Chapter 27: Beth
After dispatching the three special infected, no other unusual threats appeared, and Li Changsheng finally let out a long breath of relief.
The spot where he stood, near the small car, was completely surrounded by the undead, leaving not even a foothold. If any more special infected showed up, he would have to seriously consider making a run for it.
Standing atop the cargo truck, Li Changsheng kept swinging his axe, chopping down the undead one after another. In a short span, corpses littered the ground all around him, and the air grew thick with a nauseating stench of blood.
Next time I kill the undead, I really need to wear a mask... he thought to himself.
Just then, the crack of gunfire rang out. Li Changsheng turned toward the sound and saw Rick and Shane not far off, offering their support. He shot them a slightly surprised glance.
So they didn’t seize the chance to run away… There’s still a bit of kindness left in them… Such lawful goodness, in the apocalypse, who knows if it’s a blessing or a curse...
Muttering inwardly, Li Changsheng’s hands didn’t slow for a moment, and before long, every undead in the vicinity was cleared out.
He jumped down from the truck bed, and Carol immediately hurried over. Li Changsheng set Sophia down and watched as she ran into Carol’s arms. After being separated by life and death, mother and daughter clung to each other, sobbing uncontrollably.
It was a long while before Carol finally composed herself enough to remember to thank Li Changsheng.
He waved it off, signaling she needn’t be concerned.
Sophia dried her tears, pulled away from Carol, hesitated, and then shyly offered Li Changsheng her beloved stuffed bear.
It was her favorite toy—she hadn’t let go of it even while fleeing for her life.
Li Changsheng stepped forward, bent down, gently ruffled Sophia’s hair, and said softly, “Thank you for the thought, but you have to let me save face. I can’t let people think I’m the kind of guy who takes toys from children, can I?”
Sophia’s cheeks flushed, and she looked a little crestfallen. She was shy by nature and now found herself at a loss for words.
Li Changsheng smiled. “If you really want to repay me, when you grow up you can come work for me in Civilization City!”
Civilization City? Work for him?
Sophia nodded as if she half-understood, then mustered her courage. “When I grow up, I’ll come work for you, mister!”
Li Changsheng laughed heartily and gave Sophia a nod.
Straightening up, he saw Carol still sobbing and let out a sigh.
Carol, you really need to grow stronger... Otherwise, how will you come work for me...
He walked over and patted her on the shoulder, his words carrying a deeper meaning. “You can’t spend your life crying and waiting for others to save you. You have to learn to fight for yourself. Think about it.”
Carol froze, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts.
At that moment, Glenn came running over. “Dude, you’re amazing! Do you actually know martial arts? Can you teach me?”
Li Changsheng smiled and replied casually, “That depends on talent, you know.”
Glenn was undeterred. He did his best Bruce Lee impression and asked hopefully, “How about me? Do I look talented to you?”
“Uh, hard to say. I’d need to feel your bones.” Li Changsheng beckoned him over. “Come here, let me take a look.”
Glenn was beside himself with excitement and obediently stepped up to Li Changsheng.
Li Changsheng reached out and felt Glenn’s head, then put on a regretful face. “Your bones are a little soft. Sorry, you’re just not gifted enough…”
Hard head as it was, he still couldn't handle a single blow from a spiked club...
Glenn shook his head in disappointment, and Li Changsheng decided not to tease him any further.
At that moment, Rick approached and gave Li Changsheng a hug. “Man, thank you.”
“No need for thanks,” Li Changsheng replied.
Rick asked, “Li, where are you headed?”
“A wind farm,” Li Changsheng answered. “And you?”
“The Fort Benning military base.”
“A military base? Is it safe there?”
Rick shook his head. “We don’t know. We got a military radio broadcast a while ago saying there was a safe evacuation point, but then the broadcast cut out.”
A broadcast?
Li Changsheng was puzzled. Perhaps there really was a military force in this world—but who sent that broadcast, and where from?
Rick didn’t notice his doubt and continued, “What about Daryl and the others? Are they alright?”
“They’re at the CDC,” Li Changsheng replied. “They should be doing fine.”
The CDC!
Everyone was stunned, then burst out with questions.
“Are there officials at the CDC?”
“Did they develop a vaccine?”
“Any special infected there?”
Bombarded by questions, Li Changsheng grew weary and so told them about establishing Civilization City at the CDC.
Hearing this, several members of Rick’s group began to entertain other ideas. Even Rick showed a hint of hesitation.
Their destination was the Fort Benning base, but it was still two or three days away, and who knew what dangers they might encounter on the way? If they hadn’t met Li Changsheng today, their group might have lost several people...
Seeing everyone staring at him, Li Changsheng naturally understood what they were thinking. “Civilization City may not be what you imagine. It’s a place with absolute rule—there’s none of that so-called democracy and freedom. I want you to be clear about that...”
That…
Everyone hesitated at once. For some foreigners, democracy and freedom mattered even more than life itself.
Besides, these people hadn’t yet suffered the true blows of the apocalypse.
Li Changsheng wasn’t surprised at their reaction. Though he was interested in Rick, he wouldn’t force the issue.
Glancing at the time, Li Changsheng decided not to linger any longer and bid Rick farewell.
Under Rick’s reluctant gaze, he drove away.
...
The highway was blocked.
Li Changsheng had to take several detours, weaving this way and that until he found himself driving into the woods.
He slung on his backpack and got out to scout the area, but hadn’t gone far when he heard faint cries for help.
“Someone’s there?”
Li Changsheng frowned and darted toward the source of the sound at lightning speed.
Jumping onto a tree, he parted the branches to see—through the haze—a shrouded undead with a tongue stretching over a dozen meters, winding itself around a young girl and dragging her backward.
The girl struggled desperately, her clothes torn by the branches, her pale legs flailing furiously.
Another special infected... Why are there so many of these things...
Li Changsheng cursed under his breath. He pulled a fire axe from his spatial storage and leapt down.
With a swing of his right hand, he severed the long tongue. The axe spun in his grip, then he hurled it with force.
The fire axe whirled through the air and buried itself in the head of the long-tongued special infected.
“Are you alright?” Li Changsheng looked around as he approached.
Up close, he saw the girl was about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a black, midriff-baring T-shirt that hugged her curves, her waist slender and resilient. Tight denim shorts revealed a pair of dazzlingly pale, beautiful legs, her skin gleaming with a delicate radiance in the sunlight, stylish white sneakers on her feet.
Her tear-streaked face still bore an angelic beauty.
Li Changsheng was taken aback. She looked familiar…
Wasn’t this Beth…
The world really is small…
Before he could say more, Beth threw herself into Li Changsheng’s arms, her body trembling as she wept uncontrollably.