C59 The Two Injured People Were Saved, and One of Them Went into the Mountain of Corpses Alone.

It was undeniable that the medicines sourced through the enigmatic system worked wonders. Antibiotics aside, they were remarkably effective at warding off the infection from zombie bites and preventing the wounded from turning into the undead. The bandages Sun Meng applied to Zhao Dagang and Qin Mengli were no less miraculous in their healing properties.

The moment the bandage touched the wound, the bleeding ceased instantly, and a slow but steady healing process began. Even areas that had been gruesomely bitten by zombies showed signs of regenerating flesh and blood.

However, given the severity of the injuries Zhao Dagang and Qin Mengli had sustained, the bandages could only do so much. Full recovery would necessitate Tang Bing administering another medical kit to each of them. Without that, their only option was to rest and heal gradually.

Zhao Dagang's complexion improved slightly after taking the antibiotics and having his wounds bandaged. Yet, he was clearly unable to stand on his own; the wounds were still too severe despite the bleeding being under control.

Qin Mengli fared somewhat better. Her limbs were intact, and though her abdomen hurt fiercely, she managed to stand with Sun Meng's assistance and could even walk, albeit with great difficulty.

Sun Meng supported Qin Mengli for a few steps, helping her steady herself against a utility pole. Then, she turned to shoulder Zhao Dagang, using herself as a makeshift crutch to bring him over to Qin Mengli. "Mengli, lean on me a bit. I'll get us both back," she urged.

"Where's Tang Bing?" Qin Mengli asked, her eyes scanning the horde of zombies drawn by the toy car's noise, desperately searching for any sign of Tang Bing. Knowing he had risked his life to save her from the swarm filled her with deep regret and fear—fear that he might not return.

If that were the case, she would bear the guilt of indirectly causing his death.

"Bing said he'd find a way to divert the zombies and told us not to worry too much!" Sun Meng's voice was shaky, betraying her own doubts about Tang Bing's dangerous plan. Yet, she clung to the belief that he would make it back. After all, without Tang Bing, their chances of survival were slim.

"No way, I've got to help Bing!" Zhao Dagang's face was etched with guilt as he halted, tempted to turn back.

"Are you going to help him or hurt him?" Sun Meng snapped, frustration evident in her tone. "You can barely walk. Do you want to be a burden to Bing? The best thing we can do right now is get back to the factory and stay put!"

"Watch out!" In the midst of their conversation, Qin Mengli spotted a zombie sprinting towards them from the road ahead, her face blanching as she cried out in alarm.

The zombie closed in swiftly, nearly upon them.

"Ahh!" Panic seized Qin Mengli and Sun Meng, who clung to each other, desperately trying to turn away.

"Stay still!" Zhao Dagang, bracing himself against Sun Meng's shoulder, grimaced with pain as he raised his gun.

"Bang!" As the zombie loomed close, Zhao Dagang didn't hesitate to squeeze the trigger, aiming for its forehead.

With a thud, the zombie collapsed, motionless.

Qin Mengli and Sun Meng remained frozen in terror, hearts racing as they stared at the fallen zombie, as still as statues.

Zhao Dagang winced, the recoil from the shot aggravating his wound, sweat dripping from his brow. His hand weakened, the gun clattered to the ground. Clenching his teeth against the pain, he urged Sun Meng, "Quick! Pick up the gun!"

"Oh, right!" Sun Meng, snapping out of her daze, steadied Zhao Dagang and carefully bent to retrieve the gun.

"We might have more zombies on us soon. We need to get back!" Realizing his own condition was more of a hindrance than a help to Tang Bing, Zhao Dagang glanced back, his voice strained with pain as he addressed Sun Meng.

"Okay!" Sun Meng nodded vigorously, then gently tugged at Qin Mengli's hand. "Mengli, stop staring! We need to move, now!"

"...Okay." Qin Mengli turned away, refusing to let herself witness the overwhelming swarm of zombies any longer, tears glistening in her eyes.

Supporting one another, the trio hastened their pace, capitalizing on the distraction of the zombies by the toy car's noise, as they made their way back to the factory gate.

They were fortunate on the road, not running into any more zombies. It was mainly because the loud noise from the toy car had drawn the nearby zombies away.

The trio made it back to the factory without incident. Once the door was locked, Qin Mengli glanced outside, "Tang Bing still hasn't come back..."

"Bing will return!" Sun Meng reflected on the recent events, doubting her own reassurance. But she had to keep up the facade, for herself and for them. "Right now, my job is to get you both upstairs to rest and heal."

Qin Mengli remained silent, allowing Sun Meng to help her up the stairs alongside Zhao Dagang.

"Am I going to die?" Qin Mengli asked, lying in her room and clutching Sun Meng's hand. "Tell me the truth."

"You won't," Sun Meng assured her firmly. "I'm a nurse; you can trust me."

"Yeah..." Qin Mengli nodded, guilt creeping into her voice. "Tang Bing will come back, won't he? He's not going to die that easily, is he?"

"Bing is strong; he won't die!" Sun Meng hesitated for a moment. "Mengli, focus on getting better. Bing's antibiotics worked wonders. Remember, Zhao Dagang was bitten and he's fine now. And the bandages Bing gave me are top-notch. I'm not sure how, but they stop bleeding incredibly well and even have impressive healing properties. Your wound might look bad, but with some rest, you'll recover."

"Keep watch at the door, and make sure you bring Tang Bing back!" Qin Mengli urged her.

"Don't worry, Mengli. I'd do it even if you hadn't asked," Sun Meng replied, nodding emphatically. "Now, you rest up. I'm going to check on Zhao, and then I'll go down to wait for Bing."

"Okay," Qin Mengli said, watching Sun Meng leave before lying back, lost in thought. She berated herself over Tang Bing's situation, then, remembering Teacher Lin, she reached for her phone.

But as she hesitated, unsure of what to say to Teacher Lin, worry etched itself across her face.

Despite the severe pain in her abdomen, Qin Mengli was grateful that her limbs were still functioning.

Zhao Dagang had it rough, with serious injuries to his hands and feet that made every movement excruciating. So, once he got back, he could only lie there stiff as a corpse.

"Brother Zhao, how are you feeling?" Sun Meng whispered as she entered his room and approached his bed.

"I'm managing, though it hurts like hell whenever I try to move," Zhao Dagang replied with a wry smile.

"Actually, you've got some minor fractures in your limbs," Sun Meng said with a sigh. "For the time being, you really should just stay in bed and not try to get up. I'll take good care of you!"

"I'll be okay," Zhao Dagang assured her, nodding. "Ms. Meng, please go check on Brother Bing. He can't afford any trouble!"

"Okay!" Sun Meng adjusted his blanket. "Rest up, Brother Zhao. I'm heading down now."

"Quickly!" Zhao Dagang urged, his concern for Tang Bing evident. "Brother Bing might have given the zombies the slip and could be waiting for you to open the door!"

"Got it!" Sun Meng turned and left the room in haste, descending the stairs rapidly. Reaching the corridor window, she peered down to see the zombie horde that had been at the crossroads now amassed beneath a distant building. She could make out Tang Bing's silhouette darting within.

The sight of the zombies besieging the two-story building sent a wave of panic through Sun Meng.

She was tempted to dash downstairs, but with Tang Bing so far off in that house, she felt helpless, able to do little more than wait at the door. Yet, staying put left her restless and uneasy.

In the midst of her indecision, her phone rang. She quickly pulled it out; it was Tang Bing, with whom she had exchanged numbers.

With the phone's battery less than a third full, she answered the call, her gaze fixed anxiously on the house where Tang Bing was trapped, "Hello! Bing?"

"Ms. Meng, have you all made it home?" Tang Bing's voice, tinged with breathlessness, came through.

Hearing his voice, Sun Meng's eyes welled up slightly, "Yes, we're home! Bing, we're all safe. How about you? I saw you're surrounded in that house. What's your plan? Can you make it out? Is there anything I can do to help? Please, tell me quickly!"

"Can you see me?" Tang Bing asked as he walked to the window and glanced outside. His gaze met Sun Meng's, "Oh, I see you now too!"

"Bing, can you make it back? Otherwise... maybe I should drive out to draw the zombies away!" Sun Meng's voice shook, betraying her doubt that she could actually pull it off.

"Don't worry!" Tang Bing replied with ease, "How are Zhao Dagang and Qin Mengli doing?"

"How can you still think about them? What about you?" Sun Meng's voice was edged with desperation.

"I told you, I'm fine, Ms. Meng!" Tang Bing chuckled, "The medicine and bandages I left with you will prevent them from getting infected by the zombie virus and from bleeding out. Just make sure their conditions don't deteriorate and let them rest up."

"I know..." Sun Meng nodded, her voice small, "Bing, please hurry back! I'm scared..."

"Listen, Ms. Meng," Tang Bing began, noticing she didn't object to the nickname, a sign of her fear or turmoil, "When have I ever taken a risk without being certain of the outcome? You don't need to worry about me! But I can't return just yet. Soon, I'm going to jump from this rooftop to the one next door, then find another way down. Tell Qin Mengli and Zhao Dagang to stay put at home. We've got enough food and water, so there's no need for any of you to venture out for the next few days. The injured probably can't get out of bed anyway, so just look after them. I'm heading to the plaza building and should be back by tomorrow! If I can't make it, I'll call you or someone else. Remind them to conserve their phone battery, got it?"

"But Bing, there's really no need for you to go..." Sun Meng's anxiety spiked at his words.

"I refuse to be labeled as heartless or inhumane by anyone in this city!" Tang Bing sighed softly, "And even though I don't personally know Teacher Lin, she's still a respected faculty member at our school. I'll bring her back. You all just stay put these next few days, don't leave the house, and try to keep quiet so as not to attract any zombies, understand?"

"Bing, that's way too risky! What are we going to do if something happens to you?"

"Who do you think I am?" Tang Bing responded confidently, "Relax! I'm not like the rest of them. That's it, and don't run down your phone battery!"

"Bing..." Sun Meng tried to continue, but she found that the line had already gone dead.