Although Chen Junsheng, Zhang Ming, and the others had never used such weapons before, after two days of practical training in combat, they had managed to grasp some basic techniques. Especially Tongtong, since Jian Yi had given her that compact wrist crossbow, the little girl's greatest joy was encountering slow-moving solitary zombies during their travels. It meant she could practice with her small weapon.
However, it was quite clear that the two elderly creatures in the villa were not slow-moving solitary zombies. As indicated by the pile of ashes they had discovered earlier in the field, the people in Gold Valley Village had dealt with the apocalypse in a proactive and rational manner, eliminating all the zombies in the area. So why were these two left behind in the villa area? There was only one answer: they were too powerful to be taken down.
Strangely enough, it seemed like these two zombies were homebodies. They preferred to linger around the villa and rarely ventured out unless they were hungry. The iron gate in the courtyard was closed, and zombies couldn't open locks, so how did they get out when the gate was three meters high? These two evolved and mutated level-two zombies seemed to mockingly respond, "We can climb over the gate. We're incredibly fast!"
"Be careful on your own, Auntie. Zhang Ming, you're responsible for our men and women!" As the two mutated zombies sped down like little cheetahs, Jian Yi showed no sign of panic and calmly issued orders.
Zhang Ming tightened his grip on the bow and arrow, overwhelmed by the foul stench that filled the air, which added to his anxiety. His palms were sweaty. He watched as the elderly male zombie opened its mouth, preparing to bite him, but Jian Yi lifted her wrist crossbow, and two arrows were fired simultaneously.
"Roar!"
A furious and painful howl echoed through the entire valley, sending shivers down everyone's spine.
Jian Yi couldn't help but smile when she saw that both arrows had hit the target, although they hadn't struck the heads. Instead, they had infuriated the two mutated zombies.
Zhang Ming narrowly escaped the attack and didn't dare to relax. He kept running while maintaining distance, luring the male zombie away from the group.
The female zombie, upon spotting Zheng Lanxin and Tongtong in the car, seemed to be excited, whether out of hunger or for some other reason, and hesitated for a moment.
That strange sensation welled up within Jian Yi again. She shook her head vigorously, dispelling the odd feeling, and swiftly shot an arrow, successfully diverting the female zombie's attention.
Then, something unexpected happened. The female zombie, who had initially shown no interest in her, as if just realizing she was another prey, emitted a strange growl and lunged at her.
The mutated zombie's speed was indeed astonishing, and its movements were agile. Jian Yi nearly stumbled and fell as it came dangerously close to toppling her.
Fortunately, her survival instincts, honed through her past experiences, kicked in, allowing her to narrowly dodge the sharp teeth of the female zombie.
"Thud!" A muffled sound followed as Chen Junsheng, who had been hidden all along, suddenly appeared behind the female zombie. He landed a blow to the back of its head, successfully delivering a fatal strike and killing the irate female zombie.
On the other side, Zhang Ming was struggling to keep himself from being overwhelmed by the male zombie. Pinned down, he had no choice but to cling to its head and prevent it from biting him.
"Help me!" His voice was barely audible, squeezed through clenched teeth.
Chen Junsheng flashed again, raising his object. Surprisingly, the mutated male zombie managed to block the blow with the back of his head.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!" It roared in fury, as if provoked, breaking free from Zhang Ming and charging at Chen Junsheng.
Watching this harrowing scene from the car, Zheng Lanxin was almost biting her own tongue.
At that moment, an arrow whooshed through the air, its sharp metallic tip grazing the zombie's scalp, causing it to pause in confusion.
Chen Junsheng immediately seized the opportunity. In a flash, he raised his object and delivered a blow to the back of the zombie's head. There was a loud thud as the enraged zombie seemed to freeze as if someone had pressed the pause button, and it went still.
"Is it dead?" Zheng Lanxin asked nervously.
Chen Junsheng approached, dragging the lifeless zombie along. He nodded to his mother and then turned to Jian Yi, picking up the other one. "Zhang Ming, take them and burn them."
Zhang Ming had narrowly escaped being mauled by the zombies, his backside nearly torn apart. He was in pain all over, but he didn't dare complain. Grimacing, he carried both mutated zombies and laid them in an empty area. He gathered some firewood, doused it with gasoline, and lit it on fire, ensuring that they were thoroughly incinerated.
With the mutated zombies dealt with, the group moved the vehicle to the front of the villa and began inspecting their new base.
The villa, situated in the countryside, looked grand from the outside, but the interior was more down-to-earth. The spacious living room had a fireplace, which could be used for heating in winter. The kitchen was equipped with modern appliances as well as a traditional stove with neatly arranged white tiles.
Upon seeing the stove, Zheng Lanxin felt a sense of nostalgia, harking back to her days in the countryside. She immediately opened the door connecting the kitchen to the backyard and fetched a bundle of firewood from the shed, starting a fire to boil water.
Next to the kitchen was a storage room containing common agricultural tools and two granaries filled with rice. It was evident that the rice had been recently harvested. Once the rice husks were removed, it would be ready to eat.
Jian Yi also discovered a diesel generator in the toolshed, as well as two large animal traps. These traps could be useful, and Jian Yi tested their strength before setting them aside.
As Jian Yi made her way upstairs, she called for Zhang Ming to carry some chilies and long beans that were laid out on the roof, which had not been stored away properly by the previous occupants.
The bedroom on the third floor held the answer to the previous residents of the villa. A large wedding photo hung on the white wall, impossible to overlook. The groom was tall and muscular, while the bride was petite and delicate, exuding a youthful charm.
The couple appeared to be in their early twenties, typical of rural areas where people married young. Jian Yi guessed that the girl in the photo was around seventeen or eighteen years old when it was taken.
The room was intricately decorated, with a decorative ceiling featuring intricate patterns. The furniture, including the wardrobe, bed, and dressing table, was a complete set of European-style furniture, indicating that this family was financially well-off.
On the dressing table, Jian Yi noticed a family portrait. In the photo, the two elderly people sat in the middle, flanked by a lively young woman on the left and the married couple on the right. Each held a four or five-year-old girl in their arms.
The young couple and their daughter were nowhere to be found, but the elderly couple was right in front of her. They were the same two mutated zombies that Zhang Ming had just burned.
Whether the children of the elderly couple had escaped or not was beyond Jian Yi's consideration now. This house was hers, and no one would take it from her!