Chapter Nine: The Fallen Outside World

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Jiang Qiyu kicked open the main door of the building, with Old Li close behind her—but the moment he saw the scene before him, he froze in place.

In the hall, four or five zombies wandered aimlessly, their rotting flesh hanging in tatters and emitting waves of foul stench. Broken limbs lay scattered on the floor, and the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood.

“J-Jiang… Miss Jiang…” Old Li’s face went pale with fear, his speech faltering. “Th-this… this is…”

Without expression, Jiang Qiyu raised her gun. Bang bang bang—three sharp shots rang out, each one cleanly blowing the heads off three zombies. The remaining two lunged at her, snarling, but Jiang Qiyu dodged nimbly, her gun spitting flames as bullets struck precisely between the zombies’ eyes.

Old Li watched as Jiang Qiyu reaped the zombies’ lives like the Grim Reaper, his eyes wide as saucers and his mouth agape, as if he could fit a goose egg inside. He had thought this delicate young lady was just some wealthy patron, but now he realized her skills were extraordinary! This was no mere patron—she was a killing machine!

After clearing the hall, Jiang Qiyu holstered her gun and turned to the slumped Old Li. “Take me to the basement.”

Only then did Old Li snap out of his trance. Trembling, he scrambled to his feet and nervously led the way. At the basement door, he knocked shakily. “It’s me, Old Li! I’m back!”

Inside came a stir, followed by a wary voice: “Old Li? Old Li!! You’re alive!”

The room was thick with the smell of sweat, instant noodle seasoning, and fear—the air so foul it was hard to breathe. Seven or eight people huddled together, pale and terrified. They crowded around a broken phone screen showing footage of the outside world—streets packed with shambling corpses, roaring and biting, turning what was once a bustling city into a living hell.

“Old Li, is this… is this video real? Has it really become like this outside?” A young woman’s voice trembled, on the verge of breaking.

Old Li’s face drained of color, his lips quivering. “It’s true… absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes! If it weren’t for Miss Jiang… I’d be dead out there!” He couldn’t help but glance gratefully—and with a hint of unease—at Jiang Qiyu beside him.

The others followed his gaze to the previously ignored "patron," Jiang Qiyu.

The people behind the door eyed her warily, exhaustion and suspicion etched on their faces. A slightly overweight middle-aged woman in a janitor’s uniform spoke first, her tone edged with impatience: “Old Li, why did you bring an outsider in? It’s chaos out there—who knows what her background is?”

A younger janitor, clutching a broken mop handle, echoed nervously: “Yeah, Brother Li, times are rough. One more person means one more mouth to feed. We barely have enough food and water as it is…” Fresh scrapes marked his face, and his uniform was torn in places, clear signs of recent fighting.

A tall, thin janitor leaned against the wall, panting and pale, still shaken from a recent scare. He weakly waved off the tension. “Brother Li, you’re too impulsive! What if she attracts zombies? We finally got here…”

Old Li, feeling the weight of their reproach, flushed as he explained, “Miss Jiang… she’s not a bad person! She saved me! Without her, I’d be dead!”

The plump woman snapped back sharply, “Not a bad person? Who can prove that? Old Li, I think you’re scared silly, letting anyone in! What if she’s working with those monsters outside?”

The young janitor tightened his grip on the mop. “Exactly, Brother Li. In times like this, people can’t be trusted. Better safe than sorry…” His eyes darted to Jiang Qiyu, full of suspicion.

Jiang Qiyu stepped fully into the room, silhouetted against the dim light. Her face was obscured, but her eyes gleamed coldly. Her voice was low but carried an undeniable authority.

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“This is my home.”

Old Li hurriedly welcomed Jiang Qiyu inside. She swept her gaze around the room, icy and piercing. The voices gradually quieted until everyone shrank, heads bowed, unwilling to meet her eyes. The air froze, oppressive and suffocating.

“This is my home,” Jiang Qiyu repeated calmly, her tone carrying an unchallengeable command. “Now, all of you, get out.”

The plump woman’s face twisted with defiance. “Who do you think you are, kicking us out? We’re hiding from zombies here—what harm have we done to you?”

Jiang Qiyu laughed quietly, a sound dripping with scorn. “Harm me? You’re living in my house, using my water and electricity, eating my food. And now you say you’re not disturbing me?”

The woman’s face flushed with embarrassment, mouth opening to retort but was silenced by a tug from the young janitor beside her.

Ignoring their exchanged glances, Jiang Qiyu walked to the wall and picked up a box filled with food, her voice icy. “I’ll count to three. If you’re not out by then, don’t bother going out at all.”

They exchanged nervous glances, disbelief written across their faces.

“One.”

The tension thickened; some shifted uneasily.

“Two.”

The tall janitor was the first to crack. Trembling, he stood and lowered his head, walking to the door and stepping outside.

“Three.”

Jiang Qiyu’s words had barely fallen when the rest failed to rush toward the door as expected. The plump woman, who had been the loudest earlier, now paled, lips trembling, but dared not utter another word.

What lay outside? Hell.

They had witnessed their once vibrant city descend into a living nightmare, fought for their lives against zombies, and barely escaped to this refuge. Now, they were being forced out again to face that terror.

The plump woman’s legs shook recalling the narrow escape in the hallway. A slow-moving zombie had nearly brushed her back; she could still smell the decay and hear the nauseating chewing. If not for Old Li dragging her in, she might already be one of those monsters.

The tall man collapsed to his knees with a thud, pleading, “Miss Jiang, please, let us stay! It’s too dangerous outside—we’d be dead if we went out!”

The plump woman and the young janitor quickly joined him on their knees, crying and begging for mercy.

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“Miss Jiang, we know we were wrong! Please, let us stay! We’ll do anything!”

“Miss Jiang, I beg you! I have elders and children depending on me—I can’t die!”

The room filled with cries of despair and terror.

Jiang Qiyu studied them, her gaze still cold and unmoved.

“Anything?”

Her soft voice instantly silenced the crowd, their eyes filled with hopeful anticipation.

“I will allow you to stay,” Jiang Qiyu said slowly, “but you must work for me, obey my orders without question. Any disobedience will have consequences.”

They exchanged uncertain looks, no one daring to speak.

The plump woman’s eyes flicked slyly as she cautiously asked, “Miss Jiang, what kind of work do you mean? It can’t be… dangerous work, right?” She instinctively stepped back half a pace, her gaze wary.

The young janitor chimed in, “Yeah, Miss Jiang, we’re just ordinary people with no special skills. If it’s too dangerous, we won’t be able to do it.” He subtly slipped his hand into his pocket, clutching a small fruit knife.

Though kneeling, the tall man strained to listen, fists clenched tightly, his face obscured but his tension evident.

A man in a suit pushed up his glasses, his tone skeptical: “Miss Jiang, what exactly do you mean by ‘orders’? We need to know what we’re getting into.” His eyes flickered, calculating.

Murmurs rose among the group, whispers spreading.

“Is she planning to send us to our deaths?”

“I think she just wants to use us!”

“We can’t agree to this!”

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