Chapter Fifty: Entering the City

“Have you ever heard of any great defensive formation protecting Qingzhou?” As he approached the two, Yue Qi asked directly. The pair exchanged glances and shook their heads.

Although Bai Lian had previously guessed that there was no such city-guarding formation here, Yue Qi still asked cautiously, just in case. But seeing their ignorance, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Let’s hurry then, and try to reach Qingzhou before dusk.” With that, Yue Qi cast a meaningful look at Li Qinglan, then mounted his horse with Bai Lian and pressed onward...

They arrived at a hillside outside Qingzhou, the last barrier before the city. From the summit, one could catch glimpses of the bustling life within its walls.

“Is it just ahead?” They halted, tethered their horses, knowing they wouldn’t need them beyond this point. The remaining distance was not enough to tire them.

“That’s Qingzhou…” Hong Ye replied honestly, tying his own horse to a tree.

No zombies had been spotted along the way, so the group felt safe leaving their mounts here. Besides, there would be plenty of steeds inside the city. If they could take down Wang Chao’s stronghold, acquiring new horses would be easy.

“What do we do next?” Bai Lian walked up to the group, addressing Li Qinglan, whose face was pale, lips tinged blue—perhaps from the jostling ride.

“Down the mountain lies the east gate, but we need the south gate, to its left!” Li Qinglan steadied himself, took a deep breath, and continued.

“We’re just going in like this? No preparations?” Hong Ye asked doubtingly.

“Of course not…” After resting a while, Li Qinglan’s complexion improved. “Did you notice? All four gates of Qingzhou have gatehouses on the walls, where supervisors watch. If they see survivors or a zombie horde, they alert the city to prepare!”

“How can we sneak past?” Yue Qi frowned. With such strict patrols, finding a gap seemed impossible.

“You mean we should wait until nightfall?” Bai Lian, ever perceptive, guessed Li Qinglan’s intention.

“Exactly…” Li Qinglan nodded. “The entrance to the tunnel isn’t far, but it’s close enough to be seen from the gatehouse…”

Yue Qi didn’t reply, but scrutinized the area near the south gate. The surroundings were barren, overgrown with weeds and strewn with rocks—perfect for concealing an entrance.

“Alright, let’s rest. You two think carefully about the routes nearby, then compare notes, so we don’t take a wrong turn later,” Yue Qi advised, before leading Bai Lian toward a nearby pond, seemingly unafraid of any tricks from the other two.

The scenery near Qingzhou was indeed striking. On the far side of the mountain, a sheer cliff seemed cleaved by a giant’s axe; water cascaded from its summit in a silvery torrent, reminiscent of the Milky Way descending from the heavens. Today, Yue Qi finally understood such beauty.

Since the outbreak, fewer animals roamed the mountain, and the once lush grass had begun to wither. Though the landscape grew more enchanting, it lost some vitality.

A gentle breeze stirred atop the mountain, and Bai Lian’s black hair danced like mischievous sprites, brushing Yue Qi’s face and making him itch, yet he savored the tranquility of the moment…

The sun sank westward, a cool evening wind rising. Yue Qi wrapped his arms around Bai Lian from behind, leaning against a tree wide enough for two.

“Are you cold?” Yue Qi asked, his tone full of affection.

Bai Lian said nothing, simply curled closer into his embrace and shook her head. Nestled in her man’s arms, it felt warmer than beside the fire.

“What will we do after we avenge ourselves?” After a long silence, Bai Lian voiced her worry, glancing at Yue Qi with uncertainty.

“After vengeance…” Yue Qi held her tighter, pondering a moment before replying, “I don’t know yet… Before Father died, he told me to search for Eldest Sister and Fifth Brother. I kept an eye out at Yue Family Village, but found nothing…” He shook his head. “Now Mother is gone too, leaving only four of us. Whether we find them or not, I’ll do my best to reunite our seven siblings. Without Eldest Sister and Fifth Brother, the family feels incomplete…”

Bai Lian nodded. In this world, food and shelter were not the greatest fears—losing hope and purpose was. Whatever Yue Qi decided, as long as he had a goal, she would always follow him.

“But don’t worry, Lian.” Yue Qi suddenly smiled. “Once we settle things here, we’ll head for Sanqing Mountain. I believe those people can solve these problems!”

Bai Lian smiled too, though anxiety lingered: What if the Sanqing Sect had been overtaken by zombies? Sometimes it seemed like all this was part of some vast conspiracy. Yet the thought always slipped away—who could possibly orchestrate such a catastrophe for all humanity?

“Alright, it’s dark now. Let’s get ready…” Unaware of Bai Lian’s doubts, Yue Qi took her hand and returned to where the others waited.

“Are you all ready?” From afar, they saw Li Qinglan and Hong Ye quarreling, faces flushed, clearly at an impasse.

“Yue, please be the judge…” Li Qinglan, now agitated, pointed at Hong Ye. “I’m wholeheartedly helping you, but this guy suspects I’m Wang Chao’s spy!”

“I only said it was possible, not certain. Besides, if I did accuse you, why react so strongly? Unless I struck a nerve?” Hong Ye snorted, looking at Li Qinglan with disdain.

“You, you…” Li Qinglan was speechless, pointing at Hong Ye and gritting his teeth.

“Enough, both of you stop.” Yue Qi’s voice was soft but carried weight, dissolving much of the tension.

“You don’t need to worry; whether Li Qinglan is a spy, I’ll judge for myself.” Yue Qi frowned at Hong Ye, bluntly.

“Yes…” Hong Ye replied without resistance, bowing slightly.

“Hmph! At least Yue is reasonable—I could never be a spy. Even if I were, I wouldn’t risk my life. If Yue hadn’t rescued me, I’d have died in a zombie horde!” Li Qinglan, seeing Yue Qi’s support, looked smugly at Hong Ye.

“Don’t be so pleased. Hong Ye is right; we can’t fully trust you!” Yue Qi interjected coldly. “You’ll lead the way. If I find you’re up to anything, my sword won’t be merciful…”

“Uh, yes, don’t worry…” Li Qinglan’s expression fell, but he looked much better after the rest—no longer pale or blue-lipped.

At night, the four moved like restless spirits in the wild. Inside the city, lights shone brightly, but outside it was pitch black; the faint glow from the walls barely pierced the darkness. Zombies were different from humans—if they attacked, they’d make noise; people could slip in silently.

The group easily evaded the patrols. Sure enough, near the south gate, amid thick weeds, a small opening lay concealed by a stone.

“That’s it…” Li Qinglan pointed at the stone, tried to lift it but lacked the strength, then looked to Yue Qi for help.

“I’ll do it.” Yue Qi sized Li Qinglan up, confirming his sincerity, then shifted the stone aside.

As expected, beneath it was a man-sized hole, silent and pitch-black.

“You go first!” Bai Lian urged Li Qinglan bluntly.

“Wait…” Yue Qi suddenly said, “I’ll go first. Lian, listen for my movements—if I’m silent for a quarter of an hour, kill him!”

“No!” Bai Lian replied firmly. “If anyone goes, it will be me. I won’t let you risk it!”

“Don’t worry, I’m a cultivator with protective treasures. Ordinary dangers can’t harm me…” Yue Qi smiled, unconcerned about the others overhearing.

“Fine…” Bai Lian paused. “If you don’t come out, I’ll kill him first, then find you!”

Yue Qi chuckled wryly but nodded. Bai Lian was fierce; asking her to change would be difficult.

About an hour passed…

They finally emerged from the tunnel. Li Qinglan breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully, he remembered the route, or he’d have been doomed.

“Is this the Liu family?” Yue Qi surveyed the darkness—no lights, only blackness.

Suddenly, a zombie rushed from nearby, targeting Yue Qi.

“Well now! Zombies haven’t been cleared out!” Yue Qi exclaimed, dispatching the creature with a swift strike. The commotion drew more zombie howls.

“What’s going on tonight? Why are the zombies so restless?” On the city’s south gate, a night guard heard the uproar.

“Who cares—maybe they’re just hungry…” another replied indifferently. But soon, the zombie horde’s howls grew louder…

P.S.: If anyone has questions about the story, feel free to ask! Any errors will be corrected promptly! A new week begins—on my birthday, I’ll shamelessly ask for some recommendations and favorites, haha!