QT: The Rescue Of The Miserable Bigshots
Chapter 259 - 9.5

Chapter 259: 9.5

"Otherwise, why don’t you take the lead? Walk at the front the whole time?"

Xiao Jinfeng shot Xue Fang a cold look. "Our mission is to escort Professor Ling. But do I even need to remind you how important Chen Ran is? He’s the one with space ability. His attack strength may be weak, but all of our supplies are stored with him. Without him, none of us would survive out here. So besides Professor Ling, he’s the one who needs the most protection."

He took a step forward, his voice sharp, "And in this squad, my lightning ability has the strongest attack power. If I don’t protect Chen Ran, should you be the one to do it?"

Xue Fang was struck dumb. He opened his mouth several times, trying to speak but couldn’t get a word out.

He was angry.

Because...

He couldn’t stand seeing Chen Ran always sticking so close to Xiao Jinfeng.

But even so, he couldn’t refute a single thing Xiao Jinfeng said.

He knew it was true.

His wood-based ability couldn’t compare. Not to Xiao Jinfeng, not to Zheng Shuqiu, not even to Shen Hao.

He wasn’t a major fighter. He wasn’t as crucial as Chen Ran.

Out of everyone in the Gale Squad, he was... the most dispensable.

And the more useless he felt, the more bitter and frustrated he became.

He wanted Chen Ran to look at him. To admire him.

Why the hell was he the weakest?

Hmph.

Just as the tension between them peaked, a sharp gust of wind swept in from the side of the mall and a strong, metallic stench followed.

Everyone’s expressions shifted.

They’d been in this apocalypse too long to miss that smell.

Instantly, the previous argument was forgotten. All five tensed up.

The air turned heavy and still.

Roar!

A low snarl echoed from deep inside the mall.

"Shit! Zombies!"

The ones who hadn’t entered the mall froze mid-step.

Everyone knew by now, open areas were safer. Being trapped indoors with zombies was suicide.

Unless... they were surrounded.

Roar!

Another snarl came, loud enough to shake the ground beneath their feet.

That was not just one zombie. It wasn’t a dozen either. It was an entire horde.

The team’s faces changed in unison. "No way, it’s a swarm!"

"There! Behind us!"

Zheng Shuqiu’s shout came as he turned and saw shadows moving in the dark.

Zombies.

Endless, surging, black as night, rolling in like a wave.

A living tide.

Coming from every direction.

They were boxed in.

Xiao Jinfeng quickly looked at the mall entrance behind them and made a snap decision, "Inside! Get into the mall, now!"

It was the only option left. Outside was no longer safe. At least in the mall, they could shut the doors and buy some time.

No one hesitated. They sprinted for the entrance.

In seconds, they yanked down the heavy metal shutter, slamming it shut just as the first zombies reached them.

The sound echoed in the silence that followed.

They were sealed inside.

Temporarily safe.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

But before they could breathe easy, a strange sound echoed from the shadows inside the building.

It was faint. Rustling. Skimming the air.

Goosebumps crawled down their backs.

Slowly, nervously, they turned toward the darkness.

There were zombies inside, too?

They were trapped.

Bang!

A sudden crash of movement.

"Flashlight!" Xiao Jinfeng shouted.

Zheng Shuqiu, trembling slightly, fumbled to flick on the light, just in time.

The beam of light sliced through the dark.

And they froze.

Because standing there, barely illuminated, was something very wrong.

It looked like a zombie. But it didn’t move like one.

The others were slow, stiff, mindless. This one was agile. Fluid. Fast.

It had just landed and the force of its jump sent dust spiraling.

Its glowing red eyes locked onto them, sharp with hunger.

They didn’t scream.

They couldn’t.

No one moved. No one breathed.

The zombie tensed, ready to pounce.

And still, they stood frozen, like prey waiting for the blow.

At the last second, Xiao Jinfeng jolted into motion, lightning crackled between his fingers and shot toward the zombie’s claws.

Boom!

Electricity exploded in the air.

A direct hit.

A regular zombie would’ve been blown apart or at least lost a limb.

This one? It dodged. The lightning only grazed it, scattering on its skin in red sparks. Just a few burn marks on its blackened hand.

Nothing more. It didn’t even flinch. It couldn’t feel pain.

Their strongest attack... didn’t work.

They all felt it in that moment.

This zombie had evolved.

Fear settled deep in their bones.

Was this the end?

Even with Xiao Jinfeng’s full power, they couldn’t defeat it.

And there were more outside. Even if they somehow killed this one, what then?

They’d be exhausted, cornered, easy pickings.

They were going to die here.

Just as the zombie pounced again, a sound sliced through the air behind it.

A silver gleam.

Roar!

The zombie jerked.

A thin, shining blade had pierced straight through its head.

It staggered. Collapsed. Dust rose.

And through it stepped a boy.

Short hair. Torn clothes. Pale skin.

In one hand, a silver sword, blood glistening on the blade.

He flicked the sword, sending a graceful arc of light.

And smiled.

In the dim flashlight glow, he looked like something out of a dream.

Or a nightmare.

His skin was cold and white as porcelain, his features exquisite, almost unreal. But what truly disturbed were his eyes, dark red, and lips so dark they bordered on blue.

Even with torn clothes and a silver sword in hand, the way he smiled, calm, confident, made him look like a vampire count who had simply stepped out of a story.

Next to the door, Ling Zhuang stared. His fingers twitched. A strange, almost manic smile tugged at his mouth. He wanted to laugh. He wanted to run forward. To grab the boy and never let go.

Jiang Jiamian glanced at him.

Saw the trembling. The clenched sleeves. The madness.

Was it excitement? Longing? Perversion?

Ling Zhuang dug his fingers deeper into his sleeves.

And forced himself not to move.

Not yet.