Chapter 28: The Crushing Presence
The rookies of the standard unit were stunned into silence by the order. But Shi Yu was their direct commander, and obedience was a fundamental rule of an Imperial soldier—a principle branded into them since they first entered the AzureBird Training Camp. Thus, none of the AzureBird soldiers voiced a word of protest.
Jian Qing, however, frowned slightly. Many of the elite unit soldiers also looked uneasy. Shi Yu’s order this time was simply too cruel.
Chen Ning couldn’t hold back. “Reporting, Major — though this is a zombie-infested zone, the survivors here aren’t necessarily infected. For them to survive the outbreak is already a miracle. They’ve waited desperately for Imperial soldiers to rescue them, yet instead of salvation, we’re to slaughter them? Isn’t that… too much?”
The last time, Shi Yu had ordered Chen Ning to stop fighting — and Chen Ning had defied him in public, even breaking Huang Haifu’s leg right in front of him.
Now, the moment Shi Yu gave an order, this same low-ranking soldier dared to speak against him again. Rage exploded in Shi Yu’s eyes.
“Chen Ning, are you trying to teach me how to do my job?” he roared. “Who’s the officer here, you or me? Did you forget the first lesson you were taught in this camp — absolute obedience? Don’t think being in the elite unit gives you the right to ignore orders. Believe it or not, I can shoot you right now and call it military discipline!”
Jian Qing stepped forward. “Shi Yu, I also think wiping out all survivors indiscriminately is inappropriate. If word spreads, it’ll tarnish the Phoenix Legion’s reputation — people will call us killers, not protectors.”
Shi Yu’s tone turned icy. “And what do you suggest? What if these ‘survivors’ are carrying the virus and suddenly turn into zombies? Who’ll answer for the soldiers who die then? You?”
Jian Qing remained calm. “Here’s a compromise. You and your men handle the zombie extermination in the area. I’ll lead the elite unit to gather and contain the survivors in one place. We’ll observe them for twenty-four hours — if they don’t transform, we’ll know they’re uninfected. Those who do turn, we’ll eliminate immediately. Those who don’t, we’ll save them. How about that?”
There was no bounty reward for rescuing civilians — only for killing zombies and harvesting brain cores. Jian Qing’s proposal meant extra work with no profit, while Shi Yu would still get paid to hunt zombies. The more he thought about it, the more he realized this deal actually favored him.
“Fine,” he said coldly. “Since you all want to play saints, we’ll do it your way.”
He immediately led his 150 soldiers to hunt zombies across the town, killing cleanly and efficiently, digging out cores as they went.
Jian Qing turned to Chen Ning and the others. “Alright. Let’s move. We’ll search every building — gather all survivors in the town square. Be cautious: some zombies may be hiding inside. And if you find anyone injured, especially bitten or scratched, stay alert. They may already be infected. Keep them separated under high alert. If they show any aggression, eliminate them immediately.”
The elite soldiers dispersed, systematically sweeping through buildings, killing hidden zombies, rescuing terrified survivors from under collapsed ruins.
Jian Qing and Chen Ning moved together. She lowered her voice. “Chen Ning.”
He turned to her. “Yes, Instructor.”
“Remember this,” Jian Qing said quietly. “No matter what — whether you think it’s right or wrong — if a superior gives an order, you execute it. What you did just now was dangerous.”
Chen Ning was silent for a few seconds, then replied softly, “Yes, Instructor.”
Shi Yu’s and Jian Qing’s squad worked in coordinated rhythm. Soon, Shi Yu and his men had cleared the nearby zombies and begun sweeping the outer edges of the town for more kills.
Meanwhile, Chen Ning and his group were rounding up survivors one by one when suddenly, from a nearby house, came a woman’s terrified scream — followed by a man’s desperate pleading and the sound of mocking laughter.
Jian Qing and Chen Ning exchanged glances. Without a word, Chen Ning strode forward and kicked open the door.
Inside were a young couple — clearly husband and wife. The husband was being held at gunpoint by two elite soldiers, while the wife, a woman of delicate beauty, was being pawed at by Xiao Zihao, who was grinning wickedly.
“Hiding, are you?” he sneered. “You might be carrying the zombie virus. We’ll have to conduct a personal inspection, hahahaha…”
Chen Ning’s expression turned ice-cold. “Stop.”
Xiao Zihao and the other two soldiers turned their heads. Seeing Chen Ning, Xiao Zihao smirked. “What now, Chen Ning? First you questioned Instructor Shi Yu and ruined our chance to earn zombie bounties. Now we’re just having a little fun, and you want to play the hero?”
Chen Ning, who’d grown up in the slums, had always felt sympathy for the poor and powerless. His voice was flat but sharp as a blade. “Get out.”
The tall, broad soldier with thick brows — one of Xiao Zihao’s lackeys — instantly drew his pistol and shoved it against Chen Ning’s forehead. “What did you just say? Say it again if you dare.”
The pistols issued to soldiers was a beast — its recoil fierce, its firepower monstrous. One shot could blow a zombie’s chest open like paper, or explode a human skull in a flash.
Yet Chen Ning didn’t flinch. His eyes remained cold as he repeated, “I said, get out.”
The soldier’s temper snapped. With a snarl, he squeezed the trigger —
—but Chen Ning moved first. Like lightning, he seized the man’s wrist, his other hand sliding in to wedge a finger behind the trigger, jamming it. The man tried twice to fire — but the trigger wouldn’t budge.
“You—!” The words hadn’t fully left his mouth when a sting shot through his wrist—Chen Ning had already snatched the “Thunder” pistol cleanly from his hand, and smashed the butt of the gun into his face.
Crack!
The man’s nose shattered. Blood poured down his face.
Xiao Zihao and the third soldier raised their assault rifles in fury, ready to shoot —
—but before they could, Jian Qing appeared at the doorway, her voice like frost. “What are you doing? Planning to kill your own comrades now? Have you forgotten what the military does to soldiers who murder their own?”
The air froze. Xiao Zihao’s group backed off immediately. He shot Chen Ning a glare full of hate and muttered, “Instructor, we were just fooling around with Chen Ning. No problem here. Come on, Da Yan, Er Niu — let’s go.”
Da Yan — nose broken and face bloody — snatched the pistol back from Chen Ning’s hand and stalked out behind Xiao Zihao.
Chen Ning turned to the couple. “Head to the quarantine zone in the town square. If you show no signs of infection after twenty-four hours, you’ll be transferred to a safe zone.”
The young couple thanked him over and over, tears in their eyes, before limping away arm in arm.
Hours passed, and darkness fell over Stone Town.
Shi Yu’s men had cleared out all nearby zombies and were now feasting and drinking, celebrating their “victory.”
Jian Qing’s squad, however, stayed behind to guard more than a hundred survivors through the night.
By midnight, Chen Ning had been assigned to the town gate, standing watch against any sudden zombie attacks. The night wind was sharp; he wore his standard black Imperial uniform with a thick military coat over it — standard issue for night sentries.
Then — soft footsteps.
“Who?” Chen Ning barked quietly, spinning toward the sound.
A tall figure emerged from the shadows — Jian Qing, dressed in a black uniform jacket and tight skirt, knee-high combat boots clicking softly against the stone. Her expression was calm. “It’s me.”
Chen Ning saluted immediately. “Instructor.”
She returned the salute casually, then stepped up beside him, looking out into the pitch-black night. Her tall frame almost matched his height, slightly shorter.
“Any unusual movement?” she asked.
“Report: none, Instructor.”
“Your wounds — all healed?”
“Report: yes, Instructor.”
“Shi Yu or Xiao Zihao haven’t bothered you again?”
“Report: no, Instructor.”
Jian Qing hadn’t been able to sleep. Wandering aimlessly, she remembered Chen Ning was on sentry duty — and somehow, she ended up there. After all, if she were to find anyone she could actually talk to, it would be him.
The two stood side by side, exchanging a few words — or rather, Jian Qing asked, and Chen Ning answered.
She glanced at him — standing ramrod straight, eyes fixed forward, utterly motionless — and felt a flicker of irritation. Is he a robot? she thought. I start a conversation, and he just answers like a robot. Is he trying to bore me to death?
A cold wind swept through the night, making Jian Qing shiver. Her blouse and skirt were thin, ill-suited for the chill.
Her eyes darted toward Chen Ning’s warm-looking coat. She cleared her throat lightly and said, in a casual tone, “It’s really cold tonight, isn’t it?”
Chen Ning finally glanced at her. “Report, Major — yes, it is.”
“Mhm… its really cold,” she said again, wrapping her arms around herself, even coughing twice for effect — hoping he’d get the hint.
“Report, Major — yes,” Chen Ning repeated woodenly.
Jian Qing nearly groaned aloud. Is this man brain-dead? she fumed inwardly. I’m practically spelling it out for him!
Her patience snapped. She turned to glare at him. “Chen Ning! I said I’m cold!”
Chen Ning blinked. “I know, Instructor. I already confirmed that.”
“Ugh—!”
Losing her composure entirely, Jian Qing reached out, yanked his military coat right off his shoulders, and threw it around herself with a huff.
Chen Ning stared, dumbfounded. Jian Qing shot him a proud, almost smug look.
But before either of them could speak —
Without warning, a light flared in the distance on the road ahead. At the same time, a crushing pressure descended upon them.
Chen Ning and Jian Qing exchanged a look of pure shock…
Join the Discussion