sticking with rotten flesh, emitting a terrible stench.
Chen Chao saw the curious expressions on their faces but didn't want them to overthink things. He immediately said, "I just got lucky. After I left that street, I bumped into a large truck blocking my way. I climbed onto the truck when the monsters came after me, then moved from the truck's roof to the streetlight nearby. I waited for the monsters to scatter, and then came down. That's why I'm late."
He spoke briefly, but Chu Shanhe and the others could imagine the scene, and they couldn't help but sweat for him.
The vice director pondered for a moment and asked, "The streetlight is only about eight meters high. If those zombies saw you on top, why would they leave?"
Chen Chao glanced at him and said, "I have my ways."
"What ways?" The vice director asked, curious.
Chen Chao sneered, "Why should I tell you?"
The vice director froze for a moment, then immediately said seriously, "If your method works, I'll tell others. That way, it could greatly increase the survival chances of the others. This would be a good deed!"
Chen Chao simply responded, "It's simple. Just throw away your underwear, and it'll attract those monsters."
"Underwear?"
Everyone, including Chu Shanhe, almost doubted their ears.
Chen Chao continued on his own, "Yes, my underwear hasn't been washed in a few days, and it stinks. That's what drew them away. You can try it."
They were speechless, and the female nurse blushed, turning her head away in embarrassment.
"Is this really effective?" The vice director looked at him with disbelief.
"Try it, and you'll know." Chen Chao said indifferently.
It was indeed a method, though not the one he used to escape. He had used light refraction to hide his body and slip away.
Using underwear?
That might work on the early-stage zombies, but once they evolved, throwing underwear at them would lead to disaster!
Chen Chao didn't give them a chance to inquire further. He said, "Let's go."
"You seem to know a lot about these monsters." The vice director adjusted his glasses and asked curiously, "Have you killed many of them?"
Chen Chao gave him a cold look but didn't answer. The atmosphere immediately became awkward.
Lieutenant Song angrily said, "Don't you think you're asking too many questions? Brother Chen is an ancient martial artist! Do you know what that is? It's a secret organization in our country. Don't think you can talk to him just because you're the vice director of a hospital!"
Having witnessed Chen Chao's skills, he had already made up his mind that Chen Chao was an ancient martial artist.
The vice director was startled. He had never heard of ancient martial artists, but when he heard the words "secret organization," he immediately realized that this was a mysterious institution he wasn't qualified to understand. He awkwardly stopped asking.
Lieutenant Song sneered and said, "Just now you wanted to abandon Brother Chen, now you have the nerve to ask him all these questions? You're a doctor, right? When we get to the science institute, they'll give you a monster to research!"
The vice director's face changed slightly. He didn't want to leave a bad impression on someone like Chen Chao, who had such a big "background" and strong abilities. He was secretly angry at Lieutenant Song but didn't dare to show it. He hurriedly reassured, "I didn't want to abandon Mr. Chen. I've been waiting with you, and my questions were only to help more survivors. Mr. Chen, you don't need to listen to him. I never meant to abandon you!"
"Ha, you really have thick skin..." Lieutenant Song sneered.
The vice director ignored him and nervously looked at Chen Chao, "Mr. Chen, you have to believe me, I never meant to abandon you."
Chen Chao nodded, "Got it."
He had no intention of pursuing the matter. In fact, he didn't care at all. If it weren't for planting a seed in Chu Shanhe's mind, he wouldn't have saved anyone.
Moreover, in the apocalypse, it was quite normal for people like him to be abandoned. He had experienced too much of that since childhood and had long gotten used to it, even feeling it was natural. In contrast, it surprised him that Chu Shanhe and Lieutenant Song really waited here as promised. But thinking about Chu Shanhe's future reputation as a bold and righteous man, he understood.
Chen Chao's words, however, gave the vice director the impression that he truly believed him. He let out a sigh of relief and flattered Chen Chao.
As for Chu Shanhe and Lieutenant Song, they admired Chen Chao's kindness, feeling that he didn't hold grudges, and admired him even more.
Chen Chao glanced at the time and said, "Let's go."
Chu Shanhe nodded, leading the way.
"Brother Chen, you really don't want to enlist? I can recommend you and make you a lieutenant straight away. With your skills, you'll rise to a major in no time," Chu Shanhe said, still reluctant to give up. He looked at Chen Chao seriously. "It's too dangerous to be alone here. Come with me."
Chen Chao shook his head.
Chu Shanhe sighed, "You saved my life this time. If you ever have trouble, don't forget to come find me!"
"Mm!" Chen Chao nodded firmly.
They continued their journey for a while, encountering a few scattered zombies along the way. Chen Chao and Chu Shanhe worked together to eliminate them. Soon, they arrived at the rendezvous point Chu Shanhe had mentioned.
It was a large square with several hundred zombies wandering around, most of them older women whose faces had decayed to the point where their features were unrecognizable.
Chen Chao and the others hid behind a tall building at the edge of the square, waiting quietly. According to Chu Shanhe, the people coming to pick them up were supposed to be arriving by helicopter.
If a machine gun were mounted on the helicopter, clearing the zombies in the square wouldn't be difficult.
"Why are they still not here?" Chu Shanhe asked in confusion. "It's past the scheduled time. Could something have gone wrong?"
Chen Chao's ears twitched, and his face immediately changed. "Gunfire!"