Surviving the Game as a Zombie - Chapter 110

“This room might be a safe room left for the developers,” Song Lengzhu said.

Tang Yu shook her head, indicating she didn’t understand.

“When I was learning about the history of game development, I heard a theory. A hundred years ago, when holographic game technology wasn’t fully mature, accidents where a player’s consciousness disconnected from their body would occasionally happen. So, developers would leave a safe room in the game.”

“The safe room exists independently of the game, just like this restroom. It stores important code, and specialized personnel would enter the game holographically to reset certain values, allowing these uncontrolled consciousnesses to dock in the safe room before rescue attempts were made.”

“Later, as technology advanced, the real people performing these operations in the safe room were replaced by AI proxies. Eventually, the problem was completely solved, and modern holographic games no longer have accidents involving consciousness disconnection. The safe room became unnecessary.” Song Lengzhu picked up the eyeball with her fingers.

“If this restroom really is a safe room, it’s highly likely there’s an unknown hidden danger in this game, and the developers have reinstated this safeguard to ensure they can perform a data reset if some kind of malfunction occurs.”

“But since entering the game, I’ve never heard of any major malfunctions.” Song Lengzhu said a lot in one breath. In any case, since Tang Yu couldn’t communicate, she could only listen.

Tang Yu wrote the word “Reset” on the paper, drawing circles around it as she carefully considered the information in Song Lengzhu’s words.

If that was the case, the so-called “Anchor Points” could be explained, albeit barely. There were docking points in the game that could help developers fix errors when certain data operations went awry.

But Tang Yu felt something was still missing from this explanation. Were the anchor points meant to affect the players’ consciousness? The entire game? Or some new, unknown hidden danger?

They had too little information, like seeing only the tip of an iceberg, unable to know what lay beneath the water.

Tang Yu looked at the eyeball Song Lengzhu was toying with and wrote: “Could this bead be what you were talking about, something used to store information?”

“It’s possible.” Song Lengzhu pointed to the broken circuit boards inside the hole. “But it’s already been damaged. And even if it were intact, the electronic devices in this game wouldn’t be able to read the information inside.”

The computers and laptops in this world were too primitive; they simply couldn’t connect with something so advanced.

Besides, this glass bead didn’t even have a port.

“Ah…” Tang Yu let out a meaningless sound, seeming a bit regretful.

Song Lengzhu said, “But this is all from a long time ago. I don’t know the details very well. It’s very possible this guess is completely wrong.”

That was also true. As Song Lengzhu had said, a guess was just a guess. It couldn’t be treated as fact until it was one hundred percent confirmed.

“Forget it,” Tang Yu wrote on the paper. She stood up and stretched, deciding to end the discussion on this damn matter right there.

“Tired?” Song Lengzhu looked up at her. Tang Yu was yawning, with faint tears at the corners of her eyes. As she stretched, the tank top she wore rode up a couple of inches, revealing her small navel and flat abdomen.

Song Lengzhu’s gaze fell upon her stomach.

Noticing Song Lengzhu’s line of sight, Tang Yu didn’t even finish her yawn before quickly lowering her arms and pulling her shirt down.

“It’s rude to stare,” Tang Yu mumbled.

Song Lengzhu’s expression shifted several times. She opened her mouth but said nothing.

There was no wound on Tang Yu’s waist. Back in the restricted zone, she had accidentally injured Tang Yu’s waist. Although it was just a small cut, there wasn’t even a hint of a scar on Tang Yu’s abdomen now.

Song Lengzhu discreetly glanced at Tang Yu’s arms and only then noticed that, aside from the bluish-purple tint and veins characteristic of a zombie, her skin was completely free of any wounds.

The scratches from the bl00d zombies had completely healed within two days.

This defied common sense.

Song Lengzhu didn’t ask, having already guessed most of it.

She felt an inexplicable sense of relief. It seemed that even without her giving away her ability, the little zombie was living just fine.

“There’s a rest area here. If you’re tired, go get some sleep.” Song Lengzhu pointed to another door next to the restroom.

Tang Yu shook her head and squatted down in front of the coffee table to write: “You go. I’ll sleep on the sofa.” After writing, she pointed to Song Lengzhu’s wrist, indicating that she needed to take care of the injured person.

Quite considerate.

Song Lengzhu thought for a moment and didn’t refuse, rising to walk toward the rest area. Standing at the doorway, she turned back and said softly, “I won’t close the door. We need to regroup immediately if anything unexpected happens.”

Tang Yu gave an OK sign. No problem.

Song Lengzhu looked at her, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Then… good night?”

Tang Yu’s back straightened, and she stammered, “G-good night.”

To say she slept would be inaccurate. Tang Yu didn’t fall asleep at all. For one, she had to guard against Fang Yiming’s possible return, remaining vigilant at all times. For another, she had to look after the injured person, frequently going to the rest area doorway to check on Song Lengzhu’s condition.

If this person’s injuries were too severe and she died in her sleep, who would she ask for her people back from?

Song Lengzhu, however, was asleep. She lay on her side on the mattress, fully clothed, her long body curled into a ball. Her left arm was wrapped over her face and rested on top of her head in a very defensive posture.

The small flashlight was set to its dimmest setting and placed on a nearby wardrobe, casting a soft glow over Song Lengzhu.

The third time Tang Yu peeked from the doorway, she noticed that the hand Song Lengzhu had placed on her head was still gripping a gun.

What a vigilant woman, Tang Yu thought. Who is she guarding against? It couldn’t be me, right?

She quietly retreated to the sofa and lay down on her back.

Her tank top was completely dry now, having been air-dried from dampness, and it carried a musty smell. Tang Yu closed her eyes and rested for only a short while before she felt the night outside growing lighter, a faint brightness appearing on the horizon.

Tang Yu tiptoed to the rest area doorway again and poked her head in to look.

Song Lengzhu’s sleeping position hadn’t changed all night. Even the strands of her hair rested obediently at her temples, not having moved an inch.

As Tang Yu watched, a thought popped into her head: She couldn’t be dead, could she?

The thought hadn’t bothered her before, but now it grew more urgent. Unable to restrain herself, she softly called Song Lengzhu’s name.

Song Lengzhu didn’t respond. Tang Yu sucked in a sharp breath, strode to the bedside, and knelt to look at Song Lengzhu’s face.

Most of Song Lengzhu’s face was obscured by her arm, but up close, Tang Yu could still see her furrowed brow and her bitten lip, which was tinged with bl00d.

Such a fragile expression, as if she were in great pain. Were her injuries really that severe?

Tang Yu’s heart clenched with a faint, sharp pain. “Song Lengzhu, Song Lengzhu? Hey, wake up!”

She reached out and carefully nudged the person on the bed.

The moment her fingers touched the other’s clothes, a dark muzzle was instantly pointed at the space between Tang Yu’s eyebrows. Song Lengzhu flipped over swiftly and half-knelt on the bed. The sleepiness in her eyes hadn’t faded, yet they were instantly filled with killing intent.

“Don’t!” Tang Yu shouted.

Song Lengzhu froze for a moment. After recognizing it was Tang Yu, she lowered the gun. “I forgot to mention, don’t get too close to me when I’m sleeping.”

Tang Yu was utterly speechless. I was just trying to save you because I thought you were dying. I called you, and you didn’t even answer.

But the now-awake Song Lengzhu didn’t look severely injured at all. The pained expression on her face had vanished, replaced by her usual calm, placid look.

Tang Yu couldn’t help but blink, wondering if she had been imagining things.

Song Lengzhu asked, “Is it morning?”

“Yeah,” Tang Yu nodded.

“Then let’s go. Xiao Qi will be here soon.” Song Lengzhu tapped her wristband, stood up, and walked ahead of Tang Yu.

I slept too soundly, Song Lengzhu warned herself internally. She discreetly wiped the bl00d from her lips, glanced at it for a second, and then lowered her arm.

If the person who came had been someone other than Tang Yu, she might have been ambushed.

But it was also possible that she had slept so soundly precisely because Tang Yu was nearby.

Song Lengzhu sighed, recalling the voice she had heard in her half-awake state. She had probably been too focused on the little zombie last night, causing her dreams to be filled with Tang Yu’s voice.

Tang Yu was calling her name, and that sound had slightly dispelled the pain of her nightmare.

The two had just been standing in the office for a moment when they heard approaching footsteps. Song Lengzhu opened the office door to see Xiao Qi with her hand raised, her knocking motion yet to fall.

She had a bag on her front and back, making her look like a sandwich.

Seeing Tang Yu present, Xiao Qi froze for a second, her gaze complicated as she looked at Song Lengzhu. “Captain Song, you two spent the night together?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt she had spoken without thinking and quickly corrected herself, “No, I mean, why is she here?”

Song Lengzhu hadn’t mentioned a zombie would be here.

“It’s a long story.” Song Lengzhu stepped aside to let Xiao Qi in.

Tang Yu paid Xiao Qi no mind and went straight into the restroom to wash her face. It was strange; after she had broken through the restroom’s defenses, it seemed she could enter and exit freely.

Tang Yu splashed cool water on her face, lamenting that if only this room were near her camp. Unfortunately, the room couldn’t be moved.

As water droplets trickled down her cheeks, Tang Yu braced her hands on the sink and looked at herself in the mirror.

Come to think of it, Tang Yu rarely looked at this face closely. There were mirrors in the camp, but she only glanced at them when tying her hair.

She was a zombie, after all, so she wasn’t very concerned about her appearance.

But now, Tang Yu assessed it carefully.

Compared to Song Lengzhu, this face was rather plain. Aside from a pair of nice almond-shaped eyes, her other features could only be described as pretty. The faint black veins on her neck canceled out even that bit of prettiness.

Couldn’t compare to Song Lengzhu, very ordinary. Tang Yu came to a conclusion about herself, feeling a tiny bit of disappointment.

She wondered how Song Lengzhu saw this face.

However, this bit of disappointment was quickly washed away. Tang Yu raised her hands, gathered the stray hairs at her temples, and skillfully tied them into a high ponytail, looking energetic and neat.

Her washed hair was fragrant, dark, and shiny. A few unruly strands at her temples curled out, and Tang Yu casually tucked them behind her ear.

When she walked out of the restroom again, Tang Yu found Xiao Qi whispering something to Song Lengzhu, as if giving a report. Several medicine bottles were on the coffee table; it seemed Song Lengzhu had taken her medicine.

Seeing Tang Yu emerge, Xiao Qi immediately fell silent.

Tang Yu tilted her head in confusion. What’s up? Were they badmouthing someone?

Song Lengzhu smiled without saying a word. She glanced at the clothes Tang Yu was wearing, then pulled a black short-sleeved shirt from the backpack beside her and handed it to Tang Yu.

Tang Yu was stunned, and so was Xiao Qi.

“Your clothes aren’t completely dry. It’s not good for you,” Song Lengzhu said.

Xiao Qi muttered, “She’s a zombie, what’s there to be ‘not good for her body’…” Before Xiao Qi could finish, she saw Song Lengzhu’s gaze turn to her—calm, without a ripple of emotion. Xiao Qi immediately shut her mouth.

Tang Yu ignored Xiao Qi’s complaint and took the shirt. The fabric felt soft against the skin of her palm.

The quality of this shirt was excellent; it was made of a moisture-wicking, breathable material that felt like silk.

Tang Yu couldn’t help but rub it. It seemed all of Song Lengzhu’s clothes were of high quality. Perhaps she had very high standards when selecting supplies.

Tang Yu didn’t stand on ceremony, taking the shirt and turning back into the restroom.

“Captain Song.” Xiao Qi glanced at Tang Yu’s retreating back as the door closed, making sure she wasn’t eavesdropping before whispering, “These are all the nearby missions. This one should have higher points, but there are already players there. Should we go next?”

Song Lengzhu was silent for a moment, not responding immediately.

…

Song Lengzhu’s shirt was a bit small. It didn’t quite fit Tang Yu, as the shoulders were too narrow, but the fabric was good, so it didn’t feel constricting and was quite comfortable.

When she walked out of the restroom, she saw Xiao Qi with an expression that said she wanted to speak but was holding back.

Song Lengzhu looked Tang Yu up and down without much reaction. In front of Xiao Qi, she had reverted to her impassive demeanor, with far fewer changes in her facial expression.

“Tang Yu, could I borrow the map in your notepad to trace a copy?” Song Lengzhu asked.

Tang Yu thought for a moment before pulling out her notepad and handing it to Song Lengzhu. Song Lengzhu took it, tore off the last blank page, and meticulously transcribed a copy, following the lines of the map.

“If I find any related information, I can sync it with you.” Song Lengzhu tossed the notepad back to Tang Yu, quickly folded the copy in her hand, and put it in her pocket. Then, as if remembering something, she added, “But I have no way to contact you. Do you have a contact method?”

Tang Yu shook her head, pointed to her left wrist and then at Song Lengzhu, and made a crossing gesture with her fingers. Their statuses were incompatible. To communicate, she would have to join Song Lengzhu’s team, or Song Lengzhu would have to join her camp.

But it was obvious that was impossible. Neither of them was the type to compromise.

“Then forget it.” Song Lengzhu half-guessed Tang Yu’s meaning. “We’ll meet again if fate allows.” With that, Song Lengzhu shouldered the bag from the sofa, looking as if she was about to leave the library.

“We seem to have a lot of fate, anyway,” Song Lengzhu added before she left.

She said this without a smile, as if simply stating a fact, and then she and Xiao Qi stepped out the door.

Tang Yu stood still. It wasn’t until the office was completely quiet that she suddenly felt that everything that had happened last night seemed unreal.

Looking out the window, she saw the sky had brightened considerably. The travelers, having rested briefly, had parted ways and gone on their separate journeys.

To be safe, Tang Yu stayed in the library for a while longer, checking some suspicious places. But the library was too big, and after searching for a long time, she didn’t find anything useful and had to head back to the junkyard.

As she drove the cool, modified car out of Xinzhou, Tang Yu felt from the bottom of her heart that she couldn’t drive this car anymore. Several groups of players had started chasing her the moment they saw her. She wouldn’t have exposed her Zombie King identity otherwise, but with players in pursuit, she couldn’t hide it even if she wanted to.

Tang Yu had no choice but to stop the car and send these busybodies a ticket home.

Only by doing so did Tang Yu realize that her abilities were more than enough to deal with ordinary players.

In her previous few missions, she had always been caught in the hunts of high-ranking players, forced to grow at a rapid pace. Now, the benefits of that growth were apparent. Ordinary players couldn’t last five rounds against her.

Her trip to Xinzhou had raised her stamina value to 400, and she had picked up two abilities. Although her health value hadn’t budged, her rapid healing ability meant she no longer had to worry about superficial wounds.

Tang Yu hummed a tune in a good mood. She didn’t know where she had heard it; it just popped out of her mouth. She didn’t bother to think about it and drove quickly out of the city.

Soon, she reunited with Jin Ye and Xiao Li.

Tang Yu then found out that the four of them had also been pursued along the way. They fought back when they could and ran when they couldn’t. While resting on the roadside last night, they had even triggered a small “Territory Dispute” mission. Jin Ye and Xiao Li worked together and earned a few dozen points.

However, Qi Jinyin’s injuries still showed no signs of improvement. As a zombie, she had been reduced to the old, weak, sick, and disabled among zombies.

The five of them briefly exchanged information, but it wasn’t a good place for a detailed chat. The highway was ultimately not a safe place, and Tang Yu didn’t know where Fang Yiming had gone after leaving the library. She decided that everything would have to wait until they returned to the camp.

The three of them each drove a car, forming a line as they headed for the camp. Jian Che took care of Qi Jinyin in the back of Xiao Li’s truck, and the two would chat from time to time.

Xiao Li meticulously described to Jian Che which aunties were in the village, what each of them was responsible for, and what their daily schedules were like.

The young girl listened with rapt attention, her head tilted up. The gloomy air about her finally began to soften.

“Sister Xiao Li, does a place like that really exist?” Jian Che was in disbelief. In her year of fleeing, she had seen too much conflict and treachery. “Why would everyone be so nice?”

“It really exists,” Xiao Li said with a happy smile. “Because we’re a close and loving family.”