Chapter 42 The Wharf

Zhao Qiang found it hard to connect the voice’s owner with the person who had set the trap. Judging by the voice, it was a young girl, somewhat fragile, with a hint of fear in her tone. Yet the trap before him was cunning and cruel, completely at odds with the gentle voice.

“Have you heard of the Survivors’ Alliance?” Zhao Qiang said calmly, his voice echoing among the shipping containers. He disliked being watched from the shadows like this.

“No, I haven’t. Why are you chasing me? What do you want?” Qian Xun asked, startled to find herself pursued by a stranger. Although he wasn’t a new kind of zombie, the situation still unsettled her. Zombies were dangerous, but even more so were those who committed all manner of evil. That was what an elder in the camp had told her.

“What do I want?” Zhao Qiang smiled wryly. He had nearly given up the chase several times, but he hadn’t known that Qian Xun, out of fear, had taken a wrong turn, which had led to this prolonged pursuit. “Listen, who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is, I mean you no harm.”

“Just because you say so? Unless, unless you can prove it to me.” A voice as clear as a nightingale came from all around.

“Well, beauty, how do you expect me to prove I have no ill intent? Shall I show you my ID?” Zhao Qiang teased with a hint of mischief.

“Are you holding a gun?” Qian Xun seemed not to catch the playful tone in his voice.

Found you! In the darkness, a small figure crouched atop a tall container. Zhao Qiang caught the faint reflection in her large eyes.

“That’s right,” he replied calmly, a slight smile playing on his lips.

“Drop the gun, and then I’ll believe you mean no harm.” To Qian Xun, this plump man without a weapon was no more difficult to handle than a zombie.

“Darling, this gun is what keeps me alive. How do I know you’re not pointing a gun at my head right now?” Zhao Qiang babbled on. He’d already realized she held no weapon, and there was no third party nearby. This was not the trap he had imagined.

“Why don’t we do this? Instead of this stalemate, I’ll leave, and we’ll pretend nothing happened. How does that sound?” Zhao Qiang said as he glanced around, lowering his gun and adopting a harmless posture.

“It’s dark outside, it’s dangerous,” Qian Xun suddenly said, then abruptly covered her mouth. Oh God, why did I say that? If he wants to leave, he should just go. What’s wrong with me?

“It’s okay, I can take care of myself,” Zhao Qiang said, feeling a warmth inside. Clearly, everything she had done was just for self-preservation. An assassin wouldn’t care about anyone’s life. “Alright then, I’m leaving.”

...

“Why do you leave so suddenly?” Qian Xun stomped her foot in frustration. That man didn’t seem like a bad person. In her mind, bad guys looked gaunt, with sharp faces and scruffy beards. That chubby man who had disappeared around the corner didn’t fit the image at all.

It was so late; he’d surely be eaten by zombies alone out there! No, he had a gun—he mustn’t be afraid of zombies! But he was just one person, and zombies were so many! If only he could help me; how could I manage so many people by myself? What was this Survivors’ Alliance he mentioned? Could there be many survivors like us? Would they also suffer from that terrible blood disease? Oh no, I haven’t taken my medicine yet!

“What medicine?” A stranger’s voice suddenly sounded behind Qian Xun.

Startled, Qian Xun tensed. No one had ever approached her so silently before. Lost in her own thoughts, she hadn’t noticed that damned stranger had crept up behind her. Her muscles tightened instantly as she prepared to run—then felt a massive body press down on her back.

“Ugh!” Qian Xun screamed, but before she could open her mouth, a dry yet warm hand covered it, stifling all sound.

It was the first time in her life Qian Xun had such an “intimate” encounter with a strange man. Whether from shyness, anger, or simply being suffocated by the large hand covering her mouth and nose, her face flushed crimson. She struggled fiercely.

Zhao Qiang found himself at a loss for words. He had thought subduing a little girl would be easy, but this girl was like an eel slipping through his fingers. Using all his skills, he managed to restrain her without causing harm, but holding a fiery young girl twisting in his arms was an experience no ordinary man could endure. Yet the noises coming from afar left him no choice.

“Shh!” Zhao Qiang lowered his voice. “Don’t move. Listen, I can let you go, but I advise you not to make a sound.”

At that moment, Qian Xun could barely speak. With his iron-like hand covering her mouth and nose, it was hard to breathe. She could only blink her big eyes and nod faintly.

...

“What’s wrong with you...” Just as the mountain-like stranger’s body left, freeing her limbs and mouth, Qian Xun opened her mouth to complain but swallowed her words halfway.

Zhao Qiang was already crouched nearby, watching the distance with a grave expression. Hearing her complaint, he merely gestured for silence.

Following Zhao Qiang’s gaze, Qian Xun saw nothing but impenetrable darkness.

“Put this on.” Zhao Qiang rummaged through his bag and handed her a dark object.

“What’s this?” Qian Xun asked.

“A low-light night vision device,” Zhao Qiang replied without turning, still alertly watching ahead.

“Don’t you use it?” Putting on the device, Qian Xun saw a sea of green hues, the image blurry, only outlines discernible. Following Zhao Qiang’s gaze again, she saw a large group of figures staggering toward the dock.

“What’s that?” Qian Xun removed the night vision goggles, rubbed her eyes, looked again into the darkness, then put them back on.

“Zombies,” Zhao Qiang whispered.

Originally, Zhao Qiang intended to leave. After all, his purpose for this trip was to collect several medicines prescribed by Dr. Mei. After a whole day without success, and wasting time on his curiosity, if the other party was neither hostile nor welcoming, leaving peacefully was the best choice.