Before she could make sense of what had just happened, the black zombie blood scattered on the floor began to emit a putrid stench in the confined space.
Luo Xiaole had no choice but to cover her nose and stumble to open the door to the living room.
But who would have thought there was another zombie lying there with a deathly pale face!
Luo Xiaole was startled and hastily raised a clothes hanger, waving it wildly at the zombie. Only then did she realize the zombie was already stone-cold dead…
It then dawned on her that her aunt's family, who were outside the bedroom door just now, must have been fighting it.
The zombie's uniform actually shimmered in the sunlight, instantly catching her eye.
Although it was a bodyguard uniform, it appeared to be sharply tailored and made of unusual material, glinting with a golden hue. The cuffs were embroidered with a large, elegant "Qin" character in gold and silver thread.
Qin?
Luo Xiaole's mind immediately flashed to the renowned Qin family, spanning land and sea forces, their influence so vast it encompassed everything from real estate, mining, and oil to stationery and daily necessities, forming a stifling monopoly in countless industries. Their family was filled with magnates in military, political, and business circles…
Aside from them, what other ostentatious force would embroider gold thread onto countless bodyguard uniforms? Their wealth was truly extraordinary.
But what did her uncle mean by "follow them"? Did "they" refer to the Qin family? How could the Qin family be here?
And her mother's ring, she only had this one on her hand. Why did they have another ring in their possession?
If this ring was the key to unlocking this system, what would the other one be for?
The sudden upheaval of her world, her aunt's betrayal of her parents, and the deluge of questions that flooded her mind felt like heavy blows to her head, causing her a splitting headache. Her entire body ached from the recent exertion, and her arms felt incredibly sore.
"Aaaahhh..." A familiar scream suddenly erupted from the doorway.
Hearing her aunt's familiar voice, Luo Xiaole's anger surged, eclipsing all her pain.
She was already struggling to find a way to get revenge, and here she was, walking right into her trap?
"Don't come here! Get away! Get away!" Her aunt's pig-like wails were agonizingly shrill.
Luo Xiaole peeked through the peephole. A zombie, only half its body intact, was slowly crawling towards her aunt.
Her aunt, who usually bullied and ordered her around with a fierce demeanor, was now cowering like a frightened chick, trembling before this zombie that was missing half its body.
Seeing the zombie again sent shivers down Luo Xiaole's spine, but seeing her aunt filled her with an uncontrollable rage.
She clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth.
Taking advantage of the zombie's distraction, she stealthily pushed the door open, raised the clothes hanger she was holding, closed her eyes in fear, and swung it hard at the zombie!
The sound of the zombie's head hitting the floor followed immediately…
Her aunt's eyes widened like saucers, utterly astonished.
She even thought Luo Xiaole had come out specifically to save her, clinging tightly to Luo Xiaole's leg and wailing.
"Your uncle and your brother followed the Qin family away, and they left me here because I was in the way. How heartless! Xiaole, save your aunt! You have to protect your aunt. From now on, you're all I have!"
Luo Xiaole felt her blood pressure skyrocket, as if she were being told a ridiculous joke.
"Then can you tell me what really happened to my parents back then?" Luo Xiaole suppressed the rage in her eyes.
Her aunt, unwilling to speak, her eyes darted around for a few moments, stammering and clearly avoiding the topic.
Luo Xiaole's anger boiled.
Suddenly, she heard the distinct shuffling footsteps of zombies from down the corridor.
She knew she couldn't waste any more time. She firmly placed her back against the door, "If you don't tell me, you won't get through this door today. The zombies behind you are coming."
Her aunt, her courage completely shattered, blurted out incoherently, "No, no, it wasn't me... it was the Qin family! They caused that car accident, wanting to kill your parents. When it didn't succeed, they paid me to finish them off at the hospital. I didn't mean to! They gave me so much money! And I felt your parents were suffering so much during their subsequent treatment, so I just..."
What nonsensical garbage was this! Luo Xiaole's heart ached with fury. For their own selfish gain, seeing them suffer, they had directly ended their lives?
"The ring you took was my mother's? Why did you have to take that ring?" Luo Xiaole asked, holding back her last shred of composure.
"They just said they were taking it to some young master. I don't know what they need the ring for..." her aunt continued to wail.
Luo Xiaole's eyes narrowed. It seemed her aunt knew no more than this.
Her mournful cries finally drew the approaching zombies closer. Luo Xiaole had not stopped her, waiting for this very moment.
"Roar!" The zombies from a distance continued to rush towards them.
Her aunt, terrified, her eyes darting around, thought that with so many zombies, Luo Xiaole surely couldn't handle them all. She might as well push Luo Xiaole forward to slow them down.
Without hesitation, her aunt suddenly jumped up, intending to shove Luo Xiaole into the horde.
Luo Xiaole, having always known her ill intentions, and fueled by courage the moment her aunt moved, directly raised her hand. She pulled the clothes hanger at her aunt's ankle, instantly creating a long gash that bled profusely.
Her aunt glared at Luo Xiaole in fury, but her ankle had lost all strength, and she couldn't stand.
Luo Xiaole, panting, ran back home, not daring to look back, and slammed the door shut.
She had only gone out to confirm the truth with her aunt. Now that she had her answer, there was no reason to spare her aunt.
Luo Xiaole's hands trembled with anger. You owe a life, and you will repay it!
The shuffling footsteps of the zombies were unnerving. Not long after, her aunt's wails echoed from outside the door again.
"Ah!!! Luo Xiaole, you ungrateful wretch, you didn't save me! May you die a terrible death!!" Immediately after, a spray of blood bloomed on the peephole. Her aunt was instantly surrounded by the horde, the sounds of gnawing flesh and blood erupting. Soon, silence fell outside the door.
Luo Xiaole silently exhaled the breath she had been holding, then slowly clenched her fists again.
Mom, Dad, I've summoned the courage to deal with those who killed you.
The Mo family, who wanted you dead, I will one day uncover the truth and seek justice…
She leaned against the door, listening to the news report about people developing fevers and turning into biting monsters.
Then, in the background, screams and wails from the studio could be heard. The entire screen shook terrifyingly for a moment, leaving only a gaping maw before the image abruptly cut out.
She lowered her head and switched off the TV with a click. Only now did it truly sink in…
In just half a day, the zombie outbreak had consumed the planet…
A mountain of fear descended upon her, crushing her breath.
She cried with lingering terror. If she hadn't reacted so quickly, she would be the one being devoured outside the door right now…
Luo Xiaole looked at her hands in despair, emaciated and frail, her body wracked with illness. She would be breathless after just a few steps. How could she survive in this apocalypse…
She curled up in a corner, terrified.
As she stroked the ring on her hand, she seemed to find a reason to live.
She still had revenge to exact, truths to uncover. She wanted to live, to live well for herself and for her parents.
This was a long road ahead.
She had to learn to be brave.
And now, with no family left, she didn't even know where to begin her revenge.
In this chaotic era, the world order was being reshaped. Finding the Qin family's stronghold would likely not be an easy task.
She sighed heavily. For now, she would focus on surviving within the community, exploring the system, and learning some survival skills.
Exhausted, she no longer had the energy to think of anything else and simply made do leaning against the door for the night.
…
The next morning, Luo Xiaole was awakened by the commotion outside.
Several hurried footsteps suddenly echoed in the adjacent corridor, rapidly approaching Luo Xiaole's door.
"Open the door, please can you open the door?"
"There are a few zombies chasing us. Please open the door."
Luo Xiaole instantly came to her senses. She struggled to prop herself up and cautiously peered through the gap in the door to observe the situation outside.
She saw two men and a woman fleeing from the corridor, looking disheveled and panicked.
They were frantically and quietly banging on every door they passed as they ran.
Leading the group was a slightly plump young man in a blue striped t-shirt, looking like a chubby "lucky charm" for the New Year. He was now dripping with sweat and looking utterly disheveled, brandishing a cleaver as he frantically led the way.
No one responded to them.