A Fake Holy Mother in the Zombie Apocalypse

When did such a hidden mission pop up?

Bei Nuan opened the mission panel, and a new mission had indeed appeared in the mission list: Save the Blackened Zombie Devil King (1/1).

She saw her Saintess Points rapidly increasing.

Bei Nuan stared blankly at the skyrocketing Saintess Points. “How did this mission appear? How was it suddenly completed? Who is this ‘Blackened Zombie Devil King’? Is it Xiao Mo?”

Little Three replied: “No comment.”

Bei Nuan paused, then sincerely suggested to Little Three, “In the future, could we have more missions like this, the kind that are inexplicably completed with my eyes closed?”

Bei Nuan suddenly remembered something else and turned to Du Ruo. “Du Ruo, do you know that your knife is truly a treasure?”

She recounted the events at Taiping Gate that night, especially the part about using the knife to sever Huo Ren’s finger in his shadow form.

After hearing this, Du Ruo didn’t find it strange at all. Instead, he wondered why Bei Nuan was so surprised.

“That’s the Minghong Dao. When the Yellow Emperor of ancient times cast the Xuanyuan Sword, the remaining materials automatically flowed into the shape of a knife. It has an extremely strong killing intent, the kind that can transform into a bird and fly away. Didn’t I tell you this already?” His tone was serious.

“Bei Nuan, your memory isn’t very good. Let me tell you, eat more fish oil when you have the chance. It’s rich in DHA and can nourish your brain.”

Although her intelligence was questioned, Bei Nuan didn’t dare to be sarcastic anymore. She took the Minghong Dao out of her space, turning it over and over to examine it carefully.

Although the shape of the knife was flamboyant, the silver of the blade was dull, like a layer of fog. Except for the sudden burst of light when it cut Huo Ren today, it usually didn’t look much like metal.

But it didn’t really look like plastic either.

It felt lighter than iron but heavier than plastic.

Lu Xingchi also freed one hand, took the knife, and looked at it again, reaching the same conclusion as Bei Nuan. “It’s not like plastic. I don’t know what material it is.”

Whatever material it was, it was a treasure that could kill Huo Ren.

Bei Nuan carefully put it back into her space, found a good place to enshrine it, and asked Du Ruo worshipfully, “So, this Minghong Dao is your family heirloom?”

Du Ruo shook his head. “No. I bought it second-hand online. It cost me over four hundred yuan.”

Bei Nuan: “…”

Behind them, in the base, the soldier guarding the gate closed the main gate again and walked back to the gatehouse with the key Bei Nuan had returned.

He muttered to himself, “Building Twelve, Area Three… Unit Two, Six-something? Six-Oh-Two.”

He handed the key to a family of five who were waiting for their housing assignment and registered them. “There’s just a two-bedroom unit available. You can stay there.”

The family of five received their daily necessities, each carrying a bag, and happily took the key, walking into the base.

After searching for a while, they finally found the building in Area Three.

The father carried his daughter, the mother supported the elderly, and together they climbed the stairs to the sixth floor in the dark, finding Room 602.

The father inserted the key, and with a gentle turn, the lock opened smoothly.

Inside, the room was filled with bright moonlight, not dark at all.

It was clear that the apartment hadn't been lived in for a long time.

A large chunk of plaster had peeled off the ceiling and fallen to the floor. There was a layer of dust on the floor and windowsill, thick enough to write on. And, someone, for some reason, had scribbled all over the walls.

It was impossible to live in without cleaning it up first.

But in this apocalypse, as long as the family could be safe and sound together, this wasn't a problem.

The family lit candles, rolled up their sleeves, and enthusiastically started cleaning.

On the team's side, Lu Xingchi turned west, bypassed the base, and drove for a long time before finding a sheltered hill to park and spend the night.

They had already encountered Huo Ren, cut off his finger, and made an enemy of him. They would have to be even more careful in the future.

The next time they met, it would definitely be a fight to the death.

It was already past midnight when they set up camp, so everyone woke up late the next morning.

When Bei Nuan emerged from the tent, she realized with regret that the last few precious hours of the “Obedient” mission had been slept through.

At breakfast, Bei Nuan set up a table and chairs on the sun-drenched red earth wasteland, and everyone sat around the table, eating soy milk and fried dough sticks.

While drinking her soy milk, Bei Nuan spun the handle of the fun little mission wheel.

She wondered what the new ability would be this time.

Bei Nuan silently prayed: It must be memory erasure, it must be memory erasure, so that Lu Xingchi can forget all about my embarrassing moments.

The wheel spun for a long time before finally stopping.

The name of this mission was “Invisible Secrets.”

Bei Nuan stared at these words for a long time, and finally came to the depressing conclusion that this ability probably had nothing to do with memory erasure.

The mission description read: Seawater, beach, seashells, a vacation-like leisure. At the moment the sun sets into the sea, weary traveler, please accept the magical gift of the sea god.

What magical gift? Could it be the ability to control water?

Bei Nuan looked around at the red wasteland, devoid of a single drop of water, and sighed.

She grabbed the salt shaker from the table and poured salt into her soy milk.

Could water with salt added be considered seawater?

Could holding a bowl of salt water towards the setting sun be considered sunset at sea?

“…Bei Nuan, don’t you drink sweet soy milk? Why are you adding so much salt?” Lu Xingchi’s voice came. “Also, what do you think? Which way should we choose?”

Bei Nuan looked up abruptly, clutching the salt shaker, and found everyone staring at her.

“Whatever you say,” Bei Nuan said quickly.

Lu Xingchi nodded. “Alright, then we’ll head southwest.”

Bei Nuan suddenly understood what he was talking about and immediately became excited.

The map in the book was much larger than the map of Bei Nuan’s world. Further west was a high mountain called Mount Kalun.

The highway on Mount Kalun was difficult to build back then and difficult to travel now. One side was a cliff, and the other was a bottomless abyss. Although it was passable, the road conditions were unpredictable at this time. Rather than having to turn back if there was an emergency, it was better to bypass it now.

There were two options.

One was to go northwest, cross the Salt River, and traverse the even harsher Sush Desert. The other was to go southwest, cross Country M to the coast, find a way to cross the Gala Bay, and take the sea route around to the west of Mount Kalun.

Clearly, heading southwest was much easier. The team in the book took this route.

Most importantly, there was definitely seawater in Gala Bay, and maybe even a beach.

Sunset at sea, a piece of cake.

With the mission completion in sight, Bei Nuan happily finished the salty-sweet soy milk in one gulp and wiped her mouth. “Let’s go, shall we?”

Heading further southwest, the vegetation along the road gradually became lush, and the humidity increased.

They drove until evening and finally saw the sea.

The sky at sunset was golden pink, and the seawater was also golden pink. Amidst the magnificent and beautiful sunset glow, Bei Nuan felt despair.

There was the sea, and there was the sun about to fall into the sea, but there was no beach, and no seashells.

And what about the “vacation-like leisure”? How could she achieve that?

This was the cargo terminal of Deepwater Bay. It was well-built, full of shipping containers and towering orange-red iron frames.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but concrete ground, nothing like a beach vacation.

Several people got out of the car to find a way to cross the bay. Bei Nuan stored the SUV and looked around.

Gala Bay was huge. It wasn't realistic to cross it with the small speedboat in Bei Nuan’s space. They needed to find a bigger boat.

“There are boats,” Du Ruo said, pointing to the giant cargo ships loaded with containers docked at the pier. He asked Lu Xingchi, “Can you drive one?”

Lu Xingchi was speechless. “Of course not. None of us can. Let's go find a smaller one.”

Rows and rows of shipping containers stretched out in neat formation, seemingly endless. Occasionally, a few zombies in work clothes would appear, all easily taken down by Lu Xingchi.

Lu Xingchi and Du Ruo were standing by the pier looking for a boat when they suddenly noticed Bei Nuan wasn't with them.

Lu Xingchi turned around and saw Bei Nuan busy with something a few steps away.

She was carefully spreading a large pile of salt on the ground.

A large patch of white.

On the salt were scattered a few small seashells. Looking closely, some of the shells even had labels on them, printed with three words: “Clam Oil.”

On this small, artificial beach, Bei Nuan placed a canvas camping chair with a reclining backrest.

After finishing all this, she plopped down on the canvas chair, leaned back, stretched towards the magnificent pink and purple sea and sky, and yawned.

As long as there was a sea in her heart, anywhere could be the Maldives. As long as there was sand in her heart, anywhere could be the Sahara.

Lu Xingchi: “…”

Du Ruo also saw it at a glance and his eyes immediately lit up. “I want one too!”

Bei Nuan took out a bag of salt and a chair. “Help yourself.”

Du Ruo sprinkled salt and picked up one of Bei Nuan’s seashells to study. “Where did you get this?”

Bei Nuan replied leisurely, “I got it from the small supermarket at the gas station in S City. I thought that supplies would be scarce in the apocalypse, so I could use it to moisturize my hands or something. I didn't expect it could be used like this. Isn't it romantic?”

Du Ruo nodded. “It is. Give me two, okay?”

While Du Ruo was scattering salt all over the ground, Tang Tang also came over and asked for a large bag of "beach."

Jiang Fei hesitated. “Do we have enough salt?”

Bei Nuan nodded with certainty. “We have several large boxes. I saw those uncles and aunties hoarding salt as soon as something happened. I don’t know what it’s for, but just in case, I collected a lot.”

Jiang Fei was relieved and smiled gently. “Then I’ll take a bag too.”

The area of the artificial beach immediately expanded, truly creating a bit of a white sandy beach atmosphere.

Four people, four chairs, comfortably reclining, their backs to the rows of containers, facing the sea, enjoying the magnificent scenery of the sunset over the sea together.

It seemed a bit silly, but it wasn't really.

The concept of silliness was quite subtle.

When one person did something silly, everyone else thought they were silly.

But when the vast majority of people were doing silly things, the only one who refused to do so seemed particularly silly.

Lu Xingchi stood elegantly beside the row of folding chairs with his hands in his pockets for a while, and finally couldn’t resist. He reached out to Bei Nuan. “Chair.”

Watching the sunset while lying down was indeed quite comfortable.

The red sun struggled on the sea surface for a long time, and finally gave up its magic, obediently going to sleep. The glow faded, and the sky fell silent.

Bei Nuan secretly glanced at the mission panel.

The fake beach made of salt had actually passed! The “Invisible Secrets” mission was marked as complete, and the countdown began.

“Bei Nuan?” Lu Xingchi called her, handing her the folded camping chairs he had collected for her to put away in her space.

The team still needed to find a boat. If they couldn't find one tonight, they would probably have to set up tents among the containers.

Lu Xingchi was a little unwilling. After watching the sunset, he helped Bei Nuan put away the chairs and led everyone along the pier.

Bei Nuan knew that in the book, they found a boat. She didn't know if the current timeline was correct and if they would encounter it again.

After walking for a short while, they actually saw a ship.

In the distance, a ship was docked at the pier, and the lights on the ship were brightly lit.

In the dim light of the apocalypse, it seemed like a miracle.

Bei Nuan knew why.

The book said that this ship was called the Vali. It wasn't considered a large ship in terms of tonnage, but it was special. It used a newly developed energy propulsion system that theoretically allowed it to sail for ten or twenty years without docking.

The ship was for both passengers and cargo. In addition to carrying cargo, the upper levels had cabins that could accommodate hundreds of people.

This was supposed to be its maiden voyage. The original plan was to cruise around Gala Bay and then head north along the outer sea. As luck would have it, the zombie virus outbreak occurred.

After discovering that the shore was occupied by zombies, the ship remained at sea, not too far from the shore. Fortunately, there were no zombies on board yet.

The ship's energy supply wasn't a concern, but food was running low. After wandering at sea for so many days, their supplies were almost exhausted. This time they docked to replenish their food.

Just as Bei Nuan saw the ship, she heard the sound of an engine and the howls of zombies not far away.

A vehicle was driving towards them. It was a truck, and for some reason, it wasn't moving very fast.

Behind the truck, a large group of zombies, more than a few dozen, were howling, trying to catch up.

Less than two or three hundred meters from the ship, the truck actually stalled.

The horde of zombies instantly swarmed, trying to grab the people inside the truck. Although there was glass separating them, there were too many zombies.

Seeing the living people, they were like starving wolves, climbing onto the hood of the truck, using their heads to desperately ram the windshield, one after another, relentlessly. Soon, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the windshield.

Even from such a distance, Bei Nuan could sense the despair of the people inside the truck.

The zombies were about to break through the glass, the cruise ship was close at hand, but they couldn't reach it.

At this moment, someone came down from the ship.

It was a young man in his twenties, wearing a white uniform with epaulets, which made him look broad-shouldered, straight-backed, and handsome.

Judging by the four yellow stripes on his dark epaulets, he was clearly the captain of this ship. He was so young, and yet so brave, daring to come down from the ship alone to save people.

He held a gun in his hand, shooting the zombies surrounding the truck one by one, trying to dig the people inside out.

His marksmanship was quite good, but there were too many zombies.

Soon, some zombies noticed the living person, abandoned the truck, and rushed towards him.

Lu Xingchi reached out to Bei Nuan. “My crossbow.”

In the book, Lu Xingchi didn't have any abilities. At that time, he led the team directly to save people.

Now he had abilities, but he still chose to directly save people.

Bei Nuan understood. He was planning to do a favor to get on that ship.

Lu Xingchi took the crossbow and first dealt with the zombies rushing towards the young man, then dealt with the horde of zombies crowding around the truck.

He didn't reveal his true strength. He could have easily dealt with them all in an instant, but he took his time, looking like an ordinary person with relatively high combat ability, like Zheng Dui Zhang.

Many zombies saw Lu Xingchi and the others and rushed towards the team, but they were all dealt with by Lu Xingchi one by one.

Seeing that the zombies rushing towards him had fallen, the young man immediately turned to help Lu Xingchi, killing the zombies charging at him.

Bei Nuan secretly laughed.

Lu Xingchi seemed to have OCD. Every zombie fell about five meters away from him, without exception. This made it seem like he wasn't killing them too fast, but not too slow either.

It felt like he had a five-meter radius death circle around him, and any zombie that touched it would die.

The death circle continued to advance, and in a short while, most of the zombies were dealt with. Lu Xingchi and the young man worked together to finally clear the few remaining zombies clinging to the truck, completely clearing the area.

He walked to the truck and said to the people inside, “Come out, it’s safe now.”

The two people in the driver's and passenger seats were also wearing white sailor uniforms, their faces pale with cold sweat.

There were four more people in the back of the truck, guarding a truckload of supplies.

The young man directed everyone to move the things from the truck, while calling for someone to bring a small forklift from the ship.

Everyone was afraid that more zombies would come, so they hurriedly moved things onto the ship.

From several hundred meters away, a whole truckload of supplies was being moved onto the ship bit by bit, like ants moving house. It was unknown how long it would take.

Lu Xingchi walked around to the front of the truck, opened the hood, pretended to fiddle with it, and then came back.

“It’s fixed,” he said calmly.

The young man couldn’t believe it. He jumped into the driver’s seat and tried it. The truck actually started and drove smoothly to the dock.

Lu Xingchi had just shown his skills, and the young man already admired him greatly. The two started talking.

The young man was indeed the captain of this ship, named Nie Bei’an.

Lu Xingchi took the opportunity to tell Nie Bei’an that the team planned to go to the other side of Gala Bay, but unfortunately, they couldn’t cross.

Nie Bei’an hesitated a bit. “Our ship has been cruising in Gala Bay. It’s not difficult to go to the other side, but the problem is…”

He seemed a bit embarrassed. Lu Xingchi said directly, “We have enough food for ourselves.”

He had just helped save a few people and a truckload of supplies. Nie Bei’an immediately felt embarrassed and said, “I’ll go ask. If it’s okay, I’ll let you on board.”

He was the captain, and yet he still had to ask someone else.

Bei Nuan knew who he was asking.

The book said that because it was the maiden voyage of this new type of ship, the owner of the shipping company, a man named Sheng Yi, was on board.

Given the special circumstances of the apocalypse, Nie Bei’an didn’t want to make the decision on his own and went to ask the owner of their company.

He returned shortly after, looking happy. “Mr. Sheng agreed. He said that if you have your own food, he can take you across. We happen to have a few empty cabins.”

While Lu Xingchi was negotiating with Nie Bei’an about boarding the ship, Bei Nuan had nothing to do, so she opened the mission panel and continued to study her newly acquired ability.

After “Invisible Secrets,” there was now a line of small print: Silently recite “Shadowless and Formless,” and you will gain a magical ability, fancy invisibility, to meet your different needs.

It turned out that the good thing the sea god had given her wasn't the ability to control water, but invisibility.

Bei Nuan looked at the description again.

Invisibility was invisibility, but what was “fancy invisibility”?

Invisibility was a practical and fun ability, but adding the word “fancy” in front of “invisibility” made it seem unreliable.

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