Chapter 24: Jockey

The Center for Disease Control was located in the southeastern part of Georgia, while the wind power plant was on a farm further south in the state. The distance between the two was nearly a hundred kilometers. Moreover, the infrastructure here was not as developed as in his previous life, so even under the best circumstances, a round trip would take a full day.

Thus, after announcing his intention to leave, Li Changsheng immediately returned to his top-floor office to pack his luggage.

At some point, Amy appeared at his door. She held a tactical thigh holster in her hand. “Boss, this was found during the inventory check. You should take it…”

Li Changsheng took it, opened the holster, and a row of neatly arranged daggers came into view.

He drew one out, spinning it in his hand. The silver blade shimmered sharply.

Satisfied, Li Changsheng nodded. “Thank you, Amy.”

“Boss, let me help you put it on.”

With that, Amy picked up the holster, bent down, and began strapping it carefully to his thigh. Amy’s figure was already tall and shapely; now, as she bent forward, her curves were accentuated, her black professional skirt lifting slightly to reveal a beautiful arc.

She wore only a thin shirt on her upper body, and from where Li Changsheng stood, he could see the pale valley between her breasts and a hint of rosy “strawberries.”

He swallowed, unable to tear his gaze away.

Amy seemed not to notice at all. As her slender hands tied the straps, she said, “Boss, I want to go with you. Can I?” She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling.

So this was her intent…

Li Changsheng withdrew his gaze. “Of course not! Civilization City can’t do without you right now.”

Amy huffed, pouting as she moved aside. “But there’s Andrea, isn’t there? If you don’t take me, I’m not doing this anymore!”

Li Changsheng reached out and ruffled her hair. “You’ve seen the walkers outside. With your petite frame, how would you deal with them?”

Amy bristled at his words and pulled away from his mischievous hand. “I’ve learned to use a gun! I can shoot them.”

Li Changsheng clicked his tongue, noncommittal, and flicked her forehead. “Be good.” He glanced at the time. “It’s time, I have to go.”

Amy darted in front of him, arms spread wide, refusing to let him pass.

“Amy, an assistant must listen to the City Lord. Disobedience deserves punishment.”

Punishment?

Before Amy could react, she found herself lifted onto Li Changsheng’s thigh, and the two fell onto the sofa together.

Her pale blue eyes flashed with alarm. Suddenly, she felt a coolness on her backside—her short skirt had been flipped up.

A crisp slap rang out. A red handprint appeared on her slightly raised bottom, and Amy’s face flushed scarlet.

Boss is such a pervert…

Her eyes immediately brimmed with tears.

Behind her, Li Changsheng wore a wicked grin. To punish a statuesque beauty like this was truly delightful.

But he only made a show of it, never using real force.

After a few smacks, he lessened the strength, eventually only caressing her gently.

This only intensified Amy’s feelings; she felt as though his hand had a magical power. She bit down hard on the sofa cushion.

So humiliating…

Those powerless words echoed in her mind.

After a dozen or so slaps, Li Changsheng lowered her skirt and pulled her into his arms.

“Amy, stay here and behave. Don’t make me worry.”

Amy bit her lip and shot him a look.

Li Changsheng chuckled softly. Seeing the tears in Amy’s eyes, he put on a look of surprise. “Hey, Amy, are you crying? Did I hurt you? Sorry, let me massage it for you.”

With that, his large hand landed again on her waist and hips.

The blush that had just faded on Amy’s face returned in full force.

Li Changsheng spoke gently, “Amy, even though we haven’t known each other long, I already consider you a very important person. I don’t want you to get hurt, so just stay here. Let me handle what’s outside.”

Amy’s heart skipped a beat. She stared for a moment, then closed her eyes and nestled tightly against Li Changsheng’s chest.

A smile appeared on Li Changsheng’s face; indeed, women just needed to be coaxed gently. What he didn’t realize was that there was sincerity in those words, too.

“All right, Amy, it’s getting late. I have to go.” He set Amy down on the sofa, picked up his luggage, and headed downstairs.

Amy, lying on the sofa, opened her pale blue eyes and couldn’t help but touch her own backside. It didn’t hurt at all. She muttered softly, “Pervert.”

Then, remembering she wanted to see Li Changsheng off, she quickly rolled over, adjusted her clothes, and hurried after him.

…

At the blast-proof door of the CDC.

“Boss, have a safe journey. I’ll miss you,” Mole grinned.

Of everyone at the camp, he had the most faith in Li Changsheng. In his mind, even if God died, the Boss might live.

Safe journey, huh?

Li Changsheng shot him a glare. “Mole, read a little more. If you can’t say the right thing, don’t say anything at all.”

The others burst out laughing.

Daryl drove the car over. “Boss, your vehicle and weapons are all ready.”

Amy had by now composed herself and, along with Andrea and the others, loaded Li Changsheng’s luggage into the car.

Li Changsheng waved to everyone and got in.

Suddenly, he remembered something and beckoned Mole over. Mole approached, and Li Changsheng whispered a few instructions in his ear.

Then, with the roar of the engine, the car sped off into the distance as everyone watched.

The group stood at the gate watching until the car disappeared from sight, then reluctantly dispersed.

Amy gazed after him, murmuring, “Boss, I’ll be waiting for you to come back…”

…

Elsewhere.

At the quarry.

Rick and Sean crept cautiously toward the woods, both visibly tense and sweating profusely.

Green and the others followed behind, their expressions grave; some even had fear in their eyes.

Suddenly, a strange laugh echoed from the woods.

Green wiped the cold sweat from his brow, his voice taut. “That’s the thing that killed Jacqueline!”

T-Boy asked, trembling, “What kind of monster makes that sound?”

“I don’t know, but it’s definitely not a walker we’re familiar with,” Rick replied, trying to stay calm. “It’s a threat—we have to take it down.”

All at once, a short, shadowy figure shot out from the dense undergrowth, darting past Rick and Sean with incredible speed, and in a few leaps landed in the middle of the group.

Before anyone could react, the figure pounced on T-Boy.

“My eyes!” T-Boy screamed, thrashing wildly as he tried in vain to free himself from the shadow’s grip.

But the sudden attack was too fierce, the shadow’s frenzy too much for T-Boy to escape.

“Help me!” T-Boy screamed, stumbling blindly as he tried to flee.

Green and the others shrieked, and after a stunned moment, rushed to help, but the shadow clung to T-Boy’s head, leaving them helpless.

In that critical moment, Rick made a snap decision. He seized his dagger and, with lightning speed, stabbed at the shadow.

His strike was swift and true, making the shadow shriek in pain and leap off T-Boy.

Bang!

Sean fired, the bullet hitting the shadow’s head dead-on and killing it instantly.

T-Boy collapsed, clutching his injured eye as blood oozed between his fingers. His breathing was shallow and ragged, the agony overwhelming.

“Hurry! Stop the bleeding!” Green shouted, pulling out a first aid kit as the others crowded around to help.

Sean glanced at T-Boy, then at Rick, slowly shaking his head.

There was no saving him…

They turned to the shadowy corpse. Its twisted face and small, emaciated body still bore faint traces of humanity.

A special infected—walkers had mutated! This unexpected development sent everyone into a panic like never before.

Rick took a deep breath and addressed the group, “We can’t stay here. We have to leave!”