A Fake Holy Mother in the Zombie Apocalypse

Grandma Wolf forced herself to remain calm. Clutching her gun, she led her men carefully across the dock and onto the shore.

They finally figured out what was making the strange noise.

A metal lamppost, originally standing upright beside the dock, now lay horizontally across the road, as if crushed by some immense force.

And it was still slowly bending further down.

“Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack.”

The cracking sound was the lamppost slowly breaking away from its base.

In the dead of night, with no one around, there was no reason for a perfectly good lamppost to suddenly collapse.

Skinny grabbed his boss, panicked. “Brother… should we run?”

Grandma Wolf, being the boss, said calmly, “Don't be afraid. Walk slowly, be careful. Maybe ‘it’ wants us to run.”

‘It’? Who was ‘it’?

His words made it even more frightening, and the group trembled.

Grandma Wolf and her men, all holding guns, cautiously edged forward with Bei Nuan and the others.

Skinny's voice quivered, “I think that thing by the river is still following us…”

Bei Nuan silently applauded him in her heart.

Correct! He was following them. So large, wearing a white shirt, and quite handsome. Couldn't they see him?

Seeing the bent lamppost, Jiang Fei knew who was behind it and smiled, but said nothing.

Du Ruo, taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, quietly asked Lu Xingchi, “Why are you scaring them?”

“It's fun,” the big boss Lu replied childishly, without even raising an eyebrow.

Once on the dock, Bei Nuan realized just how large the island truly was.

Not only were there the large houses they had seen from the shore, but there was also a vast mountain behind them, seemingly covered entirely in trees.

The lake acted as a moat, a natural barrier against the non-swimming zombies. As an extra precaution, a wall surrounded the entire island.

The wall appeared to have originally been made of wood, but many sections had been replaced with more robust stone. The construction seemed unfinished.

Thoroughly spooked by Lu Xingchi, Grandma Wolf's group finally shuffled to the heavily fortified main gate.

The gate was tightly shut.

Grandma Wolf knocked a few times, and a small window in the gate opened.

The guard inside peered out before opening the gate.

The guards seemed to know Grandma Wolf well. Seeing her with Lu Xingchi and the others, they joked, “Picked up a few more, eh? Business is good lately.”

Grandma Wolf responded vaguely, unwilling to elaborate.

After everyone had been checked for injuries, as was customary, Grandma Wolf led Lu Xingchi and the others inside.

Even though it was the middle of the night, the island was bustling with activity.

Low, densely packed single-story houses, mostly built of mud, stone, and straw, stood haphazardly arranged.

Narrow streets separated the houses, and many people were still out and about.

Some were setting up stalls to sell goods, while others gathered in small groups, creating a night market atmosphere.

The goods on offer were diverse.

Many were worn-out everyday items scavenged from who knows where, along with some oddly shaped food items.

Most stalls were lit by pine oil torches.

There were also simple solar lamps, emitting a faint glow that illuminated the items displayed on tattered cloths.

Grandma Wolf led the group through the lively night market, deeper into the island.

Further in, the terrain became rugged as they approached the mountains, where a huge cave entrance loomed.

The cave appeared to be the last line of defense. An iron gate covered the lower half of the entrance, guarded by sentries.

It seemed that if zombies managed to breach the lake and the high walls, the islanders could retreat into the cave.

The cave appeared deep and complex, lit by torches. Axe marks scarred many parts of the rock walls, suggesting it was artificially excavated.

Many people lived within the cave, sleeping in blankets within various-sized caverns and passages.

Grandma Wolf navigated the intricate cave system as if she were at home, finally reaching her destination.

It was a relatively open area where several people sat around a table, boisterously playing cards.

“Old Hu, I've brought you some more people.”

Grandma Wolf patted a man's back.

The man, Old Hu, turned around.

He was stooped and thin, his face ashen, as if he were seriously ill.

He threw down his cards and approached, his dull, lifeless eyes scanning Lu Xingchi and the others.

“Newcomers? Let me be clear. While safety is guaranteed here, you have to work for your food if you want to stay.”

He explained the rules, which Bei Nuan listened to half-heartedly.

The book had already made it clear: staying on this island meant becoming a laborer.

The island had originally housed a local armed force. Later, due to local conflicts, they became bandits.

After the zombie outbreak, while the outside world was in chaos, this island remained temporarily safe, but they needed to become self-sufficient.

Accustomed to a comfortable life, the armed personnel didn't want to work, so they gathered survivors to be their laborers.

Their primary tasks included logging, farming, building the stone wall around the island, and even venturing out to scavenge for supplies.

Thus, despite the apocalypse, the island's population had actually increased, creating a strange sense of normalcy.

While everyone who came was a laborer, their freedom wasn't restricted.

The island was only so big, escape was impossible, and with zombies everywhere, no one in their right mind would want to leave anyway.

They didn't force anyone to work either.

Because without work, there was no pay, no food, and ultimately, death by starvation.

Therefore, to live in this safe haven and have food to eat, the laborers toiled diligently every day.

Life was hard, the work arduous, and the pay meager, barely enough to survive.

Grandma Wolf and her group specialized in bringing people to the island.

They were paid monthly based on the number of people they brought back. Younger, stronger individuals earned them more.

In short, they were human traffickers.

Old Hu was in charge of registering the laborers. All newcomers had to be registered with him.

Old Hu asked Bei Nuan and the others for their names and ages, recording them in a ledger. Then he turned, unlocked a cabinet, and brought out a wooden box.

The box was full of small metal tags with strings attached.

Bei Nuan peeked inside. The tags were thin, roughly made circular metal discs, about four or five centimeters in diameter, each stamped with a single large letter.

Old Hu rummaged through the box for a long time, finally finding a tag with an "A" on it, which he handed to Lu Xingchi.

After searching a bit more, he found one with an "F" and gave it to Bei Nuan.

He instructed, "Wear it around your neck."

Like dog tags.

The book hadn't mentioned these lettered tags, but Bei Nuan had a hunch.

Lu Xingchi getting an A and Bei Nuan an F most likely referred to physical condition.

With Lu Xingchi's physique, an A was well-deserved.

As for Bei Nuan, being as weak as she was, an F wasn't entirely unfair.

Jiang Fei also came to receive his tag. Old Hu sized him up, likely impressed by the tight muscle definition visible beneath his clothes despite his slender frame, and also gave him an A.

Then he picked out a C and handed it to Tang Tang.

Du Ruo, who had been waiting impatiently, rubbed his hands, his eyes fixed eagerly on Old Hu.

Old Hu scrutinized him like he was picking vegetables at a market, rummaged through the pile of tags, and pulled out a B.

Du Ruo instantly exploded.

“Why do they both get A’s, and I only get a B? I've never gotten a B in my life!”

Old Hu, probably never encountering someone who argued with his assessment, was stunned for a moment before explaining, “A B is already very good.”

Even Grandma Wolf chimed in, “Go out and see for yourself. It's rare to see a B on this island.” He pulled out his own tag. “Look, mine is only a C. A C is good enough.”

Tang Tang added, “Brother Du, I also got a C.”

Bei Nuan also tried to comfort Du Ruo, “Look at me, I got an F.”

“You guys are just complacent,” Du Ruo replied with an air of disappointment, continuing to pester Old Hu.

Old Hu stood his ground, refusing to change his mind.

One of the card players called out to Old Hu, “Are you done yet? It's just registering a few people, why are you taking so long?”

Exasperated by Du Ruo's persistence, Old Hu took another look at him, suddenly freezing.

He actually went back to the pile of tags and picked out an A for him.

Finally holding the A tag, Du Ruo was satisfied, happily hanging the hard-won dog tag around his neck like a precious treasure.

Grandma Wolf whispered something to Old Hu, then politely addressed Lu Xingchi and the others, “You guys have your own tents, so we won't issue you blankets, alright?”

Since they received their A tags, Grandma Wolf's tone had become considerably more polite.

However, she still pocketed the blankets that were supposed to be given to new laborers.

Perhaps feeling slightly guilty about taking the blankets, Grandma Wolf added, “Your tents are pretty good. No one will dare to rob you, probably. But watch out for thieves.”

This was true.

The book mentioned that the island had no laws; it was a place where the strong preyed on the weak. Robbery and theft were commonplace.

The island's management only intervened when things got too out of hand.

Usually, they would simply tie up both parties involved and throw them into the lake.

Or, if a gang among the laborers became too powerful, they would eliminate the leaders, maintaining a state of chaotic disorder among the laborers that was most beneficial to the management.

By the time they left Old Hu, it was late.

With the island so large and free to roam, the group found a spot away from the crowds and the market to set up their tents.

Lu Xingchi volunteered to help Bei Nuan with her tent, asking in a low voice, “Aren't you going to ask me why we came here?”

Bei Nuan, still busy with the tent poles, replied casually, “No need to ask. Wherever you go, I'll follow.”

Lu Xingchi was taken aback, completely unprepared for her answer.

He instinctively looked down at her eyes.

Sensing his gaze, Bei Nuan looked up and gave him a sweet smile.

Her eyes, clear as water in the moonlight, held a look of calm confidence, without a trace of evasion or hesitation.

It was a heartfelt truth—

Wherever Lu Xingchi went, following him was the right thing to do. The destination didn't matter; the key was to stay within his sight to increase her Saintess points.

Bei Nuan was speaking the truth, with a clear conscience.

This time, it was Lu Xingchi who had something to hide.

He had prepared a whole set of explanations, ready on the tip of his tongue, and had even rehearsed in his mind the various questions she might ask and how to answer them.

Now, looking into her eyes, he forgot all those carefully crafted explanations.

According to the system's rules, Lu Xingchi had to come to this island to check in and stay for a certain period.

Encountering the island's human traffickers played right into his hands.

He had already figured out how to explain to Bei Nuan and the others why he had to come to this island.

He hadn't expected Bei Nuan to not ask a single question, just following him like a little tail.

What was even more surprising was that Du Ruo, Jiang Fei, and the others hadn't questioned him either.

Everyone trusted his judgment unconditionally, following him without complaint or doubt.

Lu Xingchi's throat felt dry.

He still needed to explain his reasons for coming here; it was an important matter.

“The reason I came here is… Bei Nuan, did you notice the three-lined symbol on their van?”

Bei Nuan tried hard to recall but couldn't.

It was too dark by the lake, and her attention had been focused on the small wooden boat.

Lu Xingchi picked up a branch and drew the symbol on the ground.

It was three semi-circular arcs arranged like petals in a "品" shape, with an eye in the center.

“I've seen this symbol somewhere else,” Lu Xingchi said.

“A few days ago, at the Ninth Prison Shelter, I searched the guards' small building and saw this symbol on some torn pieces of paper.”

This was true. There was indeed a symbol on the van identical to the one found on the paper scraps at the Ninth Prison Shelter.

Bei Nuan thought for a moment. “But that doesn't necessarily mean anything.”

Lu Xingchi nodded. “True. But it's a lead.”

Bei Nuan thought he was right.

Both Huo Ren and the mysterious person who injected Du Ruo with the virus suppressant were enigmas, and there was a high probability of a connection between them.

The virus in Du Ruo was only temporarily suppressed, and it was unknown how long it would last. If there was a lead, no matter how small, it was worth pursuing.

His reasoning was sound.

Lu Xingchi explained this to the others, and everyone agreed with his thinking.

“We're not in a hurry anyway,” Tang Tang said.

Jiang Fei concurred. “Indeed, finding a lead on the suppressant is more important.”

Du Ruo was deeply moved.

He looked at everyone, his tone sincere, “If I ever become the Zombie King, even if I wipe out all of humanity, I'll create a special human sanctuary just for you guys, keep you as mascots, and feed you delicious food every day.”

Everyone: “…”

Grandma Wolf's prediction proved correct. Even though they had set up their tents away from the crowds, they were still targeted.

Tents, offering shelter from the elements, were valuable commodities on this resource-scarce island.

In the middle of the night, someone came for their tents.

Bei Nuan was sleeping soundly when she suddenly felt her entire tent moving.

Peeking out, she saw four or five people outside, two of whom were dragging her tent.

Bei Nuan felt like she was sitting in a small car, being slowly towed away.

Bei Nuan: ?

Tang Tang, who had fallen asleep during his watch, finally seemed to hear the commotion and woke up abruptly. “Who are you? What are you stealing?”

Lu Xingchi and Jiang Fei also emerged from their tents.

Bei Nuan unzipped her tent and poked her head out. “You're stealing the tent, fine, but you don't have to steal me with it, do you?”

Even if she was a bit thin and small, and her head had been hidden in the thick sleeping bag, she shouldn't be that invisible, right?

Even at a time like this, Lu Xingchi couldn't help but chuckle.

In the next second, he threw a punch.

He didn't use his ability, just his fist.

Seeing him make a move, Jiang Fei and the others also joined the fight without hesitation.

Jiang Fei didn't use his knife either, just a punch and a kick, sending one thief flying.

The thieves were too weak, no match for them at all.

Lu Xingchi had come out in a hurry, his shirt unbuttoned, and the metal dog tag swung out from his chest as he moved.

The tag dangled back and forth.

One of the thieves suddenly backed away.

His voice changed with surprise as he shouted to his companions, “That guy is an A!”

Someone else pointed at the tag on Jiang Fei's chest. “This one is also an A!”

Bei Nuan thought, are you all blind?

A or not, shouldn't that have been clear when the fists started flying? Did they really need to read the tags? Were they that academic?

Real fear flashed in the thieves' eyes.

One of them asked in confusion, “How come there are so many A's all of a sudden?”

Another muttered, “These are the ones who arrived last night. Old Hu has a good eye; he wouldn't be mistaken.”

No one paid any attention to Du Ruo, so he quickly pulled out his dog tag and showed it off. “Look, mine is an A too!”

Bei Nuan: “…”

“Three A's?”

The leader of the thieves looked grim. He waved his hand, and without another word, they turned and ran, quickly disappearing into the darkness.

From then until dawn, everyone slept peacefully, undisturbed.

The next morning, everyone woke up.

Newly arrived on the island and unsure of the situation, they kept breakfast low-key.

Bei Nuan used the generator in her space to power a toaster, toasting slices of bread to a golden brown before taking them out.

Jiang Fei, hidden inside the tent, set up a cutting board and sliced some ham, making ham and cheese sandwiches for everyone.

After breakfast, they packed up, shouldered their bags, and headed towards the bustling night market area, wanting to explore and gather information.

In the daylight, the market looked even more rudimentary and crowded.

The narrow streets were still packed with people.

Bei Nuan noticed many eyes darting towards them.

But as soon as their gazes met, they quickly looked away.

Bei Nuan vaguely heard whispers, “Are those the new A's?”

Bei Nuan was puzzled: Strange, haven't you ever seen fit, well-built men before?

As they walked, a thin young man suddenly emerged from the roadside, blocking their path.

He seemed to have mustered all his courage, having hesitated for a long time before asking, “Excuse me… are you the newcomers who received the A tags?”

The young man's eyes were full of longing. “Could I… take a look at your tags? Just one glance.”

Du Ruo, being the most generous, pulled out his A tag and showed it to him.

The young man stared at the A, sighing enviously. “So this is an A tag.”

Bei Nuan was completely confused.

What was the meaning of this little metal tag?

She pulled out her own tag. “Look at mine, it’s an F.”

The young man was taken aback. He glanced at the crookedly carved F on the tag, then looked at Bei Nuan's face, his eyes filled with an almost overflowing pity.

There seemed to be a hint of relief as well—he had finally found someone even more unfortunate than himself.

He looked Bei Nuan up and down with the eyes of someone looking at a dead person.

“An F? So pitiful, even worse than me.”

Bei Nuan then noticed the young man’s tag, half-hidden beneath his collar, which seemed to be an E.

He was emaciated and his clothes were filthy. Like Old Hu, his skin had a strange, ashen hue.

Judging solely by his physique, an E was entirely appropriate.

But now, judging by these people’s unusual reactions, the letters on the tags didn't seem to have anything to do with physical condition.

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