Before Sister Wen went to rest, she joined the line and got a bowl of soup dumplings, a sausage, a boiled egg, and two Mantous.
After she got the hot meal, she was given five bottles of mineral water and a bag of dry rations that could last her for a week.
Seeing that she got supplies and even a hot meal, everyone finally made up their minds and agreed to be checked. With Chu Zhimiao's help, the women were also able to join the group soon.
Out of the group, only three people were stopped outside for observation. The reason was that one of them had a scratch on her shoulder, which she claimed was from a nail.
As for the other two men, both of them developed a high fever. With a high fever, there was a chance they could awaken their abilities, but there was also a higher chance they could turn into zombies. So, they were under observation.
While they were waiting, the soldiers gave the woman a hot meal and water as she waited. As for the two men, they were given medicine, hot meals, and water.
After they finished their meal and took the medicine, the two of them fell asleep.
While they were still battling the zombie virus inside their bodies, the soldier assigned to watch them ensured they drank enough water and checked their temperature every thirty minutes.
Meanwhile, the woman leaned against the roadblock, hugging her knees after finishing her meal. She stared dazedly at the people in the distance as her eyes gradually turned gray.
Despite the scorching sun, an unbearable cold seeped into her bones. Her body trembled, and her face paled.
At that moment, she noticed her skin turning unnaturally pale, with dark veins surfacing beneath it. Raising her hands, she saw her nails growing darker and lengthening.
She brushed her hair away from her eyes, only to feel strands slipping through her fingers. When she glanced at her palm, her breath was stuck in her throat as clumps of her hair were slipping from her trembling hand.
Her pupils constricted as realization dawned on her. She was turning into a zombie.
This realization stunned her as fear gripped her heart. She didn't want to become a mindless monster, but she feared death even more. She wanted to live. There was so much she hadn't done—she was too young to die!
But despite her desire to live, the inevitable was happening.
Unwillingness rose in her heart as she felt the coldness spreading throughout her body. She had always been kind, and always helped others. So why was she the one dying?
Her gaze landed on Aunt Wang, who sat comfortably among the survivors, chatting and eating. That selfish, wicked woman was still alive.
Why could she survive when she couldn't?
A surge of resentment consumed her, clouding her mind. If she couldn't live, she would drag everyone to hell with her!
Her pupils dulled and her consciousness slipped away. With the last shred of her will, she forced herself to stand and dragged her stiff body toward the barricade.
"Hrrhh—" She tried to call out to Sister Wen, but only a guttural growl came out of her parted lips.
Hearing her own monstrous growl, tears slid down her cheeks. Her head drooped as she staggered forward. Before she could reach the barricade, a pair of military boots appeared in her blurred vision.
She lifted her head and met the calm gaze of a handsome man. There was no fear or disgust in his eyes, only pity and quiet compassion.
He studied her for a moment before speaking, "Comrade, I have come to send you off. Are you ready to leave now?"
It took her a moment to process his words. She didn't want to become a monster. She wanted to die as a human being.
"Grrhh…" a suppressed growl was heard from her throat as her final attempt to talk.
Qin Luzi watched the flickering dot in his mind—shifting between white and red. She didn't have much time left. Before she loses her humanity, he must send her off.
Drawing his dagger from his back, he said, "Farewell, Comrade."
STAB!
Before his voice faded, he stabbed the dagger into her temple. The next moment, her body stiffened, then fell to the ground with a thud. Dark red blood pooled on the ground and a rancid stench filled the air.
Qin Luzi wiped the blade clean before sheathing it. When he turned, he met the wide, horrified eyes of the survivors. Their fear didn't affect him at all. After all, he didn't kill the woman. Instead, he had given her the chance to die as a human.
As he walked past the barricade, he ordered, "Jinzhe, clean up the remains."
"Understood."
Besides Jin Xuyan and Zhang Yuan, Qin Luzi held the highest rank in their team. In the absence of their captain and vice-captain, the soldiers followed his lead.
With a flick of Shen Jinzhe's wrist, a blue flame shot toward the woman's lifeless body. The moment it touched her skin, it ignited instantly.
Not wanting to leave a lasting trauma on the survivors, he intensified the energy, reducing her remains to ashes in under five minutes.
The survivors stared at him in fear, as if he were a monster himself. Shen Jinzhe only glanced at them but didn't mind their stares at all.
Witnessing death wasn't easy, especially for civilians. Even trained soldiers struggled when they saw their own comrades turn into zombies and attack them.
Some were haunted by nightmares for days due to killing their own comrades who had turned into zombies, let alone civilians. Even though they were traumatized, they had no choice but to adapt as soon as possible.
Just as he finished sending the woman off, a soldier guarding the other two men called out, "Brother Luzi, one of them is mutating!"
Hearing this, Qin Luzi walked over, checking the map in his mind. One of the men now glowed a light green, while the other flickered erratically between green and red.