Apocalyptic Gratitude Duck - Chapter 10

The next day, when Kexin woke up, the sky remained overcast, with a gentle drizzle falling.

The fluffy white ball of fluff shivered slightly, then quickly wriggled out of the blankets and settled in the crook of her master’s neck, letting out a tiny yawn.

The weather was even colder than yesterday. The warm breath she exhaled quickly turned into a puff of white mist that dissolved into the air. Even nestled in her thick feathers, Kexin felt a chill.

Kexin’s small duck-like beak pecked at Qiao Yanyu’s chin, finding it icy-cold. Her master must also be feeling the chill. Hurriedly, she stood on her tiny webbed feet and nuzzled her head against Qiao Yanyu’s gentle cheek, trying to warm her.

When Qiao Yanyu woke, she felt a soft, fluffy bundle of fluff nuzzling her neck and face, tickling her.

Still half-asleep, she squinted and grabbed Kexin’s round little body, tucking her back under the blankets. Her voice was hoarse as she murmured, “Stop fussing. I’ll play with you after I’m fully awake.”

Kexin obediently settled on her master’s chest. After a while, sensing her master’s breathing grow steady again, her fluffy little head poked out from the blankets once more.

Just then, Qiao Yanyu lowered her head and gently kissed Kexin’s forehead.

Kexin’s beady little eyes widened like black pearls, her fluffy feathers instantly flattening into a tight ball. The entire duck froze in shock.

Had her Master pecked her?

How could Master peck her?

Though the peck hadn’t hurt at all, its force seemed far greater than hers. Her mind grew sluggish, her thoughts jumbled. A burning heat spread from the center of her forehead, radiating through her entire body.

Oh no, this feels like a cold. My duck feet are going soft.

Qiao Yanyu opened her eyes and saw Kexin’s dazed expression. Gently lifting the duck, she swayed her little body and teased, “Waking up so early every day and waking me up too, you little mischief.”

“Quack!” I’m not a little mischief.

Hanging in the air, Kexin’s duck feet kicked weakly in protest. Feeling bewildered, she stared at Qiao Yanyu’s red lips for a long moment. Her duck bill was flat and wide, while her Master’s lips were soft and warm. Even the words that emerged from those red lips felt warm, like being enveloped in a gentle, warm breeze.

Did Master just call her a “little mischievous duck” and peck her for it?

But Master’s eyes held a glimmer of amusement, showing no sign of reprimand. Kexin grew even more puzzled, unable to discern Master’s true meaning.

Qiao Yanyu ruffled Kexin’s small head, then set her down and began gathering the down quilt spread on the floor, storing it in her Space.

Stepping out from under the quilt, Kexin felt the temperature had dropped significantly. Qiao Yanyu hadn’t brought enough warm clothes, and her body trembled from the cold.

Hugging herself, she walked to the window and looked down. A layer of white frost covered the leaves and grass. After days of rain, the standing water on the streets had risen to ankle-deep levels. Some zombies wandered aimlessly through the flooded streets, oblivious to the danger.

Her expression turned grave. This was only the beginning. The rainfall would only increase, eventually flooding the streets to a depth of over ten stories. She needed to find boats quickly and head for Songyuan City. Tourist Town was no safe haven; in her previous life, it had been turned into a hunting ground by mutated parrots. Rather than waiting to be devoured, it was better to leave early and seek a path to survival.

“Kexin, we’re heading to Songyuan City next. Would you like to come with me?”

Kexin froze at the mention of Songyuan City. She couldn’t understand why Qiao Yanyu wanted to leave so soon. She had thought they would stay here for a long time. Leaving this place and heading to Songyuan City meant resuming their northward journey, and Kexin was deeply worried that her master would encounter those unreliable teammates again.

Qiao Yanyu assumed Kexin was reluctant to leave their home, the place where they had lived together and created so many memories.

She crouched down, looking Kexin in the eyes, and explained earnestly, “This place is becoming unsafe. We’re going to Songyuan City, where there’s a military garrison. Qiao Meng-jiejie lives there too. Don’t you remember how much you loved playing with her? She used to bring you little snacks all the time. Remember?”

Kexin’s pupils constricted. Of course she remembered Qiao Meng. But how did her master know this place was becoming unsafe? In her previous life, she hadn’t known anything about it.

Qiao Yanyu noticed the shock in Kexin’s eyes. She picked up the duckling from the ground, stroking her fluffy feathers soothingly. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “We’re leaving early, so we won’t have to face these dangers.”

Kexin’s duck heart pounded wildly. Her Master was truly different from before.

Qiao Yanyu changed into rubber boots and went downstairs, running into the three men from last night. Their eyes were bloodshot, their faces haggard. In just one night, they seemed to have suffered greatly.

Zhang Ping was leaning against the wall, munching on a piece of bread. When he saw Qiao Yanyu, he quickly stood up and greeted her. “Morning. Are you leaving?”

Qiao Yanyu acknowledged him without looking away and walked out of the convenience store.

Zhang Ping hurried after her, pulling another piece of bread from his bag and offering it to her.

Qiao Yanyu didn’t take it, her gaze distant as she looked at him.

Zhang Ping rubbed his hands, feeling awkward. “Um, we were talking last night and wanted to ask about your plans. Do you know where you’re headed next?”

As Qiao Yanyu’s gaze grew colder, Zhang Ping finally realized his mistake. He’d wanted to tag along with the Big Boss, hoping to get some leftovers, and just needed an excuse to strike up a conversation, not actually to find out where the Big Boss was going.

Last night, the first floor was drafty, and the three of them froze solid. The zombies’ guttural roars echoed incessantly outside, keeping them on high alert for a potential attack. Yet, despite roaming just beyond the shop, the zombies seemed held back by some invisible barrier, maintaining a three-meter distance as if a safe zone had been established around the convenience store. Not a single one dared to approach.

It was obvious that this was the Big Boss’s doing. The others were helpless against the zombies, but the Big Boss alone possessed the authority to keep them at bay.

By morning, the trio were frozen stiff, while the Big Boss remained unfazed, her cheeks rosy and warm. If they could stay by her side, they’d sleep soundly every night, free from constant fear.

“I don’t know if it’s convenient for you,” Zhang Ping began, his voice deferential, after much deliberation, “but we’d like to follow you. If it’s too much trouble, you can ditch us anytime.”

Qiao Yanyu suddenly chuckled. It wasn’t because of anything specific; she simply found Zhang Ping interesting—pragmatic, humble, and clever.

Zhang Ping knew that Qiao Yanyu would never willingly accept him as her superior, so he chose to relinquish his authority as team leader. This move served two purposes: to gain Qiao Yanyu’s protection and to win her favor by showing respect.

Though the team appeared to be transferred to Qiao Yanyu, Zhang Ping maintained actual control.

Rather than saying Qiao Yanyu could abandon them at any moment, it was more accurate to say that once she outlived her usefulness, he would ruthlessly discard her.

No one escapes the fate of being a disposable tool; it’s just a matter of mutual exploitation.

The smile on Qiao Yanyu’s face didn’t reach her eyes, making her look unnervingly dangerous. Zhang Ping’s heart raced, and cold sweat dripped down his back.

Qiao Yanyu’s lips curved slightly as she nodded in agreement. “Very well.”

The cold sweat on Zhang Ping’s back suddenly vanished. The biting wind made him feel faint; if a teammate hadn’t steadied him, he might have collapsed.

Qiao Yanyu spoke calmly. “We can form a temporary alliance. I need to attend to some matters first, then head to Songyuan City. Let’s meet back here tomorrow.”

Zhang Ping agreed repeatedly.

Only after Qiao Yanyu and Kexin had walked a good distance away did Zhang Ping and the others come back to their senses.

“That woman is like a thorny rose; charming yet dangerous,” Chen Chuyue sighed, watching Qiao Yanyu’s retreating figure. If only I could be as formidable as her.

“She’s more like a man-eating plant,” Zhang Ping said, patting his chest with lingering fear. “That close call still gives me the willies.”

Li Youming asked, puzzled, “Boss, why did we agree to team up with her? Didn’t you just tell us yesterday not to get distracted by pretty faces?”

“You don’t understand a thing! This is called leaning on a big tree for shade.”

After leaving the convenience store, Qiao Yanyu and Kexin didn’t go straight home. Instead, they headed to a car dealership.

Like a pair of butchers slicing tofu, they quickly dispatched the two zombies in the store. Qiao Yanyu then took Kexin on a tour of the premises.

This dealership was a well-known shop in town, with impressive sales figures before the apocalypse. People often came here to pick up their vehicles, so the quality should have been good. The showroom offered a wide variety of models, with electric scooters and motorcycles being the main focus.

The journey from Tourist Town to Songyuan City spanned nearly two city districts. On foot, it would have taken them over three months to reach their destination.

Mechanical transportation could drastically shorten their travel time. Qiao Yanyu had initially considered cars, which offered reliable cargo capacity and range. However, the sudden onset of the apocalypse, rampant mutated plants, and the ensuing chaos on the roads made driving north a risky proposition, likely leading to dangerous deadlocks.

Choosing a more versatile mode of transportation would allow them to easily bypass obstacles and avoid getting stranded. Bicycles were immediately ruled out, leaving her torn between electric scooters and motorcycles.

Standard electric scooters required recharging after about 20 kilometers, though they could also swap batteries along the way. Their portable space could address the battery supply issue, but electric scooters had other drawbacks: slow acceleration and difficulty shifting gears. If they encountered speed-oriented zombies, they wouldn’t be able to outrun them on electric scooters.

Having ruled out electric vehicles, only motorcycles remained. Qiao Yanyu had never ridden a motorcycle before. Although her height allowed her to reach the pedals, she still felt apprehensive about handling one.

Kexin scanned the selection and picked out a particularly sleek model for her master. The bike had a bold, aerodynamic design, with a predominantly black body and green accents on the handlebars, giving it a commanding presence in the garage.

Kexin looked at her master with excited eyes, thrilled by the choice. The motorcycle’s bold style matched her own, and she hoped her master would take her for a spin on it.

“Quack!” Master, Kexin likes this!

Seeing the bike Kexin had chosen, Qiao Yanyu smiled, her lips curving into a beautiful smile. “Alright then, let’s go with Kexin’s choice. We’ll take the motorcycle.”

She grabbed a black helmet from a nearby rack, swiftly fastened it onto her head, tightened the chin strap, and lowered the visor. With a long stride, she straddled the motorcycle. Twisting the throttle, the bike roared to life, its powerful engine vibrating with a deep hum.

Qiao Yanyu tested the brakes next. They responded promptly, ensuring a reasonable level of safety. Relieved, she lowered her head to inspect the bike’s condition further. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed Kexin watching her with eager anticipation.

A smile blossomed on her face. She unzipped her jacket, leaving an opening for Kexin to dart inside.

Kexin turned her head, staring unblinkingly at Qiao Yanyu’s helmet.

Qiao Yanyu knew what Kexin was thinking. “There aren’t any helmets in your size,” she reassured her. “But when we get home, I’ll knit you a matching cap.”

Kexin nodded, settling contentedly into her Master’s arms as they faced the wide road.

Let’s go, Master!

Qiao Yanyu started the bike, and they flew out of the motorcycle shop with Kexin in tow.

Kexin’s fur was whipped into a disheveled mess by the wind, but the light in her eyes grew brighter and brighter. She loved this sensation of flying. With her Master at the throttle, it was as if they both had wings, soaring side by side into the future.

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