Chapter 134: Long's family cousin
Once the crowd disperses, Long Zhanye and Huo Zaiyuan wander over to the assignment computer and browse through the selection of available missions. As expected, the S-rank missions are all high-risk tasks in the outer cities. A and B-ranks also requires travelling to relatively distant places, and the time limit of completion is pretty long. C, D and E-ranks don't differ all that much from each other, consisting of rescue missions and scavenging for supplies.
After a brief discussion, the pair chooses a D-rank that has a limit of five days. The person who issued this mission is a survivor originally from B City. When the apocalypse began, he was in A City on a business trip. As the number of zombies grew, he followed the other survivors into the safe zone. However, concern for his family constantly weighs heavily on his mind. At least, he wants to know if they are dead or alive. But unfortunately for him, the amount of points rewarded for this assignment is too little and is constantly ignored by mercenary squads. Hence, when Long Zhanye and Huo Zaiyuan show up to inform him that they are undertaking this task, he is so touched that tears well up in his eyes.
The pair immediately departs the safe zone the same day they accepted the mission, setting foot on the road leading to B City.
"B City's northern district, OO Street, XX Avenue, Unit 303." Sitting in the passenger seat, Huo Zaiyuan reads the address written on the piece of paper given to them by the man who posted the mission.
"Northern district, huh? Pretty near," Long Zhanye says with an easy smile.
"What is pretty near?"
Driving on an unobstructed main highway from A City to B City wouldn't take more than seven hours. And with Long Zhanye's drag racing skills, they will only need five hours to get to their destination. Therefore, even if they depart at noon, they will arrive in B City at around 5pm.
"B City's safe zone ah. We can pay a visit to my dear younger cousin at the same time." When Long Zhanye mentioned his younger cousin, Huo Zaiyuan can tell the other man's mood lifts even further.
This one word "visit" really contains a lot of hidden meaning ah.
"We can go over if you would like to. Tomorrow morning will be a good time."
In regards to Long Zhanye's character, Huo Zaiyuan has already grasped a clear ninety percent of it. The remaining ten percent is still hidden deep beneath the surface. However, as long as his partner doesn't take away his freedom, whoever Long Zhanye wants to tease, he wouldn't object.
Speeding across the highway joining A to B, the Hummer passes by one or two zombies dithering in the distance every few kilometres.
Driving on the main highway is relaxing and void of pressure. After a few hours, when the Hummer enters B City, marks and tracks of undead become more frequent. From time to time, zombies drawn by the roar of the vehicle's engine rush out with the intention of catching them, but the Hummer easily rams through them all.
Just as the Hummer enters B City's eastern district, a burst of gunfire suddenly erupts, and a tall man in a camouflage military uniform sprints out of an alley. Close on the man's heels are three other men. A rough, muscled one, a lanky, nimble one, with a comparatively slimmer individual bringing up the rear.
"Get down!" The lanky male yells, unslinging the machine gun on his back and aiming in the direction of the dark alley. The last man instantly drops to the ground, hands over his head. Following the rattle of gunfire, whatever it is in the alley is momentarily pushed back.
Such loud ruckus occurring in a silent area. Don't say alarming the passing Long Zhanye and Huo Zaiyuan, every zombie roaming around in B City's eastern district would have already taken notice of this disturbance. In a mere few minutes, a horde of undead will pour into the streets.
As soon as he catches sight of the four men dashing out of the alley, Long Zhanye's expression changes. Stepping down on the accelerator, the Hummer surges forward, speeding towards the group. Wrenching the steering wheel to the side, the vehicle performs a perfect drift, stopping directly in front of the men.
"Get in."
"Come on!" As he continues firing the machine gun in hand, the man yells at his comrades. The muscled one pulls the man lying prone on the ground to his feet in one motion before dashing towards the backseat of the Hummer. Wrenching the door open, he squeezes in, followed by the man in the military uniform.
"Captain, get in!"
Retreating as he shoots in the direction of the alley, the last man eventually turns and swiftly enters the car the moment his gun runs out of ammo.
As soon as the door closes, the vehicle is back in motion. From the rearview mirror, one can see a mass of undead pouring onto the street. A few quicker zombies manage to grab onto the back of the car.
With a few controlled turns and drifts, Long Zhanye shakes all of them off quickly. Glancing at the rearview mirror to ensure they are no longer being pursued, he finally reduces the speed a little and sneers at one of the four men.
"Fucking hell, Long Hongjian, just how much do you despise these zombies ah. Provoking so many of them at once, are you playing with your life?!"
"Fuck, Long Zhanye, just where did you crawl out from? Not obediently staying in that A base of yours, instead coming out to bring trouble down on whose head?!"
"Down on yours ah!" Shooting back a retort, Long Zhanye says to the silent Huo Zaiyuan, "Little Yuan, this is the stupid younger cousin Long Hongjian I was just telling you about."
"Stupid younger cousin", these three words cause Huo Zaiyuan's eyebrows to rise and his heart to go "囧".
Are Zhanye and Long Hongjian really cousins and not enemies? They've just escaped from danger and already the two are trading barbs back and forth.
"Oh? Really can't tell just by looking at you ah, Long Zhanye. When did you manage to hook back such a pretty little older brother?" Only after hearing Long Zhanye address another person does Long Hongjian notice Huo Zaiyuan sitting in the passenger seat.
Seeing Long Hongjian reaching out a hand to touch Huo Zaiyuan's face, Long Zhanye barks in an extremely fierce tone, "Retract your damn claws and call saozi[1]!"
"Saozi?!" The hand reaching out freezes as Long Hongjian exclaims in shock, eyes wide. "Second grandfather didn't object you getting together with a man?"
"Hn, can't you see who your older cousin is? Of course grandfather didn't oppose!" Long Zhanye scoffs smugly.
Looking at Long Zhanye's expression, the Long Hongjian who loves bickering with him immediately displays his envy.
"So good…if I told my grandfather that I want to be with another man, he and my father would most probably do more than break my legs. Ai…" He trails off with a short sigh.
"Extremely trying times requires extreme measures."
A faint smile passes Huo Zaiyuan's lips as he hears Long Zhanye's vague words. This rascal is even trying to lead his younger cousin astray.
"Ah, that's right. Why did you suddenly appear here?" Leaning against the seat, Long Hongjian inquires.
"Little Yuan and I came to B City on a mission. You? Why were you being chased by a large swarm of zombies?"
Although Long Zhanye likes to bicker with this born in the same year but different month younger cousin, even with one family in A City and the other in B, there are no ill feelings between them.
"A mysterious organisation suddenly appeared in B City a while back. Their movements are rather strange, so grandfather had me investigate this matter. Early this morning, a disciple from Huo Ran Taoist temple reported that the library was robbed. When we got to the temple, we found someone trying to flee. In the middle of the chase, we were surrounded by a group of zombies that was attracted by that robber. Fortunately, you came just in time. If not, we would probably still be trapped there." Long Hongjian frowns, clearly deeply troubled by this case.
"What kind of organisation? Is it so bad to the point elder grandfather have to send you to investigate?"
For that domineering and unrestrained elder grandfather and this intelligent younger cousin of his to be so vexed…this is evidently a very troublesome case.
"A member of this organisation entered the safe zone as just another survivor. During the apocalypse, we didn't investigate the identity of each person. As long as they are not scratched, bitten or on the verge of becoming zombies, they were allowed in. Initially, there was nothing big. The military's impression of this organisation was simply that they preach every day to survivors, giving them something to hope for in trying times. We weren't mindful of what was happening. It was only afterwards that we began to feel something wasn't right. A portion of survivors unexpectedly attacked a few patrols, other tried charging into the command centre at night. Grandfather sent people to oppress these survivors a few times… Meanwhile, I investigated in the dak and discovered there seems to be a connection between this organisation and J and K bases disconnecting from the rest of the military districts. This is the primary method employed to seize control of the safe zones. The thief we chased after today was also pretty weird. The zombies they attracted over never once tried to attack them, and they were clearly trying to flee into places with swarms of undead. Instead of attacking that thief, these zombies appear to be under some sort of control, surrounding the outside first before moving in slowly for the kill." Long Hongjian delivers his report in a single breath.
Seeing he has finally paused, Huo Zaiyuan passes a bottle of mineral water over. Taking it, Long Hongjian flashes him a bright grin, saying "Thanks, saozi" before twisting the cap off and guzzling down a few mouthfuls. Then he hands the bottle over to the others.
"The zombies seem to be under someone's control? Do you mean this mysterious organisation knows how to control undead?" Long Zhanye wrinkles his brow.
"Captain's not wrong. They really know how to control zombies. I found a unique talisman paper when I was burning some of the corpses." The slender youngster states, removing a piece of black paper folded into a neat square from the pouch strapped to his coat.
After handing a few more bottles of water and snacks to the men in the backseat, Huo Zaiyuan takes the black paper to study it.
"This is…talisman paper? Black talisman paper?"
No matter if it is peach wood or yellow talisman paper, Huo Zaiyuan has felt more than his fair share. This folded square in his hands has exactly the same texture as yellow talisman paper.
"Un. The situation at that time wasn't very good, so I just dropped it in my pouch. I haven't gotten to study it closely either. I only know this thing was forcefully inserted into the zombie's skull, and the spiritual flames of the fire charm cannot burn it to ash."
Hearing the youth's words, Huo Zaiyuan's eyes narrow.
Footnotes:
[1] Saozi = older brother's wife. Chose to keep this untranslated because "older brother's wife" just sounds weird in context.