by Tai Baiyang
The most important thing was that there weren't any other zombie near her and she had almost finished eating the "food" in front of her.
"They often boasted that the zombie in the first three days are incredibly strong. It's time to verify it by myself now."
Zhang Mu stared at the female zombie not far away with excitement. He had taken the zombie as the best object for him to adapt to his new body and to test his Tang sword.
Zhang Mu saw that the female zombie had finished eating. He drew out a thing from the black rubbish bag and threw it towards the zombie.
It was a little bit of coagulated chicken blood.
The female zombie sniffed. It smelled the blood and turned around, seeing the broken chicken blood on the ground. It immediately gave up the remaining meat in front of it and rushed toward the coagulated chicken blood.
Peng!
It was another bit of coagulated chicken blood, but this time, it was put closer to Zhang Mu.
Zhang Mu quietly calculated the distance between them.
The female zombie's speed was about 2.5 times that of an ordinary person’s. He should be able to dodge its first attack. After that, he didn't need to worry about its second attack because its high-heeled shoes would become its obstacle.
Zhang Mu didn't know how powerful its explosive force would be, but he thought that it wouldn't be more than three times stronger than an average adult man.
Zhang Mu thought through his plan again, then moved out. He dashed toward the female zombie, immediately drawing close the distance between them as he threw a stone he just picked up from the ground at the female zombie's head.
Bang!
It missed. The stone slid past the female zombie's hair.
Zhang Mu blushed. He embarrassedly said to the female zombie, who had stood up from the ground, "Oops!"
This kind of low-level monsters didn't have any intelligence or self-consciousness. Besides, in order to not eliminate too many people at the beginning, they given a certain attack range. When a zombie was eating and you were standing outside its attack range, it wouldn't actively attack you, unless you foolishly provoked it.
Unfortunately, Zhang Mu was that fool.
Zhang Mu valued time highly. If these zombies all finished eating, the attack range would naturally disappear. If they found him then, he wouldn't have any better choice than running away.
However, before they finished eating, Zhang Mu didn't need to worry about anything. Even though the stone he threw made a loud noise, the zombies didn't even glance at him.
Zhang Mu's behavior provoked the female zombie. Within a second, the female zombie had rushed at Zhang Mu and reached out its claws, scratching Zhang Mu's chest.
It was faster than Zhang Mu's expectation!
Zhang Mu was scared. He immediately bent his body and narrowly dodged its claw.
He underestimated it. Even though it was just a zombie that transformed from a thin girl, its speed was still three times faster than an ordinary person’s.
The debugging time was really difficult.
Fortunately, Zhang Mu's body was about two times faster than an ordinary person’s. Although there was still a huge gap between the zombie and himself, it was enough for him to dodge its attack.
Crack!
As he had expected, as the female zombie tried to launch its second attack, one of its high-heeled shoes broke. She lost her balance and fell to the ground. Taking this opportunity, Zhang Mu brutally stepped on its neck, making it lose its strength.
Well, Zhang Mu was really good at selecting his enemy, but that was because he had no choice. He was too weak and had to use tricks.
Zhang Mu didn't waste time. He quickly drew back his foot and brandished the sword.
The Tang sword deserved to be the Soldier King's masterpiece. It easily chopped down the zombie's head. Zhang Mu expertly stabbed the sword blade into the zombie's neck, picking out a white pentagonal crystal.
In contrast to the dirty zombie, the crystal was incredibly transparent and pure. Zhang Mu carefully looked at it, which could be used as ordinary people's cultivating material and merchants' currency.
"Long time no see, my old friend."
Soon afterwards, Zhang Mu frowned.
"It's a pentagonal crystal? Shouldn't it be hexagonal? Are the first-rank zombies in the debugging time equivalent to the second-rank zombies in the future? If so, it's ten times better than a normal first-rank zombie! After all, a second-rank zombie wasn't just two times stronger than a first-rank zombie. They were more dangerous."
It should be a bug that only appeared in the debugging time.
Zhang Mu immediately realized it. He showed a vicious smile at the corners of his mouth.
"I'm gonna be rich now!"
Chapter 6: Fish in Troubled Waters
"The seventh."
Zhang Mu quickly put the second-ranked crystal into his pocket. Although his sweat had blurred his sight, it didn’t affect his excited smile.
Ten minutes had passed and he had obtained seven second-ranked crystals. According to Zhang Mu's memory, they were equal to seventy first-ranked crystals and that was enough for him to buy a lot of necessary goods from the era merchant of Luoyang City.
However, that wasn't enough to satisfy him. Zhang Mu continued looking for his next prey.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much coagulated chicken blood left in the black rubbish bag.
If he didn't use the coagulated chicken blood as bait and went straight to the square to look for a new prey...
It seemed that this behavior wouldn't put himself into danger immediately, but he wouldn’t be able to avoid zombies who had finished eating. If he was to be surrounded by them, that would put him in danger.
However, he had almost trapped and killed all the zombies who wandered alone. Now, most of the zombies were gathering at the square, but he didn't dare to go there.
What should he do?
Every second now was very valuable, because he didn't know when these zombies would finish eating.
Should he take a risk?
After all, this was a pretty rare opportunity.
At first, Zhang Mu only wanted to save his life, but now, his mind gradually changed. He thought for a while, aiming at the three zombies who were eating together at the south gate of the square.
He threw a piece of chicken blood to them. This time, he used more strength. The chicken blood was directly thrown in a fat zombie's body, breaking into pieces.
The fat zombie put out its tongue and licked its face. It found Zhang Mu, who was standing at a place ten meters away and gazed at him with a serious look, then straightly pounced at Zhang Mu.
Fortunately, the other two zombies were still eating the corpses in front of them and didn't even take a glance at Zhang Mu.
Good.
Zhang Mu was slightly relaxed. He held the tailored Tang sword in his hand and straightly walked toward the fat zombie.
Boom!
When the fat zombie ran, its fat flesh shook and looked pretty laughable. But when it sped up, Zhang Mu couldn't laugh anymore.
When it started to run, the earth shook due to its weight. It came at Zhang Mu like a human tank.
Zhang Mu was surprised. He tried to step back, but the fat zombie was faster than him. It waved its fat palm and slapped at Zhang Mu's head.
No! That's too fast! I can't dodge it! There is no other choice, but to try and withstand it.
Zhang Mu immediately held the Tang sword in his left hand and raised his right hand. When his hand touched the fat zombie's hand, he immediately felt its powerful strength. That should be three times stronger than anything he had encountered before.
What is its limit?!
Zhang Mu thought in his heart, but didn't have the guts to try it. His five fingers nimbly dodged the zombie's sharp claw and pointed at the center of its fat palm. His hand suddenly built strength and pressed on the part between the zombie's thumb and index finger, then forced it back
.
Zhang Mu's hand was too fast. This was his most important talent as a disciple of The Thieves Sect.
Taking the opportunity when the fat zombie's body was drawn to its side, Zhang Mu kicked its leg, making its lumbering body fall forward. Due to inertia, the fat zombie couldn't stop itself.
Boom!
As Zhang Mu puffed and blew, the fat zombie fell to the ground and exposed its fat belly. Its hand was pressed under its fat body. Its palm should have broken because Zhang Mu could see its black bones poking out from the wounds on its arm.
In the future, Zhang Mu had dealt with this kind of fat zombie many times. He knew its weak point: mediocre physical balance. He didn't want to waste his time on the fat zombie, so he directly chopped his sword on its neck.
However, he didn't hear the familiar "crack" sound.
The fat zombie's fat flesh mixed together with its newborn cuticle layer. Zhang Mu's Tang sword was struck in the cuticles layer. No matter how Zhang Mu forced, it didn't move a bit. Besides, as time went by, the sword was wrapped by more and more newborn cuticles.
He didn't expect that!
Shuffle! Shuffle!
As Zhang Mu stepped on the fat zombie's belly, trying to draw out his sword, he heard two strange sounds behind him.
Zhang Mu sensed the danger. He didn't have time to look back, but immediately kicked his right leg on the fat zombie's belly and jumped over its body.
Zhang Mu released the sword handle in the air and rolled to the lawn.
Zhang Mu didn't hear any sound chasing after him, so he turned back his head. As he had expected, they were the other two zombies.
Why were they so fast?
Zhang Mu intently gazed at the two thin zombies squatting on the fat zombie's belly. His cold sweat soaked his back because he knew that he couldn't deal with two zombies together.
He could only try to find a chance to kill one of the zombies, then solve the remaining one.
They stood facing each other. The two zombies opened their mouths and their bloody tongues hung out. They looked like they would pounce at Zhang Mu at any time, but didn't move a bit.
Three seconds later, Zhang Mu found that something was wrong. The first-ranked zombie shouldn’t have any thinking ability. Why were they still observing him?
Zhang Mu carefully looked them up and down, then laughed out loud.
The two zombies shook their shoulders, but couldn't move a bit.
When they pounced at Zhang Mu, they missed him but struck their claws into the fat zombie's belly. Their claws were trapped by the cuticle layer and couldn't move a bit. The cuticle layer could even trap the sharp Tang sword, not to mention their claws.
Beside, the more strength they used, the faster the cuticle layer would grow and the tighter they would be bound.
Looking at the three overlapped zombies, Zhang Mu felt that he had seen three sparkling second-ranked crystals waving their hands at him.
At this moment, Zhang Mu felt that the goddess of luck really favored him.
Chapter 7: Run Away
That was really a pleasant surprise. Even the ugly zombie became a bit cuter in Zhang Mu's eyes.
Zhang Mu slowly moved closer to them. The three zombies were tightly tangled together and couldn't move a step. Seeing this, Zhang Mu grew gutsier and quickly walked towards them.
Zhang Mu walked to the fat zombie and found that his Tang sword had almost been wrapped in its body. However, the fat zombie had stopped generating more cuticles because its energy had reached its limit. Its body naturally stopped.
How could he draw his Tang sword out?
Zhang Mu observed the sword and tried several times. He failed. Even though he stepped on the fat zombie's neck and tried to forcibly pull the sword out, it didn't move a bit.
That mutated zombie's fat was really too thick.
Suddenly, Zhang Mu had an idea.
If he killed the fat zombie, it would lose its regenerative capacity and its cuticle layer would become fragile.
Zhang Mu wanted to use his fist, but was worried about being hurt. That would put him in unnecessary trouble. Thinking, he put down his hand and looked around. He picked up a brick from the ground and smashed it on the fat zombie's head as hard as he could.
Peng! Peng! Peng!
The fat zombie's survival instinct made it twitch on the ground, but its struggle was doomed to futility.
One, two... Zhang My knocked the brick at the same place dozens of time. Its face had been smashed into a chunk of minced meat. Finally, the fat zombie lost its life and its cuticle layer stopped repairing itself.
Zhang Mu puffed. He didn't dare to be careless because there were still two other zombies.
The brick had been dyed black by the blood. Zhang Mu threw it away and wiped his hands on his pants, then held the Tang sword's handle in his hands, trying his best to draw it out. The sword gradually loosened.
He broke out a loud yell, drawing out the Tang sword.
Fortunately, first-ranked zombie's blood wasn't corrosive. Otherwise, he would have lost the sword forever and there would be nowhere for him to cry to.
The two zombies were still struggling. The cuticle layer which bounded their claws had started loosening.
As Zhang Mu drew out his sword, one of the zombies also drew its claws out.
Zombies don’t feel tired. Since Zhang Mu was standing in front of it, it immediately pounced at him, trying to tear at his flesh.
Zhang Mu didn't have time to rest. He immediately held the sword in his hand and turned to face his assailant. At this time, the tailored Tang sword's additional 20 cm finally showed its use.
Before the zombie reached him, Zhang Mu had sidestepped its claws and swung at its arm. He lifted his leg and kicked at its body. The zombie lost its balance and was forced to step back.
Zhang Mu didn't follow up the small victory with hot pursuit however. He knew that the other zombie would get rid of its constraints at any time. Taking the opportunity that its claws were still struck, his sword cut through its neck.
The only hidden trouble had been solved. The remaining zombie was already not a threat to Zhang Mu. As if it didn't know that Zhang Mu had cut off its claws, it still rushed at Zhang Mu, waving its broken arms fiercely.
Zhang Mu casually brandished his sword, finishing the battle.
Zhang Mu found that the fat zombie was too heavy to move. He had to chop off its head along the wound on its neck to searching for its crystal.
After taking out the three crystals from the three zombies, Zhang Mu felt very tired. He staggered and leaned on the sword.
As he gasped for air, the ground suddenly shook. He looked up, then cursed with helplessness.
The zombies on the square were all running towards him.
Are you kidding me? How is it possible that they all finished eating at the same time!
Chapter 8: Break Through the Heavy Encirclement
Zhang Mu laced his hands together behind his head and closed his eyes, reclining on a red sofa to take a rest.
Remembering what had happened two hours ago, fear still lingered in his heart.
At that time, he had run to the old locust tree and picked up his backpack. He didn't dare to slow down and ran at full speed.
It was really a horrible scene to be chased by hundreds of zombies.
When Zhang Mu was exhausted and was almost caught by the ones running at the front, he finally saw a narrow alley and immediately rushed into it. After several twists and turns, the number zombies dwindled down and they finally lost his trace.
After that, Zhang Mu sneaked into a common residential district. He found a house and climbed up to its balcony. After making sure that no one was in the room, he closed the door and slept till now.
Zhang Mu carefully chewed on a piece of compressed biscuit. Is was his habit to not waste any bit of food.
His other hand reached into the backpack, picking up the several second-ranked crystals and observing them with interes
t.
"Ding!"
"Ding!"
Zhang Mu was intoxicated with the sound of crystals’ knocking against each other.
In the future, crystals were precious cultivating materials to other people. To him, they were his most intimate old friends.
Era merchants didn't dare have any friends. They were too rich, but also too weak, so they didn't trust anyone.
Every time when Zhang Mu felt lonely, he often drew out several crystals and listened to their tinkling sounds. That could effectively calm down his impulsive heart.
This time wasn't any different. Zhang Mu's heart gradually calmed down as he considered what he should do next.
Tonight, at 12 o'clock, Luoyang City's era merchant would come to this city and stay for an hour at People's Square where Zhang Mu just escaped from.
Zhang Mu didn't worry if anyone would become the first agent before he reached there. He didn't think that anyone would go out in the dark night within the first three days. If there were no accidents, the identity of the first sub-merchant was firmly grasped in his hand.
The only problem was: how would he get there?
There were hundreds of zombies wandering on the square. Zhang Mu felt worried when he thought of it.
It was impossible to break through their blockade line. In that case, there was only one choice, which was very popular in the future.
Although it could only be used to solve the first-ranked zombie, but it was very effective when faced with these mindless monsters.
Zhang Mu went through the plan again and again, making sure that he didn't miss anything. Finally, he felt sleepy again.
He set up the watch alarm and fell asleep while holding the Tang sword in his arms. At this time, only the sword could provide him a sense of security.
"Zii...zii...zii..."
The hours passed by quickly. The quartz watch started chiming.
Zhang Mu fiercely opened his eyes, jumping up from the bed.
"I haven't had such a good sleep in a long time."
Zhang Mu stretched himself. In the future, he didn't have any chance to have such a sweet sleep like now. If he didn't find a concealed place and set traps, he didn't even have the guts to sleep. He had heard too many stories about being killed during one’s sleep.