The Young Mistress Turned Into a Zombie - Chapter 2

Meng Lin had clearly underestimated the scorching June sun. She never should have dawdled until noon before heading out.

She regretted taking the long route. She’d wanted to buy herself a small cake first; the supermarket in the central mall sold an imported brand she used to love, one she’d never found near her home. It would serve as both a birthday present to herself and a small reward for her “Long March” plan.

But zombies, as it turned out, were terrified of the sun.

During the peak of the day’s heat, most roaming zombies instinctively sought shade to idle. Meng Lin figured it was probably the same principle as curing cured meat, while zombies couldn’t die, they could still grow mold.

The intense heat baked the asphalt, sending up the acrid stench of scorched bitumen.

The road was a disaster zone, littered with the wreckage of the past: scattered bags, smashed cars, and a few copies of Summer Garden fluttering in the wind. Various types of trash, washed onto the street by the rain, made it incredibly difficult to walk.

The city’s once-proud skyline was now a ruin.

At the onset of the disaster, the army had attempted a rescue mission. But against such hellish odds, it was all for naught. Battles and accidents had sparked fires that raged unchecked, leaving many skyscrapers charred and blackened.

There were likely no living humans left in City A. It was, in every sense, a Zombie City.

Zombies could be seen stumbling and wandering all along the streets. After several days of plum rains, these fellow creatures were not only hideous but also reeked.

Having been a zombie for three years, Meng Lin had actually accepted her new identity. She didn’t hate zombies; she just found them a bit repulsive at times.

From a philosophical perspective, zombies were actually a superior civilization. Aside from being slightly aggressive toward humans, they were quite cute the rest of the time. They neither trampled on flowers and grass nor bullied cats and dogs. Their emotions were stable, and they never relieved themselves in public. As long as you weren’t human, you could tease them however you liked, and they would never get angry—they would just awoo awoo and wander away.

They just hated taking baths, but they didn’t harbor any malicious intent.

Living with zombies was simpler than living with humans.

At least, that’s what Meng Lin thought.

In the past, many people had openly or subtly accused her of being an “exquisite egoist.” Well, yes, being born lucky was an art, and she had simply been born into a good life. As for egoism, wasn’t everyone? The only difference was whether one had the means to be an egoist.

A fool would pass up a golden opportunity laid out right in front of them.

She was an egoist, but she also loathed those who tried to have it both ways. If you’ve reaped the benefits, just admit it openly. Like now, she had become a zombie and was enjoying the perks. She wouldn’t be like those characters in novels and movies who insisted their hearts were still human.

If humanity ever truly succeeded in fighting back, her days would never be as leisurely as they were now.

Best-case scenario, she would end up as a new generation of beagle or white rabbit in a lab, sliced into pieces for research.

*****

They probably… can’t launch a counterattack, right?

Meng Lin’s imagination ran wild, sending a chill down her spine. She slowed to a halt.

Before her stretched a wide road, choked with a chaotic mess of cars. Countless roaming zombies were packed among the vehicles, turning the street into a scene reminiscent of the evening rush hour.

Meng Lin scanned her surroundings, spotted a fallen side-view mirror near her feet, and tossed it casually toward the base of a traffic light pole.

CLANG—!

“Ugh… Ahhh!” “Raaargh!”

With a rush of wind and a thunderous stampede, a massive horde of zombies surged forward like Olympic athletes in a hundred-meter hurdle race.

Meng Lin smiled, dusting her hands off with satisfaction.

Perfect. A counterattack is out of the question. At least in this Zombie City, the advantage is mine.

She tugged her sun hat, strolled leisurely past the abandoned cars, and hummed a spirited (yet hoarse and grating) tune.

Really, why did I scare myself? With City A’s zombie population, even if aliens invaded now, we’d at least be on even footing! Who in their right mind would come here to die?

Ha, ha, ha—

BOOM!

A sudden explosion erupted at the street corner, sending orange-red flames leaping into the air and igniting several zombies huddled by the roadside.

The massive blast acted like Pavlov’s bell, stimulating every dormant zombie within earshot.

Including Meng Lin.

This time, she only lost control for about two seconds before her superior intellect reclaimed the high ground.

Perhaps due to her lack of practice while human, Meng Lin glanced back and estimated the distance she had traveled during her blackout. She concluded that the duration of her mental blank had significantly decreased compared to her last loss of control—which had been over a year ago. It seemed that a healthy lifestyle was indeed paying off.

As zombies continuously charged from every corner, Meng Lin drew on her experience, weaving through them with a serpentine path and slipping behind a roadside tree.

Generally, zombies could recognize obstacles.

They were somewhat like robot vacuums. Most of the “dumb” zombies were the budget-friendly model, occasionally bumping into walls or stumbling down stairs, but they possessed a basic ability to learn. After a few mishaps, they knew how to detour. A small fraction of “smart” zombies operated on a higher version; not only could they efficiently navigate around small debris, but they would even actively avoid cats and dogs.

But once provoked, zombies would enter a berserk state. Meng Lin had experienced it firsthand, the feeling was like a predatory instinct overriding all physical instincts, completely seizing control of the body. If you stood in front of a zombie horde at that moment, it would knock you flying in a heartbeat.

Meng Lin leaned against cover and glanced around the street corner.

Hmm… sparks, crowds, howls, people running wildly.

It gave her hallucinations of crazed scalpers swarming Disneyland on a limited-edition release day.

But which outlaw-level daredevil would be so bold as to sneak-attack our crystal? Are they trading their lives for supplies?

Meng Lin pondered as she brushed the mud off her shoulder.

Either they’re so skilled they’re fearless, or they’re just desperate losers at the end of their rope. Either way, they’re all madmen. Experience had taught her to keep away from humans, or else misfortune would follow.

She decided not to join the chaos.

Besides, she remembered the sewers on that street had been blocked for a long time. The last time she passed by, the ground was covered in a stinking mud soup. Gross.

Meng Lin pursed her lips and decided to take another route.

Out of curiosity, she glanced back one last time before leaving. Her footsteps froze.

Hulu?!

Beside the sidewalk, a sleek black cat sat atop a fire hydrant, swishing its tail. On the curb below, a calico cat lay huddled. This one looked old, its fur coarse and matted, its ribs starkly visible through its thin frame.

Zombies sprinted past on both sides of the hydrant. Across the street, the intersection was already ablaze.

Hulu watched the scene for a moment, then leaped down with a graceful bound. She let out a sharp meow at the calico, as if to say: Follow me.

Meng Lin: “…”

Ber? You little brat, have you been drinking loofah soup behind my back?

You act like a total brat around me, but out here you’re helping old ladies cross the street?

And did it have to be right now? Girls helping girls?

A zombie, perhaps dried out from the sun, caught a spark and burst into flames. It thrashed wildly like a crazed vacuum cleaner, scrambling across the ground, and it was heading straight for them.

Yet her cat seemed completely oblivious, still waiting for the trembling, frozen old lady.

If you showed me half the patience you’re showing her, it would have been worth all the effort I spent lugging those expired cat cans home for you!

Meng Lin ground her teeth, then stormed toward the scene.

*****

The indoor light was murky, dust motes dancing in the air.

Two zombies, their brains pierced, lay sprawled on the floor.

Shen Que crouched low behind a shelf, listening intently.

The pharmacy was deathly quiet. A zombie in a century-old, battle-worn lab coat stood hunched over a medicine cabinet, its head tilted back as it sniffed the air.

The soft click of the door opening just moments ago had startled it. Now, it was agitated, its jaw, brimming with razor-sharp teeth, clattering incessantly. Ka-ka-ka. It was trying to discern the scent of a human, unable to confirm whether prey had intruded into its territory.

Shen Que shifted her weight, her long legs coiled like springs ready to launch.

She gently closed her eyes and tossed a medicine bottle into the narrow aisle.

The plastic bottle rattled across the floor, rolling into a corner. A low growl—ugh-ah—echoed from behind the shelves. Footsteps approached, and two beams of cold light glared from beneath half-closed eyelids, fixed on the ground.

The woman’s slender body moved with the agility of a cheetah. Her matte black combat knife plunged into a zombie’s temple, piercing through to the other side. In a few silent seconds, she brought down a third zombie.

With the store now cleared of zombies, Shen Que quickly pulled open several medicine cabinets and swept the needed supplies into her backpack.

Just then, she heard an explosion outside.

Crash! A Molotov cocktail shattered against a metal plate, and flames erupted.

Then came the roar of countless voices and the sound of footsteps, surging forward like a tide.

Shen Que’s sharp brows furrowed, a flicker of annoyance crossing her eyes before her face returned to its usual cold expression.

She swung the rifle from her shoulder, pushed open the door, and fired three precise shots.

The bullets hissed through the silencer and across the street, each one taking down a zombie.

At the corner of the street, a middle-aged man stood frozen. When a zombie suddenly collapsed in front of him, he fell back onto the ground, shaking like he had Parkinson’s. Yet, he still clutched his daughter tightly in his arms.

The girl stared in terror, unable to utter a word.

“I told you to hide. Why did you come out?”

Shen Que strode forward, her long steps eating up the distance. In a few shots, she reached the street corner and seized the man by his collar.

“I… I was scared… There are too many zombies here. You’re in danger alone,” the man stammered. He was small and frail, nearly on tiptoe as she held him up.

Shen Que let out a faint, irritated tsk.

Her cold gaze swept over the girl’s young, grime-streaked face.

“Stay close to me now. If you try to play the hero again, no one can save you.”

“I know, I know. I definitely won’t…”

The zombie horde had been alerted. Stealthy retreat was no longer an option, so they had to switch to Plan B.

Shen Que’s eyes scanned the area, marking a few key points to map out their escape route. She turned around and stopped holding back on her ammunition.

The zombies at the front of the pack fell one by one. Shen Que fired and retreated, then paused to tap a few buttons on her electronic watch.

Countdown set: 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Shen Que raised her hand and signaled with a gesture.

*****

Meng Lin swore she was only trying to save the cat.

But the ungrateful thing had bolted the moment it saw her!

Maybe it was embarrassed to be caught being so helpful, or maybe it just felt guilty. Either way, it turned into a chase. Meng Lin found herself swept into the running horde of zombies, like a random bystander who had accidentally wandered onto a marathon track.

She hadn’t been running with the crowd for long when a buzzing sound reached her ears.

The noise was familiar yet grating, making her skin crawl with instinctive irritation.

It came from above, gradually fading as it moved away.

The zombies, distracted by the buzz, suddenly veered off course. A group behind Meng Lin turned and ran in the opposite direction, drawn by the sound.

Before she could process what was happening, a series of sharp shwoosh sounds cut through the silence. Then, the zombies ahead of her began to fall in neat rows. They were being taken down so fast that she effortlessly ran into the front pack.

What the hell? Meng Lin thought.

BOOM—

A massive explosion rocked the distance.

What was that? A grenade?

Is the counterattack starting?!

Meng Lin skidded to a halt.

Hulu! Where did that stupid cat go?

The zombie horde descended into chaos. Meng Lin tried to slip away in the confusion, but as she turned, a wall of fire roared up right in front of her.

The heat singed her bangs, leaving a burnt smell in the air. Only then did she notice the stench of gasoline hidden in the muddy puddle beneath her feet.

A ring of fire instantly encircled the zombies behind her. The flames disoriented her kindred; zombies were terrified of fire. They just lacked pain receptors and didn’t fear death, since they were already dead, but their bodies contained far less water than a living person’s, making them excellent kindling.

That went for Meng Lin, too.

Great, I’ve run into a pro.

With guns in front and fire behind, Meng Lin’s mind raced.

Thwip! The zombie grandma standing to her left took a bullet to the head and tumbled into the flames.

Thwip! The zombie girl in a waitress uniform collapsed.

One by one, the zombies fell, their howls echoing through the sea of fire.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline of a life-or-death situation, or perhaps it was the grief of seeing her kind slaughtered, but Meng Lin was furious. This was too much! Too arrogant!

Do you think we’re just Hello Kitty plushies?

Meng Lin steeled her resolve, her gaze turning fierce. She decided to throw herself into the fray and fight these humans to the end.

This Young Mistress isn’t going down that easily!

Let’s see who dies first—you bastards, or me, as I summon my army to reclaim my kingdom!

This scene felt like Battle-Damaged Captain America facing Thanos’s endless army alone. She would show the heavens that she would never surrender!

Meng Lin grabbed a trash can lid from the ground, turned, and charged forward. But then, her knees buckled.

Splat!

She fell straight into the muddy soup, then rolled away.

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