Chapter 123: Great Chaos

Xue Minwen has been assassinated?

This news spread like wildfire throughout Fengzhou City, throwing the camp into chaos. Everyone had come to this camp seeking a safe haven; if even their leader could be assassinated right here, where else could there possibly be safety?

Yue Qi sat at the head of the main hall, his head throbbing with stress. Because of Xue Minwen’s death, Xue Hong was unable to pull herself together, and since the remaining people were aware of Yue Qi’s abilities, they had naturally pushed him into this position. However, Yue Qi had no experience in such matters. He had managed Qinghe Town before, but even then, the people had been divided and harboring their own agendas. He believed that if Fengzhou City were left to him to manage, things would likely be no better.

"Everyone, please don't be hasty. I don't even have a clear understanding of the situation yet—isn't it reckless to push me into this role?" Yue Qi said with a bitter smile. "Besides, I’m just a youth who hasn't even come of age; how could I possibly manage this entire camp?"

"About that, Master Yue, didn't we agree before? This is only a temporary measure. After all, your strength is the greatest here, and only you can command the respect of everyone. If we hand this over to someone else, there will surely be those who refuse to submit..." It was Liu Feng who stepped forward to speak to Yue Qi.

"But there is still Xue..." Thinking of Xue Hong’s grief-stricken state over the past few days, Yue Qi hesitated and then said, "Why don't you just organize a management committee? Back in Changzhou City, that’s how the people did it..." At the mention of Changzhou City, Yue Qi thought of Bai Lian and the others who had gone missing, and he couldn't help but feel a wave of sorrow.

"Master Yue's suggestion is quite good..." Although Liu Feng said this, a wry smile crossed his face. "But how should the members of this committee be decided? We all followed Boss Xue to manage this place, and the number of people on the committee shouldn't be too large. If someone isn't included, there's no guarantee they won't harbor resentment..."

Liu Feng’s words were reasonable and fair. Yue Qi, finding no other way, simply said, "Then discuss the matter among yourselves. In any case, I am merely a symbolic placeholder. As long as the majority of you agree, you don't need to consult me; I will accept it!"

"In that case, very well..." Liu Feng appeared troubled, but in his heart, he saw things clearly. He knew Yue Qi would not stay here long, and that the only reason he had remained was out of consideration for Xue Hong.

"Then you all continue your discussion. I’m going to go check on Miss Xue..." Yue Qi found an excuse and quickly left the so-called conference hall; the atmosphere inside was truly too suffocating for him.

Qin Luo had been staying with Xue Hong for the past few days. Xue Hong’s father had died inexplicably, and right under Yue Qi’s nose. Although Xue Hong hadn't said anything, Yue Qi could tell that this girl, who wore her heart on her sleeve, held a significant grudge against him and had been giving him the cold shoulder.

Yue Qi felt helpless about this, as it truly wasn't his fault. If he had chased after that black shadow, he wouldn't have even had the chance to hear Xue Minwen’s last words. More importantly, even if he had pursued it, he wasn't confident he could have caught that shadow; its speed was likely on par with his own Wind-Riding Spell.

However, Yue Qi remembered clearly what Xue Minwen had said before he died. If he wasn't mistaken, the thing that attacked him was a zombie. But why would these zombies come here, bypassing so many guards just to assassinate their leaders?

Yue Qi certainly knew that leader-class zombies existed, and with their intelligence, they might be capable of such a thing. But with the power of a leader-class zombie, there would be no need for such petty tricks; a single one could likely slaughter everyone in Fengzhou City.

"Xue Minwen said the zombies have a conspiracy. What kind of conspiracy is it, and how did he discover it?" Yue Qi pondered for a long time without reaching any conclusion, so he decided to head straight toward the place where Xue Minwen was buried.

Yue Qi had not told everyone what Xue Minwen said before he died. In his view, no matter how great the danger, he could manage to escape, but taking Xue Hong with him would be a significant challenge.

Xue Minwen was simply buried on a hillside in the eastern suburbs. In a world like this, human life was worthless; even if you did great things in your lifetime, there would likely be only a handful of people left to mourn you after you were gone.

From a distance, he could see Xue Hong draped in mourning clothes, kneeling before a tombstone, with Qin Luo standing beside her wearing a white cloth band on her arm. Yue Qi had engraved the tombstone, but the only name on it was Xue Hong's.

"Sigh..." Yue Qi let out a soft sigh and walked forward. Qin Luo noticed him from afar, but Xue Hong only gave him a faint glance before saying, "Brother Yue is here..."

Yue Qi didn't speak. He crouched down to burn some paper money with Xue Hong, then stood up and bowed three times to Xue Minwen’s grave before saying, "Uncle Xue was a good man; we all respected him."

Xue Hong didn't speak, continuing to burn the paper money with an expressionless face, though the sorrow in her eyes could not be hidden.

"Xue Hong, there is something I don't know if I should tell you," Yue Qi said, hesitating as he looked at her.

"Your father said some things to me before he died, but I was afraid you wouldn't believe me, so I haven't told you until now..." Yue Qi's words were understandable, as Xue Hong had remained skeptical ever since he told her that her father had been killed by a zombie.

"If there is something, Brother Yue, just say it..." Xue Hong remained calm, though she stopped burning the paper money and watched as the fire in the basin slowly flickered out.

"To be honest, when I went in, I saw a black shadow. It jumped out the window very quickly. Because I was concerned that Uncle Xue was still alive, I didn't have time to chase it," Yue Qi paused and continued, "Later, when I reached Uncle Xue's side, I discovered he still had a breath left, so I used a healing pill to sustain his life."

Yue Qi thought for a moment and decided not to mention his magic, telling her only that he possessed a pill capable of sustaining life.

Upon hearing that Yue Qi had tried to save her father, Xue Hong’s impression of him improved slightly; at the very least, her gaze was no longer so cold.

"After that, your father asked me to take you away. He said the zombies have a conspiracy, and then..." Yue Qi stopped before reaching the final words.

Hearing about her father's final moments, Xue Hong’s eyes reddened again, though she held back her tears and said, "How could zombies have a conspiracy? Not to mention they lack intelligence, even if they did, they wouldn't know how to bypass so many people to kill my father!"

"That is exactly what I am suspicious of, but I don't know what that so-called conspiracy is," Yue Qi thought for a moment before continuing, "I’m afraid you won't believe me, but you can ask Qin Luo. The reason we fled here in the first place was because we encountered a zombie..."

"That zombie, you might not believe it, but it could fly, and even use magic. More importantly, it could control all lower-level zombies, forcing them to obey its commands. We call that a leader-class zombie," Yue Qi shook his head, looking visibly shaken.

"A leader-class zombie?" Xue Hong looked at Qin Luo with suspicion, as if asking if what Yue Qi said was true.

"Yue Qi is right. The zombie we encountered—I don't know why, but it didn't seem to want to kill us. Otherwise, with the two of us, we would have been completely overwhelmed and killed. Furthermore, the city of Changzhou, where we were before, was destroyed by that leader-class zombie leading a zombie army, which is why we ended up here," Qin Luo did not hold anything back and told Xue Hong everything.

"So, you mean there is a leader-class zombie nearby, and the one that assassinated my father was sent by it?" Xue Hong asked, half-doubting.

"No!" For once, Yue Qi expressed his own view. "I suspect the zombie that killed your father was a leader-class zombie itself!"

After a pause, Yue Qi continued, "Because ordinary zombies, once away from a leader, follow their own instincts and are not driven by commands. I suspect that the zombie saw so many of us and didn't attack, choosing instead to specifically kill Uncle Xue and the management team. It wasn't following orders; it was acting on its own intellect!"

"If there is a leader-class zombie nearby, and it summons a zombie army, wouldn't Fengzhou City be in great danger?" Xue Hong clearly didn't believe him and spoke dismissively.

"Don't dismiss it..." Yue Qi shook his head. "If that's the case, the probability of a zombie attack is very high. I think that is why your father wanted us to take you away. If a zombie horde really attacks the city, I don't think anyone can escape. Of course, if we react in time, we might still be able to ensure our own safety!"

Xue Hong shook her head. She now viewed Yue Qi entirely as a con artist, even believing that he was after her beauty and had concocted a grand excuse to lure her away. Such nonsensical talk would be hard for anyone to believe.

Seeing Xue Hong’s reaction, Yue Qi felt a sense of defeat. Suddenly, however, cries rang out from inside the city!

"What's happening?!" Yue Qi looked toward the distance in confusion, only to see someone running toward him as fast as they could!

The person was none other than Liu Feng!

"What is it?" Yue Qi asked with a frown, his tone sharp.

"It's bad, Master Yue! Outside! A massive horde of zombies is charging toward us!" Liu Feng was in a complete panic as he cried out to Yue Qi...