Chapter 34: Disguise

Wen Ya gripped the axe handle tightly with both hands, pressing the blade against Wang Jianguo's neck.

*What a disgusting piece of trash.*

Unlike Zhang Weiwei, who was still young and naive, Wen Ya was all too familiar with the look in this greasy old man's eyes.

She applied pressure, and the sharp edge instantly drew a line of blood on Director Wang's neck.

"Do it now!"

"Three seconds. If the rope isn't lowered, I'll kill you!"

Wen Ya's gaze was icy cold. She wouldn't hesitate to follow through if Wang Jianguo made the slightest move.

She had heard Zhang Tie's voice when she came downstairs, but it was already too late. Wang Jianguo's gang had already taken control of the crowd.

Seeing that everyone had given up on the rescue, she quickly hid behind the door.

These people were just ordinary civilians, purely scared by Wang Jianguo's threats. If she could control him, there was still hope to convince the group to lower the rope.

Fortunately, Wang Jianguo's sudden lustful urge had left him off guard, giving her the opportunity she needed.

Wang Jianguo was startled. He could feel Wen Ya's killing intent behind him.

*Damn it, how could I forget there were still people loyal to Lin Yi here!*

He tried to maintain a calm facade, attempting to intimidate and persuade Wen Ya.

"Little sister, don't do anything rash."

"Killing someone is against the law!"

"Shut up!"

Wen Ya's wrist twitched, and the axe blade immediately drew another cut on Director Wang's neck.

"Don't hurt me!"

Wang Jianguo panicked. He hadn't expected the seemingly refined Wen Ya to be so decisive in her actions.

"I'll lower it!"

"I'll lower it!"

The situation had escalated so suddenly that Wang Jianguo's gang was momentarily flustered.

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and lower the rope!"

The voice didn't come from Director Wang, but from Yu Shihao, who had been observing from the back of the crowd.

He stepped forward, his face full of indignation.

"Didn't Brother Lin save all your lives?"

"Brother Lin is so strong, whether he's infected or not is another matter! Besides, if you don't know how to be grateful, how are you any different from animals?"

He spoke righteously, rushing into the crowd that had seized the rope and grabbing it back.

Unlike his outward display of passion, Yu Shihao was actually quite anxious inside.

Ever since the crowd started arguing, he had been hiding in a corner, weighing his options.

Pulling Zhang Tie up was indeed risky, as he might be infected.

But unlike the others who only saw the risk, Yu Shihao also recognized the enormous potential benefit hidden beneath that risk!

Fortune favors the bold!

He had been thinking it over for the past two days and realized that without power, death was inevitable, sooner or later.

As soon as the rope was lowered, Zhang Tie climbed up, carrying Lin Yi on his back.

Although Zhang Tie hadn't finished speaking earlier, they had already guessed that Lin Yi was definitely infected.

But guessing and confirming were two different things.

Everyone stared at Lin Yi in Wen Ya's arms with complex expressions. Many looked fearful, not daring to come any closer.

Yu Shihao hurriedly brought a glass of water, crouching beside Wen Ya with an anxious look on his face.

"Quick, do as Brother Zhang said, give him the medicine!"

His voice was urgent, seemingly genuine.

While helping to administer the medicine, his left hand discreetly touched Lin Yi's drooping right hand.

Unnoticed by others, his heart raced, and his eyes filled with shock!

"Ding! Epic equipment [Soul Devouring Hand] detected. Bound to target. Will drop upon target's death."

"Ding! Apocalypse-level equipment [Ring of Judgment] (Spatial Ring) detected. Bound to target. Will drop upon target's death."

His pupils constricted violently, his heart pounding.

A strong sense of greed welled up inside him, and Yu Shihao struggled to suppress the urge to snatch the equipment.

Unlike others who still had little understanding of the apocalypse game, Yu Shihao was quite intelligent. His fondness for gaming and novels had allowed him to grasp the concept of the apocalypse game much faster than these middle-aged people.

The first time he touched an ordinary item, he keenly noticed that equipment existed in the apocalypse game.

As information that wasn't particularly hidden, he also learned about the different equipment grades.

Epic and Apocalypse-level equipment! Even without seeing their attributes, he knew how incredibly powerful these two pieces must be.

Watching Wen Ya hold Lin Yi in her arms, he couldn't help but feel jealous.

Why did this player get to have powerful equipment, great strength, and a beautiful woman in his arms, while he could only run like a dog in front of zombies?

Kill him!

Kill Lin Yi and take his equipment!

As murderous intent grew within him, Yu Shihao reluctantly moved his hand away from the ring.

His breathing quickened.

If I just get that equipment, I'll have power too!

Not only that.

He stood up, discreetly eyeing Wen Ya's chest, his throat bobbing.

Wen Ya, who had rushed downstairs, wore a short-sleeved top and shorts, her figure curvy and well-toned from years of working out.

Her long hair tied in a ponytail added a touch of spirited grace to her youthful appearance.

As the former beauty queen of H City's Literature Department, Wen Ya's looks were beyond compare.

Damn, this is the kind of woman I want.

He suddenly remembered Wang Fang, who had died on the eighth floor, and felt a wave of irritation.

His former "girlfriend" was worlds apart from Wen Ya.

Wang Fang's vengeful gaze before her death still haunted his nightmares every night.

Damn it, that ugly bitch.

Not only was she hideous, but she was also stupid enough to die and disturb my sweet dreams!

Kill Lin Yi.

Not only will his power be mine, but his woman will be mine too!

He couldn't help but fantasize about the glory of wielding that equipment and slaughtering his enemies, and how the ice-cold Wen Ya would moan beneath him.

"Wen Ya, you don't need to worry too much. Brother Lin, he..."

Yu Shihao casually offered some words of comfort while his right hand, as if possessed, reached out to embrace Wen Ya's shoulders.

When is a woman most easily moved? When she's vulnerable!

He was confident this trick never failed.

"Swoosh."

What greeted him wasn't a soft body, but the blade of an axe.

Wen Ya pointed the axe blade in his direction, then coldly looked at the seemingly well-intentioned Yu Shihao.

Her eyes were alert.

"I don't need your concern. Stay away from me."

Yu Shihao laughed awkwardly, spreading his hands to show he meant no harm.

Damn bitch.

I swear I'll get you into bed no matter what.

"I'll go find some food for Brother Lin and Brother Zhang."

As he turned to leave, he sighed, as if feeling disheartened.

...

Second Floor

Wen Ya silently watched the still unconscious Lin Yi, her brows furrowed.

It had been three days since Zhang Tie brought Lin Yi back, yet neither of them showed any signs of waking up.

Uncle and Old Huang were consoling the crying Weiwei nearby.

At the door, several middle-aged men holding half-empty water bottles and leftover biscuits looked disgruntled.

"Well, Uncle. It's not that we want to be difficult."

"Water and food are running low. Take it if you want, but if not, there really isn't any more."

Behind them, people brought chains to lock the door, even taking dog chains when there weren't enough.

"Yeah, they still haven't woken up. They might turn into zombies any moment! Why waste food on them?"

The crowd grumbled, growing more uneasy as time passed.

Under the insistence of Wen Ya and Zhang Tie's group, Lin Yi had been force-fed large amounts of medicine.

In their view, Lin Yi hadn't turned into a zombie yet, but it wouldn't be long.

Perhaps some drug was temporarily effective, briefly suppressing the virus.

After all, if it really worked, why hadn't he woken up yet?

Who knew if Lin Yi would turn into a zombie the next second?

"In my opinion, we shouldn't have let him up in the first place!"

"It's making us all anxious. I haven't slept well for two days!"

An older middle-aged woman, standing with her hands on her hips at the back of the crowd, shouted:

"We don't owe him anything! We didn't ask him to kill zombies!"

"That's right, he just did it in passing. It's not like he really came to save us."

Now that Lin Yi and Zhang Tie were unconscious and their intimidating presence was gone, people were no longer afraid.

More and more people gathered, and as everyone came to their senses, some even suggested throwing them out of the building.

After all, even if they were chained up, there was still a great risk.

Wen Ya turned her head, coldly looking at the few people who entered the room.

These people came to make trouble every day, but today they were even more agitated.

The crowd was riled up, and under the instigation of Director Wang's group, many people picked up steel pipes and axes, intending to forcibly throw Lin Yi out.

"Whoever comes close dies."

Wen Ya picked up the fire axe beside her with both hands, her frail figure a stark contrast to the axe she held.

The crowd sneered.

"Little missy, can you even lift that axe?"

"Listen here, this is all the food we have..."

A tattooed man stepped out from the crowd. As one of the few strong men in the hotel, many people who had given up on relying on Lin Yi chose to follow him instead.

"Giving food to these almost-dead people, isn't that a waste?"

He took out a military energy bar from his pocket, broke it into pieces, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Damn, this stuff tastes awful."

Wen Ya's fingers gripping the axe handle turned blue.

The military rations in the man's hand were what Lin Yi had left for her before he left.

It seemed that all the food in her room had been ransacked.

"Food. Give it back to me."

Lin Yi was currently weak, in a constant state of unconsciousness.

Unlike others who believed Lin Yi was in a coma due to fighting the zombie virus, she had touched the equipment like Yu Shihao on the first day.

With the system prompts and her observations, she keenly noticed that the black gloves on Lin Yi's hands occasionally drew some mysterious energy from his body.

The crimson patterns on the gloves were almost completely filled.

Based on her analysis and guesses, Lin Yi's current coma was likely due to the gloves constantly draining his energy, and the lack of energy replenishment.

"Give back?"

"Finders keepers!"

"You want it? Sure. Come have a nice chat with your big brother here, and I might even give you a bit more."

The man leered, his gaze roaming over Wen Ya's body.

On the second day after Zhang Tie's return, Director Wang had teamed up with him to collect all the food in the hotel.

They distributed it daily based on "need," but need was a flexible concept.

The tattooed man sneered.

Just last night, he had managed to sleep with a woman who had been starving for two days in exchange for a bucket of instant noodles. It had been quite enjoyable.

"Aren't you afraid that when Brother Zhang wakes up, he'll settle scores with you?"

Uncle straightened up against the wall, glaring angrily at the tattooed man.

Zhang Tie's condition was much better than Lin Yi's. He had even made some noise a day ago.

Unlike Lin Yi, whose body showed visible wounds from zombies, Zhang Tie's body was intact except for his previously broken arm.

The tattooed man chuckled lightly, but a flicker of apprehension passed through his eyes.

If it weren't for the worry that Zhang Tie might wake up, and these people protecting them, he and Director Wang would have found a way to get rid of Lin Yi long ago.

"Beautiful Wen Ya, why bother protecting someone who's about to die?"

"He might turn into a zombie any second!"

"Why not come with your big brother here? I'll treat you well."

"Besides, I'm sure I'm better in bed than he is."

The tattooed man smiled playfully, then intentionally thrust his hips forward.

Not caring about Wen Ya's reaction, he led the crowd away.

"Bang."

The door closed, and the sound of chains rattling could be heard from outside.

"They've locked us in!?"

Old Huang rushed to the door. People outside were winding chains around it.

Wen Ya remained silent, her previously strong facade now replaced with a look of helplessness and despair.

In her arms, Lin Yi's once robust body had become emaciated, his complexion ashen.

Wake up soon, Lin Yi.

I really... don't know what to do anymore...

Wen Ya silently dissolved her own portion of food in her mouth before feeding it to Lin Yi, then carefully covered his right hand.

Currently, the food for all five people in the room was being given entirely to Lin Yi and Zhang Tie, while everyone else was going hungry.

Everyone knew clearly that if either Zhang Tie or Lin Yi woke up, the situation would turn around.

As for the bandaged girl lying in the corner, she had woken up by herself on the second day.

But no matter what anyone asked her, she didn't respond, just closing her eyes and remaining motionless like a corpse every day.

She didn't even eat.

"Sister Wen Ya, you haven't eaten anything for two days. Why don't you eat mine..."

Zhang Weiwei wiped the tears from her face and approached Wen Ya, holding out half a chocolate bar with teeth marks on it.

Wen Ya shook her head slightly, stroking Weiwei's hair with a smile.

"No need, keep it for yourself."

"Is Brother Lin Yi not going to make it? His face looks scarier and scarier."

Weiwei timidly glanced at Lin Yi's sunken cheeks, full of worry.

"No."

Wen Ya shook her head firmly, her fingers caressing Lin Yi's cheek.

"He'll wake up soon!"