A Fake Holy Mother in the Zombie Apocalypse

They discussed the manpower arrangements for guarding the gate for a while, then moved on to other topics.

Someone suggested, "After something like this, those who work or study outside shouldn't be allowed back in, right?"

"Exactly! They're usually not around, but the moment trouble arises, they're the first to come running back."

Some genuinely worried that outsiders might accidentally bring the zombie virus in, which would spell the end for Yao Town.

Others harbored selfish motives, using the opportunity to vent their frustrations. Those whose families had members working outside generally had better living conditions, a fact that had long been a source of envy.

Those with family members outside objected, "We're all from Yao Town. Why can you stay here, but my children can't come back? My family contributed even more money than yours for the last road repair!"

"Luo's eldest son was wrong to sneak back while injured, but you can't condemn everyone who's outside because of one person!"

"Exactly! My daughter and son-in-law want to come back. They'll follow the rules and undergo proper inspection. Who are they offending?"

They argued fiercely, each clinging to their own perspective.

Finally, they decided to re-examine the wounds of everyone in the old town. From now on, only Yao Town natives would be allowed in after thorough inspection; no outsiders would be admitted.

Bei Nuan, tired of the bickering, tuned them out.

The iron rod to the waist described in the book—Bei Nuan had managed to avoid that.

However, there was still no sign of Princess Li Dahua's wish being fulfilled.

Li Dahua's name on the mission panel still had a hopeless (0/3) glaring next to it.

Lu Xingchi showed no intention of leaving. Bei Nuan, as usual, stayed close by his side.

She finally endured until the meeting ended.

The group, likely parched from arguing, hurried home for refreshments.

As Xie Yuanqing passed Lu Xingchi, he smiled, seemingly thanking him for his help today.

Lu Xingchi responded with a curt twitch of his lips.

Several clan leaders approached, first thanking Lu Xingchi for helping find the infected person, then tentatively asking him for another favor.

Having witnessed Lu Xingchi's skills firsthand, they hoped he would lead a search of all the potential hiding places in town.

They were terrified that there might be more infected individuals.

Yao Town couldn't withstand another outbreak.

Bei Nuan thought, Lu Xingchi definitely won't agree. He's not their babysitter.

As expected, Lu Xingchi politely declined.

Searching the entire town wasn't a task that could be completed quickly, and he didn't want to stay here for long.

However, Lu Xingchi agreed to spend some time teaching the inexperienced townspeople how to deal with zombies.

While they discussed serious matters, Xie Yuanqing's gaze fell on Bei Nuan's face. He lowered his voice, "Remember to come visit Dahua when you have time."

His voice, deep and magnetic, was still incredibly pleasant to the ear.

Bei Nuan, having witnessed his interrogation methods, found him a bit intimidating.

However, with the mission incomplete, she had to continue visiting his Li Dahua.

Bei Nuan nodded in agreement.

Lu Xingchi went off with the townspeople. Bei Nuan returned to Xiao Ji's house and sat for a while, then slipped away again when no one was watching.

This time, Dahua was still perched on the wall, elegantly curling its paws, gazing melancholically at the scenery.

Bei Nuan softly called out, "Dahua—"

Xie Yuanqing's voice immediately came from the courtyard, "You're here? Come in."

Dahua resignedly jumped down from the wall and reluctantly walked to the wicker chair in the courtyard, preparing to receive Bei Nuan's "loving embrace."

Bei Nuan entered Xie Yuanqing's house without hesitation.

Xie Yuanqing sat under the flower trellis in the courtyard, a complete tea set arranged on a small table before him, brewing tea.

After such a major incident, he still appeared relaxed and at ease.

Sunlight filtered through the interwoven vines and leaves of the trellis, casting dappled shadows on his handsome face.

Hearing Bei Nuan enter, he looked up, his eyes still deep and dark as ink, but a pleasant curve graced his lips.

The book contained a several-hundred-word description of Xie Yuanqing's character.

Bei Nuan understood his personality well, perhaps even better than he knew himself.

He was definitely not a good person in the traditional sense. He was scheming, resourceful, and, when necessary, quite ruthless.

However, according to the book, he wasn't truly a bad person either.

The goals he pursued through various means were all justifiable.

For instance, he beat Luo Er only to force a confession. He took control of Yao Town's gate because the locals were too unreliable.

Having him take charge of Yao Town was clearly the best option for everyone.

With the plot in mind, Bei Nuan wasn't overly worried.

Bei Nuan walked familiarly towards the wicker chair.

As she sat down, Xie Yuanqing's first words were an explanation.

"I didn't really want anyone to hit that mother and daughter. I just thought it would force him to confess."

Bei Nuan, having already realized this, gave him a bright smile.

Seeing Bei Nuan's smile, Xie Yuanqing seemed relieved, his expression relaxing.

He finished brewing the tea and offered a cup to Bei Nuan with the tea tongs.

"I came from west of the Yan River. It's full of zombies everywhere. This place, with its beautiful scenery, is a rare haven. Protecting it isn't easy, and some things are unavoidable."

Steam curled from the tea, its aroma pleasant.

Xie Yuanqing took a sip of tea himself. "Yao Town is a truly wonderful place. Once you settle in, you don't want to leave."

The warm tea soothed Bei Nuan, and she sighed contentedly. "Yes, it's practically a paradise."

Xie Yuanqing looked into her eyes and smiled faintly in agreement.

Dahua dutifully stood by the wicker chair for a while, then suddenly realized that the two were engrossed in conversation, completely ignoring it.

So, was this a pardon?

Dahua glanced surreptitiously at Xie Yuanqing, quickly lowered its body, and attempted to slip under the wicker chair.

However, a familiar large hand scooped it up by the waist.

Xie Yuanqing lifted it and, as usual, stuffed it into Bei Nuan's arms.

Dahua: "…"

"Dahua! I haven't seen you all day. Did you miss me?"

Bei Nuan's enthusiastic voice came from above, and the "claws of doom" descended again, ruffling the sacred fur on its head.

Dahua lay down on Bei Nuan's lap with practiced indifference, trying to curl itself into a small ball.

Utterly resigned.

Bei Nuan stayed at Xie Yuanqing's place until dark, still unable to discern Li Dahua's wish.

However, she discovered that the seemingly deep and calculating Xie Yuanqing was quite interesting.

His background was clearly shady, his "business" questionable, yet he was completely open with Bei Nuan. He had traveled extensively, experienced a complex life, and could effortlessly recount interesting stories on any topic.

He didn't find Bei Nuan childish and answered all her questions.

Apart from the abnormal Huo Ren, everyone Bei Nuan had closely interacted with was different from him.

For example, her father, Lu Xingchi, and Du Ruo.

Tang Tang went without saying. Even Jiang Fei, who claimed to be an ex-convict and often spoke strangely, always acted righteously when it mattered.

It was the first time Bei Nuan had encountered someone like Xie Yuanqing, half in the shadows, half in the light, and she couldn't help but be drawn to his intriguing nature.

Bei Nuan lingered at Xie Yuanqing's place until dinner, then returned to Xiao Ji's house.

Quite a while later, as the sky blazed with colorful clouds and the house grew dark, requiring lamps to be lit, Lu Xingchi returned, saying that the matter wasn't resolved and he'd have to continue tomorrow.

With so many people in the team staying at Xiao Ji's house and constantly eating their food, it seemed inappropriate. So, Jiang Fei cooked several dishes for dinner, setting them on the small wooden table in the courtyard.

However, Xiao Ji's father insisted on bringing out a large bucket of their homemade sweet glutinous rice wine for everyone to enjoy.

The wine was pale gold, sweet, and very palatable.

Bei Nuan, hugging her glass, poured herself cup after cup without needing any prompting.

By the time Lu Xingchi noticed, she had already lost count of how much she'd drunk.

Her face flushed, she happily clung to Xiao Ji's mother's arm.

"This is so delicious! I've never had such good wine."

Xiao Ji's mother, who had no daughters of her own, was fond of Bei Nuan. She smiled, "This wine has a very low alcohol content. It's fine to drink a bit more. Just sleep it off, and you'll be fine tomorrow morning."

She refilled Bei Nuan's glass to the brim.

Bei Nuan suddenly struggled to stand up from the small stool. "We can't just drink your wine for free. We have wine too, though it's not as good as yours."

She stumbled into the house and emerged moments later with her backpack, pulling out several bottles of liquor.

All were famous brands of baijiu, which she insisted on pouring for Xiao Ji's parents.

Lu Xingchi thought, She's drunk, but she still hasn't forgotten to deceive people.

She even knows to go back to the room and grab a bag as a cover, instead of pulling the alcohol directly out of her space and scaring them to death.

A drunk little con artist is still a little con artist.

Xiao Ji's father praised Bei Nuan's baijiu, and even Xiao Ji's mother tried a little. Bei Nuan, however, only held her rice wine happily.

Lu Xingchi, with much persuasion, managed to prevent her from finishing the entire glass.

As darkness deepened, Lu Xingchi helped Bei Nuan stand. "She's drunk. I'll take her back to her room to sleep."

Du Ruo gave him a suspicious look, warning, "Don't take advantage of her."

Jiang Fei stood up and also reached out to help Bei Nuan. "I'll help you."

Lu Xingchi gently pulled Bei Nuan back, avoiding Jiang Fei's hand.

The two men stared at each other for several seconds. Jiang Fei smiled and didn't insist, sitting back down.

Lu Xingchi led Bei Nuan back to her room.

The old house was spacious, and Xiao Ji's mother had already prepared a separate room for Bei Nuan.

With no electricity, Xiao Ji's mother had retrieved the kerosene lamp they used during power outages and placed it on the table beside the bed.

Lu Xingchi settled Bei Nuan on the bed, and, using the dim light from outside, lit the lamp on the table, adjusting the wick.

The small flame flickered within the partially open glass cover, and the distinctive smell of kerosene filled the air.

Bei Nuan rested her head on her hand, watching Lu Xingchi light the lamp.

Suddenly, Bei Nuan said, "Lu Xingchi, I'm so tired."

Lu Xingchi glanced back at her but didn't speak.

Bei Nuan continued, "I've been forced to travel so far, busy every day. I don't want to go anywhere. I just want to stay in a place like this, working at sunrise, resting at sunset, drinking rice wine, playing with cats, and being buried on the back hill when I die. That would be nice."

Lu Xingchi replied indifferently, "You're a rookie player who hasn't even left the beginner village, and you're already thinking about retiring? Wherever there are people, there's trouble. It's not as idyllic as you imagine. Have you forgotten the argument on the hilltop today?"

Bei Nuan immediately deflated.

Lu Xingchi's lips curved slightly. He sat down beside her, put his arm around her, and stroked her hair.

"One day, we'll find a safe place where you can drink your rice wine in peace."

Bei Nuan looked up at him.

Her face, half-lit by the lamplight, was bathed in a golden halo.

Her eyes, gazing at Lu Xingchi from such close proximity, were a little hazy, perhaps due to the rice wine, unlike their usual clarity.

Lu Xingchi restrained himself and stroked her hair again. "It's late. Go to sleep."

Bei Nuan obediently nodded, pulling the pillow behind her.

She leaned back, her combat jacket unzipped. It was too hot, and she wasn't wearing her stab-proof vest underneath, only a close-fitting white T-shirt.

Lu Xingchi's gaze involuntarily drifted downwards.

Bei Nuan's voice suddenly broke the silence.

"What are you looking at?"

Lu Xingchi snapped back to reality, slightly embarrassed.

Bei Nuan's tone was accusatory. "Lu Xingchi, you want to take advantage of me being drunk and find out where my space is, don't you? Don't you?"

She blinked innocently, seemingly proud of her cleverness.

"I've hidden it very well. You'll never find it."

Bei Nuan said smugly, practically beaming with pride.

Lu Xingchi reigned in his wandering thoughts. "Yes, you're very clever. I'll never find it."

When drunk, she seemed at least ten years younger.

Guilt washed over Lu Xingchi. He helped her adjust her combat jacket and zipped it up.

Bei Nuan lay still, confused. "I'm about to go to sleep. Why are you helping me get dressed?"

She sat up and struggled to take off the combat jacket, tossing it aside.

Lu Xingchi gritted his teeth.

"Fine, go to sleep." Lu Xingchi lowered the lamp's wick and stood up.

As he reached the door, he heard her sigh, turn over, and murmur, "I really want to stay here and not leave."

The next day, Lu Xingchi left after breakfast to finish teaching the townspeople what he hadn't covered yesterday.

Primarily, he taught them methods for killing zombies, how to quickly and effectively inflict damage, and how to protect themselves from infection while fighting.

Before leaving, he glanced at Du Ruo.

With the immediate crisis averted, everyone had relaxed considerably.

Du Ruo, Xiao Ji, and Tang Tang were in the courtyard, kicking a shuttlecock and shouting excitedly.

The three of them looked utterly unreliable.

Lu Xingchi had no choice but to turn to Jiang Fei.

"Keep an eye on her. Don't let her wander off." Lu Xingchi instructed Jiang Fei.

"Okay," Jiang Fei agreed with a smile. "Don't worry too much. She's not a child."

Bei Nuan, who had overheard, protested, "Exactly! The town is so small, and the gates are closed. Where could I possibly go?"

Lu Xingchi smiled and turned to leave.

As soon as he was gone, Bei Nuan slipped away.

Du Ruo asked Jiang Fei in confusion, "Didn't Lu Xingchi ask you to watch Bei Nuan?"

Jiang Fei smiled. "The infected person has been found. There shouldn't be any more trouble here. This is a rare safe place. She's been cooped up. Let her have some fun."

Lu Xingchi was so busy that day that he ate lunch with the townspeople.

When he returned in the evening, it was already late, and Bei Nuan was asleep.

Lu Xingchi hesitated at her door for a long time, but, still worried, he quietly opened the closed door like a thief.

She was sleeping peacefully on the bed, a sweet smile on her face, as if dreaming of something pleasant.

Lu Xingchi stood by her bed for a while.

Fortunately, everything had been resolved smoothly, and she wasn't injured.

Lu Xingchi calculated the time, thinking, One more day, and we can leave.

On the third day, Lu Xingchi left early in the morning, finished everything as quickly as possible before noon, and returned to Xiao Ji's house.

Du Ruo and Tang Tang had gone off somewhere with Xiao Ji, and Jiang Fei was in the backyard helping Xiao Ji's father with the vegetables.

Bei Nuan was nowhere to be seen.

Lu Xingchi knew exactly where she had gone.

Lu Xingchi made his way to the hilltop, asking around until he found Xie Yuanqing's house.

He simply gave his name, and the guard let him in.

Sure enough, Bei Nuan was there.

She was sitting alone on the wicker chair under the flower trellis, holding Xie Yuanqing's ginger cat in her lap.

Her hair, at some point, had become wavy, and she wore a blue and white batik shawl that Lu Xingchi had never seen before.

The shawl's tassels swayed gently as she stroked the cat, and her curled hair shimmered in the sunlight.

Her eyes were half-closed, as if veiled in a misty haze, giving her pure face a touch of alluring charm.

She looked unfamiliar, completely unlike herself.

It was as if her appearance screamed, "Gangster's moll."

Seeing Lu Xingchi, Bei Nuan forced a smile and asked cheerfully, "Are you here for tea too?"

Lu Xingchi didn't answer.

He first scanned the courtyard for any metal objects, then looked for Xie Yuanqing.

Xie Yuanqing emerged from the house, directing his men to carry out a complete set of ebony tea trays and teacups.

He wasn't surprised to see Lu Xingchi; instead, he smiled.

"You've arrived just in time. I was about to have Bei Nuan try a new tea. Bei Nuan seems to have something to tell you as well. Bei Nuan?"

Bei Nuan looked up and gave Lu Xingchi a radiant smile.

"Lu Xingchi, I've thought about it for a long time, and I've decided not to leave. I'm staying here."

Her tone was light, her demeanor sincere.

"Haven't you always wanted to find a good place to leave me? I think this place is perfect. I don't want to travel with you anymore."

"Indeed," Xie Yuanqing added. "Yao Town is relatively remote, with few zombies. It's quite safe."

Bei Nuan nodded seriously. "It's very safe here. There are so few zombies nearby."

Xie Yuanqing continued, "As long as we have people guarding the town gate, we can preserve this paradise."

Bei Nuan continued to nod seriously. "The town gate is truly important! We must guard it well!"

Xie Yuanqing couldn't help but smile at her. "I think even if you find a safe zone, it might not be any better than here."

Bei Nuan parroted him. "A safe zone might not be that great! It's hard to say."

Xie Yuanqing sat down and poured boiling water over the teapot, creating wisps of steam.

"I can guarantee her safety. You don't have to worry."

Bei Nuan tilted her head innocently and waved generously at Lu Xingchi. "He can guarantee my safety. Don't worry! You can leave without concern!"

Lu Xingchi: "…"

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