Chapter Sixty: The Saber

Farewell, friends. Farewell, my beloved. Staring at the wounds carved into his body by the sharp teeth of the zombie rats, Zhao Qiang was utterly despondent. Perhaps if he simply became a zombie, he would no longer have to live in constant fear. But before that happened, he swore he would not let his enemy go. You big-headed fool, I won’t spare you!

With a swift motion, his blade fell. The enormous head of the so-called Sage split like a watermelon beneath the razor-sharp edge, spilling red and white across the ground. There was no suspense; once again, Zhao Qiang succumbed to the overwhelming surge of consciousness and fainted.

...

“Brother Meng, why haven’t Brother Qiang and the others returned yet?” Zou Lin, holding a pair of binoculars, anxiously watched in the direction Zhao Qiang had departed.

Meng Longwei managed a bitter smile. The equipment depot’s stock was meager; after all, it was merely an air force ground crew warehouse. There were plenty of light weapons and corresponding ammunition, but no heavy armaments. If all went well, the three should have been back within two hours, but now it was already the second day and still not a word from them. Had the three already...

Meng Longwei dared not imagine further. All preparations here were complete; as soon as the crucial ammunition arrived, everyone could depart immediately. To ensure the successful acquisition of ammo, nearly all ammunition had been given to Zhao Qiang and his companions. If something went wrong, the armored train could barely depart, but if it ran into a horde of zombies, everyone would be doomed.

Since the moment Zhao Qiang left, Zou Lin had stood steadfastly at the observation post, watching his departure and remaining vigilant ever since. This strong woman had not moved an inch, her eyes locked on the direction of Mount Yuelu.

“Eat something. You’ve been here all day. If you don’t, you’ll collapse,” Meng Longwei said, handing her a steamed bun. Even this resilient woman was beginning to falter, yet she still gritted her teeth and pressed on.

Zou Lin shook her head firmly, wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, and silently prayed in her heart. Please, come back alive, Brother Qiang.

Meng Longwei paced back and forth in frustration. Plans never keep up with change. That brat Zhao Qiang—wasn’t he quite skilled? How did things go so awry? And Wang Ergou and Zhang Tieniu, those two clever troublemakers—when you all return, I’ll teach you a lesson.

Despite pacing for ages, Meng Longwei could find no solution. Everything depended on those three returning. Everyone here was ground crew for the air force, technical staff. If even Zhao Qiang couldn’t overcome the difficulties, sending the rest in as cannon fodder would solve nothing. If only that person could help.

The person in Meng Longwei’s mind was the sniper who had always remained hidden, secretly protecting them. Meng Longwei had no idea which unit this mysterious man belonged to—he was even more enigmatic than Zhao Qiang. When they first arrived at Orange Isle, the sniper had already been there. Seeing the group arrive, he’d quietly surrendered the best room and retreated into the woods with his rifle.

---

Meng Longwei had long wanted to get to know this mysterious sniper. As an officer, he knew that sometimes, the sniper was even more dangerous than the zombies outside. Yet the sniper was silent and reserved, his eyes always carrying a hint of pride, impossible to read.

After some time, the sniper showed no abnormal behavior; instead, he helped Meng Longwei and his team solve several major problems. It was he who spotted the bungee-jumping zombies and warned Meng Longwei in time, and later, he dealt with stragglers in the dense forest. Gradually, everyone grew accustomed to his presence, no longer wary of him.

If he could be convinced to act, perhaps there was still hope. Meng Longwei pondered this as he paced to the door. Just as he reached for the handle to call the communications officer, the officer rushed in.

“Reporting!” The communications officer nearly collided with his superior, hastily saluting.

“What is it?” Meng Longwei asked, not in the mood for trivial matters.

“Well, um...” The officer stammered, unable to get a coherent word out.

“Xiao Li, you’re not usually like this. If you have something to say, spit it out. Don’t mumble,” Meng Longwei said impatiently, his mind full of how to persuade the mysterious sniper.

“The sniper wants to see you!” Xiao Li finally managed. None of the soldiers here had much interaction with the sniper except Meng Longwei—he’d always ignored them, never saying a word. Today, the sniper sought Xiao Li out, requesting a meeting with Meng Longwei. Xiao Li was so excited he could hardly speak.

Meng Longwei’s eyes lit up. Speak of the devil! He’d been about to send for him, and now the sniper had come on his own. Meng Longwei rubbed his hands in excitement and said, “Quick, invite him in!”

“Yes, sir!” Xiao Li saluted and ran out.

...

“Um... you know...” Meng Longwei paced anxiously, racking his brain for how to convince the mysterious sniper. After a moment, he realized he still didn’t know the man’s name. Embarrassed, he said, “Brother, how should I address you?”

---

“Call me Blade,” the sniper replied, his voice deep.

Meng Longwei was taken aback. Clearly, that was just a nickname. After all this time together, the man still refused to reveal his real name. Well, perhaps it was a matter of confidentiality. He hesitated, then said, “Comrade Blade, I’d like to ask you for a favor.”

“You want me to rescue the fat man, don’t you?” Blade’s voice was cold, sharp as a knife.

Meng Longwei nodded; nothing escaped this man. “Let me be direct, Comrade Blade. I hope you’ll go and look for Zhao Qiang. If possible, please bring him back.”

Blade stood in the shadows, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. “So that’s his name—Zhao Qiang. Interesting fellow.”

Ever since Zhao Qiang arrived on Orange Isle, Blade had noticed the fat man. Through his scope, he often caught the man’s gaze, and whenever Zhao Qiang’s eyes swept over him, Blade felt a chill run down his spine. A blatant challenge!

The fat man’s behavior intrigued Blade. Over the days, whenever he had a chance, Blade watched him through the scope. But each time he lined up his sights, Zhao Qiang’s sharp gaze would meet his. Not to be outdone, Blade donned his long-unused ghillie suit, camouflaged his PSL sniper rifle with twigs and grass, and hid in the least likely spot for a sniper to wait. Yet, as soon as he looked through the scope, that annoying fat face appeared, smiling benignly, but with eyes so sharp they stung.

“Wait for my news,” Blade said, tossing out the words without caring about Meng Longwei’s reaction. Grabbing his rifle, he strode from the Orange Isle shelter without a backward glance.

Fat man, just wait. If you must die, you’ll die by my hand—Blade!