Chapter 54: Mibao Attacks
In the end, Zhu Dafu didn’t go out with them.
Maybe that’s just how people are—always with a herd mentality.
When there are many others like you, even a coward will be swept up by their courage and become brave.
But when you’re the only one left, standing alone at the very front, your courage shrinks back to its original size.
Zhu Dafu wasn’t a particularly brave man. His courage was small, even smaller than his wife’s.
He was afraid of bugs, of the dark, and of sudden scares.
Watching the three children step out the door, Zhu Dafu couldn’t help condemning himself inwardly, yet he simply didn’t have the guts to follow.
Because he knew—among the children, he was the only adult.
If he went out, he would have to stand in front of them and face those terrifying zombies…
He was scared. He really couldn’t do it!
I’m sorry… I’m sorry!
…
Even with Xiao Hei’s warnings, the number of zombies was simply overwhelming. It took Mibao and the other two more than an entire hour just to make it out of that street.
The street they had just left was mainly a commercial one, mostly selling clothes and jewelry. The next street over was where the food festival had been.
But in the current situation, any shops making fresh food likely had vegetables that had long since rotted away.
The meat might still be edible—but raw meat was something three kids didn’t really know how to handle.
“…Our main target is canned goods and other foods that are easy to store and eat.” Chaoyang carefully reminded the older and younger one in front of him. “If the meat hasn’t gone bad, we can take that too.”
Having something to eat was always better than nothing.
They weren’t picky.
Mibao and Ye Duo both listened carefully, then nodded.
“Here, take these.”
Chaoyang handed sticks to Mibao and Ye Duo.
“If there’s danger, the first thing you must do is protect yourselves from being bitten.”
They weren’t Chaolu—their abilities were limited. It was already good enough if they could protect themselves.
Mibao and Ye Duo both nodded seriously.
Luckily, the weather was cold now, and everyone was bundled up. Even if a zombie bit down, it wouldn’t be able to tear through their padded jackets right away.
In the clothing store, they found some hats. Each of the three put one on—not only did it keep them warm, it also offered some defense against zombies. Still, Chaoyang thought, if they could find helmets, that would be even better.
At this time, the three of them entered a large buffet restaurant. The place had two floors, lots of space, and fairly good visibility.
Xiao Hei darted in first to scout ahead and quickly found zombies hiding under the tables.
Then he nimbly ran back across the tables, stopping right in front of Mibao with a soft “meow~.”
[Four zombies, all hibernating under the tables.]
Mibao blinked, wondering how to phrase it for Chaoyang and Ye Duo.
But the next second, Xiao Hei meowed three more times.
“Four zombies?” Chaoyang looked at him.
Xiao Hei nodded.
Then he turned and resumed parkouring across the dining tables, pausing here and there as if to mark locations before moving on.
After circling the room once, he came back to the three little ones.
Ye Duo’s gaze burned as she watched him. “He really has become a spirit…”
She had already guessed that Mibao had some kind of magical pet, but seeing the little black cat act so intelligent with her own eyes was a completely different experience.
Xiao Hei cast Ye Duo a sidelong glance and elegantly licked his paw.
The weather was growing colder. Some zombies had gone into “hibernation,” while others still liked to wander the streets, acting like thugs.
Clearly, the ones in this restaurant belonged to the “hibernating” type.
From a distance, their whispering wouldn’t wake the zombies, but if they got too close…
“We have to finish this quickly.” Chaoyang’s expression was grave. “Here’s the plan: I’ll go to the kitchen to grab knives. Then each of us will take one zombie, and the last one we’ll finish off together.”
[…Is he serious? Mibao’s only five years old!]
Having a five-year-old swing a kitchen knife to kill a zombie—how could that be reasonable?
Even if the zombies were asleep, it wasn’t right!
One chop, and who knew if she could even break the skin.
“Brother, I can do it. Trust me.”
Hearing Xiaonian’s dissatisfied complaint, Mibao quickly covered her mouth and whispered.
[But…]
“Brother, I’m not a little kid anymore.” Mibao’s expression turned serious. “I should be growing up too. Besides, in a few months I’ll already be six!”
[…]
Still… even so…
Six years old was still a child.
But looking at how earnest and determined Mibao was, Xiaonian couldn’t bring himself to crush her spirit.
[Alright, it’s brother who was being narrow-minded. Mibao really has grown up. But you must be extra careful.]
Encouraged by Xiaonian’s words, Mibao’s eyes curved into bright crescents. “Mm!”
Xiaonian immediately turned and privately messaged Xiao Hei: [Keep a closer eye on things, for your own freedom!]
Xiao Hei: […I know that without you telling me!]
My little host is a child — I’m not!
While Mibao and Xiaonian were whispering, Chaoyang and Ye Duo could only watch as Mibao covered her mouth…
How to put it — Mibao tried very hard to be quiet, but… they were sitting close.
They basically heard most of it.
The two of them had to pretend to be busy to look natural — for example, “Oh, look at that ceiling, nice~.”
“And this floor is pretty too.”
“Brother Chaoyang, aren’t you going to go?” After she finished talking, Mibao turned and found Chaoyang still standing there, so she asked, puzzled.
Chaoyang: “……”
Chaoyang: “I’m going now.”
Five minutes later Chaoyang returned with three kitchen knives and handed one to each of them — Mibao’s was a fruit knife.
Since Mibao was small and weak, he worried she wouldn’t be able to hold a large knife steady.
“Mibao, you’re not strong. Don’t chop — stab instead. Put the tip of the knife to the zombie’s neck and thrust down with force, okay?”
To help Mibao remember, Chaoyang pointed to his own neck.
Mibao furrowed her little brow and tried to memorize it: “Mm-hm!”
With everything ready, the three of them set out together.
Mibao headed for the nearest table. She stared at it, hurried on her little legs to the table, then bent down slightly and saw the zombie “sleeping” under the table.
Even asleep, the zombie’s face was hideous. Mibao took a deep breath, forced herself to suppress her fear, and thrust the knife toward its neck!
She couldn’t drag down Brother Chaoyang and Sister Ye Duo!
Stab! Stab, stab, stab!
Mibao knew she didn’t have much strength, so after the first jab, she gritted her teeth and stabbed several more times!
But because she was so terrified, after confirming with the first strike that she had aimed at the right spot, she shut her eyes tight for the rest of them.
Ahhh—stab, stab, stab, stab!
Stab, stab, stab!
Stab the ugly monster zombie to death!
So when Ye Duo and Chaoyang finished off their own zombies and then dealt with the one that had gotten up, what they saw upon returning was the zombie Mibao had reduced to a mangled mess with her stabbing.
Chaoyang: “……”
Ye Duo: “……”
Honestly, it was pretty horrifying.
