remarkably fortunate

The crowd gathered at the entrance, where Wang Gang spotted a zombie gripping the window bars, snarling at them with feral rage.

Without hesitation, he swung his fist, shattering the creature's skull in a single, decisive blow.

"Master, my dear young lord, you've slain another hundred zombies! You can now initiate a first-tier lottery draw again!"

Sophia's excited voice rang out as she reminded Wang Gang.

He activated the spinning wheel and pressed the button.

This time, he won a weapon—Cold Moon Whip.

Forged from refined steel, the whip was a first-tier weapon. Its handle measured approximately twenty centimeters, while the whip itself extended to nearly two meters, ending in a five-centimeter triple-edged blade.

"Zhang Jingjing, take this whip for self-defense."

Seeing Wang Gang distribute weapons, Qi Hui and the others couldn't help but envy her.

In a world overrun by zombies, possessing a suitable weapon was equivalent to holding onto one's lifeline.

"Boss, Zhang Jingjing is a girl. She's physically weaker and won't be able to wield the whip effectively. Why not give it to me instead?"

Qi Hui fawned over Wang Gang, addressing him as "boss" rather than by name.

He sought to gain Wang Gang's trust, hoping the whip would be handed to him instead.

"Boss, if you entrust me with this weapon, I swear on my life that Zhao Yong and I will stand by your side and protect you, no matter the cost."

To further convince him, Qi Hui pounded his chest in solemn assurance.

But Wang Gang saw through his lies without a second thought.

"Oh? If you're so loyal, then why didn't you open the door for me earlier? And when Zhu Qianli's food was divided, why was I excluded?"

Zhu Qianli, the girl pecked to death by infected crows, had left behind supplies. Qi Hui had secretly distributed them—but not to Wang Gang or Zhao Yong. Instead, he shared them with two other boys, forming a small clique of their own.

Exposed, Qi Hui's face flushed red, and he found himself at a loss for words.

Ignoring him, Wang Gang pushed open the heavy iron gate and stepped outside.

As he walked, he turned to Zhang Jingjing and said, "Guard that Cold Moon Whip well. If anyone dares to covet it, I'll kill them."

His words were meant not just for her but as a warning to everyone else.

Qi Hui and the others shuddered involuntarily. They had indeed been eyeing the whip moments ago.

Inside the eighth floor, only two zombies lurked.

For Wang Gang, they posed no challenge, but he wanted Zhao Yong and Zhang Jingjing to hone their skills.

"Zhao Yong, Zhang Jingjing, take them down."

Zhao Yong nodded, gripped his cleaver, and charged forward.

Zhang Jingjing hesitated, fear evident in her eyes.

Sensing her trepidation, Wang Gang encouraged her, "If you want to survive—if you want to see your parents again—then fight! That is the only way to grow stronger."

Biting her lip, Zhang Jingjing clenched the Cold Moon Whip and followed Zhao Yong into battle.

The zombies, sensing fresh prey, let out guttural roars and lunged at them.

Unlike before, Zhao Yong no longer wavered. With precise timing, he swung his cleaver in a brilliant arc, aiming for the zombie's neck.

A flash of steel, and the zombie's head flew off, its body stumbling forward another meter before collapsing with a heavy thud.

Zhang Jingjing, however, shut her eyes and lashed out with her whip.

A sharp snap echoed as the Cold Moon Whip struck the zombie's chest. The triple-edged blade at its tip tore through flesh, but failed to deal a fatal blow.

Undeterred, the zombie pounced toward her.

Seeing her struggle, Zhao Yong was reminded of his own first battle against a zombie. With a quiet sigh, he swiftly stepped in and beheaded the creature.

"Zhang Jingjing, you can't close your eyes when fighting zombies!"

"Sorry... I was just scared."

Wang Gang walked over, a faint smile on his lips. "Not bad. You're a girl, yet you managed to swing the whip on your first encounter. That means you have potential. Let's move to the seventh floor."

Leading the group downward, Wang Gang found that the seventh floor had twice the number of zombies—four in total.

He still did not intervene.

Zhao Yong, fearless and relentless, dispatched three of them before helping Zhang Jingjing finish the last one.

The sixth floor housed seven zombies, proving to be a greater challenge.

But Wang Gang remained the ever-watchful guardian. The moment danger arose, his arrows would find their mark, ensuring their survival.

Qi Hui and the others?

They did nothing.

They had no intention of fighting. They wanted to reap the rewards of Wang Gang's efforts, letting him and his allies clear the way for them.

To them, Zhao Yong and Zhang Jingjing were fools, willingly risking their lives against zombies.

After all, one scratch, one bite—that was a death sentence.

They failed to realize that Wang Gang was training the two, forging them into warriors.

An hour later, they reached the first floor.

By then, Wang Gang had slain ninety-seven first-tier zombies.

Zhao Yong had killed eighteen.

Zhang Jingjing had lagged behind, managing only three.

But Wang Gang noticed something: she no longer quivered with fear. Her strikes had become sharper, more precise.

Unfortunately, she was still limited by her strength. Even when she struck a zombie's vital points, she lacked the power to deliver a fatal blow.

The first floor was swarming with zombies.

After killing three more, Wang Gang earned another lottery draw.

While continuing to cut down zombies, he spun the wheel once more.

This time, he won... a small bird.

Seeing the frail, hatchling-like creature, Wang Gang froze.

He had expected a weapon, food, or perhaps some useful supplies—but a bird?

"Master, my dear young lord! Congratulations! Your luck is truly extraordinary—you've drawn a Lingyu Skyhawk!"

Sophia's voice was filled with excitement.

"What does it do?"

Wang Gang found himself unimpressed. He would have preferred a weapon upgrade token—something practical, something to enhance his or his allies' arsenal.

"Master, my dear young lord, the Lingyu Skyhawk is a rare companion. It can soar high above, scouting enemies for you. It can also ward off undead crows, pigeons, and eagles, ensuring you a peaceful rest in the wild."

Hearing her explanation, Wang Gang reconsidered.

Indeed, should he face another swarm of undead birds, this hawk could prove invaluable.

"But how do I raise it? It looks no different from a newborn—it hasn't even opened its eyes yet."

"Master, my dear young lord, you can feed it your blood. That way, it will bond with you, recognizing you as its master. Your blood will also accelerate its growth. Don't forget—you are now a second-tier Berserker. Your blood is its most potent nourishment."

4o