Infinite Ebullience
Chapter 1192 - 68: Death Experience

Chapter 1192: Chapter 68: Death Experience

The small town under the midnight had completely fallen silent. Survivors, after having a simple meal, teamed up with those they knew and found a room to sleep in. No one volunteered for patrol duty since Tang Zheng felt unwell and didn’t handle the arrangements.

Given Dong Zixuan’s character, she would naturally have offered to keep watch through the night, but after using the Golden Seed, she immediately fell into a deep slumber, so sound that not even acts of violence or torture could awaken her.

Cough, cough, Tang Zheng, lying in bed, failed to turn over in time and coughed up blood onto the sheet. He was exhausted but couldn’t sleep, feeling muscle soreness and throbbing pain, with swelling in his limbs. The wounds on his body, unhealed, split open again, causing sharp, razor-like pains that constantly tore at his nerves.

Tang Zheng found it hard to breathe; the air in the room seemed to have grown thin, and he had to take deep breaths to ensure he got enough oxygen, but that only intensified the pain in his lungs.

Cough cough, Tang Zheng didn’t want to wake up Song Xin and the others next door, but he couldn’t help it. Even as he pressed his lips tightly together, he could still feel blood surging up from his throat, spreading over the tip of his tongue with an unbearable metallic taste.

Blurp, Tang Zheng spat out the blood in his mouth, intending to get up and rinse it out, but his legs gave way, and he fell from the bed, knocking his elbow hard against the wooden floor.

"Am I going to become a cripple?" Tang Zheng clenched his fist and slammed it onto the floor. His situation was dire, like that of a gravely ill patient who would die at the hands of Common Zombies even without turning into one. He certainly didn’t believe Trojan would grant him days to recover, especially since it appeared his illness wouldn’t improve.

Tang Zheng turned over, propped himself up on his arms, and laboriously crawled towards the head of the bed, where his Backpack lay.

Thud, thud, a knocking sound came from the door, followed by Song Xin’s worried voice.

"Tang Zheng, what’s wrong with you?"

Tao Ran had also gotten up, rifle in hand. After checking the corridor and seeing no problems, she directed her gaze toward the door, also concerned about Tang Zheng.

"I, cough cough, it’s nothing!" Tang Zheng didn’t want Song Xin to worry, but the frequent coughing made it obvious that something was wrong with him.

"If it’s nothing, why are you coughing so violently? Open the door, or I’ll break it down," Song Xin said anxiously, pounding on the door.

"That’ll disturb others." Tao Ran hastily grabbed Song Xin’s hand and shook her head.

"With Tang Zheng like this, what does it matter if she’s awoken?" Song Xin felt indignant on Tang Zheng’s behalf, "If it weren’t for Tang Zheng, they would all be dead. Even just for the sake of courtesy, they should come over and inquire, right?"

"No, Tang Zheng definitely doesn’t want others to see him like this." Tao Ran’s forehead was also covered in sweat, anxious, and seeing that Song Xin didn’t understand, she leaned in and whispered a reminder, "He’s been bitten. If others find out, they might want to kill him."

Song Xin’s heart was immediately gripped by fear, and the color drained from her face.

"No, he won’t turn into a Zombie," said Song Xin, unafraid, continuing to knock and then gentling her force, she looked helplessly at Tao Ran, "What should we do?"

"Break down the door," Tao Ran replied, not daring to open fire on the door for fear of attracting others. She turned and headed to the kitchen, and when she came back, she was holding a Kitchen Knife, hacking violently at the Door handle.

Wood chips flew all over, and in fewer than ten strikes, a hole appeared in the door. Tao Ran stepped back and with a strong kick, forced it open.

The two girls rushed into the room to find Tang Zheng reaching for his Backpack on the ground. Failing to catch it securely, the Backpack came crashing down, hitting him square on his head.

"Tang Zheng!" Song Xin was distressed to the core, hurrying over to him.

Tao Ran, seeing the battered and worn state of Tang Zheng, struggled to reconcile it with the ever-confident and assured man they knew earlier. She took one step forward but, seeing Song Xin’s reaction, stopped and let out a sigh deep within herself before turning and walking out of the bedroom.

"What’s wrong with you?" Song Xin cried, casting aside the Backpack and reaching out to help Tang Zheng up toward the Bed.

"No need, stay away from me." Tang Zheng tried to push Song Xin away, but his strength faded so rapidly he could barely lift his arms.

"Why be so formal with me?" complained Song Xin.

"No, I might turn into a Zombie soon. I don’t want to hurt you."

Song Xin’s Armature stiffened, then with a resolute look, she stayed by Tang Zheng’s side, "I’m not afraid, and you won’t come to harm."

"Naive." Tang Zheng was moved but knew there was no room for Deliberation in this matter, "Help me sit up, then leave."

"Your body is swollen; let’s apply some Hot Water." Tao Ran came in carrying a basin of hot water, wrung out a Towel, and handed it to Song Xin, though Black Long Straight actually wanted to do it herself.

Song Xin, not noticing Tao Ran’s thoughts, began to wipe Tang Zheng’s forehead.

"So hot? You have a high fever. What do we do? Wait, I’ll go find medicine!" Song Xin touched Tang Zheng’s skin, which was searing, and she noticed his wounds had begun to bleed. With the Virus eroding his body, his immune system was weakening, causing a drastic reduction in platelets and white blood cells.

"No need, you guys go out." Tang Zheng thought back to the time it took for the first woman who was bitten that morning to turn into a Zombie; he was indeed nearing his Limit.

"I won’t. I’ll stay and take care of you." Song Xin was stubborn, using the towel to clean Tang Zheng’s Armature, "Tao Ran, please find some fever reducer."

"I’ve already said no need." Tang Zheng yelled, pulling at his throat, he began to cough up blood, expelling a large amount onto the floor. The vivid red was very jarring to the eye.