Apocalyptic Gratitude Duck - Chapter 13

Dim beams of light pierced through the obstructed shelves, illuminating the dim interior and leaving a small patch of pale light. Two orange duck feet stood on that tiny patch, bringing a warm hue to the gloomy scene.

Kexin flew to the chair beside Qiao Yanyu, looking down at the yellow-furred Punk, whose eyes darted around restlessly beneath her.

Punk’s gaze flitted about, and even when crouching with his hands over his head, he couldn’t stay still. He was clearly the type of stubborn criminal you’d see on TV.

Her Master was like a dignified official, and Kexin was the constable beside him. Whenever the official held court, the constable would rhythmically tap a black-and-red stick beside him.

Unable to find an exact replica of the stick, Kexin rhythmically tapped the chair with her duck feet, making a series of sharp clacks, and let out a string of fierce quacks: “Quack! Quack!”

Tell the truth, now!

Punk shuddered in fear, remembering Kexin’s ferocious demeanor. Steeling himself, he confessed, “There’s a mysterious fruit growing on a tree in Central Garden; a golden, massive, and fragrant one. Many zombies and mutated beasts are circling it, and we were also trying to claim that territory.”

Kexin’s eyes widened. Wasn’t this the Golden Pomelo Fruit she’d been longing for? With so many people trying to snatch it, she and her Master needed to act quickly.

Kexin rushed over and tugged at the hem of her Master’s clothes, urgently quacking, “Quack!” Master, hurry and get the fruit!

Qiao Yanyu gently pinched Kexin’s small duck bill, urging her to be quiet. She frowned, casting an annoyed glance at Punk, and demanded coldly, “Is that all?”

Punk swallowed nervously. Even the Big Boss isn’t interested in such a valuable thing?

He suddenly noticed Qiao Yanyu picking up the fruit knife from the ground. Clutching his head, terrified she might kill him, he hastily added, “Wait, wait! I just remembered, there’s also a Great Parrot guarding it! It’s as big as the mutated beast you have, and its wings spew flames! Many of our brothers were burned to death by it. No other mutated beasts dare approach. Big Fei said if we take out that parrot, we’ll live like kings; feasting on delicacies, drinking fine wine, and having our pick of the women we captured.”

Hiding the cold glint in her eyes, Qiao Yanyu toyed with the knife in her hand and pressed further, “Who is this Big Fei? How did you thugs all band together?”

This Big Boss wields his knife with such speed. He seems more like a hardened criminal than anyone else.

Punk, fearing for his life, spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube: “Big Fei used to be a student at No. 1 High School, and he was a notorious thug around here. He’s super badass! He could use those scary plants to attack people. In the early days, he killed tons of zombies all by himself. Not only that, he even led us in zombie hunting. Big Fei said as long as we gave him the crystals from the zombies’ heads, he’d protect us.”

“You know the police station in town, right? Big Fei took care of the whole place in one go! Those cops kept throwing us in the lockup, making us eat prison grub. We hated them! But our Big Fei, he just snapped his fingers—crack!—a sweeping kick to the legs, and boom! with his Storm Fist, lightning-fast! The cops didn’t even get their guns out before they were split in two and gone!”

Punk’s leg trembled, his spit flying as he gestured wildly, his long bangs swaying wildly over his spiky hair, as if he were Big Fei himself.

Kexin listened raptly, her dark eyes sparkling with vivid imagery, like a girl immersed in an action-packed manga.

“Don’t let this trashy, chuunibyou-infected delinquent corrupt Kexin’s heart.”

Qiao Yanyu raised an eyebrow and said coldly, “If you don’t tell the truth, I’ll test the sharpness of this blade on your tongue.”

Punk looked like he’d been suddenly choked, cold sweat streaming down his forehead as he stammered, “Y-yes, I’ll tell the truth! Big Fei didn’t kill those police officers. They were eaten by a zombie in a police uniform. When we stormed the place, over a dozen of our brothers died before we managed to subdue it. Big Fei pulled out an Orange Crystal from its head and found plenty of weapons and ammunition inside.”

Guns are strictly prohibited in China, inaccessible to most people. Qiao Yanyu herself didn’t know how to use one. Besides, police-issue ammunition has low lethality and is ineffective against Mutated Beasts with hardened carapaces. In the apocalypse, one’s true reliance is their own Ability.

Qiao Yanyu had no interest in firearms, but Big Fei, as described by Punk, seemed like a formidable character. Having obtained an Orange Crystal and developed an Ability, he was likely at least level 1 now, with a sizable gang under his command. His ambition for the Golden Pomelo Fruit made him a major obstacle on their path.

“How many of you are there in total? How many have guns? How many have abilities?”

“Originally over a hundred, but most died recently in territory disputes. Big Fei only gave Steel Cannon a gun. Steel Cannon and Big Fei are close school buddies; the others didn’t have such connections and got nothing. Including Big Fei, there were only ten of us with abilities. You two killed two today. Big Fei said the Golden Pomelo Fruit would ripen today, so he told us to grab more people from the streets to block the Great Parrot’s advance while we shot from the back. Once we take down the Great Parrot, everyone gets a share of the spoils.”

By the end, with everyone dead, there’d be no need to divide the spoils. Big Fei, as Punk described him, intended to use a human wave strategy: sacrificing his own men to fill the Great Parrot’s stomach while he sniped from the back. What a cold-blooded calculation.

Qiao Yanyu gave him a deep, penetrating look that nearly stopped Punk’s heart.

Punk hurriedly asked, “I’ve told you everything I know. Can you spare me?”

A flicker of relief crossed Punk’s face, but in the next instant, he looked down in disbelief as the red knife slid out of his chest.

Qiao Yanyu withdrew the blade, her expression calm. “This will make your death a little easier.”

The thug collapsed to the ground, stiff and motionless.

Qiao Yanyu casually tossed the fruit knife aside and coolly wiped the blood from her hands.

These thugs were notorious for their misdeeds. If Kexin and she fell into their hands, their fate would be far worse than death. There was no guarantee they wouldn’t rat them out, so it was better to eliminate the threat preemptively.

Having cleaned her hands, Qiao Yanyu turned to see Kexin pecking at a cardboard box out of sheer boredom. A smile crept across her face as she beckoned to her. “Let’s go for a drive. We’ll take Kexin for a spin.”

Kexin’s eyes lit up at the mention of a drive. She flapped her wings and flew into her master’s arms, letting out a joyful quack.

“Wait!” A store employee suddenly approached, nervously tugging at her shirt collar, her face flushed crimson. Under extreme stress, she stammered, “Thank you for saving me earlier. My name is Meng Nuo. I’m not from around here and don’t have any friends. Could I… could I come with you?”

Kexin looked at her Master with some hesitation. In her previous life, the teammate Master had saved had caused great harm to them. She wondered if this shop assistant would also turn out to be bad.

Qiao Yanyu’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before she replied, “I’m not considering taking on any teammates right now.”

Kexin was taken aback. Her Master had actually learned to refuse others’ requests? In her previous life, Master had always been so easily swayed, always helping weak humans.

A layer of tears welled up in Meng Nuo’s bewildered eyes as she lowered her head, her voice tinged with self-doubt. “No, it’s not that I want to trouble you. I know I’m not worthy of being your teammate. I just… I don’t know where else to go. If I’m causing you any inconvenience, then I’ll leave on my own.”

Meng Nuo sniffled, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Qiao Yanyu pressed her lips together, remaining silent for a few seconds.

Kexin glanced back at the helpless Meng Nuo, then looked up at her Master. Master had always been such a kind and gentle person. If she didn’t help this shop assistant, wouldn’t Master feel regret later?

Kexin wished her Master would be a little more selfish and stop trying to be a good person. Those people would never appreciate her anyway. Master should just stay with Kexin; she would protect her forever.

But Master would never agree to that.

Kexin lowered her head, feeling disheartened, and let out a soft whimper.

Qiao Yanyu had originally planned to leave the pharmacy, but when she saw Kexin’s dejected expression, a small part of her heart seemed to crumble.

Kexin is still too young and too kind-hearted, she sighed inwardly. Making up her mind, she turned to Meng Nuo and said, “We’re heading to Songyuan City. If you can make it to the Red Heart Mini-Mart in town by noon tomorrow, you can come with us. But remember, we’re just traveling together. If you encounter danger along the way, we won’t stop to help you. Think carefully about this.”

Meng Nuo nodded vigorously, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, and forced a smile.

Kexin nodded in agreement. Master was right. If Meng Nuo became a burden later on, they definitely wouldn’t keep her. The home they had worked so hard to build together would never be shared with someone who didn’t contribute.

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