A Time-Traveling Zombie Romance (GL) - Chapter 32

“Innkeeper, open the door!!!” I shouted, carrying Mu Jinyu on my back as I pounded on the inn door.

“Coming! Who is it… at this late hour…” The innkeeper opened the door, and seeing me, he jumped back in shock, screaming, “A ghost!!!”

A flock of crows immediately flew overhead, cawing, “Caw, caw!” I waved them off. “Get lost! You’re the real ghost! Look, am I a ghost? Have you ever seen a ghost this handsome?”

“M-Master… you’re not dead?!” the innkeeper stammered.

“Of course not. If I were dead, could I even stand here?” I rolled my eyes and walked into the inn.

“The monsters outside are very powerful! It’s amazing you survived!”

“Monsters? Oh, you mean that disgusting bug? I chased it away,” I said casually.

“What?! You chased it away? Really?!”

“Well, what do you think?” I replied, carrying Mu Jinyu upstairs. “Innkeeper, get some Golden Wound Ointment, bandages, and water for my room.”

The innkeeper stood there dumbfounded…

As soon as I reached my room, Yun Xi, Siqing, Menghui, Qi Yichen, Qingyang, and the five guards came rushing in.

“Little stingy one, where’s the ghost? Where’s the ghost?” Qingyang ran ahead, asking.

“Ah! Brother, you’re hurt and bleeding so much!” Siqing gasped, tears glimmering in her eyes.

“Qi’er, are you alright?” Yun Xi anxiously asked, coming beside me.

“Master, are you alright? What happened to Mu Gongzi?” the five guards asked, helping Mu Jinyu down from my back and slowly guiding her into my room.

“Ahem, we’ll discuss that once we’re inside,” I said awkwardly. It was crowded and noisy at the door in the middle of the night, and I didn’t want to disturb anyone.

Inside the room, I closed the door, and Siqing came up again. “Brother, are your injuries serious? Where are you hurt?”

“I’m not hurt,” I said.

“Little stingy one, your clothes are torn, and there’s so much bl00d—how can you not be hurt?”

“I really am fine. Look for yourselves.” I rolled up my sleeve, revealing flawless skin beneath the bl00d-stained clothing.

“Really?! Then where did this bl00d come from? And your clothes are ripped too.” Qingyang exclaimed.

“Uh…” I hesitated. Just then, a servant brought in the Golden Wound Ointment and bandages. I quickly said, “Mu Gongzi is hurt. I’ll treat her now. You all should go rest; I’ll explain everything tomorrow…”

“All right…” everyone left, though Qi Yichen remained expressionless, and Menghui showed slight concern, which I ignored. Yun Xi stayed behind.

“Qi’er, what exactly happened?” Yun Xi asked, grabbing my hand in worry.

I grabbed her hand back and sat with her. “Just now, Mu Jinyu and I heard a scream. We rushed to investigate and found a monster causing trouble. We fought it; Mu Jinyu was injured and fainted. I transformed into a zombie and cut off one of the monster’s arms. Unfortunately, it escaped into the water. I was also cut, but I had just absorbed a layer of the Ancient Corpse King’s power, so my strength increased greatly, and my wounds healed almost immediately. I’m fine now.”

“No wonder I heard a scream. I didn’t notice at the time. But Qi’er, you need to be careful. Don’t let anyone hurt you; otherwise, I’ll worry.” Yun Xi rested her head on my shoulder.

“Got it, Xi’er,” I said playfully.

“You’re something, hehe.” Yun Xi tapped my forehead with her finger, full of affection.

“Xi’er, go rest. I’ll heal Mu Jinyu’s reckless self with my powers,” I said.

“All right, Qi’er, you should rest early too.”

“Mm.”

After Yun Xi left, I removed Mu Jinyu’s clothing and loosened her chest bindings. “Tsk tsk, Mu Jinyu, this tomboy is developing nicely.”

I wet a towel and wiped her clean, applied Golden Wound Ointment, and bandaged her wounds. Then I helped her recover her internal injuries using blue light formed at my fingertips. Half an hour later, her internal injuries were healed, and I was slightly tired, so I collapsed on the table and fell asleep.

The next morning, Mu Jinyu slowly woke and sat up, wincing at the pain from her wounds. She noticed her injuries were already bandaged and healed, looking at me sleeping on the table with a startled blush.

“Cough, cough, cough…” she coughed.

That sound woke me up. I turned to see Mu Jinyu sitting on the bed. “You’re awake,” I said with a smile.

“You… you… why are you in my room?” she asked, eyes wide.

I rolled my eyes. “Please, this is my room.”

“Oh, then why am I in your room?”

“Last night you were injured. I carried you back,” I explained.

“What about that perverted monster from last night?” Mu Jinyu asked.

“Oh, that stinky bug? I beat it up, and it escaped. It fights well but can’t escape like me,” I said, pouring two cups of tea and handing one to her.

“What?! You chased it away? You’re so strong? Thank you,” Mu Jinyu said in surprise, taking the tea.

“Of course,” I replied.

“Then who bandaged my wounds? And my internal injuries are healed!?” she asked, astonished.

“Those wounds were treated by me, and I used my internal power to heal your internal injuries,” I said.

“What! So… you even took off my clothes?!” she exclaimed, hugging herself.

“Of course. Why be shy? We’ve seen each other’s bodies before. By the way, your chest is pretty nice,” I said with a grin.

“You… you…” Mu Jinyu was flustered, pointing at me.

“What do you mean? You saw mine, I saw yours. We’re even.”

“Yeah, that’s fair,” she said after some thought.

“All right, get up. Your injuries aren’t severe; you can move around. I’ll go wash up first,” I said, leaving the room to grab toiletries.

After washing up, it was around 8:30 a.m., and everyone was awake. We ate breakfast together, and everyone crowded around me, eager to hear what had happened. I recounted it, occasionally embellishing a bit.

Everyone was astonished. Siqing timidly asked, “Brother… were you hurt at all? That monster is so powerful…”

“No, no. That monster couldn’t touch me. Who do you think I am? The scratches on my clothes are from Mu Jinyu’s bl00d,” I said with a sly glance at her.

“What! All that bl00d is mine? So much? Looks like I need to replenish my bl00d more often,” she said, turning pale.

“Pfft, you’re a man. So little bl00d, and you’re pale?” Qingyang teased.

“If you have the guts, try bleeding and see!” Mu Jinyu shot back at Qingyang.

“Zhang Xiaoqi, Mu Gongzi, next time you go out, tell us, or we’ll worry,” Menghui said, frowning slightly.

“Agreed,” everyone nodded.

“All right, next time I’ll inform you,” I said, and everyone laughed.

Amid the laughter, Qi Yichen schemed silently: “This Zhang Xiaoqi is so skilled. I wonder if that monster was his creation. If brute force doesn’t work, I’ll just use him to eliminate everyone who likes Menghui. Zhang Xiaoqi, just wait!”

“Hehe, Brother Zhang, if your skills are so great, why did the monster escape?” Qi Yichen smiled.

“Well, the monster, a water centipede, went into the lake after losing an arm. Its swimming ability is excellent, and I couldn’t fight well in water. Chasing it recklessly would only be disadvantageous if it attacked me. That’s why I let it go,” I explained.

“But letting the water centipede escape could be disastrous. What if it continues to harm people?” Qi Yichen said.

“That’s why I plan to stay in this town for a few days and track its whereabouts,” I said.

“Good. If I see that monster, I’ll make sure it dies so it won’t harm anyone,” Li Shaomin said, nodding.

After chatting, everyone left, leaving only Yun Xi, Mu Jinyu, and me.

“Qi’er, that water centipede has cultivated for 500 years. There must be a force behind it. I read in the book you gave me that any demon over 300 years old always has backing. If you kill the water centipede, what if they come after you?” Yun Xi said worriedly.

“No worries, Xi’er. I’m a corpse… with my skills, how could I fear a few little demons?” I laughed.

“But you just left the mountains. Lack of experience could be a problem; you might be tricked,” she said.

“It’s fine.” I smiled mysteriously and whispered something in Yun Xi’s ear. She blushed and nodded shyly.

After she left, Mu Jinyu looked at me mischievously. “Zhang Xiaoqi, what did you just say to Yun Xi?”

“Guess!” I said with a mysterious smile.

“No, not interested,” she said, looking down to eat.

I twitched at her lack of cooperation.

“You’re still not full?” I asked, surprised she was still eating.

“Half full. I bled so much yesterday; I must replenish it,” she said, taking a bite of steamed bun stuffed with tofu, mushrooms, and shredded meat.

I was speechless…

“By the way, why did you come with me yesterday? It was dangerous.”

“Oh, that? Nothing unusual. I usually help elderly ladies crossing the street and girls bullied by rich young men. I also help fight monsters. You were in danger; I couldn’t just watch you risk your life. That’s just who I am,” she said, shrugging.

“Hmm, admirable. Very commendable,” I said.

“Commendable? Who’s that?”

“The hero I’ve admired since childhood.” My eyes sparkled.

“A hero? Aren’t heroes famous? I’ve never heard of him. How old is he? Where does he live? Is he a martial artist? Does he have a title? His wife beautiful?…” She kept going off-topic.

“…”

“Mu Jinyu!!! Stop hiding! Come out!” I chased her under the table and smacked her lightly. She curled up, holding her head.

“So weird!”