Chapter 21: Refugees

The abandoned child, feeling Lu Li’s embrace, wrapped his arms tightly around her neck and refused to let go, emitting a whimper like a grievance-filled piglet.

Lu Li peeled back the small arms tightening around her neck and patted his back, feeling a sudden softening of her heart.

Forget it, she thought, one step at a time. If all else fails, she would just dump him into the military later; that would settle the matter once and for all.

After the apocalypse, cities became the most dangerous places, swarming with zombies and infested with mutated flora and fauna that claimed territory at will. Consequently, most safe zones were located far from urban centers.

The safe zone where the original female lead resided—Qingshan Safe Zone—was the one closest to Lu Li, a sanctuary surrounded by mountains.

The area had always been sparsely populated, and now that the zombies had been wiped out, the mutated plants and animals in the mountains had established a new ecosystem within the forests. This significantly reduced the survival pressure within the human safe zone, requiring only periodic clearing of the forest periphery to prevent encroachment and defense against the occasional beast tide.

As Lu Li approached, the vegetation grew sparser and the concentration of vehicles and people increased. She hurried toward the base of the towering perimeter wall.

She checked her appearance in the reflection of the system interface, adjusted the child higher, and pulled her hat down, burying her face completely in the shadows.

She had expected that arriving near closing time would mean few people, but instead, she found the military overseeing a massive, chaotic crowd.

Most of the people were dressed in rags and stained with blood, huddled in small, terrified clusters. Those collapsed on the ground—missing limbs or utterly alone—wore expressions of absolute despair, as if they had lost all will to live.

Within the numb crowd, men far outnumbered women, and children and the elderly were the rarest of all. In the few groups that did have children or elders, strong youths surrounded them tightly, shielding them while the vulnerable trembled in fear, keeping a wide distance from the rest of the crowd.

Even from a distance, Lu Li heard the officer on the high platform shouting at the top of his lungs: "I am Lin Buyan, captain of the Fifth Combat Team. I am speaking on behalf of the Base Commander here at Gate 9."

"The fall of the Guicheng Safe Zone is a tragedy we share with you all. As fellow countrymen, our Qingshan Safe Zone will actively respond to the official call to receive refugees and provide temporary shelter."

"However, our resources are limited. We ask that you all actively contribute to the base to earn contribution points, which you can trade for supplies to survive within the safe zone. We are in the midst of an apocalypse with constant natural disasters. As citizens of Huaxia, we must help one another and forge ahead together."

"The relief plan is as follows: Qingshan Safe Zone expects to accommodate over 50,000 more people. Residents who pass inspection will receive official supplies, including a ration of nutrient paste and filtered groundwater, along with one month of temporary housing. Families with elderly members or children will receive an additional 300 contribution points."

"Please hold your valid identification and proceed to the line on my right for screening and registration. Also, please do not worry; contribution points are universal across all safe zones. After verification, the military will immediately credit the points to your account..."

Just in time for registration, Lu Li felt a flicker of excitement, but then she realized: why did there have to be an inspection?

Hesitating, she decided to walk closer to see what it was about; at the very least, she had to return this child to them.

She walked into the crowd wearing an ill-fitting, crudely stitched, and tattered protective suit, cradling the boy. The child clinging to her shoulder was too conspicuous, drawing frequent side-glances from those around them.

Greed flickered in the eyes of many who looked at the boy; some even drooled, and had it not been for the patrolling soldiers, they would have likely pounced on her already.

As she passed one group, a man who appeared to be the leader licked his lips, leered at Lu Li, and chuckled.

"Oh! A newcomer, haven't seen you on the road. Is this your... little brother?"

As he reached out, the people around them retreated, wearing expressions of eager anticipation for a show.

Before his fingers could touch her hat, Lu Li adjusted the boy's sliding body and raised her foot.

"Bang!"

The man was sent flying, crashing into his lackeys. He clutched his stomach where Lu Li had kicked him and vomited a mouthful of blood. He stared at Lu Li in terror—how was this possible?

Lu Li was startled by his vomiting; she hadn't even used much force.

Hearing the commotion, the uniformed personnel rushed over. Lu Li looked nervous, pressed her lips into a thin line, and tugged at the boy's collar, feeling guilty.

A female soldier in tactical gear stood in front of Lu Li. Lu Li felt so nervous she couldn't breathe; she wanted to burrow into the boy's arms and play dead. Feeling a burning gaze on her, she had no choice but to look up timidly.

*Oh, the big sister is so cool! But she's so scary to a zombie! Why did that weakling have to provoke her?*

Seeing Lu Li’s pale face and her timid, fox-like eyes, then looking at the lecherous-looking man on the ground, Lin Yan understood instantly.

"He tried to bully you?"

Lu Li, who had been closing her eyes in anticipation of judgment and preparing to ditch the child and run, looked up abruptly. Her eyes flashed with brilliant light, and she nodded vigorously.

Lin Yan chuckled and instinctively ruffled the small head covered by the oversized hat.

"Well done! A girl has to protect herself out there. What’s your name? Are you a strength-type awakener?"

Lu Li nodded, then opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She gestured in the air with her hands.

Seeing this, Lin Yan leaned down to look her in the eye. "Is your throat injured? Or..."

Lu Li’s eyelids twitched violently. She tried hard to mask her convulsing mouth with a smile.

From today on, she was a mute. She was determined to stay silent whenever possible; as a zombie, she had to be careful not to terrify the officials.

A trace of sympathy flickered in Lin Yan’s eyes. "Wait here. I’ll try to get you into the safe zone as soon as possible."

She hurried away, calling back to threaten the man on the ground as she ran: "Cause trouble again, and you'll be exiled."

The man didn't dare meet Lu Li's eyes. His lackeys helped him up with difficulty, and they scurried away, giving her a wide berth.

"Little girl, come here, let's enter the safe zone together!" A kind-looking old man in a group carrying children beckoned to Lu Li with a benevolent smile.

"Since we both have children, why don't we keep each other company?"

Lu Li looked at the boy’s peaceful sleeping face and sighed. Just as she was about to approach, her hem was tugged discreetly. She stopped, and looked down at the source.

The one-armed youth, his face covered in grime, was filled with fear. He shook his head slightly at Lu Li, his voice faint as a mosquito's hum. "Don't go!"

His voice grew a fraction firmer. "Just wait here for that soldier. Even for your brother's sake, don't trust them!"

With that, he let go and walked away as if nothing had happened.

Lu Li rubbed the boy’s gaunt cheek and smiled at the old man, shaking her head.

The old man nodded, but once he turned away, his expression turned somber. The youth beside him spat at him and muttered, "Useless trash!"