Chapter Ninety-One: Asking for Help

Shouldn’t we go help them? If that iron gate falls, it won’t be long before everyone out there is dead. We’re staying here for now anyway; let’s lend a hand and call it repayment for the favor,” Xiao Bai suggested to Ye Xing, well aware that both Ye Xing and Ye Chen disliked owing anyone anything.

"..."

Togusa Yako listened in silence to Ye Xing and Xiao Bai’s exchange. As a proper subordinate, one must not interfere with the judgment of the one they serve. If the decision is wrong, one may advise against it; but if the advice is ignored, then even a mistaken order must still be carried out. Togusa Yako had her own principles in many matters, and this was one of them.

“I do dislike owing others favors. If they come asking for help, I won’t mind lending a hand and clearing the debt,” Ye Xing said, his voice utterly calm as he looked down at the crowd straining to keep the iron gate from collapsing under the pressure of the undead.

“And if they don’t come ask?” Xiao Bai pressed at once.

“Don’t worry. They already have.”

It seemed they had already noticed the movement on their side. Looking at the iron gate beside the house, which had shifted out of alignment, Sovereign Takashiro and the others had already prepared themselves for battle at any moment. Takagi and the others were thrown into panic. They had only just begun to believe they might live peacefully, and now, after only a few days, was that fragile happiness about to be shattered?

“Right! Ye Xing is still here! If it’s Ye Xing, maybe he really can wipe out all those zombies!” Nearby, Hirano was already firing at the heads of the undead outside the gate, trying to relieve the pressure on the barrier. But there were simply too many zombies; killing one or two made no difference at all. Suddenly, he remembered the figure standing in the sky that day and shouted to the others.

“If he can still use the power he had back then, these zombies won’t be a problem!” Saya Takagi analyzed coolly, speaking to her father and mother beside her. “Dad, Mom, if we ask Ye Xing for help now, maybe this crisis can be resolved!”

“That young man named Ye Xing? But there are far too many of them...” Having witnessed Ye Xing’s abilities, Sovereign Takashiro was somewhat inclined to believe in his strength, yet he still hesitated. After all, only a few days ago he had sent people to watch him, and today he had even taken in Fujita and the others to use against him in the future.

Strictly speaking, everything had come to this because they had opened the barricade. If they had not moved it, then even if all the electrical systems had failed, the undead would not have been able to force their way in. Asking him for help now left Sovereign Takashiro with complicated feelings. How was he supposed to deal with the very benefactor who had saved everyone’s lives?

Very quickly, Sovereign Takashiro made up his mind. Long years in a position of power meant he felt no psychological burden even when acting against a benefactor. He immediately prepared to go find Ye Xing and asked those around him, “Where is that young man named Ye Xing now?”

Though Ye Xing had warned him not to continue monitoring him, and Sovereign Takashiro had not deliberately kept watch, this place was full of his people. Simply having his subordinates keep an eye out whenever they saw Ye Xing could hardly be called surveillance. Someone nearby quickly answered, “He’s in the infirmary with that unconscious girl.”

The unconscious girl the subordinate mentioned left a deep impression on Sovereign Takashiro. She had been sleeping all this time since arriving, yet her body showed no sign of illness. More than that, she gave off an air of purity and beauty, like a sheet of white paper untouched by any color. Anyone with even a trace of conscience would find it hard to bring themselves to harm her.

Hearing that Ye Xing was with Tachibana Kanade, Sovereign Takashiro understood that the girl might be very important to him. But this was not the time to scheme around that. At once, he led several of his men along with Takao and the others toward the infirmary. The reason for bringing Takao’s group was simple enough: they had fought together for several days, and perhaps Ye Xing would be willing to help for the sake of that "bond."

Crash!

Just as everyone was about to leave, the iron gate finally gave way under the crushing force of the horde and slammed to the ground. The zombies outside surged in like a flood bursting through a dam. The person who had been holding the gate in place became their first target. One man screamed miserably, “Chairman! Save me! Please, save meeeee!”

“Everyone listen! Hold this line no matter what! That iron gate has been breached! Even if you hide in the house, those things will force their way in and bite you! I’m going to organize a rescue now, so you must hold this position until then!” Sovereign Takashiro commanded with imposing authority, every gesture and word carrying the dignity of a man accustomed to command. His subordinates were moved to trust him, and each of them armed themselves and rushed to the front lines to fight the undead.

Inside the infirmary, Xiao Bai twitched her adorable ears. Hearing the rapidly approaching footsteps, she glanced at Togusa Yako and said, “They’ll be here very soon, so I’m going to rest first. Curses are troublesome things. By the way, your name is Yako, right? You’re a decent subordinate, so do your best!”

Then Xiao Bai gave a light leap toward Ye Xing’s head, and just before reaching him, vanishing into thin air at less than four inches away. Togusa Yako was not especially startled, but what puzzled her was the look White Princess had given her just now. It almost seemed like encouragement. Stranger still, she somehow understood what that look meant.

Tilting her head in confusion, she looked toward Ye Xing, only to find that his beautiful star-colored eyes were fixed on her without blinking, clear and gleaming with a profound light. At once, Togusa Yako was drawn in and could not tear her gaze away, meeting his eyes in silence.

The hurried footsteps stopped at the door. After a brief pause, someone even politely knocked, pulling Togusa Yako’s attention back to reality. Remembering her own reaction just now, her cheeks flushed faintly as she said to Ye Xing, “Um... that... Ye Xing! I’m a woman too...”

Being stared at so intently made Togusa Yako feel somewhat shy as well. Only then did Ye Xing withdraw his gaze, seemingly unconcerned with her tone. The meaning behind Xiao Bai’s departure had been that Yako could be trusted, right? He then said to the people outside, “Come in.”

After receiving Ye Xing’s reply, several people entered. In a situation like this, they still bothered to knock politely. One hardly knew whether to call them well-mannered or merely burdened with too many thoughts.

Once inside, they saw Ye Xing standing by the window, tranquil and unruffled, and Togusa Yako beside him with a faint blush on her cheeks. It seemed the two of them knew nothing of what was happening outside, though with the惨状 beyond the window and the occasional screams ringing out, it would have been impossible for them not to know.

“Ye Xing, I believe you’re aware of what’s happening now. I’m very sorry for the surveillance before, and I hope you can forgive us. There is something I must ask of you. If possible, we would like you to help drive those zombies back,” Sovereign Takashiro said, striving to make his voice sound sincere. Yet his heart was in turmoil. What if Ye Xing simply did not have that kind of strength? Or what if he refused?

“Fine. But you only want them driven back?” To everyone’s surprise, Ye Xing agreed without the slightest hesitation, then asked thoughtfully.