"Do you regret it?"
Thoi Tieu Phi's expression was lost. He lowered his head, unable to answer the principal's question. All sorts of thoughts replayed in his mind. He had led them away from the Martial Arts School, searching for the power to survive in the apocalypse.
He had obtained the power, but the price was not what he had wanted.
"I... I might really regret it," Thoi Tieu Phi said softly. He had come to the Sunshine Shelter just to see the principal, the principal he had always respected so much.
"Sigh."
Doan Thanh Ho sighed. Once a step was taken, it was truly difficult to turn back.
He knew that Little Phi had his own thoughts.
And his own choices.
"Little Phi, is there something you want to do?" Doan Thanh Ho felt that Little Phi coming here to find him must mean something. This feeling was very strong, constantly lingering in his heart.
"There's nothing I want to do."
Thoi Tieu Phi shook his head, "I just came to see you, Principal. Nothing else."
Faced with this situation, Doan Thanh Ho had many things he wanted to say, but he hesitated, not knowing how to begin.
In the distance.
Lam Pham stood there bored, tapping the ground with the tip of his foot. Layer after layer of soil was pushed to the sides, gradually forming a small pit beneath his feet. If this continued, creating a fish pond wouldn't be impossible.
The sound of footsteps approached.
"He's gone?" Lam Pham asked.
Doan Thanh Ho nodded, "Yes, he's gone."
"Alright, his arrival was indeed a bit of a surprise to me," Lam Pham said.
Doan Thanh Ho shook his head, looking a little worried. "This child has always been like this, burying everything in his heart. He clearly had a brilliant future, yet he always hid his worries, and when he encountered problems, he would handle them rashly on his own. If I had shown a little more concern back then, perhaps none of this would have happened."
Lam Pham looked into the distance, silent for a long time. "I think he will make the right choice. I should also go out and clean up some zombies. Let's go."
He didn't ask what Doan Thanh Ho and Thoi Tieu Phi had talked about.
That was a topic between a master and his disciple.
He didn't want to ask, and he wouldn't ask. Everyone has their own secrets.
This was the bond between them, a bond that would not be affected by outside events or people. Even if the path Thoi Tieu Phi walked was not the right one, it still wouldn't affect their relationship.
For Thoi Tieu Phi, he could hurt anyone, but he would never hurt Doan Thanh Ho. That was an important person in his life. If someone were to ask him who he trusted the most, he would not say Lam Pham, but it would absolutely be Doan Thanh Ho.
At this moment, Thoi Tieu Phi was driving, one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting on a closed book, gently stroking the title on the cover.
Loving the World was the title of the book, but it was also a paradise deep within his heart.
. . .
Nighttime.
Thanh City.
"Ah... Ah, she actually invited me to dinner, and even sent me such a formal invitation."
The Zombie Emperor Vuong Tu Hien excitedly gestured in his room.
Although he and Trieu Van lived in the same place, such a formal invitation was a first.
Vuong Tu Hien rummaged through his belongings, finding a suit he considered very handsome. He was constantly evolving, and his own condition had improved significantly. Although there were still some zombie characteristics.
But those characteristics were gradually fading.
He had body temperature, and his heart was beating.
Even the distinct zombie smell on his body had disappeared.
Having found the clothes, he went into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and took a nice bath. Then he tidied up his hairstyle, put on the suit, and stood before the mirror, carefully examining himself.
He hoped to show his most handsome side to Trieu Van.
However, his face was chubby and a bit round, and with his braided hair, wearing a suit looked a bit strange, an indescribable kind of weirdness.
"Handsome, so very handsome."
Vuong Tu Hien said to himself with great narcissism.
. . .
In the room next door.
Trieu Van had already set the scene. A long, narrow table covered with a tablecloth, lit candles, wine glasses, red wine—simple, yet not lacking in sentiment.
She was wearing an evening gown. It was the first time she had worn one. Back in the peaceful era, she couldn't afford it, but in the apocalypse, she had survived, protected by someone.
Perhaps no one would believe it if she said it.
She was being cared for and protected by a zombie, and cared for very well, with genuine sincerity that anyone could feel.
Just as she was lost in thought, a knock came from the door.
Trieu Van took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, calming her racing heart before going to open the door.
"For you."
At the door, Vuong Tu Hien held a bouquet of roses, a smile on his face, his expression looking a little emotional.
"Thank you, come in."
Trieu Van accepted the flowers, her face blushing. Every woman likes romance. And Vuong Tu Hien happened to be a romantic person. Back in the peaceful era, Vuong Tu Hien had been a real simp on the internet.
Seeking online love, he could always, through a computer screen, type out many words that were hard to say out loud.
Every time he came up with a sweet line he felt good about, he would giggle to himself, marveling at his own literary talent.
He once asked a master online how to be romantic.
The master told him that romance is everywhere, but the most romantic thing is to remember the other person's birthday, secretly send them a red envelope, and add a simple "happy birthday."
This kind of romance was incomparable to any other.
He could forget his own birthday, but he would never forget the birthdays of the more than three hundred girls on his list.
In the beginning, a 520 red envelope would earn him the girls' affection, and he would lose himself in the calls of "darling, hubby," until his wallet was empty and could no longer support such actions.
He changed the red envelope to 188, and what he got was "thanks, hubby."
The "darling" was gone, but it still couldn't stop his heart from overflowing with joy. Such romance was truly worth it.
Unfortunately, 188 still couldn't be sustained for long.
His empty wallet made him feel the urge to sell a kidney.
Helpless.
He changed it to 88.88 and received a "thank you."
Until the very end, it finally became 18.88, and what he got was a notification that the other party had received his red envelope, but not a single word of thanks.
He didn't ask for a "darling," but at least they could say thank you.
At that moment, he finally understood that true romance was not so easily achieved.
But now, Vuong Tu Hien realized that the girls on his list in the past were all illusions. Only Trieu Van was the most real. He was glad he could meet such a goddess, one who continuously saved his gradually lost heart in the apocalypse.
The scene was set, and it was clear that Trieu Van had arranged it meticulously.
She must have put a lot of effort into it.
Indeed, love is mutual. Even if Trieu Van hadn't done anything, he would have been moved to tears. For the first time, he felt valued, the feeling of being valued by the goddess in his heart was truly wonderful.
He was willing to give everything for Trieu Van, even his currently meaningless life.
The moon was exceptionally bright tonight.
Sitting by the window, they enjoyed a candlelight dinner while occasionally admiring the beautiful scenery of the moon.
"Thank you."
Trieu Van held up her wine glass, the crimson red wine swirling in the glass, its color possessing an unimaginable beauty.
"Thank me for what?"
Vuong Tu Hien looked at Trieu Van with a surprised expression. Bathed in the soft light, he realized that Trieu Van was truly beautiful, perfectly fitting his aesthetic, even driving him wild.
"Thank you for letting me live a beautiful life in the apocalypse. This period has been the happiest time for me." Trieu Van was genuinely happy. When she was first brought here, she was helpless and afraid, but things were not as she had imagined.
The Vuong Tu Hien before her was truly kind. He looked like a zombie, but he was gentler than anyone else.
This gentleness moved her.
"No... Actually, you not going to the shelter and choosing to stay by my side, this period has been the truly happy moment for me." When Vuong Tu Hien spoke face to face with Trieu Van, he clearly had a lot to say, but those words were buried deep in his heart, unable to be spoken for a moment.
Trieu Van looked at Vuong Tu Hien.
Vuong Tu Hien's gaze also remained fixed on Trieu Van.
The two looked at each other without a word.
Gradually, smiles appeared on their faces.
"Cheers."
"Cheers."
They raised their glasses and drank.
For Vuong Tu Hien, such a life was what he longed for the most. A sip of wine entered his stomach, the alcohol stimulating his gut. Even as a zombie, he still couldn't hold his liquor.
Perhaps this was a retained habit.
Vuong Tu Hien and Trieu Van talked a lot, about all sorts of interesting things. They drank wine and chatted about happy memories. When he saw Trieu Van happy, he was happy.
That was his only thought.
As time passed, Trieu Van's face became flushed. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. In Vuong Tu Hien's eyes, this gesture was full of a woman's sensuality and allure.
His heart couldn't help but thump wildly.
So beautiful.
In his eyes, Trieu Van was the most beautiful existence in the world. No one could replace her position in his heart.
"Do you like me?"
Faced with Trieu Van's sudden question, Vuong Tu Hien's body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"I... I... do."
Vuong Tu Hien lowered his head. Those two simple words seemed to have taken a lifetime of courage.
"So you were never going to tell me, were you?" Trieu Van asked, surprising Vuong Tu Hien. He didn't know why Trieu Van had suddenly become so direct. It felt incredibly unbelievable to him.
"I'm a zombie..."
When he mentioned that he was a zombie, Vuong Tu Hien appeared very insecure, because he wasn't human, he always felt inferior.
"No, that's not a reason. In my eyes, you are a person."
Trieu Van truly had to summon all her courage to say these words.
"Ah..."
Vuong Tu Hien stared blankly at Trieu Van, a mist forming in his eyes. He was truly touched by her words. Ever since he became a zombie, he had never heard anyone say such a thing.
During his time with Trieu Van.
He didn't dare to show any zombie-like habits. Even when, at times, a trace of tyrannical impulse stirred in his heart, he always suppressed it deep inside.
All just so he wouldn't scare Trieu Van.
Trieu Van stood up. Her black evening gown hugged her slender body as she moved her feet, unhurriedly walking behind Vuong Tu Hien.
At this moment, Vuong Tu Hien's body was stiff. He sat there, not daring to move or let his thoughts wander, but his ears were perked up, seemingly hearing a rustling sound.
The black evening gown slipped from Trieu Van's shoulders, piling up in layers on the ground.
"Ah... This."
Vuong Tu Hien swallowed. If you listened carefully, you could hear the thumping of his heart. He was very nervous right now, so nervous his palms were sweating.
Although he was a virgin, he had watched quite a few adult films.
He understood what needed to be understood.
He just had no practical experience.
Instantly, his face turned bright red.
Trieu Van's jade-like arms wrapped around Vuong Tu Hien's neck. "Meeting you in the apocalypse is my good fortune. I don't know what the future holds, but you are already the only one in my heart. From now on, let me stay by your side."
Drip! Drip! Drip!
Trieu Van felt something wet on her arm. It was Vuong Tu Hien's tears. He was completely broken down by Trieu Van's few words, tears streaming down his face.
"I... I..."
He really didn't know what to say.
He had never felt so happy before.
"What's wrong?" Trieu Van thought that since she had opened her heart, she couldn't back down. She had to see it through to the end, no half-measures.
"Nothing, I just thought that since I'm a zombie, I shouldn't..."
Mmph...
Vuong Tu Hien's eyes widened, round as saucers. His mind went completely blank. If someone were to ask him what 1+1 was right now, he wouldn't be able to give the correct answer.
His mind was filled with...
So soft, so moist, so sweet, so fragrant.
This was an experience that a single dog could never feel.
The moonlight tonight was truly beautiful, magnificent, and breathtaking. As a dark cloud quietly drifted over, it covered the slivers of moonlight, making the originally bright night hazy.
In a daze, under the guidance of the Goddess of Fortune, Vuong Tu Hien in his dream-like state walked towards the holy temple bathed in sacred light.
For Vuong Tu Hien.
If this was a dream, he hoped he would never wake up from it.
"Don't be like this, I'm a zombie, I might infect you."
"If I become a zombie, will I still be the most important existence in your heart?"
"Yes."
"Then that's fine. As long as we're together, what I become doesn't matter that much to me."
"Really, am I dreaming or not?"
"It's not a dream, everything is real."
"Mmm..."
"What's wrong? I'm ready. Don't make me be too proactive, okay?"
For Trieu Van to go this far, she had truly given it her all. She was a woman, and she had the caution she should have. During their time together, she knew Vuong Tu Hien's feelings for her.
She knew Vuong Tu Hien was a zombie, and that his bodily fluids might contain the virus. The reason she still dared to do this was that she had become an Awakened some time ago.
An information-type Awakened, a very useless ability.
And the only advantage after becoming an Awakened was immunity to the zombie virus.
Trieu Van had also never experienced such a thing, but she knew what to do, so she understood that it was now Vuong Tu Hien's turn to be proactive.
However...
"I... I'm finished."
"Huh?"
The most embarrassing thing in life could not be more than this. Just as the woman was ready, the man said he was finished.
"Yeah, I'm done." Vuong Tu Hien's voice was very weak, filled with a lack of confidence. He knew he had a problem with his stamina... if he were to time it, it was probably a second at most.
Trieu Van was stunned, a little dazed.
But she quickly recovered.
"Thank you, you gave me a very perfect experience."
"I..."
Vuong Tu Hien was even more embarrassed. Those words were really hard to hear. It clearly shouldn't have been like this, but... why did it have to be this way for him.
At night.
The two embraced.
This was the first time Vuong Tu Hien had truly held Trieu Van.
In the past, he had dreamed day and night, would he ever have such a day?
Now, it had all come true.
He was truly happy.
This happiness came from the depths of his heart.
. . .
Early morning.
Ma Dat City.
"Frostmourne, why do you like absorbing the blood of these zombies so much?"
Lam Pham looked at the Frostmourne in his hand. He had truly witnessed its terrifying power.
He no longer needed to do it himself.
Facing a city full of zombies, he held Frostmourne, and with a single thought, dense, blood-red threads appeared on the surface of the blade. It was unknown where these threads were hidden, but they were like living things, writhing and spreading out in all directions.
These blood threads seemed to know that their targets were zombies.
They wrapped around the surrounding zombies, and in an instant, the blood in their bodies was completely drained, turning them into dried corpses.
This scene left Lam Pham dumbfounded, his jaw agape.
He could only call it unbelievable.
And the culprit that caused this situation had returned to its original state.
The silver blade shimmered faintly under the sunlight.
It was still as dazzling as ever.
"Although your actions seem a bit evil, I believe that under my leadership, you will definitely follow me on the path of light."
Lam Pham believed in Frostmourne, and even more so in his initial choice.
After all, the first time he saw Frostmourne, he was deeply attracted. As it accompanied him in cleaning up zombies in the apocalypse, it had long become an unbreakable companion.
At this moment.
Leaving a city full of dried corpses was not a good thing. What if some timid survivors saw the situation here? They might be scared to death.
So he couldn't do such a thing.
His ice ability was far inferior to this blood-absorbing ability; its coverage was limited. In his subsequent actions, he used a large-scale freezing technique, freezing those dried corpses into ice sculptures, shattering them into ice fragments that scattered everywhere.
This was the most beautiful kind of scenery.
After a while.
An empty city was left for the people of the future.
It had not been damaged.
This was the only thing Lam Pham could do. For him, if he could avoid destroying a city, he really wouldn't destroy it. Every brick and tile was built with the hard work of people.
Not to mention its value, just the sweat involved was unimaginable.
He stood on a tall building at the edge of the city, looking into the distance. The cold world lacked its former hustle and bustle.
"Ah... What is that?"
He was extremely far away, but it seemed like he could see colorful smoke in the distant sky. That was...
Suddenly.
He thought of survivors.
Was that a distress signal sent by survivors?
In a place so far from Hoang City, were there still people surviving?