77 Enters the Capital

Page 1 of 3

It’s been said: behind every sweet nothing lies a lie.

When Mo Yu led Old Hu and the woman called Sister Xue to the spot where she had slaughtered the zombies, the two of them immediately and enthusiastically invited Mo Yu to join their organization. Mo Yu had been puzzling over how to broach the subject, but now there was no need—the invitation came straight from them. It wasn’t just because she had provided them with over a hundred trophies free of charge, but also because her strength was clearly not to be underestimated.

Old Hu and Sister Xue had no intention of lingering; after gathering everyone, they set off at once. Naturally, Mo Yu found herself seated atop the pickup truck. Sister Xue, instead of taking the driver’s seat, led Mo Yu around to introduce her to each member of the team. Perhaps Sister Xue’s prestige carried weight among the group, for everyone greeted Mo Yu warmly—though it was clear some of her most fervent admirers were those who had witnessed her decimate the zombies earlier.

“This is Third, called so because he’s the third child in his family,” Sister Xue finally said, introducing the last person. Mo Yu gazed at the man before her—familiar, yet strangely foreign. Was her memory faulty? Wasn’t this man an only child? Oh, right—he had a cousin and a cousin sister.

“This is Miss Mo Yu, our newest team member,” Sister Xue said kindly, despite her less-than-flattering opinion of Third’s abilities. The formalities had to be observed.

Mo Yu had shaken hands with every member before, but she felt no desire to shake this man’s hand. What for—make peace? But Third didn’t give her a chance to refuse; he stood abruptly, grasped both her hands tightly, tears shimmering in his eyes.

“Mo Yu! Is it really you? I’ve searched for you everywhere!”

Mo Yu’s mind was thrown into chaos. What kind of nonsense was this? Was he searching for her because he regretted not finishing her off on the staircase?

Her expression was a vivid blend of shock, speechlessness, and anger. Noticing things weren’t right, Sister Xue quickly pried Third’s hands away.

“You’ve got the wrong person,” Mo Yu said coldly, pulling her hand free. Still unwilling to let go, Third took a step forward, but Mo Yu turned to Sister Xue and spoke, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, yet easily heard by everyone in the truck: “Excuse me, could we make a small detour up the nearby hill to pick up my husband?”

The words left everyone gaping—the young woman, who looked no older than a girl, was already married?

Sister Xue was the first to recover, nodding eagerly and thinking to herself: Goodness! If this girl is so formidable, her husband must be something else as well. With a few quick steps, she hurried to the driver’s window to quietly explain the situation to Old Hu. The pickup, which had been heading for the capital, immediately veered off towards the small mountain a few miles away.

By the time Third came back to his senses, the pickup was almost at its destination. He was visibly agitated. “Mo Yu, how could you be so heartless? I thought you were a good, virtuous girl, but you—”

Page 2 of 3

At that moment, another man, unable to stand any more, muttered under his breath, “Don’t you already have Zhuzi? Why are you eyeing what’s in the pot while eating from your bowl?” The words landed in Mo Yu’s heart like a pebble tossed into a lake—though the ripples were small, they still splashed.

Mo Yu had no interest in hearing Third slander her further. She brought the back of her blade down on him, knocking him out cold. A scoundrel ought to be quiet; otherwise, a beating is all he deserves!

Truthfully, everyone in the truck looked down on Third—not for his abilities, but for his character. Still, most kept their thoughts to themselves; after all, in this post-apocalyptic world, those who survived by strength alone rarely had powerful backgrounds. All they could do was silently despise him.

The pickup ran smoothly—clearly modified, as even the rough dirt roads didn’t jolt Mo Yu much. The hill wasn’t far, and soon they arrived, stopping at a distance, for at the base of the hill were over a hundred zombies and dozens of their corpses scattered about.

“Damn! Mo Yu, your husband’s a beast too!” said one of the men who’d admired Mo Yu from the start. Old Hu and Sister Xue were both inwardly delighted. Recruiting two such capable members not only meant rewards for themselves, but also greatly increased their own safety—a win-win situation, and who wouldn’t be happy about that?

From afar, Qing Xuan spotted Mo Yu waving to him from the truck, and a wave of gentle affection warmed his heart. This was the partner he’d spend his life with. The thought filled him with such happiness that his hands moved even faster, cutting down zombies as if it cost him nothing.

“Qing Xuan! Let’s go!” Mo Yu called out from a distance. At her command, Qing Xuan dared not linger. With a flying kick, he dispatched an approaching zombie and sprinted towards Mo Yu.

“Mo Yu!” Qing Xuan leapt nimbly onto the truck, all swift elegance, and embraced Mo Yu, not caring that she was covered in zombie blood. He didn’t know why she’d sent him to the hill—perhaps to protect him, or perhaps to handle something alone. All he knew was that he’d been away from her for too long, and that was the last thing he ever wanted. He’d rather they face disaster together than endure loneliness apart.

As Andre Maurois once said: “Without family, a person living alone in this world will shiver in the cold wind.” If Qing Xuan lost Mo Yu, then life and death would be indistinguishable to him.

With another formidable member onboard, Old Hu drove back in high spirits. Earlier, Mo Yu had asked Old Hu and Sister Xue whether their team was a civilian group or a national organization. Upon learning it was a government outfit based in the capital, Mo Yu was secretly elated. What did this mean? It meant she’d soon be reunited with her long-lost family—a dream she’d cherished throughout her ordeal in the apocalypse. What could be more thrilling than being reunited with loved ones?

Luo Sang Town wasn’t far from the capital. In just a few hours, they reached their destination without incident. Thanks to the team’s strength, any zombies encountered along the way were easily wiped out. Old Hu’s group was certain to receive a grand prize, especially with Mo Yu and Qing Xuan’s contribution of their trophies—the group had eliminated nearly a thousand zombies on this trip, equivalent to a month’s usual haul! All thanks to the powerful young couple. In gratitude, Old Hu had already begun to think of them as his own brother and sister.

“Stop! Inspection!” Camouflage-clad border guards with rifles signaled for them to halt. Old Hu pulled the truck up to the barrier and stopped.

“Old Li!” Old Hu got out and embraced Old Li warmly.

Page 3 of 3

“How’s it going? I’ve heard you’ve been making waves in the Suicide Squad!” Old Li clapped Old Hu heartily on the shoulder.

“Ah, just getting by—I’m a little squad leader now, keeps me busy and fulfilled!” Old Hu laughed, beckoning his team out of the truck. “Come, let me introduce my team!” He introduced each member, his tone especially warm when he got to Mo Yu. “This is my newest recruit—tremendous ability! And her husband, too—absolute powerhouses! I’ve hit the jackpot!” He gestured to Qing Xuan by Mo Yu’s side.

Old Li and Old Hu had been comrades-in-arms for a decade and knew each other well. From Old Hu’s expression, Old Li could see he was genuinely delighted. He looked at Mo Yu and Qing Xuan, but found them inexplicably familiar. “Have I met you before? You look awfully familiar!” he said, scratching his head in confusion.

Mo Yu truly had no memory of Old Li and shook her head. But just because she didn’t remember didn’t mean Qing Xuan didn’t. Wasn’t this Old Li the soldier Mo Yu had once praised as handsome? How had just a few years aged him so? Since Mo Yu didn’t remember, Qing Xuan had no desire to remind her, so he, too, shook his head.

Old Li: “…” Well, if you don’t remember, you don’t remember—but they still seemed so familiar!

Though Old Hu and Old Li were old friends, the base had its own rules, and Old Hu’s team had to submit to inspection. Mo Yu and Qing Xuan followed the group into a bright “glass room,” where everyone took their place. The glass automatically activated infrared scanners, displaying everyone’s physical structure and health status right on the panel for all to see. Both Mo Yu and Qing Xuan’s panels glowed green—proof they were healthy and posed no threat.

After the inspection, Old Hu spoke up: “Everyone’s worked hard today clearing zombies. Apart from Mo Yu and Qing Xuan, who need to stay for registration, the rest of you can go—rest up! The rewards will be delivered personally. With such a haul, you’ll have nearly half a month off!” Old Hu’s delight was unmistakable, and his men, who had followed him through thick and thin, cheered loudly enough to draw the attention of passersby.

“Ahem!” Old Hu quickly coughed to rein them in, then reminded them not to slack off during the break—training was still necessary, and they could take on side jobs if they wished. The important thing was not to drag the team down the next time they went out to clear zombies.

“Understood, Boss!” they answered in unison.