Chapter 41: Everyone Has a First Time

Xiao Yang called out to Tang Ying and her group.

"Is there anything else?" Tang Ying turned and asked coolly.

"I can take you to the nearest police station, but you need to keep an eye on your colleague. Once bitten by a zombie, they'll turn—no one can save them."

Xiao Yang hadn't changed his mind out of pity. Instead, he'd suddenly remembered Tang Ying's name and identity from his past life. In his memories, she was the legendary "Archery Goddess," famed for striking down enemies from miles away during the apocalypse. Rumor had it she'd been a police captain before the world collapsed. The Tang Ying before him fit that description perfectly. Recruiting her would drastically boost their chances of survival. Helping her now was non-negotiable.

Tang Ying's tension eased slightly when Xiao Yang agreed to escort them, but her face tightened again at his warning about her injured colleague. She stepped closer, her voice low and urgent. "Are you serious?"

Xiao Yang nodded.

"Is there any way to save him?" Tang Ying asked, clinging to a shred of hope. Though she'd seen zombies rip apart her teammates, she still believed a minor bite might not be fatal.

"If you'd amputated the arm immediately after the bite, maybe. But now…" Xiao Yang shook his head. "He's done for."

Tang Ying froze for a split second before forcing calm into her tone. "Let's move quickly. We won't burden you further."

She turned and helped her injured colleague back into the armored RV. Xiao Yang urged everyone else inside and floored the accelerator toward the university district's police substation.

Twenty minutes later, the RV roared into the station's compound. The courtyard was littered with headless zombies, and the shattered glass doors of the main building hinted at chaos within.

"Thank you for the ride. You can leave now," Tang Ying said, saluting Xiao Yang before instructing her subordinate, "Xiao Jiang, take Xiao Liu to a secure room. I'll check the armory for ammo." She whispered something to Xiao Jiang, who glanced at Xiao Yang and Xiao Liu before nodding solemnly.

As Xiao Jiang escorted the wounded officer away, Tang Ying and her K-9 unit, Yangyang, headed deeper into the building. Xiao Yang had no intention of leaving—he needed ammunition and couldn't pass up this chance.

"Stay here and guard the entrance," he told Mu Wanqing and the others, unsheathing his Tang blade as he followed Tang Ying.

"Why are you still here?" Tang Ying frowned when she noticed him trailing her.

"Just lending a hand, Captain. We'll leave once the area's secure." His earnest expression disarmed her. Knowing his combat skills matched hers, she allowed him to tag along.

Yangyang sniffed ahead cautiously while Xiao Yang marveled inwardly: Two Yangs protecting you—you're lucky!

They reached a staircase leading to the basement. The password-locked door stood ajar, and Xiao Yang followed Tang Ying into the dim underground level. Pulling a flashlight from his spatial storage, he flicked it on without warning, making Tang Ying jump. She shot him an annoyed glare but said nothing.

Frustrated by her slow progress, Xiao Yang nudged her aside and knocked firmly on a nearby door. Thud! Thud! Thud! The echoes faded without response.

"No zombies here," Xiao Yang declared. "If there were, they'd have charged at the noise. Remember—sound draws them."

"Noted," Tang Ying replied, curiosity flickering in her eyes. Who was this man with such precise survival instincts?

They soon found the armory. The open door was both a relief and a concern—while they'd avoided a locked barrier, someone might've looted the supplies. Inside, cabinets hung open, pistols scattered on the floor, and bullets strewn across shelves.

Tang Ying hurried to gather ammo while Xiao Yang discreetly used his spatial ability to swipe a pistol and several bullet boxes, along with handcuffs and batons. By the time Tang Ying finished reloading her gun, the armory looked picked clean—though she didn't seem to notice.

"What are you waiting for? Grab whatever's useful!" she snapped, catching Xiao Yang standing idle.

He feigned excitement and picked up a pistol.

"Do you even know how to use that?" Tang Ying mocked.

"Hey! Everyone has a first time!" Xiao Yang shot back, irritation flaring. "Fire once, and I'll figure it out!"