C26 Fighting

In the enveloping darkness, any slight variation in our surroundings sent our nerves on edge.

Moreover, the inexplicable sound of footsteps ahead brought to mind the figure at the elevator door last time, neither clearly alive nor dead. Both Liang Yue and I aimed our flashlights toward the source of the noise.

But the result was the same; the darkness was overwhelming. The weak beam of our flashlights managed to reveal only a short distance ahead, seeming trivial in the vast sea of black.

The footsteps, casual and rhythmic, seemed to mock us, suggesting the presence of more than one person.

Glancing back, I was met with nothing but darkness. Trapped in this confined space, there was nowhere to run. I had this sinking feeling that the root of the frequent mishaps in this building likely lay in the underground parking lot.

What is meant to happen will happen, I had concluded after the ordeal in the elevator. Better to face it with composure than to cower in fear, to confront the challenge rather than resign to fate.

Reflecting on it now, a saying rang true: Without enduring storms, one cannot see rainbows. The absence of Third Uncle had somehow unleashed the latent strength within me.

Clutching the peach wood sword, I called out into the darkness, "Who's there? Stop playing games!"

My sudden outburst was met with silence, startling Liang Yue at my side.

She let out a yelp, cursing, "Have you lost your mind?"

Her words swiftly doused the battle-readiness that had flared within me.

Our voices, echoing through the cavernous underground, only heightened the already palpable tension.

But within moments, a shadowy figure began to materialize before us.

I swallowed hard, my grip on the peach wood sword tightening. In that instant, my only hope was that Third Uncle would realize we were missing and find his way to us. I was confident he would have a method; after all, he is Third Uncle.

Yet we had to endure until his arrival, now facing the most daunting question.

Was the approaching figure human, ghost, or some unearthly entity? The answer would soon reveal itself.

Suddenly, under the beams of Liang Yue's and my flashlights, two figures emerged before us. Well, for the sake of argument, let's call them people, though they bore little resemblance to any humans I'd seen.

Their hair was unkempt, and their complexions matched the pallor of their skin—a deathly gray.

Gray comes in many shades, but this particular hue was unmistakably associated with death.

I had seen this unembellished skin color when my grandfather died. It was the same shade that now struck fear into my heart for the first time.

Because of their pallid faces, the two figures appeared sinister. Their eyes were open, yet they resembled the lifeless eyes of dolls sold on the street, devoid of any sparkle or emotion.

It was then that I understood why eyes are often referred to as the windows to the soul. Eyes may not speak, but they can convey a multitude of feelings. Perhaps it's through the eyes that one can discern whether a person is dead or alive.

The two individuals before us were clearly not among the living.

Yet, if they weren't alive, how could they walk? The events that had unfolded in this building over the course of a single night had completely shattered my original perception of the world. It seemed there were countless inexplicable occurrences that, despite happening, defied our understanding.

I was sure Liang Yue's heart was also reeling, as I noticed her hand, clutching a dagger, was trembling ever so slightly.

This was the kind of psychological response one would expect from anyone witnessing such a scene.

The two upright, walking entities approaching us were, I was almost certain, not living beings but rather corpses—ambulatory corpses.

Then, Liang Yue uttered a phrase that solidified my suspicions.

She called out to one of them, "Chen... Chen Wanli..."

That name triggered a memory. There had been a silhouette that leaped from the rooftop. Liang Yue had seen the face—it belonged to a brand distributor in the mall, Chen Wanli. Yet Chen Wanli had unmistakably died the previous month.

Once again, Liang Yue recognized Chen Wanli. Coupled with her earlier assessment, what could he be if not a corpse?

Despite our preparedness, as the two corpses drew nearer, Liang Yue and I instinctively stepped back.

At that moment, the flute that had been echoing through the subterranean space suddenly surged in urgency. Its melancholic melody transformed into a piercing crescendo, like a gentle stream morphing into a torrential river, its presence overwhelming.

The two advancing corpses abruptly altered their pace, quickening their steps and launching attacks on Liang Yue and me. I heard Liang Yue's sharp cry as she engaged in combat with Chen Wanli.

As the other corpse closed in on me, I was taken aback to realize it was a female. Her disheveled hair obscured half of her face, revealing only one eye, devoid of any luster, and a pale, grayish hue. Her mouth was agape, and as she lunged at me, I was nearly overwhelmed by the stench of decay emanating from her.

I nearly retched, and without time to think, I instinctively raised my leg and delivered a kick to the female corpse. The impact sent her staggering back just a step, while the force reverberated through my ankle, numbing it and causing me to stumble backward.

Scrambling to my feet, the female corpse lunged at me again, arms outstretched, clawing towards me. Clenching my teeth, I thrust the peach wood sword in my hand towards her chest with all my might.

Her momentum was formidable, and I matched it with my own strength. The sword, a peach wood blade whose sharpness and resilience I owed to Third Uncle's mysterious sharpening technique, sliced through her garments and pierced her chest with ease.

The kick had already informed me of the corpse's rigid body, which had jolted both Liang Yue's and my ankles. The sword strike was instinctual; I hadn't anticipated the ease with which the blade would penetrate her flesh.

The sword sank over two inches deep. The wound on the female corpse did not bleed, but instead, it hissed. Whether it was pain or some other reaction, she opened her mouth wide, emitting a wheezing noise reminiscent of a bellows with a leak. Her body swiftly recoiled, and seizing the moment, I firmly grasped the sword's hilt and withdrew the blade.

I shone my flashlight on the area and noticed that the part I had just pierced had turned completely black.

The female corpse seemed wary of the peach wood sword in my grasp, standing still, hesitant to approach.

Just then, I heard Liang Yue shout. I quickly turned to see what was happening.

She was engaged in combat with the corpse, and it was clear that Liang Yue was well-trained. Her strength and agility were top-notch.

Despite wielding a sharper dagger, she had only managed to penetrate Chen Wanli's flesh by half an inch. Chen Wanli seemed unfazed by the stabs, relentlessly continuing his assault on Liang Yue.

His clothes were slashed by Liang Yue's dagger, revealing much of his body. His skin was a ghastly gray, and under the flashlight's beam, it glistened with a repulsive, greasy substance. As he moved, bits of it fell off, leaving a white residue on the ground.

I was impressed with Liang Yue's ability to fight so closely with him without succumbing to revulsion.

However, despite her impressive skills, the situation looked grim. Chen Wanli, undeterred by her attacks, had backed Liang Yue into a corner.

I dashed forward and thrust my sword at Chen Wanli.

With his back to me, my sword struck him in the shoulder, sinking in two inches, much like it had with the female corpse.

Chen Wanli straightened up, emitting a bizarre noise from his throat, and halted his attack on Liang Yue.

Seizing the moment, Liang Yue broke free from the corner and stood by my side, gasping for breath.

I attempted to withdraw the peach wood sword, but it seemed to be lodged in Chen Wanli's bone. After two unsuccessful tries, it remained stuck.

Suddenly, Chen Wanli spun around, and the force of his twist wrenched the sword from my grip.

At that moment, the sound of the flute resumed after a brief lull.

Chen Wanli finally uttered a deep, indistinct sound from his throat, as though it were obstructed by something. He spun around swiftly and flung the peach wood sword to the ground.

A chill ran through me; that peach wood sword was my sole source of defense and the only thing that seemed to intimidate the undead. Now it was gone, and since the corpse neither tired nor felt pain, the fate of Liang Yue and myself seemed grim.

The two corpses regrouped and lunged at Liang Yue and me.

Liang Yue tried to charge forward, but I grabbed her, urgently saying, "Don't bother, we can't beat them. I'll hold them off while you find an exit, look for the way we came in with the car."

Liang Yue gave me a complex look and retorted, "Stop trying to play the hero. I don't need rescuing."

In the brief delay, Chen Wanli had already charged at us. Without time for words, I swung the flashlight in my hand at Chen Wanli's head.

Although the corpse's body was tough, its head was fragile. My blow caved in Chen Wanli's skull, deflating it like a punctured ball. His brain matter oozed out in a revolting display.