The Post-Apocalyptic Rival Who Crashed My Wedding with a Baby - Chapter 18

Natural selection is a law of the wild, but survival is a human instinct.

Once a human awakens as an Esper, they continuously absorb soul crystals to ascend. The zombie world is no different. Thousands of zombies are pitted against each other like venomous insects in a jar—devouring their kind and seizing resources until a Zombie King emerges from the carnage.

According to Research Institute data, Zombie Kings typically possess at least Level 3 strength and a primary ability; rare specimens are even dual-elemental. Their brains generate an energy field that allows them to summon and command any lower-level zombies nearby. While their intelligence varies, their lethality is undisputed. Countless bases have been wiped off the map by these monsters.

Eliminating even a common Zombie King requires a massive expenditure of lives. This, however, was a Level 6 High-Tier Water Zombie King. Worse still, it was intelligent enough to use terrain to mask its movements. Had Chonghai Base not utilized satellite remote sensing to predict its path, they wouldn’t have had time to prepare.

Though Chonghai offered massive rewards to attract A-rank and S-rank squads, Jiang Weiqing remained uneasy. She hadn’t forgotten Chonghai’s geography: it was a city on the sea. Endless water was an advantage for her—but it was an even greater advantage for a Water Zombie King.

Furthermore, because she had failed the engagement quest, she was now a mere Level 4. Her odds were slimming by the hour.

*****

The journey to Chonghai necessitated a detour through Xiushan City.

Located at the intersection of three provinces, Xiushan was a major transportation hub. It was famous for its fragrant Golden Osmanthus trees—a former tourist mecca. In the apocalypse, the trees had mutated; the petals were smaller, the fragrance more intoxicating, and the colors more vivid. As the wind blew, golden petals rained down.

They fell onto the faces, heads, and rotting shoulders of the zombies that packed the streets—a scene of horrific beauty.

Hundreds of low-level zombies lurked in restaurants, spas, and salons. The sound of shifting metal and shattering glass echoed constantly. Driven by the hunger for human blood, they swarmed toward the roaring engines of the two vehicles.

Shen Qingyu’s modified RV acted like a juggernaut, crushing Level 0 and Level 1 zombies into a pulp of grey-white matter. To anyone else, it would be nauseating, but the Longyu Squad was used to it. Yet the zombies were relentless, throwing their bodies against the glass.

“If they keep hitting the windows like this, the RV is going to be totaled,” Shen Qingyu frowned from the driver’s seat. The frame was strong, but even a Level 5 Metal Esper couldn’t maintain temporary materials forever.

“Don’t worry, Sister Qingyu,” Miao Jialing said, patting her shoulder. “We won’t let them in.”

An Songyu’s body glowed with yellow energy. “I’m going out.” He scrambled onto the roof, manifesting earth spikes that skewered the front row of zombies.

“Wait for me, Brother Yu!” Xu Bairan called. Little Black snatched him by the shoulders and flew him out of the cabin. Lu Yan, the black cat, was perched on Bairan’s shoulder. Gone was her laziness; she unsheathed her razor-sharp claws, her eyes tracking prey. Everywhere she passed, three lethal gashes appeared—a second later, a zombie head would roll. She was the avatar of death.

Miao Jialing followed suit, conjuring fireballs and hurling them like shot puts. She created a sea of fire, the air filling with the sound of crackling bones.

Lin Yunxia stayed inside, clutching the baby in one arm and a dagger in the other. “Sister Qingyu, I’ll take care of the baby. You focus on driving.” Yunxia knew the child was Shen Qingyu’s weakness, so she prioritized protection.

“Thank you, Yunxia,” Shen Qingyu breathed. Reassured, she began to funnel her energy into the RV. Massive circular saws emerged from the sides of the vehicle, bisecting any zombie that tried to climb.

Jiang Weiqing, watching from the roof, felt the pressure ease as her team took control. She narrowed her eyes at the endless horizon of undead. “Longyu Squad, on my command!”

“An Songyu, dig a pit five meters ahead!”

“Miao Jialing, hold your fire. Charge a Super Fireball!”

“Xiao Bai, set the vine traps. Funnel a third of them in and prep the Cherry Bombs!”

“Lu Yan, scout the sky with Little Black. Find the King to the east!”

Suddenly back in her element, Jiang Weiqing issued orders with cold precision. Her water arrows sniped any high-level zombies attempting to breach the vehicle. She moved with the poise of a seasoned general.

Even Chen Huawei, watching from the Jeep, had to admit, “As expected of my Goddess’s rival. She found the King’s influence that fast.”

Chen’s partner, Duan Muyu, looked at him. “Aren’t you going to help?”

Their other teammate, Hutong—a powerhouse of raw strength and martial arts—was already swinging a ten-pound Dao through the crowd, his bronzed muscles bulging.

“I’m a Wind-type,” Chen stammered. “I should look for the King.”

Duan Muyu didn’t look up from her tablet. “Data shows a 99% probability you’ll die if you go alone.”

“Can’t I be the 1% who survives?”

“The 1% who survives with quadruple paralysis and a shredded heart? Sure,” Duan Muyu replied.

Suddenly, Duan Muyu’s tablet emitted a piercing alarm. Red text flared across the screen:

[Level 4 Zombie King Detected!]

“Boss, what do we do?” Chen cried.

“We deal with it,” Duan Muyu said, her fingers flying.

At that moment, Jiang Weiqing and Shen Qingyu spoke in perfect, chilling unison: “The King is here.”

Lin Yunxia, still inside, couldn’t help but tease, “Sister Qingyu, you and the Captain are so in sync.”

“Yunxia, I’m going up. Take the wheel,” Shen Qingyu commanded. She swapped places and scrambled to the roof.

Jiang Weiqing’s strategy had already sent two-thirds of the horde into a pit of fire and cherry bombs. With the fodder gone, the King could no longer hide.

The Level 4 King stood ten meters away. It had regained enough intelligence to wear a clean white shirt, a suit, and a blue tie. If not for its bluish skin and fixed, haunting smile, it looked like a salaryman from the old world. Lu Yan had already left three gashes on its face.

“What are you doing up here?” Jiang Weiqing barked at Shen Qingyu. “What about the baby?”

“She’s with Yunxia. She’s safe,” Shen Qingyu replied. “You can’t handle this one alone.”

Jiang Weiqing sneered. “We’re an S-rank squad. It’s just a Level 4.”

“He’s a Spatial-type,” Shen Qingyu cut in.

The team froze. Spatial zombies were legendary nightmares—they could predict movements and teleport for a lethal strike.

“I’m the only one who can track him,” Shen Qingyu whispered, glancing at Jiang Weiqing. “Your power has dropped to Level 4. Stop pretending. I’ll lead the attack; you support me.”

“Why you?” Jiang Weiqing demanded.

“Because I’m also a Spatial-type. I know how he thinks.”

Jiang Weiqing blinked. She hadn’t known Shen Qingyu was a dual-elemental. “How do we kill him then?”

“By being faster than his predictions,” Shen Qingyu said, her voice melting like mountain spring water into Weiqing’s ears. “We only have three chances.”

The two moved as one. Jiang Weiqing felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if they had done this a thousand times. The King dodged twice, mocking them with a distorted laugh.

“One last chance,” Shen Qingyu whispered. Her calm voice settled Jiang Weiqing’s nerves.

The King’s lips curled, ready to speak, but a split second later, a water arrow pierced his heart. Before he could react, his head was sliced clean off by a metal blade.

Shen Qingyu wiped her blade with a yellow cloth. As she stood there, osmanthus petals fell around her like golden butterflies. It was a picture of lethal elegance.

Jiang Weiqing clutched her racing heart. How dare she steal my kill? she thought, fuming. But she turned and hurried away.

“Captain, where are you going?” Yunxia called out.

“Someone has a birthday tomorrow,” Jiang Weiqing shouted back, her face redder than she’d ever admit. “I’m finding a gift!”

She ducked into the first shop she saw. Lin Yunxia looked at the sign above the door and immediately covered her eyes, her ears turning bright crimson.

The sign read: [Lingerie / Costumes / Silk Pajamas — Adults Only]

Captain… are you being serious right now?

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